When did you lose your cherry?

Question

Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you received actual validation? When was that moment when you thought to yourself, "Yeah, this is what I want to do!"? What made you walk on air for a day or two?

For me there were two: when the now defunct Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine published a 250-word story of mine, I walked around all day with a huge grin on my face. I received a couple of complimentary issues (one of which I still have, in its original stamped envelope) and told all my friends and family about it. I even told my creative writing teacher, and she in turned made an announcement to the class (which wasn't my intention and caused me great embarrassment).

The other one is when I pitched for a children's TV show and was hired to write my first script. It was only 11 minutes long, but I remember receiving the contract in the mail as I was going out to meet my brother for lunch. While I waited for him outside the restaurant, I ketp reading the contract over and over, amazed that "the Writer" meant me, and that I was actually getting paid money to write something that would end up on TV.
So go on. Share your own moment with us. Even if it's just the first time your mother put up your composition on the fridge - even if you were 32 at the time. It's all good, it's all magic.
jaybee

Usenet · Accepted Answer

I lost my literary virginity at 11. I grew up on Long Island, and we were part of the big blackout of 1965. On the first day back at school I wrote an intentionally overwrought poem about it. The teacher liked it so much she showed it to the principal, and the next morning he asked me to read it for the whole school over the public address system. But my classmates told me I was so nervous they could hardly understand a word.
I first turned professional with a sale for 26 big ones (dollars, that is) in my 20s. I was trying to write science fiction stories. I found that writing fiction was a real struggle, and I only managed to finish one. But I sold it to a semi-pro magazine called Elsewhere. To this day, it's the only fiction I've ever finished. It was about McDonald's taking over the whole galaxy, and fighting star wars with alien fast-food franchises.
Right now I'm helping my wife ghost-write a novel, for pay. She's so much better than I am at it, but we're behind schedule so I'm pitching in. Fiction is still a struggle I get the pages out, but they don't fly or sing, they just kind get the job done.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you ... your composition on the fridge - even if you were 32 at the time. It's all good, it's all magic.[/nq]
About a year ago, a screenwriter told me my work was great, and that in his opinion, I had what it takes. That was huge. This year, I came to the last 22 out of over 2000 entries in a competition. That was quite good. I sold a sketch. It was performed by real, professional actors. Paid a pittance, but I felt rich.
Last week, I finished the first draft of my (I think) eighth script. That's the best. Finishing something, and thinking it's good. Getting an emotional response from something you've made up. That's the real 'jump around the room' bit for me.
Course I don't know yet what it feels like to sell something, and make good money for it.

Usenet · Answer

@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:1]About a year ago, a screenwriter told me my work was great, and that in his opinion, I had what ... quite good. I sold a sketch. It was performed by real, professional actors. Paid a pittance, but I felt rich.[/nq]
I remember pitching for a TV series ("Lassie") and although none of my pitches made it, the producer took time to call me. I wasn't home but he left a message where he told me that, although the writing was all wrapped up for the season, he had really liked my pitches and thought they showed great potential. I thought it was extremely thoughtful of him, he didn't have to call let alone give me encouragement. I was still only starting out, and work was sparse, so his message came as a huge boost to my confidence. I saved it and replayed it whenever I felt like I would never again find work.
Gotta really appreciate the people who make an effort to give you a pat in the back.
jaybee

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you ... your composition on the fridge - even if you were 32 at the time. It's all good, it's all magic.[/nq]
Ummm... fiction?
I've always written, but for most of my schol days and navy career it was non-fiction, which can almost be done in your sleep (and with some research projects gets done that way anyhow).
But a few years back I had the last line for a short story pop unexpected into my head. So I spent a few hours writing it (which I'd done before with other stories), but in this case I knew of a local market, so I submitted it, and after a couple of minor edits had it published.
I'm still not sure if the publication was more exciting than the check, but it got the ball rolling, and I've had a dozen or so stories published since then, and am on my 3rd book (after the first wo were cancelled when the publisher was bought out). Also done a few screenplays, but none have ever even been considered, much less produced.
cd

The difference between immorality and immortality is "T". I like Earl Grey.

Usenet · Answer

@reader1.panix.com:
[nq:2]So go on. Share your own moment with us. Even ... 32 at the time. It's all good, it's all magic.[/nq]
[nq:1]Ummm... fiction?[/nq]
Anything that's writing. It can even be your first classified ad, as long as it represents a defining moment.
jaybee

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you received actual validation?[/nq]
The first published short story was a few years back. It is an online competition. Got my first money that same year. Today it would be the equivalent of US$ 19,41. Would've been at least $22 back then, I guess. No contract, nothing. I got an email from the publisher. She said they are publishing my story. A few weeks later a single bill came in an envbelope. No letter. No contract. Just the money. And the publisher's name and return address on the envelope.
In the story a few kids watch **** and circle-jerk. When you put it that way almost 20 dollars seems appropriate.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you ... composition on the fridge - even if you were 32 at the time. It's all good, it's all magic. jaybee[/nq]
The very first thing of mine that was every published?

Some short-short stories in the Boston Latin School lit magazine (that were actually illustrated by somebody) called "Tales of Irony" I was deep into my Edgar Allan Poe phase at the time.

The first paid thing When I was in my first year at NYU Grad Film some producers based in New Rochelle came to school and said, basically we've got a bunch of titles, we're looking for treatments based on these titles come up with something we like and we'll buy the treatment for 250 bucks.
So I came up with a treatment based on one of their titles they bought it. I actually took the train out to New Rochelle to meet these guys, talked to them. They liked the treatment a whole bunch.

After I sold it, I never heard from them, or heard anything about it again.
Oh, the title was, "Herbie, The Super Dog."
NMS

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first ... made you walk on air for a day or two?[/nq]
[nq:1]The very first thing of mine that was every published?[/nq]
Not necessarily. It has to be that magical moment that constituted a pivotal point in y9our life, or that otherwise made an impression. Writing- related, of course.
jaybee

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Awright. Remember the first sale you made, or the first time you were published, or even the first time you ... yourself, "Yeah, this is what I want to do!"? What made you walk on air for a day or two?[/nq]
I was barely 21 years-old when I made my first sale. Canadian writer/artist Dave Sim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave Sim) was all the rage in the comic book industry back in those days (before he spectacularly self-destructed) and his series "Cerebus the Aardvark" the darling of critics and fans alike. Back issues were such costly collectors items that he began reprinting the series going back to the first issue and decided that he would give budding writers and artists a shot at exposure with a one-page back-up feature called (appropriately) "The Single Page".

Here it was, I thought, my chance to show my stuff. Mind you, I only had a rudimentary grasp of sequential storytelling at the time (any seasoned pro will tell you it takes you about five full-length scripts before you even start to get a handle on it), but I had a friend who was an aspiring artist and the two of us belted out this little one-pager called "Galactic Commandos of the FSB". We put it into the mail and waited for that rejection slip.
A few weeks later I got a check in the mail for $150 bucks and a little letter from Mr. Sim: "What the heck. Here's $150 bucks."

The fact that we had made a sale wasn't such a big deal, so much as the fact that said check had come from one of the most talented and respected men working in the medium. You should have seen us bouncing around our little apartment like a pair of those little rubber superballs you get out of those gumball vending machines.
To this day I kick myself in the *** for not having saved a copy of that check and, more importantly, that little note. Dave Sim's name might be one of the most despised names in the business now (despite the fact that J. Michael Straczynski, Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore all site him as a major influence) but the man will always hold a special place in my heart for that moment I opened that envelope and got the approval of one of my heroes.

Cheers,
B

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]@reader1.panix.com:[/nq]
[nq:2]About a year ago, a screenwriter told me my work ... real, professional actors. Paid a pittance, but I felt rich.[/nq]
[nq:1]I remember pitching for a TV series ("Lassie") and although none of my pitches made it, the producer took time ... again find work. Gotta really appreciate the people who make an effort to give you a pat in the back.[/nq]
Absolutely. And if I'm ever in a position to do the same for a new writer, I will.

When did you lose your cherry?

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