Have you ever been published?

[BLACK HAMMER]

If you're having trouble getting off the ground, check out this podcast...

http://www.teemorris.com/blog/index.html

if you don't know what a podcast is, try podcast411.com and read up. It's the next generation of media and it's taken off like a rocket.

I'm already creating content for PODCAST. This is big for all writers.

 

[William Hrdina]

Thanks for the Advice

Thank you all for your generous responses to my query. I've considered the audio option- but haven't gotten around to actually doing it yet. I've also thought about Podcasting some short stories- especially the ones that have been popular here- is there any chance this site will ever have a place to post such audio?
The images from the trailer for your book are intruiging Black Hammer- that seems like a good idea too. I'm not sure if my books are young adult reading or not- there's nothing sexually explicit or overly violent in them so I don't see why not- but I'm afraid the vocabulary might be a little out of most high school kid's leagues...
I'm not going to give up- I read once that Ezra Pound had to threaten to tear up his contract with his publisher in order to get James Joyce's Portrait of an Artist published. I try to keep that in mind when I get bummed about the publishing thing. And thanks to the magic of the web my website is always there in cyberspace- waiting for the right set of eyes to come across it.
But I really want to say thanks again for your thoughtful words of encouragement.

 

[Rantako]

I'm getting my first short story published sometime next year.

An author has been doing creative writing workshops with all the schools in my area, and my piece was one of the ones chosen to go in the book he's putting together. The story is only seven pages long, but I think it's one of my best pieces of writing (and it's the longest in the book ). Unfortunately neither me or my English teacher have heard from the author for a while, so I don't know what's happening with it.

I've also just reached 30000 words in my fantasy novel, which is encouraging, and I will probably try to get it published if it's ever finished.

 

[Severn]

Creeping in to whisper about poetry that I've had published over the last few years..here and there...even got paid! Given that you don't actually get paid a lot for publishing poetry I really should've framed the first cheque for reasons of nostalgia.

Now, let me bore you all with an odd story: I actually might have had a short story published too. But I don't know for sure. I participated in a creative writer's course in university under some of NZ's top writers (very lucky to be picked, wonderful course) and at the end of the year an anthology was organised through one of the larger publishing houses. Unfortunately things got muddled for me in life round about then, so not sure if my story got in and haven't been able to track the anthology down...

So yes, poetry and perhaps a short story...

Soon, when I have a new muse, I will begin writing a contemporary novel which will be published because it's my life's purpose.

K

 

[Rob B]

I had a mainstream short story published called "The Third Law" and was paid $200.

I am currently under contract with HarperCollins for a three-novel fantasy series. The first book, THE AMBER WIZARD, will hit stores on April 1, 2006. Yes, I was paid a pretty decent advance. The other books will follow at one year intervals.

I also have a young adult novel called FOREVERNESS out at a few places. My agent also said that he is working on a three-book deal in Germany for my series.

Congratulations and good luck!

I am not a fan of self-publishing. Very few people take it seriously because absolutely anything can be published via vanity presses. The name escapes me at the moment, but a group of professional SF/F writers took turns writing random garbage and sent it to one of the larger self-publishers, who accepted the mess and actually put the thing out.

The book was Atlanta Nights by Travis Tea - the publisher was PublishAmerica. Anytime a publisher asks the writer for money to publish a book, the publisher is a Vanity Publisher and the majority of those books are not very good.

 

[Hobbit]

I'm going to add to this one, because Rob's too shy to mention it himself: there are quite a few books around with quotes from Rob's SFFWorld reviews in the advertising blurb - does that count?

Hobbit

 

[Lady of Waset]

Well, I had published several short stories (mostly in the teen magazines), including the cheesiest bit of high school romance ...ever. My only excuse is that I was a teen myself at the time.

But this was ages ago and in a totally previous life. I really should start anew now. Looking for publishers, looking for appropriate markets, looking for agents - it pains me just to think about it. Why can't things be simple? Oh well...

 

[MrBF1V3]

- it pains me just to think about it. Why can't things be simple? Oh well...

If it were simple, everyone would being doing it.

At one time I had a shelf full of books with the label "If this clown can get published, anyone can."

I've mellowed out since then, but still maintain that the skill to write well, and the skill to get something you've written published, are two different skills.

B5

 

[Lady of Waset]

If it were simple, everyone would being doing it.

I know, I know… Writing is hard and painful enough in itself. After finishing a story or a novel you expect some kind of reward or recognition. Fat chance.

One thing I can tell from my previous experience: it always helps to get involved with the life of the sci-fi and fantasy community and fandom. This way you get to know peolpe. You meet genre fans, fellow aspiring authors, published authors, magazine editors, even an occasional agent. This doesn’t mean that you automatically get yourself a publishing deal – far from it. Still, provided your stuff is good, knowing people can make certain things much easier.

I've mellowed out since then, but still maintain that the skill to write well, and the skill to get something you've written published, are two different skills.

Amen.

 

[juzzza]

Seriously, my only 'proper' published work is my short story "Musings of a Vampire", which appeared in Nocturne 1.5 - a British horror magazine.

I'm currently awaiting my contributor's copy and my fee.

We get a fee? AWESOME!!!!

Dragonsoup - $23 Canadian
Writers, A Literary Journal - Just for the prestige
Legend - Contributor Copy
Here & Now (Twice) - Contributor Copies
Be Which Magazine - Two Contributor Copies (one for each story featured)
Nocturne - Contributor Copy and a Fee!

Amazingly, I have not retired from my day job yet!

I've had many, many articles printed in sexy, exciting journals such as 'Expat Investor' and other investment publications... amazing I have a girlfriend really.

 

[JamesL]

We get a fee? AWESOME!!!!

Yep, £4!

Don't go spending it all in one go, Juzz!

 

[Jumbo Frendie]

No i have never been published but i sure hope that i do!

 

[tracyt1800]

No i have never been published but i sure hope that i do!

I'm hoping the same for myself. I'm planning to send off my first short story very soon. It's been critiqued several times but I'm still unhappy with the opening scene. It seems choppy in comparison to the rest of the story. And, of course, other than the end that's the last thing I want to be choppy.