I want to take the time to thank Livejournal and all the people who have let me befriend them and have befriended me back (or not). The stories and advice I get to read on here are what they call "priceless". Getting to read what so many professionals in the buisness have to say on an everyday basis is both entertaining and informative. Thanks guys (and girls).

I couldn't keep Apex's attention either. That's two slush-reader's/ editor's (?) who lost interest somewhere in my story. I don't know if it's the story or the writing that's lagging. It's tough not knowing what to do about it. Most of the feedback I have gotten has been from friends and family and you know what that's like. There are not any writers groups in my area that I know of  that I would feel comfortable with presenting the subject matter of this story to unfortunately. I don't spend enough time on any of the online workshops to feel like I deserve their help either, if you know what I mean.

Anybody out there have any feelings about Writers of the Future one way or the other? If they could do for me what American Idol did for David Cook it would be amazing. I know winning is a long shot, but if you do win it's a full week of working with some real professionals. The money wouldn't suck either.

Anybody else get an e/mail saying their Facebook password has been reset and the new one is in the attachment? Funny thing though, I don't have a Facebook account. Beware what you open people.

Because that's what your supposed to do. I revised the beginning of Spirit of The Ucanians and sent it to Apex Magazine. Why am I still messing with this you ask? I guess because I have high hopes. I'm telling you; it's weird enough to get me published and honestly, I think it's pretty good. Hopefully someone else will think it's good enough to publish as well. I do feel the beginning is better with a stronger hook this time. Hope it works.

Back to my two unfinished novels. Wish me luck.

http://rolanni.livejournal.com/ has proposed to make June 23 as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers day and several authors I respect are promoting it as well. Personally I think it's a great idea as well because I spent much of my youth enthralled by those type of stories. Here is a link to her livejournal so you can read it for yourself. http://rolanni.livejournal.com/439604.html

 on my website fubared my short  Lelee’s Treasure and it took me this long to notice. Sorry about that. Very unprofessional on my part. I’ll fix it as soon as I get the chance. Gonna try to make it to Conestoga again this year. Anybody wanna bet me something comes up and I have to miss it again this year? I will say not making a con has nothing to do with whether or not your writing.

1.You wont get much support.

2.Your friends will think you are crazy.

3.You are crazy.

4.A five thousand word short story will pay you about $300 dollars  IF you sell it, but with the time it takes you to write it and Rewrite it, you could have made better money at McDonalds, times six.

5.It probably will take me a million words before I stop writing crap.

6.It is a good feeling when your rewriting something and one of those little things you have read/learned goes click and everything falls into place.

7.I do know what people are talking about when they say"the story/song wrote itself".

8.It seems like the only time all is right with the world is when I am writing.

9.I'm afraid I'm getting that "I write because I must" feeling I've heard people talk about.

10.I have noticed that hard work takes you farther than mere talent will anyday.

11.Writing is work.

12.Writing has to be more than sitting down and doing it only when I feel like it.

13.This is not a race.

14.I'm ok if I dont make it.

15.God I would love to make it.

16.I'm going to make it.

17.Write for yourself.

18.Rewrite for the reader.

19.God I like to dream. I pray that someday it's more than just a dream.

20.I've got to learn to not be so temperamental. Learn to write in a storm in other words.

21. This is the closest thing to school-work that I actually enjoy doing.

22. My heart actually gets to racing when I write an action  scene and I have scared myself writing. I wont say what happens when I write a love scene.

 I have noticed a growing trend in my reading habits the older I get. I am really starting to like reading short stories and with a collection like Wolfsongs , it is easy to understand why. Editor and writer Margaret Bonham has assembled a collection of stories that captures the spirit, the mystique, and the love of these mysterious animals. Delivered from  professional and up and coming writers, it runs the gamut from fantasy and mythology, to sword and sorcery with a little sci-fi and horror mixed in, with plenty of werewolf stories for those who like that sort of thing. I know I do.

The 196 page anthology is full of bright spots with different stories appealing to different people. Several in fact, I expect to see in some of the years best's collections later on. Some of the stories will leave you begging for more and wanting to track down the author and read the rest of their stories. If I have any problems with this anthology it is the fact that some of the stories leave so much unfinished. That so much of the story is left untold. I guess that's what you are supposed to do as an entertainer-- leave them wanting more. Needless to say, I can't wait until the next Wolfsongs Anthology comes out.

Yes I come off as a total fanboy, but the bottom line is, it's well worth the price of admission. Honestly I had barely started reading and was glad I had  spent the money. In this day and age of economic troubles isn't that what its all about? To get full value for your entertainment  dollars?

The deadline to the writers workshop at ArmadilloCon that is. But it's ok. Looks like my short story is gonna go past their 5000 word count limit anyway. The last scene has been kicking my butt. I have the characters and the situation but getting to where I want them to go has been tough. Plus then I have to revise and polish it. No way I can make that deadline with my schedule. Money is gonna be tight for a while as well. The only thing I'm really gonna miss is getting to see Joe Haldeman and John Scalzi, plus getting to party in Austin which is a hell of a cool city. Maybe next year. I'm just gonna have to settle to limiting myself to Connestoga here in Tulsa again this year.

I just finished reading Stephen King's On Writing, which I enjoyed very much btw, and he said sometimes those writers workshops aren't always what they are cut out to be. What he likes to do is have what he calls "first readers" look at it and then come back and tell him what he did wrong. Thats what I want to do here. If you are interested in being one of my "first readers" send me an e/mail and I will send you a copy(through e/mail) of my story. I thought about posting it on my website for free, but this is one I want to try to see if I can sell. 'Cause really, thats why you do it. Right? I know King said he never did it for the money, but come on...You think he gave it back?

So if your interested in reading a sci-fi/horror story for free just e/mail me. I've tried to keep it to an R rating but it does contain graphic violence and an alien/human love scene so anyone under 17 is a no-no. All I ask is that you try to give me some good feedback, don't try to make money off of me and honor my copyright, and if you do share it with someone, tell them where it came from. My e/mail is jwjohnson@jw-johnson.com