THE SECRET DIARY OF FRUSTRATED WRITER #102

Day 1:

Have v. good idea for story. Best idea I've ever had. Must write, it consumes me. Too bad I'm at work.

Day 1.5:

Ha! Managed to convince Evil Boss (EB) that I needed extra time on project that is already done. Now have time to write while being paid to do v. boring accounting.

Day 7:

Have finished story. Is still best idea I've ever had. Will let it sit for a week.

Day 14:

Stupidest idea I've ever had. What was I thinking? I called this writing? That was a climax? Pah. Must edit.

Day 16:

Okay, idea not all that bad. Story salvageable.

Day 20:

Send story to beta readers group. Got good feedback. But some disliked sex scene. Pervy readers. Sex scene has to stay! Is whole point of idea.

Day 21:

Cut sex scene. Wasn't really necessary.

Day 25:

Story is now good enough to send out. Sent to Magazine of Fantastically Short Response Time.

Day 24:

The Magazine of FSRT retroactively rejected the story saying, "We knew it wouldn't grab us, please don't send."

Day 30:

Sent story to Realm of Exceedingly Long Response Time magazine.

Day 35:

Read about an open call for Anthology of Exceedingly Narrow Focus. Came up with a story that actually fits the guidelines. Which was hard as it involved a dog, a heroic quest, Florida, traveling to space for the first time, and a redemption scene in less than 2500 words. Everyone says best to write new story while waiting for response on older one. Old Story is now Story #1, new story is now Story #2. V. clever organization and titles.

Day 45:

Finished Story #2. Love it!

Day 49:

Hate Story #2. Must hack to bits.

Day 55:

Story #2 passable and sent to beta-readers. No sex scene this time.

Day 60:

Pervy readers now demand sex scene for Story #2. There is no pleasing some people.

Day 70:

Sent Story #2 of to Anthology of Exceedingly Narrow Focus, edited by Big Name Editor.

Day 75:

Found out about "Writers of the Unpublished" Contest. V. well respected contest. No entry fee. Double checked that it is legit.

Day 76:

Contest checks out. Must write new story.

Day 80:

Stress about Story #1 and the fact that it has been almost two months with no response.

Day 85:

Have great new story idea.

Day 90:

Hate my story idea. Scrapped story after writing 1500 words and being blocked for 5 days.

Day 91:

V. glad I saved drafts. Re-love my story idea. Have now written 2500 words on story for Contest.

Day 93:

No good! Contest has deadline for this year, and it is less than 3 weeks! Must finish Story #3!

Day 94, at 4 AM:

Story finished. Must sleep. Have to work tomorrow/today.

Day 95:

Must have fallen asleep while writing. Whole last page filled with random letters. Must rewrite ending that I have now forgotten.

Day 96:

Remembered Ending. Finished story. No time to sit, sending to beta readers

Day 100:

Beta readers complaining about little things like spelling & grammar. No one gets the surprise ending.

Day 104:

Edited story. Sent back to silly readers.

Day 110:

Story #3 finished. If I send now via Express mail it should be there by Day 114.

Day 115:

EB tells me I can no longer write at work. Must put nose to grindstone and all that. 3 stories out is good, right? I'll just wait to hear back before writing more.

Day 150:

Received form letter rejection from RoELRT. (120 days) v. nice but still harsh rejection from Anthology of Very Narrow Focus pointing out that I had left off the Doughnut Shaped spaceship, & list of winners (not me) from Contest. 3 rejections in one day. Not good. Still not writer.

Day 151:

Ate a lot of chocolate ice cream and cried.

Day 152:

Sent back out all three stories. Am I a writer now?