Lesson learned #1

So I learned an important lesson last week while rewriting a story I had written for a Paranormal Magazine. The lesson:  write for your audience. I wrote a short story about Twin Psychics and their Mom. It was a sweet story about accepting others and their different opinions. Then, I spoke with the Editor and he told me he wanted it dark. So I rewrote the story and made it much darker. It turned out to be much better when I kept my audience in mind while writing. Paranormal followers have a greater threshhold for the dark. Interestingly enough, I found that I couldn't really have written it differently because I needed the framework of the original story to build the new story upon.
I hope it gets published, its out of my hands now. I really liked these characters, I see them moving on with the story at some point. But I have to finish another story first. My Pride and Joy, my book about the not-so-famous Hero of the American Revolution, Jack Jouett.  A blog for another time....

Whew, I just finished the first thing I ever wrote, with the intention of others actually reading it. I feel sick. I sent it to two friends but I haven't heard from them. Totally nervewracking! Deep sigh, I know everyone is so busy right now, it's hard for me to ask them to read it. I spoke with the Editor yesterday, asking about the deadline. January 8th, he said. I didn't want to hurt your creativity. So nice, but the date is coming up so fast. I have so many questions, so many busy people to annoy....
So back to my story. I think it's good, but of course I do, I wrote it. I have the opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to publish in a Paranormal Magazine with over 150,000 subscribers. If it works out and the Editor likes the story, I can get a Literary Agent and publish the book I have been writing for a year. Hmmm, no pressure there.
So back to work now, the kids are all up and Spongebob has replaced the morning news. Which is, frankly, a relief from the fashion show and recipe swap that is now passing for news.