Author María J. Estrada
  • Home
  • Mi Biografía
  • Un Blog de Writing Musings
  • Author Interviews
    • Eric Allen Yankee
    • Mehreen Ahmed
    • Steve Carr
    • Martin Eastland
    • P.S. Malcolm
    • P.C. Darkcliff
  • The Harvested Draft
  • Books
  • Poetry
  • My Patreon Page
  • Useful Bits
  • Contact

Un Blog de Writing Musings

Working on Short Pieces and Main Character's Desire (Thank You Beta Reader!) #barrioblues

22/2/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, I drafted the first flash fiction piece I'm thinking of submitting.  In that first story, I tried to capture the casino culture in the neighborhood where I grew up that often preys on retirees.  I hope to write a few of these short pieces and choose the best one to submit to each venue.  I have a goal of submitting three by April.

I did read the story to my husband last night, and he said, "I want more."  I tried to explain that flash fiction was a flash, like the difference between a Polaroid and a TV show.  Then he asked, "Is there going to be a sequel?"  Sigh. 

Besides generating micro fiction, I am also working on a short 500 word article on writing.  The focus is going to be three great pieces of writing advice, since the article is so short.  If it gets published, I will post the link to the magazine, but you will have to subscribe.  

I also got thoughtful feedback from my beta reader on the last story of my collection Not Your Abuelita's Folktales.  When I write, I don't really think about the length.  He told me my stories were novelettes.  He also confirmed that the desire for the main characters wasn't clear, which I suspected.  I think I am making her goal too complicated.  She needs to figure out what to do with her boyfriend.  That's it.  Isn't what what young people struggle with sometimes?   Nothing else is coming to the surface like the other stories, and since this conflict starts the story, why not make her goal related to it?  I also thought about cutting that story out and working on it longer, but it's almost done.

Whatever you do or how busy you are today, keep grappling with your writing and making new discoveries.

Kick writing ass today!  #barrioblues

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Become a Patron!
    Picture

    Jesú Estrada
    Pen Name: 
    María J. Estrada
    Chicago, IL

    You follow me everywhere @drmariajestrada, except Twitter.
    Subscribe to my YouTube channel, Radical Books and Activists.

    *********************
    MARIA J. ESTRADA is an English college professor of Composition, Literature, and her favorite, Creative Writing. She grew up in the desert outside of Yuma, Arizona in the real Barrio de Los Locos, a barrio comprised of new Mexican immigrants and first-generation Chicanos. Drawing from this setting and experiences, she writes like a loca every minute she can—all while magically balancing her work and family obligations. She lives in Chicago’s south side with her wonderfully supportive husband, two remarkable children, and a menagerie of animals.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from shixart1985, Phuketian.S, yourbestdigs, yourbestdigs, Brett Jordan
  • Home
  • Mi Biografía
  • Un Blog de Writing Musings
  • Author Interviews
    • Eric Allen Yankee
    • Mehreen Ahmed
    • Steve Carr
    • Martin Eastland
    • P.S. Malcolm
    • P.C. Darkcliff
  • The Harvested Draft
  • Books
  • Poetry
  • My Patreon Page
  • Useful Bits
  • Contact