Books - Check 'Em Out!

I’ve written a few more short stories. They’re making rounds on the “let’s try to get published” circuit as we speak. Normally, I would’ve just posted them on my site, but lately I’ve been thinking that it would probably help me if I get at least a couple publishing credits under my belt.

Naturally, short stories seem like a good way to do this. The conventional wisdom has always been that if you want someone to publish your novel, you’ll need to show them that you’re publishable, or in other words: That you’ve already been published. Sort of reminds me of the old saying, “In order to get a loan, you must first prove that you don’t need one.” I suppose it does make sense though, that a writer would be taken more seriously for a large project if they have a few smaller ones already under their belt.

Unfortunately, the market for short stories just isn’t what it used to be. At the time many of our modern powerhouse writers were cutting their teeth on short stories, there were a lot more printed publications specializing in just that; printing short stories. Thankfully, we do have the internet, and many sites still look for original short fiction. There are a few printed magazines out there too, but competition is fierce. Competition is fine, I’m not afraid of a few more rejections. For me, the problem is that I just want to share my work, so I’m itching to post it on my site.

I know, I know… What’s stopping me? Back to the whole “publishing credit” thing, I really would like a couple of those, so I’m going to try it out for a while. Hell, what’s the harm, right? Among many new writers there is a school of thought that trying to get a short story published anymore may be more trouble than it’s worth. I’m not sure what the right answer is, but I think that at least seeing something I’ve written published would be pretty sweet, so like I said, I’ll give it a whirl.

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of reading, which has been great. During the semesters I go to school and work full time, so I don’t get much chance to read for enjoyment, which is a shame. Now that I’m on a break for a few weeks before the fall semester starts – well, working full time but no school, so close enough to a break – I’ve been sucking down the novels. My fiancé commented the other night on how quickly I read. I hadn’t thought about it before, but I suppose I do.

It made me think about being a kid. I was in the forth grade, I want to say. Could have been the third, but that’s not totally important. Our class participated in the Book It program, so there on the wall was a huge construction paper poster with every kid’s name on it, and a big paper star for every book report that they turned in. It was getting close to the end of the year and I remember having a conversation with a kid I sat next to. I told him that I didn’t see why anyone would voluntarily write a book report and turn it – for fun. The kid let me know that it wasn’t all for fun, in fact, if you did twenty book reports, you got a free pizza from Pizza Hut.

What. The. Fuck. Why didn’t anyone tell me this before? We’re talking about pizza here, people! That night, I was on a mission. I pulled out every supermarket paperback I had bought with my meager allowance, every book of my mom’s that I had read, and struggled to jog my memory about every library book I had read over the course of the year. Some, I couldn’t remember the author, others I couldn’t remember the title, and still others just weren’t good enough to remember at all. So, I couldn’t get credit for all of my reading.

The next morning, I turned in over forty book reports.

Needless to say, teacher was a little suspicious. So, that afternoon I stood in front of her desk, rubbing my hand, cramped from a night of feverishly summarizing every novel on paper. The teacher – I can’t remember her name for the life of me, sad – stood behind her desk with a coworker. They each held a pile of the reports I had turned in. At random, they began to quiz me on the book reports; asking me details about the stories, characters, the number of pages and where I got the book from.

The first one, I did have a little trouble remembering. It was a young adult book about some kid growing up, blah, blah. The teacher got a little knowing smile and looked at her coworker. She picked another report and asked me about it.

“Tell me about Windows on a Lost World.”

Now that was my shit; she was talking about Star Trek. I think I was five minutes into recapping the story of how ancient alien technology had turned many of the ship’s away team into giant crabs when she stopped me. Then her coworker asked me about a Robotech book. Midway into my explanation about who the Zentradi were and why they were hell bent on the destruction of mankind, I was once again, stopped. I was actually kind of pissed that I didn’t get to finish, it was a great story and I wanted to tell them about it.

We went on like that for a few more minutes. In the end, she completely believed me, and I made it rain pizza, y’all. On a couple of glorious nights, I actually contributed to my family – providing a meal.

In hindsight, I think the teacher was right to be suspicious. After all, some kids may cheat and lie to get things they want. But in the end, she had to believe me. Many kids may tell a fib for a free pizza, but there are very few who will gladly drag themselves through the mud of self-proclaimed nerddom to do it.

Just thought I’d share that with you. Keep reading, your pizza awaits.

-A. Michael

Honing the Craft

So far, I haven't had much success - which is to say none - with my query letters. This has given me some cause for pause...

Deep down, I suppose I’ve always held the secret wish that my first novel would be incredibly well received. After I finished my first draft, I had wonderful visions of my manuscript being carefully read, page by page inside of some smoky editor’s office. Yes, my work alone would have the power to restore the jaded publisher’s love for the written word. “My god,” they’d gasp after finishing the last page of my masterpiece, “This is why I got into the fucking business in the first place!” It’d sell in the millions and I’d finally be able to pay to have the leaks in my roof fixed. My life would become a dream-like existence of high-def televisions and name-brand breakfast cereal. Shit was going to be tight.

But then there’s reality.

The truth is, most authors don’t hit it out of the park the first time around, and I’m absolutely no exception. Jim Butcher writes about how the published version of his first Dresden novel was really more like the fifth complete revision. He’s just one of many that aren’t afraid to say that writing is as much an evolving skill as anything else. In the years that I’ve been taking writing seriously, I can look back and see a definite progression in my work. But still, I have a lot to learn.

I was recently fortunate enough to have a professional critique my manuscript. An opportunity that most beginning writers such as myself would give money, blood and reproductive organs to receive. Through fate, kismet, and an overwhelming kindness on the part of the The Professional, I found myself in this position. Overall, they told me that while I am a good writer, that while I write dialogue and action well, and while parts of the novel really do shine… It’s not quite ready for publishing. They recognized that their opinion is exactly that, an opinion. But when it comes from a person who knows the industry, I’d be stupid not to listen.

I received some specific advice on what I could do to tighten up the manuscript, exercises that will help me determine what will and won’t work for readers and publishers alike. For the most part, the biggest issue in the piece right now comes from classic beginner’s mistakes: Introductions that last too long, scenes that don’t serve enough of a purpose, etc. The best advice I was given: Don’t be discouraged, keep at it.

I’m very excited to begin a new chapter in my development as a writer. I’ve gotten my hands on several different writing texts and I’ve made myself a schedule of books to read and analyze. I’ve also set several writing goals for myself – practice, practice, practice as they say. When I’m ready, I’ll come back to The Red with a blue pencil and start making a better novel out of the one I’ve already written. For now, it's going to take a little rest while I gain some perspective.

One day, you may still see this asshole in print. It just won't be today. :)