I’m in what I consider a healthy competition with myself to do better each year. As of this moment, I have written and submitted more in 2014 than I did in 2013. I’ve had 2 publications both years – but this year’s both are pro level publications. I revised less, but I think I revised better. I’m working more through my revisions, so rather than 4 or 5 drafts per story, I’m looking at 3 to 4 before I submit. I’m still learning though, or more of my stories would have been accepted.
The big question is what am I working on for the rest of the year? I’m veering away from short stories for the next six weeks. I’m writing a novella, what I believe will be the first in a four or five novella series. I’m preparing to jump back into my fantasy novel. 40k words will need to be written and I’m aiming for New Year’s Eve as a finish date for that.
I love my short stories. I push a lot of words out every year and feel accomplished by getting them done. I also love my long projects which I’ve been neglecting. It’s difficult to do both together, so I need to binge on one form for a while then move on to another. Oddly, the break from the short stories is actually helping with them. While my focus is on the longer projects and the immense fun worldbuilding is, my short story characters pop into my brain unexpectedly with a “what if” question.
“What if” I reversed genders for the the main characters in that SF story. That would be amusing, actually. When it comes back from submission, I might just do that. It would mean SHE would save HIS rear. And when HE begs for the kiss, there are more than just sexual impulses that she uses to decide. Another story has been on the see-saw of ‘is this fantasy or science fiction’? Because it’s still at the point it can go either way. It has to be one of those, but the specific details will be changed to ground it in the right one. That I’ve been so unsure meant the story wasn’t ready to be done. Except now I’ve got a reason to make it fantasy.
The problem I’m having is that since my brain is immersed in the longer projects, I’m thinking about how my short stories can be combined (characters and worlds) to make novels or a novella series. Oh the trouble I’m in.
But these are good problems to have and I’m happy with my writing progress. I applied for a January online workshop. I’m thinking about using some time off from the day job to do some December writing. 🙂 So many stories to write, so little time to squeeze them out.
DAWN BONANNO 