Because I’m too exhausted to write anything original, here’s a neat post from Wil Wheaton’s blog.

I think it’s interesting that he has so many hangups about his fiction, and that when he started out writing he felt like a fraud. Writing fiction is the one thing that feels authentic to me. Everything else I do seems like pantomime, at times; like I’m going through the motions. Doubly so when I’m unmedicated. When I’m writing, I feel more myself than at any other time. Even during the years in my twenties when I wrote almost nothing and didn’t seek any kind of publication or recognition, I still considered myself to be a writer. I was telling stories before I could write them; it’s the Thing I Cannot Help Doing (you have a Thing too, so don’t look at me like that). Director Kevin Smith addresses this issue adroitly in this blog post, where he proves that the Thing He Cannot Help Doing is making movies. He didn’t want to be a filmmaker, he simply was one, from the beginning, even when he didn’t know it.

So, dear reader: What is the Thing over which you obsess? I’ve showed you mine, so now you show me yours!

…and incidentally that snippet of a story on Wil’s blog has definitely whetted my appetite! For $1 I’ll certainly read the rest when it’s ready for consumption.

So I guess when I said that I was taking a little break from story writing this month what I meant was that I’m going to write a couple of stories for upcoming deadlines. Hey, blame it on the unexpected snow day on Tuesday, which allowed me to churn out a 5,000 word story in one afternoon because I didn’t have to worry about work or school.

The story I finished Tuesday, then edited and submitted yesterday, was a submission for Candle in the Attic Window, another anthology from Innsmouth Free Press. I really enjoyed working with them for the Historical Lovecraft Anthology, so hopefully they’ll like this story too.

I’m also working on something for The Red Penny Papers. I think I might just edit and send them an old story of mine that just happens to suit the casual, almost whimsical tone they seem to like. The story is also really short, and they seem to prefer bite-sized stories.  A part of me thinks that my writing is not up to par with the work of the other authors currently published in this quarterly, but there’s really only one way to find out whether I’m correct. I’m terrible at judging my own writing anyway, so I really shouldn’t listen to my own Doubting Thomas of a brain.

In convention-related news I’ve sent in my panelist info for Millennicon, in March, and I’m working on completing my form for MARCon, which happens in May. I will be reading my story from The Crimson Pact, Volume 1, at both conventions, hopefully along with other contributors to the anthology. These will be my first fiction readings at conventions, so I’m excited!

I’m also considering attending Origins and GenCon, the former because it’s convenient and the latter because it apparently has a really excellent Writer’s Symposium that is recommended by Steven Saus (I have found that it is generally a good idea to take Steve’s advice, where writing is concerned, anyway). It would also give me the opportunity to meet Paul Gennesse, editor of the Crimson Pact Anthologies, which would be neat, so I’m going to try to fit it into my schedule.

With a crazy fast turn-around time, the editor of The Crimson Pact anthology, Paul Genesse, emailed me yesterday to let me know he likes my story and wants to publish it in the anthology! I’ve spent a goodly portion of yesterday and today editing and emailing back and forth with him. He’s very nice and extremely flattering, and I’m beyond thrilled to be included in this project.

Big thanks have to go to Steve Saus, who got me involved in the anthology, and who remains an incredible source for advice and inspiration.

I also have to give credit to Erik Larson, author of The Devil In the White City, which inspired much of the story I submitted to the anthology. More about that in the future, when the anthology is closer to publication and I’m promoting the Hell out of it. I should probably write a review of this book at some point, since I loved it–which is high praise from me, The Girl Who Dislikes Non-Fiction.

The only downside to this is that I now need to write the two sequels to the story (yes, there are two sequels!) while the characters and setting are still fresh in my mind, which likely means neglecting other submissions…but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

First, however, I need a break–I’ve been recovering from the flu for two weeks and I’m about to start Field Experience for school, so writing will be taking a back seat for a few weeks. Then, hopefully, I can return to it fresh-faced and ready to take on new challenges. I suspect it’s good to take a break while riding high on success, and not when I’ve burned myself out pushing myself too far, too fast!

I just wrapped up (in a nice blood-red bow) my submission for The Crimson Pact anthology and sent it off to the editor for his approval or rejection. This is the scary part, when my baby has been birthed and raised and taught right-from-wrong, and now has to hold its own against other children on the playground, or else come home crying with skinned knees. Oh my dear little story, I hope I raised you right!

The wait to hear from an anthology I’m really excited about can be excruciating, and this is one I want very badly to be a part of, which only makes the wait even more painful. The only good distraction is: more work! So, like a mother who has sent her first youngling off to kindergarten and dislikes the quiet of the empty house, I shall conceive again!

Here are a few steampunk anthologies/publications that have deadlines coming up:

The Red Penny Papers – February 28th

Dreams of Steam II: Of Brass and Bolts – May 31st

Pill Hill Press Weird Western Anthology – Open until filled

I haven’t decided which I’ll submit to first, but I think I might start something for the Red Penny Papers, since it has the closest deadline.  A girl has to choose a suitor somehow, yes?

Please, have a seat. How much honey do you prefer in your tea? Make yourself comfortable.

This blog is a place for ruminations about writing, reading, and the genres of steampunk, horror, and science fiction. Posts will include book reviews, convention reviews, promotion of my own work, and other related topics. So stay tuned! Hopefully there will be something for everyone.