Okay, so it’s been a while since I last posted, and I’ll just go with “because I’ve been busy.”
In truth, I did accomplish a lot over the last year, advancing my writing career as much or more than any previous year.
So let’s recap…
All right, so when I launched this self-promoting website a few years ago, I thought I had a good idea of how to do it right. I would use it to showcase my work, just little samples, try to garner more interest in my work.
That didn’t seem to do the trick.
The stuff I was putting up was far from my best work, really just little stories that I belted out without putting much effort into them. Not exactly the best way to show readers and potential publishers how skilled a writer I am.
So I’m starting over, with a different focus. Going forward, rather than putting up work that will give a false impression of my abilities, I’ll use this website to display the things I’ve learned and the accomplishments I’ve made. I’ll also still use it as a way to point out some of the good things I’ve found in the world of writing and other entertainment mediums, I just won’t be throwing up half baked ramblings of my own. And, sadly, I’ll be taking down most of the works I’ve posted so far. This is partly because I don’t think it’s a good way to showcase my talent, and partly because some of the ideas I’ve been displaying have some potential, and I’d like to take the time and energy to develop them better.
I’m sorry if this upsets any of my faithful readers, but I hope that very soon I’ll have more works published, and of course I will provide links to those stories, and the ones I have already published on various online publications. Thank you all for your interest and continued support.
So, let’s try this again, and see if I can do a better job this time.
It’s not always easy being a fiction writer. Coming up with new ideas, or at least a new spin on an old idea, can take a lot of effort. That’s why it’s great that often when you go through the trouble, someone meets you halfway with a bit of recognition. It can be a word of praise, a like on your post, or even something more… impacting.
That’s one of the reasons I love the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest. It’s a very prestigious contest, running for more than thirty years now, and strives to provide aspiring writers with the encouragement they need to keep doing what they do.
I have personally been honored to receive multiple Honorable Mentions from this esteemed contest, the most recent of which was for the fourth quarter of last years contest. It was for a little story I wrote about the use of transplanted memories as a means of punishing criminals. I was so pleased when it received the recognition of the contest judges. It wasn’t everything I’d hoped for, but it was more than enough to keep me writing.
I’d like to thank the contest coordinator Joni Labaqui, the contest judges, and all the people who work so hard to provide this opportunity for writers like myself.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to writing.
I’m a writer. It’s what I do.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m very appreciative of Reedsy. It’s run by a great bunch of people, people who are willing to provide a forum not just for entertainment, but to help writers get there work published. They provide a wide variety of services to help aspiring authors, services like tutorials and editing, not to mention the huge shot-in-the-arm of their weekly writing contest.
The talented editors at Reedsy throw out a list of prompts every Friday, challenging and encouraging writers to come up with original, imaginative stories. Each week, they pick a winner, whom they gift with a monetary prize and the invaluable benefit of publication on the Reedsy Blog.
I recently had the honor of winning the weekly contest, one of the few times I’ve been able to see my work published. It was gratifying. So a huge shout out to the folks at Reedsy!
If you have any interest in reading my prize-winning piece about one time when a dog actually did eat someone’s homework–and then followed them to school–check it out at the link below.
https://medium.com/reedsy/hounded-a85140c63945
Another heartfelt thank to the talented staff at Reedsy, and please, as always, enjoy your reading.
Hey, everybody. I managed to get another story published. Once again, Every Day Fiction came to my rescue. Not only did they accept my story, but the talented editors at the publication did a lot to help make the story much better than my original version, even helping to give it a proper theme and plot. Not that there wasn’t a great story there to begin with, but it’s amazing how a good editor can really make a piece shine. Big thanks to everybody as Every Day Fiction!
Anyway, if you’d like to read the story, here’s the link:
https://everydayfiction.com/please-dont-by-ian-e-gonzales/
I also heartily recommend reading some of the other stories made available by Every Day Fiction, and maybe signing up to receive their story of the day, each and every day. It’s a free publication, and they always publish insightful, thought-provoking pieces. Like mine.
Please, read it, and enjoy it.
As an author seeking exposure, experience, and validation, I keep my eyes open for new opportunities to showcase my work. One venue that recently came to my attention is the Reedsy Short Story Contest. Now, Reedsy is a great place for authors of any stripe, with the knowledge and experience to help aspiring writers or seasoned professionals get their work published. Their short story contest involves sending out an email containing a number of writing prompts. Writers write stories inspired by these prompts, and submit them via email. The winner enjoys publication on the Reedsy Medium Blog, and a prize of $50 US. Even better, there is no entry fee, and the contest is offered on a weekly basis, providing plenty of chances to sharpen the skills and try for a little bit of recognition.
I recently began submitting to this contest, and even was fortunate enough to win! As always, just getting something out there, and finding that there were people who enjoyed it, was wonderful. It’s what I’m all about as a writer. The money was a nice bonus, too. I would encourage anyone trying to increase their visibility as a fiction writer to give this contest a try.
If you’re interested in reading my winning story, check it out here:
https://medium.com/reedsy/in-the-lanterns-light-b336c78fbb2
As always, please enjoy.
As a writer, I’m not content to be just “good”. I don’t want to still be writing the way I was ten or even five years ago. I always want to get better. And better. There are any number of ways to do this, ranging from simple practice to taking classes. One of my favorite ways to get better is by attending writing conferences. These conferences are an excellent way to expand my knowledge and understanding of the craft of writing, in an environment shared with other writers. This also provides numerous opportunities to meet and connect with others whose passion and desires mirror my own. I love the workshops and group exercises, and I especially enjoy getting to know my fellow writers.
One of the best conferences I’ve attended is one that takes place in my own neck of the woods, the annual Write on the Sound Conference, held in Edmonds, Washington, on the first weekend of each October. Not only is this a convenient location for me, as I live only a short ways away, but it is also an incredibly well-coordinated event. There are sections covering just about everything concerning writing, including both the process of writing and the business of writing. The staff are organized and professional, friendly and helpful, making it such a smooth, carefree experience that is a joy to attend. The presenters–carefully selected for each conference–are always knowledgeable and approachable, running their workshops and presentations in a way that makes learning a fun and memorable experience.
The added bonus to this conference is that it features a concurrent writing contest, with categories for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. A new theme is chosen each year, typically a single word meant to guide and inspire the participants. All works are judged by an independent panel, and cash prizes are awarded for all winners. I’ve submitted to the contest myself three times, and managed to win a couple times, too. Here’s a picture of the winners from the 2016 contest.
In case you can’t tell, I’m the sexy one. Well, one of the sexy ones at least…
Moving on…
Write on the Sound is a great conference, and I recommend it to anyone interested in bettering their skills as a writer, or seeking to learn more about the sometimes confusing and intimidating world of writing.
Learn more here: http://www.writeonthesound.com/
It’s always a struggle to get better, at anything. Fortunately, there are always things that can help with the process. For me, as a writer, conferences, and Write on the Sound in particular, have been an enormous help. I can’t say that they’ve instantly turned my into a perfect writer, but thanks to them, I’m getting better.
This week marks a first for me: I finally managed to sell a story.
Now, it wasn’t a huge story, it was flash fiction, but this is the first time I’ve ever gotten a publication to take my work and put it out there for all to see.
For me, that’s huge.
The story is called “Passing Through,” and can be found on Every Day Fiction by following the link here: https://everydayfiction.com/passing-through-by-ian-e-gonzales/
I thank the editors at Every Day Fiction for accepting this story for publication, and for their excellent insight and advice during the revision process. They were both helpful and patient, and made the experience rewarding and fulfilling.
I also thank those readers who commented on my story after it was published. Feedback is essential for a writer, and the thoughtful critique provided by my readers will help me to write better, more entertaining pieces in the future. I truly appreciate even those comments that are not what I wanted to hear, because those are the comments I need to hear if I want to be a better, more entertaining writer.
And believe me, that’s what I want to do.
I fancy myself a writer. Sometimes, I even think of myself as a prolific writer. One thing that helps me justify that claim is the month of November, and the National Novel Writing Month challenge.
I hope that many of my readers are familiar with this annual activity. It’s a challenge, monitored and assisted by a staff of selfless, devoted individuals, to write a fifty-thousand word novel within thirty days.
You all know I’m all about using my writing to entertain. I find it enjoyable and fulfilling. Now, not everybody can write. I’m not bragging; there’s simply an indefinable something that gives the writer the ability to put his thoughts into words. Plenty of people have amazing, interesting stories to tell. Writers are just the lucky ones who get to share it through the written word.
That said, there are plenty of ways people can entertain their fellow human beings. Some make music, some make movies, some make video games, and so forth. Now, some people who can’t—due to various circumstances—actually makes these fine art forms can still use them to entertain. And that takes a skillset all its own.