Writing micro-fiction is an act of puzzle making. Micro-fiction is a style I have been uncertain about trying, so this publication came as a total surprise. I wrote this 50-word story last week at the prompting of Siobhan Wright who has been running an online writers workshop at TellUsAStory.org. The culmination of this particular prompt…
An Article I wrote in 1979—”Preserving the Reefs” I was going through some old newspaper clippings my mother saved and I came across this article I wrote way back in 1979 extolling the virtues of John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo, Florida.
My life is pretty chaotic. I am a publisher, sometimes professor, mother, and wife. I have a house full of animals to care for and an acre of land to “husband.” My kids are grown, but they still turn to me to sort stuff out. And until recently, I had at least one aging parent…
It’s that time of year again. The results have just come in for the first round of the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction challenge. My stories do a little better each year. Honestly, I’d like to be challenged this way on a weekly basis. No telling how fast I might improve… “Bracketville, Texas, November 1964,” placed…
I just came across a long lost story! I never knew this micro-story I wrote won a prize. I was looking for the judge’s name from a previous story of mine that won a prize (“The Understanding”), when I stumbled across another flash piece I’d obviously sent them that was chosen top story that week…
“Do You Know the Bunny Hop?” Origins I wrote “Do You Know the Bunny Hop?” for a competition in which it placed but was not published. I don’t remember the entire prompt, and I’d have to search to figure out who sponsored that original competition. I was attracted to the idea of writing about someone…
These notes accompany a talk I’ve given at a few writers conferences.—Kim Traditional Publishing versus Self-publishing The publishing world has changed dramatically over the past few decades. With the ease of self-publishing now, why would you even consider traditional publishing? The traditional publisher shoulders the expense of production, With a team of professionals at their…
Origins of the story I wrote “Strings of Solace” for my first MFA workshop. It’s been languishing in my “to be published” pile for far too long. I’m proud to be able to share it with the world at last. Of course, It’s been through many edits since it’s earliest version, but that is what…
Someone Remembers Me I had an inkling. I knew my friend planned to say something about me in the inaugural issue of the ASAT News, because as I was packing up and preparing to depart Sam Houston for good, Barbara Miles and I went across the road for a burger and a beer. I shared…
My Flash Fiction submissions keep placing The results are in for round two of the 2018 NYC Midnight Flash Fiction competition. I needed to be in the top five for my group of 30. I was the sixth. 🙁 I scored 19 cumulative points for my first two stories. My nearest competitor scored 20. I’m…