When you’re doing something as difficult as trying to break in as a short story writer in the fantasy and science fiction field, keeping track of your goals and achievements is motivational.<\/p>\n
I distinguish between “goals” (which are in my control, largely) and “aspirations” (things I would like to happen, but can’t make happen–though working towards my goals will make them more likely).<\/p>\n
Achievements–think video games–are a record of goals and aspirations I’ve already reached.<\/p>\n
For purposes of aspirations, I divide magazines into:<\/p>\n
“Premium” and “prestige” are my own terms. “Pro” and “semi-pro” are commonly used in the field.<\/p>\n
There are also magazines that pay only in royalties, or a nominal small amount that’s less than 1c\/word, or nothing at all. Apart from charity anthologies, I don’t submit to those.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that nobody could reasonably expect to actually make a living selling short stories at so-called “pro” rates, which haven’t kept up with inflation since the heyday of the pulps in the 1930s. The 1c\/word that was common in those days would be almost 14c in today’s money, and the top publications paid twice that (or considerably more, to some very popular authors). Only one or two publications pay anything like that rate today.<\/p>\n
Read 12 books on writing craft (actual: 9, and several partials).<\/p>\n
This is an example of a goal being motivational and leading to higher performance, even though I didn’t achieve it. It turns out that there probably aren’t 12 books on craft that are worth reading and pitched at an intermediate level. But I read more books than I otherwise would have.<\/p>\n
Make 52 story submissions in a year. (Achieved.)<\/p>\n