Met with My Editor and Story Idea Bombardment

This week, I met with my editor.  We are changing the feedback process because I need to spend more time editing my work and have a definitive cut-off to my writing.  I know that is something I teach students, but I have not been practicing that, not really.  So, to that end, I gave myself until today, Thursday, to not add anymore to "La Bruja del Barrio Loco".  I am also proofreading my work very differently and focusing on only one issue at a time, like word choice or active verbs.  That was brilliant advice from her. 

To add another feedback layer and suggestion, a student of mine who is a script writer asked if I read to an audience, prior to publication.  I was like, "Hmmm, that is a great idea," but there may have to be booze and food bribes involved with that because my colleagues and friends are so busy, and the story is 100 pages long.  Still, I very much like that concept, and will most likely try it on my family (not my husband and kids because they have the attention span of dogs chasing squirrels), my family in AZ; I am visiting them in a few days.

The other business we talked about was my collection of serious fiction.  I have about 100 pages of short stories, and she was asking why I didn't publish those as a set, although I am a relative unknown.  I think that is a great idea. She did suggest that I finish my novel The Harvest first, which I am still trying to do this summer.

Every day, I do something related to my writing.  What's happening is that the synapses and creative monster is feeding me non-stop ideas, which I park efficiently.  Usually that happens on days I don't write.  We have like an informal contract, "Right now, I have to finish these stories, but I will get to you soon."  Last night for example, all I dreamt about were story ideas.  I wrote them down, of course.  Normally, I don't operate that way, but they were pretty good.  When I am awake, the same thing happens, which is great.  I park those ideas too.  Thus, I plotted out the sequel to "La Bruja del Barrio Loco," which I didn't realize I had done until I was finished writing that plot line down, and I am parking "The Dentist" for a bit because that one will require some research, but I know who I'm going to talk to for that dentist know how.  I just want to make sure my research is solid for that piece.

Well, I hope your writing or art or whatever inspires you is going well.

Write like the end of the world depends on it because it just might.  #Resist