A little urban archaeology mixed with a bad relationship is the foundation for this one. Digging digging down. Thrilled to see it with Scissors and Spackle, whose magazine just has the best stuff. This issue is pretty amazing too, grainy and deep. Like sifting through layers.
It’s good to take stock, to turn the gaze backwards to get the level of the landscape. To determine exactly how much time I’ve spent staring at the computer screen. Actually, it’s been a great writing year, regardless of the state of the time portal.
Two things that have happened over the last month are simply astounding, for me personally. I was asked to be guest reader for SmokeLong Quarterly (https://twitter.com/SmokeLong/status/1466526373871337479) and they also nominated my piece for Best Microfiction (https://twitter.com/SmokeLong/status/1462548564853227520). Yep. Unbelievable. If I think about it for too long, I can’t feel my toes.
I’ve also been a little silly and collected some stats for the year, which are below. Just for funsies.
End of Year Stats – 2021
Short Stories:
Submissions – 111
Rejections – 103
Acceptances – 8
Publications – 6
Stories written – 38
Noms – 1
Other awards and near misses – 4 longlists/HMs
Novels:
Agent queries – 18
Agent rejections – 13
3 requests (including pitch contests)
Two passes and edits of IITAOFA
17K written of War Island
Other Lit Involvement:
Blog editor for LSQ
Guest reading for SLQ
lotsa beta reading
Took three workshops
Active in 3 writing/reading groups
I’m looking forward to writing in 2022, to channeling the joy that writing brings and the community that supports it. Wishing the same for everyone. Love to all and Happy New Year!
I have a new something up with the amazing folks at Cheap Pop. A little something. Actually, a very little something with snakes and knives and being whittled into not much at all.
I did have a pocket knife growing up that was my mother’s, though the rest is a different story altogether.
http://www.cheappoplit.com/home/janna-miller
…where I talk about my favorite bugs, how to pick a title, and why writing a story is like assembling a wonky car.
This amazing, beautiful publication is out and (I need to breathe a little before I say it) contains my quirky micro, “The Larvae of Tree-Dwelling Species Stay Where They Hatch”.
It’s a spontaneous creation nightmare, sort of. It’s a love story, sort of.
The insurance company does not care for the 500 pound robin, at all.
Besides my story, there are nine other, incredible selections. Go read them.
Thrilled that my story, “St. Winston’s Refuge for Extinct Animals” was chosen as a Special Selection in the Future Folklore Contest by STCW Publishing. It is a story and a cause close to my heart.
Future Folklore is a climate-fiction anthology building the body of literature depicting positive and possible climate futures. It comes out in October, including in free e-book format for all to read! By encouraging writers of all levels and cultures to publish visions of what could go right, we liberate the story of climate change. Follow @storiestochangetheworld for updates!
Publication will be in October.
As part of the annual 24 hour event, micros are bursting from the dams, escaping their tethers, and cresting over in waves. My micro, “The Last Spider Lilies of Chester County” entered the river at 8:15 EST.
Amazing mini writing, hourly prompts, and other activities make it a summer fun-day for floating in all the best writerly words.
Which is super amazing and kind of difficult to believe. Out of 1,700 entries? I think I might have snuck in the side door for the party. But that’s OK, I’m eating canapes and pretending I’ve been here all along, with a quick eye for the exit, should I need it.
Funny enough, I was longlisted last summer too, for their flash competition. Still working on getting that one placed, but it seems to be closer to liftoff than before.
Anyway, I just mean that this is my favorite summer thing – to hang out with some other people’s awesome words for a little bit. Like we’re family or something and about to pile into a big station wagon with a handful of bathroom stops. And a cooler-full of ginger ale.
http://www.smokelong.com/the-smokelong-grand-micro-contest-long-list/
My drabble is up at Daily Science Fiction. Takes about three breaths to read. Plenty of time to get back to work on that knitted balaclava and maybe pull some weeds in the garden.
Miller's Minuscule Mystories 