writing

Allison

2024 Writing in Review

This has been a strange year for my writing… I’ve focused more on paid work, which is great for my bank account, but makes me feel really out of touch with the flash fiction community.

I still did some fun things, like writing during National Flash Fiction Day and taking part in the Ekphrastic Marathon. I wrote some books and outlines for major publishers, and that news will hopefully come out next year. I judged four contests for Flash Fiction Magazine and ghostwrote some books I’m really proud of, so I feel like I had a very creative year even if my submission spreadsheet isn’t reflecting that.

I only had 45 submissions this year, despite initially having a goal of submitting 5 pieces per month. I had 13 acceptances from those submissions. (I submitted 111 times in 2023, 134 in 2022, and 52 in 2021.)

I also only took one writing workshop (plus a few two-hour Zooms), while I used to take a lot more. I generate a lot of content during workshops because I thrive with the prompts and accountability, so I think that might be a big part of my lack of content this year.

I started writing reviews for MicroLit Almanac. Several were books I’d already read or wanted to read, but a few weren’t even on my radar, so I’m grateful I got the chance to read and review them, hopefully helping spread the word of these indie writers so they can get the attention they deserve.

In addition to the online stories and reviews you can read here, I had a flash fiction piece published in Stanchion’s Away from Home anthology and another in the Third Bullshit Lit Anthology.

I also launched my own writing services: Lightning Flash Writing

If you need help polishing your work (flash fiction, short stories, novels – I do it all!), getting your ideas on the page, or marketing yourself or your book, I’m here to help!

Related Posts:

2023 Writing in Review

2022 Writing in Review

2021 Writing in Review

Allison

“Ecclesiastes 10:19” in the Third Bullshit Lit Anthology

So this is now old news because I forgot to share it back in August, whoops!

I had a short story published in the Third Bullshit Lit Anthology: “Ecclesiastes 10:19.”

This is a piece I wrote in a Nancy Stohlman Pop Lit workshop and I submitted everywhere because I really wanted it out there. And now it is!

I feel like it’s especially fitting now, with the religious hypocrisy right in front of our faces… so ENJOY!

Allison

Novel Writing Month

Well, it’s November 1st.

Ever since 2007, that means I’m starting to write 50,000 words of a novel (or story collection) as part of National Novel Writing Month. While the organization has crumbled over the past year or two, the sense of needing to write still strikes me, much like the whole “back to school” vibe of September (though school starts here at the beginning of August…).

The truth is, I kind of started a challenge at the beginning of October: Autocrit’s Novel 90 writing challenge. Writing a novel in ninety days seemed totally doable since I used to create an extremely rough draft in thirty. Except the idea I wanted to write just wasn’t coming together, and I spent most of the month trying to figure out whodunnit so I could complete the outline.

Whoops.

I pivoted though, and started writing a different idea that I’ve had in the back of my mind. Which means I’m writing without an outline, but that’s how November typically goes for me.

I’m also participating in the Sisters in Crime November Marathon. I’m a new member and want to make the most of the community, so I’m jumping right in with the hope of completing a draft of a cozy mystery this month.

Oh, and I can’t forget Nancy Stohlman’s FlashNano. Clearly this is just the month to kick myself in the pants!

Mostly, I wanted to share because I feel like I’ve been stagnant for much of this year. My flash writing has been on hold as I focus on longer works. Writing a novel feels satisfying, but I miss drafting a quick little piece and helping it find a home a few months later. With the exception of National Flash Fiction Day and the Ekphrastic Marathon, most of my publications this year were in the works since submitting last year, so my spreadsheet is looking empty.

It’s also nice to hold myself accountable, even if it’s only to the internet.

Allison

Honoring My Grandmother’s Legacy: Celebrating Her Birthday with a New Beginning

Today would have been my maternal grandmother’s 107th birthday! We were incredibly close, and I have countless memories of reading books with her, listening to her childhood stories, and being amazed at her gorgeous handwriting – all experiences that helped cultivate my love of reading and writing.

She also encouraged my imagination! She was always willing to have a tea party with me or be a passenger on the “plane” as I pretended to be a pilot. Once, when I wanted to open a restaurant in her kitchen, I asked for help creating the menu. 

“How do you spell it?” I asked. 

“M-E-N…” she started. 

“M-E-N…” I repeated. 

“U!” she said. 

I proudly showed her my MenYou.

She died in 2011, and I wrote about it on my blog at the time:

After rapidly declining for the past month, my grandmother passed away yesterday morning while her husband slept in the next room. Just two hours later, my grandfather died in his sleep. He never woke up; he was never told that his wife was gone, but I think he knew.

They would have been married sixty-eight years this June. Sixty-eight years. I can’t even imagine living 68 years, much less living with someone else for that long.

A few years ago, I interviewed them for a sociology paper on marriage and family; they said some mornings they wake up and just have to embrace before sharing breakfast. Last Monday, a week before they died, my grandfather steered his wheelchair in to my grandmother’s room and they held hands across the hospital bed rails, as they had been doing nightly for some time.

I can’t imagine that degree of devotion and dedication. Long marriages run in my family, with my paternal grandparents lasting 58 years before death did they part, my maternal grandparents almost 68, and my parents just celebrated 36. It’s inspiring (…and a little intimidating).

I’m incredibly thankful that both grandparents had such long, amazing lives before leaving together, and that I got to spend 25 years with them.

I think of her often, especially on her birthday. So, I’m excited to announce: today I’m launching my writing services: Lightning Flash Writing!

It may seem random to do that on my grandmother’s birthday, but she always encouraged me in everything I did, and I like to think she’d be proud of me for following my creative pursuits like she did.

Allison

Published in Stanchion’s Away From Home Anthology

I’m thrilled to have a piece in the Away From Home anthology from Stanchion!

I wrote “Bonnie’s House” as a micro in a Sarah Freligh workshop – I know that’s not a surprise at this point, as most of my pieces that eventually get published start there! I loved the idea for this anthology because I’m obsessed with getting glimpses into other people’s houses, so I knew I didn’t want to miss my chance to explore that.

I can’t wait to read all the other amazing stories included in this anthology! It’s officially out on September 10th, but you can preorder the book here: Away From Home Anthology

Allison

Showcased in the Ekphrastic Marathon (Again!)

Last month I took part in the Ekphrastic Review‘s Ekphrastic Marathon for my second time! Last year was Lucky 8 and this year was Nine Lives. (Here’s my post about last year.)

As with before, I wrote several pieces based on amazing works of art. I really enjoy using art as writing prompts, so I look forward to this marathon every year.

I’m excited that my story inspired by “If only i hadn’t wished for what I thought i was missing” by Paraskevi Frasiola was featured in the Marathon Showcase!

Read it, and many other amazing pieces, here.

click the pic to read the full piece

Allison

National Flash Fiction Day Pubs

I had a great time writing and submitting to The Write-In on National Flash Fiction Day! I’m thrilled that 10/10 of my submissions were published! I’m sharing the links here, along with the prompts to give an idea of the guidelines/constraints.

Tidal: Write a flash about a rare weather or meteorological phenomenon.

Leave It All Behind: Write a flash in four sections, with each section having a heading ‘Air’, ‘Earth’, ‘Water’ and ‘Fire’, no more than 300 words!

And Now It’s Here: Write a flash in which someone encounters the end of the earth.

Wreckage: Write a micro flash of exactly 13 words.  Give it a title.

“People Also Ask”: Write a flash or micro in which every sentence includes at least one use of the word ‘why’.

Life Changing: Write a 50-word flash (or shorter) that starts and ends with the same sentence.

Not Simple: Find a FlashFlood story and choose five interesting words from it. Write a flash of no more than 100 words that uses all five of these words.

Fish on Vacation: Write a flash about someone who feels like a fish out of water…

The Grocery Gatsby: Write a flash using or referencing characters from fiction or poetry that was written at least 100 years ago. Set it in modern times.

Make Your Move: Write a flash in the form of a series of directions to somewhere.

(The featured post image showcases the badges I earned for the pieces I wrote and submitted.)

Allison

“Dendrology” published at Briefly Write

I’m so excited to have a piece in Briefly Write with some amazing writers!

Read Dendrology here!

I actually wrote this as a story for Visual Verse, so I wanted to share the original picture by Olga Naida. I was bummed when it wasn’t accepted for that issue because I thought it fit well – and wouldn’t stand on its own. But I’m so glad Briefly Write picked it up!

If you read it without seeing the picture, what did you think? Does seeing the image change your interpretation?