Success only flourishes in perseverance -- ceaseless, restless perseverance.
--Baron Manfred Von Richtofen

Thursday, December 10, 2009

My How Times Have Changed

I've been thinking back to life when I first started writing. I had a one year old baby and our very first computer. (If you'd like to read the whole story, check out this post.)

Then: I did most of my writing on the computer in WordPerfect. I mailed in nearly all my submissions. Getting published on the internet was frowned upon. I used Courier New exclusively. I put two spaces after sentences. I went to Science Fiction conventions and writing conferences, but never really talked to anyone. (I'm kind of shy in person.) I didn't have any writing friends. There was no such thing as blogger or facebook or gmail. I went to the library to do the majority of my research. I worked in isolation.

Now: I write by hand, then type it up into Word. Times New Roman is the font of the day. One space after a sentence is considered standard. I prefer electronic submissions, though I do still have to use snail mail Internet magazines are respected, POD, and ebooks are all the rage. I still go to cons and conferences, but now I make an effort to network and get to know people. I do most of my research online if possible. Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, etc. have expanded my writing world. I don't feel so isolated. I have amazing writing friends even in real life.


I can't wait to see what the future will hold.

By the way, if any of you bloggy friends are interested in reviewing Stolen Christmas and Other Stories of the Season on your blog, please email ldspublisher(at)hotmail(dot)com, and she'll send you a code for a free e-book to review!

7 comments:

Aubrie said...

I'm so glad that blogs allow us writers to be friends even though we are so far away. I always feel connected and I never feel alone.

Thanks for being my friend, Angie!

Linz said...

Yes, times have changed! I am so proud of you!

T. M. Hunter said...

Times have definitely changed...I still remember typing out manuscript pages on an electric typewriter...because we had an old Apple IIe with a word processor that didn't have WYSIWYG capability. That was always a blast to work with... :-P

Becky Mushko said...

I remember the typewriter days, too. And Wite-Out. And the visits to the copy shop before I went to the post office to mail submissions.

Give me a computer and e-mail any day!

Unknown said...

It's amazing how much things change. I'd say those are all for the better! :)

Windy said...

Isn't it amazing to go back and look at how much you've changed and grown as a person through this whole journey?

Count myself lucky to have met you at a conference! :D

Anonymous said...

I admit, I love the online options. Blogger has opened up my world to so many wonderful writers and friends. Seeing them in person is even better. =]