The Writers Aspirant Accountability Thread

Posted by: @storysinger

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I went into a deep depression when a friend of mine, Danny "Fingers" Davis passed unexpectedly. He was the best guitarist I ever shared a stage with.

We won contests together and played more than a hundred live shows. I really miss him.

It hasn't stopped my writing, only makes it hard to focus on the task at hand. RIP Danny. The words are blurred for some reason.  

Sorry to hear/read that. It isn't easy losing someone close. 

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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At times like this its natural to want to withdraw but that can be counterproductive, and I hope that this community is at least one refuge for you

This community is definitely my go to place. I enjoy interacting with all of my fellow forumites. Peace out my friends. Write on.

@ajschultz6, @clfors, @writhmic, @pdblake, @annax, @kz_richards, @toddjones, @joel-c-scoberg, @storysinger, @physa, @pegeen, @kent, @sconn, @gideonpsmith, @ericstallsworth,

There's a week left of this quarter! My inbox is open for Q4 critiques, pro-bono, and they'll jump to the top of my queue, too. Note: I'm going to limit myself to 5k words per critique, so if your story is longer than that I'll read the first 4k and the last 1k.

And this offer is open to everyone on the forum, not just those that I've tagged/nagged. 

Fingers and toes crossed for all of you.

Entered Q4, V40 last Monday. Currently plotting Q1, V41. I need more stories in the pipeline as I'm down to four stories out on submission (The rest are waiting for submission windows to open on their last few real markets.) So, I want to knock out Q1 quickly and get on to other pieces, including the nearly plotted novel.

I define a "real market" as one which will pay at least $100 for the story, so the cut-off for my average story is four cents per word. To me, this is a job that I want to do for pay. Congratulations, well wishes, and pride never bought a loaf of bread.

How does this meld with my "Have fun" salutation? Twice removed from reality, fiction stories are abstractions using written language, an abstraction itself. These characters, strung together in a certain way, tease out emotions hiding at the core of the reader. Within a reader, I can build an emotional bridge to a world they've never seen and allow them a carefree frolic that escapes the tensions of the real world for a time. That's fun.

Make your dreams real.

@toddjones I'm a little late to the party, but I am sorry for the loss of your father. I do hope that your mother has recovered and is doing well and improving. Please read more to her. I think that's sweet that she requests that from you.

@storysinger I'm sorry about the loss of your friend. I'm happy you both got to do so many live shows and got to jam together. I know he will be missed but I also know his memory will live on.

@ease Thank you for trying to hold me accountable, even when I haven't been here. It's been kind of a weird one for me.

I went cold turkey on writing while trying to figure out what I'm doing and where I'm going with my life. Curveballs are the best and worse, aren't they? Because as I stopped writing and had turned my focus away from all of this to other things, I was accepted as a first reader for a fantasy publication. Yay, right? But wrong, because I was walking down a different path for personal reasons. I figured, oh, it's okay, because I'm not writing, I'll just be reading. So, I agreed. I did my due diligence. I read. I reviewed. I critiqued.

I can't even remember when I last logged into the forum. I know I submitted my Q3 right as it opened because I simply submitted something I altered from another failed entry, but after that, I haven't even been on my computer, let alone the forum. I told myself, "Oh well, I'll just submit this because it's good enough and it'll be the last submission I ever make to WoTF." And that was the end of that. I didn't look back. I had no reason to.

This is the first time I logged into the forum in a long while, a couple of months, I believe. I started writing again, not crazy like before, but just again. I took a story I started a while back and finished it today. And that felt good. So, I figured, I'll submit this for Q4. Why not?

So, here I am. Submitting, after this post.

I don't expect to be back like I was. I mean, I really loved the forum and I was all about writing. Everyone here was and still is amazing. I miss the people and the stories. I miss the friends I had and have made along the way. But, I'm still trying to figure things out. I'm not where I want to be. There's conflict in my head, arguments back and forth about writing. I haven't found a way to coexist peacefully, at least peacefully with myself, about it.

I wish everyone the best and I wish all of you much success. Good luck to everyone!

This is the best story I can do for now, and this is the best platform for it. I hope it finds a home somewhere in here.

Still here and already on for q4.

I'm taking a break for a while to focus on my novel and other stuff, but I'll try to get something in for q1 at some point.

&ease, thanks for the kick.

Posted by: @annax

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@toddjones I'm a little late to the party, but I am sorry for the loss of your father. I do hope that your mother has recovered and is doing well and improving. Please read more to her. I think that's sweet that she requests that from you.

So, here I am. Submitting, after this post.

I don't expect to be back like I was. I mean, I really loved the forum and I was all about writing. Everyone here was and still is amazing. I miss the people and the stories. I miss the friends I had and have made along the way. But, I'm still trying to figure things out. I'm not where I want to be. There's conflict in my head, arguments back and forth about writing. I haven't found a way to coexist peacefully, at least peacefully with myself, about it.

I wish everyone the best and I wish all of you much success. Good luck to everyone!

This is the best story I can do for now, and this is the best platform for it. I hope it finds a home somewhere in here.

Thank you for the kind words.

Glad you logged back in and hope you stick around. My head has been messed up, but the mind-fog is starting to clear. I started walking and settled on every other day doing a long walk and then trying to write on the other days.  Maybe something like that will help keep 'life' in control for you.

Keep writing and enjoy.

Posted by: @ease

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There's a week left of this quarter! My inbox is open for Q4 critiques, pro-bono, and they'll jump to the top of my queue, too.

Thank you for the offer.  I PMed you.   

I'm in for Q4 Vol 40! I had some helpful critiques from forumites that helped me refine my story (thank you again @physa @kz_richards @michelle-d).

Submitting this quarter also marks the first time I have submitted to all four quarters in a volume (and five consecutive quarters now), which was one of my writing goals this year. I'm pleased with that, and the fact this submission was a new story too. Now to wait  for results  

@joel-c-scoberg Thanks for your critique as well! This is also my first time submitting to all four quarters, and the fifth in a row.

Q4 story is shaping itself in my mind as I continue to write a fresh draft. Fingers crossed I can complete it by the Q4 buzzer! It's going to be a close one and I'm dealing with unexpected grief of losing a seemingly healthy cat to congestive heart failure that came out of the blue and Vet insisted the only humane thing for Jasper was to put him down as soon as possible. So that was Tuesday morning. I brought him in to the vet [Jasper was in excruciating pain, hind limbs paralyzed, left paw broken, struggling to breath, heart beating in panic mode] hoping he could be fixed and carried him away in a box. Tuesdays are my free days, but all I could do this past Tuesday were the most mundane of chores while crying. Jasper was the best cat.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss Amy. As far as writing to the deadline, I'm in the same boat.

Yesterday was the day I finally decided which of four stories to finish and enter in the contest.

If you need a fresh set of eyes on your story PM me.

Posted by: @joel-c-scoberg

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I'm in for Q4 Vol 40!  

Congrats on submitting.

Posted by: @joel-c-scoberg

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Submitting this quarter also marks the first time I have submitted to all four quarters in a volume (and five consecutive quarters now), which was one of my writing goals this year.

Awesome persistence.

Keep up the writing and have fun.

Posted by: @kz_richards

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This is also my first time submitting to all four quarters, and the fifth in a row.

Congrats on your persistence and writing goals for submitting. 

Posted by: @physa

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Q4 story is shaping itself in my mind as I continue to write a fresh draft. Fingers crossed I can complete it by the Q4 buzzer!  It's going to be a close one

You've got this. Keep writing and push through.

Posted by: @physa

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I'm dealing with unexpected grief of losing a seemingly healthy cat to congestive heart failure that came out of the blue and Vet insisted the only humane thing for Jasper was to put him down as soon as possible.

So sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my cat/friend last year and she was only seven, which is young for a cat. I ended up writing a story about her to help me work through it.  Maybe that's something for your Q1 or just do it for yourself.

Posted by: @storysinger

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Yesterday was the day I finally decided which of four stories to finish and enter in the contest.

Go Speed Typer Go!

@ease thx for the accountability! Much needed

I submitted my favorite story I’ve written in a while and one that I’ve been working on since Jan for Q4. Nerve wracking, but also a bit of a relief. I’ve gotten 3 HM’s for my first 3 WOTF subs which was a surprise because I thought some were definitely better than others and was expecting a RWC for my Q4. 

Starting to think that the judges prefer fantasy over hard sci fi? 

Finally started plotting a sequel to the self-pub’d book I wrote in ‘21 - I didn’t think I would but the first one has been selling out at the local bookstore so YAY! 

@physa I’m sorry for your loss.

By the way, I’m available to read a story or two if anyone wants some extra eyes on it. 

@physa I'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Amy.

Posted by: @sconn

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Finally started plotting a sequel to the self-pub’d book I wrote in ‘21 - I didn’t think I would but the first one has been selling out at the local bookstore so YAY!

  that's amazing!

So many of you are grieving losses right now. I’m so sorry for the pain and heaviness that brings but happy to see you still moving forward and reaching out. If any of you needs a fresh ear you can friend request me on Facebook and PM me. Cherrie Lynn is my personal account, CL Fors author/illustrator my art account. I lost my Dad in 2012 and it never stops hurting, just changes. Lost a close friend a couple years ago. 

I’ve been a bit absent. I’m still working on focusing my efforts and not overcommitting myself. I always think I can do so much more than I actually can while still being a good parent to four kids. 

I did get my quarter 4 Art and story submissions in and I am almost finished with the edits for my latest novel after getting very positive feedback from my alpha readers.  I want to focus on those edits and than shopping it around for an agent and publisher over the next few months, next priority will be to focus on my own illustration projects and submitting stories to pro-markets. 

Quarter one will get a story but I’m going to take my time to let my next inspired story come to me. I have some candidates.

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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September goals:

1. Get a few more eyes on my 41/Q1. This story has really been through the wringer. But its landed somewhere I like, so I'm confident another market will like it if WotF doesn't, though of course WotF remains my preferred placement.

2. GOT to get some more agent queries out on the novel

3. I've been in 'planning stages' with the next (unrelated) novel for something like 6 months now. September 2023 is the time to put pen to paper and write one chapter. Thats all I'm asking of myself. One. 

4. I'm also in a novel workshopping group and so a lot of time has been, and likely will continue to be, workshopping not the next novel, nor the one I'm querying, but the one before that, which still has 'issues'.

 

I think that's more than enough. I also updated my webpage this month to reflect a few more non-professional rate fiction sales and an upcoming article in the BSFA Focus magazine.

Yup, it's October. How did that happen??? So I'm here to give account @ease and others

Goal 1. More eyes on the 41/Q1 story. Well I *did* do that. But then I decided I wasn't submitting that story as 41/Q1 so I'm back to the drawing board. I know. Plenty of time. Or so it seems. But as you will see... This is a trend, as just as with this goal September was a month of one step forwards, two steps back on most goals

Goal 2. Get more agent queries out. Failed. Not only failed, I got more rejections from the agent letters I have out there. Hmph.

Goal 3. Write 1 chapter next novel. I did it!! Yay! But then realized in writing it I don't actually think it works. In fact I threw it out. And then I there out most of my notes, realizing even worse that there was a major unfixable plot hole. Ooops. On the plus side, no beta readers time was wasted, lol. That's a very valuable commodity so I hate to waste favors.

Goal 4. I have continued workshopping the novel, 2 novels back, but the deeper we go, the deeper the quagmire has become. I love editing. I love editing. I love.... just keep telling myself that.

Received a nice third tier personal rejection from Escape Pod this morning on a re-edited rejection. It included tips that the editors felt would strengthen the story (great stuff). So, if you like a story that received a straight R or RWC, maybe it just needs some tweaking to find its way into an editor's hands.

V41, Q1 outlined, first draft will be finished before the week is out.

I'll be finalizing the outline on one novel and will begin writing in earnest when the above draft is done.

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

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I love editing. I love editing. I love.... just keep telling myself that.

Now that I've learned to do a better job, I do love editing. Somebody send me something.

@joel-c-scoberg, your critique was extremely helpful to me as well. 😀

I am in for Q4.  
Good luck to everyone!

@storysinger I'll send you my Q1 entry once it's ready!

This thread's title tis terrible. (Pardon the 'tis' but that alliteration grabbed me by the throat). It's wrong.

We are not a group of aspiring writers. We, all of us, are writers. 

But it has a nice, semi-pompous, ring to it (at least to me). So it can stay, for now.

I hope you are all well. I apologize deeply for not being more present here. I have a whole slew of excuses, but they're just excuses. I have, however, been reading everything, and am delighted by those that came and accounted for their September without my nagging. And dang, this is just the loveliest group.

But now October comes to a close, so, @ajschultz6, @clfors, @writhmic, @pdblake, @annax, @kz_richards, @toddjones, @joel-c-scoberg, @storysinger, @physa, @pegeen, @kent, @jeschleicher, @sconn, @gideonpsmith, @ericstallsworth, how did we do? How are our Q1s coming along? Still over two months remaining!

Also, my September and October have been a bit of a vague, messy, blur. So if you're waiting on a reply or critique from me, don't hesitate to nudge me! And apologies in advance. I still have some vague, messy, blur ahead, but hoping to be on top of it after November 5th.

@ease I'm in for q1 but busy with a novel now, between odd bits of editing. 

I'm full of cold though so the past few days have been nothing but coughing and sneezing.

@ease thank you for the nudge. Catch up on updates

September Goals: Update 

• Finish new story that is 70% completed for possible Q4 submission - Failed
• Finish edits on HM for possible Q4 submission - Completed
• Finish edits on another HM for possible Q1 submission - Stared, but didn't finish
• Revisit two ideas for new stories from August and see if one could be a possibility for Q1 submission - Failed

October Goals: Update 

• Finish new story that is 70% completed for possible Q4 submission - Failed
• Finish edits on another HM for possible Q1 submission - Stared, but didn't finish
• Revisit two ideas for new stories and see if one could be a possibility for Q1 submission - Pushed to next year

November Goals:  

• Finish new story that is 70% completed for possible Q1 submission
• Finish edits on HM for possible Q1 or other market submission
• Finish edits on another HM for possible Q1 or other submission