Burn Out

I haven't been writing much since completing half of my 50,000 words of Full Moon in November. I couldn't get back into the swing of things. I didn't even critique for the Flashxrs yahoo group much.

Finally, thanks to Mike S. and the Writers and Poets on Painters Challenge, I am back. I wrote my story for the painting that seemed to me had a story to tell. Of course, I picked a dark and ominous one. Perfect for my newest vampire flash fiction story.

Today I wrote a piece for Sunday's Flashxr prompt and a Haiku for a challenge by Kim S. on ycitywriters.com.

Here is my Haiku... please keep in mind that I don't have a poets heart.

Mother and Child

Happily child runs.
Child trips and falls down crying.
Safe in mother's bosom.

by Rita L. Smith

The Creative Process

In order to create you need to free up some time just for writing. This is a time when your mind needs to be clear of all outside influences. For me that is first thing in the morning, while my husband is still asleep and the dogs are outside.

This time should be as stress free as you can make it. I try not to get online, until I have written as much as I can for the day. Sometimes, this is only a few minutes. I can't force the words... They either come or the don't.

As the day goes on I try to think on my characters and where I want them to go so that when I sit down the next morning the words flow. This is the same when I get a prompt... I think on it before actually sitting down to write.

I don't actually form the entire story until my fingers hit the keys, but bits and pieces of the story float in and out of my consciousness as I go about my day. If the images get overwhelming, I might pull out a pen and paper and write if I am not near my keyboard.

I carry a tiny little composition book in my purse to jot down ideas and I am not often without my notepad when I go places. It is always better to be prepared to write then have to make do on a napkin or an envelope.

My head is full of voices, all clamoring for attention. It is through my writing that I let these out so I can make room for the next characters. I think that is why I am so enamored of Flash Fiction...I can let the characters find their voices quickly and then the next character will be good to go for the next story.

Staying on Task

I am trying to stay focused and on task so that I can complete my H4H story. I finished one more page today. I am trying really hard to write a page a day, sometimes I let the weekends stall me.

I re-edited the flash story I wrote this weekend.

All in all I think I have accomplished something. I need to decide where to submit some more of my flash stories and submit them. With the prompts I don't always write spec fiction, so it's not always easy to find a venue for them.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Dad. Enjoy your special day!

I just finished reading Jayne Ann Krentz's newest Arcane Society Novel, Sizzle and Burn. If you enjoy paranormal stories with romance thrown into the mix this may be the series for you. Jayne Ann Krentz keeps the action going with two story lines...The psychics in this story can read the past through objects they touch. One of them gets visions and the other auditory hallucinations. When Raine and Zack meet there are fireworks. Ms. Krentz writes under the psuedonyms Amanda Quick for historical romance and Jayne Castle for futuristic romances. The Arcane Society novels can be found under all three of her psuedonyms.

I, also, just finished J.A. Jance's Hand of Evil. This is the third Ali Reynolds story. Hand of Evil is a suspensful thriller. Just when you think you have all the answers you learn the truth. Ali is a displaced T.V. Reporter who is let go due to her age... In Hand of Evil she is still struggling with that and the death and betrayal of her husband. That doesn't stop her from jumping in to help a friend, an acquaintance and her family.

I have come to a standstill on my H4H story, but I have been writing.

I began a story based on my Friday the 13th prompt. It seems to be turning into a longer story. I only intended to write a piece of Flash, but one must go where the muse takes me.

I have written a couple of pieces of Flash for the FlashXrs. I am looking forward to today's prompt. These exercise are good for learning the value of less is more in writing. The economy of conveying your story in under 1000 words is worth the exercises.

Enjoy your day and keep on writing. -Rita

Writing, Editing, Writing Some More

I have been writing some stories, trying to see if I can come up with a story for one of those anthologies out there. So far, nothing is good enough. Still, I keep trying.

I am working on revising one of my short stories to get it ready for submitting. It needs some work to show, not tell the story. I am revising it with a little help from my friends, to quote a Beetles song.

Tomorrow I will work on a flash fiction story for the flashxers group. I think I will also work on the 2ND chapter of the round robin story the Y-City Writer's Group is writing. Mine needs some revising. I think, I have left it long enough.

Still Writing

What am I going to do now that National Poetry Month is over?

I will still write the occasional poem, especially as a writing exercise.

I am going to focus on flash fiction writing by trying all the exercises given on FlashXers.

I will seek out other writing prompts from various sources: http://www.ycitywriters.com/, http://www.writersdigest.com/, http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/, http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/#, http://dragonwritingprompts.blogsome.com/

I will continue to observe others in hopes that great character will pop out at me. I will look through photographs and artwork for the next story. There are multiple ways to find inspiration and I will be on the look out for more. When I find them, I will share with you.

I am going to focus on primarily on Twilight Dance, I hope Miri's voice begins to speak to me soon. -Rita

Flash Fiction

Speaking of flash fiction, I have added some links that want flash. So, be sure to check them out.

I am having some trouble with today's FlashXrs prompt. I hate when the ideas don't flow. Maybe, I'll have some luck on the next one.

Try your hand at writing some Flash Fiction. The site I listed should help you with some ideas.

If you don't want to write a story, try a poem. It is still National Poetry Month. -Rita

Flash Fiction

I have talked about flash fiction. Now I am putting my money where my mouth is, I have joined a yahoo group for writers of flash fiction. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashXer/

I highly recommend this group if you want to learn to develop your skill at writing short shorts. You have to participate, or you will get kicked out.

The nice thing about it is that you not only are given prompts, but you have the chance to read others stories, offer critiques and get your work critiqued. This group will definitely help you develop writing skills.

I cannot say it enough, if you want to be a writer then write!

Flash Fiction

As you already know, Flash Fiction is a new term for me.

I can write a short story. I can even write a short story under 1000 words. But I can't seem to figure out how to write a story that is only 200 words long.

I think I have an idea and before I am even to the bottom of the page, I have already typed 200 words. So, where does that leave me?

I know the literature says to write the story and then go back and take out everything that is unnecessary. The problem is what is necessary? I think it is the whole story as I am telling it, so I start over trying once again to write a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. A story that conveys the emotion and impact without the extras.

I have not succeeded in writing a 200 word piece of Flash Fiction. Let me know any tricks you have used.-Rita