What is love?
February 2023 Newsletter
As a creative person, sometimes I struggle with loving the projects that I’m working on. There’s always another idea that is shinier and more exciting. The process could always be easier and less stressful. Heck, not working on anything at all starts to become an alluring pastime. But there’s a difference between the honeymoon phase infatuation of new artistic ideas and the deep-rooted love of crafting into existence a piece of your heart for all the world to see.
I often find that the more attention I give a project, the more that I really do love it, flaws and all. That when I think a project isn’t fun anymore, it’s not the project’s fault, but my lack of truly engaging with it. During the past decade of writing, I’ve reluctantly learned to overcome the lustful pull of the “fun night out” idea, and have come to enjoy long, quiet nights of “cuddle-on-the-couch-and-watch-a-movie” editing.
There’s always new ways to spice up what you’re working on, new paths to explore with your story, new versions of the same old, same old. Don’t force yourself to burn out if it’s not in the cards, but know that burn out is natural, it happens to all of us. Love what you do no matter what, and it will shine through to those with the mind to look for it. And they are out there, you just have to keep showing the fruits of your labor before they can find it.
If you ever want to chat, send me an email at storyletter@protonmail.com.
What’s Happening in February
Storyletter News
Writing Prompt - Flip a Common Trope
The Indie Promo Space - March of the CORE
Tips + Tricks - What Goes Inside Your Book?
Open Calls
Contests
Gift of the Month - Storyletter Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Up Next
In Case You Missed It
Storyletter News
I’m adding a new section to the newsletter this month dedicated to contests in order to distinguish between open calls for submissions.
No “feature” for this month, but more on that in the Up Next section below.
The short story collection I’m prepping is titled, The Weight of the World. If you’ve been following The Storyletter for any length of time, you’ll be familiar with a majority of the works included in the project, however, they will be more polished (some completely revised), with an annotation accompanying each story. More details coming soon.
I appreciate the wonderful reaction to the preview of A Crooked Cane Comes a Knockin’! I’m revising huge chunks of it to fit with a recent addition, but the novella will be a big focus after The Weight of the World is sent off to the editor. Big thanks to those that offered to beta read!
I’m house hunting, and have a tentative offer on a new place. Due to this major life event, I’ll be interacting and producing less than usual over the next few months. As this is still a huge avenue for stress relief, I won’t be MIA all that much, but I hope you understand!
I got to attend Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE) as a volunteer. I met a lot of really awesome local authors while I helmed the League of Utah Writers booth. I chatted with Dan Yocom, the President of the Infinite Monkeys LUW chapter in South Jordan. And said hi to Cody Langille of Timber Ghost Press who was set up across the way from me.
Writing Prompt - Flip a Common Trope
The Storyletter is hosting a writing event. The prompt ends February 28th, with a new one starting mid-March that will run through Spring.
Elly’s Mystified Fluff completed an entry entitled, "Chosen One".
The Problematic Pen completed an entry entitled, “Isenhart”.
The Indie Promo - #MarchoftheCORE
I’ll be participating in this event in some capacity and hope to see other science fiction and fantasy writers join in! I wrote a few things last year and am really happy with the work that came out of it.
*If you’d like to promote something in The Storyletter’s monthly newsletter, send me your pitch in an email to storyletter@protonmail.com
Tips + Tricks - What Goes Inside Your Book?
Open Calls
The Sentinel Creatives - Medieval Horror short stories | Deadline: April 15
DarkLit Press - Dark and speculative fiction novels and novellas
Future House Publishing - Speculative, family-friendly novels
Ballads of the Distant Reaches - Fantasy short story pitches
Eerie River Publishing - Year of the Tarot Anthology series
Contests
Tennessee Williams Poetry Contest - Deadline March 11 ($10 fee)
Cleaver’s Form and Form-breaking Poetry Contest - Deadline March 31 ($15 fee)
Nimrod International Journal (poetry, short fiction, nonfiction) - Deadline April 1 - ($3)
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest - Deadline April 1 - (no fee)
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival Poetry & Short Story Contest - Deadline April 28 - ($10 fee)
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest - Deadline April 30 - ($22 fee)
Parsec Short Story Contest - Deadline May 1 (no fee)
Emerging Writer’s Contest - Opens March 1 through May 15 - ($24 fee)
First Pages Prize - Opens March 1 through April 10 - ($20 fee)
Gift of the Month - 5% off Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Up Next on The Storyletter
It’s been a great start to this new year. I’m seeing so many awesome writers on, or migrating to, Substack, and I hope it continues to grow like it has been.
If you’re wondering what happened to the Featured section of the main newsletter, don’t fret. I’ll be testing out a new way to feature authors, creators and small businesses so that they are the centerpiece rather than an add-on. I was conflicted with consolidating everything into one email versus having a ton of things going out separately, but I want to highlight folks without them getting buried in the main newsletter. So Features will become Showcase posts included in the Community newsletter.
I’ll begin migrating previous Features over into their own Showcase posts first to figure out the format I’d like to go with, then I’ll start sending out new ones. This is perfect because I won’t have to be limited to one a month. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Like I said earlier in the newsletter, I’ll be super busy with home stuff over the next few months. I’ll try to post and read regularly, but if you don’t hear from me, I’m either editing the projects I’m working on, or moving furniture. Can’t wait to update everyone on the progress!
In Case You Missed It
Storyletter Meet and Greet Round 3
To Build a Brand | A look into Donald Miller’s Storybrand Framework (paid)
A Crooked Cane Comes a Knockin’ Announcement
Self-Publishing on Amazon KDP (guest post by Brian Reindel)
Interview with Jackie Dana
Cross-post: Chosen One by Elly
Cross-post: Collide by Zachary Roush
Cross-post: The Way Forward by Daniel W. Davison
Cross-post: Isenhart by J.M. Elliott
Love the title of upcoming collection Winston, The Weight of the World. Titles are sometimes hard for me to come up with. Good one!
And thanks for the info and the good reminders on the creative process.
Great stuff to look forward to, especially the story collection. I can totally relate to falling in and out of love with a project (I'm in a creative slump and trying to muster excitement about Book 2 so I can revise ;-) Congrats on the new house and best of luck with your move!