Short Stories: December 11, 2019 Issue [#9916]
<< December 4, 2019Short Stories Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueDecember 18, 2019 >>




 This week: It's A New Year!
  Edited by: Leger~ Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.

This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~ Author Icon


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99


Letter from the editor


A New Year!


It's nearly the end of the year and it's time for personal review. Time to look at what your personal goals were and what you've accomplished. Sure, there are tons of outside influences that can affect what happens with your timeline, but it's a good habit to take time to reassess what you are doing and what is actually being accomplished.

Take time to look at how you spend your precious writing time. Do you squander it on social media, click bait and cute kittens? Okay, cute kittens are hard to give up. But it's easy to lose precious minutes to things that don't fit into your good writing habits. I find myself spending too much time "getting ready" to write, like making tea or straightening my desk. Once I get going I seem to do well staying on task.

Also take time to look at how you carve out time in the day to write. I generally try to write early in the day before I get distracted by family and errands. Where I lose time is reading back on previous days and fiddling around editing small things. I do much better if I leave it and spend a single day with a few hours doing stringent editing. Sometimes it is easy to jump through and do your editing and sometimes it's a nightmare because of a simple mistake.

So, take a few minutes before the end of the year to review yourself and your habits; and make the changes to help you effectively use your writing time. A small adjustment over the course of the year could give you many extra hours of writing time.

And as always, Write On!

This month's question: How do you streamline your writing time? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!



Editor's Picks


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2198842 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Isn't it time to try something new? Each entry must give both 'why', and 'why not' sides of a prompt.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2207420 by Not Available.

Excerpt: I heard a voice boom in my head.

Look in the mirror.

I lay there frozen. Terrified.


FORUM
WEIRD TALES CONTEST  Open in new Window. (18+)
A Contest Inspired by the Old Pulp Fiction Covers of Weird Tales Magazine
#2083492 by Beacon's Anchor Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Prompt for December/ The Altar of Maleck Taos

STATIC
The Rose Open in new Window. (13+)
A short tale of a gentle rose, whom has lost her thorns.
#2207470 by Rosalyn Wilde Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: I found a rose sitting on the grass one day. I picked her up, and saw her bleeding eyes. I asked: "What makes you cry?" For a long moment, she just sobbed. And then her lips parted, wider and wider. Her pained voice squeaked out:

"My thorns."


FORUM
Weekly Goals Open in new Window. (13+)
Motivate yourself to conquer your goals this week! Post on Monday; update us on Friday!
#1949474 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Post your goals for the world to see. Motivate yourself to accomplish them!

STATIC
By Any Other Name Open in new Window. (18+)
Most people who fly on Thanksgiving, they're flying toward something. I was flying away.
#2205810 by Roseille ♥ Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: You probably won't believe me, but this is the story of how I had Thanksgiving dinner with a famous actress, a purse-snatcher, and a stray dog and her litter of eight.

 The Keys to Dynamic Reviewing  Open in new Window. (E)
A Self-Taught Course on Writing Outstanding Reviews
#2036800 by Katzendragonz Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Reviewing is a tool implemented by writers who want to help other authors improve their craft. Reviewing is also an essential tool for writers who want to improve their own writing. A review is not a simple statement of whether the reader liked the piece or not. A review should be helpful, encouraging, and honest.

 
STATIC
Christmas Eve Evil Open in new Window. (18+)
Evil vs Evil on Christmas Eve
#2205270 by Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: He already knew which presents to steal. He'd delivered them just two days ago to the rich SOB who lived here.

SURVEY
Short Shots: Official WDC Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Use the photo to inspire your creativity. Write a short story and win big prizes!
#1221635 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon

The task is simple: Write a short story using the photo prompt as inspiration!


 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B00KN0JEYA
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99


Ask & Answer


This month's question: How do you streamline your writing time? Send in your answer below! *Down* Editors love feedback!

Last month's question: What is your edit weakness?


Danger Mouse Author Icon sent: MY editing weakness: Too much mind quibbling about verb forms. Is that a gerund or a present participle? Just that, can slow me down for hours. Dysgrammatophobia(:

Quick-Quill Author Icon replied: Punctuation, commas. I'm just too old to learn something I couldn't get as a kid. I love to write, I love it when people correct my grammar. I'm never offended. I know I can't get it right and rely on the goodness of others to fix my ignorance.

🌑 Darleen - QoD Author Icon answered: Commas and grammar!

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