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Blog 10: Submissions prep

I knew there were literary journals and competitions, but I didn’t know how to find or access any that were legitimate. I was “burned” in my teens by a “literary journal” that said a poem I submitted was accepted and published, but I couldn’t see it was published unless I bought the collection of poetry. Upon further investigation, the reviews for this so-called literary journal were mostly negative and stated that even if you were “selected/published” your work wasn’t likely to be in the published collection. So I have been dubious and skeptical of literary journals since then.

However, I read the article posted by the professor and felt a glimmer of optimism since she is a published author. The article gave strategies about how to find literary journals. The most important information that I took from the article was to keep submitting and getting rejected. Rejections will happen over and over again, but publications will eventually happen. Rejection and failure are what causes people to grow/progress! With the steps from the article, I found literary journals that paid, gave feedback, and published new emerging writers. Most of the literary journals I’ve considered require a cover letter, some have word limits or minimums, font type and size requirements as well as a short author bio.

It was nothing like I expected or had encountered in the past! I felt a flicker of hope ignite inside of me. Real feedback from existing authors and editors!! WOW! This is very intriguing and comes at (what I feel is) a pivotal moment in my college career because I have been toying with the idea of switching majors from biology/veterinary medicine to English/creative writing in order to become a writer. I just didn’t know where to start or if it was even possible or realistic to become a writer even though people continually encourage me to be an author. They tell me that I’m a “talented” writer and that my pieces “move” the reader. Who knows if that’s true or not.. I do feel that this course has given me the opportunity to dabble in the literary world and provided resources/avenues to allow me to pursue both veterinary medicine AND writing.

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Blog 9: Reflections and Frustrations

Soo.. I just began writing and let things develop as my fingers struck the keys on my keyboard. I just let it flow from my fingertips. Once I stopped and I looked at my story, it had taken on a life of its own and became somewhat of a monster. That’s when the frustrations kicked in. I had the daunting task of cutting down my story that was WAY too long without jeopardizing the integrity of the piece. I wanted to pull my hair out! I encountered that conundrum that no writer wants to confront: every detail and scene seemed vital to the story…

After receiving feedback from the peer review and a few other people from outside the course, I revised my short story. I took the critiques into consideration and implemented what I felt was applicable while still trying to reach the story’s length requirements. After all the revisions, I am unsure that I fully kept the integrity of the story. I know for the most part I have accomplished that, but I feel as if the meticulous wording needed for a short story’s parameters wasn’t met because I was focused on shortening it into the assigned requirements. I’m hoping I’m my own worst critic at this point, yet I have a “gut” feeling that some sections/texts could’ve been formulated a little better had I not been so focused on the length. I just want to do Scarlett Jones justice…

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Blog 8: Plot, Conflict, and Climax

When creating a story, or writing of any kind, it’s important to brainstorm and write down your thoughts about the piece. It doesn’t have to be ever detail of the story but at least the general idea of each section.

Tons of ideas would “pop” into my mind about my short story. I soon realized that not every idea would work, flow, or fit the storyline I was trying to create. As I was putting the “pieces” of my short story together, I realized that rearranging potential ideas I came up with could change the entire outcome or meaning of the story. Some of it was for the better and others not so much. It was an interesting but frustrating process, especially when trying to meeting length requirements. I tend to be a little “wordy” and it was a struggle.

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Blog 7: Research 2

I expanded my research for my short story as far as locations, details about the location, population, county, etc.

I also researched types of farms and more espionage terms. I cultivated more depth of certain characters in my story. I kept asking myself “why is this character in my story? Are they important or should they be cutout?” I also thought of scenarios for scenes, twists and turns, and what makes me enjoy the books I love to read. I’ve actually been reading A LOT of books from one of my favorite authors, M.C. Beaton. I LOVE her Agatha Raisin series!

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Blog 5: Setting and Description

This week it’s time to establish the setting and describe it. It’s a delicate balance between “not enough” and “too much” information. This is something of a challenge for me though. I can see, feel, smell, hear, and even taste the area/setting that I am envisioning for my short story but there seems to be a disconnection between my brain and the paper. Once I start jotting down the details of my setting, it seems to become watered and bogged down with text that fill the page but do not convey what I envision for the setting.

I need to get back to the basics. After reviewing many of the books from my personal collection, I noticed that the settings are quickly described with strong wording. I need to make a list (in one to two words) of the senses that Scarlett Jones experiences while she is immersed in the setting of the story and begin to incorporate it into the story’s introduction. I didn’t stop to ask myself “why would a former spy choose a small town in the middle of nowhere Georgia to begin the next chapter of her life” or “why would she choose a life of farming after such an exciting life as a spy”. With the sensory details list and the previously mentioned questions, I should be able to minimize the textual description while simultaneously accurately conveying the setting of the story. Good bye Scarlett the spy and hello Scarlett the farmer. 

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Blog 4: Research

I have been researching terminology for espionage and the tradecraft used by Scarlett Jones. Based on my research, espionage is conducted in a variety of ways and depends on the skills/ingenuity of the operative. Scarlett was a covert operative, who left the world of espionage to live a simpler life and start a family. In doing so, she settled into a small town in central Georgia. I’m still deciding where it will be located but I have decided on either Jasper, Morgan, or Greene County due to the rural countryside of those particular counties yet located close enough to Lake Oconee with the muitimillion dollar mansions, private planes, globe trotters, etc. 

mi5.gov.uk/how-spies-operate

https://www.spymuseum.org/education-programs/spy-resources/language-of-espionage/

I love the “Bond” series by Ian Fleming and the “Jack Ryan” series by Tom Clancy! These two series are full of mystery, deception, betrayal, drama, suspense, and so much more, which isn’t surprising that they are still popular decades after their initial creation.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage

Scarlett Jones is learning the struggles of leaving a life of deception and secrets for a small town where “everyone knows everyone”. She is realizing that it’s difficult to put her tradecraft aside and be a “normal” woman starting over in a new place, searching for a better life. (Like Angelina Jolie’s character in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” don’t judge someone based on their outward appearances. They may not be who you initially assume they are.) I am also researching what is needed to successfully manage a small farm in central Georgia. 

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Blog 3

My main character is named Scarlett Jones. She recently left the world of espionage to live on farm in a small town of middle Georgia. She is quiet and watchful when meeting new people. Only a small group of contacts/friends, she remains in contact with during her time as a spy, know her well and her eclectic personality (even better than her own family). Scarlett is always discreetly watching her surroundings and looking over her shoulder. You may leave the world of espionage but the world of espionage never really leaves you.

Scarlett is desperate for a “normal” life; one without secrets and lies. She had enough of living a double life and wants to live in peace with a family of her own. Scarlett values honesty, loyalty, and follow through. She is blunt and brutally honest, which is odd considering she’s a former spy trained in deception. She’s anxious about questions involving her life before she decided to be a farmer and that her former life is lurking around every corner waiting to pull her back into the world of spies.

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Blog 2: The Beginning

The beginning of every story is took “hook” the audience. To subconsciously get them to continue reading the story regardless of length, characters, plot, settings, etc. Every story I’ve willingly continued reading has been the result of the first page captivating my curiosity or intrigue.

For my own short story, I have been exploring characters, their individual stories, personalities, dilemmas, goals. The list goes on and on. I’ve been debating between three possible storylines to develop: a former spy trying to live a “normal” life on a farm but tradecraft and the world of espionage are difficult to completely detach from, the lives of chickens (what humans don’t see or hear), or the real struggles and interactions between a cat and dog as pets within a home. I’ve narrowed down the names of the characters but haven’t quite decided on which path to take for the storyline. Whichever storyline I choose, I hope I can meet the criteria from our book.

- Introduce the characters and their relationships

- Present the basic predicament and the beginning of conflict

- Establish the voice, tone, and point of view

- Establish a setting

- Give us a reason to keep reading

[aknipper]

Blog 1: Intro

Hi, my name is Amanda. I’m a single mom and a Navy veteran. I have traveled the world due to my naval career and as a Department of Defense contractor. I have never written any short stories (at least none I can recall). I chose to take this course to test my skills with writing fiction. I previously took another course taught by our professor and she pushed me to expand my skillset in ways I never imagined possible. There were many tears of frustration during that course, but she made me realize that the only thing holding me back was myself and “the sky was the limit”. I produced many moving pieces that I am very proud of due to her. I’m hoping to expand my writing skillset once again with her as my professor because she reignited a spark within me that I thought had slipped away many years ago. 

This course will be a challenge for me since I typically write from my own personal experiences and my very unconventional life. I am the fifth child of eight from a military family. I am an avid animal lover who owns a dog, cat, and many chickens of various breeds. I am currently trying to become a veterinarian, but have seriously thought about becoming a writer since my first English course after beginning my college education. I have always enjoyed writing and from what I have been told it may be my “niche”. Who knows? Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t.