They say that it doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get back up. I hope it's true, because it is this notion (and perhaps this alone) which keeps me getting back up.
My plans of "winning" NaNoWriMo in my first year of entry were quickly and ruthlessly dispatched by an illness (more on this in a moment) which lasted nearly throughout November, into Thanksgiving. Momentum is a funny creature. Or it is for me, at any rate. I'm a creature of momentum, both fair and foul. And the combination of being sick, attending a writing workshop (which I was also doing in November), and feeling obligated to churn out words at an unprecedented rate, conspired to absolutely drain me of my momentum and knock me down. But not out.
Winter quickly became a period of survival for me (as it often is). But having finally made it through the holidays and another bout of illness which, no lie, basically put my family out of commission for the entire month of Februrary, I'm ready to dust myself off again and get back to work.
First, a bit of a status update:
I've had some successes, despite myself. The crown jewel (thus far) is certainly winning the Michael J. Sullivan Short Story Contest. My short story "The Methuselah Treatment" was published in the bittersweet month of November, alongside Mr. Sullivan's novel, The Death of Dulgath. Very exciting!
In addition, I've been published by The Future Fire, and I have stories upcoming through GoAL (Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature), the anthology Fragments of Life's Heart, and the Sci Phi Journal!
So that's momentum, too. I just need to seize it and not let it go again, come what may. Let's see how far we can go!
Friday, March 4, 2016
Sunday, November 1, 2015
My very first NaNoWriMo...
...begins today.
This is just a perfunctory post to say that I'm taking a shot at NaNoWriMo for the first time, beginning nowish. It's not a brilliant time to do this, frankly. I'm still trying to eek out time to write at all, and what's more, I'm sick! But I know how it goes, looking for "the perfect time" to do something, so now's just as good as later. Probably.
Anyways, I'll try to update here on my progress as other writing-related tasks take a small backseat during the month of November.
Many thanks for your patience.
This is just a perfunctory post to say that I'm taking a shot at NaNoWriMo for the first time, beginning nowish. It's not a brilliant time to do this, frankly. I'm still trying to eek out time to write at all, and what's more, I'm sick! But I know how it goes, looking for "the perfect time" to do something, so now's just as good as later. Probably.
Anyways, I'll try to update here on my progress as other writing-related tasks take a small backseat during the month of November.
Many thanks for your patience.
Monday, October 19, 2015
This story is honorable! (Just thought I'd mention...)
Here's a new story that received an honorable mention from the fine folks at On the Premises. Entitled "What He Loved Most," it's a mainstream tale about the relationship between an aging painter and the young girl whose family has just moved in next door...
I hope you enjoy!
I hope you enjoy!
Friday, October 9, 2015
Recent Success and Personal Truth
Recently I've had among the greatest successes of my fledgling writing career. Along with my recent publications in Grimdark Magazine and Odd Tree Press Quarterly, I am now a proud Writers of the Future finalist!
Hooray!
The truth is, however, that I don't much relish the idea of talking about these sorts of things. I recognize this as a part of what I'm trying to accomplish; blogging, tweeting (@tcpowellfiction), tooting your own horn, it's all part and parcel with the "business end" of writing (and, so far as I can tell, modern society). I can't stop from doing it... and in fact, I recognize that I have to do it more, and better. But if there's any truth to having an "inner nature" (and I suspect so), this goes against mine. I've never had a taste for ceremony or celebration... I didn't attend my junior high graduation, and if I could have skipped the high school or college ones, I would have. But I went for the sake of others, and that's something like what brings me here, now.
It's not that I'm not grateful to those who've assisted me in getting where I have, or don't feel a touch of pride at what I've accomplished. I am and I do. But I always feel like there's more yet to be done and that celebrations are premature. I have so much further to travel, and that awareness seems to temper my ability to enthuse about how far I've come.
Anyways, if you'll forgive me stumbling my way through this process, and my awkward attempts to let you know who I am and what I've done, I'd appreciate it. In return, I'll do what I can to become a better writer and a better spokesperson for myself.
For today, I'll announce that I remain a "Writer of the Future... of the future," but that I'm one step closer to achieving a goal I'd set for myself years ago.
And that's not so bad.
Hooray!
The truth is, however, that I don't much relish the idea of talking about these sorts of things. I recognize this as a part of what I'm trying to accomplish; blogging, tweeting (@tcpowellfiction), tooting your own horn, it's all part and parcel with the "business end" of writing (and, so far as I can tell, modern society). I can't stop from doing it... and in fact, I recognize that I have to do it more, and better. But if there's any truth to having an "inner nature" (and I suspect so), this goes against mine. I've never had a taste for ceremony or celebration... I didn't attend my junior high graduation, and if I could have skipped the high school or college ones, I would have. But I went for the sake of others, and that's something like what brings me here, now.
It's not that I'm not grateful to those who've assisted me in getting where I have, or don't feel a touch of pride at what I've accomplished. I am and I do. But I always feel like there's more yet to be done and that celebrations are premature. I have so much further to travel, and that awareness seems to temper my ability to enthuse about how far I've come.
Anyways, if you'll forgive me stumbling my way through this process, and my awkward attempts to let you know who I am and what I've done, I'd appreciate it. In return, I'll do what I can to become a better writer and a better spokesperson for myself.
For today, I'll announce that I remain a "Writer of the Future... of the future," but that I'm one step closer to achieving a goal I'd set for myself years ago.
And that's not so bad.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
And Another!
Along with my recent publication by Grimdark Magazine, I've had the short story "Halloween Surprise" published in the inaugural edition of Odd Tree Press Quarterly -- huzzah!
It can be found here! (And it also contains the fiction of fellow Wordo, Sarina Dorie!)
October has started out as an exciting month, and I have the feeling it's only going to get more exciting from here...
It can be found here! (And it also contains the fiction of fellow Wordo, Sarina Dorie!)
October has started out as an exciting month, and I have the feeling it's only going to get more exciting from here...
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Incoming Alert! Incoming Alert!
(klaxons)
(red lights flashing)
(members of the Enterprise bridge crew throwing themselves around)
I have a brand new story in the latest issue of Grimdark Magazine! The issue is available for purchase here. It's a gorgeous little volume; kudos to the editors! My own contribution, "Lessons of Necessity," concerns a mother trying to teach her son to survive in a post-zombie apocalyptic world...
The next few months should be exciting. I have a couple more publications lined up, and maybe a surprise or two more... and then, in November, I plan on throwing my hat into the ring for NaNoWriMo for the first time. Yikes!
Till next time.
(red lights flashing)
(members of the Enterprise bridge crew throwing themselves around)
I have a brand new story in the latest issue of Grimdark Magazine! The issue is available for purchase here. It's a gorgeous little volume; kudos to the editors! My own contribution, "Lessons of Necessity," concerns a mother trying to teach her son to survive in a post-zombie apocalyptic world...
The next few months should be exciting. I have a couple more publications lined up, and maybe a surprise or two more... and then, in November, I plan on throwing my hat into the ring for NaNoWriMo for the first time. Yikes!
Till next time.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
A Little Bit of Good News
Okay, so, waking up at 4:30am on the regular sucks.
It sucks for me, at least. I'm certain that there are many fine morning people in the world who prefer things that way, but I'm not among them, except out of necessity. My current necessity is having a moment's peace and quiet before the family (bless them) wakes, because really that's the only time I can gather sufficient focus to write.
But why am I complaining? Isn't this post entitled "A Little Bit of Good News"? Glad you asked!
It's paying off! Waking up early is hard enough, but it's impossible if I don't see that I'm doing good with that time. Fortunately, the good folks on Whidbey Island have seen fit to grant me the Penn Cove Literary Arts Award for the second month in a row. I do believe that's a first, ladies and gentlemen -- back to back wins. (And also a last: their newly updated rules specify that previous winners should not submit again... which is a shame, since it was a good source of inspiration to me these last couple of months.)
Furthermore, one of my short stories has been selected as a finalist in the 2015 Defenestrationism Short Story Contest! It can be found here. (There is voting involved as part of the contest, and anyone so inclined may participate, but of course there's no obligation to vote or to vote for my story. The other finalists are all worthy.)
So hooray or huzzah or something similar. :)
Now to just keep it up...
It sucks for me, at least. I'm certain that there are many fine morning people in the world who prefer things that way, but I'm not among them, except out of necessity. My current necessity is having a moment's peace and quiet before the family (bless them) wakes, because really that's the only time I can gather sufficient focus to write.
But why am I complaining? Isn't this post entitled "A Little Bit of Good News"? Glad you asked!
It's paying off! Waking up early is hard enough, but it's impossible if I don't see that I'm doing good with that time. Fortunately, the good folks on Whidbey Island have seen fit to grant me the Penn Cove Literary Arts Award for the second month in a row. I do believe that's a first, ladies and gentlemen -- back to back wins. (And also a last: their newly updated rules specify that previous winners should not submit again... which is a shame, since it was a good source of inspiration to me these last couple of months.)
Furthermore, one of my short stories has been selected as a finalist in the 2015 Defenestrationism Short Story Contest! It can be found here. (There is voting involved as part of the contest, and anyone so inclined may participate, but of course there's no obligation to vote or to vote for my story. The other finalists are all worthy.)
So hooray or huzzah or something similar. :)
Now to just keep it up...
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