Writing: Feeling on top of the world
December 4th, 2005 § 2 Comments
I just completed a short story for Australian Women’s Weekly competition. I had the idea a while back and got halfway through the draft but then kind of stalled. It’s been bugging me since and I finally got my shit together and worked on it this week.
While I was finishing it I felt like I was wrangling a steer, the story just kind of kept getting away from me and I had to keep bringing it back on track. By the end I felt like I’d lost it completely and it was a dud. I had my husband read it and he helped me with a really important image so that I was able to go back over it and finalise it. I’ve just sent it off to my critique partner so that will be the true test of it’s worth.
Because the AWW comp is for a story featuring a female character and can be between 3000-5000 words I’ve decided I’m going to try to do an extract of my current novel as a story. The story I just finished was going to be an epic one but instead finished at 3,500 words and I just feel like I can’t miss this opportunity. Most comps and journals consider a short story 3000 words which can be really restricting. Anyway this idea might bomb big time because it might be really hard for me to think of a part of my novel as a short story but I’ll see how I go.
Yesterday was a bit of up and down day. My little tabby, Roscoe, still has a urinary infection. He had to get tested again and the vet has sent of the urine sample so she finds the exact antibiotic that will help him. Another $116 thank you very much. I’m collecting the receipts just so I can torture myself at the end of the year with the total.
I ended up spending all of Friday by the phone waiting for the journo to call for the interview, but no luck. Tomorrow we’re having the photographs taken so maybe she’ll be there then because the four of us being featured had conflicting schedules about when she could call. For now I’m on track with the no eating of chocolate so I don’t look like a pizza face, but failing at the no picking of my face. Make up will hopefully be my saviour.
Hey, how’s Roscoe? And what happened to the short story? Has it gone off to AWW? I so admire the way you’re going forward and forward and forward. It’s wonderful to watch.
Roscoe’s doing well. The results came back and this antibiotic seems to be doing the trick so we’re happy. He’s back to his curious squirelly self.
I’ve sent the short story to my critique partner, Jodi, in Melbourne and am waiting for her feedback. The comp is amazing. $10K for first prize and Penguin books having a first look at your novel. A girl can dream.