Publishing stories

So, I’ve decided I can’t wait till I have some downtime/retire to begin to explore publishing fiction (and maybe non-fiction). So I’ve started researching how to publish my now and future output. Some things that I’ve found out already:

• Publishing is so not about telling a good story. Far from it – it’s complicated as all get out. You basically need a network of relationships to be able to get your work out there.
• People expect your output in specific formats. It’s not just like writing a paper. There is a manuscript format. There is a screenplay format. The industry does not like *.docx…
• Self-publishing is getting cheaper. But broad distribution still needs the marketing muscle of a publisher.
• Lots of catch 22s in the business. You need an agent. If you’re unpublished most agents don’t want to talk to you… Stuff like that.
• Rejection letters are rife in this industry. Worse than getting blown off by chicks on Venice beach. Bring armor.

There’s more and I’ll post again on this soon. In the meantime I just submitted a story to Asimov’s, which qualifies as both a bona fide lifelong dream and a nice bucket list check off if they decide to publish it. It’s certainly not for the money J