My odd origami micro is up today at Atlas and Alice – one of my favorite pieces. It’s an underutilized superpower, the kind of magic I would hope for, if I could hope for such things. Thank you, Atlas and Alice for publishing it.
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.
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.
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.
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.