One thing that I have struggled with is how to approach other writers' writing. I go to critique group, and the point of critique group is to let the other writers know what you enjoyed and also what you feel could be improved in what they have read.
So what do you do when someone at critique group reads something that is objectionable, but not in the writing sense... it's objectionable in the sense that, in real life, if you were reading that book, you'd put it down after the first couple of pages because you are *morally* objecting to the subject matter.
The approach I have taken thus far has been one of "hands off" morals/morality. I only comment on actual writerly mistakes/possible improvements. But it does get akward. I'm heartily glad we don't read one anothers' work in the critique group I currently attend, because even listening turns me beet red on occasion.
The hard thing, as an artist, is to figure out where that "line" really is. It has to be drawn in a different place when you are looking at the works of those who do not share your moral schema. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't do the "normal" missionary work... of being a good example, etc etc. But honestly, I feel there is absolutely no room for preachiness in a writer's critique group.
One of the writers I meet with every wendesday writes Romance novels. And by romance, I mean, ROMANCE, not the mormon girl twilight-hinting-but-not-quite-going-there stuff. Erotica.
Another writer is working on a manuscript that is about a completely amoral demon (who is a very well-written, extremely hilarious character, by the way) and his attempts to "switch sides." IN his story, the roles of God and Satan are, in a way, reversed... well, not reversed. His universe depicts all religions and supernatural beings as sort of human... imperfect in their own ways, ekeing out their own existence and competing for the "worship" of humans. Particularly, the worship/reverence of artists.
It is a great story. In every way.
And in real life, I'd never read it.
But as a critiquer, it completely stuns me. It's pretty amazing.
I feel a bit dissasociative, identity-wise, at times, in my critique group. But in the end, they are also ALL great people. Great, great, great. Funny funny funny. Still my tribe.
What's your thought about artists, and appropriateness, and lines, and morality and how it comes into everything?
Aug 19, 2011
Aug 11, 2011
To Blog or Not to Blog
Completely cheesy and predictable title, I know.
Listen, blogging friends.
I feel horrible for neglecting this blog that I have so faithfully kept updated for years. Five years... at least a post a month, but usually more like several per week.
What happened?
Well, when life is stressful, I tend to not want to write about it and talk with other people about it. I get really introverted. Us Nosurfs just went through a He-yuge change. We left friends behind. We left our HOME (yes, provo was our home. I lived there ten years, and Skywalker had been there sixteen by the time we left.) And we went off into the scary blue yonder without a clue as to what would be welcoming us.
Well, we're here now. In our house we bought (and therefore will be staying in for a long time.)
It's a gorgeous house. Startlingly so. I never expected so much... I feel so very overwhelmed with blessings at the moment. NO, I mean it... overwhelmed. Too much. Overflowing. Being poured over and drowned...
I know that this sounds ungrateful. I've been saying a lot of prayers lately to the effect of, "Dear Father, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for the astonishing blessings you've given me, but I'm feeling rather overwhelmed here..."
When you move to a place and decide on purpose that you'll be staying there for thirty years or so, it can be a little scary. Scratch that... it's terrifying. And while a piece of me aknowledges how much I love this place we've moved to... that it's our dream home in our dream town and still within 20 minutes of Skywalker's dream job, I'm still reeling from all the changes. Still recovering. Still offloading all the stress.
And another problem is that right now, the only internet connection I have is a tethered android phone. IT works, but the blogging I could usually get done in one hour now takes me four. It's made for a lot less internet-browsing, blog-hopping, drive-by-or-more-thoughtful-commenting, or really, reading anything and everything on the internets.
But I am going to force myself to blog once a week. Thursday evenings. HOld me to it... It's Skywalker's night out and generally speaking, I have nothing better to do than to sit for five minutes at a time watching a loading bar creep across my screen :/
Anyway, don't abandon me, blogging friends. Please come visit me again... I'll be good, I promise. And there is likely some exciting stuff on the horizon... for all of us. I can't wait to read about what you're up to, even if I can't always find time to comment with my current internet situation.
--Nosurfgirl
Listen, blogging friends.
I feel horrible for neglecting this blog that I have so faithfully kept updated for years. Five years... at least a post a month, but usually more like several per week.
What happened?
Well, when life is stressful, I tend to not want to write about it and talk with other people about it. I get really introverted. Us Nosurfs just went through a He-yuge change. We left friends behind. We left our HOME (yes, provo was our home. I lived there ten years, and Skywalker had been there sixteen by the time we left.) And we went off into the scary blue yonder without a clue as to what would be welcoming us.
Well, we're here now. In our house we bought (and therefore will be staying in for a long time.)
It's a gorgeous house. Startlingly so. I never expected so much... I feel so very overwhelmed with blessings at the moment. NO, I mean it... overwhelmed. Too much. Overflowing. Being poured over and drowned...
I know that this sounds ungrateful. I've been saying a lot of prayers lately to the effect of, "Dear Father, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for the astonishing blessings you've given me, but I'm feeling rather overwhelmed here..."
When you move to a place and decide on purpose that you'll be staying there for thirty years or so, it can be a little scary. Scratch that... it's terrifying. And while a piece of me aknowledges how much I love this place we've moved to... that it's our dream home in our dream town and still within 20 minutes of Skywalker's dream job, I'm still reeling from all the changes. Still recovering. Still offloading all the stress.
And another problem is that right now, the only internet connection I have is a tethered android phone. IT works, but the blogging I could usually get done in one hour now takes me four. It's made for a lot less internet-browsing, blog-hopping, drive-by-or-more-thoughtful-commenting, or really, reading anything and everything on the internets.
But I am going to force myself to blog once a week. Thursday evenings. HOld me to it... It's Skywalker's night out and generally speaking, I have nothing better to do than to sit for five minutes at a time watching a loading bar creep across my screen :/
Anyway, don't abandon me, blogging friends. Please come visit me again... I'll be good, I promise. And there is likely some exciting stuff on the horizon... for all of us. I can't wait to read about what you're up to, even if I can't always find time to comment with my current internet situation.
--Nosurfgirl
May 11, 2011
Getting Published (for real, this time)
Remember when I did that post a while back and accidentally falsely made you think I had gotten an offer for one of my books?
Well, apparently my list was right on the money.
Because I just got an offer for one of my books.
Cedar Fort/Bonneville Books has offered me a contract for my pioneer novel.
Which I have accepted.
(eeeeee!!! I'm getting published. Is this real life?)
I'm having a hard time internalizing this, honestly. A very hard time. I have moments of calm and then a sudden surge of adrenaline twists my innards and makes the blond hairs stand up on my arms.
I'm getting published! After five years of writing-revising-workshopping-submitting-rewriting-critiquegroupgoing-resubmitting, I can finally call myself an novelist.
Sarah Dunster--novelist.
Thanks for listening to me be crazy. I'll keep y'all informed about things as they develop.
Well, apparently my list was right on the money.
Because I just got an offer for one of my books.
Cedar Fort/Bonneville Books has offered me a contract for my pioneer novel.
Which I have accepted.
(eeeeee!!! I'm getting published. Is this real life?)
I'm having a hard time internalizing this, honestly. A very hard time. I have moments of calm and then a sudden surge of adrenaline twists my innards and makes the blond hairs stand up on my arms.
I'm getting published! After five years of writing-revising-workshopping-submitting-rewriting-critiquegroupgoing-resubmitting, I can finally call myself an novelist.
Sarah Dunster--novelist.
Thanks for listening to me be crazy. I'll keep y'all informed about things as they develop.
Apr 30, 2011
if I had a million...
I don't know why, but while I was in the shower this afternoon (yes, it's been one of those days) I was thinking to myself about wishes, and djinies. And I thought of people who wish for a ton of money, and how it would really go if they did wish for something outlandish, like to be richer than anyone in the world.
It made me think a little bit about what I'd do if I suddenly came into a ton of money. Like, if I sold a book somewhere down the line, perhaps in ten years or so after I'd already established my name as an author, and a publisher was excited enough to give me a 1,000,0000 advance (by the way... never happens. Except to J.K Rowling.) Anyway, if such a thing did happen, what would I want to do with the money?
1) I think we'd invest the whole thing into mutual funds. At a standard interest rate of 10-12 percent, that'd give us an income of 100,000 a year. Before taxes, of course... which would likely leave a disposable income of around 70,000 a year, give or take.
2) I think we'd sit on it for a while, and still live like starving college students, and aggressively pay off a mortgage within a few years. Say, within two years. During this time, Skywalker would keep his job (maybe for five years or so) and make some contacts related to his dream of starting a business, and bring in the income we already have so that we could save.
3) After that, I'd want to save up (still interest--not touching principal, Skywalker still working) and purchase a piece of land in Ririe, Idaho, and save up to construct a home with cash---an off grid, strawbale, earth-contact home with a giant atrium. It'd be on at least 20 acres with a well, solar panels, a wind turbine, a giant garden, a nice little barn and a giant greenhouse, and a large, underground storage space for a two-years' supply of food.
4) Jeff would quit his job, start his business, and we'd build the house together. Our kids, at this point, would be teenagers (Loli 14) and we'd start saving for extended vactations--traveling around the world for education and also to do service projects in countries like Ghana or Ethiopia or Guatemala.
5) We'd buy electric vehicles. No more gas.
6) We'd put aside money to help (just help) with missions and the first year of college.
7) We'd save up for retirement and live together as a family. Skywalker and I would write, garden, take care of the giant herd of sheep and horses we'd gradually acquire, and educate our children. We'd live together as a family, completely independent and self-sufficient, learning the value of hard work and service.Which is exactly how people lived 100 years ago. Why is it so expensive, now?
8) We'd save up to contribute concrete things in our community that are needed. (E G playground, new book collections for libraries, musical instruments for underpriveleged children who want to learn to play, etc.)
9) Skywalker would likely want to get involved in local politics.
10) I would not, but I would support Skywalker.
11)We'd adopt two more Ethiopian Kids. They'd be babies this time, and they'd be boys, and they'd be HIV +.
More outlandish dreams: I have daydreamed about owning a cottage in the village of Dunster, somerset county, England. For no real reason :)
And a beachouse on the washington coast.
And a villa in Serrento, Italy.
And a remote, desert Island.
Siiiiigh.... now back to reality. Well, it isn't so bad, actually! I think, looking down this list, many these things are actually accomplishable. I think you woudln't really have to be a millionare to do a lot of them. Maybe on a smaller scale, but still.
So... if you had a million, what would you want to do?
It made me think a little bit about what I'd do if I suddenly came into a ton of money. Like, if I sold a book somewhere down the line, perhaps in ten years or so after I'd already established my name as an author, and a publisher was excited enough to give me a 1,000,0000 advance (by the way... never happens. Except to J.K Rowling.) Anyway, if such a thing did happen, what would I want to do with the money?
1) I think we'd invest the whole thing into mutual funds. At a standard interest rate of 10-12 percent, that'd give us an income of 100,000 a year. Before taxes, of course... which would likely leave a disposable income of around 70,000 a year, give or take.
2) I think we'd sit on it for a while, and still live like starving college students, and aggressively pay off a mortgage within a few years. Say, within two years. During this time, Skywalker would keep his job (maybe for five years or so) and make some contacts related to his dream of starting a business, and bring in the income we already have so that we could save.
3) After that, I'd want to save up (still interest--not touching principal, Skywalker still working) and purchase a piece of land in Ririe, Idaho, and save up to construct a home with cash---an off grid, strawbale, earth-contact home with a giant atrium. It'd be on at least 20 acres with a well, solar panels, a wind turbine, a giant garden, a nice little barn and a giant greenhouse, and a large, underground storage space for a two-years' supply of food.
4) Jeff would quit his job, start his business, and we'd build the house together. Our kids, at this point, would be teenagers (Loli 14) and we'd start saving for extended vactations--traveling around the world for education and also to do service projects in countries like Ghana or Ethiopia or Guatemala.
5) We'd buy electric vehicles. No more gas.
6) We'd put aside money to help (just help) with missions and the first year of college.
7) We'd save up for retirement and live together as a family. Skywalker and I would write, garden, take care of the giant herd of sheep and horses we'd gradually acquire, and educate our children. We'd live together as a family, completely independent and self-sufficient, learning the value of hard work and service.Which is exactly how people lived 100 years ago. Why is it so expensive, now?
8) We'd save up to contribute concrete things in our community that are needed. (E G playground, new book collections for libraries, musical instruments for underpriveleged children who want to learn to play, etc.)
9) Skywalker would likely want to get involved in local politics.
10) I would not, but I would support Skywalker.
11)We'd adopt two more Ethiopian Kids. They'd be babies this time, and they'd be boys, and they'd be HIV +.
More outlandish dreams: I have daydreamed about owning a cottage in the village of Dunster, somerset county, England. For no real reason :)
And a beachouse on the washington coast.
And a villa in Serrento, Italy.
And a remote, desert Island.
Siiiiigh.... now back to reality. Well, it isn't so bad, actually! I think, looking down this list, many these things are actually accomplishable. I think you woudln't really have to be a millionare to do a lot of them. Maybe on a smaller scale, but still.
So... if you had a million, what would you want to do?
Mar 31, 2011
Drug-Induced Paranoia
No, I haven't been hitting the reefer.
I titled the post this way because of a facebook conversation I instigated the other day. I'm writing a fantasy novel, and one of my characters is a drug addict, and I want her to have a "bad trip" for the purposes of my plot, and so I solicited opinions from my lotus-eating high school friends as to whether there's a such thing as a "bad marijuana trip."
The feedback I got was, yes, there is a such thing. People who have bad trips tend to experience extreme paranoia, eg, thinking everyone in the room suddenly hates them or has it out for them, feeling like people are doing things on purpose to send them messages/hurt them, etc.
One of the things mentioned by one of my knowledgeable friends was that an underlying mental-health problem, like an anxiety disorder, can sometimes cause this in conjunction with Marijuana, even if there's no overdose.
It is scary, reading these things because I have this happen to me sometimes. I've learned to sense when my thoughts become distorted in this way, and just sort of ride them out, nod and smile in social situations and try to not act weird because of it. But it's not easy.
And it's odd. I realize suddenly, in a way I'd never thought of it before, that this is not a normal thing at all. My friend stated that her dad gave up his favorite drug because he was starting to feel "paranoid" all the time.
I'm wondering to myself, is there a counter-herb, that could do the opposite? I've taken St. Jon's Wort before. I wonder. If Heavenly Father created a plant like Marijuana, which can relax people but can also instigate paranoia if it's overused, then is there something out there that does the opposite. Did Heavenly Father send his children to this earth knowing some would struggle, and also put things on this earth that would help them specifically with those struggles, if they sought it out? (Again... I'm not intending to hit the reefer or start shooting up or anything... it's just some thoughts about the universe I've been having.)
It makes me wonder about myself a little. The thing is, I'm a pretty functional person. And let's face it--everyone has their issues. In fact, perhaps my biggest weakness in the past is not allowing others to see my issues, see my vulnerability because I was too ashamed of it.
Anyway, some deep thoughts. All this makes me want to reach out to the universe and say, "hey. It's a good place I'm living in. People are great, and I'm a good person and people like me." It makes me want to write it on a sticky note (trite as it is) and stick it on the mirror... though I know that, in the moment, not even something like that would really help. Riding it out--making sure you don't damage relationships when a spell hits you--that's all I've found, in my short three decades of life, that really helps.
Anyway. THoughts, insights about things that you tend to struggle with? And ways you've found actually work to combat them?
I titled the post this way because of a facebook conversation I instigated the other day. I'm writing a fantasy novel, and one of my characters is a drug addict, and I want her to have a "bad trip" for the purposes of my plot, and so I solicited opinions from my lotus-eating high school friends as to whether there's a such thing as a "bad marijuana trip."
The feedback I got was, yes, there is a such thing. People who have bad trips tend to experience extreme paranoia, eg, thinking everyone in the room suddenly hates them or has it out for them, feeling like people are doing things on purpose to send them messages/hurt them, etc.
One of the things mentioned by one of my knowledgeable friends was that an underlying mental-health problem, like an anxiety disorder, can sometimes cause this in conjunction with Marijuana, even if there's no overdose.
It is scary, reading these things because I have this happen to me sometimes. I've learned to sense when my thoughts become distorted in this way, and just sort of ride them out, nod and smile in social situations and try to not act weird because of it. But it's not easy.
And it's odd. I realize suddenly, in a way I'd never thought of it before, that this is not a normal thing at all. My friend stated that her dad gave up his favorite drug because he was starting to feel "paranoid" all the time.
I'm wondering to myself, is there a counter-herb, that could do the opposite? I've taken St. Jon's Wort before. I wonder. If Heavenly Father created a plant like Marijuana, which can relax people but can also instigate paranoia if it's overused, then is there something out there that does the opposite. Did Heavenly Father send his children to this earth knowing some would struggle, and also put things on this earth that would help them specifically with those struggles, if they sought it out? (Again... I'm not intending to hit the reefer or start shooting up or anything... it's just some thoughts about the universe I've been having.)
It makes me wonder about myself a little. The thing is, I'm a pretty functional person. And let's face it--everyone has their issues. In fact, perhaps my biggest weakness in the past is not allowing others to see my issues, see my vulnerability because I was too ashamed of it.
Anyway, some deep thoughts. All this makes me want to reach out to the universe and say, "hey. It's a good place I'm living in. People are great, and I'm a good person and people like me." It makes me want to write it on a sticky note (trite as it is) and stick it on the mirror... though I know that, in the moment, not even something like that would really help. Riding it out--making sure you don't damage relationships when a spell hits you--that's all I've found, in my short three decades of life, that really helps.
Anyway. THoughts, insights about things that you tend to struggle with? And ways you've found actually work to combat them?
Things We Say: Proper Terminology
*disclaimer... we are very honest and open in our house about what some would likely consider to be embarrassing topics*
Bella (watching NSG nurse baby Rose: Mom, Rose loves nipples.
NSG: Yup.
Bella: Moms have big nipples, mom.
NSG: Actually, the correct term for it is breasts, Bella. Nipples are just the part at the end where the milk comes from.
Bella: Oh. Mom, I wish I had breasts.
NSG: Someday you will. Your body will change when you get older, and you'll start becoming a woman and not a little girl.
MayMay: Will they be big?
NSG: I don't know. You'll just have to see.
MayMay: Mom, I want mine to be THIS BIG. (Holding her arms straight out in front of her).
NSG: (studiously not laughing) I think that'd probably hurt your back a lot.
(Setting: NSG fam has just said prayers, and are engaging in a little compliment-exchange that we traditionally do after prayers. Earlier in the day, one of the children was disobedient the point of being put in their room during lunchtime, which they had after nap instead.)
MayMay: Mom, I always get sad when people have to miss meals.
NSG: Yup. It's sad.
MayMay: I cry a lot.
Loli: yeah, you get pretty emotional.
NSG: (laughs out loud)
Loli: (Gives NSG a defensive glance) What? I know what it means, so I can say it!
NSG: (Nods, holding back further laughter.) Yes. Yes you can.
Bella (watching NSG nurse baby Rose: Mom, Rose loves nipples.
NSG: Yup.
Bella: Moms have big nipples, mom.
NSG: Actually, the correct term for it is breasts, Bella. Nipples are just the part at the end where the milk comes from.
Bella: Oh. Mom, I wish I had breasts.
NSG: Someday you will. Your body will change when you get older, and you'll start becoming a woman and not a little girl.
MayMay: Will they be big?
NSG: I don't know. You'll just have to see.
MayMay: Mom, I want mine to be THIS BIG. (Holding her arms straight out in front of her).
NSG: (studiously not laughing) I think that'd probably hurt your back a lot.
(Setting: NSG fam has just said prayers, and are engaging in a little compliment-exchange that we traditionally do after prayers. Earlier in the day, one of the children was disobedient the point of being put in their room during lunchtime, which they had after nap instead.)
MayMay: Mom, I always get sad when people have to miss meals.
NSG: Yup. It's sad.
MayMay: I cry a lot.
Loli: yeah, you get pretty emotional.
NSG: (laughs out loud)
Loli: (Gives NSG a defensive glance) What? I know what it means, so I can say it!
NSG: (Nods, holding back further laughter.) Yes. Yes you can.
Mar 24, 2011
on the writing front
I have decided to dedicate less time to blogging constantly, and instead set aside a day each week to write a new entry, and a couple days each week to check on friends and family and other blogs of interest.
Anyway, it's been a while, I know. I miss all of you physically and also cyberly.
I'm going to dedicate this entry to the stuff that has happened with me and writing, because it's been a lot, all of a sudden, like a gear that starts speeding up as it gets going. In short, things have been overwhelming! But in a good way.
So, as far as novel writing goes, I finished my historical fiction novel about a month ago, including rewrites and revisions. The first 100 pages were picked to pieces by my Orem critique group. It was the first critique group that I'd ever attended. The experience made me see that writers are similarly eccentric people. Even if they look normal, they're weird like me. It's so interesting. I just click with them, you know? Word nerds, who live inside their heads most of the time, who people-watch but aren't usually all that social....
Yes, it was a great experience, feeling like I've found my tribe, through the medium of meeting with those who share my interest. And I got a lot of important feedback. I've realized that it takes two things to improve substantially as a writer:
1) show your work to an impartial group of people who will be kind but also honest, and
2) do it. Every day.
I have started doing my writing in the mornings, before I do anything else, so that I can just get it done and not have it last all morning or afternoon, interrupted by the hundred little tasks I perform for my kids once I venture out of my room in the mornings. My goal is always 1100 words... I don't stop until I've done at least that much, and then I force myself to stop, even if I"m really excited, because then I'm excited all day about my writing, and I wake up excited and it's easy to get going again. I also almost always make sure that when I stop, I am excited, or at least, I have a place to go for the next writing session.
So.... news.
Well, I got a poem published on Wilderness Interface Zone; a blog that supports the community of LDS nature writers and artists. It's a very, very friendly environment to publish in, and so if you're interested in getting your work out there and getting your name out there in the LDS artistic community, it's a good way to start. If you've got poetry or creative non-fiction that is literary and has a theme of nature, you're welcome to submit there. Right now they have the "spring runoff" poetry competition going on. You can submit any poem that has spring as a theme.
I will have two more published on this site in the next while. I'll link here to them when they appear on the site.
I also won Segullah Magazine's short fiction contest, with the first chapter of the historical fiction novel that I just sent off to Deseret (cross your fingers that they'll actually look it over!! I have more hope this time.) I also happened to get an honorable mention in the Segullah spring contests for another of my poems, as well.
Dialogue has asked to republish the poem I already had on Wilderness Interface Zone, in their summer issue which is devoted to themes of nature.
In addition, I was contacted by an editor of an upcoming anthology of LDS poetry, and asked to submit several of my poems. Five have been tentatively accepted and will appear in the anthology. I'm most excited about this one, because I will be appearing alongside a lot of great names (and much greater writing than my own), and there is anticipation that this might be a sort of groundbreaking thing in the LDS community.
So... all this is insane. The only thing that keeps me from feeling really, really inadequate and really, really worried that I might suddenly disappoint people is remembering that I love writing, no matter what, and will keep doing it, no matter what.
Plus I have a killer critique group right now. And a couple of them are award winning poets. Most of them in my group have already been published, and so there is a lot of wisdom in the room, and a lot of concise, accurate feedback which I so badly need right now. I'll have to write about them sometime; they're a really colorful, fun bunch, and we're all working on very different kinds of projects, so it always makes for an interesting Wednesday when I venture down to Ammon for the meetings (yes. A lot of gas money. But as I said last week to the guy who heads it up--worth it.)
So right now I'm just crossing my fingers that Deseret will like my novel, and that I might also do well in Irreantum's contest, where I have also submitted a few poems and another chapter of my novel. (By the way... the submissions window hasn't closed on this yet. If you're a writer, think of submitting something. It's a great way to have something to put in a query letter, and as I said before, gets your name out there.)
Anyway, it's been a while, I know. I miss all of you physically and also cyberly.
I'm going to dedicate this entry to the stuff that has happened with me and writing, because it's been a lot, all of a sudden, like a gear that starts speeding up as it gets going. In short, things have been overwhelming! But in a good way.
So, as far as novel writing goes, I finished my historical fiction novel about a month ago, including rewrites and revisions. The first 100 pages were picked to pieces by my Orem critique group. It was the first critique group that I'd ever attended. The experience made me see that writers are similarly eccentric people. Even if they look normal, they're weird like me. It's so interesting. I just click with them, you know? Word nerds, who live inside their heads most of the time, who people-watch but aren't usually all that social....
Yes, it was a great experience, feeling like I've found my tribe, through the medium of meeting with those who share my interest. And I got a lot of important feedback. I've realized that it takes two things to improve substantially as a writer:
1) show your work to an impartial group of people who will be kind but also honest, and
2) do it. Every day.
I have started doing my writing in the mornings, before I do anything else, so that I can just get it done and not have it last all morning or afternoon, interrupted by the hundred little tasks I perform for my kids once I venture out of my room in the mornings. My goal is always 1100 words... I don't stop until I've done at least that much, and then I force myself to stop, even if I"m really excited, because then I'm excited all day about my writing, and I wake up excited and it's easy to get going again. I also almost always make sure that when I stop, I am excited, or at least, I have a place to go for the next writing session.
So.... news.
Well, I got a poem published on Wilderness Interface Zone; a blog that supports the community of LDS nature writers and artists. It's a very, very friendly environment to publish in, and so if you're interested in getting your work out there and getting your name out there in the LDS artistic community, it's a good way to start. If you've got poetry or creative non-fiction that is literary and has a theme of nature, you're welcome to submit there. Right now they have the "spring runoff" poetry competition going on. You can submit any poem that has spring as a theme.
I will have two more published on this site in the next while. I'll link here to them when they appear on the site.
I also won Segullah Magazine's short fiction contest, with the first chapter of the historical fiction novel that I just sent off to Deseret (cross your fingers that they'll actually look it over!! I have more hope this time.) I also happened to get an honorable mention in the Segullah spring contests for another of my poems, as well.
Dialogue has asked to republish the poem I already had on Wilderness Interface Zone, in their summer issue which is devoted to themes of nature.
In addition, I was contacted by an editor of an upcoming anthology of LDS poetry, and asked to submit several of my poems. Five have been tentatively accepted and will appear in the anthology. I'm most excited about this one, because I will be appearing alongside a lot of great names (and much greater writing than my own), and there is anticipation that this might be a sort of groundbreaking thing in the LDS community.
So... all this is insane. The only thing that keeps me from feeling really, really inadequate and really, really worried that I might suddenly disappoint people is remembering that I love writing, no matter what, and will keep doing it, no matter what.
Plus I have a killer critique group right now. And a couple of them are award winning poets. Most of them in my group have already been published, and so there is a lot of wisdom in the room, and a lot of concise, accurate feedback which I so badly need right now. I'll have to write about them sometime; they're a really colorful, fun bunch, and we're all working on very different kinds of projects, so it always makes for an interesting Wednesday when I venture down to Ammon for the meetings (yes. A lot of gas money. But as I said last week to the guy who heads it up--worth it.)
So right now I'm just crossing my fingers that Deseret will like my novel, and that I might also do well in Irreantum's contest, where I have also submitted a few poems and another chapter of my novel. (By the way... the submissions window hasn't closed on this yet. If you're a writer, think of submitting something. It's a great way to have something to put in a query letter, and as I said before, gets your name out there.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)