Let it begin!

Hello!
I’ve been encouraged by several people to begin a writing blog. Though a great idea, I didn’t start one until now for fear no one would read it. But, of course, like most forms of communication, including fiction writing, the words are really more for my own benefit than others. Here I can muse about my growth as a writer, and if others find it interesting and chose to read it (or even better, comment on it), then that’s great too.

So, who am I? I’ve never been good at talking about myself, but here goes:

I am a twenty three year old university grad (degree in Greco-Roman history) with aspirations of becoming a professional freelance fiction writer. I’m lucky enough to find myself in circumstances where I can dedicate myself full time to this career path, and have been for the past year.


My primary focus is on Science Fiction at the moment, with a few Fantasy and Horror/Thriller tales thrown in the mix. I have no desire to put myself in a box when it comes to creativity, however, and in the future I’m sure I will explore a plethora of other genres.

I write all lengths of fiction, but the manuscripts I have out to the markets right now are short stories and novelettes: 2,500 words to 13,000 words in length.

I began submitting my short stories to the markets in December of 2009. I start with the top pro-paying market and work down with the philosophy that this is the best method to discover where I lie skill-wise. I subscribe to the idea that “cream rises to the top,” (Thank you K.D. Wentworth). Top stories get published in top markets, and there is no magical wall that keeps new writers from breaking into the business. I am responsible for my own successes and failures. If I’m not cream yet, though, no worries. Writing professionally is all about learning. Doing anything professionally requires practice and education. My skills are constantly evolving, and there is no shame in being an unpublished aspirant.


I look at this as my business. I am as dedicated to it as any nine-to-five. I get up and go to work every day, increasing my inventory of sellable items.

Ah, seems again I haven’t been very good at revealing myself. The above is essentially Marina the Author, not Marina the Person. I don’t give myself away so easily.
Hmm, ok, I love purple, chocolate, and getting paint all over my studio.

So, I intend this blog to chronicle my adventures in writing and (hopefully) publishing. Thanks for stopping by!

~Marina


P.S. There’s an old “supposedly” that says on average authors get 100 rejection letters before their first professional sale. So, to test that theory I’m keeping a rejection count. Today that number sits at: 4

P.P.S. This is probably a temporary blog. I have a web domain that a certain someone keeps saying he will set up for me, but as he is being delinquent in his fiancé duties            [ ;-) ], I'm delving into the blog world on my own.