This post is a bit late in coming, but I just haven’t had a chance to put it together. I have to admit that I was dragging my feet a little bit; it used to be kind of fun to put these together, and now it seems more like a chore. So maybe I’ll do it a little bit different, or something. Still, I think there is value in putting statistics and real numbers out there, both for my future self to look back on, and for newer writers. I certainly loved posts like this when I was just starting out.

7 years already. Wow! Some days I still feel like such a newbie, and other days I feel like an old hat. On one hand I have accomplished so much more than I ever thought I would (Analog! Year’s Best! Translations! Adaptations!), on the other hand I see so many more things that I haven’t accomplished (Magazines I haven’t been in! Anthologies I haven’t been invited to! Awards I haven’t been considered for! People I’d like to meet in person!)

Last year I made 150 submissions, up from 123 the year before. I had 7 acceptances, which is the same as the year before. I guess technically that is worse (more submissions for the same number of acceptances), but I had a full 30 more personal responses than the year before (for a total of 50), so that’s somewhat reassuring.

I also made $924 last year, more than the total combined from all my previous years writing. $1,837.70 (my lifetime earnings) isn’t much of a salary for 7 years of work, but it’s not nothing, either. If you’ve got to have a hobby, you might as well have one that pays you, rather than the other way around.

The majority of last year’s money came from “corporate” science fiction writing, so who knows if that will continue into this year. In fact, I’m expecting a bit of a drop off this year in any case, as I will probably produce a lot less stories (thanks, Alex!). I remember previous baby-years, when I was only able to write 4 or 5 stories.

Specific highlights from last year include:

• “The Story of Daro and the Arbolita” appearing in Analog (and a second story accepted for this year as well)
• “Exit Strategy” appearing in Fantasy Scroll
• “Lullabies for a Clockwork Child” appearing in Pseudopod
• “Grant My Powder Be Dry and My Aim Be True” appearing in Anthology I by the Novel Fox
• “An Engineered Product” appearing in Every Day Fiction
• “Random Play All and the League of Awesome” appearing in The Year’s Best YA Speculative Fiction 2013

I always feel my latest stories are my best, but I do feel like I have recently “leveled up” my skills. I don’t think it would be much fun if I didn’t feel like I was improving, or that I was stalled out.

Here’s to another productive year! Onward and upward!