November is a month of waiting; waiting for Thanksgiving, waiting for the holiday season, waiting to hear back from journals like Fifth Wednesday and Sonora Review on pieces that were sent out three months ago, and waiting to hear back from contests that include a short play writing contest out of Southern California called Show Off!. That’s not to say that the month is completely boring, but there does seem to be something about November that makes it feel like we’re waiting an interminably longer amount of time to get through it than other months. I blame it on the cold and gray weather which creates a sense of fatigue. A trek to and from a job, or as the case may be, multiple jobs, can deplete the energy that I have stored for writing time. I trek to the American Dental Association in the morning and then to the Lego store in the evenings which makes for some long days that leave me little time to write. When I work both jobs I usually have an hour or two in between to get notes written in my little 5 inch by 3 inch Five Star notebook that I carry with me everywhere aptly named their Fat Lil’ Notebook.
I’m struggling to finish projects, including a short thirty minute play, and a short story, and because of the shift in weather and my new work responsibilities I’ve found it hard to find a time where I can sit at my computer and write uninterrupted like I used to. As I get used to how my two work schedules and the winter weather affects me this year I’ll create a new schedule that will allow me to be as productive as I once was. It’s just a matter of finding the right rhythm and getting used to waiting to hear back on projects.
When I was in school I had classmates with whom I could share my struggles with, who would say that they too, were being as unproductive as I was, but now I don’t want to admit my laziness to myself or to others; especially with so many friends participating in nanowrimo. I’m not participating in nanowrimo because I spent much of my energy in late October and early November trying to land a second job in order to support myself. I believe nanowrimo can be a great motivator to get a project completed especially since it is set up as a large support group, and many get together locally to support one another in person.
Now that I’m out of school it’s become apparent to me that I need a support system, and that I need to take an active role in getting them material to read on a regular basis especially since I know that I become less productive in the colder months. I have a great group of friends and readers who keep me on track. A writing group I’m apart of meets once a month to discuss pieces that we’re working on, and to share news about where we’re submitting work.
Are you participating in Nanowrimo? Do you think it’s an effective way to get words on paper? Do you know anyone who has sold a novel that’s a product of this writing month? I’ll post some of my favorite responses in December’s column.
In my last column, Schedules, I asked you about your writing schedules. A writer named Steve, had this to say about his schedule and writing habits:
My process is to write nearly everything longhand until I’m ready to type, and I’m still doing that nearly every night. (I write at night, by the way–the morning is repellent.) Anyway, since school ended in June, I’m typing up first drafts less and less, and stacking up the handwritten stuff. I’m hoping that time will present itself to type, but I understand that I may need to schedule the time.
Thanks, Steve, for sharing a little of your process with us.
Does November feel like a long waiting period until the holidays? If you’re in school do you feel that your classes give you a sense of support and a good motivation to keep writing in these cooler months? Are you waiting to hear back on any pieces you’ve submitted? Where have you been submitting to? I’m always on the lookout for new literary journals for the spotlight and I’d love to read the journals you enjoy.
Literary Journal Spotlight
This month’s literary journal is Concisely. I found this journal online at Poets and Writers when I was searching for non fiction journals that might be possible homes for a piece that I’ve written about working at Target. This piece is currently under review for a competition, so I might have been wasting my time, but I found this little gem of a journal that’s much different from the journals I normally read. You can follow them on Twitter.
From their website the editors described Concisely, “We’re the literary little guys. Four times a year we publish a small print magazine of stories under 500 words, which you can get your hands on for just $4.” They go on to describe what they are looking for, “Our pages contain romance, humor, horror, fantasy, memoir, and more (but no ads). Our stories are hilarious, bittersweet, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.”
Concisely publishes stories that are under 500 words in length. I believe this is what they call “flash fiction” or “short shorts” and it interested me because I don’t normally work in this genre. As I looked through the publication I was amazed at how well the authors were able to craft moments that included beginning, middle, and end. The eclectic topics featured were impressive: a deceased father’s pants anchored his wife to her home, a dog who experiences biological symptoms of pregnancy after being neutered who believes a pair of shoes to be her puppies, the invasion of a man’s apartment as he sits on the toilet.
Concisely is not currently seeking submissions, but this shouldn’t stop you from checking them out. You can get a feel for what they do publish and be exposed to a different writing form. I found myself wondering how I would craft a story with so few words. I know I’m going to keep this concise journal and refer to it when I feel my own writing is too bloated. It’s a nice example of writing to the bone and making every word necessary to the story. This journal feels like one that should be left at a coffee shop for others to enjoy. The construction paper cover is stapled onto the pages. No frills here, but something that feels like it’s put together for each individual reader. Mine is numbered 5/100. Maybe we can help the publishers decrease their stockpile before the next issue come out?
Thank you for reading my third column. I hope if you’re waiting on some important news you hear something good soon. As we approach the holidays I encourage you to take some time away from the computer or fictional worlds you’re creating, and spend time with the loved ones in your life.
If you have any comments or questions feel free to send them to me using the form below. Be sure to check out the regularly updated content here at Niche, and let the other columnists and bloggers know how much you enjoy their work! Keep writing! Don’t let the winter weather get you down!
This column originally appeared on Niche’s website on November 23rd, 2011.
The Official Niche Literary Magazine Archives 