writing

November/December/January Newsletter: Writing, Cheer, and Resetting for 2025!

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Read the previous issue here!

Read the latest story here!

Hello Friends,

Three months have come and gone as the leaves fell, the ground froze, and the sky started dumping mountains of snow. It’s been a time of productivity, reflection, and regrouping—both in writing and in life. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

Writing Updates

Despite some ups and downs, I made solid progress over the past few months:

  • Finished “Breaking News!” – A short story I started before Can-Con that I was determined to complete.
  • Wrote a new flash story – Currently titled “In and Out of Light”, this one came together quickly and has an eerie, atmospheric vibe that I really enjoyed working with. It is based on my previous newsletter’s writing prompt.
  • Romance Writing – I completed five romance stories across various sub-genres, each in the 3,000–3,500 word range. These will either serve as ghostwriting samples or extra material for future submission opportunities.
  • Editing and Light Months – December and January were slow writing months. I wrapped up a bit of editing in December, but I didn’t do any writing in January. It was a needed break.
  • Anthology Release! – We wrote our one-shot anthology over 24 hours in November and it officially launched on January 1st! A great way to start the year. You can read it at the link above.

Writing-Adjacent Work

  • Attended Can-Con in November – The experience was inspiring and gave me a creative jolt that had me writing 3,000 words a day for over two weeks. It was a reminder of why I love being part of this community.

Rejections & Submissions

With so much happening, I put off submitting for a bit, but now I’m getting back into an editing mindset and preparing for a huge submission push. I didn’t send anything out in December or January, but I’ve collected 20 of the roughly 30 stories I wrote over the last two years to finish polishing and submitting. Time to take a page out of Michelle’s book (our group’s short story queen) and flood the markets! Here’s to making 2025 the year of submissions.

Life Updates

November started strong with Can-Con, and I was riding the creative high for weeks. But then, something deeply traumatic happened within my immediate family. It’s not something I’ll discuss here, but it forced me to step back and put things into perspective. My emotions were all over the place, and writing took a necessary backseat.

December was all about family and friends—exactly what I needed at that time. Then, in January, I spent a lot of time alone, meditating and dealing with the winter blues. It was a quiet month, but one of reflection and resetting.

I also took a break from breakfast writing sprints for a few weeks over Christmas, but now we’re back at it, full throttle.

Basketball & Raptors Updates

I didn’t get as much time to watch games as I usually do, but I kept up with the chaos of the season:

  • LeBron’s wild streak – From triple-double dominance to barely being able to buy a basket.
  • The 76ers’ mess – What a disaster.
  • Surprise improvements – Detroit, Orlando, and OKC have been slowly putting pieces together. It’s exciting to see them develop.
  • Flagg Race? – I’d still join the race, but they might be too good at this point.

By the end of January, the Raptors went on a hot streak, winning a bunch of games—most likely to showcase their trade pieces. I’ll be heading to Fan Appreciation Day at Scotiabank Arena on February 1st, and I can’t wait!

Reading Corner

I dove into some great books over the past few months:

  • Dennis E. Taylor’s Not Till We Are Lost – Always love his work.
  • First five books of The Chronicles of Amber – A great mix of intrigue and adventure.
  • James Downe’s Sisters of Jade – A writing group partner’s book, though I paused it to switch to another one of his works we’re reviewing.
  • Rio’s book – Another writing group member’s work that we discussed in one of our sessions.
  • Halfway through The Mists of Avalon – I’m enjoying it so far, though I know there’s been debate about continuing to read Marion Zimmer Bradley’s work given their personal controversies. Still working through my thoughts on that.

Looking Ahead

Now that I’m getting back into an editing and submission mindset, February will be about pushing stories out into the world. I’ll also be at breakfast sprints, keeping the momentum going.

Thanks for sticking with me through the ups and downs of the last few months. Writing is a journey, and sometimes, stepping back is just as important as pushing forward. Looking forward to what the next season brings!

Until next time,

Tim Windling

September/October Newsletter: Happy Halloween and Fall Reflections

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Read the previous issue here!

Read the latest story here!

Hello Friends,

Happy Halloween! The spooky season is here, and with it, lots to share from the last couple of months. September and October were filled with writing projects, exciting life updates, and time to dive into some of my favourite hobbies. Here’s everything that’s been going on:

September Highlights

Writing
September was a productive month for new ideas and ongoing projects;

  • “Alabaster”: I focused on fleshing out the story’s structure and working through key scenes.
  • “Breaking News!”: I dove into this piece, moving forward with outlines and rough scenes. It’s been fun experimenting with voice and pacing in this one.
  • The Microphone Story: I outlined another new concept, currently dubbed the quite original “microphone story.” Lots to work with here, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.
  • “The Cul-de-sac Kid”: I revisited and did some light edits on this piece as well, refining its voice and tweaking a few plot details.

Writing Adjacent
September also saw the launch of this newsletter and work on my website! I finished designing my business card, but it’s turned into more of a mini-book—stay tuned to see what I mean. Eager to make it official!

Rejections
The rejections kept rolling in, but each brought valuable feedback:

  • Ember finally rejected “The Cul-de-sac Kid” after 326 days! After re-reading, I see areas that needed refining. I’ve added about 600 more words so far, with a bit more to go before it’s ready for resubmission. Two out of five places I’ve sent it to have provided encouraging feedback, which has been invaluable.

Life Updates
Car maintenance and weekend trips were major parts of my month. My 9-to-5 schedule keeps weekends free, which allowed for some family visits and mini road trips along the 401, 402, 403, and 406—beautiful drives that are becoming familiar. I’m hoping to expand my travels up and down the 401, even into the U.S. eventually!

Basketball & Raptors
Basketball season is upon us! The highlight for me was Vince Carter’s jersey retirement. On a less celebratory note, the recent MLSE sale has me disappointed; I’m hoping legal action will prevent the sale from giving Rogers an even tighter grip on our teams.

Reading
I read Don Miazek’s Pale Grey Dot and James S. A. Corey’s Mercy of the Gods. Both had powerful elements of suspense and world-building. I look forward to the sequels. Fall always puts me in the reading mood! Click on the photo above to purchase a copy of Don’s novel.

Music
In September, I performed acoustically at my aunt’s wedding, which was a special experience. It’s rekindled my interest in music and performing—though I’m having to rein it in for now!

Events
September had its fair share of events:

  • I was able to attend one of the Toronto In-Person reading sessions and ProWritingAid webinars, where I picked up some great writing tips.

October Updates

Writing
October was slower on the writing front because of some needed rest and a bit of travel, but I still made progress:

  • “Breaking News!” was originally meant for Polar Borealis, but I lost momentum. I took a few days to return to it and hope to pick it back up with renewed energy.
  • “The Cul-de-sac Kid” received more edits following its rejection. I’m focusing on tightening the story’s core and refining some of the descriptive language to bring it closer to the version I envision.

Writing Group
I’m thrilled that Denise “Rio” Murphy, a collaborator in my morning writing group, has reached the Alpha reading stage for her novel. It’s exciting to see her progress, and I’m learning a lot from her process.

Rejections
Both “Scared Stiff” and “Printer Currently Not Available, Try Again Later” received rejections this month. The response I got from Scared Stiff described it as a “high-quality piece,” which was encouraging, even if it wasn’t the right fit. Time to send these stories back out into the world.

Life
This month was filled with family time. I spent eight days visiting my nephew, sister, and brother-in-law, then visited my best friend’s kids, one of whom is 13 now and really starting to feel like a teenager. Watching them grow up is a joy—and a bit of a reminder of time passing!

Basketball & Raptors
Raptor’s season is back, and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve been catching as many games as possible and am impressed by some of the other teams, too—particularly the Lakers, OKC, Boston, and GSW. Can’t wait to see what the season holds!

Reading
I started reading Broken Genius by Dew Murray and have reached about 80 pages. I’ve set it aside temporarily, as I’m currently immersed in the audiobook of the latest Bobiverse release. I’ve also picked up a book by a writing group member, James Donwe’s Sisters of Jade, which has me intrigued.

Events
This week, I’m heading to Can-Con in Ottawa. If any of you are attending, keep an eye out for me—I’d love to connect in person! That’ll be the last big event for me this year unless we’re able to squeeze in an anthology release before 2025.

Looking Ahead: Plans for November

In November, I’ll be diving into a new writing project for a one-shot anthology. The theme and title are all set, and I can’t wait to work on my story during those 24 hours. I’ll also be announcing more details about the anthology release soon, so stay tuned!

Writing Prompt of the Month
For those of you looking for a bit of inspiration this season, here’s a prompt to get those creative gears turning:

A star-mapping crew stumbles upon a constellation that should not exist, appearing overnight. As they research, they realize that each of the stars is connected to a disappearance in recent history, and the next constellation is a warning of an upcoming catastrophe.

Thanks for catching up with me! I appreciate having you all along on this journey through rejections, writing milestones, family time, and everything in between. I hope you have a wonderful Halloween, and I’m looking forward to sharing more in the next update.

Warmly,
Tim Windling

The July/August Newsletter—The End of Summer Issue.

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Read the previous issue here!

Read the latest story here!

Hello, Friends!

This newsletter is arriving a little later than expected, but I’m excited to finally share what the past couple of months have been like. So here it is—your July/August update!

Writing Progress

This summer has been all about juggling multiple projects, honing drafts, and pushing stories forward. Here’s a glimpse into what I’ve been up to with my writing:

  • “DTD and the Ready, Setty Gang”: After completing the first and second drafts, I brought this story to my writing group to gather feedback. While there’s still work to be done, I’m now gearing up for the third draft, which will involve deeper revisions and polishing. The writing group always provides such valuable insights, and I’m eager to implement their suggestions.
  • “A Serpent in Crab Pot 756”: This is another short story that has been slowly evolving. I’ve just finished the second draft and will take it to my writing group as well.
  • “The Alan Bigsby Society in the Sisters Phantasm”: I outlined and wrote the first draft of this short story/novelette. I’ve set it aside for now. I’ll revisit it soon enough, but I want to focus on completing the next rounds of revisions for some other projects before diving back into it.

Having multiple works in different stages of development has kept things interesting, but it’s also a balancing act. I’m learning a lot about managing my time and energy across these creative endeavours. Each draft brings its own set of challenges, and there’s something deeply rewarding about watching a story grow from the seed of an idea into something more fully realized.

Rejections: Part of the Process

Ah, rejection—the inevitable companion to every writer’s journey. July and August were filled with a fair share of them, but I’m reminding myself that every rejection is just one step closer to the right home for my stories.

  • “Gate of Altan”: This short story faced four rejections over the past couple of months, but it’s still out there in the market, waiting for the right editor to discover it. I’m not giving up on it.
  • “Scared Stiff”: This flash story was also rejected once. Flash fiction can be tricky since there’s often less room to showcase voice or world-building, but I’m confident it will land in the right publication soon.
  • “Printer Currently Unavailable, Try Again Later” and “The Cul-de-sac Kid”: These two stories are still sitting in their respective queues, awaiting feedback.

Rejections never feel good, but I view them as part of the learning process. Each one brings an opportunity to either revisit a story for revisions or keep sending it out until it finds the right fit. Writing requires resilience, and these rejections are milestones on the path to success.

Life Update: Moving and Milestones

On the life front, July and August have been a whirlwind of activity—primarily because I moved! While I stayed in the same city, this move took me to the opposite end of town. As anyone who’s gone through a move knows, it’s both physically and emotionally draining, and this one was no exception. Packing, unpacking, adjusting to a new space—these tasks can take over your life. The move stretched from late June into early July, and as August began, I settled into a new rhythm.

August brought a wave of birthdays—mine included! In one month, I celebrated seven birthdays between August 2–September 2nd. Birthdays are always a reminder to slow down and connect with loved ones, but they also add a layer of busyness to an already packed schedule.

And, of course, we had the Olympics, which provided an exciting and inspiring backdrop to the summer. Though I didn’t watch every event, it was great to catch some of the highlights and marvel at the athleticism on display.

What I’ve Been Reading

Check out the free book below.

I’ve squeezed in some reading time amidst all the writing, moving, and birthday celebrations. Here are some books I’ve delved into recently:

  • Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred: A timeless classic that blends science fiction with historical fiction, Kindred is an emotionally gripping story that delves into themes of slavery, identity, and survival. Butler’s work is always powerful, and this one is no exception.
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
  • Jack Vance’s Eyes of the Overworld and The Dying Earth
  • Danny Santos’ An Overture for the Odyssey: A free novella from a fellow Toronto SFF writer. A mix of Pirates of the Caribbean meets Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn.
    • You can read it by following his newsletter here.
  • Erik Larson’s The Demon of Unrest: Larson’s nonfiction always impresses me, and this book is no different. It’s a chilling yet fascinating look at historical events surrounding Lincoln’s inauguration and the beginning of the American civil war with the pacing of a thriller.

Events: Worldcon and Upcoming Plans

Worldcon took place this summer, and while I couldn’t attend, I was following the news and updates closely. It’s always exciting to see the gathering of speculative fiction authors, readers, and industry folks, and I wish I could have been there to meet some of my favourite writers. The good news is that World Fantasy Con is just around the corner in October, and I’m hoping to attend. It will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow authors, network with publishers, and attend some insightful panels.

Looking Ahead to September

I’ll be headed to Toronto September 28-29th, 2024

As September rolls in, I’ve got plenty to keep me busy. I’m looking forward to getting more words down on the page and pushing forward with my writing goals. Here are a few of the plans I have for the month:

  • Attending the festivities of The Word on the Street, a local event celebrating literature and storytelling.
  • Continue refining short stories—continue submitting stories.
  • Begin preparing for Polar Borealis in October, a speculative fiction publication that I hope to submit to.
  • Gear up for the inevitable hecticness that comes with fall—work, writing, events, and more!

That’s it for now, friends! Thank you for sticking with me through this journey of writing, rejections, and life’s constant changes. I’m eager to see what the fall brings and to continue sharing updates with you. Until next time, keep reading, keep writing, and stay inspired!

Warmly,
Tim Windling