Good News!
My story “Mol of the Plague” got picked up for Grendel Press‘s inaugural short story compilation – Paramnesia. Stay tuned for updates about an interview and illustration about the story. I’m excited that Mol got published, particularly to a paying market. It was a precursor to the novel I’m working on. As this is my first, I’m experiencing some things for the first time and thought it would be handy to have a chronicle of it. Firstly, the world of my story lives in my head at all times. The characters will point to someone startled by a dog, waiting for the dentist, or arguing over a traffic accident, and cry That’s me. Even during the year I took for my teaching degree when I had to put it out of my mind, it was there. I picked up behaviors and interactions from the classes of glorious diversity I taught, tucking them away for my characters. Another thing I’ve noticed is that every second away from writing my novel feels guilty. I feel, at every hour of every day, that I’m neglecting a sworn duty. It can be uncomfortable at times and agonizing at others.
Less Than Good News.
I did not advance to the final round of the NYC Rhyming Story Competition, but two outta three ain’t bad is a phrase I’ve heard people say before. So there’s that. It’s good news in a way, though, because I can put it up on this blog here, which I will after a tweak or two. I received some good feedback and I’m no longer restricted by the 400 word limit. So now I’ve given myself that task.
A Writing Update.
I’ve been productive since finishing my practicum. Very productive. I’m twenty thousand words into my manuscript, chapter 7, and in terms of where I am in the plot arc I figure I’m about a quarter of the way through. This is good news because 80,000 words is my target and, with the application of a little math, it seems like I’m on the right pace.
M. W. IRVING 