#ShortStoryChallenge2024 Round 2 Update

Good news, dear pond readers, I submitted a draft for round two of the #ShortStoryChallenge2024 for NYCMidnight. It was a nail biting experience. I wrote exactly 2000 words and got them turned in with forty minutes left on the clock. Welp!

While this is a rough piece and I’m not sanguine about my chances of advancement in the challenge, it was fun. I wrote a beginning, middle, and end of a romantic comedy in about two days. That’s pretty darn good. Best of all, looking at my creative output in 2024, I’m taken aback at the pace I’ve maintained. Three short stories done in barely four months, posts here, crafting jewelry, sewing, and even some cooking adventures that I haven’t shared here yet. For as much as I often feel less-than and inadequate, it is good to have breadcrumbs here to remind me that I’m doing better than I thought.

First tulips of 2024 by E.A. Schneider

Yesterday, the garden welcomed me home with tulip blooms. It was the most colorful welcome and I feel blessed. If you’re interested in seeing more garden pictures and supporting my creative work at Technicolor Lily Pond, there is more to see over here : Buy Me A Coffee: Technicolor Lily Pond

One planted by the Wee Bairn bloomed! By E.A. Schneider

How is your 2024 going, dear pond readers? Any creative projects you want to share? Please, leave a comment or question below and thanks for stopping by the pond today.

#ShortStoryChallenge2024 Round 2 Progress post#1

Maple leaf in front of willow bark by Ellen Schneider

Hang on to your tea cups, dear pond readers, your favorite pond dweller is about to do some rapid writing. As I wrote in Writing Adventure, my story passed the first round of the #ShortStoryChallenge2024 by NYC Midnight. This is thrilling news. But, now that I have my round two group assignment, I have to get cracking to get a draft done by Sunday. It’s going to be a full weekend and I need to squeeze writing in amongst everything else. Gulp.

Fountain pen roll-up actually rolled up by E.A. Schneider

Luckily, even though this prompt combo isn’t exactly in my comfort zone, it isn’t as much of a stretch as it would’ve been two years ago. I can do hard things, even write romance related narrative.

Wings by E.A. Schneider

Are any of you working on a creative project this weekend? What are your go-tos for energizing for a big deadline? Please, leave a comment or question below and thanks for stopping by the pond today.

Writing Adventure!

Screenshot of my big news of the week

Greetings, dear pond readers! Tuesday night, I found out that my entry in the 2024 Short Story Challenge by NYC Midnight passed the first round in my group. I am over the moon with excitement. This story is fun. Drafting “Bees and Beanstalks,” was more elemental joy than creating a draft usually is for me. The laughter must have shone through because my beloved Beta readers all said this story felt special. That’s pretty great for a two draft submission.

Bees on the asters by E.A. Schneider

Mostly, I’m happy that I get to keep competing. Round two starts tonight. I want to see what I can do. Will I make it to round three? Maybe even to the final round? Who knows! Regardless, I will get a new story to polish. Maybe I’ll even get a new book idea like I did last year. Regardless, pass or fail, I will learn and that is why I persevere.

Bumblebee on daisy by E.A. Schneider

As before, I will endeavor to do updates here at the pond and, if there is interest, over at my my new pad at Buy Me A Coffee. If you check it out, there is also a public poll so you can let me know what kind of posts you want to see here. I look forward to your feedback!

Bees from my garden to cheer all of us on! Photo by E.A. Schneider

Are any of you participating in any writing contest challenges or goals, dear readers? Any creative victories you want to share? Please, leave a comment or question below and thanks for stopping by the pond today.

New Growth

Greetings, dear pond readers! It’s April and it is time for a new chapter at Technicolor Lily Pond. I have decided to introduce some paid content here at the pond using Buy Me A Coffee: Technicolor Lily Pond.The goal of this is to support the cost of increased image storage here as well as both my ongoing fundraising efforts for the National MS Society and my creative efforts.

Hyacinth in my garden by E.A. Schneider

So what is going to be offered? My plan is to showcase my nature photography and new flash fiction behind the paywall. Don’t worry, no subscriptions are currently planned and I’m still going to be offering free content about eclectic, creative things on my normal twice monthly basis.

Purple hyacinth by E.A. Schneider

What do you think, dear pond readers? Any requests for content you want to see? Please leave a comment or question below and thanks again for stopping by the pond today.

April Snow Showers

Greetings, dear pond readers! As I suspected, the Midwest has delivered a Rollercoaster of precipitation and temperatures since my last post. I have seen valiant tulips and native plants coming up as well as singularly grumpy robins fluffed up against surprise heavy snow. What made these robins extra entertaining was that they were flocked in fluffy, grumpy glory in a gas station parking lot.

What a bunch of suspicious characters loitering by the dumpster. For some reason, the music of West Side Story comes to mind here.

Grumpy robins by E.A. Schneider

How is April going for you, dear pond readers? Any fun nature moments or new creative projects to discuss? Please, leave a comment or question below and thanks for stopping by the pond today.