Writing Update June 2024: Readings, Signings, and Doubling Down

A few things of note in the last month to share. Then, I’m going to take a bit of a summer “break” in which I’ll be writing, writing, writing.

My First Book Signing
I did my first combined reading/book signing at the Purcellville Public Library in Virginia on June 8.

This was the first time I had a table where I signed and sold my books (even if these were poetry collections I appeared in and not books I wrote solo). I also moderated a panel with six fellow writers which I thought featured a really great discussion on the collective creative process.

I also did a reading of two new poems at the event: “Chopin” and “Clouds.” In addition, I recited “Moment to Moment” which I had debuted earlier at StokerCon (see below) since it has a much darker/richer tone.

The Northern Viriginia Writers’ Club put on the event and I’m grateful for them doing so. I’m hoping to do lots of more of these local events in the future. Including, perhaps, an appearance at a local eatery/café (more on this when it firms up).   

StokerCon—A Quick Recap
I did so, so much at StokerCon (the Horror Writer Association’s annual convention) this year. It’s impossible to recap everything that went on: All the panels, the friends you meet, the hallway conversations, the learnings, but I’ll try to sum them up.

I did a reading of two new poems (“From Corpse to God Along the Black Dragon” and “Moment to Moment”) at the Convention on June 1. I was joined on stage by Kevin Wetmore, Christi Nogle, and Jo Kaplan. 

While at the Convention, I also pitched a couple of novellas to three different editors and at least two of them showed serious interest. (More on that when/if it becomes actionable).

I also met the Canadian writer Chris Niddrie, who I’m working more closely with, exchanging stories and critiquing each other’s works. He came down from the foggy woods of Vancouver Island to San Diego and we had a great time—including a paranormal investigation at the Whaley House.

I met lots of new writer I had only seen (or interacted with) online including: Pedro Iniquez, Jonathan Louis Duckworth, Mercedes Yardley, Jo Kaplan, Corey Farrenkopf, L.P. Hernandez, and Alex Hofelich, to name a few. It was so awesome meeting all of them!

I also caught up with lots of writers I already know (too many to list)—which was also great.  

Doubling Down on the Short/Long Strategy: Novels and Poems
My main focus right now is two-fold. It’s what I’m calling my Short/Long strategy.

That means I’m going to continue to focus on writing poems (Short) and novels (Long). So, that means I’m dialing my short stories down to zero, to focus on novels (and the occasional novella) and poems.

Honestly, writing novels is all I wanted to ever do in writing. I think I’ve learned a lot from writing short stories, but they’re not going to get me where I want to go creatively or otherwise. More importantly, they’re not what I’m ultimately drawn to.

As for poems, I’m pretty new to writing them. But now that I’ve started, I feel—very keenly and strongly—that I can’t quit. So, I’m getting down ideas, getting down the poems themselves (including during food service on a cross-country flight!), honing them, and proofing them. After they’ve reached that point, it’s only natural to submit them.

Currently, what’s the state of both of these?

They’re a grind…Both of them. I admit it. Plenty of rejections for both my poems and my longer pieces…But also…Commingled with those, lots of GOOD rejections. (If you submit a lot, you already know what I’m talking about…). Lots of great comments sprinkled in with those rejections, mostly encouraging me to submit to their publication again. One I got from a literary journal regarding my poems made me think I had started a near-revolt in the editorial room—which was very gratifying!

…Anyway, so, getting lots of feedback from editors, agents, other writers. And some of it (not all of it) is good! So, going to continue this crazy writing thing…

But going to continue it with more focus on poems and novels. (I’m giving myself ONE exception for an extraordinary call from Scythian Wolf for Historical Horror). So, when I get an idea for a short story, I’m going to write it down, put it away, and keep plugging on the novels and poems.

And in case you’re wondering…Yes! My latest novel I’m writing has a short poem or two in it, based on the culture of that world. (I figured writing a poem for inclusion in a novel was OK).  

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All for now! Gotta go write!

Have a great summer and I hope to post something when it’s done—including lots of writing updates. In the meantime, feel free to track my progress on my Twitter/X handle, @DariusJonesWrit.

Darius