Today is Patti Abbott's flash challenge day. Each writer had to use the phrase, "I really don't mind the scars." somewhere in their story. You can find links to all the stories over at Patti's blog. http://pattinase.blogspot.com/ Below is my story, actually more of a slice of life micro-flash piece.
SCAR TISSUES
I kept telling myself that I really didn't mind the scars, but deep down inside, yeah, I did mind. They were a brutal reminder of my cowardice. A billowing white flag of surrender proclaiming that I laid down my soul for a comfortable life.
So how did I get scars from living a comfortable life? I married a man with a good job, a man loved and admired by his friends and family. I accepted the flowers and thoughtful gifts that came after. After the promotion he expected went to that bitch the company hired to meet their minority quotas. After that drunk bastard, Lloyd, missed the 7 - 10 split that cost my husband's bowling team the league championship. After any one of a dozen every day moments when his temper flared and my body was the closest available release valve.
And the scars? They cradle my tears, my hopes, my dreams, and my failure to stand up for myself. Until today.
Today, the stitches laced down the length of my cheek are my personal badge of courage. Proof that the man I married wasn't that saintly person he put on display for the general public. They're my escape into an uncomfortable life where I can finally draw a free breath. Today I fly my flag of scars proudly, undeniable proof that I survived the domestic war that raged in the privacy of our marriage.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday Musing
Over at the Murder is Everywhere blog, Tim Hallihan has an essay about readers who take offense. http://murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/02/taking-offense.html
I've been on the receiving end of that kind of rant for some of my short stories and it always puzzles me. A story I wrote this past year, "A Soiled Afternoon", came under fire for the awful way I murdered the mother in the story. I told the man he should read the story again because nowhere in that story was the woman killed. Was it implied? Yes, but not a shot was fired, nor a bloody corpse seen, except for a pair of skinned rabbits.
I think one thing we tend to forget as writers is the reader's imagination. Sometimes it's bigger than our own and a few well-chosen words can take them to places even we couldn't imagine going. And if we're good enough writers, the reader isn't able to separate the words they're reading from the story unfolding in their heads. For better or worse, the reader is our partner.
Oh, and if you're interested in the story that spawned the musings in this post you can read it here http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2010/09/soiled-afternoon-by-sandra-seamans.html
I've been on the receiving end of that kind of rant for some of my short stories and it always puzzles me. A story I wrote this past year, "A Soiled Afternoon", came under fire for the awful way I murdered the mother in the story. I told the man he should read the story again because nowhere in that story was the woman killed. Was it implied? Yes, but not a shot was fired, nor a bloody corpse seen, except for a pair of skinned rabbits.
I think one thing we tend to forget as writers is the reader's imagination. Sometimes it's bigger than our own and a few well-chosen words can take them to places even we couldn't imagine going. And if we're good enough writers, the reader isn't able to separate the words they're reading from the story unfolding in their heads. For better or worse, the reader is our partner.
Oh, and if you're interested in the story that spawned the musings in this post you can read it here http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2010/09/soiled-afternoon-by-sandra-seamans.html
Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers
TKnC has closed for submissions in order to catch up. They've also lowered the maximum word count from 2500 to 2000. A very cool new feature is a traffic light up on the right side of the site to let you know if they're open or closed for subs. You'll find the details at http://thrillskillsnchills.blogspot.com/2011/02/submissions-suspended.html
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Anthology Calls
I found a few anthology calls today that might be of interest.
Panic Press has a call for horror stories with a moral for "Soup of Souls". Up to 5000 words with a March 31 deadline. Pay is 1/2 cent a word. http://panicpress.org/2011/02/15/anthology-submission-call-soup-of-souls/
If you're a writer from Prince Edward Island or have any connection to the place this anthology might be of interest. Prince Edward Island Writers Guild is looking for stories up to 5000 words. There's no theme or genre restrictions and PEI doesn't need to be the setting. This anthology is for writers who have published no more than 2 adult novels also. The deadline is June 30 and pay is $75 plus 1 copy. http://peiwritersguild.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/call-for-submissions-the-island-fiction-reader-an-anthology-of-new-fiction/
Hic Dragones Publishing has two calls listed for stories of 3000 to 5000 words. This is a non-paying market. The titles are: "Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny" and "Cottonopolis: Steampunk Manchester. Details here http://www.hic-dragones.co.uk/#/publishing/4546989763
Silver Boomer Books has a call for a patriotic/military anthology. The deadline is March 30 and the pay is $10 plus a copy. http://www.silverboomerbooks.com/submissions.html
The erotica market seems to be thriving. Storm Moon Press has an M/M anthology, "Shades of Grey" posted. They're looking for stories of 10,000 to 15,000 words with a September 30 deadline. The pay is $0.013 per word. That's a penny and a bit not 13cents. Details at http://stormmoonpress.com/submissions.aspx
And Rachel Kramer Bussel has three erotica calls listed on her site, all paying markets. http://rachelkramerbussel.com/submissions.php
Panic Press has a call for horror stories with a moral for "Soup of Souls". Up to 5000 words with a March 31 deadline. Pay is 1/2 cent a word. http://panicpress.org/2011/02/15/anthology-submission-call-soup-of-souls/
If you're a writer from Prince Edward Island or have any connection to the place this anthology might be of interest. Prince Edward Island Writers Guild is looking for stories up to 5000 words. There's no theme or genre restrictions and PEI doesn't need to be the setting. This anthology is for writers who have published no more than 2 adult novels also. The deadline is June 30 and pay is $75 plus 1 copy. http://peiwritersguild.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/call-for-submissions-the-island-fiction-reader-an-anthology-of-new-fiction/
Hic Dragones Publishing has two calls listed for stories of 3000 to 5000 words. This is a non-paying market. The titles are: "Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny" and "Cottonopolis: Steampunk Manchester. Details here http://www.hic-dragones.co.uk/#/publishing/4546989763
Silver Boomer Books has a call for a patriotic/military anthology. The deadline is March 30 and the pay is $10 plus a copy. http://www.silverboomerbooks.com/submissions.html
The erotica market seems to be thriving. Storm Moon Press has an M/M anthology, "Shades of Grey" posted. They're looking for stories of 10,000 to 15,000 words with a September 30 deadline. The pay is $0.013 per word. That's a penny and a bit not 13cents. Details at http://stormmoonpress.com/submissions.aspx
And Rachel Kramer Bussel has three erotica calls listed on her site, all paying markets. http://rachelkramerbussel.com/submissions.php
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Week of Shorts
Author Janice Hardy has been hosting a short story week on her blog. So far this week there are posts about the novel vs short, world building in short fiction, revising, and marketing. You can read all the posts here http://blog.janicehardy.com Just scroll down through. Ms. Hardy has many posts about writing on her blog, so take a few minutes to look around.
Are You a Writer?
http://www.inkpunks.com/2011/02/22/aspiring-vs-achievingclaiming-the-title-of-writer/#content
Fun discussion about what makes a writer an actual writer. Is it the act of putting words on the page, or recieving professional payment for your work? Or is the bottom line holding that novel in your hands? Being is a real writer means different things to different people.
Fun discussion about what makes a writer an actual writer. Is it the act of putting words on the page, or recieving professional payment for your work? Or is the bottom line holding that novel in your hands? Being is a real writer means different things to different people.
Market Notes
If you have a previously published werewolf story Books of the Dead Press is putting together a reprint anthology of werewolf stories. The pay is 1cent a word with March 31 deadline for stories of 1500 to 15000 words. Details here http://booksofthedead.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html I found this market over at Hellnotes where there's an interview with the anthology's editor. http://hellnotes.com/best-new-werewolf-tales-market-report
Over at Cindi Myers Market Report blog there's quite a few short story markets listed, some erotica, and various other genres. http://cindimyersmarketnews.wordpress.com
And at DL Snell's Market Scoops comes the word that Necrotic Tissue is closing down. http://marketscoops.blogspot.com/2011/02/necrotic-tissue-shutting-down.html
Over at Cindi Myers Market Report blog there's quite a few short story markets listed, some erotica, and various other genres. http://cindimyersmarketnews.wordpress.com
And at DL Snell's Market Scoops comes the word that Necrotic Tissue is closing down. http://marketscoops.blogspot.com/2011/02/necrotic-tissue-shutting-down.html
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