My First Non-Fiction Sale! (Sorta)

I just got an acceptance for The Moron's Guide to the Zombocalpyse! I'm at something of a loss as to how to categorize the piece. It's definitely an article rather than a story, but based firmly in the post-apocalyptic wackiness of the zombie genre. The editor also requested I try one or two more, so I might just have a few more to add to this new section of my bibliography.

I find this all rather exciting as it proves that I may indeed have the chops to do the whole article thing in addition to short stories. It's always good to be able to branch out into new areas.

Also, I'm now at twenty acceptances for the year. One more, and I'll actually meet the arbitrary New Year's resolution I made in '08--I just pushed it back a little.

The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
4 months 1 day
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
3 months 8 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
2 months 26 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
1 month 25 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
1 month 11 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
1 month 8 days

2009:
20 acceptances
6 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Change of Plans and WTF's?!

Well, it was an interesting morning.

I woke up and found a letter from a publisher in the e-mail I haven't used to sub anything in about two years. I got a very nice rejection stating the story I sent was held for consideration and came very close, but was ultimately rejected. Considering I gave up on that thing ages ago, it was...odd...to hear mention of it again. Perhaps I'll give it another look and do some rewriting.

S'nice to know at least some of my older stuff doesn't suck as much as I usually think.

Also! I happened upon a post on the Library of the Living Dead forums regarding the release of Zombonauts for which I was accepted. Alas, when I went to the site linked, my name was nowhere in the TOC. I sent a message to the good doctor who informed me of an unfortunate filing snafu. He kindly offered to put the story in Zombology III for me instead which suits me just fine.

So yeah, no harm, no foul, just a whole lot of weird.

And I'm not including that rejection in this year's count (once is enough).

The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
3 months 27 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
3 months 4 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
2 months 22 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
1 month 25 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
1 month 21 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
1 month 7 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
1 month 4 days

2009:
19 acceptances
7 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

The Last Crunch of Autumn

I just found out today that my little flash story, "The Last Crunch of Autumn" has been picked up for publication by 52 Stitches. It'll be a strange experience to see my work online to be sure, but I know a number of people that have published with them and speak very well of its editor, so all is well.

I'll be looking forward to nabbing a copy of the print release too of course.

As I've had the last few days off from work, I also wrote a 2,000 word short story. I think I'll hold that one for use in my collection. Tomorrow, maybe I'll get started on that ghost story I've been wanting to do...

Oh yeah, and I'm taking my submission to Big Ole Face Full of Monster off the list as I am now quite sure they're dead.

The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
3 months 9 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
2 months 17 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
2 months 4 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
1 month 7 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
1 month 3 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
20 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
17 days

2009:
19 acceptances
7 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Progress Report

Today's my birthday, so there shall be no writing. However, October proved to be a pretty successful month in that regard. Six finished pieces in 31 days may be be an all-time record for me. When you're a writer who works a blue-collar job, brevity is your friend.

Perhaps this habit is why getting my first collection up to the proper wordage is such a pain in the rear. It's rolling along nicely, but each new story I add only gives it another one to two thousand words.

That said, at least the title story is done. Here's how things are looking so far:

53, 100 words
10 published
28 unpublished
12 that need to be written/redone

I need to get up to 80,000 words, so it's a long road ahead.

In other news, I'm planning on trying to get a story into 52 Stitches within the next couple of weeks (yeah, they're an e-zine, but they do release a print anthology at the end). Also, despite my output in October, I didn't make a single sale the entire month! Hopefully, November will treat me better in this regard.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
8 months 13 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
3 months
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
2 months 8 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 26 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
29 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
25 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
11 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
8 days

2009:
18 acceptances
8 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room

I just did a little over 5oo words on the title story of my first short story collection. So far, pretty good. The whole production currently stands at 52,600 words, and I still have about ten stories left to write/rewrite for inclusion. An estimate of 40-50 stories is looking likely at this point.

Meanwhile, I've submitted stories to two more Pill Hill Press anthologies. I've also written a few movie reviews and articles in hopes of building a portfolio and looking for a job with one of the local newspapers or magazines. It's pretty unlikely they're even looking for anyone in the current economy, but meh, one never knows.

There are no new acceptances or rejections to report, but I was pleased to receive my contributor copy of Zombology II with my first royalty check tucked inside the inside cover. Very cool.

Oh, and if I don't get to it on the 31st, have a happy Halloween!

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
8 months 6 days
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
2 months 24 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
2 months 1 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 19 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
22 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
18 days
A Few Grams Lighter on the Scale-Monster Mash-submitted October 23rd:
4 days
One Final World to Conquer-Quest for Atlantis-submitted October 26th:
1 day

2009:
18 acceptances
8 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Out of the Loop

So, my internet service has been out for the last week. Upon returning, I noticed about half a dozen anthologies on Ralan I'm interested in pursuing. Cripes.

It doesn't look like I missed much in my e-mail. No new acceptances, rejections, or any of that jazz. However, I did just query one editor as whether or not I can re-submit my story. Between the spotty internet service and the words, "open until filled," my trigger finger gets overly twitchy at times (not to mention the fact I always notice things I kick myself for after I send).

Ah well.

Now, I just have to catch up on all the forum/site news I've missed over the past seven days.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
7 months 26 day
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
2 months 14 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
1 month 21 days
Five O'clock Shadow-Wolfology I-(re)submitted September 8th:
1 month 9 days
Economic Independence in Undead Times-The Moron's Guide to the Inevitable Zombocalypse-submitted October 5th:
12 days
The Woman With One Green Eye-Foetus Fatale: Fubar'd Noir-submitted October 9th:
8 days

2009:
18 acceptances
6 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn

Breakin' Out

Okay, I am now back from my vacation. Trumbull was a nice visit as always, and Boston was cool (although I have to admit I think I liked Salem more than the latter). This also means that I will now begin looking for a new job more suited to my abilities. I've got a lead on an online freelancing site which looks somewhat promising, but it doesn't pay very well, so I'll have to find some additional means. I may also start up some kind of online tutorial on getting work published or start doing some freelance editing. I'm not sure what my rates will be yet though.

The Power of Peruasion-Big Ole Face Full of Monster-submitted February 21st:
7 months 9 day
The Last Miracle of Ba'al-Hamon-Fight On!-submitted August 3rd:
1 month 27 days
Best Served Hot-Baconology-submitted August 26th:
1 month 4 days
Wolfology I-Five O'clock Shadow-(re)submitted September 8th:
22 days

2009:
18 acceptances
4 active (1 short listed)
15 rejections
3 withdrawn