Early this week I'm going to be working on a "mom" story *. It's going to be early this week because I have a writing critique meeting on Wednesday, and I don't have a single word written that I can share. (Only rarely do I come empty-handed because when I have nothing to share, it's a waste of the great critique I get. As I sit there on pins and needles--will they declare my piece a pile of poop?--I have to listen to Linda's pen scratch across an entire page as she deftly rearranges my story. I have to hear Lynn's pen roll across the margin as she writes a whole letter's worth of suggestions and encouragement. I have to see Beth and Tammy's faces scrunch up, and I wonder if it's a good scrunch or a bad scrunch...) I haven't decided if I'm going to write a story about my mom or whether I'm going to write a story about myself as a mom but I...wait, as I was typing this, I made a decision.
That's the interesting thing about writing. Sometimes just the physical act of typing something helps us sort things out in our head.
I recently got some great news. (And no, I'm not going to "tease" and make you come back to my next post for the news.) My story "Elmo's Lesson" is going to be published in the upcoming Publishing Syndicate's Not Your Mother's Book...On Cats. And, my story, "A Risky Jump" has made it through to the final phase of Chicken Soup's Reboot Your Life. (Thank you WWWPs.) I know it can be yanked up to a month before publication but even though that's not happened to me yet, I won't say it too loudly. (I used to brag that I had been stopped by police officers many times--for speeding--but had never gotten a ticket, until I got my first and only one, so now I only whisper boasts like that.)
I am giving away a copy of the recently published Not Your Mother's Book...On Being a Mom. Many of my friends and writing friends have stories in this collection--Terri Elders, Donna Volkenannt, Renee Hughes, Debra Mayhew, Pat Wahler, Mary Horner, Pat Nelson, Linda O'Connell, Marcia Gaye, Alice Muschany, Ellie Grossman, Diana Graveman and Tammy Goodsell. (My husband judges how good my story is by where it is in the book. He is positive that the editors put the good stories in the front, and they get progressively worse. My story, "So Little Wine," is on page 200 which makes it a "dud" in my spouse's eyes. You'll have to read it to see if you concur with him.)
On July 1st I will post who won the book...
My story that's being considered by Chicken Soup is about me wanting to do something that some of my family considered stupid/dangerous. Is there something you've done/considered in the past that made your friends or family look at you like you're crazy?
* Chicken Soup is looking for mom stories--tales of you and your kids as well as stories about your mom. Two different anthologies doubles your chances of getting published...
Ha-ha you tell hubby that he is wrong. It depends on where your story is in the chapter. More Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteLinda--He reads about as many books as Sasquatch, so I don't pay any attention to his critique of my stories...
DeleteI enjoyed your writing "warm-up." I know how you feel with the blank page ahead of you...keep typing!
ReplyDeleteI bet your hubby is wrong too! But I can't wait to read your story! How do I enter your book giveaway? And where is it available otherwise? Vickie
Vickie--I will put your name in the (literal) hat. And if you don't win, you can get it on Amazon...
DeleteTell hubby thanks for that one - my story is last. Oh, and do I ever know the fear/anticipation as Linda scratches away with her pen on critique night...especially the sound of the dreaded giant X being drawn or a circle going around an entire paragraph.Congratulations on your upcoming stories!
ReplyDeleteTammy--Actually, I think they put one of the best stories at the very end, so the reader is left with a great "taste."
DeleteThanks, and yes, Linda's pen sounds terrifying. But the things she writes are soooo helpful.
I am glad you have all those helpers !
ReplyDeleteI think hubs is wrong too. Sounds like you are really buzzing with writing. Oh and say the ONE thing I have managed is you Muffin suggestion. Sent 500 word this weekend!
Claudia--I look forward to seeing your post on some Friday. ;)
DeleteMy family looks at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I have written something that has been accepted for publication. In the words of my husband, who thinks the world revolves around him giving his permission for the sun to rise and set..."Go ahead, let 'em publicize it."
ReplyDeleteVal--Yes, we're caught in a regular publicizing machine...
DeleteWell, meow to you, too! What fun, we'll be in another NYMB book together. BTW, Bogey sends his regards...
ReplyDeleteAstonishingly enough, one of my stories has made final stage consideration for the CS Reboot your Life book. Keeping fingers crossed for us both!
Pat
Critter Alley
Pat--I will keep my fingers crossed for both of us. Congrats for making it through to the final selection phase.
DeleteCongrats! Egads. I don't remember your cat story... and the NYMB on Being a Mom - put me in the drawing! Woot woot! I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteLynn--You helped me revise it, but since we see a bunch of pieces every month, it can get confusing (and perhaps my story is not that memorable ;).
DeleteAnd of course, I'll put your name into the drawing.
Yay for Sioux! On multiple counts. Even being a cat lover who has usually had one or two around, I couldn't come up with a cat story. I haven't come up with any stories lately, to be candid. But thx for the callout info and all. (And hubs is wrong. For some reason I have been on page 77 in different anthologies. Weird.)
ReplyDeleteMarcia--Thanks for the cheer. Perhaps 77 is your lucky number, and you never even knew it?
DeleteMy family looks at me like I'm crazy most of the time, so I don't have to do anything special to get that response. Regarding story placement, I think editors like to draw emotions from readers to keep them reading, so placement near the back may not mean what he thinks it does! Editors may be going for humor then tears then compassion then guilt, for example, so placement may be more about emotions than anything else!
ReplyDeleteMary--You know very well, and I know that, but my nonreading husband...not so much. ;)
DeleteTake some time off from reading blogs and I miss all the good news. Congratulations on all your wonderful publications! You are a marvel!
ReplyDeleteAs far as stupid things, I once jumped out of a tree after my older cousin (a boy) dared me to do it. We were both going to jump, but he chickened out. Ladies, first, he said. Um, I was brave, but also stupid.On the way down I cut my side on a tree branch that jutted out. I had about a six-inch scar to prove it. But I also got to call my cousin a bwock, bwock, bwock -- chicken.