💕 lisa writes stuff issue #27 A writing year in review for 2024 💌
Writing, reading, and book intentions for 2024
Dear Internet,
It’s been three months since we last spoke about my writing but not much changed because life.
I did not complete NaNoWriMo even though I did try a few times to get some words on the page. I brought a portable keyboard with me while on faction and I wrote when Mr Lisa was out wandering somewhere in Germany but that’s about it. The last time I submitted a piece was in late October. I have six pieces outstanding but at this rate, I don’t think I’ll hear back.
I have written in my personal journal a lot more which is, shocking to some, private and will never see the public eye. It’s helped with some things I’m going through and that’s been very cathartic.
I did not keep up with 51 Stories in 51 Weeks but I’m rebooting that soon.
In addition to not writing for NaNoWriMo, I did not write any prose, poetry, or stories since October.
I finally heard back from an editor I engaged after several months of non-responsiveness. They apologized profusely and then started bombarding me with emails to see where I’m at. Right now, I have no idea. I’ve gotten edits back from another editor for different pieces that I haven’t even looked at. I just haven’t mentally been in that place to work on these pieces, ya know?
2023 was not a bad year, all told, I think. I submitted 78 times across markets. There were 8 acceptances (about 10% acceptance rate across all my pen names), 63 rejections, and 1 withdrawal with 6 outstanding submissions. The 10% acceptance rate is on par with the average so that is something to be proud of. I really can’t complain though obviously I’d like a better success rate.
So now to writing intentions for 2024!
A few weeks ago, I wrote about my life intentions for 2024 and now I will apply that same thought to my writing work.
My writing intentions for 2024 are in no particular order:
Keep up with personal journaling;
Kick start 51 Stories in 51 Weeks (this will go past my 52nd birthday so I’m on the fence to change it to 52 Stories in 52 Weeks)’;
Submit once or twice a month;
Write one new piece a month (genre doesn’t matter);
Finish Stella Matthews Makes a Decision (originally titled Aubrey Jones Gets a Life);
Put together a plan for self-publishing;
Put together a plan to write erotica;
Write one new piece a month for the UX blog;
Make time to write
Phew. That’s a lot of intentions!
I’ve talked before about setting myself up to fail because I make all those resolutions and nothing ever comes out but pain, heartache, and self-hatred. This list seems like a lot but like my life intentions, if it doesn’t work out as intended, I’m fine with that.
While I said “in no particular order,” the only thing that really needs to happen is to just plain write. Doesn’t matter what, where, when, or how much, but that needs to happen.
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I’ve been reading a fuck ton this year.
I read 113 books out my original 75 I originally shot for. I read mostly contemporary romance, mysteries, general fiction, general non-fiction, biographies with a few sci-fi. This year I’m already ahead of schedule.
Reading to me serves two primary purposes: one for enjoyment and two to learn. I’ve learned that in romance, the first sexy times happen around the 50% mark and the conflict shows up around 75%. Romances are typically told in first person. In general fiction, it’s typically third person and the conflicts and twist are typically evenly intertwined. Mysteries are a mix of both points of view. I took a class last year on how to plot a mystery and the author (Catriona McPherson), whose books I am reading, said you should plant at least three red herrings (or clues) in the novel before the big twist at the end. You want to keep the reader guessing until the final reveal.
I plan time to read before bed and its primarily fiction. I pay closer attention to mysteries while I tend to read faster on romances as while romances get creative with plots, sexy times, and conflicts, mysteries need more attention to find those clues. General fiction books are a joy to read because you genuinely do not know how they are going to turn out.
(I used to be one of those people who read the last chapter first because it’s essentially the summary of what occurred in the book and then read the book. I argue it’s the journey not the destination. But with eBooks, you can’t really do it that way so now I no longer read the last chapter even in print books.)
I’ve got myself trained to read non-fiction when not in bed. I fully immerse myself in the book and I pay super close attention because with non-fiction, I tend to take notes. Right now, I’m reading Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly based on my therapist’s recommendation. (He also recommended Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh which I have bought.)
I swerved into my reading habits in an issue on writing because if you want to write stories of any size, you need to be comfortable in whatever genre you are writing in. This is not to say you cannot break the rules, you absolutely can, but not until you know how the rules work first imho.
My book, Stella Matthews Makes a Decision, is interesting because I’m not sure how to write it. Is it a general fiction novel or a romance? Stella quits her job, moves home, and struggles with her mental health. The plot thus far is her struggles greatly affects her life and big changes in her life have forced her to reconsider her support, planning, and care of her mental illness.
The conflict I have is with her parents who, while they love her and support her the best way they know how, think her mental illness is literally a phase she’s going through and don’t take it as serious as they should. Her relationship with her brother is solid but she doesn’t have that many friends as she collects them at her place of work but once she leaves, and she leaves a lot, the friendship dissipates. I thought about giving her a romance, which I’m on the fence about right now, because I don’t want her romantic relationship to overpower her struggles but maybe that’s a good idea? She has difficulty with romantic attachments?
I think I just wrote the plan. (I cut and pasted that bad boy in my Stella document.)
I find a lot of joy in reading. I’ve allegedly started to read when I was 3 and wrote my first book (The Dog with No Ears) for my dad when I was five. It seems like every kid, they talk about skipping a grade because my reading and comprehension was far beyond my age group.
I just cannot think of a time when I didn’t want to read. And yes, I’m one of those assholes who judge people who don’t keep or read books. I’m grateful Mr Lisa gets my love of reading because he fucks off when he sees my iPad or a print book in front of my face. I asked him the other day if he missed reading books (he has his own bookshelves full of books) and he said yes but the internet has killed his joy of reading so he collects his interest but rarely cracks a book open.
I used to be one of those assholes who poo-pooed romance because ugh, same plot, etc but boy, was I wrong. And I’m glad that I’m wrong.
If Stella doesn’t end up being a romance (and it seems it will not), the genre I lean into to write is romance and erotica. Maybe I should wander into fan fiction? There is Jane Austen crossed with Doctor Who fan fiction. Anything is possible.
I’m closing in on nearly 1500 words for this issue so I’ll wrap up here.
2024 looks to have a plan and I’m excited about that plan and that, above all things, is what really matters.
Submission update
78 submissions, including 63 rejections, 8 acceptances, 1 withdrawal, and 6 outstanding.
Publication
chapbook: commercial breaks
lisa x