🍂 September 30th, 2019 🍂

Overview:

• What's New: Letting Go of Deadlines, #FantasyQueensFall
• Writing Update: Novel Status Report, Project Winter Solstice
• September Reads: Alpha Reading, CPs

1. Letting Go of Deadlines: First, let me clarify something. I’m only talking about deadlines I set for myself, and my own endeavors, not deadlines that affect other people. I take those extremely seriously. If I commit to having something ready for another person by a certain time, I will do everything in my power to meet that deadline, even if the sky is falling down around me.
   
   I’ve always tried to do the same for my own projects; I thought it was being kind to myself, just like respecting someone else’s deadlines is being kind to them. But I’m learning that self-care can take different forms at different times. Committing to your goals and dedicating yourself to completing them on time is absolutely being kind to yourself...except when it isn’t.
   
   The key? You have to distill your goals into two components: a balance between what you want, and what you’re willing to sacrifice. For example: I want to send my manuscript to beta readers by November 9th. I could do that. I could send it to them now; my draft is complete, and I’ve self-edited the majority of it numerous times. But I haven’t read through the ending yet. I haven’t incorporated all my alpha reader feedback. I haven’t received all my CP feedback. And I want all of those things finished before I send my book to beta readers. But I can't make my deadline under those conditions.
   
   So what am I willing to sacrifice? One (or more) of my conditions, or the goal itself? Where my book is concerned, I will always choose quality over everything else. If I knew I needed another decade to publish it in its best form--I would cry for at least a year, but I would do it. I am not willing to sacrifice editing through to the end of my manuscript before betas, and I am not willing to sacrifice incorporating all the feedback I already do have. I’m only willing to bend on my CPs. I am okay letting them continue to read through the beta process, and collecting all my feedback from both them and betas in one shot at the end.
   
   In this case, the conditions mean far more to me than my deadline of early November, so that’s what has to go. Instead of a date, I will have to adopt a product as my goal. It’s hard, but I’m letting go of “November 9th.” My new "deadline?" I want to send out my manuscript to beta readers as soon as I finish my read-through and incorporate my alpha reader feedback. That is my compromise.
   
   Of course, there will be scenarios where I choose the opposite path, and forgo conditions in order to keep deadlines. But never with my novel. This book is my second baby, and it deserves only the best from its mama.
   
   I sincerely hope this rambling thought process of mine helps someone else. It is hard to let go of finishing X by X date. Especially when everyone around you seems to be managing it. But no one is always on top of things, and you don’t have to be, either.
    
2. #FantasyQueensFall: We won't be publicly announcing this until tomorrow, but you know I always dish out sneak peeks to my newsletter family first. 😉 The short story competition @lina_amarego_writes created this July was a huge success, so we’re bringing it back as a FLASH FICTION contest for the month of October! And I’ll be hosting this one; my autumn heart is all aflutter.
   
   
   
   Why flash fiction? We want to make these contests as accessible as possible, and so we tried to incorporate the feedback we received this summer. Some people were daunted by the idea of churning out a longer story alongside their already demanding WIPs, and others were overwhelmed by the amount of prompts they had to incorporate. We scaled both back significantly. October’s contest will allow for a lot more flexibility in subject matter, which is necessary, given how short flash fiction pieces are.
   
   But of course, there were others who thought the limit of 5,000 words was actually too short. If we revisit the short story format in the future, I’m sure that’s another thing we’ll consider. It’s hard to cater a competition to everyone’s preferences, but we figure if we change up the format from time to time, we’ll rotate through enough different styles that eventually, there will be a contest for everyone.
   
   And, to be completely transparent, many of the judges have extremely full autumn schedules, so the decision to try this style first was also made to ensure that your entries will have 100% of our energy and care.💕
   
   I hope knowing that it’s flash fiction, and not a short story, helps take some of the edge off the low word count. It’s supposed to be a snapshot. Like one big scene with its own beginning, middle, and end. Like a fleeting dream that leaves an impact. I hope you'll decide to give entering a shot. I’ve collected some pretty prizes for the winners...😍

Writing Update

MY INDIAN SHAMPOO HAS LANDED IN THE USA (confused new subscribers can read the relevant anecdote here). But...on the wrong coast. With another coworker. Who now has to ship it to Nick’s NYC office. So hopefully, next month I will finally know if the Duke uses coffee grounds and patchouli in his baths. And you can bet I will let you know the verdict. 😅

Nick’s original coworker, the one who lives in India, also sent us this meme:



😂 This stuff better smell PERFECT.

1. Novel Status Report: I did not give my book nearly enough attention this month. I only edited a couple more chapters and cut 2,000 words from the manuscript. I’m currently editing chapter 50 out of 74, and my total word count sits at 303,738. I really hoped to break into the 200k range this month, but I will just have to make that my October writing goal. If I can carve out enough time, I know I can do it. This behemoth is shrinking, little by little!
    
2. Project Winter Solstice: For those of you who don’t know, early this year, @chronicler_shae organized a group of IG writers to create short stories for a collection currently known as Project Winter Solstice. We each chose a month to personify, and are currently drafting a tale for that month to tell the others at their yearly winter solstice gathering.
   
   I was waiting for this particular newsletter to begin discussing my part in the project, not only because I’ve finally started drafting my piece, but because I chose September! 🍂
   
   I was delighted to snag this month. Autumn is my favorite season, and I’ve always loved the transition that takes place in September--the battle between dying summer and blooming autumn. That balance of warm and cool, the cozy clothing and fall spices...I don’t think I’ve ever met another fantasy writer who doesn’t like fall. There’s just magic in the air.
   
   I had no problem creating the persona for September the character. But I struggled to find a concept for my short story. Mostly because...I hate them. 🙈 Or, I should say, I hate writing them. Reading them is fine. But I’m going to save this rant for when I inevitably need to go on it next month, after I’ve finished my first draft. 😅
   
   A pair of friends, who had recently come back from a trip to Iceland, unknowingly rescued me. One of the places they described was a particular windy beach they visited. For some reason, my mind vividly painted that Icelandic beach. I pictured all the muted fall hues of ocean and sand, the harsh wind and briny rocks. And then, one of my friends told me about sneaker waves.
   
   My ears perked up. Turns out, “sneakers,” as the locals called them, are rogue waves that race up the shore past all others, with such a powerful undertow that they can suck people back into the ocean, even if they’re only caught ankle-deep.
   
   There’s a story there, I thought at once. Sneakers aren’t waves; they are sirens. Sirens that need something from humans. That are desperate for contact.
   
   The idea captivated me, but it sat in the back of my head as nothing more than a cool would-be myth for months. Both before Shae asked me to join PWS, and after. I didn't think to make use of it for this project until I was painting a dragon in my son's nursery (well, until I was watching my talented friend paint the dragon, and whining about how I can't write short stories 🙃). I currently have the first couple of pages written and a full outline. Fingers crossed it comes out alright and I don’t swear off short stories for ever and ever! 🤞

September Reads

As always, thank you for being here. It means the world to me that you've taken the time to read this letter. I honestly can't imagine my author journey without you.

💖Always,
Danielle