I'm part of Rachael Harrie's 2nd Crusade! If you haven't heard about this awesome writing venture - it's a group of writers helping each other out, strengthening writing platforms and having some fun with challenges. If you didn't get in on it this time, I believe Rachael has plans for another crusade soon. You can read all about it "HERE". *OH - and if you haven't checked out her AMAZING Write Hope blog, offering up some amazing prizes for auction and proceeds going to help the efforts in Japan, please click HERE! :)
My challenge was to write a 100 word or less flash fic piece that starts, "The gold fish bowl teetered..." So, here you go:
The gold fish bowl teetered on the edge of my nightstand before crashing to the ground. I watched Fish Boy flounder, sloshing for a second in the wet carpet before the water soaked in. My instinct was to scoop the poor fellow up and race him to the bathroom sink, fill it with water. But, what did it matter? In another minute a bigger tremor would hit. This was it. The radio still crackled the news, “Yellowstone Super Volcano has erupted.” I watched Fish Boy’s gill splutter to a stop as I waited for my own end.
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Ummm... yeah. Not sure where that dark turn came from! But, I got it down in only 97 words!! Yay, me? :p
On that chipper note...I came across another Writer's Digest article about rejections, by Sue Fliess. It's about perseverance. Writing is so subjective and your story might be rejected for a number of reasons. How many of you keep your rejection letters? Are they filed away as a sad reminder that someone thought your writing wasn't quite right? I hope not! Ms. Fliess suggests that they should spur you on to do better! To keep at it! She had a unique analogy about the subject, so feel free to read the entire article HERE.
And just one last thing today, lovely bloggers/readers/adoring fans ~ :) Here's a few cool links to some awesome my fellow blogging friends are offering up:
-Visit Shelley Watters blog for a chance to win a MS critique from agent Suzie Townsend!!
--Michael at In Time is hosting a Harry Potter blogfest on the 30th!!
---And don't forget the A-Z challenge ~ coming April 1st!
This meager list probably doesn't even touch all the amazing events going on. If I'm missing something REALLY cool - let me know? Pretty please?
Have a GREAT day of writing out there!!
34 comments:
I do NOT keep rejection letters, especially not the ones where the person rejecting me spells my name wrong, or puts that I'm the wrong gender, or calls me by a completely different name.
But those last few seem to live on in my head way too long. Dude, it isn't like you pulled my name from a list or something. I sent it to you myself, read much?
James Dashner, writer of The Maze Runner series among other things, said at LTUE last month that he set the reward to go out to dinner with every 10 rejections.
When (if) I actually decide to query, I'm going to take his advice. Might as well have some fun along with the assaults to my self esteem. =D
Oh no...save the fish! Love the pic though.
It's true about rejections, you never know who is going to read your work and love it. It's all subjective.
demitrialunetta.blogspot.com
I do keep my rejections (the emails I've been sent, never received a paper one before). I haven't looked back on them, though.
And, great piece! I do worry about that supervolcano at Yellowstone. *shudders*
I had nightmares for days after learning about the supervolcano at Yellowstone!
I like Donna's suggestion. Treat yourself after 10 rejections.
Ha, wow, double darkness and destruction! Very original take, Donea. :)
Oh no, that *is* a sad turn. Can't both of them escape together? :-)
Wow, that was dark. Save the cat, I mean, fish!
Fun!
Vicki
Wow, that was dark. Save the cat, I mean, fish!
Fun!
Vicki
Ooohhh...I really liked your flash fiction piece! I like dark, so that was super fun. (:
Thanks for the links too.
What a great post! I did not sign p for the crusade, but I'm also signed up for the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to reading more from you.
What a great post! I did not sign p for the crusade, but I'm also signed up for the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to reading more from you.
I totally go crazy for end of the world stuff so I absolutely loved this post! Great job all the way around =)
Nice job with the end-of-world twist. I liked the way you handled that.
I liked the dark turn. Really, if the Yellowstone Super Volcano really is erupting...the fish would be the least of my worries.
Thanks for the rejection boost :) I haven't queried yet, but I know I'll have my own pile of rejections to burn. Of course, I'd wait to burn them after I use them to make my MS better.
A great take on the goldfish. Putting it in the larger frame. Well done.
Thx for the other reminders and for reading my little story.
Denise<3
Oooh the ole Yellowstone volcano ala 2012 movie device! Just scoping out my competition. :) Best of luck to you (truthfully tho I wantssss to win).
A different twist to the goldfish, so dark. Poor fish and his friend.
Rejections, huh? Why not explore something else...like, self-pubbing?
BTW, I'm hosting Roland D Yeomans today, who self-published his book THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS and is sharing his journey with us as well as a four book giveaway!
www.nas-dean.blogspot.com
Wow, this was awesome! I was about to say AWWWW POOR FISHY! and reprimand you for letting him die, but in light of the super volcano I guess he's small fry ;) No pun intended. hehe
Enjoyed your entry! left us with a bit of a cliffhanger. Now I'll be thinking of the Super Volcano all night!
Now I'm officially scared of a Super Volcano. Creepy!
Cool twist on the goldfish bowl story! A little dark, but nice tension. Just how I like it ;)
Ooo, very scary!
I dropped one of my bettas on the floor once, but I did scoop him up and put him back in the bowl. He floated for a bit, but perked up a few days later.... but there was no supervolcano to contend with.
I guess there's nowhere else to go with that fish story. Good flash.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge
Okay, now that was an ending that i didn't see coming. Great flash! :D
I watched a show in Discovery Channel about super volcanoes. So scary!! Loved your entry.
I don't keep rejection emails. At first I did. Now I delete and move on.
Happy Thursday!
Wow, that was kind of morbid, but still really good. Sad to imagine the point where despair at facing the impossible wins out.
I keep my rejections stashed away in a folder. Only so one day my numbers can be quoted as the inspiration for others not to give up. ;o)
I keep mine. Will wallpaper a workshop with them some day when I get pub.
Surprise ending. Dark reality. Very good story. I enjoyed it.
As far as rejections, I have gotten over them. I have published 3 books (2 traditionally, 1 self-published, and 2 short stories in anthologies (traditional)so I feel like I have been lucky. These kinds of little competitions are great for putting yourself out there and getting confidence in your writing. I keep all my rejections. But my folder with "good things" in it is bigger than my rejection folder.
@ Angela - I actually do keep them, but I don't refer to them often. Surprisingly, haven't had a misspelled name so far. I keep expecting to see "Donna". Hopefully your future responses are good ones!
@ Donna - I like that reward system, too!
@ Demetria - yes. soo, soo subjective.
@ Cherie and Kari - I know! It totally freaks me out, too.
@ Carol - thank you!
@ Deniz - well, I'll have to see what I can work out. An underground bunker, maybe?
@ Vicki - thanks! :)
@ Heather and E.C. - you're very welcome!
@ Sylvia - awesome! See you on the A-Z!
@ Sierra - yes, it can be fun to end the world sometimes. Fictionally, of course... :)
@ Ben and Denise - thanks, mucho!
@ Michelle - burning after publication would be quite satisfying, I think
@ Michael - ha! I think you've got a good chance!
@ Nas - thanks for the head's up on Roland's interview. I enjoyed it!
@ Trisha - I liked the pun! :D
@ Danette - no mightmares allowed!
@ Meridith - sorry! I'd tell you it wasn't going to blow for a good hundred years or so, but... umm.. yeah, let's go with that.
@ Carolina - I like that you like it like that! :)
@ Wannabe - I'm glad your beta was ok!
@ Arlee - yeah, pretty depressing, right?
@ Sam - thank you, thank you!
@ Nicole - sounds like a good plan. No need to dwell!
@ Tracy. I like that plan! Never give up! :)
@ Chris - I hope you never get THAT many!
@ Deirdra - ah, thanks! LOVED the award - so pretty!
@ Jeanne - so glad you enjoyed it. And that's great that the "good things" folder is bigger - as it should be! :)
Thanks, for all the wonderful comments everyone. You seriously ROCK! :)
Hi, Donea,
Sorry I'm late. Crazy day yesterday. You entry is frighteningly good. Very unexpected and SO much in 97 words... well done!
I saved all my rejections. Not only to learn from, but to know who I queried. Also after time, you can try again. They'll have another assistant by then. lol
Michael
Very dark. I like it. Great work! :-)
Great job on the flash fiction! Did you watch a special about the volcano? I always get obsessed with things like that if I watch them.
I do tend to keep my rejection letters, but that's probably just because I've been lucky so far to get nice letters (we really liked the piece, but it isn't a good fit, etc).
I could also see taking them out and reading them once you do get that story published!
Nice job! I like your take on this!
PS - thanks for the info about contests - I'd miss so many good ones without my blogging and crusader friends
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