Well, after a long year and many nights spent in front of the computer searching for markets to send stories, I am pleased to announce the first story which has hit the public market.
Detroit Ex Nihilo is now available for your reading pleasure at AE: The Canadian Science Fiction Review.
Please visit the link below to view the story on their website.
Thank you and enjoy.
http://aescifi.ca/
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Submission Guidelines: What To Do
Over the past year, I have discovered a few things about submitting stories and the guidelines they post on their website and, sometimes, in their rejections. Here's a few tell-tale signs to keep in mind.
1. Beware the "Buy our magainze to find out what we like." You should be able to tell from one reading what they like. Don't think because they have a pirate issue they want to see pirate stories. Normally, this means they seen a lot they like, but are tired of them.
2. So, what are we supposed to gleen from what they like? Well, ask yourself questions about the structure of the story. Namely, what is the character doing? Are they growing? Is this something where they are coming to some sort of realization? And so forth. The more you learn about the structures of selling stories, the more you can learn about what they want to see in a story.
3. If a market says "dark fantasy," unless you know what that means, submit anything "Dark" and anything "Fantasy." Some publishers may have different areas for Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Others may have a lighter publication they can refer you to if they like it enough. Or, they can like it enough to buy it.
4. Submit Everywhere. Yes, I know, it sounds strange, but trust me, submit everywhere. Sometimes, you are the worst judge of your own work. You may think you have something for Market A when Market B is interested.
1. Beware the "Buy our magainze to find out what we like." You should be able to tell from one reading what they like. Don't think because they have a pirate issue they want to see pirate stories. Normally, this means they seen a lot they like, but are tired of them.
2. So, what are we supposed to gleen from what they like? Well, ask yourself questions about the structure of the story. Namely, what is the character doing? Are they growing? Is this something where they are coming to some sort of realization? And so forth. The more you learn about the structures of selling stories, the more you can learn about what they want to see in a story.
3. If a market says "dark fantasy," unless you know what that means, submit anything "Dark" and anything "Fantasy." Some publishers may have different areas for Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Others may have a lighter publication they can refer you to if they like it enough. Or, they can like it enough to buy it.
4. Submit Everywhere. Yes, I know, it sounds strange, but trust me, submit everywhere. Sometimes, you are the worst judge of your own work. You may think you have something for Market A when Market B is interested.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Things I Learned from Writing for One Year
As an active member of the Writers of the Future Forums, newcoming writers are always flooding in to share and learn. I, too, was one of them long ago, wondering when my next story would sell or win. However, I notice a lot of them are doing the same mistakes I used to.
So, since I'm not a pro writer giving pro tips, here's a rookie writer giving rookie tips.
1. Submit Early, Submit Often - I often finish off a story and send it out to publishers as soon as I could. The more I sat around not having it working, the more I wanted to work with it. There are times when touching it up can ruin a story. Get it out there so it has the most potential to get sold. No one sells a story sitting on their flash drive.
2. No Limits - Okay, so the publisher says "We like dark fantasy" and you have this great fantasy work you want to submit. What do you do? Submit it. It may not be dark, but one of two things can happen. Either your story will wow them enough they will overlook their conceptions and buy your story or they may like your writing talent, but want something more to what the market is targeted for. In either case, you will get the "send us more of your work" response, urging you to submit to them.
3. Set Goals - I set a goal for myself to have 25 stories out to market at one time. I also set a goal to receive 100 rejections or to sell a story this year. 8 days left in the year and no story sold yet, but I do have 100 rejections and had 25 stories out to market. It pushed me to write better stories and to write a lot of stories. Trust me, it may do you good in the new year to set those kinds of resolutions.
4. It's All in the Timing - Okay, you want to know "When should I revise a story?" The answer: When you feel like it. But, don't do it every day or after every rejection. You may end up revising it way too much then. The best advice I give is to revise when you feel the stories you are writing are better than the stories you have out at market. Then, go back and see if you can rework the story. If you still think it's not half bad, stop. You can only make it worse. Go back to it when you say, "My God, no wonder the slush readers couldn't get through it." The difference between the two can save you time.
5. Write to Live - Yes, I know, it's corny. But, follow Asimov's addage: "I write for the same reason I breathe. If I didn't, I would die." That's the kind of drafting you need to do. I'm not saying let writing take over your life. I'm saying write when you have the time to write. And, if you don't have the time, make the time. I'm writing this at 3 in the morning because this is my creative time for that very reason.
6. Jot it Down - We've all been there. Working on the job, taking care of the kids, driving somewhere, shopping, when suddenly, BAM, the greatest story idea comes into your mind. If you have the opportunity, that's the time to jot everything you get in your mind about it down. Character development, themes, ending, and everything inbetween. Then, when you get back home, you can recall that vision and start the drafting process. There have been times I've stopped watching TV mid-show to get writing. Didn't care about the ending of the show, just about how the story was going to end.
So, since I'm not a pro writer giving pro tips, here's a rookie writer giving rookie tips.
1. Submit Early, Submit Often - I often finish off a story and send it out to publishers as soon as I could. The more I sat around not having it working, the more I wanted to work with it. There are times when touching it up can ruin a story. Get it out there so it has the most potential to get sold. No one sells a story sitting on their flash drive.
2. No Limits - Okay, so the publisher says "We like dark fantasy" and you have this great fantasy work you want to submit. What do you do? Submit it. It may not be dark, but one of two things can happen. Either your story will wow them enough they will overlook their conceptions and buy your story or they may like your writing talent, but want something more to what the market is targeted for. In either case, you will get the "send us more of your work" response, urging you to submit to them.
3. Set Goals - I set a goal for myself to have 25 stories out to market at one time. I also set a goal to receive 100 rejections or to sell a story this year. 8 days left in the year and no story sold yet, but I do have 100 rejections and had 25 stories out to market. It pushed me to write better stories and to write a lot of stories. Trust me, it may do you good in the new year to set those kinds of resolutions.
4. It's All in the Timing - Okay, you want to know "When should I revise a story?" The answer: When you feel like it. But, don't do it every day or after every rejection. You may end up revising it way too much then. The best advice I give is to revise when you feel the stories you are writing are better than the stories you have out at market. Then, go back and see if you can rework the story. If you still think it's not half bad, stop. You can only make it worse. Go back to it when you say, "My God, no wonder the slush readers couldn't get through it." The difference between the two can save you time.
5. Write to Live - Yes, I know, it's corny. But, follow Asimov's addage: "I write for the same reason I breathe. If I didn't, I would die." That's the kind of drafting you need to do. I'm not saying let writing take over your life. I'm saying write when you have the time to write. And, if you don't have the time, make the time. I'm writing this at 3 in the morning because this is my creative time for that very reason.
6. Jot it Down - We've all been there. Working on the job, taking care of the kids, driving somewhere, shopping, when suddenly, BAM, the greatest story idea comes into your mind. If you have the opportunity, that's the time to jot everything you get in your mind about it down. Character development, themes, ending, and everything inbetween. Then, when you get back home, you can recall that vision and start the drafting process. There have been times I've stopped watching TV mid-show to get writing. Didn't care about the ending of the show, just about how the story was going to end.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Thematic Theatrics - Are you doing it right?
I was reading a story for critiquing the other day and I came across a problem I commented on regarding a theme using imagery. They're great to use for a writer as it is a creative way to get your point across.
However, there is a fine line when writing out your stories with them. Too little and the theme fails to get the point across. Too much and your story is oversaturated. Granted, many would say it's better to be oversaturated and remove as you go along, but how do you know you're removing too much...or removing the wrong part.
Therefore, writers, you need to follow these simple rules.
1. KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid. The more involved you make your theme, the longer your work will get. If you're writing a novel, that's great. But, if you're writing a short story and try to go into depth about the sunset, chances are you're going to lose you reader somewhere in the mix.
2. Through and Through - Your thematic device should be used throughout the story. So, if you want to have a recurring line come into the reader's minds, you should use it...over and over again. (hense the name recurring). Don't drop your theme anywhere as it helps to keep the reader tied into what you mentioned before.
3. The Big Finish - Denouement should be when everything (at least) feels completed. But, are you making sure to use your thematic device at the end as well? This is a point where if you wanted to really hammer the image home, you should. Show why the image is especially relevant at the end. If you don't, you fail to grab the reader's attention.
4. Keep it Light - Don't try to overfill your story with tons of images (unless that's your theme like the modernists of the early 1900's). If you bombard your reader with too many images, it will become a sensory overload. Granted, you want a touch of sensory overload, but don't shoot at them from multiple sides. Chances are they'll just surrender.
Random Sentence of the Blog
I have always kept to myself...that is, until I saw her.
Quote
"All of this stress gave me something to write on
While pain gave me something to set my sights on"
Linkin Park - "Nobody's Listening"
However, there is a fine line when writing out your stories with them. Too little and the theme fails to get the point across. Too much and your story is oversaturated. Granted, many would say it's better to be oversaturated and remove as you go along, but how do you know you're removing too much...or removing the wrong part.
Therefore, writers, you need to follow these simple rules.
1. KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid. The more involved you make your theme, the longer your work will get. If you're writing a novel, that's great. But, if you're writing a short story and try to go into depth about the sunset, chances are you're going to lose you reader somewhere in the mix.
2. Through and Through - Your thematic device should be used throughout the story. So, if you want to have a recurring line come into the reader's minds, you should use it...over and over again. (hense the name recurring). Don't drop your theme anywhere as it helps to keep the reader tied into what you mentioned before.
3. The Big Finish - Denouement should be when everything (at least) feels completed. But, are you making sure to use your thematic device at the end as well? This is a point where if you wanted to really hammer the image home, you should. Show why the image is especially relevant at the end. If you don't, you fail to grab the reader's attention.
4. Keep it Light - Don't try to overfill your story with tons of images (unless that's your theme like the modernists of the early 1900's). If you bombard your reader with too many images, it will become a sensory overload. Granted, you want a touch of sensory overload, but don't shoot at them from multiple sides. Chances are they'll just surrender.
Random Sentence of the Blog
I have always kept to myself...that is, until I saw her.
Quote
"All of this stress gave me something to write on
While pain gave me something to set my sights on"
Linkin Park - "Nobody's Listening"
Monday, June 27, 2011
Revision - A Key to Better Writers and Better Stories
I have been posting on the Writers of the Future forums for the past few months and one thing I have noticed is everyone seems to be falling in love with the words of Dean Wesley Smith...wherein revision helps to kill stories.
As a former writing tutor, I have to disagree...to an extent.
Revision is a way in which authors help to shed their skin and grow into a new level. If they begin to see problems in their works they submitted, it means they are beginning to see their weaknesses. This means they can look at their story in a different light and, perhaps, change it to make themselves better.
By seeing our weaknesses with the critical side of the brain, we are able to make our creative sides better by avoiding pitfalls it may not see. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone back to an old paper and wanted to fix a lot of the errors in it. One mistake I often have is I use the words "After all," "has/have/had + past tense verb" and other things which slow. my. work. down.
Thus, we go into my writing tip. Revision can be a good process, but you must use it correctly.
1-DIAGNOSE. First, follow a piece I learned from Writer's Digest. Read through the story first without stopping. If you find yourself hanging up on it, you know you have problems that need to be fixed. Same with a First Reader or critiquer. There have been stories I critiqued where I have looked at parts and have to scratch my head, wondering what the author was trying to say. Those are the points I bring up in my critique first, which then leads me to part 2.
2-GRAFTING. If you find a part that is not working in the story, you have already diagnosed the problem. Now, it's time to fix it. But, DO NOT FIX IT BY MERELY REWORDING THE SECTION! That is merely replanting weeds in a beautiful garden. Remove the section first and see if the story works without it. If it does, good. Move on. If it doesn't redraft that section of the work. It is one area where I agree with Smith in stating many make the mistake of revising with only their critical side of the brain. By deleting the problem area and forcing yourself to redraft it differently, you are forcing the creative side of the brain to find a solution to appease the critical side and, therefore, making both sides work together! (Ah, what a novel idea! Literally...like the Odd Couple! XD)
3-TUNE-UP. Now that you've fixed these points, it's time to look at your use of words and to find the extra crap that is slowing. you. down. Common words to slow a work down are that, help, and other words that make an idea "flip-flopping" (such as seem to be, etc.) Look at how the phrase is used and if it is working by deleting the phrase and rereading the section. If it works, great. Move on. If it doesn't, you always have an Undo function on your word processor.
I recently followed these steps on a story I submitted to Writers of the Future which got rejected. I didn't know why then, but now I understand what happened. I diagnosed, grafted, and tuned up the language to make it work better.
But, remember. Diagnose, Graft, and Tune-Up your stories.
RANDOM SENTENCE
A swift wind blew from the east, pushing Dawn towards the sunset.
QUOTE
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."
Polonius from Hamlet, Shakespeare
As a former writing tutor, I have to disagree...to an extent.
Revision is a way in which authors help to shed their skin and grow into a new level. If they begin to see problems in their works they submitted, it means they are beginning to see their weaknesses. This means they can look at their story in a different light and, perhaps, change it to make themselves better.
By seeing our weaknesses with the critical side of the brain, we are able to make our creative sides better by avoiding pitfalls it may not see. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone back to an old paper and wanted to fix a lot of the errors in it. One mistake I often have is I use the words "After all," "has/have/had + past tense verb" and other things which slow. my. work. down.
Thus, we go into my writing tip. Revision can be a good process, but you must use it correctly.
1-DIAGNOSE. First, follow a piece I learned from Writer's Digest. Read through the story first without stopping. If you find yourself hanging up on it, you know you have problems that need to be fixed. Same with a First Reader or critiquer. There have been stories I critiqued where I have looked at parts and have to scratch my head, wondering what the author was trying to say. Those are the points I bring up in my critique first, which then leads me to part 2.
2-GRAFTING. If you find a part that is not working in the story, you have already diagnosed the problem. Now, it's time to fix it. But, DO NOT FIX IT BY MERELY REWORDING THE SECTION! That is merely replanting weeds in a beautiful garden. Remove the section first and see if the story works without it. If it does, good. Move on. If it doesn't redraft that section of the work. It is one area where I agree with Smith in stating many make the mistake of revising with only their critical side of the brain. By deleting the problem area and forcing yourself to redraft it differently, you are forcing the creative side of the brain to find a solution to appease the critical side and, therefore, making both sides work together! (Ah, what a novel idea! Literally...like the Odd Couple! XD)
3-TUNE-UP. Now that you've fixed these points, it's time to look at your use of words and to find the extra crap that is slowing. you. down. Common words to slow a work down are that, help, and other words that make an idea "flip-flopping" (such as seem to be, etc.) Look at how the phrase is used and if it is working by deleting the phrase and rereading the section. If it works, great. Move on. If it doesn't, you always have an Undo function on your word processor.
I recently followed these steps on a story I submitted to Writers of the Future which got rejected. I didn't know why then, but now I understand what happened. I diagnosed, grafted, and tuned up the language to make it work better.
But, remember. Diagnose, Graft, and Tune-Up your stories.
RANDOM SENTENCE
A swift wind blew from the east, pushing Dawn towards the sunset.
QUOTE
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."
Polonius from Hamlet, Shakespeare
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A Flood of the Mind
So, ever since I got out of school, I have been having a flood of inspiration for writing. I currently have 9 stories which I am trying to get out into the market, 2 of them in Writers of the Future.
I also have received 6 rejection letters to date. More for me to feed on.
But, in eiter case, I finally got rid of a lot of distractions I was facing while I was in school (not saying school was a distraction, but you know what I mean)
Which leads me to the writing tip of the week...
Distractons, distractions, distractions
YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THEM!
I know everyone likes to use Facebook all the time, but it was one of the things which was eating up all of my time. If I didn't finally get away from Facebook, I would not have the ammount of stories I have completed.
It's not only a writing area thing, it's a thinking thing as well. You can find inspiration from anywhere, as long as you're finding inspiration.
Try to keep your writing area clean so you can keep your mind clean. Also, try to keep your distractions to a minimum. If you need to or can, disable your internet connections while setting aside your time for writing. It's one of the best things you can do for your stories.
Random Sentence of the Blog
Solar flares always interfere with my mind, but its to be expected when you're a robot.
Quote
Science fiction is a way in which we, as writers, show the future. However, no matter what the future brings, there is one unchanging constant: human nature. The question we address is do we find that frightening or comforting?
I also have received 6 rejection letters to date. More for me to feed on.
But, in eiter case, I finally got rid of a lot of distractions I was facing while I was in school (not saying school was a distraction, but you know what I mean)
Which leads me to the writing tip of the week...
Distractons, distractions, distractions
YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THEM!
I know everyone likes to use Facebook all the time, but it was one of the things which was eating up all of my time. If I didn't finally get away from Facebook, I would not have the ammount of stories I have completed.
It's not only a writing area thing, it's a thinking thing as well. You can find inspiration from anywhere, as long as you're finding inspiration.
Try to keep your writing area clean so you can keep your mind clean. Also, try to keep your distractions to a minimum. If you need to or can, disable your internet connections while setting aside your time for writing. It's one of the best things you can do for your stories.
Random Sentence of the Blog
Solar flares always interfere with my mind, but its to be expected when you're a robot.
Quote
Science fiction is a way in which we, as writers, show the future. However, no matter what the future brings, there is one unchanging constant: human nature. The question we address is do we find that frightening or comforting?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Value of Peers
I know I'm not the first one who has asked peers to review their writings, but there is one thing that I am finding irksome about the idea of peer revision. In my college's writer's guild, we made sure to write in rules to prevent this. And that is...
Just saying what is wrong with the writing.
Whenever I have someone read my work, I don't just want to hear what I'm doing wrong but what I should do to fix it. This is how we can grow to become better writers, by learning from each other what our weaknesses are and how we can make them stronger.
Which leads me into my writer's tip
Whenever you read someone's work and they ask, "What do you think of it?" follow the "Good News / Bad News" style.
Good news - Tell the writer something they did good about the story.
Bad News - Tell the writer something they need to fix and how to fix it.
If you keep it simple to one or two bad news items, that's great. You don't want to overload someone with bad news and only have one good news item. Make sure they also stay equal (1 good news for every bad news). This will avoid overloading as well.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I write to allow my soul to live. I write fiction to allow my mind to live. I write literature to allow my body to live.
Just saying what is wrong with the writing.
Whenever I have someone read my work, I don't just want to hear what I'm doing wrong but what I should do to fix it. This is how we can grow to become better writers, by learning from each other what our weaknesses are and how we can make them stronger.
Which leads me into my writer's tip
Whenever you read someone's work and they ask, "What do you think of it?" follow the "Good News / Bad News" style.
Good news - Tell the writer something they did good about the story.
Bad News - Tell the writer something they need to fix and how to fix it.
If you keep it simple to one or two bad news items, that's great. You don't want to overload someone with bad news and only have one good news item. Make sure they also stay equal (1 good news for every bad news). This will avoid overloading as well.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I write to allow my soul to live. I write fiction to allow my mind to live. I write literature to allow my body to live.
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