100-words #FlashFriday Whoo-hooo! Go #Fictioneers!

Here’s the picture from yesterday. Here’s my story.

Now post a link to yours in my comment section here If you’d like to comment on my story, I’d love to hear what you think (crit doesn’t hurt my feelings if you see where it can be improved, just be civil, lol).

We are the Friday Fictioneers and we gather every Friday here to post a very short story. It’s a great way to showcase your voice, but to do it in 100 word is almost an extreme challenge. It forces you to choose strong verbs and concise phrases.

Hop on board and post one of yours or visit ours, or do both.

Women Writers of NWA – Sarah Paige Berling #WW

Sarah answers my 11-Questions (minus 1). She used to meet with us on Thursday’s gathering of NWA Writers but moved away last year to Oklahoma.

Author name:  Sarah Paige Berling

Latest title:  Current WIPs: Time’s Eye and Forgive Me If I Sleep

1. I’m always interested in the writer’s process. How often do you write? Do you have a daily word count goal? Give me an overview (or detailed if you really want to go there) of your writing life.

I tried setting goals for myself, and then was always disappointed in myself because I never met them.  I try to write everyday, or at least several times a week.  Usually I write in spurts, whenever the mood overtakes me.  I’ve found that forcing myself to sit down and write creates poor results.

I’ve been writing since I was 12 (I’m 24 now).  I prefer to write long-hand, because it lets my mind work more steadily.  But I create better work when I sit down to type.  It just takes a bit longer.  Very frustrating.

I’m currently a Creative Writing major at the University of Central Oklahoma.  I’ll be graduating in May.

2. Do you also work a full-time non-writer job or career?

Sorta.  I’m a full-time student and I work about 25 hours a week at two different jobs.  But because all my classes this semester are in the evening and the jobs only take up a few days of the week, I still find plenty of time to sit down and write.

3. How supportive has your family been of your writing time? Have you ever had to fight for your right to write?

My mother has always been very supportive, as have my husband (Eric) and my best friend (Philip).  My father is always interested when I mention it, but he usually forgets about it the next day.  My siblings don’t really care and none of my family have ever read anything I’ve written.  They’re more abstractedly supportive.  Philip and Eric read whatever I ask them to, and give good feedback, which I really appreciate.  A writer friend of mine, Danny, helps by pointing out the inconsistencies in my stories, which is a huge help and makes my writing stronger.

4. How long did it take to write (from start to finish) your novel?

FMIIS took a little over a year, but that’s because it was a collaborative work.  I’ve been working on Time’s Eye, piece by piece, for about 3 years.  I believe that, once I finish it, I will have the idea of how to start and end a novel more firmly planted in my head, so the next one will take less time.

5. What route to publishing did you take (agent, traditional, self-pub), and how long did it take from finish to publication?

The only piece I’ve had published, a flash fiction piece for a zombie anthology, was sent straight to the editor.  When I try to get FMIIS and Time’s Eye published, though, I will try an agent first, and if that fails, I will go straight to the publisher.

6. Is there a theme, or premise you’d really like readers to connect with in your latest book?

I haven’t realized a theme in either novel, yet, but maybe I will as I go through and edit them.  I have another project that I’m planning on starting this month, and the premise I’m working on is, “We create our own reality.”  Or something to that effect.

7. Where are you going now, are you working on a sequel, or something entirely different?

I’m not a big fan of sequels.  I’m working on something completely different now, something mythologically-based in a  post-apocalyptic world.  I find that my writing goes through phases:  I had an“assassins” phase, where every protagonist was an assassin (this was back during my younger teenage years); then I had a “dragons”phase, where every story needed a dragon (older teenage years); and now I’m in a mythology phase, where I learn as much as I can about other existing mythologies, then go about creating my own.  I’m also very interested in the different ways humanity is going to destroy itself.

8. Where do you find inspiration for your stories and novels?

A lot of times, dreams.  Sometimes, it’s something I think I see somewhere (when really it’s something much more mundane).  Like this one time, I was driving home from work at 2 in the morning, and there was a car parked on the side of the road.  But because it was so late and I was so tired, I thought it was a tank, which led to a story-creating frenzy in my mind. And I get a lot of ideas by talking to Eric and Philip about things that interest us, like mythology or science.

9. With all the focus lately on authors providing a lot of their own self-promotion, what are you doing in this respect?

I have a blog that I update around once a week.  The address is
http://sarahthestoryteller.wordpress.com
.  I use it mostly to post advice to new writers and talk about whatever I happen to be working on at the time.  Whenever I learn something really useful and awesome in class, I’ll post it on the blog, as well as when I read a really good/awful book.  Because Creative Writing is a subset of an English degree, I have to take quite a few literature courses, so sometimes my posts are more literary-based than writing advice-based.

10. Who or what would you say has been the biggest influence on you as a writer?

My insatiable urge to read.  I’ll read good books to learn what to do and I’ll read bad books, to learn what not to do. I’ll read different genres (though I prefer to stick to sff), just to see how they’re different.  And I love rereading books, years later, just to see whether the authors still touch me in the same way they originally did.  A lot of times, I’ll reread a book I loved when I was a teenager, only to think, “Wait, this got published?  Man, if this got published, I’m a shoo-in.”  Arrogant, I know, but it helps my flagging self-esteem at times.

Genre-Study, Scifi/Fantasy

This morning I decided I would learn something about the current and past successful authors of science-fiction and fantasy. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read as much as I ought to have, although I’m playing catch-up some lately.

Right now I’m reading about Jim C. Hines and his first big novel deal with his GoblinQuest series. It’s an interesting and inspiring story. Another author and multiple award-winner I’ve been reading about this week is Mike Resnick. He has a good series going on called “Ask Bwana” where he dispenses industry advice. The #2 post went up this week and there are 57 more to follow. I just ordered one of his Hugo winning short story collections (more accurately, it’s a collection of some of his short stories that won Hugo awards).

I found out about these authors through the Writers of the Future forum. There are several more interviews listed in there and I intend to work my way down the list reading them all and following links to the author’s websites.

I feel like I’ve stumbled in on a kin-folk gathering… no one knows me, but I am getting to know them, ha.

Writerly Goal-check

Last Week’s recap

Even though it feels like I didn’t accomplish anything, it appears that I did at least meet my writerly goals last week. I finished editing chapter 22 of Symbiosis and brainstormed with Rob to come up with a reasonable plot for my next short story. Even wrote the first two sentences down.

On a personal level, I got nothing done. At least nothing that was on my list. In lieu of what I was supposed to do, I did get dishes washed, floors swept and clothes washed. Some of them even got put away afterwards (clothes and dishes).

Shasta (horse) came of her own accord back up to the house right at dusk Sunday afternoon so I could put her up for the week in the paddock. She had a look on her face much like Persephone must have carried as she went back to Hades after being out all spring and summer.

This week’s goals

• edit chapter 23
• write a rough sketch of where the short story will go, maybe an outline of sorts

This year’s goals

• Finish editing Symbiosis
• Finish six short stories
• Always have at least one story out on submission, preferably more.

Photo Sunday

Last week must have gotten sucked into a black hole or something. It feels like it happened without me.

Today I’ve been working on my other blogs Earthelder and AncientEarthWisdom. I don’t post so often to those, but I’m going to start trying to at least post weekly. That’ll usually happen during the weekend.

Here’s my favorite photo of the ones I was browsing through while working on those blogs:

Beautiful lighting on an elderberry blossom

100-word #FridayFictioneers

Susie’s decree: We shall henceforth be known as the Friday Fictioneers

Every Friday we gather to post links to our 100-word stories (although sometimes some of us go a bit farther than that, lol).

There aren’t any rules, nothing to gain except personal satisfaction in telling a story or setting a mood in a restricted count. I do it to keep practice at choosing strong verbs and concise phrases.

The picture we used this week is here, but it doesn’t matter whether you use the photo prompt or have one of your own, or have your own mental imagery. I just try to post one to help spur the 100-words for myself but there are times I can’t post a photo.

My story is here.

Add your link to the comments so we can easily hop from one blog to the next, to give our readerly impressions. Don’t forget to include your Twitter handle if you have one so I can add you to the roll call there!

Photo inspiration for tomorrow’s 100 words #FridayFictioneers #FridayFlash

Join the Friday Fictioneers!

Write a 100-word story and post it to your blog. Remember to title it with the hashtags tacked on if you want to take advantage of the Twitter promotions (#FridayFlash,  #FridayFictioneers, #100words)

If you want to join us in blog-hopping and reading each other’s stories, comment on mine with a link to your story. I’ll post mine tomorrow morning before I leave for work, around 6 a.m. (central).

I hope to see you around the campfire tomorrow!

Women Writers of NWA – Ruth Weeks

Today’s interview is with another female author from northwest Arkansas. Some writers have unique voices. What’s interesting about Ruth’s voice is that hers sort of sticks in my head and I hear it even while reading through her answers to my questions. Not only that, but her voice changes according to whatever story it is she’s reading. Her stories have a lot of flavor! If you ever have the opportunity to hear her give a reading from her books, you should make a point to be there.

 

Ruth as Dixie Dandelion

WRITER/AUTHOR: ELEVEN INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Author name: Ruth Burkett Weeks aka R.H. Burkett

Latest title: The Rook and the Raven

1. I’m always interested in the writer’s process. How often do you write? Do you have a daily word count goal? Give me an overview (or detailed if you really want to go there) of your writing life.

I work an eight-hour day outside the home, so I write at night and on the weekends.  I don’t have a set word count or page number.  I write until my back, neck, and wrists scream in protest, then I write some more.  I have been known to write until 2:00 in the morning  if the gremlin twins,  imagination and creativity come out to play.

2.  Do you also work a full-time non-writer job or career?

Yes

3.  How supportive has your family been of your writing time? Have you ever had to fight for your right to write?

Fortunately, I live with two cats who support me 100% even though at times I have to stop and scratch them between the ears, follow them into the kitchen to their food bowl, or shoo them off my keyboard.  My family is all for what ever I want to do, however I don’t think they took my writing seriously until my novel, Soldiers From the Mist was published.

4.  How long did it take to write (from start to finish) your novel?

The first draft took three months.  Fine tuning it, polishing it, and rewrites took three years before it was clean enough to submit to a publisher.

5.  What route to publishing did you take (agent, traditional, self-pub), and how long did it take from finish to publication?

I am charmed in this area.  I pitched Soldiers From the Mist to one New York agent and waited over six months for him to tell me it wasn’t a good fit for him. Because of the way this book came to me, I knew that my “Soldiers” would lead to me to the correct publisher, and they did.  Lou Turner at High Hill Press was a perfect fit.  I pitched it to her in October 2010 and my book was released in March 2011. I submitted The Rook and The Raven to The Wild Rose Press the first of this month (August ) and signed a contract a week later.  I realize how fortunate I am because some writers spend years before they find a fit, so I thank God for leading me in the right direction.

6.  Is there a theme, or premise you’d really like readers to connect with in your latest book?

With Soldiers From the Mist, the main theme is universal love and acceptance.  In The Rook and the Raven, the theme is “Love will always find a way, you only must believe to make it so. “ 

7.  Where are you going now, are you working on a sequel, or something entirely different?

I am working on a western romance novel called, “The Legend of Dixie Dandelion.”  I never thought I would write romance and at times it is quite a challenge, but I only have to believe to make it so. 

8.  Where do you find inspiration for your stories and novels?

The ghost that haunted my house was the inspiration for Soldiers. A dream sparked The Rook and the Raven. Writing for contests helps conjure ideas to mind as well.  Here again, I am blessed because ideas just seem to “pop” into my head when I least expect it.

9.  With all the focus lately on authors providing a lot of their own self-promotion, what are you doing in this respect?

I have a blog, Truthsbyruth. blogspot.com, that I promote which is linked to Facebook. I also do book signings and would love to start speaking at various organizations.  This area needs a lot of work on my part.

10.  Who or what would you say has been the biggest influence on you as a writer?

Velda Brotherton  believed in me from the get-go and keeps me going when I am down and out.  Also, Jan Morrill, Patty Stith, Linda Apple, “The Boogerettes” spur me onward and upward.  And my critique group, The North West Arkansas Writers Workshop gives me a gook kick when I get lazy.

11.  Where can we find your book? Is it available in e-format as well?             

Soldiers From the Mist is on Amazon.com, The High Hill Press. Com, and from me, rhbweeks@sbcglobal.net.   My publisher is busy formatting the book for Kindle  and it will be available in e-format shortly.  The Rook and the Raven will be an e-book available from The Wild Rose Press in the near future.

Suspending disbelief – input please #amwriting

Today between work tasks I’ve been mulling over my next story idea. Last night I wrote a very sparse outline. My problem is that is sounds cheesy!

So I feel kind of funny about it right now. I guess ambiguous is a good word to describe it. On one hand, advice from the likes of Donald Maass (Fire in Fiction) the more fantastic the better. Bringing the reader to suspension of disbelief is likely the key here. I think I can do that well enough, but I have to get past the giggles while writing my  outline to do it.

Actually, the parts I have written already don’t make me feel silly. It’s just the outline. So I guess I’ll keep going and see where it ends up.

 I write strange stuff. No one in their right mind thinks of this stuff as part of ordinary everyday life, so the challenge to making it believable is built-in. Do your initial outlines or notes, thoughts, or what-not about your stories ever sound cheesy to you or are they believable right out the gate?

Fog in the Holler – and Writerly Goal updates

Last night Badger kept barking. After about 30 minutes of listening to him bark, pause, then bark again, I got out of bed and stepped out to the balcony to see what might be the issue. He didn’t sound particularly distressed, just wouldn’t stop barking.

Turns out there was a lot of fog in the deep valley where our house sits. The fog seemed to have an amplifier effect to it – every time Badger barked, he’d pause and then his own bark bounced back in fine acoustic quality. So he’d bark again.

I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night because of his echo.

Goals

As luck would have it, I got more work done on my writerly goals this weekend than I did my non-writerly. Finished the short story and sent it on to be judged. Now I can get on with editing Symbiosis and starting a new story for the Q1 contest. Deadline is Dec. 31 and it’ll probably take the entire quarter to get this one written and polished, too. Not only is it a good contest with great prizes and no entry fee, it also is great motivation to get stories written on a regular basis.

In my non-writerly life the thing I most wanted to get done this weekend, I did between lightning and thunder storms yesterday. I installed a new water trough with an automatic waterer. It’s a low-walled kind, since I don’t have to have so much volume because the water automatically stays at the full level. The low walls make it suitable for all of the animal residents of the Wood’s household, including the horses, dogs, cats, and chickens

This week’s goals

• Edit chapter 22 of Symbiosis
• Start next short story

This year’s goals

• Finish another short story
• Finish editing Symbiosis