Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Today sucked so nothing but links this week. I swear I have ideas but my time budgeting sucks too. BUT there is good news. Sometimes the universe gives you what you need. I've been searching for weeks for the perfect replacement pot for my bonsai. Today at Kroger's they had the perfect pot with two half dead tomatoes and a basil in it for 2.50 $. Even if I can't save the Italian garden I have my pot!

Okay a little writing question, how do you decide what open calls you take (if you do that sort of thing), what makes you pass on a call (other than the abysmal pay) FOr the latter I'm finding editorial asides (calling erotica porn for instance) is a big no for me. Also a list of hoops to go through. Honestly I'm getting a little annoyed by strange ways of having to submit that I'm finding to be a stopper. If I have to sign up to submit something I have to think twice. More than one I realize after the fact aren't going to say if they've passed, they're posting it to duotrope or other paid service and that is sketchy to me (I get that they have small staff and claim to not have time to send out form rejections).

Open Calls
The Librarian (sadly it only like 2 weeks away)

Dose of Dread

34 Orchard July 2022 Window (Early Listing) (might see if I have one that fits)

Aphotic Realm July Window (Early Listing) same here

From around the web

I’m An Author… Do I Need A Blog?

Why Does My Book Need Interior Formatting?

The Horror Writers Association Launches Their Mental Health Initiative

Tarot Cards for Writing Inspiration

William Joesph Roberts: It Came From the Trailer Park T his is the one I'm trying to write for. I REALLY need a sounding board for it.

It’s Not Me, It’s the Story

The Difference Between Writing and Editing

START WITH THE MACRO EDITS

10 Ways to Get Your Story Un-Stuck

THE EDITING PROCESS (OR, PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUE FOR FUN AND PROFIT).

writing excuses podcast (from china_shop)

From Betty

The Four Act Structure: What It Is + How It Works

Understanding the Normal World of a Story’s First Act

5 Big Reasons Why Your Book Isn’t Finished

Creating Author Websites: The Definitive Guide

9 THINGS MY DOG TAUGHT ME ABOUT BLOGGING

MS Word Keyboard Shortcuts.

Your Microcosm, Our World

The Difference Between Relatable and Mediocre Heroes

How to Make Your Villain Threatening

Six Wordcraft Questions Writers Fight Over

How to Create Moral Dilemmas That Are Actually Moral

Compassion Fatigue: Is it Relevant for Your Characters?

Avoiding Stereotypes in Fiction: Female Characters

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Watched

MAKE A PASS; I DARE YOU: Revising Your Draft

How to utilize exposition and context in a novel

Five Ways to Develop a Creative Ritual You’ll Want to Keep

Comments

[spikedluv]

I think too many hoops would make me want to take a pass, too.

[cornerofmadness]

I'm seeing that a lot lately, all the hoops and then some weird place to submit vs emailing it

[ysilme]

Yay for finding the perfect pot for your Bonsai! What kind of tree do you have? About two decades ago I had my first indoor one although I forgot the kind, and it grew very well until our first holiday when our plant sitters (my father-in-law) managed to kill it. I've always wanted to try it again but we didn't have an opportunity to buy good Bonsais later on as the only nursery having them had closed, and since then am plannign to try to raise outdoor bonais of my own. We're having a tiny beech and a tiny oak in a regular pot with that in mind; both seedlings we dug out, but I have yet to get myself reaquainted with the technique to get to work at them. I may end up "just" keeping them as small potted trees; I find the root trimming quite daunting. Come to think of - back in the day all you did by books or what a gardener told you, as Youtube didn't really exist for that purpose yet. I suppose I just need to find the right kind of tutorial to show me!
At least taking care of them wouldn't be a problem any longer; since we're having catsitters coming twice a day in our absence, it wouldn't be a problem even on hot summer days. Colour me inspired! ^^
I hope the tomatoes will survive, too. I always hate it to see plants die of neglect, and sometimes also buy them just out of pity as long as they don't have/attract pests and I can't isolate them properly.

[cornerofmadness]

Thanks. This is the larger style bonsai. It's a fig tree. I treat it with benign neglect (i.e. It's an upright since every time I try to train a tree it dies. I don't even mess with its roots). Yeah I started with the books. I've never even gone to the YouTube tutorials but I want to get another smaller one so I'll have to then. Like you I dug out a little pine who is also just being neglected in a pot. I have intentions...

Also same here. Feeling sorry for dying plants is how I now have a succulent garden