Forthcoming!

I got the official word today that Insomnia will be released via e-mail list by Daily Science Fiction on March 9th. It will be available on DailyScienceFiction.com the following Friday (March 16th).

This is exciting news (which I knew would come eventually since a contract had been signed back in September) and I would appreciate help in spreading the word.

Daily Science Fiction is a great online publisher that offers new stories every weekday (both in email and on the website) and pays professional rates to their contributors. They deserve our support.

Write 1, Sub 1 Blog Chain - Interview with a Character

Turns out the MC (Keira Fennel) of my steampunk novel (Gaslyte) doesn't have time for interviews. Being the sneaky author that I am, I slipped an extra scene into the story and got a few answers from her anyway.


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The corridor below The Bell and Burrow is cold enough to be uncomfortable. Doors open on the right, dim rooms beyond that smell of copper and whisper of velvet and silk. Keira stuffs her hands in her pockets and limps a little faster. The hall has been empty so far; if she's spotted that could change, quick.

Glyphs on the wall indicate she should turn left. The new route is darker, smaller, colder. “Pox.” Head down, she doesn't see the glim in the air 'til she smacks right into it. Magic flexes and pushes her back several steps.

“What the hell?” She puts her hand out, takes a cautious step forward. Her fingers touch nothing, but she cannot move any further down the hall. A glance around for a sign of a lock, but there's nothing. She thumps her fist against the invisible barrier and lyte swirls, solidifying into a small, dark figure.

“Before you continue, you must answer a few questions.”

Keira rubs her fingers through her hair. “Great.” She points her chin at the gatekeeper ward. “Go on, then.”

“What do you consider your greatest achievement?”

“Fuck me mam.” She paces a few steps. “What kind of a riddle is that?”

“Not a riddle. A question. There is no correct answer.”

Keira looks at the shadow-thing, suspicious. “Right.”

“What do you consider your greatest achievement?”

“I'm still alive, aren't I?”

“Survival is your greatest achievement?”

“Yes.”

The gatekeeper-ward tilt's its head. “Interesting.”

“Can I pass?”

“Not yet.” The ward looks down, as though consulting a piece of paper. “What is your idea of perfect happiness?”

“I don't have one.” She fingers the buttons on her coat.

“The answers don't matter in and of themselves, but they must be honest.”

“To have the ones I love safe and sound away from this damned city.”

“Ones? Plural?”

“That's right.”

“Who are they?”

Keira chews her lip. “My da. And Lowen.” The last comes out, reluctant.

“Who is Lowen?”

Her cheeks flush. “A friend.” She presses her lips together tight.

The gatekeeper figure leans closer. “Who do you love more?”

“I don't.” She thumps her fist against the magic blocking her way. “What kind of ward are you anyway?”

“One who isn't done asking questions.” A pause. “If you had to choose between saving your father and saving your friend who would you pick?”

Keira spreads her feet a little wider on the floor, arms crossed over her chest. “I'd save them both.”

“What if you couldn't? What if trying to save both meant you'd all perish, what...”

“We'd all die.” She's white around the lips, hands knotted into fists.

“Are you afraid of that, then? Having to choose between them?”

“Banjaxy.”

“I'm not sure I'm familiar with that term. What does it mean?”

“It doesn't mean anything.” She rakes her fingers through her hair. “It means your questions are fucked up.”

“So you are afraid of that.”

“Who wouldn't be afraid of losing someone they love?” Keira's almost leaning against the barrier.

“Ah. True. Let's see.” Again as if checking a list. “Is that your greatest fear, then?”

She pauses. “I guess.”

“There's something else you're more afraid of?”

“Banjaxy.”

“That's not an answer.”

Keira kicks the barrier and lyte glims, wall to wall. “Are you going to let me pass?”

“You haven't answered all my questions.”

“I'll find another way around.” She turns, stomping back down the hall the way she came.

“What if there isn't one?” The gatekeeper's voice drifts after her.

“I'll make one.” She rolls her shoulders to unkink muscles that have locked up. If I have to tear the whole place down.

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The previous link in the blog chain can be found here - Cas Webb's Interview - and don't miss the next link in the chain over at Defcon's Blog.

How To Feel Miserable As A Writer

(Or, What Not To Do. Underline Any That Apply)


1. Constantly Compare Yourself to Other Writers
2. Talk to Your Family About What You Do and Expect Them To Cheer You On
3. Base The Success of Your Career On One Project
4. Stick With What You Know
5. Undervalue Your Expertise
6. Let Money Dictate What You Do
7. Bow To Societal Pressures
8. Only Do Work That Your Family Would Love
9. Do Whatever the Client/Editor/Publisher/Magazine Wants
10. Set Unachievable/Overwhelming Goals. To Be Accomplished By Tomorrow


(NOTE: This is adapted from a post on The Violin Channel on Facebook - How To Feel Miserable As An Artist. All credit due to original (unnamed) author.)

Plan of Attack

A few days ago I posted my goals for the coming year. Then the group sponsoring the Write 1, Sub 1 Novel Challenge suggested doing a blog chain discussing our plan of attack for the coming year.


Making goals and figuring out how to meet them are two different animals. Making goals is easy. Two years ago I wanted to write 500k in a year. Saying that was easy. Doing it? Not so easy. (In fact, I failed to meet that goal.)


I have my list of goals for the year, now I have to figure out how I'll meet them.


Let's start with the basics. When it comes to meeting writing goals the biggest step forward is to write. Every day. That's one reason why I made goal number four: Write 15k each month. Because when words are going down on paper, that's always a good thing. Setting a specific amount helps me. (I've tried the whole "chapters" or "pages" goals and they don't work as well. I wind up with short chapters and pages of dialogue. Well, that happens anyway but it gets worse if I'm trying to write five chapters a week instead of 3.5k words.)


The next challenge is producing words that are all in order. By that I mean, working toward the end of a single project. That's where goals two and three come into play (Write and submit a longer length project and Polish and submit the unfinished/unedited shorter work from this year). I suffered from a ten year stretch of Shiny-New-Idea-itis, jumping from one project to the next without finishing much and not even attempting to sell the few things I did complete.


If I were simply writing for fun that wouldn't matter. But I'm not. I want to get paid. That means writing. Every day. Then revising and editing. Then hitting up every editor with the finished story until they cry mercy and publish my story.


That just leaves goal number one: Finish and submit the novel-in-progress. This is a huge deal. I've finished drafts of novels before. I've finished four drafts of this particular novel already and they were not up to par. Not for the publishers I want to query. But polishing a 70k manuscript is a big task. (Again, see goal number four.) And once the novel's done, I still have to write the other submission material - query letter, synopsis, etc.


These are all brand new territory for me. And I'm terrified. But I still have a plan. I will write. Every day. Then revise and edit as necessary (this includes the query letter, etc). Then send that sucker out to every publisher (in order since most don't allow sim-sub) until they cry mercy and publish my novel.


If there's one thing I've learned this past year, writing short stories and submitting them over and over again 'til they find a home, it's to never take "no" for an answer. There is a home for my work. There's a home for your work. All you have to do is find it.


In the meantime, write. Every day. Then revise and edit until your story is as good as you can make it. Finally, submit it to any editor who publishes your genre/content and don't stop until they cry mercy and publish your story.


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If you want to read more about planning an attack on the publishing world check out Alex Shvartsman's blog post HERE. Up next is Michael Haynes with his own take on making a plan of attack.

Goals

Well, it isn't the official beginning of the new year. But I started the Write 1, Sub 1 Novel Challenge in November and thought now was as good a time as any to assess my goals for the coming year.


I've set a number of different writing goals over the past few years: writing a certain number of novels, writing a certain number of words in a year, (and this last year) writing and submitting at least one story per month. Some of these goals I've met, others I've failed miserably.


That is the thing about goals - they need to be something you may not be able to reach, otherwise why set a goal in the first place. So this year, I'm setting writing goals that reflect a number of personal commitments.


Goal Number One: To finish and submit Gaslyte - the novel-in-progress I've been working on since 2008 - by the end of the year.


Goal Number Two: To finish and submit at least one longer length project - 15k or more - by the end of the year.


Goal Number Three: To polish and submit the handful of stories I wrote this year but have languished in my pile of "to edit" projects.


Goal Number Four: To write a minimum of 15k per month.


Even with a limited schedule for writing these are all completely doable, but challenging. They will require me to stay focused on the work at hand - writing.


As you head towards the beginning of another year of writing, what are you planning to accomplish?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it's the kick-off to the traditional American holiday season. In addition to wishing my readers a restful and productive end of the year - I know, there's still a month or so to go, but we all know how it will GO - I figured I should make an official announcement. Just because.


Kidding. I'm (slowly) moving my how-to-advice articles over to wordimonki.blogspot.com. This blog will continue to exist but will focus more on my personal writing updates and less on the indispensable wisdom I like to inflict share with you.


Current schedule over at Word Monkey is about two articles per month, give or take, with additional emphasis on seeking publication, as well as continued blahblahblah about writing and editing.


Have a safe and happy holiday season, chickadees!

A Quick Update

I have been submitting stories regularly all year. The current bibliography can be found over on the right of my blog. Despite frequent rejections, I am determined to find homes for all my short stories.


Additionally, I have sold two short stories this fall. Insomnia was bought by Daily Science Fiction (publication date forthcoming). And The Weather's Always Fine in Paradise was bought by GUD Magazine for their forthcoming Issue 8.


Recent Twitter publications include: Summer Day @ Trapeze Magazine and Survivor @ One Forty Fiction.


On Sunday, November 13th, Microcosms will be publishing several of my Twitter stories as part of a special, month-long fiction issue. Make sure you check it out.