Sprinting to 2024
A Writing & Publishing Challenge
With 2023 almost gone, I’ve taken this holiday season for personal reflection and assessment of how the year has been both personally and with my writing. A lot can change in 12 months and sometimes life can pull the rug from under you and derail any plans you have in a “one step forward, then two steps back” way. “You're riding high in April, shot down in May…” Sinatra once sang.
Ultimately, there have been plenty of setbacks, challenges, and growing pains with 2023. However, after going through my trials of walking in the wilderness, the Lord came through, offering many blessings and opportunities to build a new life. My “Unemployment Saga” from last year, which bled into 2023, ended back in November with not just one but TWO jobs. I’m grateful for both opportunities as they both allow me the flexibility to continue to pursue writing.
Speaking of writing…
2023 has been my most productive year in terms of craft.
14 short stories written and published
150 short stories read and studied
I’m proud of what I’ve been able to achieve despite the difficulties this year brought. Did I accomplish every goal I had on my list? Of course not, but that doesn’t matter. I set my targets high and did the best I could with what I had. I own my current skill level, I own my work, and I own my results. Nuf said.
But the year isn’t over…
This is why I’m starting a new challenge - a short one.
With 14 days left in 2023, I’ve set out to write as many words of fiction from today until January 1st, 2024. To hold myself accountable, each day I will post a short recap of the following day’s work to report on my progress. Any finished works (short fiction or longer) will be published in the Pulp, Pipe, & Poetry Magazine the following month.
If you’re interested in reading any of my fiction, subscribe below.
Why am I doing this? To push myself, to try something different, and to restart this newsletter going into 2024.
When I started The Pulp Fictioneer, I fell in love with the history of the pulp magazines of the 1920s - 1950s and wanted to share that admiration online. What started as simple curiosity grew into obsession and love of the game - The Pulp Work Ethic.
I set out to become a pulp writer like that of H. Bedford-Jones, Frank Gruber, Max Brand, and other almost-forgotten legends of the times, writing fast, writing clean, and publishing often. After some road bumps and too many distractions, I’m taking what I’ve learned and applying it to a new beginning. There is no time limit for this. I’ve organized my life to meet the requirements to do this, including many sacrifices. This is not a “let’s see where I’m at five, ten years from now before I quit if it doesn’t work out.”
I’m spending the rest of my life building my body of work. The end date is death.
The Pulp Fictioneer 2.0
As stated before, the newsletter is returning to a weekly format in the new year. The “Month in Review” section will return as a weekly report highlighting my word count, lessons, and overall progress. I’ll highlight a different pulp fiction writer in a bi-weekly profile for anyone interested in learning the rich history of the pulps.
I’ve got other plans for the new year that I’ll share at a later date.
If you’re a longtime, loyal reader of The Pulp Fictioneer - thank you! You will always have my gratitude.
I’ve learned a lot this year about myself and what I’m capable of. Special “thank you” shout out to
, , , , , and . Not only are these gentlemen some of the finest fiction writers, but they each have played a tremendous role in my young career. I’m grateful for all the lessons, feedback, banter, and support you all have given me over the years. Cheers, gentlemen.‘Till next time.
Cool, Frank. And re "never stop learning," PLEASE be sure you don't miss tomorrow's Journal. Even with all I've written before, I learned something brand new today right in the middle of writing a chapter. I stopped for twenty minutes or so to write the Journal post, then returned to the novel You don't want to miss in, my friend.