Some more good news: I can officially announce I sold a story to Brave New Worlds, one of the Zombies Need Brains anthologies for 2022. It's my first fiction sale, and a pro sale at that. While the editors helped me make some amazing revisions, the exact same story (as submitted) received an HM at the contest in the recent Q4.
So, if you're earning HMs or better in the contest, you are already writing at a high level. Keep writing, keep submitting, and write the stories you want to tell! And get some critiques if you aren't already doing so. I could never have grown so fast or sold this story idea without the help of many of you I met on the forum. Cheers!
Thanks, officer! And yes, I totally agree. If you're getting HMs, you're there! Just don't give up!
Preston Dennett
HM x 12
F x 1
Winner, 2nd place, Q1, Volume 35
40 stories published! (and counting!)
@officer Congratulations, Ari! This is a great pro sale. It’s always wonderful to see your story in a book. You worked hard for this. Well done!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Here's the story of my SF's long journey to publication:
In his feedback, Dave (RIP) said that my protagonist needed better motivation. And he also didn't like the ending.
I fixed the motivation, but I wanted to keep the somewhat downer of an ending. I was going for a "Spy Who Came In From The Cold" vibe.
I knew the story would be a hard sell. It's 11,500 words and has talking animals. Cycled it through all the pro markets (at least the one's that don't explicitly say no talking cats). Then the semi-pros. Finally the token payments.
No sale.
Ended up trunking the story. Thought maybe it could be the start of a novel some day.
Out of the blue I get an email from Small Beer Press asking if the story is still available and apologizing for the delay. I didn't recognize the name. A little research revealed that SBP publishes Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet. LCRW is old school when it comes to submissions: they want a hard copy.
I checked my records and saw that I had followed up with LCRW twice, never heard back, and marked them off.
But they finally replied 794 days (2 years, 2 months and 4 days!) after I dropped the story off at the Post Office.
"The Last Mission" was published in LCRW #44 in December.
In the Feb 2022 Locus, Paula Guran called TLM "entertaining and clever" and put it on her recommended stories list.
That's a fun piece of flash, Preston! Although I find myself wondering if the quantity of flies means things aren't as done as they seem...
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38) Ticknor Tales Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback
@jamesblakey Quite the history on that one, James! I'm glad it finally found a home, and even got a good Locus review! Cheers!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
Here's the story of my SF's long journey to publication:
In his feedback, Dave (RIP) said that my protagonist needed better motivation. And he also didn't like the ending.
I fixed the motivation, but I wanted to keep the somewhat downer of an ending. I was going for a "Spy Who Came In From The Cold" vibe.
I knew the story would be a hard sell. It's 11,500 words and has talking animals. Cycled it through all the pro markets (at least the one's that don't explicitly say no talking cats). Then the semi-pros. Finally the token payments.
No sale.
Ended up trunking the story. Thought maybe it could be the start of a novel some day.
Out of the blue I get an email from Small Beer Press asking if the story is still available and apologizing for the delay. I didn't recognize the name. A little research revealed that SBP publishes Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet. LCRW is old school when it comes to submissions: they want a hard copy.
I checked my records and saw that I had followed up with LCRW twice, never heard back, and marked them off.
But they finally replied 794 days (2 years, 2 months and 4 days!) after I dropped the story off at the Post Office.
"The Last Mission" was published in LCRW #44 in December.
In the Feb 2022 Locus, Paula Guran called TLM "entertaining and clever" and put it on her recommended stories list.
Congratulations!
If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38) Ticknor Tales Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback
Here's the story of my SF's long journey to publication:
In his feedback, Dave (RIP) said that my protagonist needed better motivation. And he also didn't like the ending.
I fixed the motivation, but I wanted to keep the somewhat downer of an ending. I was going for a "Spy Who Came In From The Cold" vibe.
I knew the story would be a hard sell. It's 11,500 words and has talking animals. Cycled it through all the pro markets (at least the one's that don't explicitly say no talking cats). Then the semi-pros. Finally the token payments.
No sale.
Ended up trunking the story. Thought maybe it could be the start of a novel some day.
Out of the blue I get an email from Small Beer Press asking if the story is still available and apologizing for the delay. I didn't recognize the name. A little research revealed that SBP publishes Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet. LCRW is old school when it comes to submissions: they want a hard copy.
I checked my records and saw that I had followed up with LCRW twice, never heard back, and marked them off.
But they finally replied 794 days (2 years, 2 months and 4 days!) after I dropped the story off at the Post Office.
"The Last Mission" was published in LCRW #44 in December.
In the Feb 2022 Locus, Paula Guran called TLM "entertaining and clever" and put it on her recommended stories list.
I love a story about a story! Very cool. Congratulations! Locus, wow!
Preston Dennett
HM x 12
F x 1
Winner, 2nd place, Q1, Volume 35
40 stories published! (and counting!)
Okay, so maybe not. I stopped writing for a while because I decided I didn't have enough time and if I decided to write something it would occupy all my waking and sleeping hours. Basically, I decided I was done with writing.
I don't know if I'll change that eventually, probably not, at least regarding fiction. But. . . regarding others, OMG congratulations Liz/Disgruntled Peony! I am so, so happy for you although I know this is long overdue! (And what in the world does this emoji mean, anyway?)
But anyway, I basically stopped writing, though I started a fanfic which isn't nearly as stressful, and you could read the couple hundred words I wrote here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14014516/1/The-Name-of-Iron. I might continue it, I do have a bit more stored up that I haven't published.
In other news, I have good news! I tried writing a non-fiction article for a magazine I like (although I stink at writing non-fiction, and hate doing it, but that's besides the point) and I got accepted! And they pay 10 cents a word! I would rather a fiction sale, but either way, 750 dollars is 750 dollars. Not bad for my first published piece. Whether I'll continue writing is another question, but at least I made it once.
So. This is a goodbye, of sorts. Thank you everyone who helped me improve my writing, and even those who just existed on this platform, or those who started to exist after I left, still, this is a great place to be. Especial thanks to Dustin and Becky, and, of course, David Farland, may he rest in peace, whose articles helped me so much, and who took the time to read my meritless scribbles.
Alas, here lie a worthless soul, who gazes up at the star-filled sky and wonders what will become of him. So long, my friends and enemies!
Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm ~ Winston Churchill V37: R, R, R, HM V38: SHM
@reuben Sometimes you have to prioritize. Fiction will always be here when you're ready. As will we. You're always welcome back.
http://nineandsixtyways.com/ Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker 3rd Place Q1 V31 "Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015 Today I Am Carey from Baen The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North
“In other news, I have good news! I tried writing a non-fiction article for a magazine I like (although I stink at writing non-fiction, and hate doing it, but that's besides the point) and I got accepted! And they pay 10 cents a word! I would rather a fiction sale, but either way, 750 dollars is 750 dollars. Not bad for my first published piece. “
Congratulations, Reuben! That’s a very nice sale, and it’s always great to be paid for your words, fiction or nonfiction. It’s all writing!
Of course, we hope you don’t throw in the towel on your fiction. Just view yourself on an extended vacation. We’ll see you whenever you return!
Cheers!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
I just got my first publication! A Properly Spiced Gingerbread was born during one of @wulfmoon 's KYD Master Classes and published in DreamForge Magazine 3/18/22.
Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t escape the Gingerbread Man. Granny had warned that magic could kill, but Lucy hadn’t expected to die at the hands of a cookie.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >). Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter atwww.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
I just got my first publication! A Properly Spiced Gingerbread was born during one of @wulfmoon 's KYD Master Classes and published in DreamForge Magazine 3/18/22.
Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t escape the Gingerbread Man. Granny had warned that magic could kill, but Lucy hadn’t expected to die at the hands of a cookie.
Congratulations, David! I knew when you wrote that in my KYD master workshop you had a winner on your hands. Great job reading it in the workshop as well—you really brought it to life! I’m so happy you found a home for this, and at DreamForge no less. You got a custom illustration on your first respectably published story! Well done!
Click here to JOIN THE WULF PACK!
"Super-Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler" won Best SFF Story of 2019! Read it in Writers of the Future, Vol. 35. Order HERE!
Need writing help? My award-winning SUPER SECRETS articles are FREE in DreamForge.
IT’S HERE! Many have begged me to publish the Super Secrets of Writing. How to Write a Howling Good Story is now a #1 BESTSELLING BOOK! Get yours at your favorite retailer HERE!
@lost_bard very many congratulations! Fantastic news!
3rd Place Vol 41 Q3 ("The Stench of Freedom")
Submission record: R x 2 / HM x 7 / SHM x 2 / W x 1
Stories published in Daily Science Fiction, Every Day Fiction, 365tomorrows, and Gwyllion Magazine.
Find out more on my website (www.joelcscoberg.com) or sign up to my newsletter for updates on my writing journey.
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >). Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter atwww.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
Thanks all! I’m glad you enjoyed my story. It was a lot of fun to write!
Death and the Taxman, my WotF V39 winning story is now a novel! (Click Here >). Death and the Dragon launches on Kickstarter August 27th. (Click Here >)
Subscribe to The Lost Bard's Letter atwww.davidhankins.com and receive an exclusive novelette!
I would rather a fiction sale, but either way, 750 dollars is 750 dollars. Not bad for my first published piece. 
Whether I'll continue writing is another question, but at least I made it once.
