I've started attending a writing group. Well, there's only two people in it, including myself, but that's a start. It is very nice to have someplace to garner constructive criticism on my work. So far it's been working out well. I am sensitive to criticism but as of yet it has actually increased my confidence in my writing as well as showing me ways to improve it. Of that I am very glad. Finally I can start revising enough of my stories that maybe one, just one, will be published.

That may prove more difficult than I first expected. The story I've been working on lately, Raven Feathers, is a difficult sell. The setting is science fiction: the content is more akin to literary fiction. Very early on the plot is discarded to focus on the development of a character, which is its literary strength. However, given that most science fiction magazines look for good, strong plots that strength may be a marketing weakness. If it turns out I can't sell this story, expect to see it on Runicfire in the near future.

I've started on a new story, with the same character but in a different situation. This one should have a little more in the way of plot, but that depends on where I find myself upon finishing. I have the front end of the story pretty much figured out, but the middle and ending are thrashing around like an alligator being swallowed by a Burmese python. Either that or like some kind of dusky, eldrich tadpole stuck to a slide.