Milestones on Progress Road
September 18, 1999
6:33 a.m.
The timing of it all, coming right before I head to LA, is enough to make you scrath your head. Last year, a story I wrote, titled "The Disappearance of Josie Andrew", was published in volume 14 of the Writers of the Future.  Yesterday, I received a note from Brook West, the administrator of SFWA's Nebula Award process. DJA has now made the preliminary ballot. To the best of Brooks' ability to tell, this is the first WotF story to ever make the ballot. Dave Wolverton thinks this is true, also. So I tend to believe it. If anyone knows better, feel free to let me know. First, I want to thank everyone who recommended the story. Second, I want to thank everyone who has sent me e-mail over the year telling me how they've enjoyed the tale, regardless of any recommendations (or even the ability to recommend--only active members can recommend a story). This is an important story to me, and to have it see any success at all is particularly gratifying. "There's a lot going on in this story," Lisa said to me when she read it. And there was. It's everything I know about being a father, and about growing up (whenever we chose to), and about the reasons we make decisions, and a bunch more. I remember the feeling of writing it. That, perhaps, is the most important thing about it to me. No, strike that last bit. The fact that I remember how it felt to write it is, beyond a doubt, the most important thing to me. DJA is not a good story because it's made the preliminary. I've been around enough to know that not every story on the preliminary ballot is a great tale. DJA is a good story because of the way it made me, and (judging from my e-mail, not from the recommendations) apparently a few others feel. And that is its own reward.   Still, I'll admit to being beyond pleased. :) So this morning I'm going to work on "The Taranth Stone" once again. If it's ready to go, I'll mail it. If not, I won't. The only thing sticking in my craw is that I had planned to mail it. And I hate to be behind schedule, you know? This anxiety can be a bad thing at times, but I would never want to get rid of it since it's what drives my entire being. I don't know who I would be without it. I'm looking forward to the coming week. Having been to WotF before, I don't have the same sense of the unknown. I can relax a little, and have fun. On the other hand, last year's effort was fairly successful--writing 8 stories, selling at least 1 (I may have more on this later), and making lots of new friends. Given my personality, I don't know if I can handle a lesser year. (Remember, I'm the one that said he was jealous of himself sometimes). Anyway, here are my goals: 1. Write at least three stories. (Last year's goal was two.) 2. Sleep a reasonable amount. (Last year, I think I averaged 3.5 hours a night. Not enough.) 3. Enjoy each moment. (Opportunity rarely knocks twice.) Simple as that. See ya tomorrow.  Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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"The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it." Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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