MY FOUR YEAR WRITE-IVERSARY

This month marks my four year ‘Write-iversary’, meaning four years ago, in February, 2011, I decided to pursue fiction writing for the sake of publication.

I’ve kept track of every fiction short story submission that I’ve sent out during that time. As of today, I’ve accumulated 70 acceptances (including a few reprints), and 235 rejections, giving me a 22.95% acceptance rate. Another 26 stories are slated in the ‘Pending decision’ or ‘To find a home’ stacks. In addition, I’ve a couple dozen more stories written and relegated to the deepest of trunks. And, add to all that, my non-fiction articles, interviews, book reviews, blurbs, and introductions. My next milestone is to finish a full-length novel, which is currently about two-thirds completed (Chestnut ’Bo).

In addition to short stories, I also edited and published two anthologies (Dark Tales of Lost Civilizations and After Death...), the latter of which won the 2013 Bram Stoker Award. I wrote a novella, Baggage of Eternal Night, which was a finalist for the 2014 International Thriller Award. Some of my short stories also won or placed in various indie writing contests that I used to participate in before realizing that paying fees for such awards was ultimately unsubstantial.

I’ve made mistakes, but also gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in publishing, editing, and crafting stories. I’ve made wonderful friends and am still thrilled as a fan-boy each time I get to share a T.O.C. or even just communicate with an author I admire (er, swoon over!). I’ve met and/or worked with Joe R. Lansdale, Bentley Little, Ellen Datlow, Tom Monteleone, Steve Rasnic Tem, Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Jones, and others whom I’ve been reading for 22+ years, not to mention authors whom I’ve became familiar with and have inspired my dark fiction reading in the more recent 10-15 years, like John Joseph Adams, Jack Ketchum, John Skipp, Chuck Palahniuk, Robert McCammon, and many, many more. Plus there are just those other writers who have been particularly supportive and benevolent to me, such as Lisa Morton, Weston Ochse, Gene O’Neil, Stan Swanson, all the members of HWA L.A. chapter, as well as a hundred others.

All this in four years, while I work full-time, raise infant children, continue academic coursework, volunteer for several organizations, and engage in all other manner of life obligations and responsibilities...

My only regret is that I waited so long to even ‘try’. I loved writing in high school but went to college under the impression I needed to focus on ‘serious-minded’ business, and never the twain shall meet. Although I ultimately did pursue other creative endeavors, I waited until I was 35 years old before I decided to attempt that childhood dream of writing... I torture myself now thinking where I could be with an additional fifteen years of experience under my belt. Ah well, I’m elated with the adventure I’ve found thus far and can only hope it continues for countless more years!