Let's Talk with Debra H. Goldstein
Let’s Talk with Debra H Goldstein
May 2, 2019
Breaking the Tedium – What I do
by Debra H. Goldstein
Ever wonder what novelists do when they want a break from the tedium of trying to reach eighty-thousand words? Some go to the gym or take a walk, but I look for a short story submission call. Concentrating on writing a piece that ranges from one hundred to five thousand words helps me clear my head and gives me time to subconsciously address whatever isn’t working in my novel. It especially helps if my already overloaded brain is limited to thinking about a specific topic or concept for the short story.
Two of my recently published short pieces were written while I was writing the second book in the Sarah Blair cozy mystery series, Two Bites Too Many, which will be released in October. The story for Cooked to Death: Cold Cut Files had to relate to food, including offering a recipe, while Fishy Business required the execution of a caper.
My “Thanksgiving I Do, I Don’t” story tells the tale of a holiday themed wedding that goes very wrong when the ingredients aren’t fresh. The Cooked to Death anthology, edited by Rhonda Guilliland, contains a full menu of seventeen types of murderous food including rhubarb, creamed corn, stroganoff, and a variety of pies.
Fishy Business is the fifth Guppy anthology. Edited this time by Linda Rodriguez, the anthology contains twenty-two caper related stories. I almost didn’t take a break and submit anything because I wasn’t sure how to create a caper. Only when I thought outside the box about other meanings for the word caper, did my mind wander to the capers often served with a bagel, lox and cream cheese. Once I focused on those capers, a comical plot popped into my mind and I wrote “Nova, Capers, and a Schmear of Cream Cheese.”
Leave a comment below telling me what you do to break the tedium of your day or your projects for a chance to be one of two randomly selected winners – one will win a print copy of Fishy Business while the other will receive Cooked to Death: Cold Cut Files (Vol. IV). (Books shipped to US addresses only)
While you’re here, check out our May Book Vault. Lots of cool books for our winning entrant to select from during the May 1-18, 2019 contest. Click here to visit our contest page.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Debra H. Goldstein • Tags: BLB Discussion, Breaking the tedium, Debra H Goldstein, Let's Talk, short stories | 18 Comments
I admire your ability to toss out a short story so readily. I can’t seem to think in short term. Re taking a break from my main project, I’ll work on revising a backlist title in my spare time.
And I admire your backlist. I can’t turn out the long books as quickly as you … or with the same quality.
I read in my spare time. I have always loved reading. Reading cam take you places. It take my mind off things. It relaxes me.
From childhood, I’ve believed reading could take me to new words, so I understand how it relaxes you.
Way to go in getting those short stories written and published. You are doing a great job of building your base and keeping your fans satisfied with Febra stories between book releases.
Sorry for the typo on your name, Debra. Fat fingers, small letters on the phone.
Maggie… thanks for the comment.. typo okay, too… it is a way to build the base, but also a lot of fun.
Debra, I love your out-of-the-box take on capers!
Wowza… I don’t have the attention span to be so dedicated! As a mom of 8, I break the tedium of the day by hiding & reading 😉 Sometimes the monsters even let me go for a bike ride by myself (I do love our family rides!) and I get to listen to an Audiobook. Have a Fabulous week!
Cheers-
Kelly Braun
Gaelicark(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m only the mother of 4, but hiding in the bathtub and reading was one of my favorite breaks after everyone went to bed…. 8!!!! Wow!!!
Both those short stories sound fab. When I need a break, it has to be non-writing. Either doing manual labor outside (after awhile I’m begging myself to get back to my manuscript!) or photographing and uploading listings for my Etsy store, which has been sadly neglected of late. But I do like the opportunity to write the occasional short story…definitely cleans the mental palate. 🙂
Because they are short and the thoughts can be pulled together …the mental palate does get a break… would love to see your photography
I’m fortunate to be able to travel about once a month, mostly domestic but some international. Once I hit the airport/road, my daily writing stops and I focus on my new environment (although I read on the plane.) But once I return and clear the laundry and mail backlog, I back on the keyboard.
The plane is a great place for me to catch up on reading…. 3 books back and forth to Malice. So glad to meet you there….
I read. Nothing like getting lost in a good story to relax your brain!
You are so right!
Sounds like a fun story! I have the anthology on order, & am looking forward to reading this, as well as the other stories.
So glad to see you at the launching of the anthology at Malice Domestic. Your story is a great one!!!!