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Friday, March 24, 2017

Time and Circumstance


I didn’t set out to write short stories, flash fiction, vignettes, poems. I started out writing full-length manuscripts for kids and teens. But I had a lot to learn about writing. I joined critique groups, read how-to-write-and-revise books, and attended workshops, conferences, and retreats. Along the way, I received the advice to write short stories.

         1)    I would learn to make each word count.
         2)    I would be more likely to gain a publishing credit.

After all, that’s how writing god Stephen King gained experience and name recognition.

In the span of a year, I tried many different types of writing. I found anthologies looking for short stories and received my first publishing credit. Then I took a poetry workshop series. When I got brave enough, I began submitting my poems for publication. And I tried a number of flash fiction prompts, mostly through blogs. I squeezed this in between writing longer pieces. Not only did my manuscripts improve, but I also gained some publishing credits.

Years later, these vignettes had added up. In case you don’t know, a vignette is a short poem or prose piece that explores mood, character, setting. Vine Leaves Press editor, Jessica Bell, invited me to submit if I had enough for a collection of vignettes. I placed these various writings scattered in files onto one document. What had started as an exercise to improve my longer pieces in the hope of getting them published turned into THE way I became the author of my own book.

Do you write poetry, flash fiction, or short stories?
If so, why do you do it?



Theresa Milstein writes middle grade and YA, but poetry is her secret passion. Her vignette collection, TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE, will be published by Vine Leaves Press on March 21, 2017. She lives near Boston Massachusetts with her husband, two children, a dog-like cat, and a cat-like dog. For her day job, she works as a special education teacher in a public school, which gives her ample opportunity to observe teens and tweens in their natural habitat. 


TIME & CIRCUMSTANCE is available:

$3.99 AUD (eBook)
Kindle AUS
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle CA
iBooks | Kobo | Nook

$12.99 AUD (paperback)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
​Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo


Leave a comment  and you’re eligible to win a prize during my blog tour!

1 $25 Amazon gift card
1 signed paperback copy
1 ebook

Answer the question:  “If you could relive any moment in time, what would it be?”

Extra entries if you share on Facebook or Twitter and link it to me.
@TheresaMilstein on Twitter.
@Theresa Milstein on Facebook
#ReliveMoment or #TimeandCircumstance

Winners will be announced on April 5, 2017


24 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for hosting me! I appreciate your support.

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    1. We are thrilled to have you on our blog and wish you the best of luck, Theresa! :)

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  2. Lovely to see Theresa here, DMS. Her book is wonderful!

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    1. Denise- We couldn't agree more! Such an AMAZING cover! :)

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    2. Thank you, Denise! Vine Leaves makes amazing covers.

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  3. Fun to see Theresa here! Woo-hoo!

    Congrats, Theresa! I believe no writing is wasted because we learn sooo much along the way. It's so cool that your exercises turned into your book! Such a great story!

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    1. Dawn, that's an excellent point. Each word helps our writing improve. Thank you!

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    2. Dawn- We are thrilled to have Theresa here. So fun to hear from her about writing. :)

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  4. Thank you for letting us know Ms. Milstein. Also congratulations to Ms. Milstein. :-)

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  5. I love Vine Leaves! Such good pieces. I do write short stories quite a bit, and am looking at querying my first novel in the next month. It will be good to have publications on my query letter, but I also love the short form, and I don't think I'll be abandoning it any time soon.

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    1. Shannon- Awesome to hear that you love Vine Leaves! Wishing you the best of luck with querying your first novel! :)

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  6. Hi Jess...thanks for dropping in on me at my place.

    (waves)

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    1. Hi- I am enjoying your blog. Thanks for stopping by this one! :)

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  7. Thanks Jess for having us introduced to Theresa. Cover plus heading of book sounds nice and book for sure too. Congratulations and best of luck Theresa.

    Hugs

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    1. Kiran- You are welcome for the introduction! Thanks for visiting. :)

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  8. I can so identify with what you say. It's a good discipline to use words that count and I learned that the same was as you. Had a break from writing for a while, so I hope I haven't forgotten it all.

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    1. Madeleine Sara- Glad you can identify with what Theresa shared. Thanks for visiting. :)

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    2. I'm glad you identified with my words too. I hope you get back into writing easily.

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  9. Thanks again for hosting me. I've announced the winners on my blog.

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