Work in Progress: August 16, 2019

~ Author Kevin J Fellows

My six story anthology is off to the editor. Depending on how much work needs to be done, I’ll share more about it soon. If it’s a mess and there’s too much work, I won’t saying anything about it. I should do a post on when to seek an editor and of which type.

I reworked a story that received a personal rejection and critique. After a final read-through that should be off to a different market next week. Submissions need to keep circulating until they find a home.

I sketched a new short story in which a war has lasted a decade but is in its final stages and a new empire is emerging. It’s about the warriors who fight to resist and remember those they have lost. It has a bit of interesting magic too.

This is the first new story that wasn’t part of last year’s NaNoWriMo 50k worth of stories. I’m debating whether to do that again this year. It was a great way to build up material. But if I do it, I can’t neglect other projects for a month. That means writing twice the daily word count.

Work in Progress: August 13, 2019

~ Author Kevin J Fellows

The first round of revisions on the anthology is complete. I need to let it rest, do an edit pass, and get it off to the editor this week. Deadlines are good.

I have a story sitting at a magazine that appears to be defunct though there is no official word. Emails are unanswered and the website is dead. Time to pull that story back and send it off to another place.

My personal mini-Poetry MFA starts soon and I hope I can make time for it. Self-directed projects often get left behind, especially if there’s paying work available. I also need to dedicate more time to growing the business. It has to be self-sustaining in another six months, and account for most of my income in less than twelve. No pressure.

I received a personal rejection from Beneath Ceaseless Skies with positive comments and suggestions on making the story better. These are the best rejections and they almost feel as good as an acceptance. Almost.

Work In Progress: July 29

~ Author Kevin J Fellows

Revisions to the anthology are progressing nicely. First story will be off to my first reader shortly. It’s time to find an editor and get it onto their schedule. I always hesitate at this point because it means committing to a deadline and I still have revisions to finish, and evaluating and editing in responses from beta readers. I have to receive those responses first. It all gets tricky.

Paltry Sums is finally out on submission. Another story is off to a first reader. Work continues on my fairytale-ish dragon story. Still searching for the voice of that story.

The major plot points of book one of my novella trilogy have been identified and laid out. There is still more character work but at least I know the major things that happen to them. This weekend I completed laying out the order of events but there is still more plotting to do.

I found a few of articles and essays discussing how to educate yourself on writing poetry. I’m putting together a self-paced Poetry MFA curriculum for myself and I’ll be starting the coursework about the same time my kids go back to college. Good luck to me.

Desires for Youth, Glory, and Gold

~ Author Kevin J Fellows ~ 1 Comment

A king desires gold;
A queen staves her age;
The princess craves power,
But I grant none of these.

My skill to read
Starry maps of night
Creates nothing;
Foretells only possibility;
And grants no certainty.

Points of light plot no destiny;
glittering hope ordains no fate;
Foretelling maps only through 
The black holes of the futures
Where one falls.

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Work in Progress: July 22, 2019

~ Author Kevin J Fellows

Over the last week, I revised and edited several stories. One, Paltry Sums, is finally ready to submit. I’m finally happy with the voice and tone.

The anthology of six connected stories is moving along better than I thought. I set it aside for a couple of weeks after finishing the first real draft, and upon reading it, I really like the project.

My fairytale-ish dragon story has found the right tone, but I’m still not happy with the Main Character’s voice. Something is missing.

Last weekend I did some poetry editing, but spent most of my time detailing characters and plotting out the novella anthology. I’m happy with the way the trilogy shaping up. There will be a challenge getting multiple POVs and storylines into a novella form, but it’s a series, and it’s epic fantasy, so I think it will work.