Deborah Walker

Flash Story up at After Ever After

2012-02-28T09:21:00.002-08:00

'The Unmoveable Sky' is up at After Ever After, a flash tale of savage aliens and a Hindu wisdom goddess.

How to Take Your Story to Nebula* Nominated Level

2012-02-27T09:19:00.002-08:00

I don't know the answer to this, but Ferrett Steinmetz does, and in his post, 'How I got from First to Final Draft on 'Sauerkraut Station,' he explains the process. Including a link to his first draft with sixty-plus annotations about the changes he made on his 17K word story. And he's happy to answer questions. What a generous offer

Now every writer's different, but isn't it fascinating to take a peep at such a successful writer's process?

*The Nebulas being the annual awards of the Science Fiction Writers of America Association, a very prestigious award.

Why can't . . . Writers Judge the Quality of their Stories?

2012-02-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

In an interesting post, a few weeks ago, Luc Reid explores in hispost, "Your Opinion and Twenty-Five cents: Judging Your Own Writing"

Luc says, "I don't know, personally, whether it's merely difficult or actually impossible for writers to judge our own writing well"

I've often bemoaned the fact that I never know what's going to sell.It's very odd. But is this the same as quality? I wonder.

A recent sell to a good market was on it's 12th sub. So youcould argue that it's just a case of hitting the right market with the righteditor. There's an art of matching story to venue. It's allvery difficult.

This week I've revisited some of my older stories, to give them a quick polish before submitting. Definitely distance in time makes a lot of difference in the ability to make judgments about a story.

What do you think? Are you able to tell the quality of your own work?Does it matter? If you don't know what you're doing right, is it possible toimprove?

Happy Birthday NewMyths.com

2012-02-07T02:13:00.000-08:00

NewMyths.com is celebrating it's four year anniversary with a book giveaway. The first 30 plus people to blog or mention this giveaway on Facebook will win a Fantasy or SF book.

NewMyths.com is a great venue for fantasy and science fiction stories, poems and non-fiction, check out the guidelines here. I'd recommend Nancy Fulda's article, 'A Practical Guide to the Proper Positioning of Space Stations'. You can find it by using the search engine on the site. And while you're searching you might want to look at a poem published by yours truly (search under my name, or Threshold).

The latest issue has an interview with M.O Muriel, the first winner of both the Writers of the Future and the Illustrators of the Future competitions. And congratulations to Scott T.Barnes who has just placed second in the Writers of the Future fourth quarter competition.

Happy Birthday NewMyths.com and here's to many more.

edited to add: And I've won: Unplugged: the Web's Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy. Thanks Scott and Nu.

Captain Clone at Ray Gun Revival

2012-01-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

If you want to crit my Kelda Blog go here. Thanks.

My story, Captain Clone, is up at Ray Gun Revival. It's a space adventure exploring the theme of authenticity, and featuring tentacled aliens and Rioja. No prizes for guessing my favourite wine.

There's a kind comment suggesting that a reader would like to see more of the story featured in this world. Now, there's a good idea.

Ever Tried to Run Before you Could Walk?

2012-01-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting post from David B. Coe on writerly ambition on the Magical Words blog. Interesting to me, particulary because I had just come to the opposite conclusion.

I may have mentioned that I consider myself a natural short story person. But this hasn't stopped me from having a stab at the longer length. I want to be able to do both. In an encouraging turn of events I am managing to write at a 10K-20K length. (I'll get there in the end.)

But novel length is still proving difficult. Recently, after reading a best selling urban fantasy, I came to the conclusion that my novel attempts were too ambitious: too many point of views, too much dancing in the time flow, too much metaphysics (metaphysics answer the big question about life. I mean what's it all about, really)?

So, I've come up with a wheeze to attempt a straight-forward first person, linear science fiction novel, with only a sprinkling of metaphysics and a smattering of sex, sort of urban science fiction.

So, I guess the trick is to match your creative ambition to your skill level, or just beyond it. What do you think readers? Do you push yourself creatively speaking? Ever tried to run before you could walk?

The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Inspiration

2012-01-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

I'mhosting my very first guest blogger, and I've started with a bang. I'mdelighted to introduce Cate Gardner. Cate is a writer of very fine weirdfiction who has been making rather a splash lately. Her chapbook'Nowhere Hall' was a sell out, gathering excellent reviews along the way. Hershort story collection Strange Men inPinstriped Suits, and her recent novella Barbed WireHearts were published tosimilar acclaim. Her short stories have been published in lots ofplaces that I want to be published in like Fantasy, Shock Totem, Postscripts. . . .

And her new book Theatre ofCurious Acts, is published today. And I'm the first hoston her blog tour. Isn't that great? But this isn't about me, it's about Cate,who's talking about inspiration.

(That's rather apt as mylast post was about inspiration too. In my case I get inspiredby random children's toys, Cate is rather moreprofessional about the issue.)

First off, many thanks toDeborah for inviting me onto her blog as part of a tour to celebrate therelease of my book Theatre of Curious Acts. As Deborah is aninspiring individual, I thought that a post about inspiration would be apt. Sohere goes…

Do you have a book of words?

Or better yet a book oftitles?

Do you hear marvellousthings that you think would make for super titles, but then you move on andforget what you heard? Or perhaps what you saw? Write it down.

People often tell me that mystory titles are good. It's a little intimidating because now I'm afraid tocall a story something like THE RAT even if one of the characters is an evil,despicable rat of a person, because I feel people expect more. Intimidating anda heck of a compliment. Of course, those folk may be mad. In fact, I knowsome of them very well and they are indeed… Well, let's just say they dallywith fairies.

So do you have a book ofwords?

Or a book of titles?

If not, get one. Buy theprettiest, or the meanest, notebook and keep a note of things. Before you knowit, you'll be plucking inspiration for both stories and titles with ease (okay,almost with ease). Or, you may even find yourself weaving a story to fit afabulous title. Is that cheating? I don't care if it is as long as I'm writing.

Start scribbling in thatnotebook now…

And in case you'rewondering, yes, that's how Theatre of Curious Acts, my tale ofGreat War soldiers and the Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse, was born. I had atitle and I had some soldiers I wanted to manipulate. You can find more aboutthe book at www.categardner.net

It's Chit Win. It's Chit Win. It's Really, Really Chit Win.

2011-12-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Family songs, you got to love them. And who is Chit Win? Here she is:

A Littlest Pet Shop toy, named by my daughter, who became the eponymous alien in one of my stories. My space western story, 'Chit Win' has been published as the last story from Daily Science Fiction this year. Funny where you get your inspiration from, isn't it?

'Chit Win' hit subscribers' mailboxes today and should be available for everyone to read on the DSF website in about a week.

If you fancy a weekday dose of science fiction and fantasy stories delivered to you for free, why not consider subscribing?

A Happy New Year to y'all.

Mythos Story Published

2011-12-18T00:07:00.001-08:00

Apologies to those who read this post twice, but the illustration is just so great.

My story 'Stone City, Old as Immeasuarable Time' has been published by Lovecraft E-zine. What a fabulous illustration by Steve Santiago. Cosmic horror, despair, old stange places, and neolithic monuments. They tend to slip into my work. The stone mothers in my story are inspired by the prehistoic Venus Figurines, quite a familiar trope in my work.

I'm designating this Lovecraft Homage month, because a couple of weeks ago Innsmouth Free Press published 'Future Lovecraft' which includes of of my poems.

Goals for Short Stories

2011-12-14T03:23:00.000-08:00

Goals: I've been thinking about them. I'll probably continue with my goal I've been using for the past two years, which is four subs to the professional press a week.

It's not as scary as it sounds, once you've built up a little inventory. Say you have four science fiction stories, right off the bat I can think of ten venues for them:

Analog, Asimov, Clarkesworld, Cosmos, Daily Science Fiction, Digital Science Fiction, Fantasy and Science Fiction, IGMS, Lightspeed, Lore. And I could go on. Honestly, there are heaps.

So four stories will give you 40 subs, and so on and so forth. Because the beauty of it is you can re-sub a rejected story to a new venue. Rejection is good. Yep, it's a great little goal.

But I've been trying to think about a goal relating to improving quality. And I think I've come up with a good one.

Before I make a sub, read a story from that venue.

Something that it seems only polite to do. And yet, although I do read heaps, it occurs to me that my reading can be patchy. The idea being that reading and thinking about the story, will give me a better idea of the editors' taste, and hopefully (somehow, as if by magic) transfers some of that quality to my own writing.

Have you set your goals for 2012, yet? Any good ones?

First 200 words of your story, critiqued by IGMS editor

2011-12-09T09:48:00.001-08:00

edit -- This is closed now, he's got the 20.

If you're quick and brave, you can get the first 200 words of your short story critiqued online by Edmund Schubert, editor of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show. He's going to comment on the first 20 entries on the Magical Words Blog.

linky

I'm not doing it. I'm too chicken. But you should.

Sometimes You Just Got to Flaunt it (Bragging Post)

2011-12-05T10:41:00.001-08:00

Recently I've been posting my news in a sidebar. Figuring that my readers don't want to be overwhelmed with my braggage.

But sometimes, a woman's got to do what a woman has to do . . . .

I was very pleased to see that my drabble (100 words, no more, no less), 'Forest Born' was selected for the featured story of the week at Luna Station Quarterly. This was first published by the sadly lamented Necrotic Tissue.

I've got a poem, 'Cup and Ring Carving' up at Mirror Dance, one of my favourite venues. Featuring one of my recurring tropes, a mysterious prehistoric monument. Good to see my friend, Simon Kewin there too.

Future Lovecraft has been published. With one of my poems. Looks like I'm table of contents buddies with Nick Mamatas and many other fine authors.

Finally I'm going to announce two exciting acceptance this week, a poem from Dreams and Nightmares, oh my word. And a micro for Earthbound's Dark Stars anthology.

What's in a Name?

2011-12-02T09:35:00.001-08:00

I was following a writers' discussion about self-promotion. This being award season for the science fiction and fantasy community, it's a topic on our minds.

One writer, who has a few tasty publications under her belt, said, that to get published by the top magazines, she felt she needed to get her name out there.

And by out there, I guess she meant being active in the social medium (especially twitter), writing articles, giving interviews, meeting people at conferences etc.

Well, that got me a-wondering. I've never really believed that. I figure that people do get plucked out of slush without having a name. I sold to professional paying magazine without having a blog, for instance. I always feel that story is queen, and that your other accomplishments don't matter a toot.

I guess it's different if you're self-publishing. Then you really want to get name recognition. But I'm happy, at the moment (and watch this space) writing and sending off to magazines.

It's a delicate subject, few people want to come out and say that they are experts in self-promotion. Most of us (?) want to be recognised for our art.

What do you think? Is getting your name out there important? Will it make a difference to sales? Have I got a name? And if so, is it a bad name or a good name?

How Long Does it Take a Slush Reader to Reject your Story?

2011-11-28T06:02:00.001-08:00

A delightful innovation from Hey Publisher lets you know. Hey Publisher is submission service that various magazines subscribe to.

First off, I I got an e-mail informing me that my story is being read. Then a minute later I got a form rejection.

A minute! I might not even have got the full 60 seconds. Feeling discouraged.

Illuminated Manuscripts in London

2011-11-26T10:17:00.001-08:00

I visited the British Library today to see the illuminated manuscript exhibition. Wow. They have some wonderful works in there. I've been inspired.

Although I was a bit disappointed that I had to pay £9 to see them. All the other exhibitions I've been to at the British Library have been free. They ran a good one on science fiction during the summer and that was free so I don't know what's going on.

If you get a chance the exhibition is running until March. If you don't you could always download the app for the exhibition. Yes they have apps. Now if only I had an iPad. Hmmm. Christmas is coming.

Writing Faster

2011-11-21T06:49:00.001-08:00

Here's great post from author Rachel Aaron explaining how she quintupled her daily word count.

How I went from writing 2,000 words a Day to 10,000 words a Day.

And another great post from prolific writer, Jay Ridler about increasing speed:

The Speed of Excellence. Part 1.

You can tell what's on my mind, can't you? Any tips from you writers out there? I want to write faster, but with the same, or even improved quality. I don't want much, do I?
An

Drabbley Goodness

2011-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Drabbler re-opens. Boy, I love drabbles. Stories of exactly 100 words (some count the title, others don't. The Drabbler doesn't). The theme is: Death Bed Confessions.

If accepted, you get a copy of The Drabbler and a dollar. Now, sadly, paid by PayPal. I used to love getting my American dollar through the post. It reminded me of the days when I worked in a fabric factory and we got paid in cash every week. Just imagine that-- cash. Oh dear, I'm showing my age.

Talking of drabbles, for you of a womanly persuasion, check out Luna Station Quarterly, who are accepting speculative drabble at the moment until the 15th.

'Ovoids' up at Nature. Also as a Podcast.

2011-11-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

My story 'Ovoids' is up at Nature's Futures, and there's also a podcast. This is a new initiative from Nature. I think the editor, Dr. Henry Gee, did a great job reading it. But, hey, I'm biased.

Nature's Futures takes 750-850 word flash science fiction stories. It's a SFWA accredited venue and they send you 90 squiddles. Guidelines are here. You may also like to check out the podcast when Dr. Gee talks about Futures. Interesting listening.

Writers' Forum

2011-11-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

I'm writing a novelette (or is it a novella I always get them two mixed up) for a competition on my writers' forum. Now normally I'd be complaining about that. How hard it is for me to write 20K. But seeing as how many of you are doing nanowrimo, and I know that a couple of you are writing 2 books in a month, I don't think I'll get away with it. So I shall just get on with it.

However, it has reminded me to talk about writers' forums. I belong to Codex, which is a group for speculative neo-pro's. To join, you need to have sold a story at professional level (SFWA accredited plus a few others) or to have attended an interview based workshop like Clairon or Odyssey.

It really is a fine group. The membership requirements means that we're all working at the same level. Sorry if you don't qualify-- yet. You can do it. Keep on subbing.

Codex holds competitions (groan) just for the glory, we chat about the craft, about the submissions opportunities, about the business of writing. There's also a fast critiquing facility.

What writers groups do you belong to? Any that you'd recommend?

Library of the Living Dead Antholgies Cancelled

2011-10-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sad news. It seems as if they're all cancelled, here's a further post from the Doc (bottom of page). except: "Zombidays", "Live and Let Undead" and "No More Heroes" were complete and have/will be released

Write1 Sub1

2011-10-27T03:50:00.000-07:00

Some of my new followers won't know that I've been doing the Write 1 Sub 1 challenge this year. It's a great idea. Write a short story or poem every week, sub something every week. (There's also an Ray Light for those who want to write a story every month.) Report your progress every week or so to like minded writers. It's an idea inspired by Ray Bradbury. If you succeed you get a wonderful blog award, like this:

I'll also share with you Jay Lake's post on psychotic persistence. This really struck a chord with me. Hey, I'm not saying it's the only way, but it works for me. Anyone inspired should check out the Write1 Sub1 blog. Nothing's been announced yet, but something as successful as this has just got to keep on going.

Are You feeling Lucky? A Few Competitions to Consider.

2011-10-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to P atsy Collins for most of the following competitions. Patsy's blog is a great place to find competition information.

Flash Fiction Chronicles are running a competition for micro stories up to 100 words with the theme 'An absence is a presence. Prize $25. Deadline Nov 4. *story subbed.

The Print Express Poetry Competition. Deadline Nov 30. Prize £150

Brighton Cow 500-1000 words, prompt: Autumn Leaves. Deadline Oct 31. Prize?

Glass Woman Prize Ghost Competition -- Women writers only. Prize $100. Deadline. Nov 18.

Horror writers check out the Coffin Hop, 24-31 October, a blog hop featuring competitions, including my own competition at Kelda Crich:

.

If you're looking to the Ahoy Sea Serpent, go here:

Sweet Poetry

2011-10-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Not before time, I've been working on my poetry today. I enjoy poetry a lot. I find it so much easier to get into the flow with it. I'm talking science fiction, fantasy and horror poetry. Boy, there are a lot of venues. A quick check on duotrope revealed 150 odd venues just for fantasy poetry. So there's a big demand for it. And I think I've mentioned before that I've had some success converting poems into prose, and made from nice sales from it. I also think poetry helps the way I write, enhancing my lyrical skills. I really should do more.

Anyhoo, here's where I've been subbing to today:

Trapeze. Tweet sized prose and poetry. No pay. Takes reprints.
7x20. Tweet sized prose and poetry. No pay. Takes reprints.
Scifaikuest. Speculative haikus and other short forms. $1-10. Hard copy version.
Stone Telling Reading for a SF issue until Nov 27. $5.
Phantasmacore. $1. Takes reprints.
Ideomancer. $6.

Phew, been writing and subbing for four hours now. I always talk about subbing a lot, but it can be quite time consuming. More tomorrow.

Any poets out there? I know there are a few. What are your favourite venues? How do you divide your time between poetry and prose?

How I Write . . . Pack Ratting My Unfinished Stories

2011-10-12T01:36:00.000-07:00

I don't like to throw things away. We've got two spare hamster cages in the shed-- just in case. In case of what I'm not quite sure.

I'm the same with my stories. Now, brace yourself, because what I'm about to say is scary. After three years of writing I've five hundred unfinished stories on my computer. Ahem. Probably about the same amount of stories I've actually completed and subbed. They range from a couple of hundred words to almost complete stories of thousands of words.

Not good, you might thing. But aha, something happened yesterday which completely justifies my hoarding. I was looking at the Mortis Operandi anthology from Harrow Press, an anthology call for investigation of crimes with a supernatural element. Hold on thinks I, I've got an unfinished story concerning a missing person with a supernatural element. I couldn't remember the title so I had to search through my files, while doing so I found another short story which I thought might make a good sub for the Nasty Snips II flash horror anthology from Pendragon Press.

I found the crime story, 2500 words. It's a gift from the shed. I polished the other story and submitted, and now I'm working on the Mortis Operandi story.

So, my pack ratting habits are totally justified. Now . . . to find a home for the other 498 stories.

I Rock

2011-10-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hey. I came second in the British Fantasy Society short story competition with my story, 'The Sea is in My Blood.' That is so cool. £50 prize money, publication and a year's free membership. And check out their cool logo.

How I Write . . . Riffing off the Greats

2011-10-04T04:08:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to announce a pro sale today, to Lovecraft E-zine. They pay $50 a story and my story was on the dot a thousand words, so I'm counting it. Talking of counting, that makes my thirteenth pro sale. This makes me happy.

And the sale has led to a new wheeze me. I take inspiration from the Cthulu Mythos quite a bit. My stories might be quite distinct from the mythos, but I hope to follow the tone. So, why not do the same for another of my favourites. Yes, Philip K. Dick. I've the volumes of his collected short stories. So I'm going to be having a little stab at following in his footsteps. I'm rather excited about this. What about you guys? Do you take inspiration from a particular author in this way?

In other news-- novels. Yep, too long for me. But I have come up with another plan of attack. Novellas and novelettes. I have a couple in my unfinished files, and hopefully I can get a least a couple finished this month. The idea is to gradually expand my span of control. It could work. Maybe. Gotta keep trying.

If You Love Something Let It Go ... Weird Tales and Apex

2011-09-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

A quick note to let my comrades in the short story trenches know. Under new ownership Weird Tales has released it's stories on submission. Under new editorship Apex has released/rejected the stories previously under Catherynne Valente's further consideration (current subs should be chugging through the system).

Go With the Flow: Is it Better If You're Loving It?

2011-09-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a tale of two stories so far this week. Both started with the same anthology in mind: Dark Tales of Lost Civilizations. The second story flowed, done and dusted in two days. I really enjoyed writing it. The first story, not so much. I was enamoured of the idea, I'd got some meaty characters, but I just couldn't get the story.

So that got me started thinking about flow. Some writers say that their best work is done when they're in the zone. Other writers say it doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the quality of their work.

Me? I'm on the fence again. I'm not sure. I've sold stories that were a dream to write, and stories that felt like I was pulling teeth. Obviously it's more fun writing stories that flow.

I'm wondering if I can use this to my advantage, somehow, someway. One doesn't want to get into the habit of abandoning stories left, right and centre, but . . . but what? Help me out here, folks.

Novel Abandonment

2011-09-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know how you novelists do it, I really don't. 30K into my current attempt and I realise I'm writing another science fiction quest novel. As if the only plot drivers I can come up with concern people going to fetch things, as if they were nipping to the shops. It's dead to me. I'm starting a new one. Sure I could probaly get it finished if I plodded on, but, meh.

Quest novels are great, but I don't want to write one. I want to write like Phillip K Dick. So I've searched out my old copy of 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' and I'm reading it in the hope of enlightenment. Boy, it's good. And only 180 pages long.

Mabye I ought to plan more, or something. Sigh.

The next day. . . .

Ah. This is a bit embarassing really. Today the novel doesn't seem too bad. Maybe there's more to be learnt soldiering on. What am I like?

I'm the Winner

2011-09-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

Of Liquid Imagination's David Farland Daily Kick Competition. Nice. That's $50 and publication for me.

My story, 'Eldritch Restoration' is a tale of the Fairy Apocalypse.

Do you subscribe to the David's Daily Kicks in the Pants? (in the left sidebar). They're free and they have lots of excellent advice from a highly successful fantasy author.

Let's Go Pollyanna

2011-09-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Writing's a tough old game and no mistake, and while I love a good moan, today I'm feeling good about my writing. Let's Pollyanna it up.

What do you love about writing? Have you got anything you want to share? Care to post a link to a story you've written? A good review? Have you finished a chapter of your novel? Got to grips with a particular tricky character? Sold a copy of your book on Amazon? Made a new writing friend? Learnt something new, today?

Let's celebrate. Writing is so cool. We're so lucky that we've got this opportunity to express ourselves.

C'mon all you Pollyannas.

Am I the Only Uneducated Writer on the Block?

2011-09-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I was following a discussion on my writers' forum about theme, and it struck me that I only had the vaguest idea of what they were talking about. Sure, I knew what a theme was-- an underlying message, right? But it had never occurred to me to think about it when writing my story, or apply it any meaningful way.

This I put down to my lack of formal education in writing. I'm sure there must have been a lecture about it on any good course. And it got me thinking, am I alone? I've never taken a class or a workshop about writing.

Of course formal education is not the only education. Point in case, I've picked up something about themes from my writers' forum, and I occasionally read a writing book. I have attended a writers' workshop but it was entirely peer crit based and included no formal teaching. Also I've read a lot of books, does that count?

So, what do you think peeps? Care to share your education credentials? What was the most valuable lessons you learnt? Would you recommend me taking some courses, somehow, someway?

Military Science Fiction and the Overcoat of Subgenre

2011-09-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

I read a great military science fiction story in Analog, the other day. What struck me was how character driven it was. All the science fictiony bits I thought I could pull off. (I often do this, if I read a story I like, I immediately wonder if I could have written it.)

So, I'm in the middle of a new military science fiction short story. In a moment of inspired originality, I've decided to take elements from one of the most famous battles of all time: Battle of Thermopylae, you know, The Battle of the 300.

It's coming along very nicely with 2000 of first draft finished in a couple of hours. Even though it's going to be character driven, it's still a lot more action based than I usually write. I've got a hive mind element in there, which is leading quite nicely to questions about authority and command. I'm finding the mechanics of action quite challenging. So it's good for me.

And because it's military science fiction I'm having to include conflict, something that doesn't always find an overt way into my stories.

It's interesting how the sub-genre shapes story. Even thought there's scope to play, I'm hoping to incorporate some possibly over the top lyrical stuff.

So, my kind readers. Do you stick to the same genre/sub genre? Do you find the conventions useful or restrictive? Any military science fiction writers out there? If so, I'd love it if you could post some links to resources or your stories.

Publication: Double Bubble

2011-09-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Two publications flopped through the letter box, this week. I love contributors' copies.

The first was Odyssey, the young person' science magazine for ages 9-14. Odyssey run a story each issue. I'm in the 'addicted issue with my story, 'Time Slipping'. I am so pleased with the artwork they commissioned for the story.

Guidelines are here. They have an unusual sub system, you send in as story précis and a couple of examples of your work, if you're successful they commission the complete story with an intention of buying. But I'm proof that you can get through the door this way. They snag all rights, but they do pay 25 cent a word.

The second publication was the Triangulation Anthology (eds Steve Ramey and James Lackey) with my story 'City of Bones'. The issue had the prompt, 'Last Contact' I'm very excited with my TOC buddies which include Robert J. Sawyer and Aaron Polson.

Hee, hee. For the UK Kindle version, I've got top billing. Check it out. How did that happen?

Ah, there's nothing finer than holding hard copy in your hot little hands.

Campaigners Looking for Kelda?

2011-08-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

It's confusing because I've got two blogs, and my icon leads here.

If you want to follow my horror/dark fantasy blog nip over to Kelda Crich.

You're welcome here of course which is my SF/nicer Fantasy blog.

Widgety-Woo

2011-08-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Got myself a brand new widget. This one is a cloud for my commentators. The more you comment, the bigger your name gets. There has got to be a science fiction story in there, somewhere. What fun. I love widgets don't you? What's your favourite widget. (Also, I like the word widget).

A reminder that Rachel Harrie's Campaign for Followers opens today. This is a great way of increasing your followers and meeting new peeps. I'm doing it for my Kelda blog.

Pump up the Volume (of short story submissions).

2011-08-14T02:16:00.000-07:00

Warning -- mileage will vary.
I'm publishing my horror and dark fantasy under my new pen name, but I was feeling slightly disappointed that I hadn't had many acceptances.

But then I thought, hold on, how many subs have I got out under that name. A quick check revealed that I'd got three subs out under Kelda.

Three? Three? That's compared to thirty under Deborah Walker where the acceptances come trickling in at a nice rate.

So, it's obvious that I need to up my subs for Kelda. This might not be your way, some writers sub only a few subs a year and get accepted. But for me I need volume. I knew this, but it's so easy to forget. So, if you're unhappy with your acceptance rate, it's worth asking, are you subbing enough?

I'm going to have a sub-fest today. If more stories need to be written, then that's the next job. What about you, gentle reader. Are you happy with the number of subs you've got out.

New Venue for Apocalyptic Fiction and Literary/Genre Poetry

2011-08-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

The After Ever After blog has evolved into an 'official unofficial semi-occasional magazine'.

They're looking for apocalyptic story reprints and poems (reprints and new; literary and speculative), pay is ten lovely American dollars. This is a very witty blog, that I humbly suggest you check out anyways.

Retelling the Fairy Tale

2011-08-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

Readers interested in the retelling and subverting of fairy tales maybe be interested in John P. Pazdziora scholarly article in Enchanted Conversation.

Pazdziora examines three online fairy tale venues: Enchanted Conversation, New Fairy Tales and Scherezade’s Bequest. I was very excited to find my story 'The First Queen's Maid' briefly cited in the article.

Writers may be interested in Kate Wolford comment:

"Those who wish to be published in EC should take note of his comments on this publication. He shares concerns that are my own."

Off to the Eternal City

2011-07-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Rome soon. So please don't think I'm ignoring you. Think of me in the Eternal City.

I really want to visit the catacombs. I hope it doesn't traumatise the children.

Book Club Snacks: Advice Needed

2011-07-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I'm hosting my book club tomorrow night. We read, 'Before I Go To Sleep.' I'm looking for suggestions for book club snacks. So far, I've got: vegetable crisps.

I don't mind a little cooking. Any advice gratefully received. Do you book club? If so, what do you like to eat while doing so?

Fledgling Novelist: Advise Me.

2011-07-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

I love the short form, short stories, tweets, poems, I could write them all day. And, yet, this week I'm attempting another novel. Why? I hear you ask. You've found something you love, just keep on doing it. Yes, but:

It's tough to make a living with short stories. Sad fact. Some way, far into the future, I'd like to make a living wage with this writing lark. I think that novels are the way to go.
And it's a mountain. I want to do it for the challenge. Perhaps I am a fine novelist, I just need to push through the barrier.

So, what I'm looking for is advice. What are the best sites for fledgling novelists? Have you gone through the transition from short to long? Do I just need to stop whining and go for it?

2011-07-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

My story, Marma Shells, of aliens, Africa and fractals appears in the current issue of On the Premises.

The current contest is open and the premise is:

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

"In some way, some kind of myth or legend needs to be important to the story. The judges won’t care whether the myth or legend is true. “Family legends,” like the time Cousin So-and-So did something memorable, are fine as long as the story is fiction. (In other words, as long as you’re making it up!)"

Prize money is $40-$180. Here are the contest rules (it's free to enter). I recommend this contest very highly. The editors were wonderful to work with. Here's some extra help for those of you considerting it, an interview wtih Tarl Rodger Kudrick at Six Question For . . . .

Also: reporting the sale of a poem to the Future Lovecraft anthology. I adore the Cthulho mythos.

Two, No, Three Acceptances to Report

2011-07-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Blimey, what a week. I'm in the Full Fathom Forty, the BFS 40th Anniversary Anthology, with my science fiction/lesbian/zombie/romance reprint, 'In the Age of Resurrection.' This is an anthology for past and current members of the British Fantasy Society. I am so looking forward to seeing the table of contents for that.

My space western 'Chit Win' has been picked up by Daily Science Fiction. The alien from that was inspired by my daughter's Littlest Pet Shop hamster (that's a tiny toy for you without kids).

And my first story as Kelda Crich has been published by Spinetinglers. In a related note, I visited Crich in Derbyshire yesterday. What a lovely village.

New Name for Debs

2011-06-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

I've decided to create a psuedonym to distinguish between my horror/dark fantasy, and my science fiction/nice fantasy.

What fun. I'm going to be writing as Kelda Crich for the dark stuff. There's a new blog, cunningly titled Kelda Crich.

We'll see what happens. I'm hoping that this will spur me on to re-focus on horror/dark fantasy, and make it easier for any potential fans to find my work. It could all end in tears.

'Remember Winter' poem published in Enchanted Conversation.

2011-06-26T09:51:00.000-07:00

My poem 'Remember Winter' has been published in Enchanted Conversation's Snow White issue, with this, rather lovely illustration. In fact the whole issue looks stunning, with a black/white/red colour scheme.

Enchanted Conversation's Cinderella issue opens 12 a.m. EST 27th June for prose and poetry.

Comets and Criminals -- A New Zine for Short Stories and Poetry

2011-06-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce that fellow writer Samuel Mae has opened a new semi-pro paying zine. Comets and Criminals is open for submissions of short stories and poetry in the genres of science fiction, adventure, historical, western, and crime and mystery. That's a really exciting genre mix.

Opening a zine is something that I've thought about from time to time. It's is a really exciting propsect, but, alas, I've never had the follow-through. So, kudos, Sam. I see that it's already up on duotrope, so I'm sure that the subs are going to start flooding in.

And, with a little luck, maybe he'll come onto this blog in a few months time, and give us some insights.

Nascence: 17 Stories That Failed and What They Taught Me

2011-06-18T23:44:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about 'story' all month. What makes a good story? Why do some of my stories sell and others don't? Why can't I judge what's good in my own stories?

Then, as in answer to my wordless pleas, I came across Nascence by Science Fiction/Fantasy author, Tobias Buckell..

What a genius idea. Buckell has published 17 of his trunked stories written over a decade. Each story has an introduction explaining why he believes the story failed.

If you find yourself reading the author's introductions to stories as carefully as the stories themselves; if you're a writer who thinks about that mysterious thing called story, do consider this book. Tobias Buckell is offering something unique: a real insight into the mind of an author. Lessons to be learnt. Nascence has really crystallised some ideas I've been having about 'story,' and given me some new insights.

Available on kindle for three dollars. (And if you don't have a kindle, did you know that you can download a free reader for your PC, that's what I did)?

This is the most helpful book I've read on the craft of short story writing for ages.

Reporting a Sale to Nature

2011-06-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've held off as long as I am able (I got this acceptance the same day I got my acceptance for On the Premises). I've had my fourth acceptance to Nature's Futures. Forgive me, whooo-hoo. This is a wonderful market. If you are of a SF nature, I beg you to check out their guidelines. I'm going to go to Nobu on the money.

How I write . . . One Million Words

2011-06-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

Warning -- Mileage will vary.

I know how you become a professional writer. It's no secret. Lots of writers talk about it. Here's a good article by Luc Reid about it. Write a million words of fiction, submit like crazy. Talent is largely irrelevant-- which always seems strange to me, but there you go.

I'm not quite sure what words to count, but I usually count submitted works and I'm about half-way there.

That's great isn't it. I can do that. I love it. I write and I sub, like crazy. It's fun.

Yes, just one million words of deliberate practice.

Oi. What's that? Deliberate practice?

I, ahem, don't do that. I don't have first readers, or crits. I don't take courses or go to conferences. I don't do nuthin'.

So, should I be doing it? I have a plan. I'll give it a week and report back. What about you guys? Do you make a conscious effort to improve your writing? Can you see the results? What do you do?

You might say: Well, Debs. You're always bragging. You're doing alright. And I am. And it's great. But I always want to do better.

Marma Shells Take Third Place at 'On the Premises'

2011-06-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hooray. My story of aliens, Africa and fractals won third place in the On the Premises competition. That means publication and prize money of $100.

On the Premises re-opens for sub with a new prompt on July 14th.

Virus Warning

2011-06-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Now you guys, I'm sure you're smarter than me. But if you do notice a big spike in your blogger stats, 50 hits a day from someone you follow, don't go and check them out. Otherwise -- kerplammy-- you'll might get virus fever just like me.

I've nicked Chris' computer to write this, and the lovely people at Dell are trying to sort me out, but I'm still a little feverish.

I don't know where the virus came from, I can't blame Blogger. But there's some funny business going on.

How I write . . . Market Targeting.

2011-06-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

Most of the time I'll write any poem that takes my fancy, but sometimes I'll do market targeting for a specific market. I'll take Asimov's as an example.

I market target by:

Reading poems previously published by the venue. I found a fine clutch of poems by Geoffrey A. Landis.

Searching for clues about the editors/slush editors preferences. I found an editorial that mentioned that humorous poems were well received.

Then writing my poem with whatever knowledge I've found, but not being too strict about it. If the poem slopes off in another direction, that's cool.

Negatives

I've no evidence that this works. I'll do a little stattage, for previously subbed poems, but my sample size is smallish and there are many variables.
It might be considered a cold way of going about things. As if I'm trying to rack up sales rather than follow my muse.
It's time consuming and it's not time spent writing.
I could be making false assumptions and limiting submissions.

Advantages

It's enjoyable and it feels constructive.
It supports a 'zine by reading it online, perhaps making the odd comment along the way.
I'm widening my reading, and thinking about successful poems in a meaningful way.

Now to the stattage, on 100 poems.

untargeted poems sold = 50%
targeted poems sold to intended market = 50%

targeted poems to any market = 70%

A couple of things to mention, these are sell figures, not acceptance rates, a poem might have been to many markets. My poetry sales are a lot higher than my short stories (mores the pity) It's not totally convincing, but it seems that a story written for a market is more likely to sell. I'm gratified they've come out the right way, confirming that market targeting does seem to have a beneficial effect because it seems as if it should.

So, I'll be very interested in hearing if anyone else does this.

Merry Month of May

2011-06-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a week in North Cornwall. What a lovely part of the world. I've been inspired. No doubt my next batch of stories will be set in the West Country. We had pasties in Jamaica Inn.

I particularly liked Bodmin Moor, visiting the Hurlers stone circles and the granite tor, the Cheesewring.

In writing news I had a merry month. I made two professional sales, a story to Odyssey and a poem to Enchanted Conversation. Enchanted Conversation opens for Cinderella submissions June 27-June 30.

I made sales to Eschatology and Sounds of the Night, and had a guest blog on Write1 Sub1. I finished Story a Day in May with a total of 36 thousand words (20K is subbed, 16K a bit first drafty).

I was also pleased to be invited to contribute a story to a new publication, The Colored Lens which is edited by my friend Dawn Lloyd.

Wow. I feel tired just writing all this down.

Edited-- Not May news, but exciting news. My Africa/fractals/aliens story has made it into the top ten for the March On the Premises contest. Keep your fingers crossed for me

No Comments

2011-05-25T22:05:00.000-07:00

Blogger isn't letting me comment under my name. I'm getting so frustrated, keeping typing comments only to be denied. And I feel bad about this, my friends. Unless you've got your anonymous option turned on, I can't comment on your blogs.

Brag post, Enchanted Conversation and Ladies and Gents of Horror

2011-05-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Got my contributor's copy of The Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror anthology this morning. It's always fun to get oversees mail. It good to see many of my writer friends in it, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

And I got my Snow White poem, 'Remember Winter' accepted by Enchanted Convesation. The next call is for Cinderella poems and stories, and it opens in a month. Get crackin'.

Issue Three: "Cinderella" theme, submission window opens at 12 a.m., EST, June 27, and closes at 11:59 p.m., June 30.

Submission Frenzy

2011-05-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

I set myelf a challenge today, to submit ten stories. I've got plenty hanging about, and there's also reprints to think about.
I rather enjoy subbing, searching duotrope, reading online stories, maybe making a few edits to my stories. After around two hours, I'd managed five. They take longer than you think.

Where Are We Going speculative themed antholgy closes 31/5
Murky Depths -- dark speculative fiction
Untied Shoelaces of the Mind Anthology -- accepts reprints and multiple subs
2nd sub to Untied Shoelaces
Space Squid accepts reprints if they're awesome

I'm a bit bored of subbing now. But I'll try and do a few more later. Do you ever set yourself mini-challenges like this?

Here we go, a few more:

Dunsteef Audio Fiction Magazine take reprints
LingerFiction
Cosmass Infinites an audio venue that takes reprints
Spinetinglers -- just one more to go.
Aofie's Kiss

This is doing wonders for my race-score. You know about race-score, right? It's a way of scoring the number of subs you've got out. Here's an article I wrote about it for Flash Fiction Chronicles.

6pm, and I've got my second wind. Ten subs in a day is great, but fifteen would be even funnier. I should be packing, but packing's boring and subbing is fun-- onwards:

Eschatology Story Acceptance

2011-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Reporting a five hour acceptance from Eschatology. Fans of Lovecraftin and apocalyptic fiction should check it out (Yes, you in the back, with the long hair, don't be shy).

I love old school weird. My story was a rather strange envisioning of the End of Days, featuring monstrous zeppelin queens, tentacles and disturbed realities.

Next stop: Weird Tales

How I Write . . . Rejectomancy

2011-05-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

In response to your short story submission, you'll get an acceptance, a re-write request or a rejection. A rejection can either be a form rejection or a personal rejection.

Rejectomancy is the dark art of studying your rejections and trying to decipher their hidden meaning. Some say that it's pointless, but I think you've got to get your fun where you can, especially in this game.
I've been inspired by Sam, who's been posting some interesting stattage, to look at my own figures.

For the last 50 submissions to professional short story markets (all of them Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror) I've had 1 acceptance (tough old business, isn't it)? and 8 personal rejections. That's quite encouraging, I hadn't realised I'd had so many.

Form Rejections

This is a standard response that can be sent out to everyone. You've got to be careful. Some form rejections appear personal, they might say things like: I enjoyed reading your story or this is a good story, try it on another market.

The only real way to tell is when you've had more than one response from a market, or if they say something specific that wouldn't be applicable to everyone.

Not All Form Rejections are Equal.

This is fun and something that I didn't realise for a long time. Many of the markets have more than one form, so you'll get a basic not right for us letter, then if your story merits it a more encouraging letters saying something nice. They're still forms, but they can appear personal.

Different Types of Personal Rejections

I know writers who generate detailed, encouraging personal rejections from editors. Mine tend to be the close but no cigar types,

What does it all mean? I've no idea. I feel encouraged that I've had more than I thought. How's your rejectomancy, readers? Do you indulge, or do you think that it's a fool's game? Any good tips?

Interview with Luc Reid -- and Free Flash

2011-05-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm interviewing Luc Reid.

Luc Reid's been published in some mighty fine venues (Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Abyss & Apex to name a few). He's a Writers of the Future's winner, author of 'Talk the Talk: The Slang of 65 American Subcultures', a founding member of The Daily Cabal where he's published over a hundred flash stories, a former radio commentator, and a columnist for Futurismic . His blog, LucReid.com features posts on writing, and reports on motivation and habits drawing on recent psychological and neurological research

Luc's wonderful flash fiction collection: Bam! 172 Hellaciously Quick Stories, features Cinderella's divorce, inventions gone wrong, the Robot Insurrection, thinking teddy bears, colliding universes, lightbulb theft, love in hotel corridors, and more.

Luc has selected 16 apocalyptic stories from BAM! and is making them available in a free eBook: 17 Stories About the End of the World.

djw: What’s the best piece of writer’s advice you’ve ever heard?

LR: You know, I think it would be something I didn't even learn in relation to writing: it's the theme of the book Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin, and it boils down to the importance of deliberate practice, that the way anyone gets really good at practically anything, writing included, is to do a lot of it in a way that constantly requires stretching yourself and trying things that are difficult, and to get clear feedback on how well you're doing as you go. This wraps up the importance of writing a lot with the importance of sending out your work and of pushing yourself to learn about writing, and it includes a built-in confidence boost: there is no question of whether you have the talent for writing or not. The only question is whether you've pushed yourself to the point where you're doing really good work.

While I mention Colvin's book, I got most of this advice in one form or another long before I read it, when I attended Orson Scott Card's first Literary Boot Camp in 2001.

djw: What’s your favourite movie?

lr: My priorities and preferences are so many and interwoven that I have trouble selecting single favorite things, so I'll take advantage of the fact that you're not here in person to stop me and name several favorites. I love the complex interplay and development of characters in American Beauty; the dark entertainment of Brick; the beauty in motion of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; the humor, pain and reassurance of The Princess Bride and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; the character-driven action of Serenity; and others. Oh, but I do have a favorite screenwriter: William Goldman, who wrote two of my favorites and much else worth admiring.

djw: What’s the best short story you’ve ever written, and where can we read it?

lr: There's that favorite thing again, but I'll choke back my natural urge to answer with a dozen titles and instead recommend "In the Elevator with Albert Einstein," the very last story in Bam! It's also available for free in 17 Stories About the End of the World, or you can read it online in its original form at Daily Cabal.

djw - my favouirte is Secret Runner.

djw: What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

lw: I was a dishwasher at an upscale restaurant in Burlington, Vermont during my first summer home from college, when I was 17. In addition to scrubbing pots, pans, and plates, I had jobs like hauling nauseatingly odorous garbage out to the dumpster and cleaning live maggots out of mop heads by dousing them with bleach. One of the chefs enjoyed making me the butt of jokes, like the time he tricked me into eating a jalapeno pepper. Another chef, who was about 30 years my senior, seemed to be lecherously interested in me. One day the job got to me so much that I faked illness and left early--not a particularly upstanding thing to do, I admit. On the way home I saw the cheap theater was showing Out of Africa and went in to see it: utter bliss. When I watched the movie again years later, I was astonished at how boring it was. Any port in a storm, I guess.

djw: Whose blog should we be following?

lr: Depending on your interests, some great bets are Nathan Bransford, Maya Lassiter, How to Kill Your Imaginary Friends (medical info for writers and other fun stuff), Futurismic (sort of an online magazine as well as a blog), and XKCD, which isn't a blog, but is arguably better than one in that it's geeky, heartfelt, clever comics updated three times a week. And while I can't recommend my own blog, as that would be a conflict of interest, I would certainly urge readers to give it a whirl.

djw: What’s the best meal you ever ate?

lr: Hey, I think I may actually have a favorite in this category! It was dinner at a Mexican-Caribbean restaurant called Marsala Salsa, which is in Waterbury, Vermont, and it was in late January 2010. I think I may have had the Grilled Island Shrimp, but I couldn't say for certain.The food was very good, but the thing that made the meal epic for me was that it was a first date which in a sense has never really ended--although it certainly gets interrupted on a regular basis--in the 15 months since. I'm all for delicious food, but the company is what really makes a meal for me.

djw: How can I write great flash stories?

lr: That's the same question I keep asking myself. I'll offer some of the answers that have been useful to me in hopes that one or more will be useful to you:

- Only write stories that are fascinating to you
- Find just one action or shifting point to build the story around (though this doesn't apply in every single case)
- Try breaking some rules: you can get away with a lot at very short lengths that would be irritating at short story or novel size
- Write a lot
- Find a way to get people's feedback: outside perspective is hugely valuable

djw: What are your favourite markets for flash?

lr: I'm terrible about sending my flash out these days; the amount of time it takes to submit a story and keep it in circulation, even though it's not huge, cuts into my very limited writing time. Thanks for the reminder! But I don't have a well-informed answer to this question.

djw: Where are you going on holiday this year?

lr: Montreal. It's 90 minutes away (not counting extra time at the border, which sometimes happens), is in a different country, is full of French-speakers, has great food, and offers an indoor zoo.

djw: Do you have any odd writing habits (I used to have a lucky hat; but I lost it).

lr:That sounds very unfortunate. Were you wearing the hat when you lost it? I'm guessing not.

My one odd writing habit that I can think of is that I often come up with writing ideas while driving, so I'll take the notebook I keep in the map pocket of my driver's side door, put it down on the arm rest between the front seats, and try to scrawl down my thoughts, never glancing at the page for more than a fraction of a second to try to keep the writing from overlapping. It's not something I would recommend and would probably be looked upon with disapproval or outright censure by the Vermont State Police, but I never get around to transcribing recordings, and it's impossible for me not to come up with detailed writing ideas in the car.

djw: I'm not very motivated at the moment, can you help me?

lr: Very likely, yes: read "Don’t Feel Motivated? 10 Ways to Find Motivation Right Now." If you don't have time for that, the quickest and easiest way to get motivated that I can suggest is to go out walking, ideally somewhere where there are plants and running water, and try to answer this question: What's the single most exciting thing about what I want to be doing?

For a greater understanding of writing motivation, try The Writing Engine: A Practical Guide to Writing Motivation, available free on my blog, or for 99 cents at the Kindle store.

Thanks again for the opportunity to do this interview!

djw: Luc, the pleasure has been all mine.

A Story a Day in May

2011-04-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

I've gone and done it. Thanks to Elizabeth, I've signed up to A Story a Day in May. I've been enjoying Write1 Sub 1 so much, that I thought I'd go to the extreme.

A Story a Day in May, well it does what it says on the tin. A story: you decide how long every day. I've had a little practice today. Ah, these self-imposed challenge, the funny thing is they seem to work. I felt, anxious today, I had a real sense of needing to get thing written. I managed a flash (1000 words almost complete, and 2000 words towards tomorrow's story).

This is fun.

Numbers, numbers (and a bit of bragging).

2011-04-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

I'm looking to write a story for the current competition of On the Premises. They take all types of short fiction and their current prompt is:

NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS

In some way, numbers must be important to the story for this contest. Either specific numbers, or the concept of numbers, or maybe just one number.
Deadline: 11:59 PM Eastern Time, Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

I've come up with an interesting aliens/Africa/fractals idea.

Good news to report with a haibun being accepted by one of my favourite magazines Hungur. Hungur focuses on vampires, and has a special interest in alien and non-western vampires. Haibuns are a mixture of prose poetry and haikus. They're a form that I'm particlary fond of. See Shelly Bryant's haibuns in Contemporary Haibun Online.

One of my tweets has been accepted by the 7x20 anthology. I've just completed a week there, and they're back open for submission. Highly recommended.

In the Mood for Horror

2011-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've got a yearning to write some horror short stories or poetry. I'm fond of horror, but don't write as much as I could. What's your favourite horror venues? I'm looking for inspiration.

That's got me thinking. What's the history of horror literature? Dante's The Divine Comedy? That's 14th century. What came before that?

Chiaroscuro Accepts Trash Cat Poem

2011-04-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Chizine.com have accepted my poem 'Trash Cat.' I'm so pleased, Chizine is a wonderful venue for dark poetry.

Chizine publication are running an interesting competition (to promote Derryl Murphy's new novel Napier's Bones) calling for stories or fictional invention/concepts. The seventeenth century John Napier was a mathematician, and had interests in alchemy, necromancy and the Book of Revelation. It would be so interesting to write a story focussing on maths.

Thanks to Anne-Mhairi for details of another competition, write a fantasy short-story for a chance to win an Apple-ipad.

oooh, and a tweet up at @CuentoMag.
oooh, and another.

Market Watch: Sword and Sorceress

2011-04-08T04:06:00.000-07:00

The Sword and Sorceress anthology will be opening on 16th April. This is one of my dream markets and I'm working hard on story, 'The Bones of Gryphon Lost.' The site also has some useful advice for aspiring authors: What is a Short Story?" and "Why Did my Story Get Rejected?"

I have a micro-fiction up at Postcard Shorts: Grandmother's Cottage. Amazingly this was published within twenty-four hours of submitting.

The Drabbler is open. Hoorah. Drabbles are exactly 100 words (excluding the title in the case of The Drabbler). This issue's theme is 'climate change.'

So many markets, so little time.

Labour of the Month: March

2011-03-31T00:42:00.000-07:00

In medieval art, (illuminated manuscripts, ecclesial sculpture and stained glass), the cycle of the year was represented by the signs of the zodiac, or the labours of the months.

The Labours of the Months show ordinary people at work and play. The image is a sculpture from Chartres Cathedral showing Vine Trimming, a March activity.

This month I hit 26K of prose, subbed quite a bit. I had the following acceptances for poems and tweets, (no story sales this months):

Illumen: 1 poem
Cuento: 2 tweets
Trapeze: 2 tweets
Scifaikuest: 3 kus

How was your labour this month?

How I Write . . . With the Speed of a Snail

2011-03-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

Last week and twenty hours into my 4K story, I read this post by Dean Wesley Smith's. Five hours for a 3 thousand word story? How wonderful, I thought. I'll have some of that.

(Twenty hours? Well, the story is set in the asteroid belt, and I've somehow accumulated 30K of notes on asteroids, plus I needed to research how to have a fight in zero-gravity, plus there is a space-plague aspect that needs research, and so on and so forth.)

A quick check with my writers' group, revealed a big spectrum with me at the slow end of it. So I thought I'd try an experiment: the five hour story, from start to finish including research.

1st story: 'White Hole Colony.' Fail. Literary SF. Needs too much research into the physics of time, time-slips and reality.

2nd story -- 'Dead Letter Girl.' Fantasy. Fail. Load of old nonsense.

3rd story -- 'Broken Messenger of the Gods.' Success and subbed, but only because I cheated and used an unfinished story.

4th story -- Fail. Oh my. I'm not kidding guys, I have rustled up the most wonderful outline for a SF short. I've even got the perfect ending. I'm almost afraid to write it for fear of spoiling it. It won't be done in five hours, though.

So what have I learnt? Well, that a five hour story is too optimistic for me. I'm still slow, that's okay. SF is going to take me longer than fantasy because I like to do a lot of research.

I've learnt that its worth splitting my time into slots, to cut down on my wasted time, and to be more aware of where the time goes.

I've also found lots of interesting pictures of knights fighting snails. Could be the basis of a new story.

Now, I need to go back and finish up those stories.

What about you, readers? Are you happy with your speed? Is it something that you think about? Have you ever tried to speed up or slow down? And has it helped?

Ten Quick Questions and Answers With Lawrence M. Schoen

2011-03-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

Today I'm interviewing Lawrence M. Schoen. Lawrence is a Hugo nominated author, small press publisher and editor, founder and director of the Klingon Language Institute, and Chief Compliance Officer at a medical centre providing mental health and addiction treatment services in one of the largest cities in America.

Lawrence’s second novel, BUFFALITO CONTINGENCY will published by Hadley Rille Books and launched on March 19th at Lunacon where Lawrence is this year's guest of honour.

1. What’s the best piece of writer’s advice you’ve ever heard?

Write More. Suck Less.

Also up there, and a bit easier to implement: Ass In Chair.

2. What’s your star sign?

Depends on what system you're using.

My zodiacal sun sign is Leo.

My i-ching star sign is 5 or Tai Chi.

3. What star sign should you be?

Honestly, I've never given it any thought. Maybe you can suggest one after I've answered your other questions.

4. What’s the best short story you’ve ever written, and where can we read it?

I'm not a big fan of superlatives like "best" or "worst" because I don't think the human mind is meant for such narrow thinking.

But you want an answer, so I'll say that I'm very, very proud of a short story that came out in January of 2010 entitled "The Wrestler and the Spearfisher." It's one of my rare ventures into Fantasy. And, since it's eligible for a Hugo, I'll happily email a PDF of it it to anyone who asks for a copy.

5. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Hmm. I'll have to say the time I spent working graveyard shift in a warehouse in Compton, CA filling palettes with cases of plastic household nonsense that you see in stores having Dollar Day events. My brother got me the job right after I'd dropped out of college, and it made me realize that I needed to get back to school, which I did, sticking around until I had my doctorate.

6. What’s the elevator pitch for your new novel?

Stage Hypnotist the Amazing Conroy is blackmailed into using his pet buffalito to smuggle liquid gravity from an alien crime boss whose grandson dies in the middle of his act, leaving Conroy to deal with his hypnotized ghost.

7. Didn't I see you in Lightspeed?

Yes, but not for my fiction. I had the great pleasure of writing a short piece of nonfiction about alien language to accompany an Ursula K. Le Guin story.

djw -- here's the link to the article.

8. Whose blog should we be following?

Jay Lake's. He's all over the map, indefatigable even when he's exhausted, poignant, insightful, amusing, and instructive. And I'm not saying that just because we're both members of the guild of Bearded, Once-Divorced, Middle-Aged, Writer Guys of Unusual Size.

djw-- and a link to Jay Lake's blog

9. What’s the best meal you ever ate?

Impossible to say. I'm married to a former chef, and I write first person POV about a protagonist who's a self-proclaimed foodie. My wife and I are constantly on the prowl for new culinary experiences (and I get to insist it's all research for the next book).

10. How can we get our stories published by your small press, Paper Golem?

Write brilliant novellas (20-40K length). I'm always reading for the ALEMBICAL series. I hope to continue publishing it for years to come. One of the novellas from the last volume is currently up for Nebula Award. Yours could be next!

Thank you so much, Lawrence. Readers, find out more about Lawrence on his blog.

It's a Lovely Potato. Pass it on.

2011-03-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

Whoever thought up the blog award thing is a genius. Heather from Pen, Paper, Lots of Coffee has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award! I truly appreciate it. In order to accept the award, I must do a few things:

1.) Accept your award and post it on your blog along with a link to the person who has sent it to you.

2.) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered.

3.)You must contact the person to let them know that you have chosen them to receive the award.

Here is my list of 15 newly discovered blogs. I've tried to find people who haven't already had it:

Sam Mae's The Engine Room
Lynda R Young's W.I.P IT
Alberta Ross' alberta's sefuty chronicles
Milo James Fowler's in media res
Michael Offutt's SLC Kismet
Louise Charles' Writer in Progress
Sylvia's I am, I create
jys' A Writerly Pensheep
Roguemutt's Every Other Writer Has a Blog . . .Why Can't I?
J.L. Campbell's The Character Depot
Elizabeth Twist's Elizabeth Twist: Writer, Plague Enthusiast
Diana's My Life in Writing
Anne-Mhairi Simpson's Anne-Mahairi Simpson
Dominic de Mattos' Writes of Passage
Rusty Webb's The Blutonian Death Egg

'Green Future' up at Nature

2011-03-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

My science fiction story, 'Green Future' is up at Nature's Futures. This is also set in London. I tend to go to future London quite a lot. And features one of my favourite painting Velazquez's Venus. Nature's Futures is a great venue for flash and it publishes all types of science fiction. 'Green Future' like my other Nature sales is a character-led story.

I am happy. I do have some non-bragging content coming up next week. An interview with a Hugo-nominated author, publisher and Klingon guy.

Bio-documentarian up at Cosmos, Perseus up at Mirror Dance

2011-03-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day. Scarcely two week after acceptance, my science fiction story 'The Bio-documentarian of the British Library' was published by Cosmos Online, and my poem 'Perseus' was published at Mirror Dance, one of my favourite fantasy 'zines.

February Fahrenheit

I'm doing the Write1Sub1 challenge, write a story every week, and sub something every week (there's also a monthly version). This prestigious award, shows that I managed the February Challenge.

The challenge is still open to writers, come and join us. It's a lot of fun.

How I Write. . . Targets

2011-02-26T11:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't been doing my targets this month, and my word count has slipped. It's strange that the act of posting my targets motivates me into getting things done, but I better get back to it.

I have a few main targets. They tend to change a little from month to month depending on my mood.

Submissions-- four subs to the pro press every week (can be an old story).
Wordcount -- 5K of finished fiction/poetry per week. (counting only work that is ready to submit).
Write1Sub1 -- write a new piece every week, sub every week.

These targets are useful because they are within my control. A target like 'get one acceptance from Fantasy and Science Fiction' is not helpful, because it's something that I can't control. This is my usual target outline:

Week 1 eg. subs 4 word count 8K new poems 2 poems subbed 1

Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Runnig Total
Monthly Target

I just fill in the blanks as I go along. The weekly target seems to work for me. A monthly target is too vague, and a daily target is too subject to the vagaries of life.

Here's an example of how it works for me. When I totted up my monthly word count, I found it came to 5K, which is quite low for me (did a lot of poetry in the first two weeks). Now to meet my targets, instead of working on my shiny new work in progress (a steampunk story at a very early stage), I'll work on an almost finished 15K story from from last month. Sticking to the targets I've set out, really puts me on track.

What about you? Do you find writing targets useful?

Interviewed at Trapeze Magazine

2011-02-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

Jessica Otto interviews me about micro-poetry at Trapeze Magazine. I love micro-poetry. Jessica has also said some interesting things about the form herself when interviewed by Simon Kewin at Write1 Sub1 recently.

Two of my twitter poems recently published by Trapeze: Wire to Flesh and Bird Flying

100 Followers Giveaway from CherylAnne

2011-02-22T01:21:00.000-08:00

My new crusader friend is having a 100 followers giveaway with two $10 Amazon vouchers up for grabs. Congratulations on reaching 100 followers, CherylAnne.

Analog to Accept Electronic Submission

2011-02-17T04:09:00.000-08:00

The exciting news from SFScope : Analog will start accepting electronic submissions from 22nd Febuary.

Pleased to meet you

2011-02-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

This is a great idea I saw on Lynette's blog. Would you care to introduce yourself via my probing quesitons? Followers and popper-inners are welcome.

1. What's the best thing you ever wrote? Where can we read it?

2. What's the best piece of writing advice you heard? Did you take it?

3. What are dream publications/or publisher (for you novel writers)?

Crusade for Writing Friends

2011-02-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

I've joined Rachel Harrie's crusade to join up with bloggers interested in writing. What a fantastic idea. I'm always looking to make new friends (so very lonely).

February News

2011-02-04T06:34:00.000-08:00

My poem 'Queen of the Claw' is up at Sorcerous Signals with some great artwork by Lee Kuraganti.

A story 'The Biodocumentarian of the British Library' (I shouldn't say it, but I love that title) accepted by Cosmos for their website.

Three poems (two scifaikus and a threesome), 'Megalithic Winter', 'Schools Out', and 'Human Day' accepted by Scifaikuest.
Scifaikuest is a print and an online journal dedicated to minimal spec poetry. There's nothing quite like it.

'Sky Bones' poem accepted by Witches and Pagans Magazine.

'Fembot's Quantum Love' accepted by Bull Spec -- a science fiction poem, quite rare for me. I tend to write more fantasy poetry.

Black Gate New Venue for Fantasy Poetry

2011-02-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

Black Gate opens for edgy fantasy poetry with Bud Webster as the new poetry editor. Sub details on the SFPA website which I think is open to all.

Weird Tweets

2011-02-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

I think Weird Tales are going to be inviting subs for tweets. This is going to be fun.

Weird Tweets

Filed Jan 31, 2011 by Paula Guran in Editor's Desk, News • Swap text color

Don’t forget to sign up for our Weird Tweets! We’ll soon have some news about how *you* can contribute tweet fiction…http://twitter.com/#!/weirdtales

Interview with Author and Editor Rick Novy

2011-01-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Rick Novy lives in the Sonoran Desert city of Scottsdale, Arizona. His education is technical, holding degrees in physics, mathematics, and engineering. Through his career, he has flown satellites, helped develop surgical implants, and worked with various integrated circuits and senors. He has also taught in the mathematics department at the local community college.

His very first acceptance was to Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show. Since then his fiction has appeared nearly three dozen times in both online and print venues. Rick is the editor of 2020 Visions where sixteen writers look forward a mere decade and present stunning scenerios, reveal exciting possibilities, and warn against harrowing pitfalls that may lie just a few steps ahead of us. What will life be like ten years from now?

Rick's website contains a host of information about writing, fish and e-publishing -- do give it a read if you get a chance.

Rick, what do you love about writing and editing?

Writing is the act of creating. I love the freedom it allows. It's the only area in life where I get to play entirely by my own rules and can create the kind of stories I would like to read but aren't out there.

Editing is a different animal. I enjoy editing, but not in large doses, and I certainly wouldn't want to do it all the time the way somebody like John Joseph Adams does. But the act of reading and selecting other people's stories is enjoyable, even if sending rejections isn't so fun. Finding that one really great story in the pile is worthwhile.

What's the best peice of writing advice you ever heard? Did you follow it?
Trying to pick out a single piece of writing advice that is the best is something like going to the beach and asking which wave is my favorite. It's a fluid question and the best advice is always relative to what I happen to be doing at the moment, and what I'm struggling with at that time.

I have had a lot of sage advice from some very good writers (Orson Scott Card, David Gerrold, Michael A. Stackpole to name three). All had excellent advice that I use, and all had some things that work for them but not for me.

If I absolutely have to pick something, I'll say Heinlein's first rule--A writer must write. And I don't always follow it, no, because I am also very influenced by Newton's first law (an object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest stays at rest). So I am a streaky writer and I'm struggling to be more consistent.

How important is it for a writer to have a blog/website?

For an established pro who was established before Al Gore invented the internet, not so much. For anyone still ascending in their career, it's very important and becoming more important all the time.

Connecting with a generation that lives and breathes with electronic devices is essential to building a lasting career in today's world. If the information is out there, people will find it. If you can drive traffic to your site, that's even better because it's about exposure. With electronic publishing finally gaining significant marketshare, you have to be online, and at least some of your work must be available in electronic form.

I wrote a series of 8 essays on my blog discussing electronic publishing. Here is a link to the 8th, it has embedded links to the other 7 essays.

Writing or editing, what's going to be in your future (maybe a bit of both)?

Editing is something that I will occasionally do when I get an idea that's too good not to use for an anthology, but writing is where I plan to focus my literary efforts. I have a lot of novels swimming around inside my head and they need to get into a form people can read. I also have some non-fiction aspirations.

Thank you, Rick.

Thank you.

Find Rick's work through the links below:

2020 Visions - M-Brane Press - 16 stories of the near future.
eBooks for the 21st-Century Author - Entropy-Central.net - free PDF book available from Rick's website.
Ergosphere - M-Brane Press - trade paperback version of M-Brane SF issue #12 which Rick guest-edited.

Winter - Sam's Dot Publishing - Novelette "Winter" paired with short story "The Adjoa Gambit."
(No direct link, you will have to search for Rick's name)

Last Contact

2011-01-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

First story acceptance of the year. My story, 'City of Bones', a story of avatars and reality, has been accepted by the good folks at the Triangulation Anthology Series. This year's prompt is 'Last Contact." This story started life as a poem and just grew and grew. Some of my best sales have come from poems/story conversions. I wonder what it all means.

Special thanks to editor and writer Stephen Ramey who made some great suggestions for this story.

7x20

2011-01-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Four reprint tweets accepted by 7x20 today. With the one that Joanne already had, that adds up to a week of deboree goodness in April.

Fantasy on the Web

2011-01-15T10:59:00.000-08:00

Enchanted Conversation is a magazine devoted to the re-imagining of the fairy tale. Each issue takes a fairy tale as its theme and invites submissions from writers and poets.

My works can be found in the Sleeping Beauty and the Little Mermaid issues:

Awake to Fate-- poem

First Queen's Maid -- story

Eyes as Blue as Cornflowers -- story

Enchanted Conversation has a new website for 2011 with new pay rates (10c per word and $50 for poems) and is open to submissions for the Rumpelstiltskin issue 21st to 24th Feb.

This is a great site for readers and writers.

January News

2011-01-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

'Space Ninjas' poem accepted by Star*Line
The Bottom Feeders and Other Stories by Aaron Polson -- reviewed at Skull Salad Reviews
Re-write request from an established anthology -- can't say which, don't want to jinx it.

Bam! reviewed on Skull Salad Reviews

2011-01-02T02:24:00.000-08:00

Skull Salad Reviews is a word of mouth sight for the digital age, reviewing the small press. I have just posted my review of the fabulous collection by Luc Reid:

Bam! 172 Hellaciously Quick Stories

by Luc Reid

Bam, indeed. This is a collection of 172 fantasy and science fiction, flash stories. That's right -- 172. Each of them short enough to read in a few minutes, each of them rich, well crafted, meaningful. Dark chocolate stories that deserved to be savoured.

Luc Reid is a winner of the Writers of the Future award, and it shows. Most of these stories have been previously published in venues such as Abyss and Apex, Brain Harvest and The Daily Cabal. Reid has compiled this collection, added some interesting commentary and published them at the bargain price of $2.99.

I have a taste for flash, and with the explosion of e-publishing, it could be that flash is going to take off in a big way. You could read these stories to slip a little strangeness into your life, standing in line at the check-out, on the bus, waiting in the doctor's surgery.

There are two things I like in my flash. I love spec fiction, I love ideas. Bam has idea after idea, expressed succinctly. Glimpses into worlds, very much like own, but skewed in some interesting and wonderful way. I also like my flash to have an emotional resonance. I particularly like the three linked 'Outcasts on Earth' stories, written through the eyes of alien perception. Many of Reid's stories are moving, many of them are funny. There are too many stories to mention all my favorites. I enjoyed the Parthenia Rook series, a tongue-in-cheek pulp style science-fiction adventure series. Ever wondered what happened, after the 'happily ever after' -- read the Cinderella series.

Reid has published the collection in a number of formats. If you have a kindle you can sample or buy on Amazon. If you're like me, a person who is always trailing behind the latest trends, you can read the collection on your computer in pdf or html format. On Smashwords you can read a generous 20% sample of the book for free. I highly recommend this collection. Dark chocolate flash stories which deserve to be savoured, or, if you're greedy like me, you can gobble them all down at once.

2010 Review

2010-12-29T01:21:00.000-08:00

Time to report what I did last year. A good year, I think.

Wrote a quarter of a million words of fiction and poetry. Wrote the first draft of a novel.
Made 85 sales, 35 short stories and 40 poems, Here are a few selected reads:

'Aunty Merkel' in Nature's Futures 2010
'Ezra's Prophecy' in Daily Science Fiction 2010
'The Frozen Hive of her Mind' in Nature's Futures 2010
'Looking Good' in Cosmos 33 2010

Wrote some non-ficition and interviews.

Joined BFS, and SFWA as an acitve member

Attended Milford, the residential writers' workshop in Wales.

Became an indie publisher by self-publishing two short stories and one collection on Smashwords.

In 2011, I going to continue e-publishing for a few months. I'm going to set a three month goal to get my e-race score, as outlined by Dean Wesley Smith to 15.

6 short stories/collection at 99 cents ---------6 points
free short stories ------------------------------------0 points
3 collections of reprint poetry at $2.99 --------9 points

At the moment I'm using previously published words, to which I own the reprint rights. The big question is: should I start publishing originals works, and lose the first publishing right and saleability of the story?

Welcome

2010-11-21T03:14:00.000-08:00