Inner Voice. . .

At times my own inner voice gets lost among the chatter of my fictional characters. Perhaps this is normal for writers; perhaps my mind is too cluttered to listen, like I’m trying to be alone in a crowded room. I suppose my confusion is a wake-up call to seek silence.

I hear it’s pleas to focus, to slow down, to simplify or to concentrate echoing ever so slightly, without resonation from my head and my heart. As usual with everything else in my life, I give it a thought and a promise but little more. I don’t remember how to slow down. It’s been too long. Will my life ever become a prayer without words? Perhaps later.

I updated my website if you want to take a peek and sign my guestbook: http://www.bkbirch.com/. I’m pretty pleased with the way it looks (after three hours of frustration last night) and when I think back to the way it looked when it first was published (does anyone remember the ocean scene or the little immature clouds?), I’m thrilled with my progess. I’ve come a long way baby! Needless to say, both the serial and the novel were neglected.

Yesterday was my one year anniversary at my online writer’s forum. I looked back at what I’ve accomplished and I may not be a best-selling author (yet!), I have made progress. Everyone there has grown over the year and I’m blessed to be among such a talented group. I know, I’ve gushed about these folks before, but I mean it.

I haven’t heard anything from any of my submissions, but I did submit 2 poems to Crush Magazine yesterday. I believe every piece I’ve written is submitted somewhere. Would you call it “taking the initiative” or “a cry of desperation”? We will see when I hear from the publications.

I haven’t heard anything from Paradox Magazine yet. I really have hope for this one because a few others I know have received rejections within two weeks or so. I submitted a short story on 9/16/2004, which is two weeks ago today. I don’t expect to hear anything from the Gettysburg Review. I didn’t the last time I submitted something.

Glimmertrain short story submissions open up tomorrow. It feels like Christmas. I’ll submit something I’m sure. Glimmertrain, along with Bathtub Gin, are my new target publications. I’ll write something new for Wildchild Publishing’s November issue, maybe a piece on being thankful. Perhaps I’ll get some material from my Suburban Mom Diaries http://www.suburbanmomdiaries.blogspot.com/. Faith and Marci have been wonderful.

Well, my inner voice is telling me to get back to work. There is truth.

BK

Guilt. . .

Guilt is an odd topic for a blog entry but I wonder about it sometimes. Perhaps I'm stretched too thin. I feel guilty for having to get the kids up at the crack of dawn so I can be at work by 7:30. I feel guilty for not working as much overtime as my co-workers. I feel guilty for not picking up the kids until after 5:30 pm. I feel guilty because I have no time to fix a decent meal because we have to be at the ball field by 6:00 pm. I feel guilty when there are four games going on and I can't give all of them my full attention. I feel guilty because sometimes I fudge the reading time on my youngest son's Reading Record. I feel guilty when I yell or become angry. I feel guilty when one of my kids wants to wear a particular garment and it's been in the dirty clothes for over three days. I feel guilty when I spend money on my writing. I feel guilty for the actions of others, who believe they are doing right but are led to believe lies by underhanded manipulative people. I feel guilty when people write embarrassing posts on a public forum with the illusion they are righting all the tyranny and oppression we writers face, but in fact are coming across like a "whiner". I feel guilty for taking the time to write and I feel guilty when I don't.

I had a great writing day yesterday, but now I'm paying for it. All other aspects of my life were neglected, I stayed up too late and now I'm tired. I managed to type the yellowing pages of the handwritten work to my novel and added another 900 words. I rough drafted three handwritten pages of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and I submitted 10 poems to e-zines. I updated my website and messed around on the KIC forum and two other forums I frequent.

Emerging Women Writers (http://www.emergingwomenwriters.com/) will publish my poem, Faded Youth, in their October issue.

I haven't heard anything from any of my other submissions, but the list has grown longer since Monday.

I want to go to the North Carolina Writers Network Fall Conference but it is $350.00 and it is over Halloween weekend. I feel guilty for spending the money and I'll feel guilty for not joining my kids in the annual event of Trick or Treat.

What to do about all this guilt? I'll avoid situations where I feel guilt or embarrassment for the actions of others. That normally doesn't last long and I'll find it humorous in another week or so.

I've simplified all I can in my personal life for the moment. No one else is putting guilt or pressure on me but me. I do not wallow in self-doubt nor am I locked in a cycle of despair and hopelessness. One piece of advice I received was to live in the moment. Great advice, if I were a toddler. Deadlines, either with work or writing or the kids' schedules booked until late October, loom over me like an approaching storm.

I must find a solution or die at an early age. Cause of Death: She was consumed by guilt.

Life is an adventure. . . .

A quest for happiness, a quest for knowledge, a quest for comfort, a quest for peace. . . I could go on. I need to step back and take a long look at how I’ve been viewing the world, myself, and my writing. Through past blogs, it is evident I’ve been approaching my writing as a chore, another task that must be done before the day is over. It is wrong. I need to remember the passion for the words, the stories, and the joy of putting just the right words in order. That is what got me started in the first place.

I can still remember four years ago when I picked up the pencil and wrote the opening sentence to Chapter 1 of my first novel. How excited I was when the storyline came to me, out of the blue, as if dictated to my head from a higher power. I lost myself in the power of my creative source and the words came so fast from my mind that my hand could barely keep up.

I can also remember when I first stumbled into a writer’s forum called Writers Net. I took in every word that was posted and although I was considered a “newbie” I prided myself on having the wisdom to decide which advice I could use and what I could disregard. I thank my years in the left-brained business world for the gift to delve into the bullshit and come out with something useful (my cup is always half full).

There were a few posters who always gave sound advice. I’m still in contact with them on other forums now, but one person seems to have disappeared. Her name was Valerie Moreau. I do miss her expertise. I rarely participate at WN anymore. Although there is still much good advice there, I’ve moved on to the next realm where I communicate with other writers who’ve actually been published. I feel more comfortable with these folks.

I have grown as a writer and I have my many writer cyber-friends to thank. One can rarely go about it all alone. But along with my growth as an artist comes the tedium of the business. I know I must educate myself with publication but it will no longer envelope me to the point I can no longer create.

The rains from Jeanne poured down all night long and the electricity went off at least twice. It is a wonder I made it to work on time, but I did.

I haven't heard anything from any of my submissions.

I finished Issue 17 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and sent it off to the editor. I’ve decided to decrease the word count from around 2500 words to between 1500 and 1700 words. I believe that is where the pressure came from. I need to relax and let my characters lead me.

I submitted four poems yesterday: 2 to Wildchild Publishing and 2 to Storysouth. I’m still waiting for Bellevue Literary to accept or reject the last of my short stories that haven’t been published: A Day With Pepper. I submitted it on 8/25, so it has been about a month. I also submitted two other stories that have been previously published but not in print.

My goal for today is to rough out Issue 18 and get the handwritten sheets of my novel into the computer. Thank heavens for my Firelite.

Time to Combat Laziness. . .

I didn’t write anything all weekend but I had a lot of other things going on. I’m falling a bit behind on Blood on an Appalachian Sunset but I feel confident I will catch up this week.

I haven’t heard anything from any of my submissions which are:

Here is the latest submission list:1 poem to Wildchild Publishing 9/9/04
2 poems to Slowtrains 9/14/04
1 poem to Skyline Publishing 8/20/04
1 Short Story to Bellevue Literary 8/25/04
1 Short Story to Gettysburg Review 9/13/04
1 Short Story to Paradox 9/14/04

Jeanne is heading my direction now. I haven’t had time to watch the weather but the ominous dark clouds tell me she’s drawing near.

My new job is going fine although I’ve curtailed my internet use three-fold. I plan to use my lunch hour to check web-mail, posts blogs, and visit forums, but no other time.

I am fighting a few allergies along with a light case of lithargy. I blame it on ragweed and dark skies – potent combination for me. My goals with week are light:

3 issues of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset
Work on Novel

I’m not putting any exact goals on my novel because when I do, I fail. I’m tired of failure so if I set non-specific goals and do any work at all, I will have succeeded. How’s that for logic?

I believe I’ll stay at my desk today instead of going out for lunch. The walk to the parking lot takes at least 7 minutes, so 14 minutes of writing is consumed just by leaving. I’ll stay at my desk, break out the Firelite and look busy.

Ta Ta

BK

It is Friday. . .

The first week of the new job is almost over! It is going a little better. I can find the restroom, the coffee pot, and the way out of the building. I’m considering it a success.

I’ve barely started Issue 17 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset, but if I focus this weekend, I can probably pound out Issue 17 and Issue 18. I need to get working on my novel.

I added an excerpt from my novel to my Publishers Marketplace Webpage. It looks ok. I’ve asked members of my writing forum to paste the link to their browser and click. I want to see if I get into the top ten viewed pages. If this works, then we all can do it. I realize it is somewhat underhanded, but I’ve seen some of the authors on the top ten and I am of the belief they are doing the same thing. The writers on the forum are much more talented.

If anyone feels inclined, here is the link: http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/bkbirch/

I submitted a press release to PRWeb. It doesn’t read badly and I received a 4 Editorial Rating which says I haven the time to carefully craft my press release. I’m not sure what the scale is but I hope 5 is the highest.
I have posted it on my website www.bkbirch.com if anyone wants to read it.

I haven’t heard anything on any of my submissions. I’m pursuing some bigger markets and I hope I’m successful with them.

Well, I actually have some work to do so I’d better run.

BK

The Blues. . . .

Not feeling very motivated today. There is no character chatter in my head and no plots are stewing. I will probably not write much today. Perhaps I’ll crank out a few words this weekend.

I think it is the new job. There are new systems, new procedures, and new people. It is draining every ounce of energy I have. I know starting a new job is tough (I’ve never kept a day job longer than four years – this is by choice except for the last one), but I’ll be glad when all of this learning is behind me.

This company uses Lotus Notes and I don’t like it. I’m used to MS Outlook and the two applications are not very similar. I managed to send a test message to my web email but I can’t replicate this with anything else (*sigh*).

I may add an excerpt from my neglected novel to my Publishers Marketplace listing. I’ll need to do another edit but I’ll probably use the excerpt I have on my website. This is just what I need - another task to add to an already daunting list. My dream is to have an agent read my extraordinary prose, contact me and offer representation and secure a huge advance from the top publishing house to finish the darn thing. Ok, you can stop laughing now.

I haven’t heard anything from my submissions. I need to get Issues 17 & 18 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and hopefully I’ll get these done by Sunday. I really need to make some time for my novel and I am concocting a plan of action as I type. My goal was to have it completed by the end of September but now I think the first of 2005 is more realistic and probably better because of the holidays.

Well, I guess I’d better go train some more. . . . buh bye!

BK

B.K. Birch, Award Winning Author. . .

This sounds nice, doesn’t it? I clicked on Wildchild Publishing today and my jaw fell to the floor. A Soldier’s Story was awarded the Editors Choice Award. I’m so excited – today the Editors Choice Award, tomorrow the Pulitzer! Hey, it could happen.

I haven’t heard anything from any of my submissions.

I managed to finish Issue 16 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and sent it off to the editor this morning. I’m pleased with this one, despite my lack of enthusiasm to write.

I’d like to get Issue 17 drafted today but my youngest son has a baseball game so if I do get it drafted it will be considered a miracle.

I’m running out of time to write something for Emerging Women Writers October Issue. The theme is emerald and I did write a short story about a girl with emerald eyes, but I submitted it to WCP and planned to send it to EWW if WCP rejected it. Well, that didn’t happen. I want to submit something to them on a regular basis, as they were my first publishing credit and it is the right thing to do. I did submit a poem and I guess that will have to do until November. The theme is Dreams. I have a poem that the editor at Skyline recommended I enter into their poetry contest. Perhaps I’ll submit that one for November and work on a short story.

The award also inspired me to write and boy oh boy do I need that! Perhaps I can sneak a few hours in this afternoon. The firelite USB is coming in very handy.

BK

Not really in the mood. . .

I don’t feel like writing much but I know I need to. I have finished the first draft Issue 16 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset but I need to go through it at least two more times before I send it off.

I haven’t heard anything from my submissions but they haven’t been out very long.

My creativity has been waning of late and I’m unsure as to the cause. I started my new job yesterday but I’ve worked a day job since I’ve been writing so that should not be an issue. I took some time this morning to rearrange the furniture in my new office. All I need now is a couple of pictures and perhaps a plant and it will feel a little more like home. I have a sensor light so when I enter my office the light automatically comes on. I’m sitting here not moving and the light just went off. I suppose this company expects more movement. My Firelite USB is working perfectly. I used it here this morning without a problem.

My writer friend (see Freedom From The Mundane link above) seems to be on a writing roll and I so envy his creativity. Perhaps I need to rename my blog to “Fallen Into The Mundane” which seems appropriate.

I believe my worst fear, other than losing my children, is the no longer feeling the urge to write, where my creativity is lost and there is no desire to pick up the pen and put it to the paper.

Today, I’ll fake my way through it. Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel differently.

BK

Ah, to be gainfully employed. . .

Today was the first day of my new job. It was fine. It is a good company, good pay, good benefits and great people but now I know I’d rather be writing full time. But alas, it is not to be – yet. The walk from the employee parking lot is ½ mile and my legs are aching. I hoping all this walking will give me a butt like a twenty year old by next spring.

I’m just warming up the fingers to get ready to type and edit Issue 16 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset that I managed to handwrite in between training sessions. I want to have Issues 16, 17 and hopefully 18 done and submitted by Sunday.

I haven’t heard anything on any of my submissions and I probably won’t submit anything new until the first of October. I revised a short story and I want to send it to Glimmertrain.

Well, that’s all I can do for now. I’m a working gal again.

Not really into writing . . .

I haven’t written a word since Wednesday. I need to complete Issue 16 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and I have written one word of it. Thank goodness I have most of the issue swimming around in my confused little brain. Suburban Mom Diaries is also suffering but I hope to get something posted today.

I spent Thursday shopping for new work clothes. I wore jeans and sandals at my last job and I need to dress business casual for my new job. I start tomorrow and I’m excited about going back to work but I dread the long hours and learning all the new ways to manage and present the same tired data.

I did manage to finish the edits for Molly O’Brien and sent it off to the editor at Wildchild. I really like the way to story came out. It will be published in their October issue.

Winter of 1917 is finally published at Bygone Days. I’m pretty proud of that one too. Perhaps I should have voiced my concern earlier in my blog, for it was published Thursday, the day after I posted my worries.

Here is the latest submission list:

1 poem to Wildchild Publishing 9/9/04
2 poems to Slowtrains 9/14/04
1 poem to Skyline Publishing 8/20/04
1 Short Story to Bellevue Literary 8/25/04
1 Short Story to Gettysburg Review 9/13/04
1 Short Story to Paradox 9/14/04

I have a new FireLite USB Smartdisk to backup all of my files on my computer. It is about the size of a palm pilot and fits perfect into the camera case I bought. I’ll keep it in the overnight bag with all my other writing necessities. It will also be great when I’m stealing a few moments from work to write. But that won’t happen for a long time.

There was a statement on a forum I frequent concerning the difference between artists and non-artists. I never really thought about it before, but there certainly are differences. I’ve never considered myself an artist type as I am too involved the mundane and everyday. But there are times when conversations befuddle me or I am lost in a scene or a spectacular sunrise, wondering how an artist would convey the colors to canvas. I also find myself recalling bits of someone else’s conversation to use in a storyline and wonder if I have the right to intrude in such a manner. It’s gotten worse over the years. It makes me wonder whether artists are born or made.


BK

It is late. . .

I didn’t get home tonight until after 9 pm and I only had a few hours to write. I had an email from the editor at Wildchild Publishing with the edits for my ghost story, Molly O’Brien. It will be published in their October 2004 issue.

I had to take a drug test for my new job today. It seems so ridiculous but I suppose it is necessary. I wore blue jeans and sandals at my last job (another perk) and now I have to dress business casual. I have to go shopping tomorrow for some work clothes while my housekeeper comes to clean. She doesn’t like me around while she’s here.

I have a submission ready to send to Paradox Magazine, a source provided by another outstanding writer of historical fiction. The story is good and I hope they accept it.

I finished Issue 15 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and sent it off to the editor before I left for the ball fields. I hope to get through Issue 17 by Sunday.

I haven’t touched my novel but perhaps with IVAN heading this way, I’ll get some game rainouts and get some typing done. My oldest son is taking keyboarding this year (they don’t call it typing anymore) and I have lots for him to practice on.

He has to write some poetry for his language arts class and had the nerve to ask if he could use one of mine. First of all, my blunt words are really not fit for a 6th grade class and besides, it is plagiarism which is the worst mortal sin to a writer. I told him to get his butt in his room and write a poem. I don’t want to read it as he isn’t much for flowery prose or big words – left brain all the way.

Another writer told of a colleague’s tragedy in her blog (see Ink In My Coffee). Her newborn baby died and they don’t know why. I cannot imagine the devastation and the thought of living with that for the rest of my life is too much to bear. I hope time will ease her pain.

BK

Record Acceptance

I have wonderful news despite the dreary day here in the South and the impending floods by that dastardly IVAN later in the week. I received a call this morning about the job I interviewed for and wanted so badly. I got it. I passed the credit check, the driver license check, and I KNOW I’ll pass my drug test. In addition, I submitted a short story to Wildchild Publishing this afternoon. The editor emailed me back in minutes with an acceptance. Perhaps I need to drive to South Carolina and play the lottery. It certainly is my day.

I finished Issue 14 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset yesterday and sent it to the editor – 14 down 26 to go. I also submitted two poems to Wildchild Publishing and two poems to Slowtrains. I am somewhat in a panic though. My short story, Winter of 1917, has not been published at Bygone Days yet. I’m worried because they have the only edited version. I must have deleted the edited one in error either at my old job or here. I hope it shows up soon.

I still need to write Issue 15 of Blood and my novel lingers in limbo as I rush to fulfill all my obligations. My writing resume is growing:

A Soldier's Story (SS) to Wildchild Publishing in the September 2004 Issue
A Writers Longing (Poem) to Emerging Women Writers in the September 2004 Issue
Confessions of a Softball Mom (Essay) to Emerging Women Writers in the July 2004 Issue
Vision (Poem) to Emerging Women Writers in the September 2004 Issue
Winter of 1917 (SS) to Bygone Days in the September 2004 Issue (I hope)
Sanctuary (Poem) to Emerging Women Writers in the July 2004 Issue
Molly O'Brien (SS) to Wildchild Publishing in the October 2004 Issue

I currently have on submission:

2 Poems to Wildchild Publishing
2 Poems to Slowtrains
1 Short Story to Bellevue Literary
1 Short Story to Gettysburg Review

I need to concentrate on my novel but yet I need to feed my acceptance addiction. Any ideas on how to do both?

My oldest son has a baseball game tonight and my oldest daughter has softball practice – at different fields! Logistically it can be done, I just have to get creative some times.

So long for now.

BK

Outlook is good (except for the weather)

Today is a beautiful sunny day in the South. I fear for next week though, as Ivan is tracked to head up the gulf and into the Carolinas. I don’t like the path I’m seeing on the local news channels. I always have water and such and we have a generator and a gas grill, so if Ivan spins this way, I’ll handle him.

StorySouth rejected my submissions two days after I submitted them. So, my revised submissions are now even shorter:

1 poem to Wildchild Publishing
1 poem to Slowtrains
1 poem to Skyline Publishing
1 short story to Bellevue Literary Review

I have written 500 words of a new short story. I find it appropriate as it is a ghost story. I hope to get it finished this week and send it out to Wildchild and Emerging Women Writers.

I was only partially successful on my goals from last week:

2 Issues of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset – Yep, finished this one
1 New Short Story or rewrite of a current one – 500 words – so I’ll count this one as a yes
2 Chapters of my novel – Not a chance
Find a Job – had one awesome interview
5 Suburban Mom Dairies entries – I completed only 2.

New goals for next week of 9/13/04:

3 Issues of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset
Finished and submit new short story
Submit 5 poems for publication
2 Chapters of my novel
3 Suburban Mom Dairies

I need to buckle down and write / edit / submit every minute I have. The kids have games every night of the week but that’s only three hours out of my day.

I’ve been to the grocery store and cut the grass. I need to weed-whack but that will have to wait. I have to take my youngest daughter to softball practice and come home and make some dinner. The local grocery store and buy-one-get-one free on the jumbo shrimp and crabcakes so guess what the family is having for dinner.

I had a rant about the 9/11 victim families and the enormous government payouts they received, but deleted the text as it served no useful purpose. Some opinions are best kept to myself.

The only thing I have to do next week is write, go to ball games, and look for a job. I pray the procrastination bug don’t come a creeping!

BK

Everything Is Better With Chocolate

I keep saying that because in front of me is a large bowl of chocolate brownie ice cream and NOT the store brand.

I finished Issue 13 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and sent it off to the editor. Issue 14 is stewing in my head and when combined with the chocolate, I’m sure it will be extraordinary.

I re-did my submission spreadsheet and submitted some poetry. We’ll see how that goes. I’ll update my submissions list on Monday’s blog.

I haven’t gotten anymore calls for interviews, no one has called with an offer, and the unemployment office has questions about my claim. I’ve tried calling twice to answer their questions but no one there knows what the questions are. I’ll have to call my old employer on Monday and get the poop. But today I’ll eat chocolate.

I’m not having much adult interaction now that I’m not working and I’m alone much of the time. It’s ok though, I’d prefer sitting by myself and making up stories. I only wish I’d utilize my time a little better. It is hard to get on a schedule when this is all temporary and hopefully in a few weeks, I’ll be back in the rat-race.

I’m out of time.

BK

http://www.bkbirch.com

Rain, rain, go away. . .

It was been raining for the past two days. Not one of those refreshing rains, but that thick, hot, sticky kind of rain one can only experience here in the south. Gusts of wind and rain pelting the window kept me up for most of the night. Early this morning there were tornado warnings on the west side of town. Now my dear friends in NYC are getting what hasn’t been left here in the Carolinas.

I had a job interview this morning. I almost forgot about it. See, I seemed to have lost a day because of Monday being a holiday. The woman scheduled me yesterday for Wednesday at 10 am. For some reason I woke up this morning thinking it was Tuesday. Thank goodness I remembered in time because the company is a competitor of the company that RIF’ed me. Ah, there is justice in the world. They’re in the area where I wanted to work and I think they liked me. I WANT THIS JOB!!!!

I haven’t heard any more from my submissions. I need to go through and redo my poetry submissions. I know, I keep saying that, but it is true.

I finished Issue 13 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and sent it off to the editor tonight. This was a fun issue and I am pleased with it. So far, I’ve kept my word count to 2000+ words for each issue. I suppose that’s the customer in me wanting to get my money’s worth. Thirteen issues total 32,944 words. I can’t help but think I’d be done with my novel if I’d put this much effort into it. My goal, as I’ve said before, is to reach 40 issues then end it. I’d like to leave it at KIC for another 6 months or so and do some local advertising for it. I think I could get more subscribers if more people knew the site was there. Perhaps some flyers in the library and maybe I can write a PR for the local paper. I’ll worry about that later.

I did manage to write two legal pages for my novel and I’m happy with those. Believe it or not, my hand cramped up while my brain was still on overdrive. Yes, I know I’m still on Chapter 16 but WHEN I get it completed it will be my best work ever. I’d like to type it tomorrow but the woman who cleans my house (how’s that for brazen – I’m unemployed, yet I still have a housekeeper!!!) comes on Thursdays and she makes me leave. I am looking forward to some quiet time in the library.

I told the folks at the interview today that I could start on Monday. I’m only on week 2 of my severance and I could have told them two weeks, but I’d rather work, get paid, and still get my severance. If I get an offer tomorrow, I plan to spend Friday in front of the television with all three extended versions of LOTR. Call me a nerd, geek, or whatever, I will do this before I return to daytime employment.

Well, I must take leave now.

BK

http://www.bkbirch.com

Oh that Frances!!!!

It has poured rain all day. Now there are no ball games and the house is damp and dreary. I went to the grocery store this morning and spent too much money for too little food. I did make some chili though – since I’m not working I may as well start earning my keep. I also finished the laundry, carried everyone’s basket to their rooms, and brought the dog up. I’m so tempted to build a fire in the fireplace but even with the rain, the temperature is still in the mid-seventies.

I lost two hours of my life this morning standing in line at the DMV. Goodness, how I despise that place.

I haven’t heard anything from any of my submissions. I did finish Issue 12 of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset and send it off to the editor. Since it is raining, I’ll either work on Chapter 16 of my novel or perhaps send off some poetry.

Overall, it was a pretty good writing day. 2126 words on Blood and they all came rather easy. I would love to get Issue 13 written and sent off tomorrow, but we’ll have to see.

M.J. Rose is a guest on a forum that I frequent and answered my questions I posted a month ago. I’ve never read any of her work (I’m too busy reading mine) but I did read her blog a few times.

I asked her what words of wisdom she could give to aspiring writers. Here is her answer:

“Enjoy the writing. Love the process. Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. And a broken business. The writing is the real thing. Focus on that. It's the only part of the whole thing that is yours - all yours - to screw up - to make shine - the rest is up to everyone else.” M.J. Rose

Her statement is so true. For writers, the words are the only reality and the business does stink. How else can the “Bimbo we dare not name” get a book deal? On the other hand, if gifted writers are not skilled in marketing and knowledgeable about this “business”, are they doomed for failure? It is a little presumptuous of me to consider myself gifted but then, if I don’t believe in myself, then who will?

But alas, I have my words, my tenacity, and the wherewithal to see it through.

BK

http://www.bkbirch.com

http://www.keepitcoming.net/blood-appalachian.html

Labor Day

I’m back from my vacation to the mountains. I’m not as relaxed as one might think, but I am focused on my weeks ahead. I considered week one of my severance as a vacation. It has passed and I must focus and meet the goals I have set out for me.

My current submissions:

4 poems to Skyline
4 poems to Wildchild Publishing
1 poem to Emerging Women Writers
1 short story and 1 poem to Slow Trains
1 short story and 1 poem to StorySouth
1 short story to Bygone Days
1 short story to Bellevue Literary Review

A Soldiers Story, http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/soldier50.html, is now available for reading at Wildchild Publishing.

In fact, one of my friends, Eva C. Schegulla, has the feature story, The Goddess Greenroom, http://www.wildchildpublishing.com/goddess50.html, and it the most innovative piece I’ve read in quite some time.

I must follow up on my poetry submission to Wildchild. I’ve sent 4 poems and nothing. Perhaps I’ll just send them again. I have many poems that aren’t are submission anywhere. This week, I’ll find new places to submit them.

One of my poet friends, Nochipa Campbell, will have a poem published at Storysouth. Please see her link on my website.

Ok, now I must focus on focusing. My weekly goals are lofty, but attainable if I work hard:

2 Issues of Blood on an Appalachian Sunset
1 New Short Story or rewrite of a current one
2 Chapters of my novel
Find a Job
5 Suburban Mom Dairies entries

I plan to write Issue 12 of Blood tonight and send off my noon tomorrow. I did find some inspiration while I was in those remote hills. I have pictures linked below. I hope you enjoy.

B.K.

http://www.keepitcoming.net/historical.html#Appalachian/

http://www.bkbirch.com/

Woodrow Mountain 

View from Highland Scenic Highway 

Williams River