The Path to Publishing Fiction

Snowflake-Like Fractal Cauliflower, Symbol of Fiction Publishing Methodology

The Snowflake Guy has a little quiz you can take to evaluate how far you are on your way to publishing fiction. (Is it just me or is pretty much everyone a novelist these days?) The five questions that determine your progress (with my answers):

1. How long have you been writing fiction seriously?
   Half a century, which is quite an accomplishment since I am only 39 years old. However, I double- and triple-counted some years that felt two or three times as serious as an average year.
2. How do your critique partners rate your level of craft?
   I’ve received the following rave reviews: “Good job,” “Nice story,” “I liked it.” Of course, I’ve received less favorable reviews, but I believe most of them were just perplexed by my out-of-the-box creative genius.
3. How long was the longest writing conference you’ve ever attended? 0
4. How many editors and agents have you talked with in person?
   In 1987, I received a mailer from a literary agent. I think that counts as communication. I can vividly recall the photograph of the agent as if I were meeting him face-to-face right now.
5. How many book proposals have you submitted to publishers or agents?
   I don’t write books. I write short stories. I suppose I could submit a proposal for a collection of short stories.

According to the Unpublished Guy answer key, I achieved a fiction publishing score of 80%. On most grading scales, that would be a B-/C+. Not too bad, but I think that I can do better. This month I am going to focus on attending a writer’s conference and submitting a book proposal. After I accomplish these two tasks, I will be 100% publishable, and it will only be a matter of time before I transition from Unpublished Guy to Barely Published Guy.

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