At this time last year, I set a goal for myself – write one short story a month. If I hadn’t learned anything this year I could have done that. They wouldn’t have been very good, but I could have pulled it off. Fortunately, I did learn a lot this year, and while I don’t have 12 stories to wave around I do have a few.
Throughout the year, I continued to take classes from Michael Knost, continued to write, and read as much fiction as I could (post forthcoming). Nearly every class had me wanting to rewrite something that came before it. Now, at the end of another year of study, I feel fortunate to have a very sound tool box to draw from.
There are about half a dozen pieces that are done or nearly done, and several other fragments that class obligations (which also produced completed work) prevented me from finishing. A couple of which are closer to chapbooks or novelette’s than short stories. I am looking forward to wrapping those up in the first part of the new year .
I sent out my first submission in August, followed that up with a couple more, and currently have a couple of things out for consideration. No sales yet, but as I said somewhere before, if you see me dancing the Charleston on a flagpole at any point you can assume that changed. This coming year I’ll make submission a higher priority I suspect.
When I look at the year, I understand much better how to tell the stories my way, how to stitch together the amorphous ideas and what my muse is expecting me to convey. Gruntsplatter, all my music really, is built on a foundation concepts and themes, transcribing those into something coherent befuddled me for a long time. I’m starting to understand now.
Looking ahead to next year, that is my goal. Not word count, not acceptances, but writing stories in my voice, conveying my ideas as best I can, and applying that tool box to greater effect. The other stuff will come if I can manage that.
I need to thank the friends, family and those in the field… who have been there with simple words, first reads, and worldly wisdom for their faith and support. My wife most of all.
Next year starts with my first convention attendance. Thomas Ligotti Online asked me to do one of their member interviews (a 20 questions thing), that should show up on their boards in mid-January. I have a head full of ideas I’m looking forward to purging. If I do it well enough, perhaps I’ll be able to share them with you.
