Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG is a day to post your insecurities (or inspirations) as a writer. Encourage and be encouraged. Anyone is welcome to join. Just sign up.
The co-hosts for this month are Lauren Hennessy, Lisa Buie-Collard, Lidy, Christine Rains, andMary Aalgaard! Pop by and pay them each a visit to say thanks for all their hard work!
Insecurities? Let's talk workshops. If you want to sell books, it's a good idea to get yourself out there by participating on panels and presenting workshops. I've been tip-toeing into the world of workshops for the last few years as a presenter, and while I enjoy it more than I expected (I always leave completely amped up), I'm not sure I'll ever feel completely secure about it.
Having said that, I just presented a workshop on shutting down your inner editor this past month that went really well. Not only that, but I sold a book (The Deep Dark Woods) and was asked to sign it! As someone who is only published in short form, so far, this was a great big first for me, and I left on such a high.
Now I'll be presenting a workshop at Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2016, and I've accepted an invitation to be a panelist for the literary track at Denver Comic Con this summer.
Here comes the panic.
But I'm actually quite excited about it, and I'm sure I'll have a great time. Once I'm up in front of everyone, I tend to relax, but the time leading up to the presentation is full of butterflies.
So do you ever get used to those butterflies? Do they go away?
For those new to my blog, I like to do a summary of my short story/flash submissions for the previous month. This helps me stay accountable in my writing and submissions, and, I hope, shows those who are trying to start submitting what the numbers can look like so they know rejections aren't the end of the world. Since I missed IWSG last month, I'll do January and February this month.
In January and February, I:
-Submitted 10 pieces.
-Sold 1 story.
-Got 8 rejections.
-Had 1 short story come out in a publication (Devolution Z).
And I finished the novella I was working on (that began life as a short story)! Only now I need to decide if I want to keep it as a novella, or if I want to add a second POV character and make it into a novel. There were so many fun things I could have done, but didn't have space for. Hmmm....
Now it's time for links. Bear in mind that I'm not endorsing these publications, merely passing them along. Always do your own due diligence before submitting.
Accepting Submissions:
Apex Magazine is accepting poetry for Undead: A Poetry Anthology of Ghouls, Ghosts, and More. Submit up to 3 poems. Pays $5 per poem and a contributor copy. Deadline April 1.
Mocha Memoirs Press is accepting horror-themed steampunk for the anthology Ghosts, Gears, and Grimoires. 1500-6000 words. Pays $10. Deadline April 1.
Stories of Music is accepting creative nonfiction, poetry, photography, and art for Volume 2. The story must be true, and music must be the focus. Up to 9000 words. Pays $200 and contributor copies. Deadline April 1.
18th Wall Productions is accepting short stories and novellas for After Avalon. What happened after Camelot fell? 1000-15,000 words. Pays royalties. Deadline April 2.
Cyclopean Press is accepting speculative fiction up to 7500 words. Pays $50 per story or $15 for poems. Plus a free subscription for you and a friend. Deadline April 5.
Thinking Horror Journal is accepting essays on horror. Must pitch your essay first. 1000 words or more. Pays $20.
You Found a Penny is accepting artwork and flash fiction/poetry/creative nonfiction. This site posts an illustration and a story, and those interested can either illustrate the story or write a story in response to the artwork. Up to 500 words. Pays $50.
Into the Ruins is accepting short stories set in the future. Stories should address shortages of resources or other natural calamities. 2000-8000 words. Pays $8, plus $.10/every paid subscriber above 100 they have at that time.
Contests:
Fall Lines: A Literary Convergence is an extension of Jasper Magazine. They hold a contest for their annual edition. Short fiction 2000 words or less, poetry, essays, and flash fiction. Two $250 cash prizes. Deadline April 1.
Sapiens Plurum is holding the Earth Day Short Fiction Contest. Write a story personalizing the effects of climate change. 1500-3000 words. 1st prize is $1000. Deadline April 22.
Do you like being a presenter? Have you tried it? Do you stretch outside your comfort level for your writing career? Have you been submitting? Are you thinking about it? Any of these links of interest to you? What are your insecurities?
May you find your Muse.
56 comments:
Awesome you sold a story!
I've never done a workshop or panel. Just not good in front of people. Not when it comes to writing anyway. (When I'm playing in my band, it doesn't bother me.)
You'll do great at Comic Con.
Awesome, awesome times. I think the real key to making it comes through getting out there and meeting people. I love the idea of going to conferences and presenting workshops and the like. That's my goal one day.
That's fantastic! Congratulations on the sale and successful presentation. You'll be great at the con - how exciting!
Wow! Congrats on selling your story! And all your other accomplishments. I always get butterflies, but remember that most people do too. I think the butterflies make us more alert thereby making us have a better presentation. Well, just my way of working with butterflies.I haven't figured out the lump in the throat yet.
Awesome! I do understand those butterflies, but I think it's wonderful you're getting out there. I am petrified of speaking in front of people. Good luck and have fun with it! :)
Yeh on the sale and the signing!
Channel the panic into the excitement, and you'll be good to go. You've got this!
I always get nervous in front of people until I realize that I am making them uncomfortable and they came because they wanted to! Thanks for hosting me the other day. It meant a lot! Great news about the sale!
I don't think I could ever get used to those butterflies or make them go away. I've never done a workshop but maybe in the future.
You'll be great at the conference and Comic Con. :)
Good luck at the Comic Con, that's amazing!!!
Congratulations on the workshop, panel, and sale!
That Apex anthology made my heart do a little jig - finally a place to send my poem about a dog who follows around her zombie master!
I should figure those out...
Shannon, I am so proud of you. Submitting ten pieces, Great! Congratulations on your invitation to participate at the Pike's Peak Writers Conference. That is an honor.
You asked whether the butterflies ever go away. Well, I am also a singer and sing here in Europe on stages and I can say the butterflies never go away. You will be nervous and that is a good sign. After you start talking, you'll forget the butterflies. That is the way it is by me. After my first song, I am okay because I know that I am where I want to be.
Good luck.
Shalom,
Patricia
How exciting that the person wanted it signed! Cool!
I love being on the stage though I'm always really nervous before hand. Sounds like you have some fun events coming up.
I have been a presenter several times, and loved it. Sharing one's love for writing fills up the soul.
I love doing my workshops and seminars. Nothing more statisfying than sharing with other writers. Just learn your material and practice and you'll do great.
Busy schedule. Sounds like your having fun with it too.
Let your love of it shine through and you'll be fine.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Busy schedule. Sounds like your having fun with it too.
Let your love of it shine through and you'll be fine.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
So cool about your presentations and way to go on selling and signing! Very cool...
Hi Shannon,
Hope you haven't missed me too much...
Anyway, I'm here now. You've experienced presenting a workshop. That next workshop, despite any natural nerves, will indeed be an adventure that you can really enjoy with good interaction with the audience.
Yes, I've presented workshops and I sometimes start out with a joke like, "please, be seated!" As if I'd get a standing ovation....
Thanks for the links, Shannon.
Gary
Hi Shannon - that's great you sold one book - congratulations ... now for many more. That's great you do presentations .. I give talks and it does get easier each time.
Cheers Hilary
I used to teach first aid. After a while, I left the butterflies at home. It's simply a matter of practice, doing it many times and gaining the confidence. Once the butterflies are gone, it's a lot of fun.
I've never done a workshop but I did a book presentation of my novel at a local library. It was nervy but exciting, with lots of those butterflies you mentioned.
BTW: thanks for posting short story markets here. I just got an acceptance of one of my stories I sent to one of them a while ago, after your tip. Their email arrived this morning.
Congratulations on selling a story!
I think the butterflies that you speak of are normal to have. It's possible that some of the attendees sitting in front of you might be excited to hear you speak and they might have butterflies too.
I'd be curious to hear more about how your Comic Con presentation goes. I'm planning to go to a local Comic Con in my area later this month.
Super news, Shannon. Butterflies are normal. Just tell them to stop doing the macarena in your stomach. :) Best wishes.
Congratulations on your sale! And 1-2 out of 10 is great, especially as you're building momentum.
Congrats on the sale!!
You're a panelist, that's awesome! And you're teaching. So jealous, in the best way possible!
I'd be extremely nervous. It would help if there were other peeps I knew sitting with me. Not submitting yet, finishing up the last few chapters of my wip...
I did! Isn't it funny how we can be comfortable in front of people in one aspect, but not another? I hated running events, where I had to stand up and make a bunch of announcements then introduce someone, so I suspect I could never be an emcee.
I hope you can get out there and do it! Do you have any local writer's conferences?
It is! And nerve wracking!
I like the way you think. One thing I retained from college Speech class was to have water up there with you. It helps big time if you need a second or to maybe smooth over that lump. Now if I could only remember each time to have that water...
But we have to do it! Well, we should. Even if we sell no books that day, they hopefully remember us.
Good plan! I may be so frantically busy surrounding these that I don't have time to be nervous.
Oh, good way to look at it! It was a pleasure to host you.
I hope so! It will definitely be an experience I'm glad to add.
Thank you! I was surprised to get the invite.
Yay! Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
Yep! There should be some around you, right?
Thank you! Wow, I'd love to hear you sing. Do you have video? I like what you said about relaxing after the first song. It's sort of the same when speaking. Once you get over the hump and find you're doing just fine, remembering what you want to talk about, and that people are listening and not walking out, all is well.
Yes! Loved that moment. Someone else brought a magazine I was published in to a dinner I went to. These little moments are wonderful.
Here's hoping it improves the more I do it.
I agree! The same goes for blogging about it. Helping other people reach the places I've reached, and learning from others to go further.
I make a point to never do a workshop on something I don't know well, which helps immensely. I know one of the fears I have is that someone will ask me a question I don't have an answer to. I hate having to say, "I don't know."
Yes, I'm definitely having fun. This is maybe where I'm meant to be.
Thank you!
I always miss you, Gary. :)
Thank you, Shannon. I hope you're doing okay, my kind friend! :)
What do you give talks on, out of curiosity?
I do always have fun once the butterflies have flown!
I love to hear this! Congratulations!
I'll likely do a post of the Comic Con experience this summer. It will be my first time fully attending a Comic Con, too. I've been, but not the full experience.
No macarena!
Thank you! And true. I'm happy with any headway.
One panel I'll be on at conference is with several friends, so I'm in good hands there. Solo workshop on Sunday.
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