Welcome back. I’m excited to announce I’ve got a second story picked up by Scare Street! A short story called Aiyana’s Hearth will be published soon for the next Scare Street Anthology. I’ll keep you posted on the when’s and where’s.
Meanwhile, check out Scare Street to see what they have to offer:
As always, there’s a tie in to the writing game and this time I wanted to talk about our friend perseverance. It should be a four letter word most of the time because it requires a mountain of effort in the face of failure and setbacks.
On the other hand, perseverance is a writer’s best friend. It has to be in your tool bucket because it will see you through when the rejections keep coming and you feel like no idea in your head is worth a story. Perseverance sits on your shoulder and keeps you moving forward even when you think there are no avenues left.
Doubt me? I had plenty of times I could have given up this silly business. I’ve written six fantasy novels and am still looking for that first hit. I’ve stuck at it even after a stack of rejections the size of a book (no, I lost count despite an attempt to keep them all). I’ve got a spreadsheet of all of the rejections I’ve collected from short story submissions and it’s a pile too.
However, I’ve had a few meager successes along the way to keep me going and that’s what counts. Even if it’s not a full blown publication, opportunities to improve your writing, your attack (cover letters) and your editing are worthwhile. Even a favorable rejection where an editor takes the time to give you more than a form letter is the perk that keeps perseverance at your back; pushing you to get back up and swing again.
The other piece of advice I can give you when the writing world gets you down . . . don’t take yourself too seriously. Honest. Okay, you’re not the next Stephen King or Tim Mendees right now. So what? Don’t worry about where you think you should be–worry about the story you’re working on right now and make it the best you can.
When it’s ready, fire it out and start to work on the next. Let time and your writing spirits work it out. Eventually you’ll find a success here and there and then a niche.
For most of us it’s a long trek, but it’s the long journeys that make you appreciate where you finally get to (just ask Gandalf or Harry or even Corwin).
Hang in there. You can do it.
Craig