Wednesday 15 November 2017

Update and Goals

I wasn't around much last week, so I thought I'd leave a quick update to let you know what I've been doing and what I've got planned next. I do have a good reason for not being around though - I've been reading through the entries for the next IWSG anthology, ranking them in order so our collective favourites can go to the judges. The bar is extremely high on the entries, and the talent of the group really shines through - so it was hard to whittle them down. You can expect another stellar collection!

In other news, I've submitted a short story to a separate writing contest - they required a hard copy as well as an email submission. I've never actually sent a story via snail mail before, so that was a novelty at least!

It's a goal to submit to more competitions, including sending previously rejected stories. I've got a bunch that have only had one outing each, so I really want to give them another chance. The aim is to submit to at least one contest or journal per month - I'll keep you updated on progress here.

Of course, editing continues on part 2 of my trilogy - the aim is to have a polished version by the end of the year - and I will keep exploring ways of marketing the first book, including on Twitter.

Do you have any news or goals to share?

28 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Good luck with your goals, Nick!

Liz A. said...

Glad things are going well. I have submitted a hard copy to something before. Of course, that was back in the days when no one did submit via email. (Email was around, but it wasn't being utilized as much.)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Is your header new? If not, I just noticed! Whether new or not, I like it!

Smart to stay busy. I need to keep my brain focused.

Good luck picking a winner.

H. R. Sinclair said...

Good luck and enjoy it!

Neurotic Workaholic said...

I think it's fun to submit writing to contests; I've done it before several times, and I think somehow it's different from submitting to literary magazines, but in a good way.

I kind of miss snail mail; I'd rather get a letter in the mail than an e-mail or a Facebook comment.

The Cynical Sailor said...

Looking forward to reading the new anthology. Good luck with your writing contest. It does seem strange to send a hard copy in this day and age. Cheers - Ellen

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I know that took a lot of time reading the entries. It was a great selection though.

Sherry Ellis said...

I bet it has been fun reading the entries for the anthology contest. We have a lot a talented writers in the group! Good luck with your goals!

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Pretty much my only goal right about now is getting through NaNo with my sanity - such as it is - intact. :)

Good luck with all of your goals!

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sounds like you are getting a lot done. My goal is to find the cast for my boyfriend's play and get my work done. Once we get the play cast, I can focus on writing.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I don't get many snail mail submissions anymore. I'm not sure why they would want one in addition to the email.

JeffO said...

A week after declaring my RiP done, I sent it to my agent, so there's that! Good on you for keeping moving forward, and to helping out with the anthology!

L.G. Keltner said...

You've definitely been busy! I submitted a hard copy of a story via snail mail when I was twelve years old, but that was the only time.

Best of luck on those story submissions!

Mark said...

Glad you're submitting stuff and moving forward, Nick! I'm gearing up for my book release next month:)

Lynda Dietz said...

Sounds like you're keeping yourself plenty busy. Good for you that you have a goal of one submission per month. That will pay off eventually, and keeping in the habit of it will keep your skills sharp.

Christine Rains said...

Good luck! My goal is to finish the last 20k words of my novel by the end of the month. If I get rolling, I can do it... once I get over my procrastination hump!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the contest and trying to whittle down the ISWG entries.

Crystal Collier said...

Whew! I can only imagine how busy you've been with the anthology. Way to get your own stuff out there though! I have a number of short stories I keep planning to throw into my own anthology and get out there, but I've been a wee bit distracted. ;) Here's hoping you land a few EPIC spots!

DMS said...

One of my goals it to sumbmit to more contests too. I am lagging in that area. Awesome job working towards your goals!

Have a fabulous week!
~Jess

Arlee Bird said...

I haven't submitted writing anywhere in decades. Many years ago I submitted some stories via snail mail to a few magazines. In return I received via snail mail rejections for each story sent. I still have my rejection collection somewhere.

Good luck with the contests and other submissions.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Darla M Sands said...

Sounds like excellent goals! I'm focused right now just on writing every day. It feels good, though.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Best of luck with all these goals, Nick! Sounds like you definitely are keeping busy. I'm sure the IWSG pieces are amazing.

Empty Nest Insider said...

Nick, Sounds like you've been busy between working on the anthology and submitting your own material. Wishing you the best of luck with everything!

Julie

New Release Books said...

All the best with your goals Nick!

cleemckenzie said...

I like setting out goals like this and jump with joy when I can check them off. Congrats on getting that short story subbed.

Heather R. Holden said...

Best of luck with the story submission! Interesting how that contest wanted a hard copy. Everything's usually so digital anymore!

Tonja Drecker said...

You've got a lot planned! Good luck on the submission. Hard copy submissions are so rare, but I know some still want them. I can't imagine how much time it takes to read through all those submission. Kudos!

Deniz Bevan said...

Good luck on your submission! I have a couple that I'm preparing, but should be focusing on editing the latest novel...