Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Somehow today outside of some simple edits, I managed to do all the major, time consuming global searches for filter and crutch words on the last third of my novel. It's done....and I'm paralyzed. It's been years since I have had a novel ready to go as Jana.

I finished tThese Haunted Hills in 2019 just as Dreamspinner blew up. Then 2020 brought covid and my struggling to flip all my teaching online. I could have submitted in 2021 (and some of my paper edits date to then) but I fell and I've been recovering from the damage ever since.


I don't even understand the fear. It's not like I haven't done this before. Sure there are always those butterflies. Is my editor still with my new publisher? I never sent them the promised novella. Do they want to hear from me? Is this imposter syndrome? Is this a little of all the above. Yeah. I mean there's no way I'm not sending it in. I don't even think they'd say no to this one because I think it's very good.

Could I go the self pubbed route. Yes. Do I want to? Not so much because I know I'm lousy at marketing. Sigh. But it's done and that's a major accomplishment and I should celebrate that.

Open Call

Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores February 2023 (Early Listing)

Violent Delights And Midsummer Dreams (Early) (Shakespeare retellings, this could be fun)

The Quiet Ones April 2023 issue (Early)


Dip Your Toe into Horror with The Maul

Story Unlikely 2023 Window You have to subscribe to their free magazine...interesting (also high pay rate)

Haven Speculative 2023 General Submissions Call #1 (Early)

Strange Horizons: Wuxia & Xianxia Special (another high pay rate)

Mythaxis January 2023 Submission Period (Early Listing)

Oxford University Press: Now Accepting Proposals and Manuscript Submissions

Spank the Carp: Now Seeking Submissions

New Year, New Opportunities for Writers in January 2023


30 Literary Fiction Publishers that Accept Direct Submissions – No Agent Required

Links from around the web

Writing Goals: Seven Ways to Ensure You Reach Them

Want to Build Tension? Encourage the Reader to Ask Questions

7 Tips for Opening Your Story In Medias Res

TikTok for Authors: The Ultimate Guide


How to Use GMC (Goal, Motivation, and Conflict) to Test a Story Idea


BEYOND WHAT IF?: Four plot hacks that really work


How To Talk About Your Book

#5onFri: From Idea to Drafting in Five Steps

Get Booked on a Podcast by Answering One Question

How Writers Can Benefit From Attending Local Book Fairs and Comic Cons



Book Genres Every Writer Should Know


From Betty


Need a Writing Buddy? Find One Right Here!

How to Become a Confident Author

UPCOMING WRITING WORKSHOPS January–December 2023

The Difference Between Setting and World Building

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals for a Productive Writing Year

Twelve Sources of Wish Fulfillment for Your Story

Fear Thesaurus: Being a Burden to Others

Writing Insecure Characters

An Unbreakable Promise to Readers

Coffee, with a Side of Deadline Hectoring

TV Causalities: Avoiding Bad Habits from Visual Media

The Biggest Mistake Even Expert Writers Make

How to live creatively

Comments

[sperrywink]

Congratulations! FInishing a novel is huge, particularly in these challenging times.

[cornerofmadness]

Yes it is, thank you

[under_the_silk_tree]

Congrats on finishing your novel that is such a big accomplishment!

I hope you find a fun way to reward yourself for all your hard work.

[cornerofmadness]

thanks so much. Yeah I would like to find a fun reward for myself

[ysilme]

Congratulations, that's a major achivement! ***\O/*** I think it doesn't matter that you've done this before and know the ropes - just the time difference and dealing with your injury and the aftermath might make such a difference to you, or it could be all the immense changes caused by the pandemic, or both, or something else... I've witnessed and experienced it myself over and over again that major things in your everyday life can - or rather most likely will - draw you out of what's been comfortable and easy to do before, and present you back to it with new challenges and fears unlocked.
But anyway, best of luck with the continuing process! ♥

[cornerofmadness]

thanks so much. You could easily be right about all of that. One of the things I'm thinking is, this is as close to contemporary romance as I've ever written. Usually I go niche urban fantasy gay romance which oddly is a small readership that I don't expect to do a lot of sales. I'm not sure how I'll feel if this tanks

[ysilme]

That makes a lot of sense! I'm keeping my fingers crossed even more tightly now. *hugs*

[cornerofmadness]

thanks

[scribblemoose]

I swear all those doubts lurk, just ready to pounce on us when we least expect them. I've been in the same position for over a year now. So well done!!

I hope the fear leaves you alone soon!

[cornerofmadness]

they really do, don't they? Thanks and good luck with your projects too

[cmk418]

Congrats on having a book at that stage. Wishing you well in the next part of this journey!

[cornerofmadness]

thanks so much

[quillpunk]

congrats on finishing!

[cornerofmadness]

thanks