Taking the plunge...

[gement]

I am going to the No Safewords Writers' Group tonight, armed with several manuscript-format copies of an 18-page short story. Which I will hand to people. People with pens, and opinions.

I decided to start with something from the middle of my writing, which stands alone, doesn't require excessive explanation, and is one of the stronger candidates for selling to a magazine if the novel doesn't survive or this scene is cut from it. It's a story that I am confident is sexy and solidly written, with no weird pronoun contortions or point-of-view shifts.

When I see how I react to people's critiques on this fairly safe territory, then we can start talking about The Goddamn Quest (which I continue to be convinced should Just Go, but I don't know how to get rid of it without shaking the foundation of the rest).

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Comments

Books I could use

[gement.livejournal.com]

Well, if you or anyone else is looking for a present for me in the future, I am actually interested in such books. I just ordered Man, Oh Man: Writing M/M Fiction for Cash & Kinks, and I'm on the lookout for a good writer's guide to basic details of late 18th Century European life.

I'm interested in books on the mechanics of writing, well, the mechanics, as well as books on the editing process in general. Reference books such as glossaries of euphemisms are also good, and nonfiction on the history of sexual subcultures or Europe in 1780-1800 are also good prospects.

(I'm not so interested in books on How To Get Published, as that's pretty readily available at the library and the advice changes regularly.)

Re: Books I could use

[littlemystories.livejournal.com]

This is a slightly later time period than you're looking for, but might be a start. I've enjoyed flipping through it.

And here's a fun euphemism dictionary.

[red-the-squeaky.livejournal.com]

Good luck!!
Be brave!

[hesperide.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're going! 8)

I'm curious about your impression of the group, but more interested in what they have to say about your stories and how you are reacting to being critiqued by strangers.

If you want a safe re-entry space for processing afterwards, you are welcome to come by my place, or connect some other way if that works for you.

SMOOOOOOOOSHINGS!!!

[ladyallyn.livejournal.com]

((hug)) That would 'splain where I saw you, then.

[gement.livejournal.com]

Yes indeedy! I wondered if you were coming from some event in the same space, actually. Your text message makes that seem unlikely, though.