I cut back on social media . . . but not as much as I'd intended. My plan was to regroup and re-energize, to find focus off screen, but I still found myself online more often than not.
I worked on my novella . . . only to go back and change the POV again. And again. And again. Even my characters are annoyed. I've caught them huddled up, casting sly glances over their shoulders at me, plotting an evil takeover. Hmm, maybe I should let them . . . .
And don't even get me started on the life-related things I barely made progress on. I'm pretty sure the tortoises accomplished more than I did last month. They definitely ate more fruits and vegetables, walked around a lot, and spent time relaxing in the sun.
Okay, I did complete a short story and submit it before a mid-April deadline. And I entered one of literary agent Janet Reid's recent flash fiction contests and even though my story didn't make the finals, it did receive this comment -
"Madeline Mora-Summonte scares me."
So, yes, I'm going to take that as a compliment, thank you very much. And I'm going to use it as a reminder and as a kick in the pants, use it for motivation and for momentum. Bring it on, May!
*****
How was your April? Did you make good progress on a project or did you get stymied? What are you hoping to accomplish this month, with your writing or otherwise? Do I scare you?
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Congrats on the wonderful comment.
ReplyDeleteYour flash fiction is scary! So I have to agree.
Happy IWSG Day.
Thanks, Michelle!
DeleteAnd happy IWSG Day to you, too. :)
I think that comment is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't accomplish as much either but all I can do is keep plugging away.
Plugging away. It's what we do. :)
DeleteIt's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who didn't accomplish all that much during our lovely April break. (I'm sure it must be because we were short-changed on the time, somehow...)
ReplyDeleteBut, hey! You completed and submitted a short story, AND you got an awesome comment from Janet Reid. Congratulations! That should make you stand a little taller. But, nah... some of your writing is scary, but YOU don't scare me a bit. You're a pussy cat.
Short-changed on time? That must be it. :)
DeleteI think I'm more tortoise-like - soft and squishy tucked into a hard shell. :)
Okay, so "tortoise-like" would work. Or what I call my husband... a toasted marshmallow. :)
DeleteWith a Spring Break Trip followed by Spring Break Super-Cold, I haven't done diddly this month. Hopefully things will get better soon. I think scaring Janet Reid is a worthy accomplishment. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure things will improve, Tamara - no worries!
DeleteAnd thanks! :)
I love that "compliment" about how scary you are :)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure your tortoises ate more fruit and veggies than me too. I'm trying to do better, but chocolate is always more appealing.
If only carrots tasted like chocolate..... Sigh.
DeleteWow - highest praise ever!
ReplyDeleteApril was calmer. I'm closing in on 70,000 words of my novel. But "...huddled up, casting sly glances over their shoulders at me, plotting an evil takeover. . ." is exactly what my characters are doing. I think I hear some chortling, too.
Excellent on the 70,000 words! Oh, I am definitely hearing some chortling. And some snarling.... Gulp!
DeleteYou do scare me, but that's a great thing! :D
ReplyDeleteMy April was a tough one too. My hope for May is progress at home, even if it isn't reflected in my progress in writing. We can make progress together!
Hee hee!
DeleteMay will be better, Loni. Progress will be made!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your April was very similar to mine. I'm glad that it's May too. I don't need to repeat April ever again.
By the way, that comment by Janet Reid sounds positive to me. For me it means you're a writer to be reckon with in the future. Congratulations.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Yes, let's look forward to May, Pat. It WILL be a good one. :)
DeleteAnd thank you!
That is a total compliment! :) Your month sounds like mine. It's a bit crazy, and I need to truly step back. At least that's what I'm telling myself!
ReplyDeleteYou'll figure it out, Christine, and you'll make it all work out. No doubts here!
DeleteHi Madeline that is a huge compliment. I have always liked your Flash Fiction, I remember reading a few pieces.
ReplyDeleteLet your characters take over, maybe they will lead you in the right direction :)
Thank you, Rachna!
DeleteI don't know if my characters will lead me in the right direction, but it will definitely be a SCARY one. Hmm, same thing? :)
I love that comment. I'd totally take it as a compliment, too.
ReplyDeleteMaybe your characters and my characters should start a support group for each other. :)
I might need to print it out and put it on my bulletin board....
DeleteHa on the support group! Wouldn't you want to be a fly on the wall of a group of characters sitting around complaining about their authors?
I'm sorry April was tough, hey--May! I would flip if I scared Janet Reid. Congrats on that. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
But what if I'm TOO scary? :o
DeleteI want to be a tortoise this month. :) It sounds like an awesome life!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you should definitely take "scares me" as a compliment! That's awesome!
I hope the tortoises feel the same way about it being an awesome life. We try to take care of our guys. :)
DeleteScaring people is definitely high praise! Congrats. And let's clink our glasses together for a more productive May for both of us. 🥂
ReplyDeleteI hope there's wine in those glasses..... :)
DeleteMy April was a rough one. I'm looking forward to May.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that, Chrys. Fingers crossed May is good for all of us!
DeleteHa! That is a great comment.
ReplyDeleteDon't be scared of a character takeover. My characters definitely run the stories. I just go with the flow. It would be nice if the flow was faster, though...
If my characters had their way, we'd be done by now and into a sequel or a prequel.
DeleteIt sounds like you did accomplish a fair amount. And getting a comment from Janet Reid is awesome. She's such a respected agent. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI tend to think I should do more, more, more, better, better, better. It's never enough. Sigh.
DeleteThanks!
I would be happy dancing over the comment too!!
ReplyDeleteI swear, never tell the universe you plan to be productive. That seems to be the magic words that releases the gremlins.
Believe me, no one wants to see me dance.
DeleteMaybe I should say I want to relax and then I'll have a surge of productivity? :)
A great personal comment from an agent. You should be proud.
ReplyDeleteI did finish my fan fiction novella in April, but I'm not going to post it on wattpad yet. It's about Christmas, so I'm going to wait and post it closer to the actual Christmas. I'm often off in my timing, alas. One of my biggest problems.
It's hard trying to time everything out in the best way possible. Congrats on finishing that novella!
DeleteAwesome comment from Janet Reid. She's amazing...and so are you!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Liza!
DeleteWhat a great compliment! And I love that even your characters are annoyed. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure all of my characters are annoyed with me most of the time. I'm too slow of a writer for them - they want to get out into the world and creep people out!
DeleteI love the comment!! Janet is so on point and to the point. I'm envisioning your characters huddling and conspiring.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer!
DeleteI can see my characters doing that, too, and it scares me. This is not a group you want angry at you....
Ha, I love the comment you got for your flash fiction.
ReplyDeleteMe, too. :)
DeleteI know my opinion doesn't mean as much as Janet's, but yes, you are scary.
ReplyDeleteIt means a lot - thank you!
DeleteI would love for someone to say either I or my writing scares them. YES that is a compliment to a writer. thanks for visiting me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting IWSG this month! :)
DeleteI would say that was a huge compliment. It means you touched their emotions.
ReplyDeleteHmm, maybe it wasn't me that touched the emotions but something slithery and creepy and.... :)
DeleteIt's good to be scary sometimes. I know what you mean about not quite doing what you intended. Children - and tortoises - get in the way.
ReplyDeleteThe tortoises won't let me blame them. They are my hard-shelled muses, after all. :)
DeleteWhat a great comment to receive! Lol! And I'm ready to join the tortoise club myself.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteTotally let your characters take over. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the positive...heh heh...feedback, but sorry you had an unproductive month. I hate it when that happens. Could it be burn out?
I love how positive feedback for me/us is something most people would find negative. :)
DeleteI dont think it's burnout, because I'm in a bit of better groove now. Fingers crossed!
That's definitely a good compliment. If you're working in horror, that's the bottom line you're after. And your April was more productive than mine!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine that same comment if I didn't write horror? :)
DeleteSometimes life just gets in the way, or our brains get tired. Rest, regroup, and carry on, as it sounds like you have. Hope that May is treating you better than April (and look--I'm finally getting back to some of the kind people who responded to my IWSG post!).
ReplyDeleteSo far, May is better, but that's not saying all that much. :)
DeleteAnd you were busy traveling the world!
That's a great compliment from Reid! And congratulations on getting that story done.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shannon!
Delete