Write1Sub1 Week 1

Steampunk desktop image via Wikipedia

It’s hard to believe 2011 has already begun, but it has. Write1Sub1 is off to a flying start. 64 brave souls have chosen to undertake this ambitious challenge and I wish each one well. Surely there will be ups and downs for each and every one of us, and it will be those who “find a way to win” who will reach that finish line.

Saturday: For Week 1 I chose to investigate a new market called FaePublishing, which seeks both short stories and novel length manuscripts for 2011. As they’re a new outfit, I’m not counting on them to deliver just yet, but I’m certainly willing to support their efforts.

Short Story Submission guidelines:

We accept short stories in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Genres, this includes all the different Sub Genres, such as Hard Sci Fi, General Sci Fi, Space Opera, Steam Punk, Time Travel, Urban Fantasy, General Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Magic Fantasy, etc…  NO Simultaneous Submissions.

What we ARE looking for:

• Quality writing
• Stories for Adults
• Active voice
• Protagonist a reader can care about
• Unpublished short story

What we are NOT looking for:

• Erotica
• Paranormal Romance
• Graphic horror
• Poetry
• Previously published short stories

We pay $0.05 per word up to maximum of 2500 words at this rate, with a minimum payment of $60.00 for shorter work.  Longer Short Stories may be submitted, but are still subject to $125.00 maximum.

The key element for me is that they’re open to steampunk, which is what I’m writing this week. Further complicating the issue is that this story is the first in a serial I hope to turn into a novel. As FaePublishing also publishes novels and seems to be looking for short stories as a method to attract readers for their novels, this seems a possible good fit.

Sunday: At my writers group meeting in Pittsburgh, I wrote three mini-scenes of mostly dialogue. These are pivotal points in the story that have been running through my head for a few days. I wanted to give them voice and see how they came out. I’m not sure I’ll use all the material, but it helped me to understand the primary characters a bit better. I also discovered that our local library has a few books on the history of Freemasonry, which plays a secondary part in my world building. I’m also interested in reading a bit more on local history in the 1890′s.  Will stop by tomorrow on our walk around town. The real challenge for this story will be to give it sufficient closure to feel complete rather than merely a part in some larger arc (which it is).

Monday: I worked on the fantasy novel this morning, then walked to the library and did a little research for this week’s story.  My ideal time line doesn’t quite jive with reality, so I think reality will have to bend a bit. Artistic license and all that. We walked up the hill past the area where the story largely takes place. Also got to browse old photos of downtown New Castle that should give me at least a vague idea of what I’m talking about when I describe the surround. Tomorrow begins the real writing.

Tuesday: Today, I read about masonry and discussed my plot with Sue. She set me straight on a couple issues. Started writing this evening. So far so good, but behind schedule as usual. On another front I finally had the breakthrough I’ve been seeking for the fantasy novel. That should break that logjam at last. Story will have four scenes. I argued for a fifth, but Sue convinced me the story will seem more self-contained without it (and it will play very well in the next story).

Wednesday: I hate when this happens, but forcing my story scene took me nowhere today. I wrote the first half twice and it still sucks. After the second time through I realized why. I don’t need the first half of the scene. What I wrote today is basically a walk through of a scene leading to the inciting incident. I’m definitely behind schedule now, but at least I’m not over budget (that’s the optimist in me speaking). Tomorrow will be better.

Thursday: I rewrote the first scene to begin later (recalling the “rule” about starting in media res at or near an inciting incident). That worked and the scene played out pretty well from there. I’m lacking some emotional connection to the protagonist, but his flaw is becoming more concrete for me, so I think that will come with a final polish. Scene two should be easier as I’ve already written dialogue for the heart of it, and scene three is the climax and should be short. I may or may not require an anticlimax.

Friday: Sue read my first scene and made comments. I reworked it and then completed the second scene this evening. I have part of the final scene in place as well, but it needs a little transitional work. I’ll have to finish that tomorrow and send the story off to market. Looks like it will come in at 4000 words or so. I don’t have a title yet. Hopefully, I’ll wake up with one.

Saturday: After comments on the second scene, I revised it to improve a secondary character’s voice and insert some tension between characters. The story came in just under 4000 words. I’ll read through it next Saturday and submit it to Fae Publishing. This week, I subbed stories to trapeze magazine and Pedastal Magazine. I also wrote two literary flash fictions.

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