josjabbers

Hellooooooo

2007-12-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

I got on my blog by the back door. I found Sharon's blog and she had my site on hers so I got in that way. I haven't posted since August. Mostly because I couldn't get on. I was so excited because I sent a query in to American Publishers and they right a way wanted my book. Then I looked them up on Preditors and Editors and it seems they are not reputable. Here I spent a lot of work editing and revising my novel Oh, well, I will send it someplace else. I enjoy my e-line writing group. they really get on me for not using enough descriptive words and "telling," not "showing"
I just need to slow down. I always feel I must hurry.
I'm doing my Jeremiah's Issue for the novel forum critique group. they didn't like the beginning. so I'm starting with chapter three.I'm neglecting my housework (and my husband) but I am writing a completely new ending to Teri my novel about a gal hhhwho was kidnapped by a notorcycle gang. I plan to enter the AAdams media call for stoories honoring my dad as a hero. I figure if I hurry my writing group can critique it before the deadline. My story printed by Blooming Tree Press Summer s
Shorts was critiqued by the Havasu Writing Group. I used Sue Gilliam's suggesstions and they worked! Thanks, Sue!

August already?

2007-08-02T14:48:00.001-07:00

We spent three weeks in South Dakota visiting friends and relatives. OUr grandaughter had a beautiful wedding. They honored their grandparents by special seating etc. Both the bride and groom are faithful churchgoers. Maybe there is hope for the future generation?

My story about the lightning -struck minister is in Fine Lines a university magazine. PUblished in July Website: www.finelines.org I sent in a sequel but I haven't heard from the editor or Jack. I left a message on Jack's phone but no answer. Maybe he did'nt like It?

I have joined two writing groups one for short stories and one for novels both by forum4all. monitered by Linda Barenet-Johnson.They are time consuming but I am learning a lot.

I have been lax in submitting and writing. One more batch of company around the fifteenth and I think we'll be done for awhile. No bites on the house. I may have to get a day job! Vacationing and having company is expensive! I don't regret it though. We mended fences with a lot of our relatives. Some are impossible but you can't win them all.
Connected with friends Lois and Sharon this week. Fun! Also went to a memorial service for the husband of a friend (not fun!)
Enjoyed having youngest son Mark here for two weeks and later daughter Jayna and her three year old. Anyone know how to handle temper tantrums????

computer illiterate

2007-05-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

It took me fifteen minutes to get on my blog. Thank you Sharon for your comments. I have been working on a haiku to submit for my writing group. I wrote one about each of my children. The Haiku is supposed to be 5 syllables 1st line 7the next and 5 the third line. Also supposed to refer to a season. Trouble is now I don't know which one to send in.

I got some submission opportunities but one is for pagan fiction. What is pagan fiction? MY on-line critique group with Linda Barnett-Johnson is going fine. I got really good feedback. We post again tomorrow.the poetry is mandatory. I don't like poetry. We have an interesting prompt for a story. I don't know why but I started writing it in first person, present tense. I don't really like to read stories written that way. It is turning out to be a mysery but I don't know quite where I am going with it. We are limited to 2000 words so I better get it solved soon. Funny how this writing seems to control me instead of the way it should be.
enough meandering. I will get back to work. Joan

I'm baaack!!

2007-05-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

It is
May 20th 2007. When my computer went down I thought I had lost my blog. Guess it had been changed to Google. I think I have it figured out now..
the winter went by fast. Life interfered with my writing.I need to submit some stories and get out of my writing doldrums.
an interesting thing happened. My niece decided to participate in a museum in upstate New York that is commemorating purple heart winners from all wars the United States has been in. This enterprising girl gathered all the information she could get about my dad who was her grandfather. He was in World War One and gassed by mustard gas in France. He earned the purple heart but was never presented with it. It is now recorded that he did indeed earn the purple heart.
anyway, the museum is setting up a display whereby you can view information regarding the purple heart recipients. Patsy knew I had written a story about my Dad's being gassed and she asked me to send it to her. She sent all the information including my story to the museum.
she received a reply almost immediately from the museum. They are going to include Dad in the display and said some very kind things about my story! This won't be done for about a year. but I hope someday to go to the museum and see the display. I think I submitted the story to the writer's group at one time I'm not sure. The first time I wrote it was for Tyler's fifth grade assignment. I have re-written it several times since.
I also joined aN E-LINE writer's group and wrote a story with a prommpt. I can't seem to find replies but another grandson is coming up from PHoenix in June and he will help me figure it all out, I know. It is nice to have grandsons. Joan

josjabbers

2006-11-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

josjabbers
Rejection letters upset me. But I did get one from Blooming Tree Press the other day that was kind. since they had published a childen's story of mine in an anthology, I had sent them more of the same genre. the letter stated that I had a unique idea and it is well written with likeable characters but just not right for our list at this time. It made the rounds of our editors, she said
At least they read it.
I met an interesting man at Hastings today in the coffee shop his name is Don and he has been working for Today's News Herald. He has quit and is going back east. He is a reporter and free-lance writer. He was able to give me some pointers on getting published.
I don't usually talk to strangers but I was safe in that evnironment. He said he had seen the writer's group at the thursday meeting and if he were to stay he would probably join. He might have been an asset to the group.
I also submitted a log in to the writer's conference group and got several comments. Maybe when my eyes return to normal and I get my act together I may rejoin the group if they will have me. Don said it is a good idea to belong to some kind of group. all for now JOan

josjabbers

2006-11-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

josjabbers here I go again.
I am going over all the print-outs I received from the free e-line workshop and beginning to get interested in writing again. My friends Lois and Sharon are encouraging me. I have found several avenues of writing I have never considered before. such as non-fiction. I am told there is more money in it than in fiction. I have such an active imagination I don't know if I could handle non-fiction.
Also am going to try my hand at reviewing.
I need to get more organized and do one thing at a time but I keep hopping from one project to another.
I feel guilty about not spending more time on the memoirs I wrote for a gentleman here inLHC he is getting older and would love to to see his story in print. One suggestion I received was to break it up into short stories. I may try to do that. I did one for Guideposts but recieved no answer. Maybe I'll try the memoirs contest again. I think if I could get his story in print then I would feel better about spending time on some of my more favorite projects. I was writing a sequel to Jeremiah's Issue but haven't touched it in months. I guess because I can't get the original published I have kind of lost interest. My eye dr. suggested I put drops for dry eyes in just before I read or write and it has really helped. (Why didn't I think of that?) well wish me luck. I really need to get some cash flow coming in. So far I have received 30 dollars for writing. Talk about the starving artist! JO

josjabbers

2006-10-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

josjabbers Alone at last!
Company is all gone and the worshop is ov er.I am computer illiterate so mostly just read everyone else's questions and answers. I learned a lot. ONe thing I found out was that if I print a story on my blog it is considered published.so if I intend to send it to a publisher I guess I won't print it on my blog.
I was encouraged by Long Story Short . She suggested I make a novel out of my Bea and Ben stories. she thinks I could expand them and add more detail. She also said that people are not as interested in collections of stories as they are in novels. Something to think about.
Darn there goes the door bell Friends at our door . by for now. Joan

josjabbers

2006-09-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

josjabbers here it is the end of September. My eye surgery recovery took longer than I expected and still bothers me some. I haven't done much writing but have signed on for an on-line writers workshop beginning next week. As luck would have it it s the same week NIck has invited two bachellor friends to visit from south Dakota. My computer is in one of the spare bedrooms. the on line workshop includes sessions with people in different time zones. One is in Australia. So I may have to be on line at midnight. I hope the guy doesn't snore too loud. (Ha, Ha)

Hopefully things will work out. Beckie and Tyler said I could come stay with them but they don't have a computer1 I am specially interested in how to ghost write aand how to get the life story published. I have written the story of a gentleman and he is anxious to see it in print before he dies. I send it as a memoir and get rejected. Also don't know if I am computer savvy enough to get on the chat rooms.
NOthing ventured nothing gained.

Eye Opener

2006-09-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

Here I go along life's road not thinking much about eyesight.. until I lost the sight in one eye. Good news it was operable and last week I underwent surgery. MY eye is still covered so I am learning how to see with one eye which was by the way my weakest one.!!
Wouldn't you know I recieved an e-mail from an editor who wanted a revision ASAP.
what with pain pills and a bad head cold I wrote one. I'm hoping it made sense.

MY grandson brought his fiance over for me to meet. This while I am instructed to lie face down for five days.!! What an impression I must have made.

Couldn't have been too bad, though because she married him yesterday in Las Vegas. I'm still not sure what she looks like but she has a sweet voice.
Dear husband caught my cold so we are having a great time. Chicken noodle soup and chilli seem to clear out my nasal passages but of course he likes neither one. Sorry, but he's on his own!
Can't wait to get back to writing I don't know what my characters have been up to while I've been gone. Iknow one has been up to no good.

another blog

2006-08-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

I met with two fellow writers last night over coffee to visit about writing. HOw refreshing to talk to other writers. My friends and family roll their eyes when I start talking about my stories.I cleaned out all my files and organized my submissions, rejections, and research files. Now I am ready to submit. I found some old stories that I will revise and submit. I almost forgot about them. I am enclosing one. If anyone is out there perhaps you will read and comment on it.

A Soldiers Return

Tony finished the report of his last mission. He included the video that verified the car containing Iraqi insurgents was blown up by his tank. The video showed clearly the deadly bombs strapped around the waists of the enemies. Tony and his crew would be coourt-martialed if they were found guilty of knowingly killing innocents.

After two years in Korea and two in Iraq, Tony was going home.
No parade greeted him as he stepped from the bus at the gas station near his house in the small midwestern town.

"Jack, I'll leave my duffle bag here and go get my car," he said to the gas attendant.
"Sure, thing, Tony, welcome home," Jack replied.

Tony's car sat in the back yard with two flat tires and a broken windhield. It didn't start when he tried his key. He opened the back door of the house and shouted; "Is anybody home?" the old dog came out to greet him.

"Oh, you're here already?" His mother smothered him with whiskey breath kisses. "Your father moved out on me. If you want to see him you'll have to go to his girl friend's house," she said. She staggered to the kitchen. "You're probably hungry, I suppose I can find something for you to eat."

"No, Mom, that's all right. We stopped in the city for supper," Tony lied.

The next morning Tony went to the Recruiter's Office. "I want to re-enlist as soon as possible," he said. He left that afternoon for Fort Bliss.

serious jabbering

2006-08-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

My third day blogging. I got a comment from my friend Sharon. She asked if I will print some of my stories. Well maybe, but they are long.
If I can figure out how to transfer my documents to my blog I might. but maybe that is impossible. In the meantime. We had a funeral for three goldfish. Hey they lived six years that's pretty good isn't it? I mean for a goldfish.
My literary achievements are: Two children's stories on line in Magic Lark Journal. I believe they have been archived. One story in Long STory short on line that was a Bea and Ben story. I have a story in Letters To My Teacher that is in bookstores across the country. I have a children's story in Summer Shorts a book by Blooming Tree Press that will be on the market this August. I was recently published in Dazzlling Desert, a local magazine. I have entered a contest in Guideposts. The winners are to be informed on or about the 15th of August. Losers won't be contacted.