Writerly Ways

I have a problem with finishing things. I think this year will be my 18th year doing nano (wtf) but do I have 18 novels to show for it. I do not. Do I even have 10 novels to show for it? I do not. Nano in some ways is almost like an ice cream scoop. The story floods out and then by Jan there's nothing left in me for the story.

But it's not just nano. I did that with so many fanfic too, especially my Buffyverse stuff (Now I'm finishing them for wipbigbang) I really need to stop this and last nano I did rebel and I worked on an existing project in part (sorry nano, at this point I feel I can do what I want).

My Slaying in the 80s monster hunter thing NEEDS to be finished. (then I can worry about the other abandoned nano things, maybe I'll find something else I can save). I think part of nano this year will be finishing this. I was thinking about this in the pool all last week. WHY can't I finish my shit? I want this novel done. I think it's decent. Yes I still wish it had an alpha reader but it is what it is.

I don't even know why I don't finishing things. Part of Nano I do get. I always do the holiday fannish stuff. But why I don't just pick it up in January, I have no idea.

That was why 2020-today has been so important. It's why I use part of my sunday writing post to share open calls. I HAVE been finishing things. Little things. Not all of them but enough to get about a dozen stories out there (two have found homes this year). I don't know why/how/what I've done differently but at least it's progress.

I looked at the 80s novel and saw hey, it's almost 75K. I can in fact start wrapping this up. I finally figured out why the bully in the story is more than just the bully (he's a rapist in training really, based on a few frat boys I knew back then and a stalker so I can kill off one character and he'd know where she'd been going leading them to the villain's lair so to speak). I have the basic idea of how this ends...sort of. I need to figure out what to do with her (I think basically the group has a jail for the criminal magic users that the young kids only suspect exists because they're used to dealing with demons and things that they destroy outright). I also miss having sounding boards for stories. Truly. I keep hoping we'll get a genre writing group somewhere within 50 miles of me so I can go.

My goal is to get this done this year or by March by the latest.

Open Calls


Darkest Shadow, Brightest

Romancing the Rainbow charity anthology

Elegant Literature Magazine August 2023 Window theme- Write a story involving Sunken Secrets, and a jewel.

Solarpunk Magazine September 2023 Window

Hauntings and Hoarfrost

Gothic Romance title TBD

Embrace the Silence for Australian and New Zealand authors

Pyre Magazine Winter/Fall 2023 Window low pay

5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in August 2023



From Around the Web

Haven't listened to this yet but it sounds like something I might need to

Watch on YouTube

Edge of their Seats

What is Rising Action in a Story: How to Make it Pull Readers to the End

Avoiding Ableism in Horror

Behind the Red Pen: What to Look for When Vetting an Editor

A Guide to Writing a Book Dedication I FORGOT MINE. I need to write mine for that upcoming edit

Affect vs. Effect: How to Choose the Right Word

The Rise and History of Audiobooks



From Betty

How Can Writers Make Description Evocative?

Using Animals for Transport and Labor

Five Common Story Fragmentations and How to Consolidate Them

Guide To A+ Amazon Content That Sells

How to Format Dialogue in Novels

Six Tips for a Book Party on a Shoestring

How to Stay Focused on Your Story’s Central Conflict

Five Commonalities Between Heroes and Villains

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Snob