Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Not quite the end of the month - but what the heck - might as well post something

I was just sitting here reading some other friends' blogs and decided to update you all on where I am with my writing and other things in my life.

Let's see - this month I've only worked on one contest entry and sort of working on a nonfiction entry. I have submitted my April Fools story to www.armchairinterviews.com for the upcoming contest. I thought my story was pretty good with the revisions and all but apparently the writing group (http://bellsouthpwp.net/g/c/gcscww/) wasn't too fond of the story. I write short, fun things that tend to be simple. The group didn't like the repetition in the story but being an April Fools day theme, how can you not have repetition -- but enough said - the story has been revised, ending changed and submitted for the contest. The winners will be informed around April 15th - a chance to win 4 books (first place) or 1 book (first runner up and second runner up) and be published on their website until the next contest --- I have fun and that's what counts

My nonfiction piece is for Creative Nonfiction - the magazine - http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/whatisnew.htm - it has to do with the medical field and that is my field of expertise being a medical transcriptionist.

The middle of the month had me flying to Jersey for a new job, training in the office and then having my computer transported back home to start working. The job is basically similar to what I was doing before but it uses a different platform and getting used to the New York accents is the tough part. That was a plane trip from hell really - and I won't do that again - I'll drive it or fly big airplanes if I have to go up that way again. I was on an express jet which was probably no bigger than a volkswagen bug and a half on the inside - tight seating and only 50 people on the plane. - not for me ever again.

As soon as my nonfiction is finished and submitted, I'll be starting on my children's stories/series - so be on the lookout for that - and my revisions on my mini-mystery - So for now, it looks as if things are looking up for me and that I'm moving right along - see you all next month - E :)

Friday, March 03, 2006

what's that saying - March comes in like a lion, April showers, May flowers?

Yep, sure enough it is March. So since the last posting - here is what has happened in the little corner of the world that is my world:

The weekend of February 17-19, the kids and I helped out at the Dahlonega Literary Festival, very low keyed but overall a good experience. We got to monitor the "Scholastic Book Fair" part of the whole thing, with my daughter dressing up like Clifford the Big Red Dog and enjoying herself. On Saturday evening, we headed over to the Holly Theater for a talk about "Haunted Holly" and it was very interesting to learn the local hauntings of the theater. Poor Amy giving her speech and telling us all about the ghosts there which she had researched for her book "Dahlonega Hauntings" - now I don't know about you all but I'm firm believer in ghosts and other beings and even though not everyone could see him, there was one on stage kind of mocking Amy while she was speaking. Of course, her reply to being told that several persons saw him was "Why can't I see them?" - so you never know when you may come across the next inspiration for a story.

The weekend of February 24-26, I headed down to Columbia, South Carolina, for the South Carolina Book Festival and enjoyed my stay for the weekend. It was totally exhausting Saturday all day but well worth the time and effort as a volunteer. You never know who you will run into at something like that - and yep, I ran into a self-published author, who was an ex-co-worker of mine about 10 years ago. So needless to say, I had contact with a friend.

My whole idea for these 2 weekends is to do some volunteer work with your local book festivals and get your foot in the door with editors, publishers, other authors and you just never know when your big break will come along.

About to submit an April Fool's Day story and once I know if it has placed or anything, I will post here.

Working on a nonfiction story/essay type thing and hopefully in a couple of months, will know about that (okay a few months, not a couple because I have a couple of months before it is ready for submission.)

Any readers want to post any stories or links - please feel free to do so - every bit helps others and you never know - the one thing you have may be the big break for someone else -

Hopefully March will be a good month for everyone and the winter weather will move on (fingers crossed and wishful thinking) - E :)