I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Sunday, August 9, 2009

I gotta wear shades

Just signed my first publishing contract.

Well, I was kinda hoping that my short, War Stories, would be published first, but such is the publishing industry. First up will be an blog post entry in a contest for Tales Out of Miskatonic University. Fortunately it's with the same editor (::waves at William::). He thought my little flash pieces there was worthy to make it in. He also felt some twitter-fic I did was also good enough.

The payment is one contributor's copy and the possibility of royalty payments. I knew that going into the contest, so there's no surprises there. I entered the contest because it was fun and happen to think William is a hoopey frood. The little pieces I did were a blast to write and let me try a few things I hadn't done yet in a short story. The twitter entries were extra and it was interesting trying to tell a story in less than 140 characters. At best I think I made competent vignettes, but looking at the twitter-fics they have posted on Twitter, they didn't get much beyond that either. Again it was an opportunity to experiment and have fun. And what can be better in life that doing something you're having fun with and then have somebody else say, "Hey, that's kinda good."

So my first publishing contract is signed and in the envelope waiting to go out in the mail. Hopefully after this fall if I'm a panelist for any other conventions I'll have something to stand on the table. :)

10 comments:

Rick said...

Congratulations, Steve! It's just the first step on your way to big time success.

vince said...

Congrats! Maybe in a few years it'll be you winning the Hugo (Scalzi got one tonight).

Steve Buchheit said...

Rick, thanks. Well, one can only hope for big success.

Vince, I have a feeling it'll take a few more years. Right now I've got my eye on that Campbell Tiara. It'll look fetching on my head. :)

As a side note, I guess both Scalzi and E.Bear won Hugos, and both are instructors for Viable Paradise this year. It'll be like Hugo Bookends.

Ken McConnell said...

Wahoo! Good for you Steve, can't wait to read it.

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

It matters not what it is, SOMETHING has to get the first contract. (grin) Now... on to the second and beyond!

Dr. Phil

Steve Buchheit said...

Ken, thanks. Once it is published I'll be shouting from the hills. Although if you follow that link above you can read my blog post entries (which hopefully we'll have a chance to edit, because I teh suck with the grammar, spelling and tense).

Dr. Phil, well yeah. I'm counting it as a publishing credit. And while it's not exactly a submission (okay, in my little head I can think of it that way), it does mean two acceptances within a year. So the clock is reset. But I do have that poem that will be published next year. That's the backup.

Todd Wheeler said...

Yay! Congrats! You have been busy this week.

Steve Buchheit said...

It's been a busy week, but then I wasn't side tracked by WorldCon.

Anonymous said...

Super YAY!

Steve Buchheit said...

Thanks Camille. I'm still paying catch up, though.