Further Advice for the New Writer

Steve Perry just posted a bit about a newbie writer who is just beginning his collection of rejection slips. I have to say, of all the advice I have seen him give others, as well as the stuff he's given me, his guidance through this trying stage of a new writer's career is his forte'.

For once, I'm not being facetious when I say that. He's gotten me through more than a few rejection slips, and shown me how to see past that.

This post is for you, newbie writer. From another of your pantheon.

An interesting conversation happened last year, between me and the Old Man. I had just sent my first story off to Science Fiction Analog, and subsequently earned my first rejection slip.

I was crushed. I mean, I LOVED this story - So did all my friends. I had built it up in my head that as soon as it was read, some editor over at SFA would shout "Get this Edmonds guy on the phone quick, before Asimov's snatches him up!" I felt sure, in my bones, that this would be the launchpad from which I propelled my career.

So when the "thanks, but no thanks" came through, the moon fell from the sky and landed squarely on my head not 10 seconds later.

After a few minutes sobbing into my wife's cleavage, I decided to call Perry and get some Obi Wan-to-Skywalker counseling. (Like I said, he's really good at that sort of thing.)

(Thick Southern Drawl) "Wahl Kid, th' thing is, y'gotta keep at it. Keep sendin' it out, makin' th' rounds. That sort of thing. Sooner or later, someone will bite, even if it's a few years later on the same story.""

(Me, Between Sobbing) "Well, *SSNNEERRRRRRKKTTT!!* I just don't understand it. The guy even wrote me a note saying he liked it and all...Why wouldn't he take it? *sniffle*"

"The guy? Which one?"

(Checking rejection slip, now covered with snot and saline) "Ummm...Stanley Schmidt"

(Audible Gasp) "You mean Stanley Schmidt actually wrote something to you?"

"Yeah. It says; "I really liked this, good job. You need to remember to number your pages.""

"Hell, Kid - All the stuff I sent Analog, nobody ever wrote me anything. At least you got that far!"

Now, that meant something to me. I mean, my first trip to the rodeo, and I got further than Mr. "Does This For a Living".

Shit, maybe it's not all bad...

I'm on my 28th rejection slip now. I've heard several variations on a theme: Too much blood, not enough science, there's no such thing as zombies that can pilot spacecraft, too much profanity, incorrect usage of the clitoris in hyperspace - You name it. I've even had someone try to scam me into paying them to publish my work, as well as get several stories for free.

Still and all, now that I'm into my second year of writing and making the rounds, I feel like I'm getting my second wind. And I don't mean from just the curry.

I have no idea why I feel this way, I certainly have no reason to. There's no promise of acceptance on the horizon. But I'm in the groove of submitting stories now, and I know that if I keep on with the same level of quality in my writing, sooner or later something's going to get through. And after all is said and done, I love telling these stories.

So, newbie writer, you have already gotten a scad of advice from someone who has been where you are now, as well as someone who is still there. But the main thing I want to say is that there's something you can do that will be the most beneficial to you after you read something from yet another magazine editor who takes a pass on your literary masterpiece.

It's something that Perry said to me a few years ago, when I was in my whiny "I don't know what to write" stage. I have it in a frame above my computer. It's the best advice I've ever gotten for writing:

"Words. On the page. Now."

There's a saying among writers; "It's all grist for the mill." Well, you need to remember to keep the damn mill going as well. The grist needs a place to go.

Keep your head up kid, and keep the mill churning. We'll exchange autographed novels one day.