I need to commit to this goal quickly. I need to have an outline written up by month’s end.
I am currently in the middle of an assignment in China, from which I am temporarily on break. I have a marathon this weekend in Chicago.
It’s going to be a challenge, but I need to give this a shot in the month of November.
So there were two “Write To Win” contests that I had planned on entering so far this year, and I am zero for two. It simply boils down to my competing priorities in life. I am beginning to realize that I am about stretched to my limits in life with career and related travel, running, writing, family and social/relaxation time.
The first contest deadline was right after the Boston Marathon. It probably was not a brilliant idea to try to come up with something right before this major life event. I failed to have a complete story worthwhile of submitting.
The second contest deadline was just this past week. Again, I have been so ridiculously busy with work, running and my on-line writing class, I was not able to complete a decent, finished piece of work.
On the positive side, I am currently working on lesson 9 of 12 of the class “Write Fiction Like a Pro” and have a decent story idea that I am working on. The class teaches story structure and has been a real help so far.
I think this class will be a real benefit when I make my preliminary outline for NaNoWriMo in November.
I still have two writing contests to submit to if I plan to make my 2007 goal. Then again, I did not plan on doing NaNoWriMo, and I am certain that 50,000 words in one month has to be worth at least two contests.
Not to mention, on the running front, I am now chasing a sub 3-hour marathon. I thought I would mention that since this massive ambition does have a direct impact on available writing time.
I decided that I didn’t leave enough time to write a quality story for the Writer’s Journal contest. I am falling short with this mini-milestone to submit a story to the Write To Win contest that is due to tomorrow. I have written 1,083 words of a story that is not well put together and has a ton of work left to do. My wife read it and the look on her face told me that. I suppose trying to do this the same week I ran the Boston Marathon has been a tough task.
I will make a more focused commitment for the next deadline—June 20, 2007 for “They could see…”
In the meantime, I am pasting the first scene from my incomplete story to display the valiant effort put forth.
He reached for…
…the gold-plated letter opener out of a birch memory box that rested atop the credenza. The den inside the old Colonial was uncomfortably cool even for July. Wade pawed his antique mail sword carefully with veins bulging from his frail hands.
“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” whispered Allison as she clenched Greg’s hand. “I can’t believe I agreed to this.”
Allison showed her husband a hopeless frown. She wished he would yank her out of her chair so they could dash out of the old man’s house together. Instead, she found him gazing at the crown molding and the vintage canvas collection that adorned Wade’s study.
“We can get through this, Ally. Your mother asked for this meeting to take place. The least we can do is respect her wishes,” whispered Greg.
“Respect her…?” Ally’s hand flew out of Greg’s grasp in a blaze. She tightened her lips, while she lunged her head straight ahead. Her sarcastic response was interrupted by a familiar voice that crooned from behind her.
“Yeah, we’re at Wade’s now,” barked Danielle into her cell phone. “Once we sign the papers, I’ll meet you at Cedar Woods. Tee time is set for 10:00.” It was a classic portrait of Danielle, who again was blissfully defiant of the destructive gravity that women in their family had battled for years.
Though Allison appeared steady, her eyes seeped out the occasional tear. She was unable look at her mother’s long-time attorney, her husband and especially not Danielle. She diverted her stare into the tapestry of wood knots on Wade’s executive desk in front of them, which looked like a universe of frozen embryonic creatures to her.
Wade gave Danielle a polite smile, which prompted her to end her phone conversation. He then held out his weathered hands like an ordained prophet as he greeted the three mourners, stirring up a strange energy inside of his plush Connecticut estate. Danielle stood distant from the married couple, ruffling creases out of her khaki slacks.
“As you may know, we don’t typically read the deceased’s last will and testament in person like this, but we know your mother was far from typical. Madeline designated me as her executor and asked that I assemble us together,” explained Wade.
Madeline’s longtime advisor drove his letter opener into a massive manila envelope with geriatric force. Danielle balanced her Starbucks cup and swayed breezily from side-to-side. Wade appeared distracted by her pendulum swing.
“Danielle, please, won’t you sit down?” Wade paused his shredding of the large packet and motioned one of his puffy, decrepit hands toward a leather-wrapped chair beside Allison. Danielle sneered as she slid her large bottom onto the armrest of the large recliner opposite her older sister.
I’m struggling to gain confidence in the direction of this short story that I started for the April 20th deadline. It’s April 12th and I’ll be busy running the Boston Marathon this coming Monday. I don’t have a lot of time.
I read the last issue’s winning story, which started with “The box was small, but…” The winning author immediately took that phrase into action. That’s my issue. I don’t think I have enough action so far.
I didn’t write a lick last night. I have tonight and Friday night. Sat and Sun nites are shot. Probably won’t write on Monday, since we’ll be in Boston. I have the plane rides in both directions. Then Tue, Wed and Thursday.
I was hoping to have more confidence and be in a better position with this project. Onward!
Work travel has been a bit crazy but I am back writing again. Never mind the fact that I am running the Boston Marathon in, um, six days! However, the Write To Win contest deadline is APRIL 20TH. That is 10 days away, basically.
I have begun digging into the minds of 32 year-old Wade Fendingham, his older sister, Danielle, and 27 year-old Allison Stark. I’ve got an idea, and a mere 1500 words to work with.
“He reached for… the gold-plated letter opener…” – Write To Win starter line, with my object…
It is the mid-1980’s and Allison is off on her first ever mission with the International Rescue Committee, serving out goodwill to the starving, repressed people in Sudan. The Darfur Conflict is several years off, but the civil war is well under way. Allison is living out a lifetime dream, working in a far-off land, connecting with people and driving positive change.
Before her journey, she befriends Danielle in Manhattan, with whom she shares a yoga class. Shortly thereafter, Danielle introduces Allison to her socially awkward younger brother, Wade, who happens to be a commercially successful author.
It was painful to get this far, but I have a number of directions I am contemplating taking the story line. I am concerned about length. Nevertheless, I will submit a story to this contest. My postmarked envelope will go no later than April 20th, 2007.
