so interesting to learn about the genesis of you as a published author. there are lessons to take away.
reading about this kind of "never saw it coming/didn't expect THAT" success story is simultaneously encouraging and...deflating? encouraging more than deflating, but there are SO MANY talented people out there, it often feels like I will forever write stories that get 100 views on substack and then disappear into the ether. there have been a couple close calls - final 45 out of 2,100+ submissions for the Chuck Palahniuk/Michael Bailey "Silent Nightmares" anthology and the "you made it out of the slush pile" result for the Shining spin-off anthology - plus a couple yes's from small (very small) online mags, but nothing truly meaningful. I certainly don't do this with the expectation of making it a career - that's why I have a real job that pays me - but, like most of us I assume, I would be cool to earn some notoriety and get a piece of the spotlight.
so, my biggest takeaways:
- I don't know you in real life, but I'm proud of you, if that's not weird to say
- I need to be more diligent about seeking out and submitting to open calls, even when it feels like "oh, but why bother sending this story out AGAIN?"
Seriously, you do. I wrote a story for a Weird Tales submission. Didn’t make it. Submitted to the “Silent Nightmares” anthology. Didn’t make it but I was asked if I’d like it considered for the You, Human Vol. 2 anthology, and I was like heck yeah, and it was published. My agent has sent THE MAD OPHELIAS out for submission and everyone has passed. I don’t know if it will ever land anywhere, but I can’t let it go, so I’m back in the engine room with oil on my face. I will say I had to have a heart to heart with myself a few months back about why I’m even doing this, because even the successful writers publishing every year struggle by and large for the most part. And the thing I came away with was that it gave my life meaning. Not the only thing, but part of it. That’s freed me up in a certain way. Everything else - a few hearts on a chapter - is icing. But if you have questions about publishing, I may have an answer or be able to direct you to someone who may. You’re talented and not alone. (And you can also borrow the wrench when you need it.)
thanks - I appreciate that. I've had the "why do I write?" discussion with myself a number of times and always land in the same place: it's the dopamine hit of creating an entire world out of nothing, and then witnessing someone's reaction to it. that never gets old. knowing a person laughed or cried or got grossed out by something I wrote is satisfying to the ultimate degree, so - being mildly addicted to such reaction-farming - I want MORE people to laugh/cry/get grossed out. but similar to what you noted with POE, I'm bordering on genre-less. horror? sure, I have a couple of those (including about 65 pages of something I haven't touched in 3 years because it's totally different than how I write today). dark humor? yep, lots of that. fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian? probably, if you include the microfiction stuff. transgressive? occasionally. but all that makes it a challenge to find a "fit" for stories when I'm shopping for places to submit to. I seem to land on "no, it doesn't seem right for that place," but maybe I should start firing things off and let THEM say it's not right. I've submitted to a total of 40-ish places over the last couple years, and that number should probably be much bigger.
This was so freaking interesting, and what a journey! You've reminded me totally that I need to just be persistent. Also so love that you've been with your agent since! God, that's a dream. My first agent didn't work out and I keep hoping to have the longevity you've had! Glad to know it still exists.
The book sounds fun. I'll definitely check it out. Querying agents is...depressing. I'm currently at 46 rejections for the "horrormance" novel I'm slinging. I'll stop at 100.
You live on Maui? I live on Oahu. Small world! I'm just now looking into the writers groups here. Looking forward to joining some. Congrats on your success. That's definitely a wild ride!
I live in Seattle now but yeah, for 10 years I lived on Maui. Andrea Bartz has excellent content about agents, and a post with loads of query letter examples. She’s a great guide to the publishing world (and writer).
so interesting to learn about the genesis of you as a published author. there are lessons to take away.
reading about this kind of "never saw it coming/didn't expect THAT" success story is simultaneously encouraging and...deflating? encouraging more than deflating, but there are SO MANY talented people out there, it often feels like I will forever write stories that get 100 views on substack and then disappear into the ether. there have been a couple close calls - final 45 out of 2,100+ submissions for the Chuck Palahniuk/Michael Bailey "Silent Nightmares" anthology and the "you made it out of the slush pile" result for the Shining spin-off anthology - plus a couple yes's from small (very small) online mags, but nothing truly meaningful. I certainly don't do this with the expectation of making it a career - that's why I have a real job that pays me - but, like most of us I assume, I would be cool to earn some notoriety and get a piece of the spotlight.
so, my biggest takeaways:
- I don't know you in real life, but I'm proud of you, if that's not weird to say
- I need to be more diligent about seeking out and submitting to open calls, even when it feels like "oh, but why bother sending this story out AGAIN?"
Seriously, you do. I wrote a story for a Weird Tales submission. Didn’t make it. Submitted to the “Silent Nightmares” anthology. Didn’t make it but I was asked if I’d like it considered for the You, Human Vol. 2 anthology, and I was like heck yeah, and it was published. My agent has sent THE MAD OPHELIAS out for submission and everyone has passed. I don’t know if it will ever land anywhere, but I can’t let it go, so I’m back in the engine room with oil on my face. I will say I had to have a heart to heart with myself a few months back about why I’m even doing this, because even the successful writers publishing every year struggle by and large for the most part. And the thing I came away with was that it gave my life meaning. Not the only thing, but part of it. That’s freed me up in a certain way. Everything else - a few hearts on a chapter - is icing. But if you have questions about publishing, I may have an answer or be able to direct you to someone who may. You’re talented and not alone. (And you can also borrow the wrench when you need it.)
thanks - I appreciate that. I've had the "why do I write?" discussion with myself a number of times and always land in the same place: it's the dopamine hit of creating an entire world out of nothing, and then witnessing someone's reaction to it. that never gets old. knowing a person laughed or cried or got grossed out by something I wrote is satisfying to the ultimate degree, so - being mildly addicted to such reaction-farming - I want MORE people to laugh/cry/get grossed out. but similar to what you noted with POE, I'm bordering on genre-less. horror? sure, I have a couple of those (including about 65 pages of something I haven't touched in 3 years because it's totally different than how I write today). dark humor? yep, lots of that. fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian? probably, if you include the microfiction stuff. transgressive? occasionally. but all that makes it a challenge to find a "fit" for stories when I'm shopping for places to submit to. I seem to land on "no, it doesn't seem right for that place," but maybe I should start firing things off and let THEM say it's not right. I've submitted to a total of 40-ish places over the last couple years, and that number should probably be much bigger.
OH! And also, subscribe to Andrea Bartz (which I just did)
This was so freaking interesting, and what a journey! You've reminded me totally that I need to just be persistent. Also so love that you've been with your agent since! God, that's a dream. My first agent didn't work out and I keep hoping to have the longevity you've had! Glad to know it still exists.
The book sounds fun. I'll definitely check it out. Querying agents is...depressing. I'm currently at 46 rejections for the "horrormance" novel I'm slinging. I'll stop at 100.
You live on Maui? I live on Oahu. Small world! I'm just now looking into the writers groups here. Looking forward to joining some. Congrats on your success. That's definitely a wild ride!
I live in Seattle now but yeah, for 10 years I lived on Maui. Andrea Bartz has excellent content about agents, and a post with loads of query letter examples. She’s a great guide to the publishing world (and writer).
I lived in Washington State for five years for work. The weather killed me! Andre Bartz, I'll check her out. Mahalo! 🤙