Some of my online friends have signed up for National Novel Writing Month. Their goal is to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. I admire thier determination to try whether or not they succeed. I don’t have space in my brain to do that much writing in that short a time span. I do like the idea of setting a challenging goal though, so here is mine. Before the end of November I’ll have my short-story-in-progress ready for editing. (Anyone who is interested in being an editor for me can leave an email below and I’ll send the story along when it is ready.)
In other news, I acquired a childcare job today. Starting in two weeks I’ll be watching a baby for 4 hours every weekday morning. This will definitely impact my life, but hopefully more for good than the reverse. The money will be helpful, it won’t get us out of the financial woods, but it will almost pay for groceries each month. Besides, I think it will be good for Gleek and Patches to learn how to interact with a baby. And this way I get to play with a baby without actually having to be pregnant or get up in the middle of the night for feedings. I’ll have to do some cleaning and arranging so that my house is safe for a crawler again, but with my new toy cupboards that shouldn’t be too hard. The house could stand to be cleaner anyway and maybe I’ll do a better job of keeping it clean if I know that baby’s mom will be coming every week day. I don’t want baby’s mom to feel like her baby is being left in a pigsty. I’m also aware that there will be inconveniences and frustrations. Mostly I feel good to be doing something that allows us to extend the amount of time we have to make cartooning pay all the bills.
I’d be happy to read it and give you feedback, although I’m nowhere close to being a professional editor. You can reach me at <jerith at nightstar dot net>.
I’ve also received a boost to my writing motivation. I was introduced to Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show somehow (I can’t remember where) and saw their submission link. They pay 6c per word for fiction, up to a maximum of $500 and they only keep exclusive rights for a year. While I have no experience with professional writing and very much doubt anything I submit will be accepted, I’m going to go for it anyway. I have nothing to lose and this might just be the push I need to actually finish a story.
Thanks for the link to Intergalactic Medecine show. I just submitted a short work that has been waiting for a home. Funny, I think this is the first time that I’ve ever officially submitted something for publication. Hopefully it will go well.
I’ve jotted down your email for when my work in progress is finished. Thanks!
editing
Don’t forget me!
Re: editing
You and Nancy are already on the short list. 🙂
I’m going to be doing NaNoWriMo, too, because while I’ve completed several short-story-type things, I’ve never had the discipline to do anything novel length since my teens. “Maybe the deadline pressure will help,” I figured. We’ll see.
If you’re looking for feedback, you might try the ad-intensive-but-free writing.com page. Do a review or three for people and they’ll gladly read/review yours, but it’s a crap shoot as to quality of review.
I edit shorts and essays for fun and profit and would be glad to take a look if you want something assured to be more in-depth than proofreading.
My gmail account name is the same as, well, my lj account name. Should you decide to send the piece or any other, let me know what your concerns happen to be (as vague or specific as you please) and just bear in mind that I’ve got work and NaNoWriMo and other commitments and my comments/edits would probably.
If you want to be particularly merciful to me, there’s always December first.
Glad to be of service. Let me know how it turns out with IGMS. 🙂
It’s wonderfully fun to earn some money especially when you’re WAY underpaid for your varieties of expertise. ie. Stay at home mom,
WORTH: $100,000.+, Actual Income: hugs and a thank you every once in a while.
I would like to read your stories… 🙂
I always think that when kids are all going to school and out of my hair, I would like to be an artist, or decorate Cakes more professionally…
I hope that when your kids are all at school, you will write a book, because I will be looking forward to an autographed copy. 🙂
Re: editing
Oh good. I was about to ask.
Yay! Congrats on your first official submission.
Re: editing
It was that Siren story you helped me edit a month or so ago. It is really short, but it was ready to go.