Buttress was one of the new words I learned for the GRE. I thought it was amusing amid the other 50 or so vocabulary words I learned (or re-learned) yesterday. I never have had an astounding vocabulary.
I have a bug bite on the bottom of my foot which is distracting me.
Anyway, I submitted another story on Sunday. It was the one that I was talking about in my last post. I found a new mag to submit it to. The mag is called Quick Fiction and my story is called, "Elephant Bubble Gum Tears." So I'll keep it posted on here as to what happens with it.
I have also gotten up to take 5 of the essay for real simple. Realized that it doesn't have to (in fact should not) start with "I never thought I would . . ." Duh. So my fifth try was easier and harder because now I have to make sure the theme comes across and figure out what it is I never thought I would do. Really I never thought I would do the majority of the things I am doing, other than try to write. That I knew I would do. Today however, I am going to step away from the essay and work on a Science Fiction story/future anthology I dreamt up. It will be a bunch of novella's that can be read separate, but will go together to (science fictionally) tell the {wait I don't want to give my whole idea away}! Cliff hanger. You can check it out once I publish it, and you buy it! please?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
So it goes.
I finished reading, I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. I then set out on a quest to find a new book to read. I thumbed through quite a few books and saw many words like:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of time" --> it can't be both, next.
"She promised us south rooms with a view close together." --> I think I've already read it, next.
Read the first four pages of The Kite Runner and was not amused --> next
I almost got interested in War and Peace.
But the words that caught my attention and made me smile were, "All of this happened, more or less." Hence today's title, "So i goes." I will have to remember that first pages, even first lines make a readers mind up whether they will put a book down or read it.
I learned three new words today. The first three on the list of 400 most commonly seen on the GRE. One of which I basically already knew bit.
1. Aberrant (n) -deviating from the norm
2. abeyance (adj) - temporary suspension or inactivity
3. Abscond (v) - to secretly and suddenly leave so as to not get caught or persecuted
**I got them almost correct, just had to correct the wording (and therefore parts of speech)
I also wrote a short story today. I love flash fiction. It's quick and dirty and when i have written a few hundred words I fell accomplished because it's done. I meant to write something to do with nourishment. It's an upcoming theme for a lit mag I want to submit to. However I couldn't think of anything. So I pulled out The Pocket Muse for inspiration and I flipped to a page that told me to use a tool or appliance, but no for it's intended purpose. I decided on a blender. Oddly the blender never made it into my story; neither did any nourishment. I wrote in a third person (very) limited voice. It it can't be seen, you don't know it. The visuals are strong though (I think). Either way, I will have to find a different mag to submit it to. So it goes.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of time" --> it can't be both, next.
"She promised us south rooms with a view close together." --> I think I've already read it, next.
Read the first four pages of The Kite Runner and was not amused --> next
I almost got interested in War and Peace.
But the words that caught my attention and made me smile were, "All of this happened, more or less." Hence today's title, "So i goes." I will have to remember that first pages, even first lines make a readers mind up whether they will put a book down or read it.
I learned three new words today. The first three on the list of 400 most commonly seen on the GRE. One of which I basically already knew bit.
1. Aberrant (n) -deviating from the norm
2. abeyance (adj) - temporary suspension or inactivity
3. Abscond (v) - to secretly and suddenly leave so as to not get caught or persecuted
**I got them almost correct, just had to correct the wording (and therefore parts of speech)
I also wrote a short story today. I love flash fiction. It's quick and dirty and when i have written a few hundred words I fell accomplished because it's done. I meant to write something to do with nourishment. It's an upcoming theme for a lit mag I want to submit to. However I couldn't think of anything. So I pulled out The Pocket Muse for inspiration and I flipped to a page that told me to use a tool or appliance, but no for it's intended purpose. I decided on a blender. Oddly the blender never made it into my story; neither did any nourishment. I wrote in a third person (very) limited voice. It it can't be seen, you don't know it. The visuals are strong though (I think). Either way, I will have to find a different mag to submit it to. So it goes.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Today's writing adventures
I began my writing work today by searching for lit mags to submit to. There are so many to sort through. A lot of them aren't taking submissions until the school year starts back up, so Aug/Sept time frame. I did write a few down that are taking submissions now. My plan was to go to Barnes and Noble to scope out the type of writing these journals accept.
Plan foiled: Not so long story short --> they didn't have the mags I was looking for. Flipped through a couple others, but am not too sure what I think.
Trip wasn't a total bust: I did get a couple good things at Barnes and Noble.
1. A weekly planner --> I have a secret love of making to do lists, even if I don't follow them
2. A GRE study book --> To get accepted to a grad school to get my MFA in Creative Writing I have to do well on the GRE general skills test and I have not attempted any math since my freshmen year in college. Oye. I'm sure my vocab could use some refreshing.
Actual writing news:
-I started attempt 4 at the "Real Simple" essay. I think the first paragraph is on the right track. It will get there, slowly. I have to figure out what is important, since I only have 1500 words.
- I wrote a story a few months ago that I love and hope to publish. The few people who have read it liked it, Rob even cracked up. The main character is a little boy that I can't get out of my head. I keep wanting to know what he will do in other situations. What he was like before the story I wrote, what happens after, why his parents are so clueless. So today I started writing more about him. I can't wait to see where it goes.
Plan foiled: Not so long story short --> they didn't have the mags I was looking for. Flipped through a couple others, but am not too sure what I think.
Trip wasn't a total bust: I did get a couple good things at Barnes and Noble.
1. A weekly planner --> I have a secret love of making to do lists, even if I don't follow them
2. A GRE study book --> To get accepted to a grad school to get my MFA in Creative Writing I have to do well on the GRE general skills test and I have not attempted any math since my freshmen year in college. Oye. I'm sure my vocab could use some refreshing.
Actual writing news:
-I started attempt 4 at the "Real Simple" essay. I think the first paragraph is on the right track. It will get there, slowly. I have to figure out what is important, since I only have 1500 words.
- I wrote a story a few months ago that I love and hope to publish. The few people who have read it liked it, Rob even cracked up. The main character is a little boy that I can't get out of my head. I keep wanting to know what he will do in other situations. What he was like before the story I wrote, what happens after, why his parents are so clueless. So today I started writing more about him. I can't wait to see where it goes.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Writing about writing
Writing about writing seems both logical and illogical to me.
Logical: I wanted to document my progress, but didn't want to bombard facebook.
Illogical: Writing about writing is writing, so what's the difference? IDK
First order of business: The title.
I love dictionay.com's words of the day! Everyday there is a new word that most of the time, I have never heard of. I even have an app on my blackberry for dictionary.com and I try to check the word of the day; daily. Lacuna is not a recent word of they day, but it is possible to look through the archives and I like to find cool new words. Lacuna means a blank space or a missing part. I have not decided exactly whether I am filling a blank space in the world by gracing it's presence with my writing (not likely) or filling a blank space in my life by writing a blog that most likely will have no followers (more likely). Either way, it's filling a blank space somewhere. So here goes nothing, or something (if I'm lucky).
Second order of business: Exciting writing news!
I received my first rejection letter (email) yesterday! I know what you are thinking:
"How can a rejection letter be exciting news?"
Simple: A. Someone read my work other than Rob or any other friend of mine
B. I sent something to someone.
C. It wasn't even mean. I was truly expecting it to be mean.
It read:
Hi Tina,
We enjoyed reading your story, but it's not quite right for us.
Thanks for submitting!
Sincerely,
(editors name I will out)
See! It was NOT mean. Rejecting, yes. But not bad. I printed it and taped it up on my wall, right behind my computer screen. I am proud of it, and will push myself harder to send stuff out.
I have to admit, I did not send my favorite story, but I did think it was good. My favorite story did not fit this magazine's criteria.
Third and last order of business for today: I am working on an essay for the magazine: Real Simple. The contest has a great prize, but I struggle to write about me sometimes. So far I have started this essay three time. I think it's getting better each time. That's all I can ask of myself. I don't have to submit it until September 24, so I have time to hash it out.
Logical: I wanted to document my progress, but didn't want to bombard facebook.
Illogical: Writing about writing is writing, so what's the difference? IDK
First order of business: The title.
I love dictionay.com's words of the day! Everyday there is a new word that most of the time, I have never heard of. I even have an app on my blackberry for dictionary.com and I try to check the word of the day; daily. Lacuna is not a recent word of they day, but it is possible to look through the archives and I like to find cool new words. Lacuna means a blank space or a missing part. I have not decided exactly whether I am filling a blank space in the world by gracing it's presence with my writing (not likely) or filling a blank space in my life by writing a blog that most likely will have no followers (more likely). Either way, it's filling a blank space somewhere. So here goes nothing, or something (if I'm lucky).
Second order of business: Exciting writing news!
I received my first rejection letter (email) yesterday! I know what you are thinking:
"How can a rejection letter be exciting news?"
Simple: A. Someone read my work other than Rob or any other friend of mine
B. I sent something to someone.
C. It wasn't even mean. I was truly expecting it to be mean.
It read:
Hi Tina,
We enjoyed reading your story, but it's not quite right for us.
Thanks for submitting!
Sincerely,
(editors name I will out)
See! It was NOT mean. Rejecting, yes. But not bad. I printed it and taped it up on my wall, right behind my computer screen. I am proud of it, and will push myself harder to send stuff out.
I have to admit, I did not send my favorite story, but I did think it was good. My favorite story did not fit this magazine's criteria.
Third and last order of business for today: I am working on an essay for the magazine: Real Simple. The contest has a great prize, but I struggle to write about me sometimes. So far I have started this essay three time. I think it's getting better each time. That's all I can ask of myself. I don't have to submit it until September 24, so I have time to hash it out.
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