I think it's best to focus on what you're writing first -- the other stuff can come later. But without a solid grip on your story and at least a loose plan for writing it, none of the rest of it will matter, you know? i.e. Putting the cart before the horse ...

Strix - First, I completely agree with Amy.

without a solid grip on your story and at least a loose plan for writing it, none of the rest of it will matter

Yup.

One thing to consider is flash - under 1,000 words, with all the toppings - beginning, middle, end, character, voice, plot. They're good practice, set a frame within which you can work, and can sometimes turn into bigger stories.

And when you write one you love, there are a bunch of good sf/f flash markets - Daily Science Fiction, Abyss & Apex, Drabblecast, Flash Fiction Online among them.

A pity you're done with literature, that's the end of a promising career.

I have a crazy cold, so just some short comments from my stupid med-addled head:

Amy, I like the idea of checking it; motivation is important for me in anything I do.

I've never formally outlined a story, so that could be useful. I've outlined a zillion research papers, but there's bound to be something different with outlining fiction, so that would be cool to look at.

Sox, flash as an exercise is a good idea. I'll incorporate that into my repertoire as well.

Typo, I don't have a preference as to eformat or print, but I don't want to self-pub, really. I know it works as a format for a lot of people, and I'm not going to diss it at all, but it doesn't feel right for me at this time. It's not really aimed at an audience of one; I could just write a story on Word, print it out, and give it to my dad, but that's not the point. It's more of a he always said I would write a book one day and to him, a book or a story is something that OTHER people saw the worthy in also, and chose to publish.

Plus, you know, it's for me. I've always thought I should be writing, but I'm deeply lazy and have been dealing with emo problems for a long time. I'm 42 and it's kind of time to shit or get off the pot, yanno?

Connie, I don't understand what you mean about a career in lit? You mean teaching? Or writing "literary fiction?" I'm definitely a genre writer; I'd be horrid at "literary fiction."

(I hope what I wrote made sense, because I think my head is about to explode or fall off and roll across the floor, or both. Jesus, this COLD.)

Sorry, Polter was bemoaning that he was done with literature in another thread. I mis-posted.

Ah, I thought the NyQuil had completely taken away my ability to read the words.

No, but be careful of badgers (unkind trolling of drug-befuddled people)

Oh, I am going back to my book and tea in a moment. If any badgers leap out of the screen at me, I'm just going to power down and go quietly back to bed.

(And even on my worst sick day, I'd like to see the fool who tried to badger me with words. My Celtadrenlin would take over and I'd all Hulk out, turn woad-shade blue and eviserate. And then stagger off to drink some more fizzy water.)

I'm feeling some of the same urgency about writing, although in my case, it's my own mortality that's at issue.

Strix, some people don't ever use much of an outline. But I think if you're serious about doing this fairly quickly, the more maps you have, the better.

Ginger, I was thinking about you the other day, because I was revisiting my apocalyptic idea. Also, hugs if you'll like them.