When I was the Editor of AstoundingTales.com I got the chance to read a lot of submissions and correspond with a lot of authors. And after a while I started to spot certain common mistakes or misconceptions that a lot of writers seem to make or have. I knew that new writers would make some of these mistakes but I had no idea how many grizzled veterans were making them as well. What I realized was that some of these mistakes are a result of people just not being told the facts "of the writing" life. It's the sort of advice your momma would have given you had she wanted you to be a writer (and not a lawyer) and thought it might save you some pain and frustration if you had it up front.

So, the following list is a no-holds barred series of observations, suggestions, and opinions. Some of it may sound harsh. I'm sorry if it does. My goal is to state the obvious (cause sometimes people still don't get it) and also say what rarely gets said - but should. My hope is that it will help some of you avoid a few traps and achieve a the goals you hope to achieve. So read on at your own risk - or to your own advantage.

1. Your Story Stands Alone

Like it or not, every story stands alone. No amount of flattery, name-dropping, or bribery will help it. If it did you wouldn't want to be in that magazine. Black words on white paper, that's all there is. So don't try to impress the editor with where you've been published, what awards you have won, or who you might know. If your words don't measure up, they don't. Try to understand why and go write some more, better, words. The more time you waste bitching at the injustice of it all means the less time you have to write. And who has too much time to write?

2. You are not a leper.

Publishers need stories. Writers write those stories. Without writers nothing happens. Don't ever feel as if you are a leper begging at the King's door. You're not. But in the same token don't act like an ass and expect the editor to bend over backwards for you. For every published author there are nine other writers who will happily take his place. So, though you are essential to the process, never willingly give your editor a reason to turn to someone else. Always strive to "help" the editor to publish you. You'll be surprised how little it takes to knock you out of the running -- or to put you out in front.

3. Be professional.

There are rules to every profession. Learn what it means to be a writer. Stephen King can write his stories on crappy paper with a red crayon. You cannot. You are doomed to lifetime of disappointment if you don't figure this out. There are plenty of places to learn the rules. Look them up. That's one of the rules. Nothing yells AMATUER louder than someone who doesn't know the rules.

4. You can only break the rules if you are very, very, good.

Saw my comment about Stephen King. Same here. You don't have to be perfect in your grammar, formatting, composition, etc, but you do have to be as good as you can be. Yes, real people don't speak perfectly. Real people don't always use the right words. But any time a reader is confused by what you mean you have failed to do your job as a writer. You can't stand by their elbow and explain what you meant. Confused readers stop reading. You don't want that to happen.

As for proper formatting such as correctly addressing your queries, or making sure your story is appropriate for the market, etc, etc, -- violate those rules at your own risk. I know no editor who has time to waste. Give them a reason to reject your story, go on, go ahead, I dare ya. But don't come crying to me cause the editor didn't have time to waste on a writer who's too stupid, or too inconsiderate, to get the spelling of the their name right. Remember, there are nine other writers ready to take your place. I'm sure some of them can tell you if "Pat the editor" is a "Patrick" or a "Patricia."

5. See things from their side.

Writers often vacillate from viewing publishers/editors as either lofty gods who dole out their favors in meager portions or as craven bastards out to destroy the creative soul. Neither picture is exactly true. Most publishers/editors are people who love stories. They love all kinds of stories and became publishers/editors in order to get the stories they love published. That said they are also business people. They have bills to pay, readers to find, schedules to keep. So, sometimes, the choices they make are more about the business of stories than the art of stories. Sorry, that's just the way it goes. When an editor says he loves your story but it's not right for his publication, deal with it. Find a way to make the story right for his publication or move on. The editor's responsibility is to do what's right for his magazine, not you.

6. No opinion matters more than your own.

When all is said and done, everything is just an opinion. What one editor loves another will hate. It's not so much a reflection of your writing but more of how well your style of storytelling has meshed with that editor's. One of your jobs as a writer is find the editors who will love your work. That's not easy but when you do you will be met with a hell of a lot more success.

Now, very often, an editor might make suggestions as to how you can improve your story and possibly sell it to him. It's YOUR story. You decide whether or not to make any changes. If her advice rings true, then follow it. If you fundamentally disagree, or can't figure out where they are coming from, walk away. Sell your story to another magazine. You are the creator of this story. Never give that power up. But be polite! A good editor won't fault you for choosing to preserve your vision of the story. But he will curse your name if you waste his time by pretending to seek his advice only to ignore it. If you think you can change the editor's mind with a good defense of your story then go for it. But be aware, any time you have to explain an element of your story that means it DIDN'T work. Don't be surprised if the editor turns around and says he likes your explanation more than the story -- and that you should fix the story by incorporating the explanation.

7. There is a difference between the art of writing and the business of writing.

This is a big one. It encompasses a number of my previous points but it bears further explanation. Being a writer has two parts: the writing part and the business part. Every successful writer is a master (to one degree or another) of both parts. You have to be. On the one hand you must have the ability to write new, innovative, insightful stories. On the other you must have the tenacity, determination, and cojones (balls) to sell those stories to a world too jaded to care. It's not easy. But it is required.

View these two acts as separate. Study them separately. Practice them separately. But do everything you can to master both talents. Writers need to write and they need what they write to be read. In order to do that you must be both an artist and a businessperson.

8. Be a writer and not an author

A very wise person once said that the problem with most people is that they want to be authors -- not writers. They're not interested in the hard work it takes to write a good story. They don't want to sweat the details or learn the craft. They just want to see their name under the title and receive the applause from a grateful readership. If that's you, find something else to do. You'll be happier. Trust me. It's a long haul from word processor to book signing. It's not for the faint of heart. So be sure you want to write and not just be published. It's not worth it otherwise.

9. Buy yourself a lottery ticket.

Every writer has a drawer, folder, or disk full of stories. But if you ask them why they'll look at you as if you've got two heads. "Cause they're my stories," they'll answer. Well, here's my point -- why are they in your drawer?

If you think the stories are good enough to save, why haven't you submitted them for publication? If they're not good enough to sell, why aren't you polishing them up so that they are good enough to sell?

Every story you write is a lottery ticket that's waiting to pay off. By submitting it somewhere you are giving yourself a chance to win the big prize -- publication. But leaving it in a drawer does you no good. So get those stories out there! Make it a habit to empty out your story drawer once a week by either putting that story on your desk to be reworked or in the mail for publication. It can take a couple of days to a couple of months to find out a story's fate. So why not get that process started as soon as possible? In the meantime, while you're waiting for a response, you can write something new. If a story comes back rejected consider any suggestions that editor had to offer and either place the story in a pile to be reworked or back in the mail to a new market.

It'll be a pain at first -- you'll have to identify markets, make copies, and put stuff in the mail or email on a daily basis. But you'll be surprised how fast you can turn a story around once you get into the habit of making sure it's ready to go. And once you make sure that all your lottery tickets are out there, you may be surprised by how many of them actually hit.

10. Have fun.

It took me years to work this one out. To be a writer is to embrace a life-long obsession. You may be a fireman, a chef, a doctor, or a plumber, but you are also a writer. You use words to create worlds, and people, and stories, and that is something of which you should be very proud. It's also something to be enjoyed. Too often people think that the only thing that will validate their writing is to be on the N.Y. Times Best Sellers list. Not so. If writing is your craft, your gift, or your passion, you are validated every time you put words to paper. Most of us will never see our books in Barnes & Noble but that doesn't mean we should stop trying or view our efforts with anything less than the utmost enthusiasm. There are a lot of stops between your pen and the bookstore. Enjoy them all. Write for yourself, your friends, your family, you community, your business, whatever. Write stories as birthday presents and as Christmas gifts. Share your talent with whoever can use it. Cause to write well is a talent. Find joy in the words you write and you will find joy in the life you live. After that, everything else is gravy.

And one day, if the stars align themselves properly and the wind blows in from the east, you may find yourself signing autographs at Wal-Mart and defending yourself against charges that you sold out to the "man." Laugh if you will, but it has happened to the best of them. It just means you've made it.