I finished my first short story today. I don't think I've written a short story since I was a kid and strangely obsessed with writing about teenagers from California. (What? You haven't read "Miss Real Cool?")
I keep hearing about the importance of clips, so I want to start sending out some short stories in hopes of getting published or winning some writing contests. Not having any published works to put in my query letter is somewhat terrifying. Sure I have some online clips, but I feel like those aren't looked at as seriously.
Now comes the part that I dread: feedback. The thought of people reading and critiquing my writing makes me feel a little sick. What if my friends and family think the story sucks? Will they tell me it's good anyway?
Makes this an interesting career choice, huh?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
New directions
Since I started writing for Examiner.com about women's fiction, I haven't really had a reason to post reviews on this blog anymore. However, I thought I would turn this into a blog about my writing, since I'm now moving full steam ahead with finishing my novel.
I lost my job earlier this month, and I have to say I'm not so sad about it. Working for a PR agency was not my cup of tea, and after five years in the industry I realized that it wasn't getting any better. I had started looking for a new job and weighing my options months before I was laid off, so at least this has given me an excuse to focus on something that I love. I never would have left my job without having something else lined up ... and now I feel like I have an amazing opportunity to be able to finish my novel while I look for my next position.
It's exciting and scary at the same time ... the transition from a 9-5 job being around coworkers and clients and deadlines to being your own boss with no one to make you do anything is pretty extreme. Deadline-wise I've been setting word count goals for myself each day and have been doing really well in meeting them so far ... as long as I keep distractions to a minimum.
Anyway, so far, so good. For the first time in years, I don't wake up dreading each day ... and that in itself is pretty damn awesome.
I lost my job earlier this month, and I have to say I'm not so sad about it. Working for a PR agency was not my cup of tea, and after five years in the industry I realized that it wasn't getting any better. I had started looking for a new job and weighing my options months before I was laid off, so at least this has given me an excuse to focus on something that I love. I never would have left my job without having something else lined up ... and now I feel like I have an amazing opportunity to be able to finish my novel while I look for my next position.
It's exciting and scary at the same time ... the transition from a 9-5 job being around coworkers and clients and deadlines to being your own boss with no one to make you do anything is pretty extreme. Deadline-wise I've been setting word count goals for myself each day and have been doing really well in meeting them so far ... as long as I keep distractions to a minimum.
Anyway, so far, so good. For the first time in years, I don't wake up dreading each day ... and that in itself is pretty damn awesome.
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