I had a short story published this week, ask me anything!

[BigMcLargehuge]

go on, you know you wanna

[Mutley]

1. Where was it published?

Congrats!! :toast:

[BigMcLargehuge]

2. here (free download)

www.escapepod.org

The Baby and the Bathwater

[Avalux]

3. Congrats!! I will check it out. How long to write it?

And - I'm now in the Lounge as a mod - where are you???? ;-)

[BigMcLargehuge]

4. let's see, this one took me about 5 solid hours

I started it, longhand, in the waiting room at St. Lukes hospital when my Dad was having an MRI. I finished it at home two days later in my office, and took about three hours to edit it.

This is the fifth in a series of ten interrelated shorts, though I couldn't sell the second or fourth ones to the same market.

I'm hanging around. Figured I'd take the night off of writing and hang around here.

Hows things with you?

[Avalux]

5. That's very cool -

I promise I will read when I have more time. I am very happy to be a moderator again; missed it a lot. And when I asked "where are you" - I fully expected to be modding with you in the Lounge - was disappointed you aren't here! :hi:

[BigMcLargehuge]

6. I needed a break

to focus on some writing projects I'd neglected.

Also, the story is a podcast, so you can listen while you mod :)

[Avalux]

7. Understandable -

a break is good. OK - I will listen then! :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. OK......ask you anything?

How long have you been writing?

How difficult is it to get published? hahaha...

What do you do when you can't figure out just what you want your characters to do?

Congrats on getting published! :bounce: :toast: :toast: :bounce:

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. great questions!!!! (I should have know, coming from you!!!!!)

How long have you been writing?

17 years. Started writing and performing poetry when I was 20 or so. Switched to fiction when I was 23.

How difficult is it to get published? hahaha...

Very difficult depending on the market. In the 17 years I've been writing and submitting, I made my first paying sale in 2005. Ironically, for a story I wrote in about 1992. I use the listings at www.ralan.com for most of the stuff I send out now. They are a good genre resource, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and erotica. The web has only recently changed the shape of publishing and there are actual good paying professional markets that publish on the web (or e-book) only. Unlike when I was getting started there were maybe 10 genre mags that paid anything and competition was super fierce.

What do you do when you can't figure out just what you want your characters to do?

That never happens. My characters are alive (in my head obviously), I just record their stuff for them. Occasionally they surprise me, but not often.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Thank you!

I was especially curious about the character development...

I am currently struggling with a short story, and I cannot for the life of me decide just what my two main characters should do........

It's making me nuts!

If you're interested, and BTW, it's OK if you aren't, I could PM you....

And describe my predicament in greater detail.......... :shrug:

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. PMs are always welcome from you

my friend.

You can also IM me if that is easier for you (see my profile for IM info).

[reyd reid reed]

12. Congratulations!

I'll go read as soon as I get the kiddies all tucked in (for the sixth time, I think) and get a minute.

:toast:

[BigMcLargehuge]

13. kick

:kick:

[miss_american_pie]

14. Congrats!

Is it miserably hot there today?

[BigMcLargehuge]

15. nah, it's nice

just stick to the shade :)

[graywarrior]

16. I'm very impresssed.

I write millions of stories, but mostly in my head. The physical act of writing changes my writer thoughts. How do you get you ideas to translate onto paper? I have a really hard time with that. Probably means I shouldn't consider writing, tho that's what I do for work these days.

[BigMcLargehuge]

17. in the head and on paper, for me, are the same thing

once I get the story down on paper I rewrite it mentally, then physically. I generally start with a single idea or question, then hang the characters, setting, and dialogue on that idea or question.

[graywarrior]

18. You are lucky.

My stories always sound different on paper.