tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post700424979787694445..comments2024-03-28T01:11:53.559-07:00Comments on Electric Spec Editor Blog: Your letters look good, but how 'bout your numberslesleylsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-26594837898025509282011-04-11T09:29:28.334-07:002011-04-11T09:29:28.334-07:00Thanks for sharing, A.L. There's some really g...Thanks for sharing, A.L. There's some really good advice here.<br />And congrats on the 9600-word sf story!<br />That rocks!lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-26359111733745891372011-04-09T06:46:19.845-07:002011-04-09T06:46:19.845-07:00It's an uphill battle. For me, the key is this...It's an uphill battle. For me, the key is this: I love my brain and my capacity to think, plan and synthesize. These qualities are what make me creative. I feel that the best way to keep these facilities -- this software, if you will -- is to keep giving it <i>something to do</i>. And input, let's not forget input! Even though I've sold a small pile of stories, I am always seeking new ways of writing. I'm also always looking for input in the form of news stories. Just yesterday I saw a story about a 75-year-old Japanese man who's been trapped on his property since the earthquake. He doesn't know where his wife is. He's about out of food and water. He has no heat. This piqued my imagination, so I saved a link to the story. Who knows what will become of it down the road? But it's in my Idea File for use.<br /><br />The same thing goes for background or reference information. That news item about the artificial "leaf" that was all over the place this week... I can use that in a story I am writing right now. Synchronicity perhaps. I never ignore those little messages.<br /><br />Also, I try writing different things. I started out writing sf... a few years ago I branched out into YA, historical fiction, and mysteries. I won a contest with a YA historical mystery in fact... maybe it was the blend? :-) Anyway, the idea is: keep sharp. Don't dig a pit for yourself. Stay interested, stay involved, stay excited about how <i>cool</i> it is to have a brain that does all this stuff.<br /><br />Sure I get depressed sometimes. For most of this past week I was in a state about my writing. But then, just yesterday, I got notice that I'd sold a 9600-word sf story, and for some reason all of a sudden I'm back to feeling hot again.<br /><br />Which is to say, you don't know what is around the corner -- just that there <i>is</i> a corner.A.L. Siroishttp://www.alsirois.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-62683190531164899892011-04-07T08:33:29.964-07:002011-04-07T08:33:29.964-07:00Ha, Martin! You said it! I've never thought ...Ha, Martin! You said it! I've never thought about the paid/ignored dichotomy before. Thanks.<br /><br />If j.a. is fighting an up-hill battle, I think we're all in trouble... :(<br />Now, I'm bummed again.lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-34107549603514861612011-04-06T10:56:49.865-07:002011-04-06T10:56:49.865-07:00Couldn't agree more. Getting that first deal i...Couldn't agree more. Getting that first deal is hard as hell, but selling enough books to get that second deal feels like an up hill battle. So yeah, we should do our jobs, and write a hell of a next book.j.a. kazimerhttp://www.jakazimer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-31641709049321106812011-04-06T07:58:55.537-07:002011-04-06T07:58:55.537-07:00Getting noticed in any profession is hard. What m...Getting noticed in any profession is hard. What makes writing harder is that you don't get paid until you have been noticed. <br /><br />At least in a job you get paid whilst being ignored.Martin Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605554706836638988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33599441.post-59229086658342433352011-04-06T07:34:36.562-07:002011-04-06T07:34:36.562-07:00You're bumming be out, dude. :(
If writing for...You're bumming be out, dude. :(<br />If writing for publication, or publication again, is so difficult, why should writers write? What are the right reasons? Or is that write reaons? :)<br /><br />Of course, short story writers have a good shot at getting published in ElectricSpec if their story is good! :)lesleylsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872977902924014581noreply@blogger.com