I am hyperventilating over here.

I just sold my first story.

I don’t really have the words.  I’m so excited.

I’ve had confidence in my ability to write for a long time.  I’ve gotten enough compliments, and read enough bad stuff and good stuff, to know roughly where I fall on the spectrum.  I could stand to be a lot better, sure, but I knew there was at least some talent there.

But I’d never sold a story.  I didn’t know if I ever would, ever could, because I never had before.  There was no precedent.

It was enough to make me suspect the would never happen for me, that it was all just a mid-life fantasy.  That I was some dilettante playing at writing as an excuse for not being otherwise gainfully employed.  That it was a lie I told myself to make me believe I was more than just a (kick-ass and awesome) stay-at-home dad.

But no.  I sold a story.  Despite my doubts, I knew deep down that I am a writer.  But this?  This is external validation, and it comes with the exchange of currency.

The one I sold, I’ve been sending out for just two weeks shy of a year.  It had been going out and coming back long enough I was beginning to think it was a yo-yo, not a story.  But then, I’ve never gotten yo-yos to come back.

I’m sure I’ll have more to say once the adrenaline wears off and the oxygen returns to my brain, but for now….

I SOLD A STORY!!!!!!!

Look at me,it’s almost like I’m a real writer now…

Here I Go,

Matt