Yesterday, James Reasoner noted in a blog post (http://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2008/12/32-and-counting.html) that he was celebrating the 32nd anniversary of his first sale, and it reminded me how long I've been doing this.
I've been writing since the 8th grade and seeing my work in print in various amateur publications (junior high and high school literary magazines, high school newspaper, science fiction fanzines, etc.) and semi-prozines (publications that paid a fraction of a cent per word) beginning in the 9th grade.
I made my first professional sale in September, 1977. The acceptance letter is dated September 2 and I received it on September 8. The story--a young adult fantasy titled "The Magic Stone"--wasn't published until November, 1978, when it appeared in Young World.
So 2008 marks the 31st anniversary of my first professional sale and the 30th anniversary of my first professional publication.
Not bad for a kid who just wanted to tell stories.
6 comments:
Congratulations and much future success--another thirty plus years at least!
Terrie
Well, I have to admit I didn't know who James Reasoner was, so I just spend some time reading his blog and getting some idea. Too many writers and too little time.
I had to think about this a little bit and realized that the fall of 2009 will mark my tenth year since my first story was published. Submitted several places starting summer of 1998, it didn't accepted until right after the first of the year and then becuase the magazine "Starblade" was in trouble money wise, didn't come out until fall. When it did, I was in heaven.
Almost felt that good when the first copies of the new anthology arrived Saturday afternoon.
And then, Sandi comes home from work late Saturday night and says--
You haven't written anything besides those stupid reviews in six months so get your (expletive deleted) in gear.
"Haven't had any ideas," I say calmly.
"Well, get one!" she snarls before going upstairs. there is sileince and I know more is coming so I wait for it. "It won't kill you," she says from ustairs before adding, "you're a jerk when you aren't writing your own stuff!"
So, big time congrats from the jerk who lives to the north of you by quite some miles.
I finally understand what it's like to not have any ideas. It isn't fun.
On the other hand, I was able to survive the past few months by relying heavily on notes, ideas, and rough drafts i've stockpiled over the years. Although I've had a few new story ideas since Christmas, I'm still relaying heavily on my stockpile.
I was very stupid a couple of years ago and threw out everything--stories that hadn't sold, clips from newspapers on different things, notes aboyt story ideas, etc. No stock pile here and taht isn't good.
Ouch.
Bet you won't do that again.
No, probably not. :))
Post a Comment