© 2024 Arquie. All rights Reserved.

Whoa, what a week. 

It just goes to show how plans can go off the rails. I’m learning, I’m growing, and really, what more can I ask for? 

One day I might be one of the greats, but for now I’m determined to keep testing my wings.

Alright, let’s get into it! 

UNFATED

The biggest learning curve of the week.  

Last week I set a goal of writing 500 words per day… and I should have known better. I should have known that that’s not how my brain works. I hyper fixate and write large chunks at a time. My best writing comes from those deep, creative wells. So, what happened this week? I wrote a little on Friday, then dumped almost 2,000 words into it this weekend and burned out by Monday. 

While I was so focused on completing the word count, the writing suffered. A lot. Normally, I take time to really think about how characters conversate and act. I weave little details in that add depth and voice. This time I felt like I was a little kid scribbling as fast as I could. 

It’s not work I feel proud of and it’s not the story you deserve.  

So, I’m going to take my time and polish it. You might see some other smaller works get posted to the blog but don’t worry, I’ll get UnFated up as soon as she’s ready. 

Beta Reading

Let me just say, I have amazing beta readers. A few weeks ago, I sent out DewDrop and Tricksy to two separate friends in my writing group. Their feedback was so encouraging and helpful. I couldn’t stop smiling. I have faith in my writing, but it was so heartwarming to see others enjoy my work as well. 

ALSO! One of them reached out asking for advice on flash fiction. I felt so honored to be seen as a good enough writer to have a conversation like that. We had a call to kind of spitball ideas. We’re going to reconvene soon and I’m so excited to read her story. 

Submissions 

Yes, you read that right. Submissions! I was very on edge about these opportunities. 

The first was a 100 word flash fiction contest by Tadpole Press. I got feedback from my beta reader about DewDrop, edited it a final time, and set it off. The deadline is November 30, 2024, so it will be a while before I hear back. I have a really good feeling about this (even if I don’t win) and I’m super proud of myself for trying something new.

The second submission… was a learning curve. An eclectic and very unique magazine put out a pitch call for nonfiction works about the sun or the moon. It was my first time actually writing a pitch instead of submitting the work. Also, nonfiction is not my strong suit. 

Nevertheless, I put myself out there and pitched two very different ideas. I got rejected a day later. Even though I never wanted to look at that email again, I replied and requested feedback. 

It was scary, but I did it. I put myself out there again. I wanted to learn. I wanted to grow. Next time my pitch will be better. 

Writing is a mixed bag of high highs and low lows. Thanks for coming on the journey with me. 

Chat soon,

-Arquie