Discussion: Q3 Volume 36

Remember, there was a time when even Stephen King couldn't write his way out of a wet paper bag. But through the grace of cocain and looming poverty, he persevered.

... Yeah, that didn't come off as encouraging as I'd intended....

ROFL! I was remembering the story of his vasectomy. He was told to lay down for a couple of days, but instead pulled a macho writer went home to write. Thirty minutes later he was sitting in a puddle of blood. His recovery took longer because he didn't follow his doctor's orders.

Everything in measure. And we may want to rethink our choice of role models.

Guys... He doesn't even *remember* writing Cujo.

Remember, there was a time when even Stephen King couldn't write his way out of a wet paper bag. But through the grace of cocain and looming poverty, he persevered.

... Yeah, that didn't come off as encouraging as I'd intended....

Not to argue, and not that I’m a die-hard SK fan, but when in his early career couldn’t he write well? The coke and booze destroyed his writing. He admits that.

Booze ruined Papa. Hurt Faulkner too. Too much coffee killed Balzac.

SK had been writing since he was five years old. Obviously not real writing but the seed was planted.

Remember, there was a time when even Stephen King couldn't write his way out of a wet paper bag. But through the grace of cocain and looming poverty, he persevered.

... Yeah, that didn't come off as encouraging as I'd intended....

ROFL! I was remembering the story of his vasectomy. He was told to lay down for a couple of days, but instead pulled a macho writer went home to write. Thirty minutes later he was sitting in a puddle of blood. His recovery took longer because he didn't follow his doctor's orders.

Everything in measure. And we may want to rethink our choice of role models.

Except for the heavy drinking and falling off his horse frequently, I’d be Faulkner in a hot minute. Or Hemingway in 1920s minus the supposed rendezvous with Fitzgerald.

I’d say the more messed up you are the better writer you’ll become. But that’s just a theory.

I left somebody out: Cormac McCarthy, minus the early years of poverty. I’d say Balzac and Tolstoy too, but I’m not sure I’d like to live in the 1800s.

We could build a Frankenwriter. Give it Tolkien’s intellect to start.

I’d say the more messed up you are the better writer you’ll become. But that’s just a theory.

Corbin, after riding a Ford on its side at 70mph on the highway with your face inches away from the road and the challenge of recovering from brain damage, I think you have had your share of misfortune and therefore can skip the booze and cocaine...of the coffee however, I cannot say.

Side Note: Still horrified by the story, I read your description of the ride to my husband last night, and he said something to the effect of, "Well, he's proved he's a writer, or he wouldn't be able to write such a vivid description."

To continue then with my story: in 2012 I got rheumatoid arthritis, which basically feels like getting your ass kicked every day. The doctor’s treat that with chemo pills and opioids. So I didn’t skip the usual addiction. Also I was in the Marine Corps for 7 years. And I drank a lot.

I haven’t had a drink in 7 years and I take nothing stronger than an occasional Motrin for my pain.

I’m a 70 percent disabled vet with terribly messed up feet and prison-guard PTSD. And after 20 years of being a special agent, I got placed on admin duties because of my brain problems.

So basically the only time I don’t feel f’d up is when I’m writing. I leave this world and am totally immersed in my story world. Which sometimes happens even when I’m not writing.

The point being is to stay positive through the rejection slips and to write because it means more to you than getting published.

Oh yeah, prior to scraping down the freeway cement, I hit a semi truck and the passenger side of my vehicle locked onto the side of the semi. That’ll wake you up in the morning.

The accident was caused by my vehicle having a blow-out not that I remember because most of that week and the next week are gone from my memory. .

To continue then with my story: in 2012 I got rheumatoid arthritis, which basically feels like getting your ass kicked every day. The doctor’s treat that with chemo pills and opioids. So I didn’t skip the usual addiction. Also I was in the Marine Corps for 7 years. And I drank a lot.

I haven’t had a drink in 7 years and I take nothing stronger than an occasional Motrin for my pain.

I’m a 70 percent disabled vet with terribly messed up feet and prison-guard PTSD. And after 20 years of being a special agent, I got placed on admin duties because of my brain problems.

So basically the only time I don’t feel f’d up is when I’m writing. I leave this world and am totally immersed in my story world. Which sometimes happens even when I’m not writing.

The point being is to stay positive through the rejection slips and to write because it means more to you than getting published.

I admire your perseverance, Corbin. Not many people would continue staying positive after going through all that. It's a good lesson to make sure you have fun doing what you love above all else. Shrug off the rejections and keep writing!

I’m not saying it’s easy to stay positive. And I’m only offering my experiences as motivation to other writers in hopes they’ll not let rejection crush them and give them pause when considering whether or not they should be writing.

OMG! CORBIN!!!

I shall hence forth cease all whining. Well, until I give up and whine again, because I have never been a Marine nor am I made of the steel you are. But I can write, and I shall. And good luck to you my friend.

OMG! CORBIN!!!

I shall hence forth cease all whining. Well, until I give up and whine again, because I have never been a Marine nor am I made of the steel you are. But I can write, and I shall. And good luck to you my friend.

Thank you. And good luck to all of us.

A few days late on here but I did get my story done in time! Now I need to finish Q4

I’m not saying it’s easy to stay positive. And I’m only offering my experiences as motivation to other writers in hopes they’ll not let rejection crush them and give them pause when considering whether or not they should be writing.

My long time discouragement and occasional whining does look different after your story. Yikes.

I’m not saying it’s easy to stay positive. And I’m only offering my experiences as motivation to other writers in hopes they’ll not let rejection crush them and give them pause when considering whether or not they should be writing.

My long time discouragement and occasional whining does look different after your story. Yikes.

I’ve been writing since about 2002. In all that time, I’ve only won two writing contests from companies that went under and had one book published from one of those same companies. If I didn’t love writing, I would’ve quit a long time ago.

The book I’m working on currently is giving me loads of writing pleasure and I think it’s turning pretty good with some decent prose in it. So I like it. And if no agent or publisher likes it, then all I can do is write something new. I believe that you won’t get discouraged if you enjoy writing regardless of getting published.

Write because you love it. Not because you’re looking to get paid.

I’m not saying it’s easy to stay positive. And I’m only offering my experiences as motivation to other writers in hopes they’ll not let rejection crush them and give them pause when considering whether or not they should be writing.

My long time discouragement and occasional whining does look different after your story. Yikes.

I’ve been writing since about 2002. In all that time, I’ve only won two writing contests from companies that went under and had one book published from one of those same companies. If I didn’t love writing, I would’ve quit a long time ago.

The book I’m working on currently is giving me loads of writing pleasure and I think it’s turning pretty good with some decent prose in it. So I like it. And if no agent or publisher likes it, then all I can do is write something new. I believe that you won’t get discouraged if you enjoy writing regardless of getting published.

Write because you love it. Not because you’re looking to get paid.

You still have a better record than I do. One pro published story years ago than I forgot how to write. Or so it seems. Been learning and working my way back up but nothing works so far. Well, a couple of slight improvements since Dave at least read all of a couple of stories but neither he, nor any other editor, thinks much of my writing. Well, one editor does but he isn't buying anything right now. It's not so much the money as the knowledge that I am improving to a pro level, or even close. It wouldn't have to be Dave actually. If I pro-ed out of WotF I would still know I am writing well. Money would be good of course. And that having a skit made from my story would be so cool. I don't know how many winners WotF did that for though. However your work has had more personal difficulties than I have, if I may say that. I have less reasons to whine or complain.

My long time discouragement and occasional whining does look different after your story. Yikes.

I’ve been writing since about 2002. In all that time, I’ve only won two writing contests from companies that went under and had one book published from one of those same companies. If I didn’t love writing, I would’ve quit a long time ago.

The book I’m working on currently is giving me loads of writing pleasure and I think it’s turning pretty good with some decent prose in it. So I like it. And if no agent or publisher likes it, then all I can do is write something new. I believe that you won’t get discouraged if you enjoy writing regardless of getting published.

Write because you love it. Not because you’re looking to get paid.

You still have a better record than I do. One pro published story years ago than I forgot how to write. Or so it seems. Been learning and working my way back up but nothing works so far. Well, a couple of slight improvements since Dave at least read all of a couple of stories but neither he, nor any other editor, thinks much of my writing. Well, one editor does but he isn't buying anything right now. It's not so much the money as the knowledge that I am improving to a pro level, or even close. It wouldn't have to be Dave actually. If I pro-ed out of WotF I would still know I am writing well. Money would be good of course. And that having a skit made from my story would be so cool. I don't know how many winners WotF did that for though. However your work has had more personal difficulties than I have, if I may say that. I have less reasons to whine or complain.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I’ve been writing since about 2002. In all that time, I’ve only won two writing contests from companies that went under and had one book published from one of those same companies. If I didn’t love writing, I would’ve quit a long time ago.

The book I’m working on currently is giving me loads of writing pleasure and I think it’s turning pretty good with some decent prose in it. So I like it. And if no agent or publisher likes it, then all I can do is write something new. I believe that you won’t get discouraged if you enjoy writing regardless of getting published.

Write because you love it. Not because you’re looking to get paid.

You still have a better record than I do. One pro published story years ago than I forgot how to write. Or so it seems. Been learning and working my way back up but nothing works so far. Well, a couple of slight improvements since Dave at least read all of a couple of stories but neither he, nor any other editor, thinks much of my writing. Well, one editor does but he isn't buying anything right now. It's not so much the money as the knowledge that I am improving to a pro level, or even close. It wouldn't have to be Dave actually. If I pro-ed out of WotF I would still know I am writing well. Money would be good of course. And that having a skit made from my story would be so cool. I don't know how many winners WotF did that for though. However your work has had more personal difficulties than I have, if I may say that. I have less reasons to whine or complain.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I quite often simply want to hit a LIKE button against a post. This one - the biggest so far.

You still have a better record than I do. One pro published story years ago than I forgot how to write. Or so it seems. Been learning and working my way back up but nothing works so far. Well, a couple of slight improvements since Dave at least read all of a couple of stories but neither he, nor any other editor, thinks much of my writing. Well, one editor does but he isn't buying anything right now. It's not so much the money as the knowledge that I am improving to a pro level, or even close. It wouldn't have to be Dave actually. If I pro-ed out of WotF I would still know I am writing well. Money would be good of course. And that having a skit made from my story would be so cool. I don't know how many winners WotF did that for though. However your work has had more personal difficulties than I have, if I may say that. I have less reasons to whine or complain.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I quite often simply want to hit a LIKE button against a post. This one - the biggest so far.

That you for the “Like” hit. I hope my advice helps anyone who’s feeling some serious discouragement along their travels down the writer’s path.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I won't argue about that first part. But I am not a good judge of how my writing is coming along. If editors start to say good things about my writing, or actually buy my stories, then I know my ability to tell the best story I can has improved significantly. Feeling good about writing is what has kept me going over the years I have been here. Recently I have gotten out of the habit of coming here but it's been, not sure, but over five years since my first post here. Writing even longer than that.

As to your last comment: I might just feel that even though I thought a story was badly written if Dave and the others that look at the finalists, think my story should be in WotF then I know I was wrong about it. I would be greatly surprised but still know I did better than I thought.

Oh and if I ever got a semi finalist I would know I have improved greatly even then.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I won't argue about that first part. But I am not a good judge of how my writing is coming along. If editors start to say good things about my writing, or actually buy my stories, then I know my ability to tell the best story I can has improved significantly. Feeling good about writing is what has kept me going over the years I have been here. Recently I have gotten out of the habit of coming here but it's been, not sure, but over five years since my first post here. Writing even longer than that.

As to your last comment: I might just feel that even though I thought a story was badly written if Dave and the others that look at the finalists, think my story should be in WotF then I know I was wrong about it. I would be greatly surprised but still know I did better than I thought.

Oh and if I ever got a semi finalist I would know I have improved greatly even then.

You know you can be a good writer and write a great story and still not win because the story may not have been a good fit for the anthology. All you can do is keep writing and studying.

There’s been so many days when I’ve felt terrible and then I sat down to write with a headache and body pains and I didn’t think I could get one good word on paper. But then I get that first word and sentence and paragraph and maybe I’m four or five paragraphs in before I start feeling better. I don’t know if what I wrote will appeal to anybody but I know I liked it and I’m happy with it.

I guess it can be like medicine. Like free drugs.

I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to get published. It’s sucking all the pleasure out of it. I feel that when you write, the prose should make you feel good. Like you took a drug or something. Or exercised. Chances are nobody’s ever going to pay for working out, but generally people feel good afterwards.

By the way, you’re not writing for David Farland or anyone else but yourself. If the words and the story don’t make you feel good before you submit it, then winning or getting published might feel hollow. Just a theory of course.

I won't argue about that first part. But I am not a good judge of how my writing is coming along. If editors start to say good things about my writing, or actually buy my stories, then I know my ability to tell the best story I can has improved significantly. Feeling good about writing is what has kept me going over the years I have been here. Recently I have gotten out of the habit of coming here but it's been, not sure, but over five years since my first post here. Writing even longer than that.

As to your last comment: I might just feel that even though I thought a story was badly written if Dave and the others that look at the finalists, think my story should be in WotF then I know I was wrong about it. I would be greatly surprised but still know I did better than I thought.

Oh and if I ever got a semi finalist I would know I have improved greatly even then.

You know you can be a good writer and write a great story and still not win because the story may not have been a good fit for the anthology. All you can do is keep writing and studying.

There’s been so many days when I’ve felt terrible and then I sat down to write with a headache and body pains and I didn’t think I could get one good word on paper. But then I get that first word and sentence and paragraph and maybe I’m four or five paragraphs in before I start feeling better. I don’t know if what I wrote will appeal to anybody but I know I liked it and I’m happy with it.

I guess it can be like medicine. Like free drugs.

He does give out Honorable Mentions, SHMs, semi finalists for those who don't reach the finalist stage. So far if he doesn't like a story no one does. I have heard the statement about it just not being a good fit for wotF but its been too long, that is no comfort for me. I have sent almost every type of spec tale there is to WotF, even before Dave came on board. I have 170 or so stories that I have or are sending out. I have sent maybe half to WotF, maybe more. I have sent somewhere around three-fourths of them to every market that might be a fit for them I could find. Anthologies as well as magazines. Many of the markets are no longer in existence. I found a new one the other day I might be sending 20 to 30 stories to. Not all at the same time of course, if they stay in business long enough. I don't know how long they will take to send a note back to me since I sent my first story there recently. As I said if one editor rejects something they all do, without a second glance usually. I know enough now to know that a large number of my first stories were badly written and to know how they were. So I assume I have improved significantly over the years but I have no scale to know where I am. For a couple of years I perceived myself to be almost pro quality but not quite but now I doubt that. Good stories maybe? You have to be better than good to get in WotF and most other markets but good is still a good place to be, it is on the way. Am I still climbing out of lousy? I don't think my writing is that bad but again I don't know, even though I have gotten a couple of signs that I am better than lousy. Mediocre then maybe? Again I like to think I am better than that but (Shoulder shrug). Most around here are good if not better, they get evidence of that. Those that aren't usually improve with their time here. I see very little evidence that I have moved forward more than a couple of feet from when I first joined here. Quite a few of those here when I joined aren't here any more because they got in or pro-ed out. I miss a couple of them. One person died. A couple just left for other reasons. Some that have been for a while probably are tired of me complaining-walloing in self pity-discouragment etc, even though I don't do it that often and haven't done it for quite a few months since I have not been here. Been working on novels, writing really short stories and some longer ones. Still I am writing and I am sending stuff in again. At least a few markets that haven't closed or are too full. Oh I wanted to say that the last 25 or so stories of the 170 only have one to three rejections since I haven't been sending out a lot of stories. But so many are still filled up, sent to almost every market I could find.

I won't argue about that first part. But I am not a good judge of how my writing is coming along. If editors start to say good things about my writing, or actually buy my stories, then I know my ability to tell the best story I can has improved significantly. Feeling good about writing is what has kept me going over the years I have been here. Recently I have gotten out of the habit of coming here but it's been, not sure, but over five years since my first post here. Writing even longer than that.

As to your last comment: I might just feel that even though I thought a story was badly written if Dave and the others that look at the finalists, think my story should be in WotF then I know I was wrong about it. I would be greatly surprised but still know I did better than I thought.

Oh and if I ever got a semi finalist I would know I have improved greatly even then.

You know you can be a good writer and write a great story and still not win because the story may not have been a good fit for the anthology. All you can do is keep writing and studying.

There’s been so many days when I’ve felt terrible and then I sat down to write with a headache and body pains and I didn’t think I could get one good word on paper. But then I get that first word and sentence and paragraph and maybe I’m four or five paragraphs in before I start feeling better. I don’t know if what I wrote will appeal to anybody but I know I liked it and I’m happy with it.

I guess it can be like medicine. Like free drugs.

He does give out Honorable Mentions, SHMs, semi finalists for those who don't reach the finalist stage. So far if he doesn't like a story no one does. I have heard the statement about it just not being a good fit for wotF but its been too long, that is no comfort for me. I have sent almost every type of spec tale there is to WotF, even before Dave came on board. I have 170 or so stories that I have or are sending out. I have sent maybe half to WotF, maybe more. I have sent somewhere around three-fourths of them to every market that might be a fit for them I could find. Anthologies as well as magazines. Many of the markets are no longer in existence. I found a new one the other day I might be sending 20 to 30 stories to. Not all at the same time of course, if they stay in business long enough. I don't know how long they will take to send a note back to me since I sent my first story there recently. As I said if one editor rejects something they all do, without a second glance usually. I know enough now to know that a large number of my first stories were badly written and to know how they were. So I assume I have improved significantly over the years but I have no scale to know where I am. For a couple of years I perceived myself to be almost pro quality but not quite but now I doubt that. Good stories maybe? You have to be better than good to get in WotF and most other markets but good is still a good place to be, it is on the way. Am I still climbing out of lousy? I don't think my writing is that bad but again I don't know, even though I have gotten a couple of signs that I am better than lousy. Mediocre then maybe? Again I like to think I am better than that but (Shoulder shrug). Most around here are good if not better, they get evidence of that. Those that aren't usually improve with their time here. I see very little evidence that I have moved forward more than a couple of feet from when I first joined here. Quite a few of those here when I joined aren't here any more because they got in or pro-ed out. I miss a couple of them. One person died. A couple just left for other reasons. Some that have been for a while probably are tired of me complaining-walloing in self pity-discouragment etc, even though I don't do it that often and haven't done it for quite a few months since I have not been here. Been working on novels, writing really short stories and some longer ones. Still I am writing and I am sending stuff in again. At least a few markets that haven't closed or are too full. Oh I wanted to say that the last 25 or so stories of the 170 only have one to three rejections since I haven't been sending out a lot of stories. But so many are still filled up, sent to almost every market I could find.

Well it appears that you and I are on the same boat. I’ve been a member here since 2007 and never came closer than a semi-finalist. And I’ve seen almost everyone with whom I was friends with in the forum win the contest.

The thing with me is that I cant stop writing no matter what. It’s in my blood and my soul now. So I keep with it.

Maybe your writing lacks some basic rules of construct or something. Not having read your work I wouldn’t know. All I can say is don’t let the discouragement prevent you from doing your best. Self-doubt can make you question everything. I try to imagine myself as the only living writer in the world that matters and the editor to whom I’m submitting as the only reader that matters besides myself. So if I’m the only writer, other current writers can’t get in my head to make me doubt myself.

It’s just me and the page.

Which means more work and learning

Which means more work and learning

Always. (Seriously, even the pros are still learning with every book they write.)

To continue then with my story: in 2012 I got rheumatoid arthritis, which basically feels like getting your ass kicked every day. The doctor’s treat that with chemo pills and opioids. So I didn’t skip the usual addiction. Also I was in the Marine Corps for 7 years. And I drank a lot.

I haven’t had a drink in 7 years and I take nothing stronger than an occasional Motrin for my pain.

I’m a 70 percent disabled vet with terribly messed up feet and prison-guard PTSD. And after 20 years of being a special agent, I got placed on admin duties because of my brain problems.

So basically the only time I don’t feel f’d up is when I’m writing. I leave this world and am totally immersed in my story world. Which sometimes happens even when I’m not writing.

The point being is to stay positive through the rejection slips and to write because it means more to you than getting published.

I admire your perseverance, Corbin. Not many people would continue staying positive after going through all that. It's a good lesson to make sure you have fun doing what you love above all else. Shrug off the rejections and keep writing!

Me too. I have one thing arthritis in my shoulders which gave me a bad time while writing on the computer a couple of years ago but that is still nothing compared to what you have been though. As I said before my pity parties look like nothing compared to what you have gone through and now even to write.

...the only time I don’t feel f’d up is when I’m writing. I leave this world and am totally immersed in my story world.

I can so identify with this, Corbin. When I was diagnosed with cancer and going through chemo (and of course writing about the whole experience), I noted that writing was a bit of magic I felt God had blessed me with, because I could escape into my stories and be completely immersed in the worlds I create. Sometimes I think this is the only way I survived.

I write speculative fiction because I feel like my writing is a kind of magic. Life imitating art? Art imitating life? Both, I think.

Is it way too early for this? Because I missed out on entering Q2 my entry for Q3 went in right at the beginning of the window so it feels like it has been forever. It is why I am holding off on submitting for Q4 even though my story is ready to go. I'm working on a couple other stories so maybe one of them will turn out to be amazing and I'll end up submitting one of them instead.

Anyhow if anyone else wants to switch gears from Q2 to Q3 with me you are welcome

Anyhow if anyone else wants to switch gears from Q2 to Q3 with me you are welcome

I've switched, but considering they're still judging Q2 I wouldn't expect results here for a month or two. Personal opinion is we'll be lucky to hear back by the end of September.