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Here's how you know when you've achieved success as a writer.

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Apr. 30th, 2008 | 10:08 am

It's not when you've made your first pro sale, or gotten an agent, or sold your first novel or even your fortieth novel. It's not when you have been asked to be the guest of honor at some prestigious con, or have been offered a reading slot at KGB, or have been interviewed by Hour of the Wolf. It's not when one of the podcasts asks you to be a reader, or you get your first royalty check, or you qualify for membership in SFWA.

No.

It is when you type "The End" on a story that you think is pretty brilliant, and you close the file, and somehow, against all odds, against all instincts, you manage to resist the urge to send it to ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE YOU CAN THINK OF, EVERY EDITOR, EVERY WRITER FRIEND, EVERYONE, RIGHT THAT VERY SECOND in favor of letting the story simmer so you can come back to it in a week or two and make it better. Because no matter how brilliant it seems right at this moment, you know you can make it better.

THAT, my friends, is success.

Today, I am a successful writer.
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Comments {23}

Snuffy LaRue

(no subject)

from: [info]jess_ka
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:10 pm (UTC)
Link

Hurrah! You rocketh, yea verily, you do.

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Lisa Mantchev

(no subject)

from: [info]lisamantchev
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:11 pm (UTC)
Link

A heaping helping of congratulations.

And yes, it can ALWAYS be better!

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Josh Rountree

(no subject)

from: [info]joshrountree
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:16 pm (UTC)
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But I want to read it now! ;)

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:20 pm (UTC)
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I WILL SEND IT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY HERE READ IT NOW READ IT NOW READ IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

Hey, by the way, did I tell you I'm coming to Armadillocon in August? Beers are on me!

(probably literally.)

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Josh Rountree

(no subject)

from: [info]joshrountree
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 06:24 pm (UTC)
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Right on!!

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cscole

(no subject)

from: [info]cscole
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:28 pm (UTC)
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Simply Brilliant.

::also taking notes::

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Serge_LJ

(no subject)

from: [info]serge_lj
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:32 pm (UTC)
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Huzzah!!!

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Kristi

Today seems to be Jane Russell icon day for me

from: [info]dampscribbler
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 05:55 pm (UTC)
Link

Congratulations!

And I totally agree with that definition. I may have to post that on the wall.

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slushmaster

(no subject)

from: [info]slushmaster
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 06:04 pm (UTC)
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Thou art wise ...verily. :)

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douglain

(no subject)

from: [info]douglain
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 07:21 pm (UTC)
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Congratulations.

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 07:26 pm (UTC)
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You're the first person I'm sending it to.

Next week.

;-)

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camillealexa

(no subject)

from: [info]camillealexa
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 07:29 pm (UTC)
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Ack! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY.

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robin catesby

(no subject)

from: [info]deedop
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 08:25 pm (UTC)
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I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND I WILL FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU HIDE YOUR STORY-SIMMERING LAPTOP.

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 08:38 pm (UTC)
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I'll hide it in your basement! ;-P

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robin catesby

(no subject)

from: [info]deedop
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 08:45 pm (UTC)
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Ah, but I am CLEANING. I can FIND THINGS now. ;-)

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 09:33 pm (UTC)
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Then I'll hide it in my basement and you'll REALLY never find it!

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Christopher Kastensmidt

(no subject)

from: [info]ckastens
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 09:55 pm (UTC)
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It is when you type "The End" on a story that you think is pretty brilliant,

I'd be happy just to make it to that point. :)

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 11:54 pm (UTC)
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I didn't mention the NEXT challenge, which is opening the story two weeks later and not thinking it's utter shit.

I haven't won that war yet. ;-)

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Tim Lieder

(no subject)

from: [info]marlowe1
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 10:07 pm (UTC)
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Really? I kind of figured that that's how you know that you have only 6 years left before you get something published because you've just picked up the skill of self-criticism (which can be a soul crushing burden if used improperly)

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M.K. Hobson

(no subject)

from: [info]mkhobson
date: Apr. 30th, 2008 11:53 pm (UTC)
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Actually this is less a victory of self criticism than of impulse control. So maybe instead of thinking I'm a writer, I should be thanking our pharmaceutical overlords, the makers of adderall.

;-P

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MRajM

(no subject)

from: [info]mrajm
date: May. 1st, 2008 02:19 am (UTC)
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That post is why you're one of my most favorite people, ever, :-) Congrats!

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of_big_shouldrs

Wow

from: [info]of_big_shouldrs
date: May. 1st, 2008 05:18 am (UTC)
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The End has never sounded so open-ended and promising. That's fantastic, congrats. I think I might actually be able to smell your happy face from here based on your entry.

I'd love to read your "It was a dark and stormy night" sometime, if it's available to the public.

Honestly, congrats. :-)

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Serge_LJ

Re: Wow

from: [info]serge_lj
date: May. 2nd, 2008 05:12 pm (UTC)
Link

Me, I'm waiting for our hostess's story that ends with "What a dream that was!"

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