I didn't accomplish everything I set out to do this summer, but I did make progress on a number of fronts so I'm counting the season as a win.
Back in June, I posted about wanting to get the following done –
* Do some cleaning up, de-cluttering and organizing inside and outside the house.
Eh. A little bit here and there.
* Finish the 202.2 miles challenge. Maybe start one of the 100 miles challenges.
Nope. I really wanted to get the 202.2 miles challenge done by the end of the summer, but for a number of reasons – not all of them my lazy butt's fault! - that didn't happen. I did keep slogging along so miles were made!
Stats as of 8/31/2022 =
163.2/202.2 miles (walking only)
0/100 miles
0/100 miles
* Get at least one draft of my novella done.
Nope. But I got organized, have a loose outline, wrote a chunk of chapters. I believe, think, hope, pray I've got a better handle on it than I did before.
* Write and submit at least two stories to markets.
Yes! I revised one for a contest where it made the finals but didn't rank in the top three. And I wrote a story for a flash fiction contest on literary agent, Janet Reid's, blog. It didn't make the finals, but it received a couple of nice comments from fellow readers. Some of the rules included a word count of 100 words or fewer, and it must contain five words: Depth, Froth, Phase, Showy, Atoll.
Maybe the story will give you a chill despite the summer heat . . .
*****
Dearest Uncle,
My terror has no depth.
With the moon's every phase, this land's black soul takes root, spreads. I curse myself for bringing my family here!
You recall the elusive beasts, tearing nightly through the fields, strewing shredded entrails as if for show. You suggested I hunt. I found no tracks.
Until now.
They led to the house. Inside, three beasts, blood frothing their mouths, fed on my wife's body.
I pray these words find you, Uncle. Before accepting the legal responsibility that befalls you after my death, know the truth.
Be afraid of my children.
Yours,
A. Tolliver
*****
How was your summer? Accomplish any goals? Make progress on some projects? Have fun?
