Theme Reveal for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2016: The Child and The Prophet

Since 2013, I have been writing an allegorical story entitled The Child and The Prophet.  I will continue with this story. It addresses the challenges we face in life.

The main characters are The Child and The Prophet.  It is The Child’s journey.  She faces many obstacles but she also meets new and old friends that help her complete her journey.  Accompanied by an eagle, whale, raccoon and The Prophet, The Child’s home is a lily pad as well as the water she learns to walk upon.

I plan to end the story with this year's  challenge, and it will be published.

Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia

IWSG - March 2, 2016 Facing the Wind

Hello Everyone,

It’s the first Wednesday in the month and IWSG Time has come around again. 

IWSG is a big help to many of us who don’t mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, please go to the IWSG Website at 

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html.

My article is posted below.

Facing the Wind

Stuck in the middle section last month, I decided the only thing I could do was to write  until I got over my stump. It took a few hours, but I persevered, and the words came, and I began to paint once again pictures that I hope will fascinate my readers when they enter my world.

I have been working on this manuscript since 2009. The last quarter of 2014 I started working with a writing coach/book editor and I have seven more chapters. The plan is to have the manuscript critiqued and finished by the end of March. Then, I’ll set it aside while I participate in the A to Z Blog Challenge, which is one of my delights.  The manuscript will sit until the end of June. In July, I will pick it up again with all of the suggestions and questions that I have collected from my writing coach and go through each chapter revising and rewriting until it is the best writing I can give. Afterward, I will send it to my coach to read through in its entirety.  

Therefore, facing the wind is all about me getting through those last seven chapters. I do not want to have that on my plate when the A to Z Challenge comes around.  So these are times when I have to kick myself and write even though procrastination is on my heels trying to slow me down.

I have learned and keep learning that the only way upward is to keep moving as I keep my head toward the sky.


Results of my submissions from January 2016:
Glimmer Train - rejection
Writer's Digest - rejection

I have two submissions out for February 2016 and decisions are  still outstanding:

1. Short Story submitted for Glimmer Trains' Short Story Award for New Writers
2. Short Story submitted to Kenyon Review to Short Fiction contest for New Writers
My goal is three submissions a month, but at the moment, I am happy when I get two out of the house.

Take care everyone.

Shalom Aleichem,

Pat Garcia