How to Come Up the Right Way

     Hey, so I intended this blog not just to showcase my own work, but to link with other writers and connect with anyone wanting to know the inside baseball of writing. So, let's talk about coming up the right way. Oh sure, there have been a few non-writers who got a wild idea one day that, "Oh my god, wouldn't it be fun to write a novel?" And there are a couple people (and here the word 'people' is a stretch. More like bog-creatures) who have written fan fiction and one day decided they would like to turn their blended scraps of other people's ideas into a novel. And yes, a few of these cases have sold millions, which is why mainstream literature (rant cuts off abruptly here)

     But you want to do it right? You want to develop your skills and work your way up the amateur leagues by publishing short stories before you pump out your seven book epic fantasy? Well then good for you buckaroo! I know that's why I wanted to do. When I was starting out I would listen to Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman interviews and they all had the same advice: write.

     There's really no trick about it. When you write you develop your skills, your style, you learn the what editors want and you become that much better. But where to start?

     Well luckily for you, modern man has a solution. That solution is called Duotrope. Duotrope is an online database that has literally thousands of literary magazines in its listings. Furthermore, Duotrope breaks down the listings by: genre, word length, payment, submission type (paper or electronic), how difficult they are to get in, and a host of other things so that you can find the perfect litmag for you. There is a small fee of $50 for a yearly subscription, but if you have even the slightest desire to be a writer this shouldn't be a big deal. Will $50 really stop you, you John Steinbeck in the making?

     So that's my tip to all you aspiring writers. Rack up a couple short stories, four of five, get a Duotrope account, and send 'em out one by one. Depending on the magazine it will take a while to hear back; I always have at least four short stories in rotation at all times as some get published and I replenish the stock with new stories. So go out there and let the world know how much of a special little snowflake you are!