I’ve been blessed to have great opportunities with wonderful publications over the past few years. I’m also lucky to have excellent writer friends who have helped me to develop my fiction.
Every year, the La Grange Writers Group encourages each of its members to come up with a “Word of the Year.” Like a New Years resolution, the word is meant to define a goal and a positive attitude.
For 2018, I chose “ambition.” At times, I felt less than ambitious in 2018, but I’m happy to admit that looking back at the whole year, I indeed got a lot done:
I had 19 pieces published or accepted for publication in 2018:
*“Vegan Options” Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“Hog Slop” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“Broken” – Jack of No Trades (2018)
*“White Noise” – Hinnom Magazine (2018)
*“Can’t Unsee” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“Porcelain Doll” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“Djinn” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*”Road Shadow” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*”The Digger” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*”Hideous” – Flash Fiction Magazine (2018)
*”Rattlesnake Stew” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*”Bloody Maria” – Horror Bites Magazine (2018)
*”The Beetle Problem” – Cellar Door (pending for 2019)
*”Primal” – Stupefying Stories (pending for 2019)
*”Hangman’s Knot” – Millhaven Press (pending for 2019)
*“Butcher Knife” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“Dreaming of Chester” – Broadswords and Blasters (pending for 2019)
*“Snow Angels” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
*“The Devil’s Appetite” – Trembling with Fear/Horror Tree (2018)
I drafted or completed 23 new pieces of writing in 2018 (ranging from drabble to novel length) totaling more than 150,000 words, including:
- My dark fantasy novella “Tower of Raven”
- My New Pangea Universe dinosaur adventure novel Carnivore Herders
- Part 1 of my 5oK+ NaNoWriMo novel Spiral Attic
- 13 new short stories
- 7 Drabbles
But I don’t want to brag too much because after over 100 Submissions in 2018 (some still pending) I suffered about 60+ Rejections (OUCH! Good thing it only takes one acceptance!)
I accomplished a lot, and I couldn’t do it without awesome publications, editors, writers groups, readers, friends, and family who support my writing. Thank you!
In 2019, my goal is not to lose sight of that ambition, but to allow myself a chance to slow down a little, focus on the projects I’ve generated for myself, and really dive into making every sentence, paragraph, and chapter of every project all that it can be.
My 2019 word is “Immediacy.” I think it’s a good mantra for a world with so many distractions.
Hoping to give everything in life–friends, family, work, and writing–all the undivided attention it deserves!
I’ve got plenty of publications on the horizon too, so watch this space and follow me on social media to stay up to date. 🙂
Kevin M. Folliard’s Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Folliard/e/B0097S7T0A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
