This month I’ve felt surprisingly productive. My brain is clearer, thanks to a change in medication, and I feel I have more stamina. I hope this lasts. It feels good to be firing on more cylinders. The Autobiography of M Mannequins (via Wikimedia Commons) I sent off the manuscript of my horror novel The Autobiography … Continue reading Good Legs (Writing Update)
submissions
The Year of Short Stories (Writing Update)
When it comes to writing, I much prefer harsh criticism to compliments. As good as it makes me feel, praise of my work doesn’t help me that much. I need something to light a fire under me, make me put in the hours and effort to correct the problems. Submission rejections do this more than … Continue reading The Year of Short Stories (Writing Update)
Evolving as a Writer (Update)
For me, there is no greater feeling than seeing my name in print. I received that honor a few days ago when my copy of It Calls From Below arrived in the mail, containing my story “The Installation”. I’m eager to see what my fellow contributors wrote. Now that I have three stories published, I've … Continue reading Evolving as a Writer (Update)
The Fickle Finger of Fiction
Creativity is fickle, coming and going without rhyme or reason. This month, try as I might, I had a deficit of inspiration, as if my muse took a vacation without telling me. Still, I found ways around this. Short Stories Between now and September, I hope to submit at least one story a month. I’ve … Continue reading The Fickle Finger of Fiction
Finding My Rhythm (Writing Update)
This was one of those months that reminded me why I’m a writer. I’ve found the right rhythms, balanced multiple projects, and felt part of the community. At the moment, I’m hurrying to get a story finished that has a deadline in a few days (more about that below), but I thought I'd take a … Continue reading Finding My Rhythm (Writing Update)
Productivity & Deadlines (Writing Update)
This month started as a jog and ended as a sprint. I was hoping to announce that I had finished the rough draft of my collection Stories From the Infinite City. I had timed it perfectly—or so I thought. This week, I received a laundry list of edits for my recently accepted story “The Installation.” … Continue reading Productivity & Deadlines (Writing Update)
My Short Story Method + Writing Update
After much trial and error, I think I’ve finally found the writing method that works the best for me. At least, for short stories. It blends elements of both pantsing and plotting, providing structure and freedom at the same time. It's not wholly original, but rather an amalgam of different advice I've been given over … Continue reading My Short Story Method + Writing Update
Zé Burns | Blog 