It has been more than two weeks since I came home from my first Balticon. I wanted to take some time to really absorb all the things I saw and did before I spent any time talking or writing about them.

Let me begin by saying Balticon was something special. Someone very accurately said, “It is like coming home.” As odd as it may sound she was absolutely right.

It was home for so many different reasons.

Let’s start with the people. I have met many people online over the past year or so. Facebook, Twitter, email. I’ve gotten to know many of them reasonably well. I’ve even had the chance to talk with many of them via Skype for Interviews on Get Published and just for the sake of talking. None of those ways of communication hold a candle to meeting someone in person.

Over the course of Balticon I had the opportunity to really connect with many of those people and even meet several new ones. There were lunches and dinners together. Time spent in the bar and at gatherings in the Convention Suite and in people’s rooms. There were evenings just sitting outside talking. It was wonderful. Those people who were words on the screen or voices over Skype became 3-dimensional. It was wonderful.

Of course, Balticon is about writing and Social Media. I got to sit through many interesting panels where people talked about two of the things I really love: writing and podcasting. I got to hear many different ideas and opinions about the craft. Since I can talk about both podcasting and writing for hours, I was in my element.

Did I mention the people? I had the opportunity to go to many readings and live podcasts during Balticon. It was a blast hearing authors I know and like reading their own work. Seeing the passion and joy they have for it reminded me of why I do it too.

Books were, of course, prominent everywhere. Used book sellers, new books. Everybody jockeying for position and having fun doing it. I had the privilege to attend the book launches of Nathan Lowell, PG Holyfield and Patrick McLean. I also got to attend the big announcement by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine. Sharing in the joy of both events was a real highlight for me. I can’t wait for my turn to do the same.

Balticon is simply comfortable. Writers are in their element and are relaxed. It was so much fun to be able to shove any feelings of social awkwardness into the background and just enjoy each other’s company.

My final point, at least for this post, is the energy. All the creative people feeding off each other built the energy to a crescendo. I came home feeling revitalized and excited about all the possible projects that are out there. It has really served to drive me forward.

I can’t wait until I can go again.

Personal Update

Lots on the go as always. I’m still busily trying to find gainful employment. It has been a slow, uphill battle but I hope I’m gaining ground.

Writing wise, I got a short story rejection. I immediately sent it back out so that means two short stories are still doing the rounds. I’m going to resubmit my Fantasy novel again, but as a YA novel. I’ve had a couple people say they thought it would fit YA so I’m going to take a shot at it.

I continue to write GalaxyBillies and podcast it as I go. The story is now at more than 50,000 words. I’m aiming at 80,000 for the podcast version and expect the book version to finish slightly higher than that.

I’m also revising my MG novel at the suggestion of a publisher. They have expressed great interest in it should I successfully revise it and have given me some fantastic feedback. I’ve finished the first two chapters and I already see a much stronger book. I hope they agree with me.

Have a good week.

Tags: balticon, facebook, Galaxybillies, Get Published, Michell Plested, nathan lowell, patrick mclean, pg holyfield, philippa ballantine, skype, Tee Morris, twitter, 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