Why First-Time Writers are Old

Nathan Bransford's Friday blog post pointed to a very interesting article at Whatever about why first novelists are usually in their thirties.

John Scalzi wrote his first novel at 28, and was published for the first time (with his second novel) at 35.

Encouraging.

Out into the Big Bad World

I've just revised a short story which failed - somehow - to win the competition I wrote it for, and sent it out into the world again. This time I've submitted it to a magazine.

I've another story under consideration elsewhere.

That's it; I'm not querying my novel at the moment pending extensive rework.

It's a good feeling sending a story out. I'm not writing at the moment, but I still have a couple of little representatives flying around. You never know what might happen.

Tips from the movies

Here are five lessons writers should (apparently) learn from the movies.

Ah, now I see where I've been going wrong. Although I always describe my explosions graphically, I haven't included a soundtrack and rarely use slo-mo effects.

Polish, shine, perfect

Nathan Bransford's blog post on Thursday Stepping up your Game hit the nail on the head. Only one agent so far has asked to see my entire MS. Here's a quote from her eventual rejection:

"The market is extremely tight at the moment, and crime fiction in particular is proving difficult to place."

Encouraging, no? No.

But everyone in the business is saying the same thing. Did you think it was hard to be published? Well now it's a whole lot harder! There are only two sensible responses:

1) Polish, shine, perfect.

2) Give up.