Like everything else, I think I will need to modify even this, my ‘easy’ blog. While writing here once every two weeks will not fall to the wayside (I hope) several times during the past two weeks, I wanted to write. The only thing stopping me was that I had said it would be a bi-monthly blog. So, now it’s a minimum of two posts a month. What did I feel the urge to write about?

Submissions, waiting and the feeling of acceptance. I frequent the short story discussion boards of Zoetrope and for whatever reason, the ‘celebration thread’ has held my interest for the last month. Last week and this one I entered my stats. Marko Fong is the person behind the recent posts and it’s inspiring. While virtual, it reminds me of the ‘after hours’ portion of the writer’s group I coordinated several years ago. After the meetings in the private dining room were over, the editor of the local paper and a man who has gone on to some political prominence and I would go for a beer in the bar in the Leland House. Triumphs and disappointments were discussed and encouragement offered.

 I’m averaging (and that is my latest goal) three submissions a week. I’ve been using Duotrope’s Digest to track my submissions. I think it’s a brilliant system. It helps to know how long I have been waiting and knowing when a response might be arriving. Rejection isn’t any fun, but this week I was offered some useful advice from an editor about a story I sent in. The next one I send there I hope will be the charm. I did have a story accepted and that feeling is fantastic. In the April issue of Eclectic Flash Literary Journal–Chief Editor’s Desk , look for my story “Quick and Dirty.” That’s all for now. My husband is painting the ceiling and the fumes are getting to be a bit much. Until next time…