Writing Wins and Woes: Yearly Stats

I thought the beginning of the year would be a perfect time to post my yearly stats for 2014.

Shari’s Stats:

Submissions: 76

Acceptances: 19

Rejections: 57

I hope these figures help you see that a writer’s life is challenging. Sometimes my writing life seems like the Whack a mole game. Every time I send in my work, it gets clobbered. Often times I feel like the editor is just waiting to get my piece so he can hammer it. He is poised and ready. Here it comes. Whack! But really, it’s not true. There are acceptances. Yes, they are few and far between, but they motivate me to keep going.

Here is the good news for this year: I had a publication in Daily Science Fiction. This is something I worked hard to accomplish. It was a goal that I realized!

Guardian Angel Kids included me in their online magazine 6 times this year! That means a 50% acceptance rate in their publication. By the way, here is a link to January’s fairy tale story. http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/01-015-3Dflip/index.html#p=8

I had a publication in Timeless Tales! Another first in a publication I repeatedly tried for.

I won the Penn Cove literary Award for the second time!

I had 5 acceptances for print publications! Three for Guide, One for Kid’s Ark and One for an anthology yet to be released, Twice Upon a Time.

And Last but not least, I have made some fabulous, faithful writing friends: Melinda Moore, Holly Jennings, Jane Yates, Lorelle Page, Kate Wolford, Tahlia Kirk and a few others. Thank you friends for inspiring me and thank you readers for continuing to tune into this humble blog.

Thought for the Day: Writing is not just a destination. Don’t make the end goal the all important feature. Take heart in the road marks along the way.

Writing Wins and Woes: 50 Acceptances

Yes, this is me shamelessly promoting my cute incorrigible corgi again. Before you get a corgi, make sure you’re not too attached to your furniture. Mine likes to chew the stuffing out of mine; also she has been known to chew on the floor (hardwood and linoleum) shoes, books (including ones I’ve had stories in) and probably about fifty percent of my favorite things. As I’ve said in a bio, she keeps it real.
What else keeps it real for a writer? Well, rejections do. Like that lead in? Yes, I’ve had another rejection this week. My week isn’t complete without one. I’ve had a rejection from allegory, my eighth time submitting this particular story which I happen to love. Why doesn’t everybody love it like I do?
But I don’t want to focus on that. I’ve had a great month so far. My 50th acceptance came from the Photo Flash Contest. It was followed almost immediately by the Penn Cove literary Award, making it 51. I feel totally blessed. Here are some links to some of my accepted stories. Don’t feel you have to read them. I’m just proud.
Ashes to Ashes http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/2013/11/ashes-to-ashes-by-shari-l-klase.html
Tree of Life http://www.enchantedspark.com/photoflarepastwinners.php?s=congratulations-to-our-march-winner-shari-l-klase-2
The Visitor http://metromoms.net/2013/03/17/the-visitor-by-shari-l-klase/
Beta Tribe http://www.youthimagination.org/index.php/publish/current-issue/december-2013/item/72-beta-tribe-by-shari-klase
The Forgotten Smile http://whidbeystudents.com/2013/10/04/october-news/

I’m stopping there. I’m so happy to say that there are many more.

Thought for the Day: Encourage yourself by looking back at your accomplishments. Then, move on to further greatness.

Writing Wins and Woes: During Winning Times

Again, I am cheerleading for my husband. This painting is actually a mural on our living room wall, which is still a work in progress for him. This wintry scene is a story in itself. Viewers of it can lose themselves in the narrative of colonial-type settlers, carolers strolling in robes, horse and wagons, and one or two sci-fi elements thrown in because that’s what he likes to do with his paintings. Enjoy.

I’m pleased to announce that I had two more publications since I wrote last. I am still reeling in my blessings this week. One was for the Photo Flash contest and the other was for the Penn Cove literary Arts Award. Here are the links for both.

http://whidbeystudents.com/
http://www.enchantedspark.com/photoflarepastwinners.php

These are both flash stories, very short, so please read, enjoy and comment. Writers love feedback.

Also, I want to include the link for my author interview on Strange Musings, concerning my story in the anthology, Alternate Hilarities. I loved answering the questions about how I came to write the story and other pieces of writing trivia.
http://www.strangemusingspress.com/2014/05/author-interview-shari-klase.html

All this is very exciting. So here is some words of advice for the those few and far between winning times.
1. Enjoy the win. That’s first. Sometimes we worry about what’s coming next when we’re on a winning roll. Will there be ten more rejections that follow? Probably. But enjoy the win while you have it.
2.Keep writing. It’s also easy to rest and bask in your win and not move forward. Don’t do that. Staying stagnant is moving backwards. Keep on writing and submitting.
3. Take advantage of opportunities to toot your horn. Publicity is great for gaining readership and moving toward bigger publications. Don’t be afraid to do that or too humble to do that. It is stepping in time toward your goal of achieving in your writing profession. This is your job if you are a writer. Don’t let people tell you you’re being proud, or don’t tell yourself that. If you want to be a successful writer, you have to advertise.
4. Be prepared for rejections. I have to say it. I know when I succeed, failure is just a step behind me, sometimes half a step. Don’t get discouraged. It’s also part of the process. They’re not failures; they’re lessons to help you write better next time. Any publisher will tell you you’re story is probably not a total flop, at least most will, it’s just competing with many others. This time your story didn’t make it. Next time it may. In my early writing days, a few rejections kept me from submitting. I didn’t want to open myself up to such criticisms of what was more than my writing; more like a part of me. Every writer feels that way. You’ll wound and you’ll have scar tissue but you’ll heal and you’ll be stronger.
5. Don’t quit. That’s a funny thing to say when you’ve just succeeded in winning, but some people say, Okay, I’ve done it. I’ve accomplished my goal. I resign. Don’t resign. Keep going. Some of the best writers did that. Need I say, To Kill a Mockingbird. The best is yet to come.

I need to say to those who aren’t in winning times right now, I did have two rejections this week as well–Timeless Tales and Knowonder! and Guess what? They both hurt. Rejections sting, but I’m moving on. You move on, too.

Writing Wins and Woes: April’s stats

I have to say it’s good to be back doing my regular blog again. I really enjoyed doing Paint Splashes but it’s nice to be able to say my own thing once more and be back in the groove, sharing my writing wrecks and triumphs, even if the triumphs are few and far between and the wrecks are numerous. If I was a vehicle, I’d be non-salvageable by now.

On with April’s stats:

Submissions: 8
Rejections: 1
Acceptances: 1
Month’s Que (still waiting): 7
Waiting from other months: 8
Publications: 1
Places submitted to this month: UFO, Enchanted Conversation, Photo Flare Contest, Penn Cove, Unfettered, Knowonder!, Guardian Angel Kids and Daily Science Fiction.

Now, for some excitement. The anthology I am a part of is out! You can read it for free, if you have Amazon prime, in digital form, or you can purchase the digital copy for $2.99, or the print version for a little more than $10. Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Alternate-Hilarities-John-H-Dromey-ebook/dp/B00JP035VM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398440951&sr=1-1&keywords=alternate+hilarities

Other exciting news: I have an author interview coming out on May 6th with Strange Musings Press, who published the anthology. I will include the link when it is out.
I also have my author story being published at Flash Fiction Chronicles on May 20th. I will include a link to that as well. May will be a fabulous month for me!

Unfortunately, my writing has slacked off a bit. I’m  working more hours this month and am a bit frenzied, but I need to step up to the plate and keep batting. Good things are happening. I’ll keep you posted.

Thought for the Day: Share your writing story with someone else and encourage them. Good writing friends are inspirational.

Thanks for continuing to read my blog. I appreciate all who do. Share this blog with others, if you please. I’d be grateful.