After all, if you spend so much as one or two weeks writing what you feel is the almost perfect short story, and then submit it with little to no results, then you will understand what I mean. If you have ever received even one rejection slip -- which I have received a few in my lifetime, and have never experienced an accepted manuscript -- then I know you surely understand.
There are so many successful writers who have books on the market that a fledgling writer often fools himself into thinking, if Stephen King can do it, so can I. The inexperience of the writer causes him to miss the true reality of the fact that Stephen King has been honing this craft for many years before ever getting his big break with the publication of Carrie by DoubleDay in 1973. Neither did the beginning writer realize that King also probably suffered his share of rejection slips prior to making that unmistakable mark in the writing industry. But with experience, this same beginning writer becomes clear on this unfortunate reality: Just because Stephen King did it, not everyone can.
Vince Flynn never accepted this intimidation experienced by many unsuccessful writers.
Even with a major handicap -- dyslexia -- he managed to successfully overcome the intimidation that had defeated so many would-be writers. To battle this unfortunate disorder, Flynn began a strict writing and reading regimen. He read Ernest Hemingway, Robert Ludlum, J.R.R. Tolkien, and perhaps many others. He was determined to be a successful writer. And it was this determination which enabled his books to become the center of my own attention as far as modern day writing is concerned.
Vince self-published his first novel, Term Limits, while working as a bartender. The good thing about self-publishing is that there is no such thing as a rejection slip. You simply put your novel on the market, and let supply and demand do all the rest. There are no individuals to say yay or nay (unless you lack the capital to make it happen). Basically, you put up or shut up. Pocket Books published Term Limits in hardback and mass-market paperback in 1998. This novel spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, the very list that separates the truly successful writers from the unsuccessful and the moderately successful. And from here, his legacy was cemented: A core following of loyal fans -- myself included -- would buy every book he had ever written.
Vince Flynn is the one who gave me hope back in my own writing.
I've led an interesting -- though very unsuccessful -- life thus far. I have made many commitments and walked out on them. I committed myself to the Marine Corps in 1986; but after losing faith in the system after going on independent duty, I finally decided that I wanted no more part in it. So I took my Honorable Discharge and left. I have always come damned close to not remaining committed in my marriages, threatening to leave. My first wife must have gotten sick of it. She instead left me in 1996. My current marriage sometimes sees me making similar threats, but my dearest Abby continues to help me pull my head out of my rear, so we continue to manage.
But writing was one of the commitments I failed to stay true to, yet one of the true successes I've ever experienced in a largely unsuccessful life.
As a senior at Woodham High School, I had just moved from Memphis, Tennessee where I had left all of my friends and family (speaking of losing commitment!), I found myself in a position to either weep about what I had left behind, or forge myself a new path encountering new friends along the way. I did both.
For my Creative Writing class, we were tasked to write a one-act play. The three that most impressed our teacher -- Ms. Mary Decosta -- would be performed by the Drama Class during the 7th Period for all English classes during that particular time frame. I had written a short story titled: Night of the Oblivious Writer. This was a romantic and comedic fantasy about a writer who ended up living the very life as he typed it into his keyboard. The short story had been the currently most successful one I had written for her class. Truth be told, I procrastinated writing the play until the very night before it was due. So I simply rewrote Night of the Oblivious Writer (as it had been on my word processor) into the one-act play format.
And Ms. Decosta loved it as well! It ended up being one of the three plays, the last to be performed actually. I was even allowed to skip class one day to assist in the direction of the play. The actors chosen to perform it, one was my friend James Whisenant, all did a fabulous job.
I had been asked to sit on the stage while the play was being performed. Just as James stated the last two words of the play, "Cab fare!", almost everyone (if not everyone) in the audience stood up, laughing at the final punchline of the comedic ending and giving all us standing applause. This play I wrote also got the best write-up in the newspaper, probably in large part to the great acting by James and the others. But please don't take this as me bragging, because this has been one of my only true successes in life. As far as my life is concerned, there is not a whole lot to brag about, other than family members who dearly love me as much as I love them.
Finally, as a Marine Corps photojournalist, I also had work published in Marines and Leatherneck Magazines, the two most popular at the time, long before everything went to the internet.
But, back to Vince Flynn! It was he who helped me see where my true occupational successes in life have been. It was him who gave me hope to go ahead and throw my novel out there and see what happens. It was him who brought me countless hours of entertainment as I read his very intriguing, engaging, and highly entertaining novels. It was Vince Flynn who inspired me to write a story that I feel could be very important to everyone thinking about what it would be like if our government did away with our 2nd Amendment Rights.
I credit all of this -- and maybe even more -- to Vince Flynn.
Vince Flynn passed away due to complications from stage-three prostate cancer only four days ago. He was 47, that is only two years older than me. I have remarked on Facebook, and even on Vince's official website, that I dreamed of someday becoming a bestselling author and having beers with Vince. But I guess I will never see this dream come to fruition.
Vince leaves behind his wife, Lysa, and their three children. If you wish to donate money or cards to his family, please visit his official website: http://www.vinceflynn.com .
In closing, I can only say to Vince, wherever he is: "Please save me a spot at the Writer's Bar in Heaven between you and Ian Fleming. Thank you so much for your inspiration and truly profound and wonderful stories. And God bless you and your family."
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