Saturday was the final day to get notified by Glimmer Train for a May win. I was not called, but I was also not rejected like the other story I submitted. That means one of two things: either I finished in the top 25 or I got an honorable mention in the top 5%. However, it is possible my story got rejected Saturday morning and I didn't receive an email because it wasn't a standard submission like the other story. Perhaps they don't email contestants. I'll have to wait until Thursday August 1st when the bulletin comes out with all those names.

Also I may have to wait until Wednesday for the PINAWOR newsletter with my article.

A writer not only writes, he must also wait.
JH

I saw the newsletter editor Saturday and he said he will definitely print my article in the August edition. I'm glad because August is the 50th anniversary and therefore appropriate.

The Glimmer Train guidelines state that the winners will be printed in the August bulletin and will be notified a week before. I'm on edge...3 more days.

Never even heard from the newspaper, not even a form email notification of receipt or rejection.

Probably be another 3 to 4 weeks before I hear about the Florida short story contest.

Meanwhile I keep plugging away at Auction Surprise. What would surprise me if there is enough there for a novel.
JH

The editor of the PINAWOR newsletter has given me some very good pointers and says since a 50th anniversary is such a momentous occasion, he will consider printing it in the August edition.

Also, I jumped the gun and submitted it to the local newspaper, after which I saw many possible improvements. I must learn patience if I am to submit my best work anywhere.

Rewrite. Put it aside. Then rewrite again. Do this more than once.

I'm still hanging in on my Glimmer Train story. I should know in a week and a half or so. What if they print it? WOW!
 JH

The editor of the PINAWOR newsletter asked if I would write an article. I was flattered and have written a short piece about the 50th anniversary of Craig Breedlove breaking the 400 mph barrier with his jet-car Spirit of America. I was hoping it would make the August newsletter to commemorate the record setting date, but Steve says he has a piece for August.

I'm going to contact a freelance friend to see if he thinks the newspaper might buy it.

Meanwhile, I plug away at Auction Surprise.

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine emailed me a rejection on Group Lottery. I may have too many flashbacks. Will rewrite in present time with one flashback, maybe two, and submit to ?.

Meanwhile, I started Chapter 1 of Auction Surprise.

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Am concentrating on making Auction Surprise into a novel, gathering information on characters and making sure the plot follows the story logically. Will probably need to write 4 or 5 chapters to be sure it is going to work at novel length.

This is how I will be spending my time except to submit for publication, now and then, an already written short story.

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I read the 1st five minutes of Auction Surprise to my Saturday writers group. I had some positive feedback and just this morning decided to outline the story to see if I have enough material for a novel. It's at 7k words now and by adding appropriate subplots and fleshing out the characters, I believe it can be a full length book.
If I keep writing short stories, I will never get to the novel.
I hope you are writing, too.
JH