Over the last three months, my co-editor Natasha Watts and I have had the honor of reading 78 short fiction submissions to RMFW’s 2020 anthology. Before taking on this job, I submitted countless stories, poems, and articles to countless magazines, journals, and anthologies. I learned the ropes of navigating a contract, working through revisions with…
Category: Blog
Beat the Post-Conference Blues
What a conference! Eye-opening master classes and fascinating workshops that enlightened, entertained, and answered unasked questions. Exciting keynote addresses from wildly successful authors and, of course, the unequaled stimulation and joy of sharing knowledge and experiences with special friends. Pure fun! I came home pumped up with energy, new ideas, and a swirling need to…
To the Monkey Bars
Remember the grade school track meet where you earned a ribbon for finishing among the top three runners? First place received a red ribbon, second got blue, and third got green. The girls in my class were fast. I attribute their speed to the habit of boys relentlessly pursuing them during recess. Naturally they were…
What is literary fiction, and should I write it?
According to the Huffington Post, “In essence, the best genre fiction contains great writing, with the goal of telling a captivating story… Literary fiction is composed of the heart and soul of a writer’s being, and is experienced as an emotional journey through the symphony of words.” Well then. This explanation comes from Medium: “The…
Who’s driving?
It’s hard when you begin the journey to sort the wheat from the chaff. Lots of people—good, well-meaning people—keep repeating what they were told. They avoid walking under ladders. They steer clear of black cats. They knock on wood. Generally these efforts don’t cost much, perhaps give a feeling of security, and might provide some…