If my counting is correct [always in doubt] then today is the day that I write my three thousandth flash fiction. This is my ninth year writing flash fictions based on prompts from my lovely audience. Without you, my dear readers, this entire blog would not exist.
I began my daily storytelling in 2013, on Tumblr. It was a self-challenge with a goal towards expanding my very ephemeral pet universe at the time. Since I was known for a lot of fanficcery at the time, I ended up getting a lot of fanfic requests. Things improved over time.
What I did notice about doing the daily flash fiction was that I ceased experiencing Writers' Block. I could chug along with my writing projects without any roadblocks. And as an extra bonus, my writing's got better over those years. Huzzah. I'm getting so good at narrative, that I need to focus on character conversation again. Whoops.
Further to my ultimate goals is the fact that next year is the tenth year of (more or less) continuously writing fiction of one form or another. I don't know how to count the months-long doldrums caused entirely by the plague panic of 2020. At least I kept the flash fictions going while I spun around in ever-decreasing circles at ever-increasing speeds.
I've not just been working on flash fictions. I've been working on novels [excluding 2020] which still need beta reading and polishing until they're ready to flit off towards varying publishers. I'm still trying to hunt up the courage to go seeking publishers and agents again. It's stressful.
I have a number of novels in limbo awaiting readiness to publish. I don't trust my writing when it's fresh out of my fingers. I need other eyes and, more importantly, I need feedback, damnit. Those willing to look at my books, I can send you links to google docs. Queue up in the comments below and let me know how and where to PM you with the links.
Ahem.
Ten years is supposed to be the magic number. Do one thing for ten years and the world will notice that you're doing it. I can only hope that I get more notice than the negative comments about the representation I put in my books. [Bitter? Me? Maybe a little...]
I've rambled on long enough. If you're still here, then thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for sticking with me, and thank you ESPECIALLY if you send links to my stories to your friends and relatives. More audience means more votes, more votes mean more income, more income means that I might actually not be surfing the catastrophe curve at some point in the future.
I mean, heck, I might even get an agent or publisher interested in handling my strange large-version tales. I can dream.
Aim high. You may miss the stars, but at least you won't shoot your foot.
Or, as I like to say, "You haven't failed until you've failed your entire life."
I'm just trying over here. Sometimes, very trying.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / glopphy]
