Category: Write 1/Sub 1

publication, Write 1/Sub 1

Cold Fingers Mean You Just Type Faster

M.E. Garber

I’m happy to announce that my story Frost Patterns will be live at Fiction 365 on Saturday, January 5. As you can guess, with a title like that it’s very seasonally appropriate for us in the northern hemisphere.

frostedleaves

In other news, I’m doing well with Write 1/Sub 1. I’m more than halfway finished with a new short story (putting me ahead of the game, since it officially doesn’t begin until NEXT week–the first full week of 2013), and have in mind a specific market for it, requiring a fast submission. Without W1S1, I doubt I’d have pushed myself to go for this. If you’re on the fence, then, all I can say is that for me, W1S1 works.

My desk is up against a wall with a window that overlooks the Rocky River valley below. It’s very peaceful, and pleasant, etc., etc., but there is a drawback that I’m now discovering: the window/wall joins in this old building aren’t exactly well-insulated, and a cold draft flows over my desk, and my keyboard, before falling to my feet. It’s cold! Hubby (who’s working from home here in Ohio this week yet) and I pass a small space heater back and forth between us, chasing off the chill. (Type faster! Don’t let the fingers ice up or we’re done for!) Ah, the joys of winter.

Nature, Uncategorized, Write 1/Sub 1

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

M.E. Garber

The forecast has been calling for snow, and lots of it: up to twelve inches! But you know how the news can be ‘over-reaching’ for a good story. So do I. However, it is snowing heavily outside my window, and this is just the beginning of the 24-hour snow period. It’s already covering the ground in a thin blanket of white. Hmmm, there might be some truth to this ‘heavy snowfall’ idea after all. Looks like I’ll be walking to the store soon (yes, I’m lucky enough to be able to walk to a nearby grocery store). And then I’ll have plenty of time for writing … .

The snow from my window. It's so thick with snow the opposite bank of the river is obscured!
The snow from my window. It’s so thick with snow the opposite bank of the river is obscured!

In writing news, I’m preparing for the 2013 Write 1/Sub 1 year. I’ve made a chart to track my progress for each week. I’m preparing a story this week, editing it in preparation for submitting it next week. And I’m lining up story ideas and editable bits for later weeks.

I’ll admit it’s more than a little daunting looking at that blank chart, seeing all those lines awaiting my markings denoting a story written or submitted. But no one is  forcing me to write. I’m doing this because, in the end, I love it. I want to write, and to improve, one must write more, one must exercise those muscles until it becomes second nature (“wax on, wax off,” in Karate Kid-speak) and the words and ideas can flow instead of stutter.

I’ll post again soon with an accounting of my year in writing, giving a synopsis of my successes and failures according to my stated goals for the year. But I’m going to share a tidbit now: I’m closing in on 100 posts! Yay! This from a person who just over a year ago wondered if “this blog thing” would work out at all. 😛

I’d like to end with a question to all the writers and writers-to-be out there: Are you continuing with Duotrope, on either an annual or a monthly basis? If not, where are you headed, and why? I’m still on the fence. I love the service, but — ouch! — $50 is a lot of cash. $25-$35 and I’d jump right on board, but at fifty, I’m hesitating. What’s your feeling on the matter?

goals, Write 1/Sub 1

Dreams of Obsolescence, and Write 1/Sub 1 in 2013

M.E. Garber

I had the strangest darn dream last night. In it, I got a letter from Clarion accepting me as a 2013 attendee (yay!). The letter told me the list of supplies was included in the envelope. Tipping it over let a 3.5″ floppy disk fall out onto my hand. OH!!!! How was I ever going to see what I needed to attend?

As you might image, I woke after this and wondered what in the world I ate to conjure up such a strange dream. (I hope the first part is true, that at least one of the workshops accepts me this year. If they do, I’ll deal with a floppy disk–somehow.) Then I settled into nice, normal dreams of the zombie apocalypse… 😉 I’m sure hoping this isn’t one of those unusual animal messengers infiltrating my dreamscapes. Maybe that disk contained an encoded, um, earthworm? A chartreuse one.

W1S1 Year 3 GraphicOh, hey, what’s this strange-yet-cool badge here? Well, I’ve decided to join up with Write 1/Sub 1 in 2013. It’s a group of writers who are following in Ray Bradbury’s footsteps. From their site: “Ray Bradbury is reported to have finished a story each week, mailed it out to a magazine, then got to work right away on his next story. We’re going to spend this year in his shadow.”

There are two categories: monthly or weekly. I, of course, can’t fit into such strictures, so I’m carving out my own niche. I’m going for bi-weekly. To illustrate: this week write a story, the next week submit a story, the third week write a story, the fourth submit a story. Repeat each month. Since I don’t write much flash fiction, this fits my writing style better, and my goals. The weekly check-in will help keep me motivated. And the cheerleading … well, can you ever have too much cheerleading? (Outside of high school sports, that is?)

I’m hoping Write 1/Sub 1 will increase my output (I’ve gotten into the holiday slump — ugh.). I’m also hoping to join in with a wider community of writers. Are you a W1/S1 member? Have any advice? Thinking of joining? Let me know. And I’ll let you know how it goes for me in 2013.