04/20/2024 Trying Again

I’m attempting another magazine submission, folks.

It’s… it’s been a minute since I’ve tried to get one of my short stories out there. Long enough for me to forget how to write cover letters in a convincing manner.

Don’t let that persuade you that I ever actually knew how to write a convincing cover letter. I still don’t, but I need to keep my confidence up.

There’s always the chance that “William the Pecostian” might get picked up, or there’s a chance I’ll get feedback on why it didn’t make the cut. But it’s still one of my favorite short stories, and damn if it’d be nice to have a home for that one.

Who knows? If the concept was liked enough, I could even write out the short series of other Interstellar Tall Tales I’ve had tucked away in my notes all these years.

Along with that, I’ve stepped back into writing with determination. After weeks of little to no progress, I’ve managed some 2500 words in the last 24 hours for the SWRPG story. Not just that, but after using that time to study and actually learn about “The Hero’s Journey”, I’m tackling the Peregrine novel again.

Granted, because of what I’ve learned, I went through the last document and realized where it went wrong… so it’s back to the outline and basic construction.

This time, though, I have confidence in two things:
1: Making up the ‘hard science’ in such a way that nerds might, just might, give me the benefit of the doubt and suspend their disbelief so as to enjoy the story, and
2: I have an actual map of the territory, so now I actually know where things are!

I’m going to have to tell myself to relax a little and let certain characters breath, while also being stricter about other characters who went way too far from their original concepts and derailed the plotline.

It’s always a learning experience.

Let’s see how far I can get with today. Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift