About 225 words.  I had a very small piece published in The Writer May 2012, about 225 words.  I’ve subscribed to the magazine for nearly 15 years and they are celebrating 125 years in print.  In honor of the celebration the magazine asked readers to submit stories of how The Writer had changed their lives.  In my case, I can say, without hesitation that without The Writer my debut novel, MURPHY’S TROUBLES, would not be set for release this spring by a traditional publisher. 

In mid-December last year I submitted by piece to an associate editor of The Writer  that I had previously submitted a piece for the Breakthrough section of the magazine.  She was kind enough to forward my submission to the right editor which I appreciated, although I was embarrassed to have sent it to the wrong person.  I had no idea how or if she would respond to my submission although I was confident that my story fit exactly what they were looking for.

In early January I received an e-mail from the editor that they wanted to run a shorter version of my piece and a picture.  I was elated; a complete novice was getting the chance to be published in the premier writer’s magazine in the country.  The editor didn’t suggest I should changes to the original submission only that it would be shorter.  I frankly didn’t know if that meant she had edited the piece that would eventually run.  I was afraid that if I asked questions it would appear unprofessional – even though my magazine publishing experience is very limited, I didn’t want it to show.

Without a publication date it was a “pinch yourself to see if it’s true” situation.  In late February I received an e-mail from The Writer editor telling me my piece would run in the May edition and she wanted to know when my book would be published to include it in the article.  At that time I was working with my editor at Mischievous Muse Press and she and she preferred to say spring 2012 and not commit to a month.  I, of course, was hoping that the book could be released in May to coincide with The Writer article and it might yet.

Last week I received The Writer,  May 2012 and there I was on page 10.  It was shorter than my original submission – by about half – but it was the same as the previous four months.  Being published in The Writer  is a writer’s version of 15 minutes of fame,  so, I’ve had mine – it feels great.

I am working on editing the galley for MURPHY’S TROUBLES and am anticipating a late May or June publication date.  I received the galley electronically in early March.  My editor, Cat Spydell, at Mischievous Muse Press warned me before sending it that first time authors often have feelings of euphoria and ebullience when they see the manuscript they’ve slaved over in book format for the first time.

Being in the twelfth year with this manuscript (only since 2010 full time) I thought I would be immune from the throws of elation.  Didn’t happen.  I received the galley attached in an e-mail and didn’t actually download the file for hours.  Then I opened the file.  Hallelujah!!  There it was a special font for chapter headings, laid out just like a book.  The first thing I wanted to know was page length – 280 pages.  I’ve written a novel that 280 pages – amazing – a miracle – I did that?

I closed the file and saved a copy to a jump drive devoted to the most recent versions of the manuscript and now the galley.  I didn’t look at it again for three days.  I was completely distracted and couldn’t focus.  My editor sent me a page of detailed instructions for the first three chapters and I couldn’t read those either.  After three days I did review my editors’ instructions in detail.  The most radical change was in how the first chapter ends.  Her suggestion added tension and mystery to the plot –it t was brilliant.  I wondered why, after many critique class and beta readers no one suggested this change.

It has been a lesson for me in both the art and craft of writing fiction.  Anyone who says that writing fiction is a solitary undertaking is wrong unless they self-publish and don’t pay for editing services.  Sadly many who self publish pay a copy editor and miss out on a content/craft edit all together.  A book may be technically correct and still be badly written, lack tension, have an unbelievable plot or other problems.   Self publication was originally called vanity press and there’s a reason for that.

My experience is that art, by its nature, is collaborative and I for one wouldn’t want it any other way.