Well, for better or worse, the first submission is in.  For some reason I became roadblocked on being able to edit the story any further.  I knew there were, there are, parts that are just bad.

But, better to submit. The deadline was less than two weeks away and I knew that I was just going to procrastinate and not get any writing done. I am better for shipping it off then wasting time non-editing. Big thanks to Courtney for giving me the final kick and just send it in. She’s a Mom, gamer, writer and a member of WWP, my Monday night writing group.

Although this was just a short story, it showed me that there are many muscles to writing that I haven’t discovered yet.

Here’s the short list:

• Just because I think that writing in second person is really cool. Doesn’t mean I can write in second person. Baby steps. First person, third person. The basics.
• I had fun writing and researching the story. Writing is fun  and I enjoy it.
• What ever “resistance” is, I understand that it is the enemy of the writer, more than writer’s block. In my case it impairs my writing more than lack of discipline. More on this in the coming weeks.
• My wife is far more patient than I realized.

But why is it better to submit?

It’s better because submitting the story gets me one step closer to being a published writer. If you never submit you never get published. Part of being a writer is being published. For me, I know that I won’t get better unless I go through the whole of the process. You need all the skills of a writer to be a better writer and that includes the submission process. It means the idea, researching, outlining writing and editing phases are completed.

More importantly, it takes it out of my hands. I’m done with it. If by some miracle it gets accepted, then I will learn a whole new set of skills. Working with an editor. Which I will bore you all with.

It also forced me to write a cover letter for this anthology submission, including a short bio. One thing I have learned is that many writers, hate bio’s. Hate is not strong enough for some of them. It is a reality of being a writer in this day age. Here’s mine, feel free to laugh, I know I did.

Douglas had his first detention in kindergarten for colouring outside the lines. It was also his last. (The jury is still out if this was good or bad)

A remedial reader until the summer between Grade six and Grade seven, when his concerned parents bought him a subscription to Sports Illustrated. (Pre-Swim Suit Era thank-you very much). 

In grade seven he discovered he was an advanced reader and found Heinlein. He proceeded to devour all manners of Science Fiction and Fantasy. His selfie with Guy Gavriel Kay this past summer is one of his treasures. We all need heroes, especially in this day and age. 

An unpublished writer currently, his primary goal for this writing year are rejections for his novels “Engine Failure – Book One of the System War” and “Markaz: The First City” (Book one of the Four Magics Series). All authors he respects have rejections.

By day Douglas works in Information Systems at a Law Firm. At night he writes when his cat Jaeger allows. Unless he is playing Uber Driver for his youngest son. 

Be Well… dcd