As you may or may not know, on the 4th of July I had my first story published. It is a short story titled “Apprentice” and published by the new e-press/audio press Flying Island Press. It isn’t the first story I’ve sold. That will be coming out in the August 2010 issues of Sorcerous Signals (free e-magazine) and Mystic Signals (print – available on Amazon.com).

Both of these stories represent firsts for me. First sale and first to see publication. They also represent a LOT of work; I’ve been writing for several years to get to this point.

It feels really good to be able to share these accomplishments with you and I am enjoying the feeling.

It would be very easy to say to myself: “There, I’ve accomplished my goal. Time to move on.” Except, I’ve only accomplished the very first of my goals. Ultimately, I want to make my living as an author. This is just the first step.

So what other steps do I see happening? Let me tell you about some of the other firsts I see happening before I become a full-time writer:

• have a story in an anthology;
• sell my first book – YA;
• sell my first book – Adult;
• sell my first series;
• get an agent.

None of these firsts are in any particular order. I’ve made a decision that I won’t do an agent search until I have at least one book sold. It may be that the agent will come before I sell a series or after. Who knows when I’ll sell a story into an Anthology.

All of the above firsts have something in common. They all require that I keep writing. They also need me to keep networking and putting my name out there. In other words, I’ve got to keep my nose to the grindstone and I’m OK with that.

I start suffering withdrawal when I’m not writing every day. I guess that means I can no longer deny it, I am a writer. That’s a very good thing considering all the stories I still have to tell. I’ve got ideas for at least four different series, all in different genres. How’s that for a challenge?

Thank you to everyone who has supported me to this point and stick around, the best is yet to come.

Personal Update

As I mentioned above, my first short story has been published. I am very grateful to have made the cut for Flying Island Press’ first issue of Flagship. I have plans to write another story to submit for their second issue. Maybe lightning will strike twice.

I’m also tossing some ideas around for a Flash Fiction Anthology called ‘Rigor Amortis‘. It has a very fun concept: it is a Zombie Erotica/Romance anthology and it is accepting submissions until July 15th.

GalaxyBillies is kicking into high gear. I’ve really got to get writing on it because I will be gone for three weeks in August. I don’t want to leave my listeners in the lurch so I have set myself a very aggressive writing schedule. I also want to get it done because I have another big project looming. I can’t say anything more about it, but it will be a LOT of fun to write.

I owe several people book reviews/critiques/blurbs so I am increasing my reading time to accommodate. You will be seeing/hearing several in the coming weeks.

Last update: I’m still revising my YA novel. I’m now 1/4 finished the revisions. This is another project I’m not letting slide. It needs to be done and to the publisher by the end of the summer (self-imposed deadline).

All this and I am job hunting BIG time. Need to get back to it so I’m spending a couple hours every day searching, applying, responding, etc.

Tags: agent, anthology, challenge, firsts, flash fiction, flying island press, Michell Plested, Publishing, scfi, short story, sorcerous signals, writing, YA

I have finally gotten to the point where I have some reasonable expectation that editors and publishers will read my stuff and not say to themselves “That sucked. Next!”. I’ve been told enough times by people in the know that I can write so I don’t have quite the doubts I used to.

That doesn’t mean I expect every single thing I write to be accepted but it has given me the confidence to write stories I wouldn’t necessarily have attempted in the past. A great example of this is GalaxyBillies. I love reading the SciFi and Fantasy with Comedic tropes but I never felt good enough to do it myself.

Now I’m doing it and, while it may not be the funniest thing ever written, I have had enough people enjoying the story that I consider it a success.

I’m also looking at other genres I’ve never considered before. For example, Steampunk would be fun to write. I’m still working to develop a story (and world) that would be worthwhile so I’m not quite there yet, but I no longer look the other way when the genre is mentioned.

I think all this comes from writing all the time. Just like all the experts say, the only way to get better is to write. The more words I put down (with conscious thought, that is) the better I feel about my writing. I’ve progressed beyond “I hope I can may, someday get published if I’m really lucky” to “I WILL get published. It’s only a matter of when.” That is a HUGE change in mindset and is a reflection of the confidence I have in my writing.

I’ve also gotten to the point where I know that if one of my short stories doesn’t sell the first time, I can probably find a secondary or tertiary market. That means I’m not writing stuff to shelve anymore. It’s less about practicing my craft and more about honing it.

It doesn’t hurt that I now know several editors, publishers and even an agent or two. Those people have all given me great tips and advice to move forward as a writer and I’m doing my best to follow their suggestions.

So what’s next for me? Why, more writing of course. I will continue to submit and I will try new things. Hopefully that will all mean better writing and more accepted stories.

Personal Update

I submitted another short story this week, this time to Flying Island Publishing. It’s interesting to look back and realize that the last story I wrote that was 3,000 words took me three months to write. This one? Two days (not continuous either). Actual writing time was maybe four hours at the most. It is an interesting tale that takes place in my fantasy realm. That will be my second short story set in the realm. Perhaps one day I’ll have enough material to put an anthology together.

I should be hearing about my short story contest entry in the next week too. Fingers are crossed that it gets the nod.

Lastly, I have started revising my Middle Grade/YA novel as per publisher’s request. I’m hopeful about this one too.

Tags: agent, comedy, editor, expectations, fantasy, flying island press, Galaxybillies, irreverent muse, Michell Plested, middle grade, publisher, science fiction, steampunk, YA