05.15.2007
Got a nice note from the editor who said no to Drug Enforcement but did offer me some useful advice on my cover letter:
I would suggest that you not include that you have "no prior fiction publishing credits" in your cover letter to the next publisher. It doesn't usually help the story sell, and some editors, either on purpose or subconsciously, won't give the story a fair shake.
Makes sense.
I guess I was hoping that maybe my first sale might be a pity sale, you know, something along the lines of, "well, it's an okay story. I see potential here in this young man. Oh, and I can publish him first! What a stroke of luck. Fortunately, I got laid last night and feel like giving him a shot."
Or not.
Did I have a plan for mythical sale number 2?
Yes, I did. And it sounded like, "I see this young man has been published once before. I seriously doubt it was out of pity or because the editor had gotten laid the night before and was feeling magnanimous. I should publish him again..."
Rinse and repeat until I'm offered a million dollar book contract or a spot on NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Frankly, I don't care which. Money's always good. But so's trading quips with Carl Kasell.