One down, eleven to go

January was, if you have read any of my posts through the month you know this already- slow. I managed nothing spectacular.

Writing accomplishments (or lack thereof) in January:
Words written in story form: between 2,000 and 2,500.
Stories written: 1 flash piece posted on my blog.
Stories rejected: 2
Stories accepted: 0

That pretty much covers it. February is going to be much better, if I can get past the weather related problems that seemed to plague me and every other Iowan that I know of. And my little water problem. And that whole, brain and fingers don't want to cooperate thing as well. I just know that things are going to get better. They have to.

Have a great day. :)

October in Retrospect

I have managed to blow my record by not getting acceptances in October. This is the first time since November I believe. As they say, all good things must come to an end. I did receive seven rejections and managed to write two new stories and start on another (I still need to finish up that Zombie Western). I had two stories published. Beneath the Willows was published in Bards and Sages and The Glass Jar was published in Fissure. In an uninteresting side note both of these publication managed to get my name wrong. Bards and Sages fixed it but as Fissure is a chapbook form and has already gone to print I will be known in there as James Eyberg.

Today is the first day of NaNo and I should be working on that, but I am using this as a writing exercise and trying to loosen my stiff fingers (because getting old stinks). Good luck to everyone doing it and to all of you out there cheerleading us on, thank you.

Gone in an instant

September, hello? Are you around here? No? Who the hell are you? Oh, Hi October.

September was quite possibly the shortest month this year. It started off great. I made my only acceptance of the month in Midnight Echo issue #3 (should be out shortly) and was published in Feathertale.com on their short fiction page. Other than that I received 3 rejections and one new hold as a semi-finalist for the Shroud short fiction contest #7, where we are still trying to figure out which Monday Mr. Deal meant.

Other than that I wrote no completed short stories although I did start one, and I outlined a new YA book that I have a lot of research to do before I start. I also managed 1 query letter that didn't look like crap and did more editing on my MG book, Big Chief's Gold.

I have no goals in mind for October, we shall see what the month brings although I would like to finish this story I have started and outline the book I plan on writing for NaNo. Not real ambitious but my kids don't take naps anymore.

July in Review

I know it is August 3, already. this last month flew by and I do have some progress to show for. I managed to edit 20 percent of my MG book (although it was all done in one day.) and write several shorts. Here are the stats for the month.

Rejections: 2
Acceptances: 1 (This Candle Won't Last Forever, 215 words for the Letters From the Dead Antho) dang that was long.
new stories written: 4
Monday Morning (2800 words) ghost story
The Bone Munchers (6900 words) creature horror
The Nature of the Con (660 words) crime
This Candle Won't last Forever (215 words) end of days story
Stories out in Sub land: 13
Known shortlist stories: 2


Not a bad month. More productive on the short story front than the rest of the year has been. Maybe I am getting out of that slump. On the bad side, my book writing has taken a nosedive in productivity.

In August I am planning on getting a slew of responses from editors and really getting down to business on that MG manuscript. It will happen. Stop laughing, really I am planning on getting to it.

I am also planning on being a better blogger than I was last week. It was a very busy week and the progress I made on many of my house projects (many of them done) are proof that I wasn't just sitting around.

Until then, have a good and productive day.

June in retrospect

I really can't believe June is gone already. It seems like just yesterday it was March. This year is breaking the speed limit or something. I don't know what.

So, let me think of what June was. Okay, after checking my records I wrote one flash piece for Shroud and edited and edited and then I edited some more, but I finished with my edits on Beneath These Walls. I also managed no rejections and two acceptances, although one was a reprint. I have, as of this morning, 11 stories out in sub land. I read two books this month and started a third (it is non-fiction and probably wouldn't interest most of you).

Now I have goals for July. My first writing goal is to finish putting all of my edits into the computer and print a copy for my wife to read. I then plan on putting her suggestions to good use and then submit it. My second goal is to finish my Vermin story and submit it. My Third and final goal is to edit my MG book, let my wife read that, use her suggestions and start shopping for agents this month. I think I just crammed way too much into my month.

Let the fun of July begin!

May in Review

May was S-l-o-w. Very Slow. I haven't heard back from an Editor since May 9. Nothing. So my tally for the month is one acceptance from Fissure magazine (very cool little chapbook magazine) and two rejections. I wrote a single little story all 100 words of it for Necrotic Tissue. They weren't open to submissions so I sent it on to Weird tales where they rejected it. Now I am back to waiting for NT to open up.

I have 10 stories out in sub land. 5 of which have been out for 100 days or more and several others creeping up on it. I have been working, not feverishly but at a steady pace to finish my latest draft of Big Chief's Gold, the MG book I have been working on. I think I have two more chapters to finish and then I can get to work on another completed manuscript. It will be a round robin event with my books this summer. Get done working on one, put it away for a time and work on another until I have one ready to go out the door. Then the fun begins.

I am planning on catching up on some reading today. I finished reading a John Saul book this weekend. Interesting, a fun read, but like many books I read I thought the ending was a little rushed. At least it had a good epilogue to tie it all together.

Until later, have a good Monday.

Let the Summer begin

Yesterday was my daughter last day of kindergarten so today starts the first day of summer for us. It is supposed to be hot (86 degrees F) so I don't know what we are going to do. Probably play outside, sweat a lot, and come back inside. I might be able to talk them into wanting to go fishing, although there is the chance of thunderstorms this afternoon.

This will also be the first test of my summer writing schedule. I don't even know if I can call it a schedule at this point. It will probably be random stolen moments where I happen to be close to the computer and the house is fairly quiet (I can't write while there are any distractions around).

I am finding it incredulous that Monday is the first day of June and my youngest sister's birthday. Talk about making me feel old. We used to go to movies together and people thought I was her dad. She is only 3 years younger than me. There is a reason one of my nicknames in college was 'the old man.' A rather high hairline will do that to a guy.

Anyway, that was a little off the point, but I think I was trying to say that the end of month report will be coming out that day. It is looking like a very short report at this point, unless I get a slew of responses from editors, which isn't likely.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and enjoy the rest of your Friday as well. I might go try to drown a worm now.

Four down, eight to go

Well the Month of April was officially the slowest month I have had since March, 2008. Here are the stats:

Acceptences: 2 (Yippee! I tied a previous record for acceptances in a month)
Play Date in Sand for issue #5
Winter Solstice in M-Brane SF for issue #8
Rejections: 4 (one for a story that was later accepted.)
Short stories written: 0 (although I did start one)
Books written: 0 (although I have worked diligently on one all month)
agents queried: 0 (Lets face it, none of my books are ready for that just yet)
Books read: 3 (better than my usual average of 2)

All in all, a pretty slow month, although I can't complain about the acceptances. Looking forward to see what May brings.