Success!

[Strycher]

Hi all,

I'm up at Every Day Fiction today.
http://www.everydayfiction.com/
(link will change tomorrow)
Please enjoy responsibly.

D

Nice, Dustin! How'd you generate the statistics, if you don't mind me asking?

[Dustin Adams]

Strycher,

I tried to imagine how many times I'd say the word "the" in my lifetime. (That was the kernel of the story.)
I filtered everything down from there.
Thanks for checking it out.

[Strycher]

Strycher,

I tried to imagine how many times I'd say the word "the" in my lifetime. (That was the kernel of the story.)
I filtered everything down from there.
Thanks for checking it out.

It interested me when he found the number of times he'd said "I love you," because my spouse and I have essentially replaced several other common phrases with "I love you." Such as: "Hello." Good Bye." "You're wrong but, I don't want to fight any more." "You're right, but I don't want to admit it." "How was your day?" "Do you want to go get lunch even though we're broke?" "I'm sorry things didn't work out for you on that." etc.

I suspect the number of times I will say "I love you," in my life time has been greatly inflated by this habit.

Back on topic, I think your story was a good length. I think it works because it's tight--it's hard not to make deviations sometimes, but you did a good job.

[george nik.]

Nice story, Dustin! Congrats!

[gower21]

ETA **** My post below contains spoilers scroll down and read at own risk!!***






WOW! I loved it Dustin. The whole statistics of life thing and how thoughts determine behavior--spoke to my little psychology loving heart :) I liked the end where he focus on Pure Joy. Great story all the way through.

[austinDm]

I agree. Great little story!

[Dustin Adams]

Thanks everyone.
Really appreciate the support.

By the way, if anyone hasn't subbed to these guys, they are really great. So far, every rejection I've received has had feedback from at least two readers. One story of mine made the second round and was read by four folks. Their feedback, and my subsequent revision, is what undoubtedly allowed me to sell it to the very next market.

Oh, and this story was read by like 8 people. The feedback was intense, but since it's one they picked up, it was overwhelmingly positive, which makes a writer feel awesome.

So, if you're still struggling with the "break-in" like I am, seriously consider conjuring some flash fiction and sending their way. Oh, they take multiple subs too. Up to 3 stories, I believe. That's a lot of feedback. =)

Here's the new link: http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-stat ... tin-adams/

D

[Alex Kane]

Just made my second "professional" sale, as defined by the SFWA. Details forthcoming when I've returned the contract.

I owe a big thanks to our very own Brad Torgersen, who beta-read the story last summer and provided some invaluable feedback that helped make the piece what it became after a few minor polishes. (It received an Honorable Mention in Q3 2011.)

This one certainly warrants a lengthy blog post, so I'll share the linkage when the time comes.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Congratulations, Alex! And Dustin, I don't think I congratulated you. Nice work!

[Rebecca Birch]

Fabulous, Alex! Congratulations!

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Grats Alex!

[soulmirror]

Congrats on another pro sale, Alex!

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Of course, this puts Alex halfway to pro'ing out. So I'm happy for him, but also hope he sees some good news in Q2 or Q3 before he goes the rest of the way!

[Alex Kane]

Of course, this puts Alex halfway to pro'ing out. So I'm happy for him, but also hope he sees some good news in Q2 or Q3 before he goes the rest of the way!

Not quite. Multiple sources have said that the contest uses the list of SFWA-qualifying markets as the basis for determining eligibility, so as of now neither of my pro sales will count toward disqualifying me from WotF. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Of course, this puts Alex halfway to pro'ing out. So I'm happy for him, but also hope he sees some good news in Q2 or Q3 before he goes the rest of the way!

Not quite. Multiple sources have said that the contest uses the list of SFWA-qualifying markets as the basis for determining eligibility, so as of now neither of my pro sales will count toward disqualifying me from WotF. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

Ah. When you said...

..."professional" sale, as defined by the SFWA.

...somehow I assumed that meant a market from the list. I misread.

[E.CaimanSands]

Congrats, Alex.

[Alex Kane]

Ah. I can definitely see how you might interpret it that way. Sorry.

What I meant was, my second sale to a genre market that pays five cents per word or higher.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Ah. I can definitely see how you might interpret it that way. Sorry.

What I meant was, my second sale to a genre market that pays five cents per word or higher.

Yeah, I figured that out eventually. In some ways it's the best of both worlds: pro pay but no disqualification.

[dantzel]

Dustin - I read your story a couple days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great job! This market will also be the next place I send my best flash story, once it comes back from Asimov's.

Alex - congrats!!! I love your writing so this sale doesn't come as much of a surprise!

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Dustin - I read your story a couple days ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great job! This market will also be the next place I send my best flash story, once it comes back from Asimov's.

Never assume it's coming back. It's OK to plan "in case it comes back," but not "once it comes back."

[Rebecca Birch]

So, I just received an acceptance letter from Penumbra today for their September issue. This story was my Q4 honorable mention. It's gone through some editing since then, but is mostly the same story.

I guess it's not 100% official yet, since I have yet to receive the contract, but I was informed by the editor that my story will be the featured story. I'll be over in the corner trying to reattach my jaw.

[dantzel]

Ha okay my phrasing was rather fatalistic - I've been a little down on my writing the last two months. But you never know! I do quite like that story - it got a personal rejection from IGMS and Schubert said it was very well-written, so... I have hope for it.

[Martin L. Shoemaker]

Congratulations, Rebecca! Fantastic news!

[dantzel]

Congrats Rebecca!! Super exciting!!

I expect the next announcement to be from Martin!

... I'm going to be all alone in this forum soon, aren't I?

[Alex Kane]

So, I just received an acceptance letter from Penumbra today for their September issue. This story was my Q4 honorable mention. It's gone through some editing since then, but is mostly the same story.

I guess it's not 100% official yet, since I have yet to receive the contract, but I was informed by the editor that my story will be the featured story. I'll be over in the corner trying to reattach my jaw.

Congrats, Rebecca! That's awesome.

[Rebecca Birch]

Thanks, Martin and Dantzel and Alex!

[klaatu]

Congrats, Rebecca.

Well done.

Steve

[AMcCarter]

Conga Rats, everyone. Very exciting.

[trdixon]

[dantzel]

Ask and it shall be given!!