Another year has gone by, the third since I have decided to take this fiction writing thing seriously. Last January, I thought 2011 would be the year where I would finish my main project, start querying and get things going, but it seems like I was wrong. It was a year unequaled in success, but I was a lot further than I thought of having a "shoppable" novel completed. The main thing I have accomplished this year is to go from random dreamer to working writer.
Two weeks away from 2012, I have six short stories published, I know what level of writing it takes to be published in magazines, I know the value of my work (well, more or less) and what I have to work on. I'm not really where I wanted to be, but I'm a lot further down the road than I was a year ago.
So what happened in 2011?
I met the crime fiction community. I could compare my fiction with the works of writers more experienced than I am. It did wonders for the perspective I have on my stuff. I wrote a few stories that got rejected, but I was able to adapt and I must have a ratio of 50-50 of acceptance/rejection, counting my early tries. Being able to compare my work to those of other struggling, upcoming writers has pushed my writing forwards big time, but it wasn't without its setbacks either.
First, it was a little distracting. Getting into magazines, wanting a part of that success, the immediacy of it has sidetracked me from the novel project. But at the same time (call this a blessing and a curse), the jolt of life that it gave to my writing made me realize I was gearing up for disappointment with the novel project. It was underdeveloped, badly structured, uneventful and with its share of cardboard characters. I might be overcritical, but I have put the project on ice for now. It sucked admitting this to myself, but I'm sure it's for the better.
...and what are the objectives for 2012?
Get myself another novel project to work on. I have so many idea floating in my head right now, I need to streamline things up. It's going to involve taking a step back from the community (less Twitter, slowing down the short stories production). Maybe writing less than ten short stories this year and concentrate on a longer project. I still have things to learn from writing shorts, but I have to learn to write longer things properly. I have started to write a novella, but I'm not sure if it's going to turn out good or not. Structure is my main weakness.
Also, I have to write more. I do write, but I think about writing and I plan to write a lot more than I actually do. 2011 taught me that it's a struggle to take the time to do it. It's been two weeks I haven't written a single word of fiction. I had finally found a way to start writing fiction again at work, when life took over. You know how it is. You come back from work and you have a list of things to do (last few week it included finding new housing) and by the time you've done them all, it's way past bed time. I'm still figuring what's a professional writing output, but I'm slowly getting there. I know this is a struggle to keep up. I know as much. But I didn't get into writing to be comfortable. That, I know too.
I know also that I love to write. More than ever. There's no better feeling than having the words right and letting the muse take over.
I'm not very good at this, looking upon what I've done and drawing a bigger picture. Here are the links to the stories I have published that are available for free online. They will speak louder than I do. I'm very proud of them. Hopefully, I have a lot more to offer you for retrospective reading next year.