Saturday 28 November 2009

Almost at The End

A final NaNoWriMo writing prompt post to aid anyone dragging themselves to the finish line or to inspire a short story for December. We're not taking any time off for Christmas, right? Well maybe a day or seven.

I finally updated my Duotrope submissions tracker today and discovered I only have 12 stories out (and one of those I suspect has fallen down a black hole - 272 days to the wonderful ChiZine and no reply to a query letter of about 50 days ago), so I think most of December will be dedicated to spewing crafting some new short stories.

Today, I completed a flash fiction story, Black Heart Balloon, which I hoped to send to RetroSpec until it took a rather vicious turn. Darn those bird carcasses and evil avian lung stealing fiends, it was a quite delightful piece until they turned up. I shall have to think of something almost as delightful this week. I have (including today) the next ten days off work. Don't envy me too much though, I have to do all my Christmas shopping. I'm sure my family don't want gifts this year. I think they'd prefer I spent my week riding the Liverpool Eye or skating in the new, rather tiny, ice rink in the city centre.

Oh, and for all of those who have completed NaNo or ripped written your little hearts out a hearty CONGRATULATIONS. You're awesome and we who have put our feet up, devoured far too much internet and wasted November salute you.
 


NaNoWriMo Prompts:

Cobbler
Patchwork
Backwater
Masked Mayhem
Cartwheel
Skimming Pebbles
Void
Rehearsal
Rent Payments

18 comments:

Steven Pirie said...

12 puts me to shame... I curently have 0 submissions out there. I counted. Twice. :-)

Diana said...

*cough* Carnivale deadline is January 1 *cough*

Aaron Polson said...

Maybe Chizine is holding off on an acceptance letter. Possible?

Alan W. Davidson said...

Wow! There's a Liverpool eye. I've heard of the London eye, of course. The last time I was in London they didn't have an eye. Thanks for that little push and the prompts to get to the end. I'll need a bigger push, though, as it's after 10 Saturday night and I still have 7K to go...

Cate Gardner said...

Steven - ah, but that would make your submissions perfect whereas mine are slightly wonky.

Diana - Ha! I've pinned the deadline to my notice board. I should panic in about 23.1 days.

Aaron, I live in hope, but I've a feeling it's slipped into the great unknown.

Alan, it's only just arrived in Liverpool and is a wee bit smaller than the one in London. I think it may be a temporary Christmas event, but I'm hoping not.

Anonymous said...

Ooo, week off, nice! Good luck with Chizine. Sounds quite long for them though.

Jamie Eyberg said...

I think Chizine is waiting to give you a really nice Christmas present this year.

Katey said...

Ooooh, 12! Man, I need to take some lessons, and take less time editing everything. So lame, I have like one out, I think.

But it's good to refill the tank when they get low, and I've recently tried it myself. So I'll drink to that!

Cate Gardner said...

Justin, Jamie, they checked for me (via twitter) and can't find it in their inbox. I think the interweb gobbled me up.

Katey, I feel happiest at about the 20 mark.

Danielle Birch said...

Christmas shopping...must begin...soon.

BT said...

I've stopped checking my Duotrope tracker - it's depressing.

I'm getting some stories back and just don't have the time to find another market for them. Come the new year may require a new push...

What is Carnivale? I'm guessing I've missed something (or probably forgotten something) again...

K.C. Shaw said...

TWELVE stories! I cringe in shame--I have one story out and I've only written about ten all year (and that includes flash). I'm in awe of how much you accomplish.

Cate Gardner said...

Danielle, my hell begins today.

BT, Carnivale is the theme for the next issue of Emerald Tales.

KC, I guess I'm just greedy.

Barry Napier said...

And yet again, another awesome story title from you...

Fox Lee said...

I have fifteen...about three of which are going to be retired if their current locations don't work out *lol*

Tyhitia Green said...

Thanks, Cate and I'm tired. Thank goodness November is over. ;-)

Tyhitia Green said...

I'm half sleepy. 12 stories out? You rock, woman!! :-D

Katey said...

20... good god, I can't even imagine having 20 out there. I mean this completely in earnest: that's inspired me.