Friday, October 14, 2011

On Fresh Start

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Ingrid, a member of my critiquing group.  She wanted to share a story I'd submitted back in August with some friends in her FB group.  They'd gotten into a serious discussion, and she thought my tale was relevant.

At the time the story was sitting with a publisher, so I offered this deal.  If the story was rejected, I'd let her share it.  If it was accepted, I'd point her to the publication in question, to share with her friends.

It was rejected.  Normally, I'd consider that bad news, but in this case, I'm pleased.

Publishers choose what they believe will draw readers.  Writers have no such constraint.  We're free to scribble about what ever interests us.  What sparked the tale for me was the increasing concentration of capital into fewer and fewer hands.  When I wrote the story several months ago, I'd never heard of an Occupy Wall Street movement.  Now, I wish I'd gotten it out sooner.


In my mind, one of the purposes of SF is to postulate 'what if?' and to examine the question, providing a different slant on the discussion.  Having my story resonate, even with one individual, means I've achieved an important personal goal, and I feel honored to have been asked. 
 
So, I decided to do something I never have before, and post the story here, though it means it won't go anywhere else.