by Eric D. Goodman
Member since:
January 17, 2007

"Freedom" Put on Hold

March 09, 2007 12:37 PM EST (Updated: March 09, 2007 12:38 PM EST)
views: 70 | comments: 17
 

No, this isn’t a political announcement on the war on terror or the spreading of democracy.  It’s about my story, “Freedom.”

 

"Freedom" is a story about an American soldier and both his path toward joining the service and his conflicting feelings about that service in the midst of war.  It is one of the stories from TRACKS, my novel in stories.

 

“Freedom” is being published as a serial in 12 parts by Coloquio, the popular online magazine with more than 800,000 monthly readers and 7 million annual visits.  So far, I’ve shared installments 1-4 here on Gather.

 

However, for now I have to put “Freedom” on hold.  Later today, I am entering TRACKS, my novel in stories, in the Gather.com First Chapters Writing Competition.  The submission guidelines say that all excerpts must be removed from gather.com.

 

I have temporarily deleted all links and excerpts published on Gather.com and will reinstate them after the competition is over.

 

After the competition, we can let “Freedom” ring again.  I will repost episodes 1-4, and continue to share each installment up to part 12.

In the meantime, please see my first chapters in the competition, beginning with TRACKS, Chapter One.  And be sure to rate it!

 

 

NOTE: Links to TRACKS excerpts have  been temporarily removed by the author in compliance with the Gather.com First Chapters Writing Competition submission guidelines.  Tracks is now a contestant in the novel contest -- please read it and rate it!  All links to Tracks excerpts will be reinstated after the competition.
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Comments: 17

elizabeth e. Mar 9, 2007, 12:43pm EST
okie-dokie
Will do, Eric.
J. C. Mar 9, 2007, 1:34pm EST
Be patient with me. I will get there.
Jo H. Mar 9, 2007, 3:40pm EST
Thanks for this notice, Eric. I look forward to reading when I get a moment to come up for air! Good luck in the contest!
Jo H. Mar 9, 2007, 4:22pm EST
Eric, do you have a url link that we can use to find your submission to First Chapters? I've looked for "Tracks" and "Freedom" on the First Chapters list and don't find either. They may not have updated the string just yet, but I thought it might be easier to find if you would e-mail or post a url. Thanks!
Eric D. Goodman Mar 9, 2007, 4:42pm EST
Thanks, Jo. I entered, but the submission guidelines say it could take up to three days before it shows up online. I'll be sure to let you know when it's available at Gather.

Thanks so much for your interest!
Brian S Mar 9, 2007, 8:16pm EST
Best of luck, Eric. Freedom means different things to different people. I think freedom means sacrifice. It doesn't just mean flags on your car or a bumper sticker or calling yourself a 'patriot'. Anyone can do that. It means you believe in the people of this country despite the corrupt politicians running it. You believe in it so much you would be willing to die to defend it. Freedom is noble. Freedom is denied in most of the world. But you can't force freedom on another country. Their people have to love freedom and want it so badly they're willing to fight for it.
Rob Appell Mar 9, 2007, 9:15pm EST
Concentrate on what will do you the most good...and get you the furthest along. Success comes first.
Denise C. Mar 9, 2007, 10:19pm EST
I am sorry I have not yet read the pieces you are withdrawing while the competition is underway, but I will watch for them when they return. The subject sounds quite interesting. I like the idea of a novel in stories, if it is what it sounds like, that is. Is Tracks a collection of short stories that together tell one story, or are they unconnected stories relating to a similar theme? I am considering trying to publish a series of short memoir pieces collected into one book length memoir divided by connecting themes. Does this sound like a good approach?
Best of luck in the First Chapter Writing Competition.
Eric D. Goodman Mar 9, 2007, 10:34pm EST
A novel in stories can work both ways. Each chapter in the book works as a stand-alone story -- the sort of thing you'd see by itself in a literary journal. But the stories fit together to form a larger story. That's not to say there's one large plot holding it together since each character has his or her own focus. But a secondary character in one character turns up as the main character in another -- then may end up playing an important part in another person's story. And there is a larger story being told -- the chapters have more than just the train in common.

So although you could take some stories out and the "collection" would still work, it would be a different book missing any one story. Each story helps to shape the larger one.

Denise, it sounds like a good approach for the memoir -- good luck with it. I hope you'll read and rate TRACKS when chapter one is posted.

Thanks for all the comments, everyone!
Carol Lloyd Mar 10, 2007, 12:06am EST
Will do
Jo H. Mar 10, 2007, 1:39pm EST
Robb, what is your definition of success? Just curious. Brian, your comments are thoughtful. I'd really appreciate it if you'd read my story, "Of Airplane Travel and...Patriotism?" I fought for freedom as a victim of domestic violence and was willing to die to obtain it, but my definition of freedom is not the same as the definition others attach to that word. I find that in a country I love, sometimes freedom and basic liberties are denied me (and all of us)--often in the pursuit of the elusive definition of "safety". Eric, I'll keep watching for your story. I'll check today.
Debra H. Mar 10, 2007, 3:32pm EST
I'm behind ya all the way Eric
Denise C. Mar 11, 2007, 6:39pm EDT
Eric, thanks for explaining how your Novel in stories works. It is an interesting approach and I look forward to reading it. I am working on getting the confidence to post a few of my stories, which is helped by my reading so many positive comments to different postings. this seems to be a group that really wants to help and encourage other writers, which is wonderful. Good luck to you.
Denise
Eric D. Goodman Mar 12, 2007, 10:52am EDT
For those of you searching, sorry to send you on the chase. Although I submitted the novel on Friday, the guidelines state it can take up to three days before the first chapter is posted. No posts went up over the weekend, so they may mean business days, in which case TRACKS chapter one could appear between today and Wednesday. I'll let you know when it's up!

Thanks for your interest!
Eric D. Goodman Mar 12, 2007, 3:34pm EDT
UPDATE: TRACKS is in operation! Here's the link:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976929638
Connie C. Mar 16, 2007, 2:50am EDT
I will be there is a few days.

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