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Why I Write

Contact Me

When I write, I draw on my experiences as a woman with a painful past, a rapturous wife and mother, a world traveler, and a spiritualist. For me, writing is an art form. Like an artist, the work becomes more than I imagined it would be. When I set out to write a story with a particular idea or character in mind, words I cannot claim as my own flow from a magical and mysterious place through me and onto paper. The work takes on a life of its own; it is living art. The process fascinates me, satiates me, and makes my life more meaningful. Please read my stories! If you would like to offer me feedback on my work, please click here and sign up for a free membership: https://heftynicki.Writing.com I hope to see you there!

Blog, Blog, Blog

Artwork by thegirlinthebigbox@deviantart.com, text by me!

Coverart by TheGirlInTheBigBox. Visit her online art portfolio by clicking here: http://thegiriInthebigbox.deviantart.com/

Welcome!

In 2011, my main focus will be on writing a novel. Since I'm a novice novelist, I've decided to come at the project from different angles, exploring the genre and experimenting with its elements. This blog and its offsite sister blog will be my journals where I attack novel-writing one day at a time.

As I was creating my BlogSpot page, the inspiration for the blog solidified in my mind. I named that blog "One Significant Moment at a Time." In essence, I want to use the format as a reminder to walk through my life with my author's eyes open, taking in the details, feeling the emotions of the day. As moments unfold and I feel their affects on me as a person, a woman, a mother, a sister, a member of the world community, I'll let the writer in me talk about it.

Creative Nonfiction is the genre most fitting to describe what I envision accomplishing here, moreso than blogging or journaling. The style is best suited, I feel, for my ambitions as a novelist.

In addition, Friday entries will not be written by me. Instead, I'll turn the keyboard over to one of the characters in my novel. He or she will relate the events of the day as s/he saw them, through the filter of his or her perception.

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Click this image to visit my Blog City neighbors!

I'd Love Your Help

If you've read my blog before, and find yourself here again, won't you click this link and check out my BlogSpot?

http://www.nicoleducleroir.blogspot.com

Leave me a comment there, and I'll send you a WDC token of my appreciation!

Become a Follower there, and I'll send you a Supportive Merit Badge! -- You don't have to go to blogspot.com each day; in fact, I post much of the same entries here in this WDC blog. But building up a verifiable readership may prove important one day when I'm knocking on literary agent/publishers' doors!

To Follow, just click "Follow" on the right margin of my blog page. You'll have to sign in using, or create, a Google account (it's free and only takes two minutes!), and then follow the short instructions. It's easy, and I'd appreciate it so much!!

Merit Badges Sent To:

~Noelle ~
~sunshine014 ( Where'd Ashy go??)~
~Mara ♣ McBain ~
~Adriana Noir ~
~Jeff ~
~Carol St.Ann ~

2011 Reading Goal = 25 Books in 52 Weeks. To see the list of books I've read so far, CLICK HERE

Leave me a comment anytime ~ even on older postings!

Thanks for reading!!

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10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

NickiD89
Nov 27, 2012 at 12:19pm
In response to "Look at this Dust!"
I'm not ready for the holidays either! Do you realize Christmas will be here in 28 days?? This kids are out of school on the 18th and my parents arrive the 20th, which means I have only a little more than two weeks to get everything set to host the holidays here. And the old bank account is low...which means I have some strenuous financial juggling in my near future. Um, what am I saying? Not in my future, in my present! *go away, stress!!*

Like

Mara ♣ McBain
Nov 27, 2012 at 12:13pm
In response to "Look at this Dust!"
I had a lovely Thanksgiving! And NO I can't believe they're here already. I am sooo not ready! LOL It seems like I'm so busy lately and nothing gets done. Hope you had a blast diving and came back refreshed for the remaining holidays!

Like

NickiD89
Nov 26, 2012 at 8:29pm
In response to "Look at this Dust!"
Hi Mara! Did you have a good Thanksgiving? And can you believe the holidays are here -- already????

Like

Mara ♣ McBain
Nov 26, 2012 at 1:22pm
In response to "Look at this Dust!"
Welcome back, Nick! Hope you had a wonderful time. As insanely jealous as I am it couldn't happen to a sweeter family!

Like

NickiD89
Jan 29, 2012 at 11:51am
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
@Jace ~ Hey friend!! Long time! Just today, we bought the plastic bin that will be our time capsule. We spent breakfast talking about what sorts of items each of us wanted to include. I'm really getting excited about the project!

Love the idea of writing the stories of your life for kids and grandkids to enjoy. What a precious gift to pass on!

It's now been a month and a half since I got hurt, and I've all but completely recovered. My right ear sometimes seems a bit fuzzy -- a soft hiss of white noise interfering a little with my hearing. But it isn't major and all-in-all, I feel great. I'm back to running and three weeks into my half-marathon training for the March 18 race. I feel great! Hope all's well with you. Thinking of you!!

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NickiD89
Jan 29, 2012 at 11:47am
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
@Mia ~ Thanks! The stories that swirl around the project are abundant. There are the stories behind each item going into the project, the stories the kids will surely tell their children when we all open the capsule years from now, and the story ideas that come fast and furious with a prompt such as this: The Briefcase That Would Not Open." Oh how the creative geers turn!!

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JACE
Jan 28, 2012 at 11:25am
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
These gals are right, Nicki. What an openiing story for your memoires. You know, get that writer in you going on a project that will really include your family.

I love that time capsule idea. I've been collecting stories of my past for my kids and grandkids, but a time capsule will get them involved as well.

I hope you're feeling better these days. How's your recovery going?

Like

Mia - craving colour
Jan 24, 2012 at 10:42pm
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
Loved this post!

Just the thought of 'The Briefcase that Wouldn't Open" sounds like a story in the making.

And the discoveries inside could be the start of another.

Creating a family time capsule . . . that sounds like a beautiful memory in the making. Have fun.

Like

NickiD89
Jan 24, 2012 at 1:34pm
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
Gah. Could you send me this message every day for about ten years? Then maybe, maybe it'll sink in. It's been a while since I wrote anything I'm proud of. Working hard right now so I won't be able to say that anymore! Hope your week's off to a great start. Thinking of you!!!

Like

Mara ♣ McBain
Jan 24, 2012 at 11:43am
In response to "Time in a Briefcase"
What an incredible story. I swear with just the stories of your lifetime you were destined to be a writer.

Like
October 24, 2011 at 9:10am
October 24, 2011 at 9:10am
#737735

Scratch This Off...

...the Old Bucket List!

Yesterday was the Athens Half Marathon, and I not only finished the 13.1 mile course, but I came in under the time goal I'd set for myself. I'd calculated that I'd finish between 2:35:00 and 2:45:00. I crossed the finish line at 2:27:15!! Yay me!

I worried about a lot of things the night before the race. Would I struggle in the last miles? Would I have to (oh God please, no!) use the port-a-potty? Would my knees ache and make me miserable? Would I have to walk up the hills? Would I get sick during or after the race? Would I...? Would I...?

In fact, I felt ridiculously strong and happy during the entire course, from start to finish! I owe it all to the rigorous training I went through, especially all the hill work I did; to the carb-loading I did, starting 48 hours before race time; and to the huge support I received from my family and friends. I enjoyed every minute of the marathon and felt like I could have kept going when I reached the finish. So awesome! Can't wait to sign up for the next one!!

To see a couple pictures from yesterday's race, click this link:

Nicki's Half Marathon

If we're not Facebook friends yet, send me a request while you're there!

Hope you had a fab weekend as well. Did you do anything that lifted your spirits? I'd love to hear all about it!!!

Nicki

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October 19, 2011 at 2:20pm
October 19, 2011 at 2:20pm
#737384

Literary Magazine Success!

In keeping with my "Dear Me" goals for 2011, I've been submitting my short fiction to literary magazines. As outlined in my letter, I made my goal two-fold: I want to be pubbed in a lit. mag., and I want to sell a story. Being able to call myself a paid author (even if we're only talking about pennies ) would be the coolest thing, in my eyes.

Two days ago I received an acceptance email from the editors of Slice Magazine for my short story "In the Wake of Silence." I was thrilled!! But, there was a catch...

Slice is a nonpaying market. Who cares, right? It's a tough literary magazine to get into. But....my story was on simultaneous submission to a batch of paying markets, too. One of those markets, called Independent Ink Magazine, had my submission for 258 days -- far longer than the usual 120 day turnaround time cited in their guidelines.

According to Indinkmag.com, if you don't receive a rejection from them, it means they haven't read your story yet, or they read it and loved it, but it doesn't fit with the issue currently being put together. In case of the latter, it would be accepted for a future issue.

I emailed the editor at Indie Ink and explained there was interest in my story, and asked if it had been read by their editorial staff yet. Within thirty minutes I received a response by the founding editor, who told me the story was short listed by his staff and had been passed on to him for approval. He apologized for being so far behind, due to the incredible number of submissions the magazine had received. He said he was reading my story and would give me an answer by the evening's end.

However, two days later when I didn't hear from him, I decided I would grant first publishing rights to Slice. It felt like the right decision, and I'm thrilled to know my story will be included in the Spring 2012 issue. A "Dear Me" goal accomplished!

I sent the Indie Ink editor a follow-up email, thanking him for the interest they'd shown my story but explaining that I was withdrawing the submission due to its acceptance by another market. He responded with equal professionalism and kindness, encouraging me to submit more of my work and apologizing for "dropping the ball."

I learned a lot during this experience, about professional communication and protocol when dealing with industry insiders. And most importantly, I learned that in this business, my art -- my stories -- are a product, and that editors are in the market for products that maintain the integrity of the magazines they produce and that will sell those magazines. It's not personal, you know? That really takes the sting out of rejection, don't you think?

There is a great article about the literary magazine industry, written by a lit. mag. editor. Here's the link: What Editors Want; A Must-Read For Writers Submitting to Literary Magazines I highly recommend it!

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