I still haven't had any of my short stories published but I admit I'm still learning my craft and have a long way to go before anything is really worth publication. That's not to say I'm a lousy writer - I've received several positive comments from editors who have encouraged me to keep trying.  Well, maybe it does mean I'm lousy but I don't intend to stay that way!

That's why it's a humbling experience - knowing that someone is going to read my story and tell me what I did wrong or at the very least say "No thanks."

One person I respect suggested writing a real novel and not just short stories to help learn how to put together a long narrative. It's very different from the short story and more difficult, too. I have a start on a novel which really is lousy but I'll try to finish it just to say I completed one.

 

In the mean time I'll relish my position as an "unpublished author" and listen to the "oohs" and "ahs" at all those cocktail parties - does anyone still go to cocktail parties?

Well, back to writing:

It was a dark and stormy night....