The Snowflake Chronicles

December Fantasy Newsletter (deadline:12/25/17)

For Editors' Picks

1. Once Upon An ET Christmas
2. A Unicorn's Tale
3. Eye in the Past, Present, and Future
4. Grief
5. Mother Knows Best
6. Sleepless Night Zombies
7.
8.
9.

Title #1

The New Year is Almost Here

Title #2

Write Something on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Hook

How do you have a successful writing year?

About This Newsletter

New Year's Day is almost here,
How do you have a successful writing year?
You write something on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Letter From the Editor

This newsletter comes out on December 27, which is approximately five days before New Year's Day 2018. For generations people have considered New Year's Day an auspicious day to start something new. However, every culture has its own New Year's myths and superstitions. I am not sure that any of these myths or superstitions hold water in real life. They are good plot points in short stories or novels, especially if the character is superstitious.

One of the more intriguing myths I ran across is one about work. According to this myth, if you want to be successful in the New Year you do a little bit of work on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I believe this goes along with the idea that what you do on New Year's Day you will be doing the rest of the year. This means that if you want to write during 2018 you should do a bit of writing on December 31 and January 1. The only experience I have with this particular superstition is in my own life.

I admit that I always do a little bit of writing on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Now whether this has anything to do with me writing everyday during the rest of the year I cannot say. This year, in addition to writing on those two days, I will also read a book. This is in addition to the any reviews I may do on those day. Perhaps if I read a chapter or two in a book, I will continue to read chapters the rest of the year.

What are some of the New Year's myths or superstitions you grew up with? Can they be used to enhance a character or as a plot point? If they can be uses, how can they be used in a fantasy or science fiction story? Have you ever used any type of New Year's myth in any of your stories? Do you have any New Year's stories you want to submit to the newsletter? Did you writing anything on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?

Editor's Picks

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2142272 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Mike Edwards couldn’t sleep. It was Christmas Eve. He was staring out his bedroom window, hoping to see Santa.

A Unicorn’s Tale  (13+) Some Animal Tales Are Very Strange #2142394 by BIG BAD WOLF is Howling

Excerpt: “General, your noon appointment has arrived.”

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2127941 by Not Available.

Excerpt: It was a long winter with snowfall above one-hundred percent the normal. The flooding and landslides surrounded Jamie and Tom. So far, they stayed safe. Fire watch is in effect now and dark clouds threated the hills with lightning strikes. Tom vigilantly looked through his binoculars for smoke after the lightning strikes. It wasn't long ago the mountains were ablaze and maneuvered evacuations. Jamie drew his attention away with one of her oblique questions and he looked at her quizzically.

Grief  (E) My entry for the Science Fiction Short Story contest, we are in need of good sci-fy. #2141513 by Mariella Stift

Excerpt: He sighed, then spoke softly, his voice trailing into silence. "We never expected - " his voice broke before he finished his sentence and the man sobbed quietly.

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2060890 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Lexi sat in the shrinks office recounting the memories of her childhood. Her story was somewhat unbelievable, and she worried the doctor would think she was nuts. Her mom was the crazy one, not her. She refused to follow in mother's path.

STATIC

Sleepless Night Zombies  (E) Insomnia strikes, and I encounter some zombies. #2143039 by Jatog the Green

Excerpt: On a hot August night, starlight glinting the roof,
         and with eyelids like tissue since sleep was aloof,
                   I went outside to bask in the summery balm
         feeling like an insomniac, though I was calm.

Feedback from "Fantasy Newsletter (November 29, 2017)"