Just a quick post to let you all know that my bizarre short/flash story “Mi Casa Es Su Casa” was accepted by Everyday Weirdness on Monday.  It was posted today and you can read it right now.  This is one of those oddball pieces that was born as a longer story, then became a poem, then ended up taking on the form of a flash story.  It was my first attempt at “bizarro” fiction and while I still don’t think it quite makes the grade for bizarro, it’s probably the oddest thing I have written to date.

In other writing news (there isn’t much), I knocked another poem out this morning and am still looking to have my impromptu collection together by the end of January.

Well, I have come to terms with the fact that the dream of one day becoming someone who can make a living off of their writing has become about a trillion times more difficult with a full job.  I can handle that.  Of course, in handling that, I am also realizing that it is probably a good time to step back and take a look at the way I have been approaching this whole writing thing.

When I was freelancing, there was oodles of time to network, to keep up with Duotrope and Ralan, and to take a few chunks of time to work on something that I thought might have a chance at becoming a great story.  I kept writing short stories because I find them challenging.  To me, constantly plugging away at short stories was writing boot camp…lucky for me, I also discovered in that process that I love writing flash-fiction as well.  Regardless,  I am still much more comfortable with novel-length stories and as conceited as it may sound, I still think that my still-in-full-read-request-mode novel The Bleeding Room is the best thing I have ever written.

That is why as my writing time becomes more rare and, as a result much more precious, I am looking at my “in progress” folder and plan on weeding it out soon.  Right now, there are about 15 short stories in the works.  After weeding out the crap from the stories with potential, that number may be 4.  I also have 5 novels in progress (2 of them of at least 20,000 words, 2 of them over 60,000 words) and these will undergo the same weeding process.  This is simply because with such little time to write, it is time I learned how to prioritize my writing.

I think this means that The Masks of Our Fathers and another untitled novel in progress are my main objectives for now.  The time I do find to write needs to be manage more thoroughly (as you can tell from my blogging while I have about 3 projects screaming at me to pay attention to them).

This little realization has actually made me become a bit more serious about my writing…not that I didn’t take it seriously before.   But I am now actually preparing myself for my writing periods now.  It’s almost like a meditative thing.  It’s weird.  It typically involves music and giving myself ridiculously unreachable goals.  For instance, as I prepare to write for tonight, I am listening to Hammock after having seen their jaw-dropping video for “Mono No Aware” (seen here).

Horror, romance, whatever the hell it is that you write, how can you not get inspiration from that?

Anyway, I have come to the “face it” period of my writing career (for lack of a better word).  It’s a “face it” on two accounts.  First, “Face It”…because I simply don’t have the time I used to.  Secondly, “Face It”…because if I ever plan to make a living off of writing, it’s time to stop trying to define myself by genre or self-expectations and just write what it is that I want.  (Another “Face It” comes attached to that previously mentioned untitled novel-in-progress; “Face It”…you have an idea for a book that doesn’t have a trace of the supernatural or paranormal in it.)

So now let me finally tackle my first writing session of the week.  For those of you that frequent my blog (I have noticed the comment numbers have dropped a bit since I sold out for the 9-5), I beg that you please keep me honest.   It sometimes takes a nice whack upside the head to get the creative juices flowing and keep the determination fresh.

I just wrote 3,200 words…the most in one sitting in over a month.  Most of it went into my novelette The Final Study of Cooper M. Reid (this one is probably about 75% done now) and the rest went into the start of the opening lines of Chapter 3 of the story that was supposed to be my NaNo book.

The past week has seen me do very little writing other than this.  Yesterday at lunchtime I penned a poem that I like quite a bit.  I think it’s going to be titled “Symmetry in Board Games” but I’m not sure yet.  See, I love my new job very much but it leaves NO time for writing.  Not yet anyway…soon I hope to grind out some time every week for writing.

In other news, Arkham Tales is folding after only 5 issues.  Not only is this a shame because it was a great e-publication, but it also makes my previously accepted story “Accidental Deaths of the Dying and the Dead” homeless.  So when I get a moment (perhaps after writing this post), I need to find a home for it.

Nothing else to report.  This is merely my way of trying to stay active.  I will, however, close by saying that it is so very odd to hear someone in casual conversation say, “Hey man, I saw your book today,” or, even better yet, “I bought your book today.”  I’m still rather perplexed at how this getting published thing happened…

‘Til next time…

Apparently, heading back to a 9-5 job has turned me into a bastard.

As I have said in previous posts, writing time is really nothing more than a dream these days.  I have put down about 4,000 words in the last week, divided between two projects.  But, as I work my days away, all of my works in progress are parading around in my head, pretty distractions that help speed the day along.

Today, while sitting in my cube and doing some research for my first assignment, The Masks of Our Fathers took the reigns.  This book is a pretty dark little venture into isolation and ghosts that practically haunt themselves.  It is morose from the first paragraph and I have written and re-written it so that there is a sense of unease throughout the entire thing (currently 28,079 words).  This novel is my first real attempt at a “page-turner”…one of those you don’t want to put down because a) you absolutely have to see what happens next or b) you’re afraid that if you don’t read to the resolution, you open yourself up to the horrors on the page, their  terrors still unknown.

Anyway, our main character goes through quite a bit.  Already, I pity the guy.  But there has been this illusive plot hole that I have not been able to pin down that was keeping him in the “safe” zone.  I pieced that little bit of plot together today and now our MC is basically screwed.  To be quite honest, I’m not sure that my well of darkness goes that deep.  I’m sort of disappointed in myself that I’d stoop so low.

But we shall see.  As soon as I post this, I am going to pick that story back up.  And just to give you an indication as to where we are…well, at 28,000 words, the MC is bound to something, bleeding pretty badly and is very much aware of the man with his insides spilling out on the floor next to him.  And then of course, there is the fact that the trees of the forest are screaming at him through the walls of his cabin…

And there I go, almost giving too much away…

Any other literary masochists out there?

Being that writing remains a much-sought luxury these days, there’s really not much to report.   I will take a moment to share a surprise with you: Not only did I pre-order King’s Under the Dome for $8.98 from Walmart.com last week ($9.46 with tax and FREE shipping), but it actually arrived yesterday, on the actual release date.  And that was without my paying extra for speedy shipping.  So yes…I am all for this store competition over books…

The only writing of note I have done as of late are my daily poetry scribbles.  Sometimes these last about 2 minutes…other times I manage to drag them through the course of an entire day, giving them some attention here and there.  I realized on Monday that I am about 10 poems short of putting together a collection.  Granted, I usually only manage 1 poem of value (that is, to keep and work on at length later on) out of every 6 or so.  But still, hey…a goal is a goal.

Also, there is a new review of Debris up over at Horror and Fantasy Book Reviews that is far too kind.  You should check it out and drop a comment or two.

And that’s it for now.  Work is calling.  Actually, it’s screaming threats at me in a voice that reminds me of the Sargeant in “Seargeant Baker” by Primus.  So off I go…

Hey everyone.  Remember me?

I think it’s safe to say that my time of being something of a regular in the online writing circles has come to an end.  I knew that making the change from freelancing to 9-5ing would result in that but it had to be done.  Of course, this means that I am behind of new anthology guidelines, the success of friends and tons of blog reading and Twitter updates.  (Wow, that almost sounds like a job in itself).

I am beginning to find a groove for myself as far as a schedule is concerned.  While writing time is few and far between (mostly lunch breaks and every now and then at night), I am beginning to value it so much more.  Also, oddly enough, this new 9-5 schedule makes acceptances much sweeter.

For instance, I was on a high for about 2 days when I received word that my story “The Mannerisms of Runners” has been accepted into 2010’s 52 Stitches.

Meanwhile, my endless pimping of Debris continues.  Check out the interview over at one of my old freelancing haunts Freelance Writerville.

And as always, for any of you that may have purchased it already, your comments and reviews are appreciated.

Now back to writing…it could very well be the only writing I get done this week…

The Debris Giveaway winners have been selected!  And I apologize for the delay, but this new job has me busier than I can even begin to explain.

The GRAND PRIZE winner is Aaron Polson.  This only seems fitting seeing as how a great majority of the entrants selected his stories.  Seriously Aaron…remember us all when you’re rubbing elbows with the Big Boys.  (Also, you just keep in mind that your name was drawn from a Redksins hat…and that we LET your Chiefs get a W this year).

The runner up is Mary Rajotte!

So both of you guys send me your snail mail addresses and I’ll send the prizes your way!

In other news, Hellnotes has put up a posting about Debris.  Swing by and check it out!  And read it slowly and savor every word because if this job continues to be this swamped, I’m not sure how often I’ll be able yo pop back in on here.  Also, for those generous souls that have purchased Debris online, your reviews would be greatly appreciated.  Here’s one from Jennifer Brozek at Apex:

Debris is a chilling, imaginative and provocative collection of short stories. This collection covers the gamut from urban legends to human frailties to alien menaces and almost everything in-between. Barry Napier shows his technical skill in the craft through his use of poetry, flash fiction and short stories as well as his skill as an author with the well-turned phrase. Definitely a collection to read and enjoy. Just don’t read it in the dead of night if you have an overactive imagination.

Congrats to the winners!  And here’s wishing you other NaNo’ers all the best (I currently sit at 8,009 words).

I really suck at this contest thing.

While it may seem unfair to those of you that already entered, I have decided to try adding 3 BONUS hours to the contest…between 9PM and midnight tonight.  When I realized that only 10 people entered (10 very AWESOME people), I wondered if my marketing of the contest was all wrong somehow.  But in the interest of trying to make a better contest (and maybe, just maybe, give out more prizes), I thought I should at least give this a try…

(Not only that, but this new work schedule and 2 very active children had me forgetting that winners were to be announced yesterday and rather than admit my negligence, this seemed like a better and nearly intentional idea).

Anyway, for those of you here for the 3 bonus hours, check out the simple contest details here.

For those of you that entered from the start, thanks so much for your support!

Having had my head under the water that is the new job for the past few days and then a weekend that was both tiring and hectic, I have been basically MIA from all blogging, blog-reading, Twittering and other forms of e-communication.  Not that I was ever the world’s best about faithfully commenting on people’s blogs, but still…Not even a week has passed yet and I feel left out somehow.

So to compensate, I figured I would try out NaNo again.  Last year was a failure…I only managed about 13,000 words of a novel that has since then only grown to 31,000 words.  But I figured that with the newness of my new job and a desperate need to find as much writing time as I could, perhaps this little challenge (not just NaNo but the hunt for any available writing time) is a new page of sorts in my writing career.  Maybe a situation like this is what it will take to really prove whether or not I have the motivation to “make it.”

Yet of course, the 1,600 words I wrote today for my NaNo project (previously titled The Nowhere Tree but now without a title) is not nearly enough productivity to get so insightful about the future of my writing.

In other news…

The winners of the Debris Giveaway Contest will be announced tomorrow!  Thanks for entering, everyone!

Also, I received word on Saturday that my very dark poem “Cars Abandoned on Friday Night” has been accepted by Everyday Poets.  I had a blast writing this poem and the few folks that have beta-read it (as well as the authors) seem to be very pleased with it.

Now let me see if I can get in another 1,000 words or so to this NaNo project before turning in for the night.  Have a great week, folks!

Day #2 of the New Job has been put into the record books and I must say that it is looking impossibly cool so far.  Of course, that means that there have now been 2 entire days of no writing, but I expected that.  Truth be told, I don’t know that I’ll get any writing done in the next week.

In other news, Debris is now available on Amazon.  If you have purchased a copy (thank you, by the way) there, I would GREATLY appreciate your reviews and comments on Amazon.  Even if you brought yours through CreateSpace, you SHOULD still be able to post reviews on Amazon.  I’m honestly not sure HOW that works.

Anyway, my free time these says is scarce, so I’m going to make this quick.  I am quite pissed that the World Series is taking the place of Fringe tonight, but perhaps I can use that time to get some much needed sleep.

Here’s hoping all is well with everyone else…

(Jeez…2 full days away from the internet and I already feel like a stranger to everyone…)