Writing - that’s just not something that’s happening at the moment.
I got a good start on the fifth story for my next book, the one about the shark, last month. Plus I’m still editing the werewolf story.
But that’s mostly been put on the back burner due to submissions, edits, book releases, and new authors. I’ve had a lot of submissions through both Dancing Lemur Press and Freedom Fox Press, and I’ve a lot more Twitter pitch parties coming up that will garner more. (And you can find Dancing Lemur Press LLC on Twitter HERE. I’m still working on building a following, so new followers welcome.)
I’m certainly not complaining though. It’s nice to get some good submissions for a change. I could do a whole series on bad submissions. Or bad responses. Things not to say to a publisher. Hmm, I just might do that!
The authors of the upcoming IWSG anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here, have set up a blog and are also participating in the A to Z Challenge. You can find their site HERE.
Last but not least, I have a story in the upcoming anthology, The Thing That Turned Me, due out May 31. You can add it to your reading list on Goodreads.
Sounds like you've got a really good reason no writing is happening. Glad you're getting lots of submissions.
ReplyDeleteSometimes our attentions are turned in a new direction. At least you're being super productive :)
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
You definitely are busy. In a good way! Love the look/sound of the new anthology. The hourglass is sweet!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you are not writing at present, with all that's going on.
ReplyDeleteGreat post to read full of interesting news.
Yvonne.
I believe that when writers aren't actively writing they are turning over their fields to lie fallow for a bit. That regenerates the writing engine. So...even when you aren't writing you are writing!
ReplyDeleteYou have a busy month indeed! Nice to take a break from writing and work on other things. It refreshes those creative juices.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're getting some good submissions in! And I know you'll be back to writing before long--that's something that clearly has a pull on you.
ReplyDeleteI think if writing's on the back burner, then and influx of submissions are an excellent reason why. Much better than "the second season of Daredevil dropped, and I have to binge watch it..."
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with all you have going on!
I can imagine some of the things publishers hear. LOL. I've read so many agents "dread queries." I especially like the stalker ones. =)
ReplyDeleteCrystal Collier
That's good things are going well with the publishing biz! I can only imagine how much work that takes. And a shark story? Intrigued...Sharks terrify me. =)
ReplyDeleteMJ - LOL!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, I've received some really unusual things over the years.
Diane, best wishes with your other endeavors. Staying busy is a good problem to have.
ReplyDeleteYou saw one of things "not to say to a publisher" on my post yesterday. "You spelled the name of my character wrong, you jerk" or something to that effect. This author should've been glad to get as far as he did in the submissions process. #1 rule after writing a good book is Don't be a troublemaker!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're getting good submissions and that you're busy, even if it's not with writing. A shark and a werewolf. Now I'm putting those two things together in my head! *LOL*
ReplyDeleteI think a post on what not to say to a publisher would be really fun and educational.
ReplyDeleteSusan Says
Glad you're staying busy with all good things, Diane.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG day, Wednesday, & A-Z'ing/visiting.
I think you should do that post! I wrote one that has to do with do's and dont's when you work with an editor. A little bit ago, on a blog I co-host, I talked about not responding to bad reviews or rejections, but more people need to read that, especially new writers.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you have help with your companies, but you may have to get one or two people to weed through submissions and do editing...if you don't already.
Good luck with everything!
Yes, bad submissions must make your teeth ache! :-) May it only get better for you.
ReplyDeleteBusy, busy you go. There is a quote I like can't remember exact about failing upwards to success. Below are two more of favorite and according to them you are right on track.
ReplyDeleteI have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
~Thomas A. Edison
“Failure is success in progress”
― Albert Einstein
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
You'll find writing time again!
ReplyDeleteHow to Submit vs How Not To Submit would make an excellent blog post. All writers need to hear it (repeatedly).
ReplyDeleteYou're one busy woman! I love that you're getting tons of submissions that you're considering for publication. Congrats on being included in The Thing That Turned me. It sounds like a great anthology.
ReplyDeleteBetter to have too much to do than not have anything to do at all.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Diane. I'm marking May 31st on my calendar. Hope we hear more about it.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you said it! I might have to use that line when I compose that post.
ReplyDeleteChristine, that would be a weird combination.
Chrys, if I get any busier, I just might have to expand.
Juneta, I've always loved that saying of Einstein's.
It will come back. I took some time off to allow myself to adjust to some big life changes. Now I'm looking to fit time in everyday again. It will happen. Maybe not everyday, but if it's most days that works too.
ReplyDeleteI think that a bad-response series would be quite entertaining! :) I hope you can get more time for writing soon. I'd like to see what you have planned for that shark.
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ReplyDeleteIt's impressive that you find time for two publishing houses IWSG and inspiring others. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your anthology!
ReplyDeleteActually, doing a post on what not to submit would be an excellent idea.
I think things not to say to a publisher would be pretty entertaining. At least you've got some great reasons for writing being on the back burner. My excuse is usually just that I'm too tired.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a lot going on and it all sounds like it's going well. I know you'll be back to writing soon.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about the Parallels site. Gotta check it out.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the anthology! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteThat's great news! I'm glad you're getting good submissions. And, I would love to read a list of what not to say to publishers.
ReplyDeleteYou are busy! I bet it feels great, but try to fit in some writing for yourself~ You must miss it~! I am happy for you and hubby!!
ReplyDeleteYes, do tell us the bad and what not to say...
Ahem! Alex! Sometimes you need to balance that urge to do right by other authors with the urge you don't seem to have to do right by your own creativity! And look who's talking. Experience is worth something here! (-:
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say my current status most closely parallels yours. I've done an anthology and read some tough submissions. Working on a poetry anthology, so far, so good (for the most part.) I have an anthology piece coming out a bit after yours. There's more that's similar, but your efforts are a bit loftier than mine, so I'll watch from "here" and learn!
ReplyDeleteHi, L. Diane,
ReplyDeleteGlad that you're busy with submissions. I like the post on what NOT to say to publishers... it could be VERY helpful to all of us.
Looking forward to our anthology. I am SO thrilled since this will be my FIRST published story! And I am so happy that I am with such fantastic writers as you and the others...
Lack of time is a good thing. You keep busy, which is wonderful. I wonder where do you guys find all those interesting anthologies? I'd like to submit in the future but I'm not sure how to find them, except for ralan.com, which doesn't list all of them or even most.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your publishing realm's expansion is going great. Here's to your success. May it continue to build for years to come.
ReplyDeleteYou are super productive, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI'm off to 'like' the anthology on GR.
I followed Dancing Lemur Press LLC on Twitter...I'm sure the following will build quickly!
Writer In Transit
JE, Sandra, and Sarah, I'll put that post together soon.
ReplyDeleteDean, you probably understand how weird submissions can get then.
Michael, your first? That's wonderful.
Yes, please tell us what publishers don't want to hear/read in submissions. This information is so valuable.
ReplyDeleteWith everything you're doing, you make me feel like a slacker. You may not actually be writing, but you're doing writing related things, so that's still pretty productive. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine the things people say when they get a rejection! I think it would be wonderful if you did a post on it. Keep up the most excellent work!
ReplyDeleteWerewolves and sharks. Sounds like my kind of reads:)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the upcoming story AND all the great submissions coming your way!
ReplyDeleteYou've been very productive and that's a good thing. The writing will come back. I would so love for you to write a post on what not say to publishers. I've read a few on what writers should never say to agents. They are fun and informative. I think we could all benefit from your wisdom and if you wanted to inject a little humor we wouldn't see anything wrong with that. How else can we learn from the mistakes of others, LOL Congrats on your upcoming story/anthology and for getting so many great submissions. It's nice to hear that things are going your way.You will have time for writing once you hire more people and expand. You are moving up and forward, you are a success, Diane. That is something to be proud of. I'm so very happy for you. Now I have to go and and dream about sharks and werewolves. I've never thought of them together before tonight, Lol. Best of luck. Take care. Let me know when we can read the Do's and Don't of Working With a Publisher.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling. Right now, my plate feels too full to get any amount of drafting done. But I try to keep going.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck!
Well publisher lady we await your infinite wisdom. Hi Diane. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you're getting good submissions. Let me say, you are a delight to work with. The Anthologies sound great. Have a super weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday, Diane;)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I really want to draft, but I have editing deadlines and promoting projects to work on. Yay for the anthologies.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being in both anthologies! That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much about the writing. Life happens, and you've got a lot going on from the sounds of it. You'll get back to it.
Wow, you're busy. I think it would be a great post about the bad submissions or bad responses. Especially the bad responses. It would be educational.
ReplyDeleteYou're still in the realm of writing, even if you aren't writing your own work currently. It counts. :)
ReplyDeleteI can understand why you haven't been writing much lately. I've been scrolling through your blog; I can't believe you own Dancing Lemur! :D Awesomeness. I love that I kind of, sort of know a true life publisher.
ReplyDeleteCurious to know more about that shark story. That'd be a first for me (I think for anyone!) Good luck with your stories, and I'm happy that you're getting a lot of submissions for DL and Freedom Fox. Have a great day. Hugs. Eva
I took a hiatus From IWSG Wed because of A to Z. I can't keep up. I can't keep up....
ReplyDeleteVery cool that your submissions are up! I mean I know it must make it a lot more work, but presumably it also lets you choose some really great books to publish!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a lot going on! I'm looking forward to the anthology. It has a great list of contributing authors.
ReplyDeleteWhile you may not be writing, at least you are super busy with work you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a post on "What Not to do When Querying a Publisher." To me, researching and following submission rules is easy, but I know there are others who have trouble planning and sometimes sub impulsively. Maybe a few Don't Do This examples would be helpful. (And I have to admit the first queries I sent out years ago were awful! lol)
ReplyDeleteOops! I didn't see your most recent post that answers my question. Heading over there now! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh! I am with you! I have seen so many bad query letters. It's one of the things that prompted me to write my how-to series of books for writers. I love to see others succeed, and I sure hate to see them to fail!
ReplyDeleteGood mornin'. Just stopped by to say hey.
ReplyDeleteOmni ignatium pro magnifico. I'll playing Sherlock Holmes today, hehe.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday, Diane!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having your story published in that anthology. So exciting!
ReplyDeleteHave a great Tuesday, Dianne.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Diane:)
ReplyDelete