Just Made My First Semi-Professional Sale as a Fiction Writer

SenorDingDong · 06-27-2012, 11:10 AM

As the title says, I just received an email from a publisher I submitted one of my short stories to about three months ago with a contract telling me they'd like to buy the story.

I've had six minor publications so far, but this is my first semi-pro sale to a major independent speculative fiction publisher.

After having to go without internet or a home phone for the past week due to a storm frying my service-provider-provided router (say that five times fast), my service provider's inability to get out to my house in a timely manner, losing a project due to the fact (I willingly dropped it as soon as I found out I would be without the resources to complete it on time so as to not screw over my client), waking up to this email yesterday morning was a big upper for me.

Just wanted to share with you all

Pooluke41 · 06-27-2012, 11:15 AM

marked · 06-27-2012, 11:15 AM

That's awesome man

im proud of you!
hopefully you get more too!

SenorDingDong · 06-27-2012, 11:57 AM

Believe it or not, I love Kool & the Gang

Quote:

Originally Posted by marked

That's awesome man

im proud of you!
hopefully you get more too!

Thanks man. I hope so too. I've got a bunch of stories in submission to some pro markets (have been out for a couple months each--they've all passed to the last stages and are being considered), but they take quite a long time to respond so I'm keeping my fingers crossed

skeels · 06-27-2012, 12:24 PM

Cool! I think you will find that once the ball starts rolling, it..
Well... it... keeps ...

Rolling ...

Um..

Hey, congratulations!

Nyx Erebos · 06-28-2012, 05:59 AM

Wow congrats man

.

Thrashmanzac · 06-28-2012, 06:09 AM

congrats man, good work

Jontain · 06-28-2012, 07:14 AM

I work for a Self Publishing company and understand how hard it can be to get traditional publishers to take work, alot of our customers come into to self publishing because they struggle to get anywhere with a traditional publisher so major props for getting you book published man.

Congrats!!

SenorDingDong · 06-28-2012, 08:46 AM

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate it!

Fiction · 06-28-2012, 08:53 AM

Well done, man!

-42- · 06-28-2012, 08:53 AM

Free to share the name of the publisher?

SenorDingDong · 06-28-2012, 12:34 PM

Thanks again guys.

And for -42- :

I provided that simply because the publication doesn't have a website, so searching for Exter Press may not do any good (you have to mail your manuscripts). They print Big Pulp magazine, which does have a website.

Sorry about the blacked out areas--some things about my sale I'd like to stay private

MFB · 06-28-2012, 01:07 PM

I'm rather surprised at the fact that it'll take a year before it's out in print; I feel like that's along time between editing/printing/distribution.

SenorDingDong · 06-28-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFB

I'm rather surprised at the fact that it'll take a year before it's out in print; I feel like that's along time between editing/printing/distribution.

Right now, it's the average--I had another piece accepted by another publisher earlier this week and it won't be printed until January. You have to remember, most publishers only buy 2 issues ahead, if that, and many speculative fiction magazines publish quarterly. That doesn't leave a lot of space for buying, as they usually buy up to ten stories maximum per issue.

MFB · 06-28-2012, 02:28 PM

Ah OK, I didn't realize this was for something quarterly so buying 2 issues ahead on something like that makes sense. I figured it was for a more regular publication like a monthly thing, or even a novel that was collection of stories which is why it was more surprising.

imlikemike · 06-28-2012, 04:24 PM

Congrats man! What sort of stories do you write?

SenorDingDong · 06-28-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFB

Ah OK, I didn't realize this was for something quarterly so buying 2 issues ahead on something like that makes sense. I figured it was for a more regular publication like a monthly thing, or even a novel that was collection of stories which is why it was more surprising.

It is a novel that is a collection of stories, but it is to take place of one of the quarterly issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by imlikemike

Congrats man! What sort of stories do you write?

Thanks man. I mostly write horror fiction, but my short stories tend to dip in anywhere from fantasy to surreal to bizarro.

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06-27-2012, 11:10 AM	#1
SenorDingDong Smeller of Smells Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol,CT Posts: 3,667 Thanked: 124 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Just Made My First Semi-Professional Sale as a Fiction Writer As the title says, I just received an email from a publisher I submitted one of my short stories to about three months ago with a contract telling me they'd like to buy the story. I've had six minor publications so far, but this is my first semi-pro sale to a major independent speculative fiction publisher. After having to go without internet or a home phone for the past week due to a storm frying my service-provider-provided router (say that five times fast), my service provider's inability to get out to my house in a timely manner, losing a project due to the fact (I willingly dropped it as soon as I found out I would be without the resources to complete it on time so as to not screw over my client), waking up to this email yesterday morning was a big upper for me. Just wanted to share with you all mlp187, Blake1970, Fiction and 1 others like this. Tumblr: http://jwgriebel.tumblr.com/ My art blog. ".... Heaven. I haven’t gotten Earth sorted out yet." - Clive Barker - Imajica

06-27-2012, 11:15 AM	#2
Pooluke41 H. Maddas Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 1,946 Thanked: 82 $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Pooluke41 is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 0 reviews	nojyeloot, SenorDingDong and Lagtastic like this. Member of the Injustice League with Jaake, BrainArt and -42 I am "The red marmalade", a super awesome crime fighter who's power involves throwing chunky marmalade into the eyes of orphans; blinding them and stopping them from becoming successful. This cosmic dance; bursting decadence and withheld permissions, twists all our arms collectively. But, if sweetness can win, and it can, then I'll still be here tomorrow to high-five you yesterday, my friend. Peace.-Royal Tart Toter.

06-27-2012, 11:15 AM	#3
marked ss.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 85 Thanked: 5 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	That's awesome man im proud of you! hopefully you get more too! SenorDingDong likes this. http://www.facebook.com/revelations1 Full length album coming 2012!

06-28-2012, 06:09 AM	#7
Thrashmanzac plays in 69/42 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Melbourne, VIC Posts: 3,769 Thanked: 53 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	congrats man, good work ...Each guitarist has an evil fat 40 year old blueswankler trying to get out, If you give in to temptation you'll be sitting next to a fender playing john lee hooker while trying to keep your combover in place. -Desecrated being black and enjoying watermelon, i think this thread needs more watermelon. budda

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06-27-2012, 12:24 PM	#5
skeels ..to pay the beels Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: milwaukee,WI Posts: 2,681 Thanked: 32 Feedback Score: 19 reviews	Cool! I think you will find that once the ball starts rolling, it.. Well... it... keeps ... Rolling ... Um.. Hey, congratulations!

06-28-2012, 05:59 AM	#6
Nyx Erebos SS.org Regular Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: France Posts: 322 Thanked: 6 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow congrats man .

06-28-2012, 07:14 AM	#8
Jontain SS.org Regular Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,103 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	I work for a Self Publishing company and understand how hard it can be to get traditional publishers to take work, alot of our customers come into to self publishing because they struggle to get anywhere with a traditional publisher so major props for getting you book published man. Congrats!!

06-28-2012, 08:46 AM	#9
SenorDingDong Smeller of Smells Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol,CT Posts: 3,667 Thanked: 124 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate it! Tumblr: http://jwgriebel.tumblr.com/ My art blog. ".... Heaven. I haven’t gotten Earth sorted out yet." - Clive Barker - Imajica

06-28-2012, 08:53 AM	#10
Fiction For Mod Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 2,985 Thanked: 23 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Well done, man! [Fiction] 1:47 pm: she could probably toss a salad with that thing

06-28-2012, 08:53 AM	#11
-42- Nothing to see here Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cental Coast, CA Posts: 2,274 Thanked: 36 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Free to share the name of the publisher?

06-28-2012, 12:34 PM	#12
SenorDingDong Smeller of Smells Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol,CT Posts: 3,667 Thanked: 124 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	Thanks again guys. And for -42- : I provided that simply because the publication doesn't have a website, so searching for Exter Press may not do any good (you have to mail your manuscripts). They print Big Pulp magazine, which does have a website. Sorry about the blacked out areas--some things about my sale I'd like to stay private Tumblr: http://jwgriebel.tumblr.com/ My art blog. ".... Heaven. I haven’t gotten Earth sorted out yet." - Clive Barker - Imajica

06-28-2012, 01:07 PM	#13
MFB I'M A MONSTER! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 7,400 Thanked: 84 Feedback Score: 12 reviews	I'm rather surprised at the fact that it'll take a year before it's out in print; I feel like that's along time between editing/printing/distribution. (´･ω･`) *In space, no one can hear you bree.* - Metal Ken

06-28-2012, 02:28 PM	#15
MFB I'M A MONSTER! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 7,400 Thanked: 84 Feedback Score: 12 reviews	Ah OK, I didn't realize this was for something quarterly so buying 2 issues ahead on something like that makes sense. I figured it was for a more regular publication like a monthly thing, or even a novel that was collection of stories which is why it was more surprising. (´･ω･`) *In space, no one can hear you bree.* - Metal Ken

06-28-2012, 04:24 PM	#16
imlikemike SS.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 100 Thanked: 5 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Congrats man! What sort of stories do you write?

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