Progress Report

Today's my birthday, so there shall be no writing. However, October proved to be a pretty successful month in that regard. Six finished pieces in 31 days may be be an all-time record for me. When you're a writer who works a blue-collar job, brevity is your friend.

Perhaps this habit is why getting my first collection up to the proper wordage is such a pain in the rear. It's rolling along nicely, but each new story I add only gives it another one to two thousand words.

That said, at least the title story is done. Here's how things are looking so far:

53, 100 words
10 published
28 unpublished
12 that need to be written/redone

I need to get up to 80,000 words, so it's a long road ahead.

In other news, I'm planning on trying to get a story into 52 Stitches within the next couple of weeks (yeah, they're an e-zine, but they do release a print anthology at the end). Also, despite my output in October, I didn't make a single sale the entire month! Hopefully, November will treat me better in this regard.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
8 months 13 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
3 months
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
2 months 8 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 26 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
29 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
25 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
11 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
8 days

2009:
18 acceptances
8 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room

I just did a little over 5oo words on the title story of my first short story collection. So far, pretty good. The whole production currently stands at 52,600 words, and I still have about ten stories left to write/rewrite for inclusion. An estimate of 40-50 stories is looking likely at this point.

Meanwhile, I've submitted stories to two more Pill Hill Press anthologies. I've also written a few movie reviews and articles in hopes of building a portfolio and looking for a job with one of the local newspapers or magazines. It's pretty unlikely they're even looking for anyone in the current economy, but meh, one never knows.

There are no new acceptances or rejections to report, but I was pleased to receive my contributor copy of Zombology II with my first royalty check tucked inside the inside cover. Very cool.

Oh, and if I don't get to it on the 31st, have a happy Halloween!

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
8 months 6 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
2 months 24 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
2 months 1 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 19 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
22 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
18 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
4 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
1 day

2009:
18 acceptances
8 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Out of the Loop

So, my internet service has been out for the last week. Upon returning, I noticed about half a dozen anthologies on Ralan I'm interested in pursuing. Cripes.

It doesn't look like I missed much in my e-mail. No new acceptances, rejections, or any of that jazz. However, I did just query one editor as whether or not I can re-submit my story. Between the spotty internet service and the words, "open until filled," my trigger finger gets overly twitchy at times (not to mention the fact I always notice things I kick myself for after I send).

Ah well.

Now, I just have to catch up on all the forum/site news I've missed over the past seven days.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
7 months 26 day
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
2 months 14 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
1 month 21 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 9 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
12 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
8 days

2009:
18 acceptances
6 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Breakin' Out

Okay, I am now back from my vacation. Trumbull was a nice visit as always, and Boston was cool (although I have to admit I think I liked Salem more than the latter). This also means that I will now begin looking for a new job more suited to my abilities. I've got a lead on an online freelancing site which looks somewhat promising, but it doesn't pay very well, so I'll have to find some additional means. I may also start up some kind of online tutorial on getting work published or start doing some freelance editing. I'm not sure what my rates will be yet though.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
7 months 9 day
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
1 month 27 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
1 month 4 days
Wolfology I-Five O'clock Shadow-(re)submitted September 8th:
22 days

2009:
18 acceptances
4 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

AWOL

Sorry for the absence folks. I'm on vacation in New England right now and won't be back until the beginning of next week. I won't have any writing progress to report on for awhile. I'll check back in when something's happening in that department. Later.

P.S. Zombology II is now up for sale on Amazon. Go check it out!

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
7 months 1 day
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
1 month 19 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
27 days
Wolfology I-Five O'clock Shadow-(re)submitted September 8th:
14 days

2009:
18 acceptances
4 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Clearing Out The List

A Bonfire Hymn is go.
The Gutter Priest is go.
A Trip to Bobby's Bar is go.
Heir to a Vacant Throne (which I didn't even have time to list) is go.

Wow. Not only my first pro sale, but three of them in one fell swoop, and some more love from Library of Horror too. I hope the other stories I have out have luck this good.

I also got a few rounds of edits in my e-mail. I'll get to work on those tomorrow.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
6 months 20 days
A Quarter and Your Silence-Shock Totem-submitted August 1st:
1 month 10 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
1 month 7 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
15 days
Wolfology I-Five O'clock Shadow-(re)submitted September 8th:
2 days

2009:

18 acceptances
5 active (1 short listed)
14 rejections
3 withdrawn

Bacon!

Victorya (the charming editor of Library of Horror's impending bacon-centric horror anthology) recently sent me a message stating my story, "Best Served Hot" has made the short list!

I'll need to make sure I have a credit for my fiancee at the beginning of the story, as she dreamt up much of that wacky scenario for me. Good fun.

Unfortunately, my amoeba story did not make the cut over at The Beast Within 2. I think it was probably a little too slow-paced for the theme of the anthology, but I'm still pleased with how it came out. I do have a half-completed story I'm going to try to finish off and send in though.

Argh, and I still have another project I need to get done before I leave! Ah well, at least I got the alien story done.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
6 months 20 days
A Bonfire Hymn-Terror of Miskatonic Falls-submitted April 18th:
4 months 23 days
The Gutter Priest-Terror of Miskatonic Falls-submitted April 19th:
4 months 22 days
A Trip to Bobby's Bar-Terror of Miskatonic Falls-submitted June 3rd:
3 months 7 days
A Quarter and Your Silence-Shock Totem-submitted August 1st:
1 month 10 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
1 month 7 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
15 days
Wolfology I-Five O'clock Shadow-(re)submitted September 8th:
2 days

2009:

14 acceptances
8 active (1 short listed)
14 rejections
3 withdrawn