Time to push a little?

I’m working hard toward my goal of becoming a published writer. Technically I already am, but I don’t really count my one story in a college literary magazine that I didn’t even submit to. My creative writing professor liked one of my stories and asked if she could include it. I suspect, being their debut issue, they weren’t exactly long on submissions. The magazine didn’t survive long, and that was close to twenty years ago.

But it’s been a long, long time since I actively submitted my work for publication. That really needs to change. I like to hide behind the “mature realization that my work just isn’t up to par yet”, but I suspect it’s really just fear of rejection, just like anyone else. And yet how will I ever really know if my work is up to par? I’ve proven on several occasions that I can’t be objective about my own work. The only way to really know where I stand is to submit.

And so I’m starting to look at submitting, starting with one of the friendliest venues I can find. A writer I admire is offering one undiscovered writer a chance to have their short story included with his next self-published novel. Although only one person can win, he’s promised to give everyone feedback on their cover letter. Feedback is a benefit in itself, so I’ve really got nothing to lose. And so I’m scrambling to get a submission ready before tomorrow night.

I believe the next step is to set a goal for myself to begin submitting regularly. That will mean setting aside my current novel projects for a time in order to write a short story now and then, but I suspect it’ll be good for me. I think it’s time to start testing the waters, building a thick skin, collecting rejections, and perhaps even get some feedback. And yes, I suppose I could be pleasantly surprised.

On this is for certain. I will never achieve my goal, no matter how good I get at writing, if I don’t start submitting my work places.