Realization

[lagilman]

So there I was, packing up some newborns to go out into the cold, cold world,
and I realized something.

It's Spring 2004. Or it will be on Saturday.

My first profesionally-published story appeared in the Spring 1994 issue
of "Amazing Stories."

This is my tenth anniversary as a professional writer.

What have I done in those ten years?

Well, first of all, had a respectable Other Career on the editorial side.
That's a biggie, I think we can all agree.

I've sold (counting on hands and toes) twenty-four stories (no, wait, twenty-six),
including the two that went belly-up for one reason or another, and not
counting the ones I've resold for reprint or foreign sales. And I'm waiting
to hear back on another one that's pending. And I keep thinking I've forgotten
one...

I've written three media tie-in novels.

I've co-edited two short ficiton anthologies.

I've ghosted two novels and two gaming bits for other by-lines.

I've sold one haiku series (and I'm still in shock over that, yah youbetcha).

I've sold two non-fiction pieces, and three non-fiction books for younger
readers.

I've gone under contract for three books from a major NYC publisher.


Yeah, not too shabby, I guess. But I've got to really start working, now.
*wry grin*

Comments

[lagilman]

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.

[lagilman]

I should also answer this by saying that, to my mind, "pro" isn't really a "wow I made it!" moment, especially when you're talking about short fiction (a first sale that's a novel might feel different, I don't know). I think you usually don't realize when that moment was until it's several years in the past.

The day I got the letter in the mailbox (and I still remember it clear as yesterday) I didn't feel like a pro. I think that came when I started thinking about where I should send a particular story, balancing money, exposure, editorial feedback and personal preference. That, to me, was my first real 'pro' moment. Everything before that was "wow, I sold a story!"