What two things epitomise pregnancy for you?
Author: Eric Nash
Horror writer and top bloke
An Exercise in Editing.
I completed the final edit of a story the other week; proud of a killer story. Yesterday, I saw a call for submissions that was perfect for it in all ways, it ticked every box, stroked all the editor’s needs, even I fitted the requirement. Everything matched, except for the word count: the story was 1500 words, the editor required 1200 max. (no, really, 1200 firm, I know because I asked). Originally, the piece was 2000 words, so I had been quite ruthless already, and could not imagine losing a further twenty percent.
I continued to check other markets while some needle-monkey inside my head told me that that first one was decent, and it was the right story. Treat it as an exercise, I thought. So I did, after making a copy of the first version.
That story is now 1198 words and has been mailed to the editor. I’m chuffed, thinking: I didn’t ruin it, it’s a tighter story. I guess that truth will be proved with an acceptance.
Got myself some interesting reading today.
Another great little tale of romance for February is The Banshee’s Gift. Available via this page.
(image: Banshee ©Jana Heidersdorf)
Read my short story, What You Wish For. A perfect tale for Valentine’s Day. Available via here.
(image: The Absinthe Drinker and the Hostile Silence ©Pamela Wilson)
Showing off my fabulous new mug filled with unleaded on my writing desk. Handmade by Hogweed Pottery.
This might have been said before, but it’s worth saying again –
Write everyday.
Discovering Bukowski recently. I thought I would share The Twins with you – read by the poet himself. It’s a poem that made me smile.
(source: rarestimp)
The current version of Hashtag Rewilding has entered its resting period; in a few weeks time I shall reopen the folder and begin the final draft.
Another tale, that of Midwinter Hill, is already being tapped onto the screen. A ghost story set at Christmas time in contemporary England, Midwinter Hill draws upon theories in forest ecology for some of its inspiration; mainly on the social networks of trees as studied by Suzanne Simard and her team (listen to her TED Talk: ‘How Trees Talk To Each Other’), and the bestselling book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Pete Wohlleben, which I am currently reading.
And the story isn’t even set in woodland.
Researching Wolves
This fascinating live stream from the International Wolf Center has been playing most of the time I have been working on Hashtag Rewilding. Enjoy.
Eric Nash 