Dedicated

Alright, something new is coming. And I'm talking about fiction. I can feel it. "Big Fish"....

On Lonliness

It's my nature as a dreamer to fall hard for anyone who encourages me. Dreaming is sometimes a real lonely thing, and its easy to get caught up in it all. Emotions magnify; sleep is lost. But in the end I'll be alright, because while dreaming is a lonely thing it also fuels a fire. Keeps me hungry. So while the history may repeat, a circular motion - one always ensures the other. Dreaming and happiness.
I don't know if any sense is being made here, only I know that I'm happy for the moment and forever. I love my hungry heart, and acceptance for sanity's sake. I love things like rain and smiles, things that come all too quickly and are gone before we know it. (Silly though, that I sometimes can't smile - more a physical incapability than not desired)
That's me in a nutshell.

A nutshell I'm too often away from, when insecurities seem to spike up through the ground. A nutshell I need to hang on to a little more tightly.

Let's share a smile before the storms come again, shall we? Dancing in the moonlight is saved for when the day that carried it was bright and sunny.

On the subject of writing fiction, it seems funny and heartbreaking at the same time that when we believe we've broken a barrier or reached a milestone that often it’s a circular process, and we transgress to a point when that same affirmation upheld a certain belief or stigma we’ve held about our craft.

I'm not arrogant enough to believe that at 19, I contain any wisdom about writing fiction. Nor am I humble enough to deny it, either. Where I'm at, personally, is at a bridge. I'm trying to trust myself, to believe in what awaits at the other end and at the same time walking rickety planks I don't quite trust.

Have you ever felt this way?

Follow Up

Well, my dear friends, not much has changed since my last post - except that I'm now entered in a theme/flash contest on Steel Moon's E-Zine. Which is really great, there's a lot of talented writers running and submitting to that site and it grows more every day - incredible.

I did happen to go to a book sale earlier today, and wow! I got some incredible deals! The highlight of which is Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box (Stephen King's son) Stephen King's The Colorado Kid & The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon & (As Richard Bachman) The Regulators and Clive Barker's The Damnation Game, Books of Blood Vol. 1 and a few books by Peter Straub and Ann Benson for all under $20! Most of these cost that alone at Border's and such, and these were all brand spanking new! Incredible, huh?

Anyway, no news yet about the TusCon contest, I'm sorry to say...Still praying though! Hoping! I'm writing a slice of live/murder mystery (I know..?) story right now, called Milk & Honey (Mickey's Revenge) I'm not releasing any information about that one just yet...But I think it's going to be a 20,000 word plus one, yikes.

I'm giving the other stories I was working on (The Troozy Witch & The Twilight Room) a chance to breathe, then I'm gonna slice and open those puppies back up! Oh, the gestation...

Anyway, thanks for reading my blog.

C H A N C E

I got a letter today from the library. It had a little information about the contest rules and an upcoming writing convention. I got news that there were 25 other submissions, in all honesty I was hoping for more competition.

But If I score even in the top 3 adult writers, I'll get some kind of prize, god only knows what. But I think I have a chance...

I got an email from the online magazine, "The Harrow" their looking at my story, it was one of those confirmation/introduction emails, but I was glad for it. Shows that their at least looking at it, if not a little interested.
Cross your fingers for me, and I'll sing you something.

I also have a chess tournament tomorrow at a local high school, 2 rounds tomorrow and 3 more the next day. It's an individual league qualifier. Oh yeah, I'm gonna need prayers...ha

No News Is Good News?

Today's been good, but as far as writing news goes, well, there's not much. I've written more on that short story, which I'm now calling "The Twilight Room" instead. Temporary titles...yuck. Anyway, it seems I've been getting more traffic here, so that's great! I promise to make this blog all worth while once I start getting published. Which could take forever, mind you.

So what are you reading ? What have you read lately? I've just finished a few short stories in an Anthology book, "Damned Nation". Their really great, apocalyptic, hell-&-heaven stories. A lot about redemption and demons, too. My favorites out of the book are "The Hobo Intervention of Bubby Milkey" & "Das Hollenfeuer" just excellent. I recommend this book to all! Also, I'm reading a book called "Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories". I'll let you guys know about that one.

What are you listening to? What music has captured you lately? For me, its Ben Harper's "Another Lonely Day", Seether's "Fake It", Maxi Jazz's "Bright Morningstar" and Serj Tankian's "The Unthinking Majority". Check those out.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great day!

First Post

This is my first post here on blogger, and I'm hoping I can keep it sophisticated enough while still having a great time doing it. I'm going to use this blog to keep tabs on all my writing endeavors, and hopefully anyone interested will check out some of my work. I'm burning the midnight oil tonight, writing a new short story I'm calling "The Violet Room" a fantasy/coming of age story about twin, godlike creatures.

I also have my work posted on Steel Moon's E-Zine, a friend of mine on there, a great guy named Pete is helping me out a lot. I'm using my pen name on that site, "Jonah M. Joy". If you want to check my stories out, "A Chance for Forgiveness" and "The Jade Bell, feel free, here's the link.

http://www.steelmoonpublishing.us/STORIES.html

Thanks so much for checking my blog out.

Also, my latest completed stories "Gift of the Phoenix" and "The Jade Bell" are entered in the 34th TusCon short story competition. I hear there's some nice prizes, and I can't wait to see how my stories do, I'll be sure to let everyone know on here.

I also managed to meet several major authors today, Weston Oches included. It was a great experience, and the authors talked a lot about breaking out into the "published world". Something I'm very excited about. I've also recently submitted to "The Harrow" and another E-zine called "Electric Spec". I found out about them through "StoryPilot's" reference pages, give them a look if you too are an aspiring writer.