Once upon a time, August brought the bittersweet knowledge that summer break was winding to a close, so I’d better enjoy every day to the fullest. Now, what is even time? How do we calendar? Today marks the 146th day of the Quarantimes for Hubs & me. No travel, few socially-distanced gatherings, just work, then walks, then TV, then Zoom. I’m having a hard time feeling excited about summer.
What marks time anymore? Pages written, chapters edited, TV shows binged, the slow ripening of tomatoes, and online events like this blog hop. Thanks to the awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG: Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey! Be sure to give them a visit today.
The Insecure Writers Support Group offers education, publishing opportunities (anthologies!), and a safe space to commiserate. Want to join in the fun? Join us here: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
Our optional question for this month’s blog hop: Quote: “Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don’t write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be.”
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn’t planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?
For the moment, I write blog posts and romance fiction–basta! I love this genre and am finding some success–just a little, but that’s how you build a writing career, eh? Step by baby step. But I have entertained myself with palate cleanser projects, creepy little short stories. These were all experiments–just let the story grow and become what it wants to be. I guess they’re “horror light,” more Twilight Zone than slasher, more Poe than King. I have vague plans to eventually polish them up and publish them as a collection linked by the theme of comeuppance.
Want to read one? Here’s The Vengeance, which first appeared in The Coffin Bell Journal. https://coffinbell.com/the-vengeance/
May August bring you joys worth remembering. Keep on writing, if you can!
Hi,
Romance, Romantic Suspense, and women’s fiction have always been the genres where I want to take my writing. It is necessary for me to know where I am headed with my story.
Take care and all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Time is not something I can keep up with either. School will be in session this time next week for my boys and they will still be at home. Everything blends together.
Good luck with your horror-light project.
Time is hard right now!!
I’m similar – my longer works need to be about the happy endings, but the short works can run the gamut!
Oooh, I love comeuppance! 10/10 would read this horror-lite collection. I also find myself measuring time by blog hop days, it’s funny how that works.
Sounds right to me. Find your footing and then one step at a time. That’s me too. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Creepy short stories sound like the perfect palate cleanser for romance novels. I write romance too! I like to give the story an emotional punch with some sexy times.
I like Twilight Zone.
Yes, we’ve been binge watching a lot of shows as well…
I always felt Poe was as creepy as King. And for his time probably super shocking. Also Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” (Or is it “Fronkensteen”?) 🙂