About Dreams and Resolutions

So, the bell has chimed for the last time for 2014 and 2015 has come to pick up the slack. Everybody who isn't talking about the Golden Globes is talking about their resolutions for the year that's just begun. Through the years I've learned hard resolutions just don't work for me. Instead of focusing my energy into designing a plan with hard numbers (like, say, "To write X amount of words daily"), I aim at doing better than the year that has just ended.

I appreciate the value some people find in doing such plans or resolutions, and if it works for you then all the more power. However, most people keep kinda recycling the list of things they want to do, but for some reason they just never have accomplished. This practice, in my opinion, discourages people who feel that they will never get these specific goals so why even try. Let's be honest, a writer can never write "the perfect" story, no reader can ever read all the books in their TBR pile, no woman will ever consider herself thin enough, and no human ever will sleep enough, eat healthy enough, or exercise enough. These are empty endeavors, so why not instead measure yourself not against your dreams, but against the actual you?

It is an excellent idea to take this time to pause and weight the good and the bad of the last twelve months. Are you satisfied with the way things went? Where did you go wrong? Where did you go right? These are valuable questions that can help you find out the areas where you need to work, and to celebrate your accomplishments. To write more than last year, read more than last year, and eat less than last year is something doable. To become the next Stephen King and look like Kate Moss by the summer is not.

And so, I kicked off 2015 with very simply, yet challenging plans: To finish my novel's 1st draft, to submit more than ten stories through out the year, to make it to at least one writer's convention, and to read at least 18 books. This will be the year I try to break the genre barrier by submitting to literary journals as well as horror magazines, I'll keep developing my craft by enrolling in a creative writing class/course, and I'll participate in the April A to Z Blogging Challenge.

So, there. It seems like I'm going to be a very busy writer... because 2014 was totally relaxing! Wish me luck!

What are your plans/resolutions for 2015?

My Whacky Dreams. Stressing Over Writing

Last night I had the whackiest dream since I decided to pursue a writing career. Because whacky is exactly what this blog needs--way too serious lately--as soon as I woke up, I decided I had to share it with you in all its crazy glory. Now, if you follow me, you know I always have something like five different projects going at the same time. All of them in different stages of (in)completion. Well, these days the number is more like ten. Yes, I'm working on nine different short stories and one novel. This makes me a very busy, worried, and sometimes confused writer. Two of these stories have me throwing my arms up in despair. I simply don't know how to take the story where I want it to go in an organic fashion, but what does this have to do with last night's crazy fest, you ask?

Well, judge for yourselves.

In my dream I was in a messy apartment. It was an old building in Mexico City. I knew because the walls were made of cement and the window panes were very thin. Around them, a black aluminum frame was held steady into the wall openings by a film of silicone. It was also clear to me that the owner of the place was a reader and a writer. Books were piled up all over the place. Scribbled notes littered the floor and every flat surface.

Kind of like Mr. Morris Lessmore's but creepier

I was wondering how the hell I had gotten there when Harlan Ellison walked in from his bedroom. Yes, by the look of things I was standing in the middle of the multi-awarded, writer of more that 1,700 short stories, and ground-breaking sci-fi anthologist Harlan Ellison's living/dinning room area. Apparently, he and I were on a first name basis, because he didn't threatened me with a baseball bat or tried to call the police. In fact, he acted as if he already knew I was there.

In his hands he held a manuscript, not too big but enough for it to be a short story. He seemed excited and proceeded to tell me all about it. That's when I remembered it was MY story. I had pitched it to him, seeking his advise to resolve the impasse in the plot I seemed to have reached. And what had the bastard done? Take it and write it as if it was his own.

Sonofabitch.

Good thing I didn't tell him the final twist. At least I could use that for a different story, right?  But wait, he kept talking all animated and sooo friendly. Maybe I had misinterpreted him. What if he planned to publish the story like a co-author thing? I mean, Harlan Ellison can publish whatever the hell he wants and if my name gets attached to his... Bum! A career is born. Also, it is more than a bit flattering to hear such enthusiasm from a renown writer about a story you came up with.

So I played along, all excited to see what he wrote. Of course I said yes when he invited me to grab a bite on the restaurant a few blocks from his house! Are you kidding me? Harlan, mah man!

"We'll discuss more of the details there", he says.

Aaaaand then my alarm clock woke me up.

Whoo! What a dream! But you wanna know what takes this whole thing to the next level of weirdness? First of all, and this goes without saying, but either way: I have never met Harlan Ellison. In fact, I have never read anything of his. *face reddens in shame* Also, Ellison's mean streak is infamous! He is abrasive and argumentative, and reputedly a bit full of himself. He in fact has described himself as "possibly the most contentious person on earth."

Sounds like the perfect person to ask for help, doesn't he?

The story he was so excited about is in fact a mish-mash of the two stories I was telling you about at the beginning. And to top it all off, my stupid alarm clock woke me up before Harlan spilled the beans on how to pass that roadblock I'm stuck on!

So what do you think? Do you have any strange dreams you care to share?

Being Thankful

Source: Forgotten Love by Marcus Quigmire

Death affects me very deeply. I know, who is left without tears upon the death of someone close, right? It's human nature. You may shed tears, you may carry the scars on the inside, but we are all affected by the loss of life.

And then, there's me. . .

When I was in high school, a girl I disliked very much came to school crying. A friend of hers had died the previous night in an accident. I overheard her telling the story and I cried with her. We became close friends after that. That's the kind of person I am, I take death too hard. My family never shares those kinds of news with me unless they're right there to see me through. But just as I become depressed and saddened, I find a way to ease my pain. I like to pay some form of tribute to the deceased; then, with time, the sadness fades.

Death has twice changed me profoundly, affecting the way I live my life, but I won't go into details; at least not today. Today, I want to share with you a third occurrence that, in similar fashion to my high school story, has brought me a present.

About three years ago, I received news of the passing of a close uncle. He'd been sick for a very long time so it wasn't a surprise, maybe even a blessing. As always, I was left with a profound melancholy. As a way to work through the dark moments, and because I hadn't been able to say goodbye, I wrote a piece of flash fiction. Three paragraphs that acknowledged his suffering, a small token that said: I won't forget. When the pain went away, I worked on the piece. I edited and added details, some fictional, but always thinking of him. The story is called IN THE END. Today I signed a contract with Dark Moon Books; the story will be part of Dark Moon Digest, issue 14.

I am very happy, also thankful. I can't stop thinking this comes from him. My promise stands; I won't forget, his memory won't fade away. And now, he lives on in a piece of paper within the infinite confines of the written word.

A Little Break to Savor the Season

To all my friends who regularly visit this, my humble e-bode, I feel an enormous gratitude to you for being here, for reading and offering advice, for helping me grow as a writer and blogger, for offering your friendship. I know the past few days I fell off the radar unexpectedly but I have a house full of family visiting from Mexico. It has been loads of fun but there's little time to write, thus the radio silence. I will be back full force come January 3rd, but in the mean time I just want to wish you a joyous season. I hope you are having a great time surrounded by those closest to your hearts and may next year bring all kinds of blessings to us all.

Never forget to laugh for laughter is the key to the soul.

Best wishes!

The Next Big Thing

Jessica McHugh is witty, clever, and a total badass, but did you know she's a witch? She has marked me with her almighty tag to tell you all about my newest project, aka my next big thing. I have no control over this, I must pass on the magical mark onto three more amazing writers. And so, I've selected Nicole, Mina Lobo, and Mrs. Jones as my victims chosen ones. May the force be with us all.

What is the working title of your book? Deliverance.

Where did the idea for the book come from? On one of our drives from Montreal to Connecticut I happened to spot a big farm house very close to the highway. It was surrounded by nothing but trees everywhere I could see, and had a collection of four/five very old tombstones a few feet from its front door. I imagined what I would feel living in that house and the idea for the book started to brew.
What genre does your book fall under? Mystery/Suspense with a paranormal twist.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Megan: Selma Blair

Jason: James Mcavoy

Maggie: Emma Watson

Constance: Betty White (because of her dramatic range, there's no comedy here!)

Nathaniel: Thomas Sangster

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

The town of Deliverance was named after the hope for its people but residing there there's only death.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I'm still considering my options.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I'm still working on it. I have everything mapped out and most of the details resolved, but the manuscript itself is only on chapter 4, some 8000 words long.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

When the Wind Blows by John Saul.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

There are three big layers to this story. First the story of the first settlers arriving to Plymouth and their tragic relationship with the Wampanoag people which brought on a curse over Dighton Rock and the surrounding area. (True story!) (Or at least a real legend.) 

Then, there's the present time story of a horror writer trying to get over the death of her only child. She moves to Deliverance, Ms. without knowing the area has been plagued by the disappearance of women for many years. Is there really a curse on the town's people that only Megan can break? Or is there a serial killer on the loose that has his eyes set on her?

How to Read Horror and Survive Unscathed

Lately life hasn't gone quite as I wanted to. Things aren't bad, per se, though today is a big day for my family and, depending on the outcome, it'll mean if all this mess was worth it or not. I'm in for a super happy year, or a super depressing month...

Anyway, nothing like a little of humor to lighten the spirit, right? So, it was with this in mind that I wrote the following rules on How to Read a Horror Novel and Survive Unscathed. Now, unscathed may not be a realistic expectation. Every good horror author would hate to know you are not sleeping with your lights on after reading their work, but we'll shoot for nightmare-clear nights. Okay? Then, fasten your seat belts 'cause here we go.

General Amusement Safety Tips When Reading a Horror 

• Read posted rules thoroughly and follow all restrictions issued by ride's operator (read author).
• Keep all body parts (hands, arms, legs, long hair, etc.) inside ride at all times. If you have long hair, put it up. Ride's operator is not responsible for feelings of being observed, getting the heebie-jeebies, or getting your hair pulled by an unseen hand.
• Always use safety equipment (sign of the cross, praying of your selection, rent a comedy to watch before bedtime). Safety equipment not provided by ride's operator.
• Hold onto hand rails (read comic relief/romance scenes). These are part of the safety equipment designed to keep you from flipping out, and the appointed moment to go grab a sandwich.
• Remain in the ride until it comes to a full stop at the unloading point. If a ride stops temporarily due to mechanical failure, say a blackout, do not panic. Stay seated and wait for the lights to come up again. It's not like a monster is living under your bed. Though I would keep my feet inside the covers.
• Stop riding before you get excessively tired to avoid nightmares. Then come back first thing in the morning.
• Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Hallucinations have an acute murderous tendency when under the influence of horror.
• Participate responsibly; you should be in good health to ride safely. If you suspect your health could be at risk or aggravated by riding, DO NOT READ!

I hope you have as much fun reading these as I had writing them. Remember, horror is safe, as long as you don't read out loud those incantations.

Now, go read something!

Movie Wonderings

A few days ago, enjoying my newfound freedom, I watched 'Devil'. Against some nay sayers, I have to say I liked it. It's a different story, well told and short enough so you don't get bored with a lot of useless backstories. For the seasoned horror fan, it can be a little predictable but, be honest, which movie isn't? It's hard to find situations that haven't been played in the particular setting of the story but I think that what's behind the story is a lot more compelling, and well worth your 1.5 hours. About all those shenanigans referring to M. Night Shyamalan's dry spell; well, this movie was only written by him and if anything, it goes to show he has great stories to tell. Weather or not he should limit his roll to that... that's still up in the air.

Now, if you haven't seen the movie, I strongly recommend you stop reading this, go watch it and then return to see if we share the same view of the end-story. If you're simply not interested in the movie and don't care about being told the ending, I'd love to have you with me through my following ramblings, as they go beyond the movie and more into wondering what possible life there would be after surviving something like that.

This is your last warning: spoilers ahead. Readers beware.

For all those who haven't seen it, the whole concept comes from this little story that a narrator tells in the very first minutes of the film.

"When I was a child, my mother would tell me a story about how the Devil roams the Earth. Sometimes, she said, he would take human form so he could punish the damned on Earth before claiming their souls. The ones he chose would be gathered together and tortured as he hid amongst them, pretending to be one of them."

We then see five people get trapped in an elevator in a building that happened to be the scene of a suicide, reason why there are cops around to 'help' when things turn ugly. Among those cops there's Detective Bowden, who lost his wife and young kid on a vehicular accident where the driver got away after leaving a note with just two words: "I'm sorry"... how horrible, right? Through out the film, we are informed that all the trapped ones are supposed to die and every witness is chosen for a particular reason. It's also established that whoever gets on the Devil's way to get himself some PR, will die; innocent or not.

The action starts as everyone on the inside suspect the other and when the lights in the elevator go out, one of them dies. We as spectators, spend most of the time wondering who the Devil is and who'll be the last to die. The final twist comes when there's only two people left, one of them gravely hurt, and the Devil unmasks himself; that's when we know the one not hurt is a mechanic that has been having a hard time forgiving himself for leaving the place of a vehicular accident he had caused as he was drinking and driving. Can you guess who were his victims? Ok, so he says he's not worthy of being alive, uses a walkie talkie to confess his crime to the policeman hearing on the other end (Bowman), and begs the Devil to take him instead of the woman who's bleeding in his hands. This, obviously grants him forgiveness, and the Devil leaves taking all the others with him.

There's a little epilogue at the end that shows Bowman, who at the beginning of the story had established his unwillingness to forgive and lack of faith in God, actually forgiving the man responsible for the death of his family. The credits roll and, if your anything like me, you're left to wonder what would you do in such a case.

My first question to myself was: Could I really forgive the bringer of such annihilation to my life? This is a hard thing but on the other hand, how could I not, being that the Devil himself not only had spared him, but chose me as a witness to his show? I don't know about you, but I'd be literally scared to death of so much as give a step on the wrong direction. You know what they say, the way of the pious is paved with fear...

About the poor mechanic... What would you do with your life if you were in his situation? Apparently, you have just saved your soul and have every reason to think you're starting with a clean slate; then again, you have every reason to fear that the Devil will try to find a way to collect. I thought, oh, man; you may have come out of this alive but I don't see how you can go on and have a normal life... and then I realized: it's their soul they just saved, both of them, and they're about to pay for every sin through a life of fear.

How many people survive things that let them more scarred than they previously were? Then they go on to live a different life full of shadows and distress. Stephen King is so right. Sometimes God is cruel; he lets you live.

So Funny I Had to Share It

As I was wasting my time looking for inspiration through the internet, I came across this letter and could do nothing but laugh. Although I'm not certain of its origins, it claims to be written by an actual Procter and Gamble costumer, as well as being PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-award-winning letter. Whatever the truth, I decided to share it with you. Laugh and have a happy day my friends!

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the LeakGuard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.
Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from 'the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing?
As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customer's monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the viole nt urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!
The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'
Are you f------ kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness, is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory.
For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?
Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullshit. And that's a promise I will keep. 
Always. . .
Wendi Aarons
Austin , T X 

Writing in Numbers

It's been a while since I wrote last. Finally time caught up with me and much as I ran I couldn't escape it, my french course started last week. It's quite interesting and I have to confess I'm enjoying it, though it has been hard to put up with eight hours of not understanding much. The worst part by far is that I had forgotten how tiresome school is and after university, I still have a house to clean and a family to take care of, forget about a writing career. I haven't been this busy in a long time. For now, I'm managing school, taking care of my two little girls, and cooking, cleaning... you know what I mean. On top of all that I'm still trying to write at least three pages per day but it's quite a frustrating exercise when your mind hangs up on you and all you produce are lifeless conversations and uninspired prose.

In any case, before the hectic days began I tried to write as much as I could to have something to work on while I got used to the new rhythm and feel more comfortable. I proudly state that I managed to finish a short story, (4000 wd) called "Francis" that I sent to a Short Fiction Contest; I got the rough basics of a second short story that it's in the works, and I finished the first draft of a not-so-short story (12000 wd).

Well, this last work posed a bit of trouble for me, I didn't know what market, if any, there was for it and for a moment I thought it would become a personal exercise with no hope for publishing. You see, I started writing in what, I felt, was a genre I was familiar with but there were things I'd never paid attention beforehand, like the length of the books and stories I read. I was resigned to leave this piece behind but, unwilling to find myself in this position once again, I decided to turn to the greatest source of information in this century: The Net.

After a short day of research I came out with more understanding of what was expected of me in each area and genre; it also reminded me just how much I don't know in this, my chosen field of work. It turns out that there's a name for every piece of work one does, that doesn't make it any more sellable, though. Here, I'll share with you what little knowledge I've gain on the subject.

An average page of a novel contains more or less 300 words, 250 if there's dialogue; keep that in mind when reading the following.

A work of up to 100 words is called Micro Fiction; this kind of story is becoming increasingly popular among magazines, though it is complex to write and do it well.

A piece that has between 100-1000 words is called Flash Fiction; extremely popular since long, it's the perfect work to put in Cosmo magazine as short romance or as a short comedy in a Men's magazine.

Now, from 1000-7500 words you'd call them Short Stories. These, you all know very well since they've carved a space in literary and film history.

A Novellette is the story that is anything from 7500-20K words-long. Alas, a name for my baby! But the good news stop there. These kind of pieces are the hardest to publish since most magazines consider them too long, and most publishers won't find it profiting enough to pony up with the cost of printing and marketing for a book whose point price has to be low. This work does better when put together with other pieces in a Compilation Novel.

The new electronic market has made popular a different kind of book called Novella. This work is 20K-50K words-long and fits perfectly with most e-readers' expectations; it offers a growing market with great promise for those with no interest of seeing their stories in print.

Finally, every genre of Novel has it's own especificities but in general a work that contains something between 50K-110K is acceptable. Epics and Secuels run even longer.

There it is, in a nutshell, what most writers should know about what editors and publishers are looking for, besides riveting stories. Back to my own work, I've called the Novellette "Perpetual Night" and I sent it to some friends; in general it got good reviews but it clearly needs more work. Right now I'm revising it and as soon as this weekend I'll start editing. My goal is to finish it before nov 30 because a publication has asked for such kind of work and the deadline is the end of the month.

I foresee many sleepless nights before I see it through but, if it gets selected everything will be worthwhile.

Wish me luck friends. I'll keep you posted!