Writing News

Status reports of my efforts and progress

First Draft Almost Complete

by Cindy Rae

My first draft is almost complete.  I’m so close I can see the light of day at the end of the tunnel.  And it won’t be a train wreck!  Well, only so much as first drafts are always train wrecks.

Then, it will be time to revise, and revise.  I’m still not happy with Kindra’s profession.  As a dynamic, assertive, no holds-barred, best friend of our protagonist, none of my job choices for her seem to fit: personal assistant to a wealthy woman, a marketing director (too close to Sifa’s profession), international spy, retail sales… maybe a nurse?

Facebook Vs. Website: Some Personal Notes

by Cindy Rae

My Facebook page has more frequent posts than this website. But, Facebook lends itself well to short posts.

So, here you’ll see longer posts.  You won’t see as many, but hopefully ones with more information you find interesting or useful.

I originally had a plan to post 1-3 posts a week here on this website, but I have since revised that plan.

At this point, I’d rather spend my writing time on my novel, with occasional excerpts captured in my writing journal.  Maybe even kick out another short story, although I’m a bit disappointed not to hear what happened to the last one.

Nanite Short Story in Black Hole?

by Cindy Rae

No news from the competition out of Glasgow. I have no idea whether they’ve accepted my short story into the anthology. Is no news bad news?

I suppose I need to sit on the story for a year, then assume they’ve foregone the rights to it? Er, I’d better go back and read the submission rules on rights.

It’s hard not to let this burn me on writing more short stories.

10 Things You Can Do to Support an Unpublished Writer Online

by Cindy Rae

So, if you’ve ever wondered how to support a writer not yet published? After all, there are tons of ways to support a published author, even beyond buying his or her books.

But for us struggling, not-yet-published writers, what can you do? Turns out, there’s much you can easily do online.
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Writing Progress: Past the Baby Steps

by Cindy Rae

I’ve been taking baby steps in this writing business for the past few months. Now that the following are accomplished, I finally feel like I’m stretching out from baby steps and am now, well, toddling along.

Thanks for your support, and I’d love to hear feedback from you.

If you want to know what have I achieved in terms of baby steps:

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Back to Sifa and Peter

by Cindy Rae

Now that my short story is submitted, I’m back to development on my novel about Sifa and Peter. I had already written the core scenes, so my next pass through will be adding more of the settings for each scene. I also need to develop some secondary characters in the story. Sifa’s mother may have a story more predominant than I thought.

Nanite Story Completed and Submitted

by Cindy Rae

I’ve submitted “Out of the Blue” to a competition out of Glasgow. It’s a science fiction short story with an emphasis on medical technology. I should know by the end of next month if the story has won or has been selected for the anthology.

Here’s a small excerpt:

He inched his way over uneven terrain. The ground continued to shake as the incoming shells worked their way westward, away from the rising blood-red sun. The filters on his helm were failing; he could taste the bitter sulfur of dust on his tongue.