Reviewing my spreadsheet of stories written and published in 2020, my total word count could have produced one single novella — 20,000 words short of one novel for the entire year. This news is discomforting.
The total number of poems/stories published is seventeen — four more than the previous year.
Before arriving at this revelation, I decided that in 2021, I would stay away from anthologies and focus on writing tales that shout my creativity unrestricted by word count or someone else’s imagination. And then, on a perfectly cold, rainy day, I received an invitation to participate in an upcoming anthology.
Being invited to participate in an anthology is an honor, your story is already accepted — unseen/unwritten. It is an honor and I accepted. My main character showed up in my mind one day later, complete with her story — now, all I have to do is write it. No problem, right? I know how to write. I have found my writer’s voice, all should be easy peasy.
Not so. As I realized while transferring appointments and due dates to the new calendar, I noticed a forgotten upcoming medical appointment for my husband several days from today. That medical appointment will be to schedule a long-overdue surgery. My real-life story will interfere with the creation of my horror story.
I must withdraw from the anthology with deep regret.
After my husband’s surgery and recovery, I will reassess my writing goals for 2021.
Choose your friends with caution;
plan your future with purpose,
and frame your life with faith.
-Thomas S. Monson
Sue Marie St. Lee 
Wow, way to go. Do you count your blog posts too? I hope you have a great year and all goes well healthwise.
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Haha, no, I don’t count my blog posts, and this blog is sheer evidence of not keeping up with any form of regular postings.
I visited one of my other blogs this morning where my last post was three years ago, and then, three years prior. That seems like a pattern to me.
Change is in the air for me… I’ll be closing some doors and re-aligning my aspirations and goals.
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For me, I have a backlog of flash fiction, short stories and poems completed, but not published for occasions like this. I send them to writing contests that pay (sometimes not much) but do not publish, so I keep the rights.
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Thank you so much for visiting and commenting! If I find a few minutes, I might dig through some completed stories and do likewise! Great suggestion! 🙂
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This is so smart!
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Aw, bummer. But hubby’s health is more important than an anthology!
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Thank you, Priscilla. Hubby’s health issues have been ongoing for years. Although surgery frightens me, I remain hopeful that it resolves his problems.
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Good luck with all of your storie, Sue!
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Thank you, P.C.!
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