Truckin' on...

I apologize for long absence. There has just been a lot to do around the apartment, lots of little things like re-registering the car and other such headaches.

I just received my eighth rejection yesterday for "Gullible Jack." I am now down to half of submissions remaining out, four of which I might be hearing from soon (my guess from their estimated response time). This latest rejection came from Fifth Wednesday Journal. They, out of all the rejections thus far, have been the only one to provide feedback. I can't tell you how appreciative I was. This gave me hope for several reasons. 1. They took the time to evaluate my work and didn't just read it and toss it. They care for their writers. 2. And I quote: "I admire the story’s risk-taking." That's always nice to hear. 3. The majority of their suggestions and comments were things I had struggled and fought over, and now I have a better idea of where to take the story should it not get picked up be any of the other eight submissions still out.

I think I'm realizing one of my weaknesses as a writer, not including my A.D.D. I have a hard time providing enough background and, for lack of a better term, psychological evidence for what is taking place in the story. Apparently, I tend to focus too much on the here and now of the piece. I will keep this in mind as I wrap up the first draft of "The Red Truck" and go through the editing process.

A question for you writers out there: How do you write a first-person narrative without using "I" in almost every sentence? Right now that's what it feels like is happening to me.

Busy

Sorry that it's been a while since I've written on here. I am getting married to a wonderful woman in less than three weeks and the planning is keeping me quite busy. On top of that I'm moving into her place with her.

Last Thursday I met author Benjamin Percy. He is a tremendous modern, young writer and I recommend his short stories to anyone looking for a good read. I went to a reading he did. I had never been to a reading before. Definitely an experience, one that you should not pass up.

I'm taking a step back from "Unreasonable Seizure" and am starting a piece tentatively called "Red Truck." A squirrely bookish woman has a red truck with an enclosed bed park in her spot at her small apartment complex. It doesn't leave and she makes it her goal to find out whose it is and why it is there. Strange events ensue. Once I have something substantial started I'll post it.