Darius Jones's Blog: A Writer Begins, page 7

“Breakpoint” Live Reading Set for August

Well, I have achieved one more step on my relentless march to become a Cross-Media Phenomena. My science-fiction story “Breakpoint” will be read live on Kyanite’s Publishing’s Facebook page on Aug. 20 at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time, U.S.). Then, it will be posted to YouTube for your further entertainment. (I will perma-link YouTube post here when it goes live).

For me, this is a first. I always imagined doing a reading or having someone read or perform one of my pieces. You know, a little b...

“The Hatchlings” Now on Kindle

My Sci-Fi Horror story, “The Hatchlings” is out now on the Amazon Kindle store. It was my first story that ever got “traditionally” published way back in 2013 (that seems long ago now!). It came out in Fiction Vortex in August 2013 and won 3rd place in their Readers’ Choice Award. So, I’m glad to be offering it directly to readers myself now.

The story also features some great new cover art from Die Welle Design:

What’s more, I’m doing a giveaway to celebrate its release! It’s free t...

New Story Out: The Number Thief

Well, here’s some good news for this strange, grim summer. A new story of mine, The Number Thief is out now at The Magazine of History and Fiction.

It’s been a long time coming. Honestly, I was worried this story would never get traditionally published. There isn’t much of a market for historical fiction novellas! But it’s a little gem of a story, something I’m quite proud of.

It’s important for two reasons. First, it marks the long-delayed return of the protagonist of my previous sto...

May 2020 Writing Update

There’s so much going on right now, going to keep this one short and sweet.

The Writing of the Fiction: Adapt and Persist
The most important thing–getting words down–has continued. Last week, I had about 3,700 words on my writing day. Of course, this didn’t come without some adaptation. For me, that means no more writing OUT. I usually go to a cafe, boot up the PC, settle in, and start to write. No more. Instead I grab a tea, a date and some chocolate and head into the “Man Cave.” Someti...

On Making Use of the Pandemic

A writer and, I believe, generally all persons must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been given to us for a purpose, and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art. JLB.

First, want you to know this writer is doing well. Like I said earlier, I am lucky enough to be able to work from home, so...

A Writer in the Time of Pandemic

I never thought I would live through something like this. I thought plagues and pestilences were something I would only read about in books or see in historical TV dramas. A horrible ghost haunting Elizabethan romances and hackneyed documentaries about ancient Rome. But thats not our fate.

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Its frankly difficult for me to process everything thats happened in this past month alone. The closures of businesses, schools, restaurants and public gatherings. Here in Virginia a couple of days ago,...

New Story Out: Pacha-Mama

My new story Pacha-Mama is out now over at Scarlet Leaf Review. I am very happy Scarlet Leaf picked it up, because I think it’s a fine story and I often doubted it would see the light of day.

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You see, the story went through the ringer in the submission process. It was rejected many times. Here’s the breakdown. From Oct. 9, 2015 until Aug. 31, 2019, the story was:

Rejected 21 times Withdrawn by the author from one market, after its acceptance. Not responded to by three publications (Who...

New Modes of Storytelling I’m Excited About

You know, writing has changed over the years. Sometimes those changes are bad, sometimes they’re good. But the important thing is that it keeps changing. Because once (and if) it stops changing, once it stagnates over a long period, it would begin to die and no longer be a vital art form. And that’s something nobody should want.

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A long time ago, before writing existed, before the pyramids, people still had stories. (This is an assumption, but it’s pretty safe to say). And I believe there...

Where My Writing Is Headed in 2020

Well, well, well. The twenties are here. Again.

Crazy.

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For me, that means more writing. And new goals. Overall, I’m pretty happy with my writing in 2019. Can’t complain at all. Stayed productive, got a story accepted, and had great focus and determination overall. So, proud of all that.

But now it’s onto 2020 and I want to make sure I’m growing while sticking to the fundamentals. So, here’s a look at where my writing is going (and some goals) for 2020.

1. Keep Writing.

This is number one....

A Look Back at My Year in Writing – 2019

Wow! Another year gone. Time to give you a quick recap of some the things I accomplished this year [Voice of God from the heavens:] in…the writing…of the fiction.

[image error]That’s one grumpy Steinbeck!

1. I Kept Writing Despite Setbacks

The thing I am most proud of this year as a writer (and a person) is that I didn’t give up. I didn’t stop writing. I have told myself on numerous occasions this year: “If a bullet didn’t stop you from writing, nothing will.” I even put this slug line in the manuscript I...