There is nothing that inspires me more than being in the presence of other authors, especially those likeminded. I received that very opportunity this month at BizarroCon. I got to hear about their projects, run ideas by them, and dip my fingers in this well of creativity. I emerged more motivated than I’ve been in … Continue reading The Well of Creativity (Writing Update)
writing
Exploring New Genres (Writing Update)
I have long been a mono-tasker. In the past, I’ve stopped writing for months if I’m editing a long project only to return to the craft unpracticed. Like weightlifting, I need to keep at it, or my gains will go away. This month I managed to balance multiple projects at the same time and was … Continue reading Exploring New Genres (Writing Update)
Story Notes – “The Installation”
I love to learn how stories came to be. One of my favorite parts of any collection is the story notes at the end of the book. A while back, my brother asked me where I got the idea for my story “The Installation”. I thought I’d share that with you as well as what … Continue reading Story Notes – “The Installation”
Good Legs (Writing Update)
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)
Announcement: New Acceptance!
My story “The Last Earth Day” was accepted last week! It’s part of the Happy Hellidays anthology put out by Hellbound Books. This will be my fourth story to be published. The anthology called for holiday-themed horror. While it was tempting to write about a big holiday, or conversely, a very obscure one, I chose … Continue reading Announcement: New Acceptance!
Writing What I Want to Write (Update)
I recently saw a quote from author Autumn Christian: At the end of the day, writing should be fun. It's a silly little dance with God and the abyss. If it doesn't feel fun, you might need to reevaluate why you're doing it. This month I can say I’ve had oodles of fun working on … Continue reading Writing What I Want to Write (Update)
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)
When Everything Clicks (Writing Update)
I love it when my writing clicks. I’ll spend an hour forcing myself to press one key after another and then suddenly the whole story opens before me. These are the moments that make me love writing. Fortunately, this month was full of those. Short Stories Last month, I mentioned that I was working on … Continue reading When Everything Clicks (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
Zé Burns | Blog 