Holiday Office Party (short story) by Leanne Dyck

photo by ldyck

What did I write in 2024? Did I send any manuscripts to publishers? What book review earned the most page views? What story was the most popular? But first a new short story...

Holiday Office Party

I sat uncomfortably on the padded chair. The banquet hall was full of well-dressed people. I barely knew anyone; they barely knew me. I was just the spouse.

"Wow, that was good." My husband finished his slice of cheesecake. "It calls for seconds."

"I agree." The guy across the table--a co-worker--joined my husband in his hunt for more.

I tried not to stare at the woman who'd been left with me. Her makeup was flawless, and she was dressed like a fashion model. I, on the other hand, wore an outfit scored from my local thrift shop. Had I remembered eyeshadow? Lipstick? Foundation? Nope. My skin can't breathe under all those layers of goop. And besides that goop is expensive. I'd rather spend my money on books.

The fashion model across from me used her napkin to wipe off a non-existent crumb. "You live on some small island?"

"Mayne Island."

"Mayne, that's right. It's so remote. I'd feel trapped. Do you enjoy living there?"

I smiled, nodded, and prepared for the inevitable next question.

"Why?"

Yes, that was it. I racked my brain trying to come up with something to say, some way to explain. She already thought I was odd. Answers ran through my mind. I need to live where there are more trees than people... I need peace and quiet... I... "Beyond the breathtaking scenery, beyond the peace and quiet, beyond everything. I enjoy living on Mayne Island because I've found a special place where I belong. The superficial things don't ma--."

Our husbands came back.

"That looks good. I think I'll have some dessert." And she left me in mid-sentence.

2024 in review...

How many manuscripts did I send to publishing houses in 2024? What did I write in 2024? What was my most popular book review? What was my most popular story? What do I plan to write in 2025?

Christmas Collection (short story) by Leanne Dyck

photo by ldyck

Happy Jolabokaflod!

Jolabokaflod

This collection of six Christmas-themed stories offers something for everyone. So I ask you, how do you like your Christmas?

Do you like a traditional Christmas?

The Calling

a downpour becomes magical for one teenage girl when... 

Do you like an uplifting Christmas?

Blankie

a senior citizen celebrates the season in a retirement home.

Do you like a nostalgic Christmas?

Christmas with Family

Many people have stories about being stranded in the snow while travelling. This is mine...

Do you like to be a little mischievous at Christmas?

A Christmas Present

Think back. What was one of your most favourite childhood presents--of all time; ever. What happened to that present? Do you still have it? This is the story of one of mine.

Do you like to look at Christmas through the eyes of a child?

Christmas Secrets

About an adventure that...um, well, I really wasn't supposed to go on. Maybe I wasn't alone. Did you also go on one of these adventures?

Do you like a dark Christmas?

Blue Christmas

Christmas from Mrs. Claus's point of view--it's not pretty.

Do you like an introspective Christmas?

Yuletide

For me, Christmas is a time of introspection. Every year, Christmas arrives with a message. As I contemplated the festive season this year, I was taken to three places...

If Christmas is painful...

And...

During this time of joy, of merriment... When we gather with friends and family, it's important to remember those who are socially isolated.

There must be some reason I'm estranged from everyone--why I'm left alone. I must be as horrible as everyone says I am.

My one love Morley is dead and buried. I grieve his absence. I miss him dearly. But to say his name would reveal my longing for him. It would make those around me uncomfortable. And so I must grieve him in silence.

My nephew ridicules me to my face and laughs about me with his friends behind my back when he thinks I can't hear him. And it hurts. I can't--. I won't reveal how much it hurts.

Living in pain, I build a wall between myself and the world. I become a grumpy old man. It's my armour.

Bah humbug, I say to keep all who would hurt me away.

Why is Christmas a Painful Time for so Many? by Susan Rako MD

photo by ldyck

About this story...

Carry Me Home (children's story) by Leanne Dyck

 Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls...  It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?

Nope, not a doll. It's me, under the tree on my second Christmas.

Carry Me Home

Mitten slept beside his brother in the girl's jacket pocket. His brother was squished into a corner. Mitten pocked his thumb out of the pocket and felt the breeze as the girl ran. Mitten liked how the wind felt so he inched even farther out of the pocket and farther and... He fell. Thud! He hit the cold, hard ground. All around him was white. The sky glowed with bright sunshine.

"Help," Mitten called. "Brother, where are you? Brother! Help!"

O-o-oh, howled the win. "You are alone. All alone."

"Please, Mr. Wind, please, carry me home."

O-o-oh, howled the wind, louder. "Alone."

Mitten shivered. "I miss my bother." He thought of his brother safe and warm in the pocket. "Does he miss me? Does he even know I'm gone?" He remembered the fun games they played. He patted the snow, but one mitten can't make a snowball. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your mittens...um...er...mitten," he sang. But all he felt was sad.

Orange light filled the sky as Sun prepared for bed.

"Please don't leave me all alone in the cold, dark night," Mitten begged.

"Day is over. It's time for night," Sun said and went to bed.

Mitten rolled up into a tight ball on the cold, white snow.

"Lullaby and good night," Moon sang.

All night long Mitten shivered. All night long Mitten dreamed of the warm pocket and his dear brother.

Early the next morning, Mitten heard flap, flap, flap. He felt something land on top of him.

"You're the perfect thing to feather my nest," Bird sang.

Bird picked up Mitten and flew into the sky--higher and higher and higher.

"Please, Bird, please carry me home. I miss my brother. I miss the warm pocket."

"You'll be nice and warm in my nest," Bird sang and kept flying. So Mitten wiggled and squirmed, squirmed and wiggled, wiggled and--. He fel-l-l.Thud! He landed on top of Squirrel.

"Just think how many nuts I can hide in you," Squirrel said.

"Please, Squirrel, please carry me home. I miss my brother. I miss the warm pocket."

Squirrel held Mitten in his paws and scampered down a path into the dark forest. He jumped over a log. Mitten wrapped around a branch that stuck out of the log.

"Let go," Squirrel shouted. He pulled and pulled and pulled.

Mitten held on tight.

Woof. Woof. Woof. Dog ran through the forest.

"Dog!" Squirrel stopped pulling and ran away.

"Here, Dog. Come here," Mitten called.

Dog ran to Mitten.

"Hey, I know you," Mitten said. "You're Trixie and you belong to my little girl."

"Our little girl," Trixie said. "She has been looking all over for you."

"She has?"

"And your brother is so sad. He misses you so much," Trixie said.

"He does?"

"Of course. Where were you?"

"I fell out of the pocket and Bird picked me up and flew away. I asked Bird to take me home. When Bird didn't listen, I tried to get away and--and--I did. But I fell on Squirrel. I asked him to help me but he... but he..." Mitten took a breath. "Please, Trixie, please take me home."

And Trixie carried Mitten all the way home.

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 24

Christmas Collection (short stories)

A slight change of plans. I've decided to share my collection of Christmas-themed short stories--including the one I wrote this year.  I hope you enjoy reading them. The best of the season to you. 

Sunday, December 29

Holiday Office Party (short story)

 Holiday parties can be challenging, especially for spouses. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?

And my year-end wind-up.

About Mary Poppins...

Playing the Cello (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 The cello stands in the corner, waiting to sing her song. Who will help her sing it? My friend Manon's relationship with her cello inspired this short story. 

"Sky" photo by ldyck

Playing the Cello

The cello leaned against the boy and felt him drag the bow across her strings. It hurt her and she sang out in pain, "Ouch!"

Sometimes the boy's hands were dirty from playing outside and sticky from eating jam on toast but the cello didn't mind. He played her. Slowly, day by day, the boy became her friend. Slowly, day by day, the boy learned how to hold the bow and pull it across her strings so it didn't hurt. And slowly, day by day, her song became sweeter and ever sweeter. Her music was so beautiful that others listened. Sometimes, many times, the boy's mother listened.

But one day the boy didn't come to play. And that day stretched into a week, a month, a year. The cello stood in the corner of the room waiting.

"What's that thing?" Visitors asked.

"I'm a cello. Play me," the cello sang, but without her bow against her strings, she couldn't sing loud enough to be heard. 

Year after year, the cello waited. Until one day someone did pick up her bow. Someone did drag the bow across her strings.

"Ouch!" It hurt her.

Had the boy come back? Had he remembered his friend?

No.

The boy's mother came--her hands smelled of soap, meals cooked, and gardens tended. Slowly, day by day, the woman learned how to draw the bow so it didn't hurt. Slowly, day by day, the cello sang more and more sweetly.

And now no one asks, "What's that big thing?" for everyone knows that she's a cello and she sings sweetly. She sings for you in lush gardens where bumble bees buzz. And she sings for me in grand concert halls where once long ago cellists in white wings and jackets with tails played. And she sings...

What does a cello sound like?

On the Blog in December

Sunday, December 22

Carry Me Home (children's story)

Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls...  It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?

Sunday, December 24

Christmas Collection (short stories)

A slight change of plans. I've decided to share my collection of Christmas-themed short stories--including the one I wrote this year.  I hope you enjoy reading them. 

Sunday, December 29

Holiday Office Party (short story)

 Holiday parties can be challenging, especially for spouses. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?

And my year-end wind-up.

Do You Write Every Day? (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 Dreams help keep me motivated. This short story was inspired by one...

Beautiful Abby posing for you

Photo by ldyck

Do You Write Everyday?

I dreamt that I was a guest on a talk show and the host asked me, “You’re rather prolific. Do you write every day?”

“Every day. In fact, I wrote something just before I joined you.”

“Really? Well, I’d like to—.”

The audience cheered.

“Apparently, we’d all like to hear what you wrote.”

Applause and laughter.

“Okay, sure.” I pulled a scrap piece of paper out of my pocket, unfolded it and read, “She hid backstage, fearful to take the plunge, but her name was called... She pushed herself forward—one step, two. Supportive applause greeted, warmed her. She made it across the stage to a chair. A friendly face smiled at her and he asked, ‘Do you write every day? What was the last thing you wrote? Can you read it to us? We’d all like to hear it.’”

What's your dream?

"Dream Big" performed by Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand

On the Blog in December

Sunday, December 15 

Playing the Cello (short story)

 The cello stands in the corner, waiting to sing her song. Who will help her sing it? This short story was inspired by a friend's relationship with her cello.

Sunday, December 22

Carry Me Home (children's story)

Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls...  It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?

Sunday, December 24

Alone on Christmas (short story)

During this time of joy, of merriment... When we gather with friends and family, it's important to remember those who are socially isolated. 

Sunday, December 29

Holiday Office Party (short story)

 Especially for spouses, Christmas parties can be challenging. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?

Finely writing...

How to be a published author by Leanne Dyck

I've been published a few times, and I'm working on being published a few more. Now I'll share everything I know about making that happen. Everything--or at least try to.

photo by ldyck

How to be a Published Author

1)There are two types of writers...

Writers who write for fun

Writers who write for profit

As you work to build a career in writing, don’t forget to keep writing fun.

2)What do writers who write for profit do?

-develop their craft

-build a readership

-study the publishing industry

-network with others in the publishing industry

3)There are two types of publishing

self-publishing (authors who publish themselves)

traditional publishing (authors who are published by a publishing house)

4)What are some of the benefits and challenges of self-publishing?

Benefits

You are in charge

You decide who will work with you on your book

(editor(s), book cover designer, printer, etc.)

You decide when the book will be published

Challenges

You’re in charge of financing

You’re in charge of marketing

Marketing is not solely a concern for the self-published. Traditionally published authors are expected to work in partnership with their publishing house to market their books.

Marketing101

5)What are some of the benefits and challenges of being published by a publishing house?

Benefits

-the publishing house pays you and everyone else that is involved with publishing your book

-you work with a team of professionals to publish and market your book

Challenges

-you must send your manuscript to a publishing house and wait for them to decide what they will do with it. They could accept it which is glorious. They could reject it which is painful.

6)How do you decide what publisher to contact?

-look on your bookshelf—what publisher do you read?

-visit your favourite bookstore—what books appeal to you the most?

-visit websites like publishers’ weekly

-read magazines like Quill and Quire: Canada’s magazine of book news and reviews

-network with others in the publishing industry by attending writing events like Word Vancouver

7)How do you know to whom to send your manuscript?

Visit the publisher’s website and read the submission page

8)Should you send the publisher a chapter-by-chapter outline or a synopsis? How many sample pages should you send?

Visit the publisher’s website and read the submission page.

 9)What is a cover letter?

A cover letter briefly describes

your manuscript (title, genre, word count, target reader)

and

you (hit the highlights)

10)What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is a summary of your manuscript. A tight focus should be kept on your main character. Show their growth during the story.

11)Keep careful records of where you sent your manuscript and when. I use a binder.

12) How long will you have to wait for a reply?

Visit the publisher’s website and read the submission page.

13)What can you do while you wait for a reply?

-network with others in the publishing industry

-study the publishing industry

-build a readership by, for example, participating in open-mic nights or building a blog

-develop your writing craft by taking a writing course or actively reading a good book

To be an active reader, write a book review of the books you enjoyed reading

-keep writing

-send other manuscripts to other publishers

-send the same manuscript to other publishers

Most publishers allow simultaneous submissions—and I highly recommend it.

This week...

I enjoyed listening to Tom Powers's interview with Henry Winkler this week.

On this Blog in December

Sunday, December 8

Do You Write Every Day? (short story)

Dreams help keep me motivated. This short story was inspired by one.

Sunday, December 15 

Playing the Cello (short story)

 The cello stands in the corner, waiting to sing her song. Who will help her sing it? This short story was inspired by a friend's relationship with her cello.

Sunday, December 22

Carry Me Home (children's story)

Mitten happily rests beside his brother in the girl's pocket, but then he falls...  It's cold... It's dark... Who will help Mitten get home?

Sunday, December 24

Alone for Christmas (short story)

During this time of joy, of merriment... When we gather with friends and family, it's important to remember those who are socially isolated. 

Sunday, December 29

Holiday Office Party (short story)

 Especially for spouses, Christmas parties can be challenging. What do you say to people you barely know but who may be important to your husband's career?