I meant to add this last month when I found out but we are in the middle of a pandemic, and I was still doing my regular job and it got a little crazy. Let me follow up with a news update.
First of all, I did not get into either Clarion or Clarion West. It was a long shot at best, and honestly, since they have cancelled at least one of them (delayed until next summer) at the time of this writing, maybe that is ok. It will give me time to work on my writing over the next 6-8 months so I can put together a stronger application next year.
Second, I have my first official rejection! My story did not get accepted. It was flash, about 800 words, and I don’t know as many markets for that length. I have a 2nd submission target, but after that I don’t know where I would send it next. I intend to spend an hour or so on it, updating it and cleaning it up, seeing if there are any major flaws I can find before submitting it, and then I will be turning my attention to a different story. I have been thinking about it off and on for several months and in its current form, the form it has been in since I first thought of it a few years ago, the protagonist is sort of a character the things happen to instead of making things happen. I am thinking of a way to make the character more active… but the only resolution I can see for that right now is having him pay the ultimate sacrifice to save a greater number. I may write both versions, since the original in my head is how I think the story should go, but I understand that the character is more passive, which could be a problem.
My main job has mostly wound up for the time being and I am going to spend the next 2-3 months of summer working for (I hope) 2 hours a day on my writing. It is a real priority of mine and I am hoping I can be true to myself for now.