L. Lambert Lawson
Writer. Reader. Friend.Finding the Blue Door – A New Flash Story From Me
So, a few months ago, I raised money for a Suicide Prevention Walk by offering to write all donators a flash story in any genre of their choosing. I’ve been slowly getting through them, and this story is my latest creation. It’s in a genre I normally don’t create in, but I had a good time writing it. I typically don’t display my stories, but I’m changing my ways this year. I hope you enjoy this little piece. Let me know what you think.
Finding the Blue Door by L. Lambert Lawson (c) 2012
Freewrite Podcast for 16 Jan 2012
Prompt:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/horses-southern-iceland/
Podcast:
http://www.kazkapress.net/podcasts/10_Minute_Freewrite_Podcast_6.mp3
Remember, because these are my 10-minute freewrites, they are incomplete. The end of this one is pretty abrupt.
Freewrite Podcast #5
Prompt: [Can't seem to find picture; will place here if I find it.]
Podcast:
http://www.kazkapress.net/podcasts/10_Minute_Freewrite_Podcast_5.mp3
Freewrite Podcast #4: The Puma and the Raptor
The Prompt:
The podcast:
http://www.kazkapress.net/podcasts/10_Minute_Freewrite_Podcast_4.mp3
10 Minute Freewrite Podcast #3 (this one’s a wee-bit sexy)
Prompt:
Photo Source: https://plus.google.com/u/0/102708058484693753923/posts
Podcast:
http://www.kazkapress.net/podcasts/10_Minute_Freewrite_Podcast_3.mp3
Freewrite Podcast #2: Nails Through Her Heart
The prompt:
From: Lonny Cloud / Thunder Puppy Art
The podcast for 12 Jan 2012:
My Crazy New Experiment (Free-Write Podcast #1)
Okay. I’m the kind of person who gets an idea and just goes. Some of you might know that already through my work at Kazka Press. Well, here’s my newest idea. This one’s just about me, though.
If you read my last post, you know that I write 10-Minute free writes every day. Just to warm up. The tale in them never gets finished, but I might go back and use it in a longer story. There may be tense mistakes or awful word choices. Who knows? It’s a first draft.
But one of the ways to improve all that is to read the story aloud, which I’m awful at doing.
So, now, I’m going to do it.
On my blog, each day, I’m going to post my prompt and my podcast. If you’re interested, you can listen. If not, that’s okay too. This project’s for me. And if you don’t like my voice? That’s okay as well.
Here’s my prompt for 11 Jan 2012 (hope you can see it):
And the podcast for 11 Jan 2012:
Oh, and, not that anyone cares enough to do anything with these anyway, but:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.
Recent Writing Resolutions (Coinciding with the New Year)
I made some writing resolutions in the thick of December and have carried them over to the New Year (thankfully). Here’s what I’ve pledged to do every day, writing wise:
1. Write a 10 minute free write by hand everyday (morning, preferably) in response to a photo prompt. I use the photogs I follow on Google+ or my LIFE photo app for the iPad to find intriguing photos to write from. At the end of each month, I’ll read though my free write journal and highlight stuff I think I can use to begin a short story.
2. Write 300 words on my novel. Right now, I’m knee-deep in a phase outline for it. I’ve always hated outlines, but this phase outline idea–man, it’s something I wish I’d discovered 6 years ago. Once that’s done, I’ll begin the old novel. FYI: 300 words always turns into 700 or 800 each day. Give yourself a small target, and you’ll usually exceed it.
3. Write 500 words on my short stories every day. Pretty simple goal. I can spend all 500 words on one story or sprinkle it around a few. Again, I always do a bit more.
4. Spend six hours a week turning first drafts into second drafts. You have to finish what you begin, and I’ve always had a hard time doing that. This is the time of my life where I turn that around.
I’m enjoying this routine, and I hope to be sticking with it. I’m producing a lot of content, shitty first drafts as Anne Lamott calls them, that’ll eventually become okay second drafts and even better third drafts.
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I also have some reading goals:
1: Read 40 books in 2012. I read 36 in 2011, and have already read four since 1 January, so I’m well on my way.
2: Read the award winning Hugo and Nebula short stories for every year of my life, one for each award each month. Thus, as I was born in 1981, I’ll read 1981′s Hugo and Nebula winning short stories January 2012. In February 2012, I’ll read those stories from 1982. Etc. This goal will, obviously, extend into 2014.
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So, yes. I have some goals. Another one, get into Clarion West in 2012. That’s a long shot, but I won’t reject myself. I’ll let them do that for me.
Daily Science Fiction Tells Me Things
We have good news and we have bad news. The good news is that your story has made our second round, rarified company that more than 80% of submissions do not reach. While half or more of our second round stories will not ultimately see publication under the DSF rocket, this story has reached the final go/no-go before launch.
The bad news–and I promised you some bad news–is that it will take us time to make that final decision. Expect an additional two weeks or so, but don’t be surprised if it’s a month from today. Thanks for your continued patience, and thanks for sending us this worthy submission.
- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction
After four rejections from them, this news is like FUCKING acceptance. Even if they don’t take my story. Which is really good. So I hope they do. Because you’ll love reading it. 
