November 10th

I have read the following

             I am currently working through Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and still reading The Galaxy Game.

            I just finished my first collection of short stories as I work on reading a short story a day.  

Show Us Your Shorts: 15th Annual Writer's Digest Short Story Competition (Paperback) 
by Various 

I submitted to this competition and didn't get selected.  I chose this book to be the first collection i read on my journey to read a short story a day.  I was amazed at how good some of the stories were and questioned why some of them beat mine.  I'm not saying I'm perfect but i spent a lot of time questioning how short stories that didn't have a protagonist change or a story arch made top twenty-five out of over three thousand. 

I have worked on the following

            I practiced narration with less dialogue.  This is still a skill I need to practice.

I’m working on the following

            I am working on NaNoWriMo.

            I am putting the finishing touches on November and December Adventures of Gwen and Brooke which will be posted on Fictionpress.

Since my last post i've:

• read half of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
• read a blog suggesting reading 365 short stories a year.  as of today since I didn't start on january first i am on 9/76.  I haven't missed a day yet. I started with Show us your Short Shorts, A collection of the top 25 stories submitted to Writer's Digest's short short story competition.  I chose this because i've submitted there before and wanted to see what was winning. 
• i've written and revised four short stories which will be posted on Fictionpress.com. The link is located at the bottom of this page.  The first story has been posted.  November's will be posted in, well, November.  

October 5, 2016

Since my last post: 

I have read the following

The Seven Tales of Trinket by Shelley Moore Thomas Dan Craig (Illustrator)

            This was an incredible journey for all ages.  It is an epic journey like the Hobbit but written at a level that all ages will find pleasure and not strain reading.  This tale incorporates many mythical creatures from Irish, Welsh, and Celtic folklore.  This could be a fun read aloud book for a class, a good bedtime book for older listeners, a great read together book for a family, or even a wonderful book to curl up and read by yourself.

Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy

            I was captivated by her raw storytelling.  This was a breeze to read while still being informative.  The language may be harsh for some readers but considering the content and the emotions it’s completely understandable.  I would definitely read another book of hers on any topic regardless of the contents connection to me. 

The jacket by Andrew Clements

A wonderful story where the young boy gets to be his own hero.  While he talks to adults Phil draws his on conclusions and decides for himself what is right and wrong.  A beautiful story which shows how racism is still prominent.  one may think this is a story of the 1970's but it isn't.  This battle of racism is from the early 2000s.  a wonderful book for both read alouds in a classroom or family or a great independent read. 

Don't You Know There's a War On?

by Avi

Another wonderful book by AVI.  AVI was one of my first favorite authors as a kid.  Still as an adult the writing is captivating and the style is always used to progress a story. In this book time was marked by events that happened that day in history.  While a day may have multiple chapters the chapters were grouped in a way what let readers connect with history.  A beautiful story of young love.

The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney (Devon Delaney #1)

An adorable exploration of the world of a pre-teen. In a world where a stray hair can ruin one's whole week a young girl must grapple with numerous problems she has created for herself. She is forced to navigate the middle school watters not even sure who she is. I love how the author made a reader feel the emotional roller coaster of the teen regardless of the readers age.

 

 

I have worked on the following

I have written recipies, continuing fiction, and editorial pieces for The Heartland News

I’m working on the following

I am getting ready to revise Novembers NaNoWriMo piece and considering starting something new for this November

August 24, 2016 update

I have read the following

            Harry potter and the cursed child.

            I found the journey fun, but that was because I knew the characters and the would.  I doubt this would have worked if readers weren’t already invested in the characters.  I felt like I was reading fanfiction instead of a continuation of the original story.   That being said the end was disappointing.  Readers went on a journey to end up at almost the same place.  It felt like the ending of Rosanne where viewers found to that the last two seasons were just a dream.  Readers watched a protagonist go on a hero’s journey to see someone else change. 

I have worked on the following

            I am still working on my snowflake for my first mystery. 

            I am also looking into ghostwriting, resume writing, and of course continuing education.  

            I am going to be writing for a local street newspaper.