After a long, painful wait, I finally received word from Kate at Viable Paradise: I've been accepted! Hoooraaaaay! This workshop is just what I need.
With my application, I sent part of a novelette called Sole Sacrifice. It's the story of how and why one of the villains in my novel, Sithral Tyr, became evil. My plan is to work on the story until mid-August, then turn in what I consider to be the best job I can do on it as my workshop piece. I'm eager to take it from 'the best I can do' to 'good enough to publish.'
It's true that publication options for novelettes aren't many, but I plan to submit it to the Writers of the Future contest. Of all the contests in the writing world, this one probably has the greatest impact on the career of a new writer. Perhaps with a placement (or win) in that contest, I'll get an agent or editor to read my novel, The Kinshield Legacy.
That's the plan, anyway.
And I'm happy to say, I've started submitting a couple of my short stories to magazines -- and I've received my first rejection! Hooray! Those who write with an eye toward publication know why I say that. For those who don't: 'tis better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.
