WRITERSoftheFUTURE.com

... my stories always start with an idea that, quite possibly, no one has ever tried before (and then I have to figure out those pesky characters). sometimes I try to stuff more ideas into the story--with mixed results. Same! Like, literally. Idea first, plot, beginning/ending, then characters. wot...

Don't know if anyone is still working on some kind of alternating schedule or not - I'm still attempting it and finally have some results to report. I completed a story the other day, and have now also finished the edit on another one. The edited piece is a flash piece and may still need another rou...

I've set up a 2020 tracking spreadsheet. I love playing with Excel so far it seems to be helping me hit a variety of goals - not just writing goals, but reading goals and various life goals. Not a resolution but instead something that is easier to start at beginnings (could've started it in December...

I'm hoping to have revised my entry by the end of this month and then maybe seek out an additional beta reader. But I might just submit it once I'm done with my edits. Not sure yet. Definitely would plan to have it in by the end of Feb.

Wow nothing like pushing yourself Michael. I have gotten back to doing some writing finally! I expect these first two weeks to be about writing a second story to follow the one I will edit in the second half of the month (that one will be my entry for this quarter).

Yes here's to bucketfuls of peace all around!!

I've got a moderate cache of those hanging around the place. I feel like all the ideas are worth exploring I just wonder if I wasn't in the right place to do them justice or if they weren't substantial enough for the length of story I tried to create from them or... or... or... I do think I will get...

I feel like, based on my tech background, that a comma might be more trouble than a hyphen but probably wouldn't be problematic enough not to work. I'd expect other special characters are really the ones you want to avoid (pointy brackets, ampersands, percents, dollar signs, pound signs etc). So hop...

My file name had a hyphen in it and I got my confirmation from Joni. And I just submitted today so hopefully yours will work too.

Woohooo! I have done some revision work over the last two weeks or so. One key thing completed was to do another round of revision on a previous HM story that I have submitted for Q1 V37. I'm hoping for a better placement this time around as I have definitely improved the story overall. Going to mak...

I often absolutely adore it as a reader. So I think any writing advice saying not to use it just because would be advice I'd avoid personally.

Someone is doing tweet discussions of that book (C.L. Polk I think). I came across one of them and it made me wonder if I should pick that book up - then here you are recommending it. I do find a good writing resource can often break me out of my slumps. Perhaps this is just the thing I need! Thanks...

Congratulations on the publication michael!

Well done on doing the whole month's worth of exercises!

Hopefully whatever form you like will work for you. Bi-weekly seems like a good pace to me, if I can bust out of these doldrums I suspect I will start using the two week interval.

Congratulations SwiftPotato! How exciting and wonderful.

Nice job on the novel and the story sale!

I'd add one important thing is to trust yourself and your vision for your story. Oh, absolutely. That's incredibly important (and it can be very difficult to do until you get the hang of it). 100% difficult to do even after you think you are getting the hang of it (at least for me). I've ended up h...

Andy I've had similar experience on critique circle with disparate quality of critiques and with widely differing opinions! One thing I'd make a counterpoint to in your comment is about needing lots of critiques. I've mostly stopped using the open queues on CC because getting too many critiques does...

I'd add one important thing is to trust yourself and your vision for your story. Sometimes a critique has lead me down the wrong path. For example I had a flash story that I got encouragement to flesh out to a longer story. I did that and it lost something. In the process though I did add a few litt...

My first R :(

That is a good idea glib! I haven't been reading much and I have a couple good books on writing I could read to maybe stimulate some of the writing urges!

I don't have a new born but I can only guess it would be mushy peas filling my head if I did :)

Congratulations Peony! And the long list of Silver Honorable mentions and Honorable mentions. Fantastic bunch of success for the forum folks!

Streetlight is probably enough light at my actual bus stop in reality. If I'm honest it isn't the dark getting in the way :p

Just got my R. First non HM for me so far. But at heart I knew it wasn't right for this contest (see my previous post) so it isn't surprising.

I also am not twitchy at all this quarter. Despite my entry being one that got held for consideration by Diabolical Plots I don't actually expect it to win here (may not have a strong enough speculative element for this contest). But who knows what will talk to the hearts of the readers :). What I p...

Disgruntledpeony - sometimes I feel like the last holdout in the world with no cell phone. But inching ever closer to deciding to get one. aidanka I did absolutely nothing for Nanowrimo. Despite my plans to work on a novel rewrite it just didn't happen. I personally think if you want to consider sho...

Nice job on those anthologies folks!

Also I agree with disgruntledpeony lots of ways to define success and yoyo I think doing your first submission is well worth calling a success!

Thank you for the suggestions. Honestly I feel like sleep is my biggest barrier (that and being distinctly NOT in love with my job). When I'm writing something new I do find my wait at the bus stop and ride on the bus quite productive sometimes. Maybe I just need to start taking my notebook with me ...

Well done Michael on keeping up that pace. Very impressive. Alex it sounds like you are doing a pretty solid job too with both revising and new writing. Wish I could join in and say how well I'm doing but honestly I am in one of the biggest slumps I've been in for a long time. One of these days I'll...