A Quiet Week

This has been a quiet writing week. I did attend my writer's group, Words for the Journey, and learned all about how writers are also speakers. It was interesting and another business side of what a writer does. That having product to sell also helps which can range from CDs with recorded presentations o them, calendars, books, and anything else one can can come up with.

I read a few more stories for Different Dragons.

But mostly, I either worked my full-time job or ran household errands. I did have a super hero Saturday where I watched, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man 2 & The Avengers. I then watched the first Alien movie.

We also had an Arctic cold front drop down on us. Burrrr! All I really want to do is dress warm, cuddle under a warm quilt, and drink hot tea. Who wouldn't?

What I'm doing instead is catching up my blogs for another week and attending to more household duties.

My, what an exciting life we writers lead!

Different Dragons & other thoughts

This week's main project will be reading the stories that were submitted to 'Different Dragons'. I received a total of thirty-six, both from writers I've worked with before and those I have not. Since I discovered during MileHiCon, our local Science Fiction convention, that there was lots of interest in the subject of dragons, I talked with my publisher about doing two volumes. WolfSinger agreed.
 So for the next few weeks, I'll be reading stories and deciding which ones will go into the anthologies.

I also have other projects including revising a short story for Beyond the Sun, edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt, making up my list for where to contribute stories for 2013, and various other projects that have been previously discussed. 

All this in between working a full-time job, running household errands and making sure my three cats don't get so lonely they won't leave me alone to write.

 

Closing 2012 and Opening 2013

I spent part of the New Year's day closing out my writing docs for 2012 and setting up my new editing project for 2013.

Findings:

Financially - I broke even. That was my goal this year. The previous two I lost money.

Submissions - Totaled 25, with 11 acceptances, 6 rejections, and 8 still pending.

New spreadsheets set up for 2013.

My 2013 editing project for WolfSinger Publications, Different Dragons 1 & 2, had 36 submissions which I will now have to spend my time reading, critiquing, returning for rewrites and then accepting or rejecting.

Oh, and let's not forget backing up everything on my thumb drive - JIC.

First though, I must rewrite a submission for an anthology because my deadline is sneaking up on me very fast. I'll talk more about that at a later date. 

Current Published List

For those who are curious, here's my publishing list, to date. Many of available either from Amazon or the Publisher

1. Novel

A. Winter Awakening
WolfSinger Publications

2. Edited

B. Of Fur and Fire
Behemoth & several poems
DreamZion Publishing
 
C. Time Traveling Coffers
Danger Said the Dragon
WolfSinger Publications

3. Anthologies

D. All About Eve
The Cat's Creation Tale
WolfSinger Publications

E. FTST#4: Space Horrors
Chosen One
Flying Pen Press

F. Throw Down Your Dead - An Anthology of Western Horror
No Trespassing
Sonar 4 Publications - Publisher closed their doors - Out of Pring

G. Frost Bitten Fantasies
The Storm
Dreamzion Publishing

H. Zombified - An Anthology of all things Zombie
Mighty Fine
Sky Warrior Boosk - ebook only

I. A Taste of Armageddon
Legacy
WolfSinger Publications

J. Women of the Living Dead - A Zombie Anthology
Mandie's Zombies
Open Casket Press

K. Tales of the Talisman (Magazine)
Welcomed Cast Outs  (Poem)
Rhysling Nominee
Hadrosaur Productions

L. FTST#6 : Space Battles
Isis
Flying Pen Press

M. Earth's End - An Apocalyptic Anthology
Smothered
Open Casket Press

N. Strange Summer Mysteries - A day at the Beach
Drip, Drip, Drip
Whortleberry Press

O. Tales of the Talisman (Magazine)
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Hadrosaur Productions

P. The Undead that Saved Christmas
Bast's Christmas Presents
Rainstorm Press

Q. 31 More Nights of Halloween
Shadow
Rainstorm Press

R. Strange Halloween
Oasis
Whortleberry Press

S. Gunslingers and Ghost Stories
The Ruins
Science Fiction Trails

T. Strange Christmas
Best Gift
Whortleberry Press

I have several other stories accepted but they haven't been released yet.
 


 

Pondering Next Year's Goals

This has been a very busy year. I've had quite a number of short stories published not to mention editing Time Traveling Coffers.

Next year I'm already planning on what my goals should be. Tentatively they will be:

1. Edit Different Dragons. There could be two volumes. Have already talked with publisher about possible release dates not to mention compiling an invite list for the second.

2. Finish Winter Emergence. I have those who have read Winter Awakening wanting to know what happens next.

3. Pitch my romance Worth the Wait. I have a publisher in mind who is searching for books for the over 50 crowd.

5. Pitch a Tween/Young Adult series involving winged cats. I've already informed by two young collaborators I might have found a market for it. They're excited.

6. Several short story submissions. Although, I think I'll slow down a bit in this arena.

7. Shaking, terrified, I'm thinking of pitching a series to either Baen or Tor.

8. Possible collaboration with a fellow writer to see if her vampire hunting dog and my vampire cats might be combined in a story/series.

9. Taking advantage of anything that comes my way.

Now bear in mind, all these goals are in between life, my day job, caring for the cats and my spouse.

Role of the Writer : Accountant and Record Keeper

Last in the series of Role of the Writer, is Accountant and Record Keeper. The Record Keeper is the one who keeps track of submissions, where they go, whether or not they're accepted, contracts received and returned, when books are released, and if they're editing, many of the same details. I personally use Excel speadsheets.

The Accountant tracks the finances. Payments and how received for accepted stories or books. Money spent on conventions or conferences, or books to sell, postage, and whether the writer makes money or looses it. I even track contributors copies whether printed or electronic.

For the past two years I've lost money. This year, I'm hoping to break even.

Final word. If you thought being a writer was all glamor. I hope this series sets you straight.

Role of the Writer : Mentor & Example

Next is Mentor and Example. In the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genre, the older writers mentor the upcoming. They help them by reading their work, critiquing it, when they don't have pressing deadlines, and taking time to answer questions on writing or the business aspect.

They also are watched. Just as I am watching other successful writers to see how they got to where they are, I have other writers watching me aspiring to follow my examples.

These are scarey roles because you want to be encouraging. You also want them to know its not always easy. It can be challenging and sometimes outright frustrating. But well worth the struggle.

Reading Annoucement : I have a reading for Gunslinger and Ghost Stories edited by David B. Riley, Saturday, December 8th at 2 PM. It will be at Who Else Books at Broadway and Cedar in Denver, CO. I will be reading from my story The Ruins along with several other local writers. Come and join us!