This year I am writing short stories for National Novel Writing Month. Short stories, not a novel. I wanted to sate the thirsty rebel dwelling under my skin. And not just some half-arsed stories, but four stories that are written, edited, and submitted. I’m on schedule with two stories down and two to go.
What are my stories about? Slugs and Civil War ghosts, octopus gore, vampires in the Alaskan wilderness, and genetically manipulated canine hybrids.
(Technically, I haven’t submitted the second story yet. It’s late as I type this, and I don’t want to write a cover letter when I’m sleepy. I’ll submit it tomorrow, honest!)
Just to make things tougher on myself for this Nano project, I won’t submit to a publisher that only pays authors with a contributor copy. Sure, there are times when such remuneration is appropriate, especially for charity anthologies, but I wanted to raise the bar for Nano. I am submitting all four stories to flooded pro- or semi-pro markets where I have to compete with a bazillion other writers.
Which means my stories REALLY have to be polished. Oh, the pressure, the challenge! It’s great fun!
To everyone doing Nano, we’re halfway through the month, woohoo! Let’s keep it up!
Priscilla Bettis 
Good luck, Priscilla! This is such a great goal😁
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Thanks, Tammy. I hope your weekend is going splendidly.:-)
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Best of luck!
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Thanks, JeanMarie! Nanowrimo is fun.:-)
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Sounds like you’re really powering through! I’d love to read some of these, the vampire story sounds especially exciting!
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Thank you, K. M. Well, if the vampire story is accepted for publication, everybody can read it.:-) Congratulations on your upcoming paperback collection of short stories!
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Wishing you much success with your stories and placement. I’m working away on my new novel, a murder memoir combining my life in cinema with a fictional mystery sidecar involving a porno snuff moviemaking outfit, a missing drug stash and a 12 day b-movie shoot. 😃 Best Always.
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Aw, thanks.:-) Wow, that’s a cool concept for a novel. Best of luck, Julian!
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Go! Go! Go!
You are so inspiring!
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Thank you, Fawn! It’s easy to be excited about fun events like NaNoWriMo.:-)
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You re setting the bar high for all of us. Best of luck, Priscilla. So proud of you. You are an inspiration!
Forget sleep, Long Live Short Story NaNoWriMo!
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“Forget sleep,” haha, I think all Nano writers live through November in a sleep-deprived daze.:-) Thanks for commenting, Patricia!
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Congratulations, Priscilla. Hope your stories are/will be as good as your short story ideas. Very creaive.
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I disturbed/scared myself on my first story, so maybe that’s a sign that it’s good.:-) Thanks for stopping by, Equipsblog!
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My pleasure. Pat
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Congratulations, Priscilla, and good luck,❣️❣️❣️
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Thank you, Luisa! I’m typing away.:-)
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💜💚💜💚💜💚💜💚
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Awesome stuff, good luck and kick some arse!!!
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Thank you, Morgan. Oh, and I read your MG Snuggle Zomibies book. It was great fun!
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No way, thats great, thanks so much!! Im really happy you enjoyed it!!🤘
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Congratulations! Sounds like you’re making great progress and good for you on setting submission guidelines.
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Thank you, Joan. Strangely, editing to a really good copy in a short amount of time is more stressful than the actual writing itself. As my dad used to say, it’s building my character.:-)
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Wow, great progress! I’m rooting for ya from the sidelines friend! Kick some butt!
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Thanks, Jonny. It’s hard, but I’m having fun.:-)
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Oh totally. Nano is no easy feat, as well as submitting a well thought out query letter.
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Keep going, you can do it!
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Thanks, Deby! I’m typing away.:-)
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Sounds like great fun. I hope to one year, be able to give it a whirl. 🤠
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It’s a good exercise even if the result is a crappy book. I threw my first Nano book away (well, deleted it), but I learned that I can put my put in a chair and type out 1667 words per day for 30 days straight, and that is a wonderful thing to learn about oneself! Thanks for commenting, S.D.!
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So, a bit of a confidence booster in a way, then? Interesting. 🤠
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Yup!
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Good luck with the stories! I’m trying to find mine similar homes lately. Hopefully we both place one or two in paying markets.
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Yes, good luck to us both! Thanks for popping by, Rami.:-)
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Anytime.
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Go, girl!
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Thanks, Bette!
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What a great idea. Keep going!
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I am, Steven. I’m furiously typing away (and deleting, and rewriting, and…). Thanks for stopping by.:-)
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You’re welcome, my pleasure. You got this. 🙂
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It sounds like you are doing great! Good luck with getting all of your stories published, Priscilla!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Carole.:-) My fingers are crossed!
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Good luck! I love the sound of those stories! ❤
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Thank you, Allison! They are a little creepy-fun, eh? I’m glad you popped by.:-)
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Fingers crossed, but I have faith in you that you’ll deliver your A game!
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Thanks, Jessica, you’re so sweet!
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That’s a great challenge, Priscilla, and I love the idea of short stories for NaNoWriMo. I participated once, and wrote the third novel in one of my series, and I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as tough as trying to write something brand new from scratch. You got me thinking. Good luck with the stories and the submissions. Keep us posted!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Olga. I’m typing away at the keyboard! Maybe next year you’ll have a Nano project.:-)
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