how long was it from start-up (submitting things regularly) to your first day as a pro?


This is one of those "please don't hurt me" questions. I sold the first story I ever sent out to the first place I sent it to.*

I then had a rather long dry period after (about a year), mainly because I a) had freaked myself out and b) I don't write all that fast, and didn't have a lot of things to send out.

Of course, I go back and look at that first story and think, as kindly as I can, "well, I see what I was trying for...



*That doesn't mean it was the first story I finished! I'm my own worst critic, as my writing-friends will agree, and I was obsessive about 'feeling ready' before I took the next step.