Done

[katiefoolery]

It's gone.  I've done it.  Postcards is on its way to meet its fate, the dear thing.  I hope it's well received.  It took me all day to summon up the courage to be done with formatting and finally press the "send" button on my email.  It's a bit silly, really.  After all, there are hundreds of markets out there and if it's not picked up by this one, then I'll have to try some others.  And things could be held up a bit if it takes me an entire day to send off a submission each time.

Now, I must turn my hand to Nunnery, which I love dearly, although not as much as Postcards.  I've also been thinking about the fate of Ever Again, another one of my favourite stories.  Perhaps I should send that one off somewhere and see how it's received.  I still have some critiques from the writer_girls on that story which I should think about implementing.  I do feel that Ever Again is a story worth sharing once I've done a bit more work on it.

And yet, as my Timothy said to me mere minutes ago: Why are you working on old stories instead of the fantastic new ones you have?  Which is a very good question indeed.  I think it's because I want to feel like I'm doing something.  Writing is such an internal thing - you sit down in front of a computer and write a story.  Then what?  You edit it.  Maybe you send it to friends for a critique.  And then maybe, just maybe, you'll summon up enough courage to send it off to a magazine or a publisher.  At the moment, I want to feel as though I'm doing something a tad more productive than just sitting down, typing away on my beloved WordPerfect.  If I'm sending stories out into the world, then I feel as though I'm furthering my dream to be a published writer.

And while they're mouldering away in inboxes and slush-piles, I'll get to work on new stories.

I do feel a little productive.  Mostly terrified for the fate of Postcards, but productive nonetheless.

Comments

[snarkymonkey.livejournal.com]

*MASSIVE HUGGLES*

Yay! Oh, I wish you the best with Postcards, Katie! How exciting! Notice the overuse of exclamation points to convey my cross-seas joy! I'll add one more! XD

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Hehe! Thank-you muchly.

*gathers up the exclamation marks*

Goodness, I hope it goes well.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

WOOT!!! Well done Bunly one! Good luck :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you! I've been trying to obey your command and not panic, but I haven't been entirely succeeding in that, I'm afraid. Don't hurt me. :D

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

that's ok. I'll allow a little whimpering now it's gone ;)

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

btw may I ask where you sent it to?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

But of course you may, good Turks. I'm sending it off to this anthology (http://www.catsparks.net/agogpress/newanthology.htm), which kindly accepts stories in the genres of SF, horror and general fantasy (their term) of up to twelve thousand words. If you happen to have anything that fits those parameters, I hereby declare that you should send it in, too.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

I tend to have trouble writing anything under 10,000 words. :S

However, I have had an idea bubbling around for a few months, and one might as well try...

[peachynat3.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea that you're going back and working on some older stories... I know that whenever I write things, and go back to them later I can always pick things out that I want to change, enhance etc... Plus, I guess that way you don't feel that work to be entirely wasted? Anyway, best of luck! I hope it's liked and that some really fantastic things come out of it.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly! What's the point of that half-finished story if I never do something with it? I shouldn't spoil good stories out of laziness.

Thank-you for your good wishes! I hope that Postcards goes down well, too. :)

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

*tosses confetti into the air*

*hands over a paper bag*

just in case, you know.

*hands over a pillow with a pink floral pillowcase*

the screaming does disturb the swedish leprechauns.

Congrats dude! totally. Now try not to chew through your nails. They are most lovely.

And i agree on the going back to older stories part. I always find that better. There's only so many half started stories one person can have. Better to use those 'new' ideas in an old story... if just to make your documents folder happier for a little bit.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

*gathers up all the offerings*

Thank-you, good Flit. I know they'll come in handy. Now, to pull out some old stories and give them a thorough make-over.

[aimeempayne.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with going back to old stories. Fix 'em, send 'em out, and forget 'em. If they come back, send 'em out and forget 'em again. It's the only way to stay sane.

Good luck with Postcards!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a good policy indeed. I shall do my best to follow it.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

I think it's great that you're working on old stories first. It makes sense, to me at least. Would mean you make room for new stuff and you get yourself in gear for them. Good luck!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you, good Naelany. I'm glad my "old story" policy makes sense. :)

[naelany.livejournal.com]

^_^

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

HUZZAH! *cheers for you* Best of luck to Postcards. I hope it gets published, because I really, really want to read it.

You inspire me. Someday, I shall be able to actually finish a story and screw up the courage to send it out to meet its fate, as you have. *snugs*

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

Also, I have this crazy urge to steal your icon. I gave a lecture on punctuation to two classes of ninth graders yesterday, and the main point was that punctuation is too often abused.

[gravityslave.livejournal.com]

I second this! Buneater, can we both have permission to use that icon? Please?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

But of course! You're both welcome to it. :)

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

*does big grammarian eyes*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

You will finish a story and have it published, or I shall come over there and whap you on the head with a pickled herring. You've been warned.

Thank-you for your good wishes. :)

P.S. Feel free to use this icon. We must spread the word of punctuation in moderation!

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

*salutes* Yes'm.

And you're welcome.

*squees and runs off with icon*

[naelany.livejournal.com]

pickled herring...Dutch style? ^_~ Mmmmm lol

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I'll come armed with a crate of them and drop the spares off at your place, good Naelany.

[naelany.livejournal.com]

Yumm, with raw onions! (one of very few times I'll have those raw lol)

[sirgallivant.livejournal.com]

Good luck, good Buneater!

*Sends twenty kilos of cumquats and an old blue lampshade for said luck*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank-you!

*puts lampshade on head*

That's much better. :D

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, so excited for you :D

Heaps and heaps of god luck, and even if it's a rejection you'll get useful editor-type comments, which are alway different to writing-group-type comments. *Crosses fingers for you.* How many words is Postcards, anyway? I'd always had the impression it was a novel...

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you, good Blindmouse. Postcards is just a touch under nine thousand words. I don't think I could sustain it for the length of a novel. :)