tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post1759666781902141654..comments2023-10-08T03:29:16.941-05:00Comments on Aaron Polson: Taking My Lumps, Learning the GameAaron Polsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-3607850235878091562008-11-24T08:42:00.000-06:002008-11-24T08:42:00.000-06:00I guess it does come down to one's purpose for wri...I guess it does come down to one's purpose for writing. Do I think I'll be able to quit my day job and write full time? No--not fiction anyway. If I had the desire, I could start cranking out educational materials and hit the lecture circuit. My wife would love that. <BR/><BR/>I want to "pen" quality stories that people want to read. I'll keep at it until they pry the keyboard from under my cold, dead fingers. <BR/><BR/>Thanks, all, for the input.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-69246698236421085562008-11-24T07:38:00.000-06:002008-11-24T07:38:00.000-06:00Brilliant video. And while I agree, I agree with ...Brilliant video. And while I agree, I agree with not as much enthusiasm. I personally don't sub to non-paying markets. I'm even a bit hesitant about subbing to markets where your pay is only a copy of said publication.<BR/><BR/>(I really don't feel qualified to give my opinion since I have no problem selling a 5,000 word short story to a publication that only paid a flate fee of $5.00. While this IS a sale, it's like working for sweat shop wages).<BR/><BR/>It truly is the equivalent of working for nothing, in the end. And while I understand the need to "get your name out there" and thus rationalizing a sub to a non-paying market, I think your self-worth and sense of achievment needs to come before, as Ellison put it, the "Cool, they're gonna notice me" mentality. <BR/><BR/>Just my 2 cents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-54019563307974579672008-11-24T07:26:00.000-06:002008-11-24T07:26:00.000-06:00I love Ellison. I'd like to be his flunky.And I st...I love Ellison. I'd like to be his flunky.<BR/><BR/>And I still remember how excited I was to get my first truly personalized rejection. Everyone thought I was nuts, because of course it's a rejection; I think it takes another writer to understand how big personalization is.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-19413741439183575292008-11-21T16:34:00.000-06:002008-11-21T16:34:00.000-06:00My personal policy is not to sub to non-paying mar...My personal policy is not to sub to non-paying markets, but I've made a few exceptions. For the most part, though, I say just write the best you can, listen to feedback, and sub to good markets that seem to be a good fit for the story in question.<BR/><BR/>And I loved that vid. I saw it somewhere else a few months ago and loved it then too.K.C. Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12467201304235217944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-9883331715721993902008-11-21T13:46:00.000-06:002008-11-21T13:46:00.000-06:00Robert - thanks for stopping by...good points, too...Robert - thanks for stopping by...good points, too.<BR/><BR/>Cate - Ellison is always entertaining.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-23202808835390081622008-11-21T13:26:00.000-06:002008-11-21T13:26:00.000-06:00That video is fantastic and it makes you think. :)...That video is fantastic and it makes you think. :)Cate Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634397106201021055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-39067602180450473222008-11-21T13:05:00.000-06:002008-11-21T13:05:00.000-06:00Like I told Paul regarding his blog post, I think ...Like I told Paul regarding his blog post, I think there should be more of an official criteria for magazines being considered "pro." <BR/><BR/>Take SNM for example -- if they paid five cents a word, they would considered pro even if they kept up with the awful web design and everything else ... and even though they paid so well, I still couldn't see myself submitting to them. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I wouldn't get too discouraged, Aaron. Getting personal notes from E-i-Cs are a big thing, even if they don't give constructive feedback. <BR/><BR/>What you need to do (what all writers need to do if they're serious about making a career out of writing) is don't look at the short-term but the long-term ... ask yourself, How will this help my career in the long run? <BR/><BR/>(Keep in mind I've placed stories in magazines I won't even consider sending anything to today ... do I regret it? No. Placing those stories there made me the writer I am today.) <BR/><BR/>(Another aside: I remember back when I helped edit Flesh & Blood a writer wrote in his cover letter how he refused to submit to any other magazines except ours and F&SF and CD, that he would not "lower himself" to the small press ... we never ended up taking one of his stories, and I haven't seen his name around since. Makes you think.)Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958488745475196164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-44924175248302804862008-11-21T11:21:00.000-06:002008-11-21T11:21:00.000-06:00I think we need a professional hack-writer's organ...<I>I think we need a professional hack-writer's organization</I><BR/><BR/>Where do I apply? ;)<BR/><BR/>Awesome video, thanks for that!Kateyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727622678452936037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-54935392190465942062008-11-21T10:44:00.000-06:002008-11-21T10:44:00.000-06:00I think we need a professional hack-writer's organ...I think we need a professional hack-writer's organization. ;)<BR/><BR/>As long as we keep working, good things will happen.Aaron Polsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173267932358617304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-80082447801898097152008-11-21T10:29:00.000-06:002008-11-21T10:29:00.000-06:00I read Paul's rant earlier this week...he really b...I read Paul's rant earlier this week...he really brutalized SNM's eds, and it got worse when SNM showed up to defend themselves with grammatical errors and run-on sentences...wrong crowd for that mistake. Funny vid, too ("<I>you</I> go buy the DVD, mother f**ker!"). Awesome...<BR/><BR/>I do agree with your thesis (as well as Paul's, for the most part)...FTL markets are great for honing your skills, but staying tethered to them for too long tends to cheapen what we do overall, I think. There is a place for them, though...otherwise hacks like me may never see the light of day long enough to get feedback and be able to live long enough to be able to submit to semi- or pro with any confidence at all.Jeremy D Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16014827537536982326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5604033530537822263.post-16553504245541747622008-11-21T09:55:00.000-06:002008-11-21T09:55:00.000-06:00ten years (or more) I received a handwritten note ...ten years (or more) I received a handwritten note from Gordon VanGelder. It was the hi-lite of my writing for many years. I have gotten great feedback from Doorways magazine and Shroud as well. I know what you mean though. It is hard to get started if no one will give you a start.Jamie Eyberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875759697016701358noreply@blogger.com