So You Sold Your First Story

Wow, y'all. The times sure change. A little over a year ago I went from having no publications to four. From four to twelve. And now we are honing in on the big three-o. Soon I'll start tepidly searching for publishers for a collection, along with a few other projects.

On my social media I'm fond of making jokes at my own expense, but I thought that a retrospective of the year may actually offer some useful insights for new writers. To be specific: the following is not for more seasoned writers than myself, and it certainly isn't for everyone. There is no one path to writing, just as there is no one metric for success. But, framing this as a message to a slightly younger self, some may find it useful or entertaining.

So with that, please enjoy:

Dear Sam,

So you sold your first story? Congratulations! This wasn't easy, and I know the temptation to give up was pretty big. Take a moment to be proud, open that bottle of rum you bought five years ago. Have some each time you sell another story (editor's note: the rum is gone!). Feel that rush? Yeah? You want to keep it going?

Well, maybe slow down a little. Here's a few pieces of advice old Sam has for you as you continue on:

(1) Not everything you write is good. For a moment your metrics are going to be all over the place. Having sold one (or more) stories, you may go through a brief period where you aren't sure how to assess your own work anymore. My advice is to take a step back and be as critical as you were before you were published. Let stories sit for a week before sending them off. And furthermore...

(2) Catch up. You're going to feel like you are in the deep end now. And you are. Don't panic. Everyone is rooting for you, and people don't just hand out compliments for fun out here. That said, another important component of being aware of the quality of your work is to read your peers. Yes, I know, it's weird that these very good writers are your peers. But you've got to read them, you need to assess it against what you do and have some sort of bearing as to what is going to be expected of publishable work. Besides, a lot of this stuff is just astounding.

(3)Be friendly. This is the most important piece of advice no one is going to tell you, but it should also be a given. Unless you are just the greatest writer of all time (see point 4), you need to be friendly. It's easier than the alternative, and people are more inclined to talk with you if you're kind.

(4) Be humble (sit down). It's a fine-line between being self-deprecating, but don't buy into hype you don't have. Always be genuine and thankful when someone says something about your work, even if it is critical. Don't expect to be accepted to every publication you send to and certainly don't make a stink about being rejected. You are going to be rejected SO MUCH! STILL! A rejection is not a closed door, and the way you behave in the aftermath can make a world of difference to editors who are rejecting your work on a close call. That said, be proud of your work and let your readers know that you have confidence in your work. Don't give the impression that you're work is lacking, but don't sit on any laurels either. Treat every story you write like it's going to be the last one.

(5) Don't be afraid to ask. There is a good way to query and there is a bad way to query. Be cognizant that editors have day jobs just like you do, and editing often takes more work and pays less than writing. These are people at the other end of your emails, treat them as such. But if you do this, be ready to get a "no." That's fine. Don't take it personally.

(6) Do something with dogs. Everyone loves dogs. Go figure.

Keep it up, young Sam. From old Sam to you, you're doing well.

-Old Sam