Tom Howard is a science fiction and fantasy short story writer living in Little Rock, Arkansas. He thanks his family for their inspiration and the Central Arkansas Speculative Fiction Writers’ Group for their perspiration.
How long have you been writing and what got you started?
About 10 years. This is the 104th story I’ve sold.
What is the best piece of advice you have for new writers?
A good character is great, a good plot is also great, but you need both for an awesome story.
Are there any writing resources, such as books or websites, you’d like to recommend?
I’m currently in Inked Voices, an online critique group, and find them very helpful, but my local critique group (which I helped start 10 years ago) is awesome. Thank you, CASFWG.
If you could go back and find yourself five years ago, what advice would you give yourself?
Fail and fail again. Get up. Get better.
What is your favorite type of fiction and who are your favorite authors?
I’m a big science fiction fan. My favorite author growing up was Andre Norton and my current idol is Lois McMaster Bujold with China Mieville as a close second.
How do you measure success when it comes to your writing?
Hmmm. Probably how happy I feel when I type The End. If it’s good, I feel it down to my toes.
What tips do you have for finding time to write?
Don’t schedule yourself. Write when you’ve got the story down in your head. Write morning, noon, or night and don’t chain yourself to a time-management program.
Do you favor the traditional route or self-publishing?
I’ve collected my published short stories into three collections (so far) and self-published them myself just to keep the stories in one place. They are Collected Science Fiction, Collected Fantasy, and Collected Superworld Stories. Since I sell primarily short stories, I’m more than happy to let the publishers go the traditional route.
What do you think the publishing industry will look like twenty-five years from now?
Wow. Lots more online publishing, and more personal publishing for specific readers. Probably more installments where the reader pays for pieces of the story. Maybe even custom made stories.
Are you an outliner or discovery writer? Or somewhere in between? Definitely in between. When I’ve outlined (for the infrequent novel),
I’ve gone too in-depth. When I’ve tried pantsing, I waste a lot of words and time.
Have you attended any conferences or writing retreats? What was the experience like and do you have any to recommend?
I attend every one I can. Inked Voices has monthly online classes, I attend Fencon’s writing conference in Dallas, Texas annually, but my favorite is Tex Thompson’s Writers in the Field which is a weekend of horseback riding, sword making, bomb defusing, forensics, and about a hundred other hands-on demos. Everything a writer should know how to do, including the most dangerous, the hoop skirt wearing class. I’m currently taking the Masters Classes and have found Dan Brown’s to be the most helpful (so far).
How do you deal with rejections?
I know there is a publisher out there just waiting for this story. Even with Duotrope and Grinder, you can’t always find the perfect market right away, but when you finally do, it’s a perfect fit. Keep submitting. I think my record is 30 times for one story.
Do you ever get criticism from family or friends who don’t understand your passion?
No. My four children are my biggest cheerleaders.
Were you taught anything about creative writing in high school or college that just didn’t work for you?
Interesting question. Not really. My HS and college classes taught me the tools (grammar, punctuation, plot, dialogue) I needed to tell my stories. The hardest thing to tell new writers is “learn the tools.”
In your opinion, how important is a writing degree or MFA when it comes to achieving success in writing fiction?
Not important at all. Reading is important. Learning is important, but not to the point where it makes us all cookie cutter writers.
Do you participate in any online or in-person critique or writing groups?
Two. One online (Inked Voices) and one local (Central Arkansas Speculative Fiction Writers’ Group).
What are your writing goals for the next twelve months?
I currently have two novels being professionally edited. My goal is to get an agent for at least one of them.
What are your writing goals for the next five years?
Publish Volume 2s of my collections, and maybe sell a couple novels.
What book are you reading right now?
Currently am reading some classic SF, Major Operation by James White.
Is there anything you’d like to plug? Feel free to share a link.
My Amazon Author Page is Tom Howard
