short stories

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

Well, we’ve reached the end of another week but not, apparently, the end of the fallout from the recent RWA RITA contest announcements.

Over on the Teach Me Tonight blog, there were some eye-opening statistics:

2016 US Census data on race/ethnicity
White: 61.3%
POC: 40.9%

2018 RITA Finalists by race/ethnicity
White: 97.3%
POC: 4%

As we talked about on Wednesday, the RWA Board has acknowledged the problem and is actively looking for solutions.  In the meantime, at least two of this year’s finalists – Susanna Kearsle and Ann Aguirre – formally withdrew their books from consideration earlier this week.  Additionally, Cherry Adair, who was supposed to be receiving the RWA Lifetime Achievement award this year also withdrew, although her action appears to be in response to criticism about comments she made, rather than a statement that RWA has a diversity problem.

More to come on all of this, I’m sure.

While I don’t have control over the biases (conscious or otherwise) of other people, I do at least have control over the words I do (or don’t) put on the page.  To that end, I’ll be spending a little quality time with my pen and notebook when I get home from work this evening.  I think I’ll start things off with today’s writing prompt.

Care to join me? Continue reading →

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

Here on the blog we are ending the week with some virtual champagne and high-fives to celebrate our own Jilly Wood’s final in the RWA Golden Heart contest.

*cue applause here*

The list of finalists for the Golden Heart (un-published) and RITA (published) contests were posted on-line Thursday morning and it was great to see a familiar name on the list.

Several of us will be in New York later this year at the annual conference, cheering her on (and living vicariously) as the award winners are announced.

In the meantime, all this excitement, as well as the publication progress several other Eight Ladies have made, is providing a healthy dose of motivation to stop procrastinating and start consistently getting some words on the page.  If only there weren’t so many other entertaining distractions!

To wake up my creativity and get it back in working order, I’ll be giving today’s writing prompt a try after I get home from work.

Care to join me? Continue reading →

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

So, did you make it through the week without access to Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday?

Did you even notice they were down?

We use some related apps here at Ye Olde Day Jobbe, so Wednesday included lots of browser-refreshing and refrains of, “is it up yet?”  On the plus side, we were probably more productive than usual that day.

Now that everything is back to normal (relatively), it’s time to turn our thoughts to the weekend.  The persistent rain here has finally taken a break and it’s been beautifully sunny (though chilly) for a few days.  I see some lawn-mowing and weed-pulling in my future.

I also see some writing in my future, though I may procrastinate my way through the weekend before I actually get to it.  Like Michelle, I am a permanent resident of Procrasti-Nation.  I will pull out my pen and paper eventually, however, and once I do I plan on giving today’s writing prompt a try.

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

Happy Friday.  Hope you’ve all recovered from any Mardi  Gras festivities you participated in this week.  I’d love to say I celebrated with bourbon, beads, and beignets, but sadly, that was not the case.

Maybe next year.

Instead of pre-Easter celebrating, this week was filled with an assortment of tedious tasks, including the annual ‘Shredding’ event at Ye Olde Day Job.  The idea is to get rid of all the paper that seems to accumulate in the offices.  Apparently even corporate American isn’t immune to the lure of Marie Kondo’s clutter-free-message.

I’m happy to report my desktop and file cabinet are remarkably clutter-free.  Although, to be honest, that has little to do with this week’s ‘Shredding’ event and a lot to do with my own naturally tidy tendencies.

Anyway, now that everything is tidy and the shredding-bins are full and ready for pickup, it’s time to get back to work and do some writing.  I think I’ll warm up my creativity during lunchtime by giving today’s writing prompt a try.

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

I don’t know about you, but I’m a little hazy on what day it is right now.

No, I’m not losing my mind (fingers crossed), I’ve just been off on a business trip all week being bombarded with new ideas and having to *talk* to people.  Shudder.

Fortunately, after a smooth and uneventful flight home, I’m currently curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket, a bowl of cafe au lait, and a sleeping cat.  Apparently the world did not come to a crashing halt just because I was away from the internet for a week.  Color me surprised.

Now that I’m back, having traded in sunny skies for possible rain showers, I have quite a few things to catch up on, including making some progress on my current manuscript.  Here’s hoping I didn’t accidentally leave the Girls in the Basement back in the hotel.  If I did, they’re no doubt lounging down by the pool, ogling cute guys.

With or without the Girls, I think I’ll get things started by giving today’s writing prompt a try.

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

Nothing like starting the week off with a holiday to make it seem like has lasted forever.  Wait.  That’s not right.  Is it?

Whether your week has gone by quickly or slowly the weekend is definitely on the horizon.  I have lots to do and will probably avoid doing most of it without a qualm of remorse.  Unless there is reading involved.  I’m a sucker for a good book, regardless of whatever I *should* be doing.

I have also long been a fan of quirky television shows, especially if there is catchy music involved.  One of my favorite shows growing up was The Monkees and I probably still have at least one of their record albums (yes, I’m really that old) hanging around.

You may have seen on the news that one of the cast members, bass player Peter Tork passed away on Thursday.  He and the other band members will always be about 22 in my mind, but he was, in fact, 77. I haven’t thought about their show in years.  I wonder if it’s out there on Netflix or Amazon.  I may have to go take a look, just to see how it’s held up over the years.

Before I get lost searching the internet or engrossed in the next book from my TPR pile that is calling my name, I’m going to do my best to get some words of my own on the page, starting with today’s writing prompt.

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Elizabeth: Friday Writing Sprints

Congratulations for making it through another week.  As a bonus, here in the US, that means it’s time for a 3-day weekend, courtesy of President’s Day.

Yay!

Although Valentine’s Day is a well-known holiday, February 15 marks a slightly lesser-known celebration:  Singles Awareness Day.

By placing Singles Awareness Day on the day after Valentine’s Day, the undertone of self-pity and sadness was removed from it, and it instead became more of a celebration and a day of pride. It became an alternative day to Valentine’s Day for single people who may have felt left out, and it reminds everyone that being single is okay. It celebrates the love between friends and family, and love for oneself.  Celebrants also spend the day volunteering, traveling, and treating themselves to things they enjoy.

Although celebrating the day with a little traveling sounds like a great idea, I’m pretty sure my boss would much prefer that I spend the day in the office.  Sigh.  Ah well, at least I can mini-celebrate with some of those left-over chocolate strawberries and heart-shaped cookies left-over from yesterday.

Always a bright side.

Before I call it a day and officially kick-off the three-day weekend I think I’ll give today’s random words a shot.

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