[ first reading, a visit from bro Jeff ]
October 1, 1998
11:58 p.m.
I've always heard that a first reader is paid to reject as many stories as he can in as short of a time as he can. Today, I tried it on for size, and what I found was fascinating. This morning in the workshop, we each received a pile of short stories about fifteen miles high. Okay, I exaggerate. Shoot me. Regardless, we got a story from every person in the workshop, and were sent away to read for the rest of the day. I stalked up to the room, sat down, and looked at this quite intimidating pile of manuscripts, a tingle of something important flowing over my skin. Wow, I thought. It's not often that you get a pile of fresh manuscripts sat in front of you and told to read. Here's my chance to be a real first reader. First, I realized I needed a deadline. I looked at my watch. Fourteen manuscripts, fifteen minutes. All right, I said. Collins, I've got two openings in this month's SF Monthly. You've got fifteen minutes to tell me which two manuscripts to buy because we're going to print in twenty. And I read. Talk about enlightening. I hope I'll never look at the opening of stories the same way ever again. My recommendation to you, if you get a chance, ask a writer you know to give you a stack of tales. Then do the same task. Anyway, the entire day was spent reading. And I mean, the entire day. I wrote nothing new, and felt, well, a bit odd.   My brother, Jeff, drove out tonight, and we spent about an hour and a half hanging out and catching up on stuff. He drove me around in his new car--quite cool. Then I went upstairs and finished reading. Final bedtime: 2:30 a.m.  Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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 Writers of the Future issue VI |
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