Friday, September 30, 2011
More on e-publishing
Kristine Kathryn Rusch looks at the fear that's being created by the new epubbing for both traditional publishers and writers. http://kriswrites.com/2011/09/28/the-business-rusch-the-fear-chronicles
Bookgasm Reviews
I love that Bookgasm reviews magazines! http://www.bookgasm.com/reviews/magazines/bull-spec-6-shock-totem-4-tales-of-blood-and-roses-2/
Tales of Blood and Roses http://www.talesofbloodandroses.com/
Bull Spec http://www.bullspec.com
Shock Totem http://www.shocktotem.com
Tales of Blood and Roses http://www.talesofbloodandroses.com/
Bull Spec http://www.bullspec.com
Shock Totem http://www.shocktotem.com
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Speaking of Horror
Speaking of horror I found a link to this site over at Hell Notes, it's called Horror Writing http://horrorwriting.wordpress.com This is a fairly new blog with tips and advice for those who write in the horror genre.
One post lists the five short stories every horror writer should read http://horrorwriting.wordpress.com/2011/09/five-short-stories-that-every-horror-writer-should-read/ A link there will take you to Horror Masters to find the stories, but at that site I found a lovely link to their horror library http://www.horrormasters.com/sub-genre.htm It's amazing how many shades of horror there are! Many of them a lovely fit for crime stories.
One post lists the five short stories every horror writer should read http://horrorwriting.wordpress.com/2011/09/five-short-stories-that-every-horror-writer-should-read/ A link there will take you to Horror Masters to find the stories, but at that site I found a lovely link to their horror library http://www.horrormasters.com/sub-genre.htm It's amazing how many shades of horror there are! Many of them a lovely fit for crime stories.
The Horror Zine
The October issue of The Horror Zine has gone live. http://www.thehorrorzine.com There's a great short story in this issue by Joe R. Lansdale called "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road". It's one helluva ride!
Grift
Grift Magazine http://griftmagazine.com/ will open for submissions on October 3. For their print magazine they're looking for short stories of 1000 to 5000 words along with reviews, interviews and essay/features. Flash fiction of less than 1000 words will be published online at the rate of one a week. Submissions via submishmash. Guidelines here http://tirbd.com/grift/?page_id=25 This is a non-paying market.
Shortastic?
Maybe I'm naive, but I really do believe that this is an exciting time to be a short story writer. http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/alert-the-media-lb-goes-indie/
While most of us are never going to be as famous as Mr. Block, if he can create an interest in shorts and show the industry that they're worth the effort, who knows what the future will bring.
While most of us are never going to be as famous as Mr. Block, if he can create an interest in shorts and show the industry that they're worth the effort, who knows what the future will bring.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Blog Friends
Patti Abbott has issued a new flash challenge http://pattinase.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fiction-challenge.html For every story posted Patti is going to donate $5 to the East Harlem Union Settlement. The prompt this time is use one of Reginald Marsh's paintings for your inspiration. She has three posted on her blog and you can find many,many more by googling his name. Deadline is October 18 for stories of 1000 words or less.
And Paul Brazill hosts a guest blog from Robert Swartwood who talks about serial killers. http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-blogger-robert-swartwood-serial.html
And Paul Brazill hosts a guest blog from Robert Swartwood who talks about serial killers. http://pdbrazill.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-blogger-robert-swartwood-serial.html
Pulp Modern
Pulp Modern has hit the streets. This is a new print magazine with stories in various genres. You can find all the details here http://nomoralcenter.blogspot.com/2011/09/pulp-modern-issue-one-is-now-available.html
I was lucky enough to grab a spot in this first issue with a Western story I'd written called "When the Heart Bleeds Green". Here's a peek at the first paragraph.
"Wanda Morrow scurried past the mercantile, trying to hide her face from passersby. She knew her presence in town made folks uncomfortable. One glance at her scars and their eyes drifted toward the dusty street. Wanda blushed when Mrs. Russell worked up the courage to exchange a few pleasantries, but even she talked to the hem of Wanda’s gingham dress rather than look at her face. Wanda didn’t blame Mrs. Russell. The bear had torn the right side of her face into a gruesome mess that resembled a steak waiting on a frying pan."
https://www.createspace.com/3683805
I was lucky enough to grab a spot in this first issue with a Western story I'd written called "When the Heart Bleeds Green". Here's a peek at the first paragraph.
"Wanda Morrow scurried past the mercantile, trying to hide her face from passersby. She knew her presence in town made folks uncomfortable. One glance at her scars and their eyes drifted toward the dusty street. Wanda blushed when Mrs. Russell worked up the courage to exchange a few pleasantries, but even she talked to the hem of Wanda’s gingham dress rather than look at her face. Wanda didn’t blame Mrs. Russell. The bear had torn the right side of her face into a gruesome mess that resembled a steak waiting on a frying pan."
https://www.createspace.com/3683805
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Odds and Ends
Simon Haynes has a fun essay about writing for kids here http://www.sfnovelists.com/2011/09/25/about-writing-for-kids
The other day I mentioned that I'd just read my first Rick Mofina book. Oh, how I love a good coincidence. He has a guest post over at JA Konrath's blog where he talks about his writing journey and dipping his toes into e-pubbing. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-post-by-rick-mofina.html
Who besides me watched "Terra Nova" last night? What a fun show! http://www.fox.com/terranova
The other day I mentioned that I'd just read my first Rick Mofina book. Oh, how I love a good coincidence. He has a guest post over at JA Konrath's blog where he talks about his writing journey and dipping his toes into e-pubbing. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/09/guest-post-by-rick-mofina.html
Who besides me watched "Terra Nova" last night? What a fun show! http://www.fox.com/terranova
Monday, September 26, 2011
Ticonderoga Publications
Australian publisher Ticonderoga Publications has two anthology calls listed on their site http://ticonderogapublications.com/tp
"Damnation and Dames" has a November 1 deadline for shorts of 1000 to 7500 words. They're looking for a collision of paranormal and noir. Payment is 2 copies and Aus 2cents a word with $150 max.
"Bloodstones" will open to subs on February 1, 2012 and remain open until May 15. They're looking for stories of 1000 to 7500 words of non-traditional horror. Payment is the same.
You can find the guidelines for both by clicking on the guidelines button at the top of the page.
"Damnation and Dames" has a November 1 deadline for shorts of 1000 to 7500 words. They're looking for a collision of paranormal and noir. Payment is 2 copies and Aus 2cents a word with $150 max.
"Bloodstones" will open to subs on February 1, 2012 and remain open until May 15. They're looking for stories of 1000 to 7500 words of non-traditional horror. Payment is the same.
You can find the guidelines for both by clicking on the guidelines button at the top of the page.
Less Than Three Press
Less Than Three Press bills itself as a romance press but accept submissions in all genres. Right now they're open to serial stories, and ebooks of 25,000 to 50,000 words. That's the sweet spot, but they'll accept as low as 10,000 words up to 200,000. Payment varies per project. http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/submissions.php
Of interest here is the anthology call for "Private Dicks Undercover". They're looking for shorts of 10,000 to 20,000 words with PI's willing to don any guise to break the case - and any genre will work. Payment is a flat rate of $200. Deadline is January 4, 2012. http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/anthology-submissions/
Of interest here is the anthology call for "Private Dicks Undercover". They're looking for shorts of 10,000 to 20,000 words with PI's willing to don any guise to break the case - and any genre will work. Payment is a flat rate of $200. Deadline is January 4, 2012. http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/anthology-submissions/
Vincent Hobbes
Over at Hellnotes I came across a link to an interview with horror author, Vincent Hobbes. No, I don't know him but the interview is about the short story anthology he's just put together called "The Endlands". http://blogcritics.org/books/article/interview-vincent-hobbes-author-of-the/
"The Endlands" theme is The Twilight Zone and is on sale for 99cents for your Kindle. You can find out more about the book here http://vincenthobbes.com/projects/the-endlands/
"The Endlands" theme is The Twilight Zone and is on sale for 99cents for your Kindle. You can find out more about the book here http://vincenthobbes.com/projects/the-endlands/
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Taking Center Stage?
It looks like short stories in the form of novellas might be coming into their own through ebooks. http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2011/09/how-the-ebook-is-changing-the-industry.html
Not Your Obvious Weapons
Do you ever get tired of the same old weapons? You know, guns, knives, baseball bats, brass knuckles, the usual weapons of choice in crime stories. They come in handy and do a dandy job on the bad guy or the innocent bystanders. But when's the last time you took a really good look around your house and thought about what would make a good weapon or at least something that could cripple the bad guy long enough for you to run?
The kitchen is a good place to start. Your first thought would be that block of knives sitting on your counter, right? That would be the bad guy's first thought, too, and he'd be watching. So what else?
A cast iron frying pan or a rolling pin swung with enough force could do some damage. Yank one of those box cheese graters across his face - yikes, does that hurt. And yes, I've scraped the skin off my fingers more than once. If you can manage to turn the stove on, drop a dish towel or even a roll of paper towels on the burner. A nifty blaze or billowing smoke will distract anyone. Not to mention the smoke alarms going off. While glass jars are almost a thing of the past, most people have heavy coffee mugs that could do some damage or break a glass so you have a cutting edge. A spritz of 409 in the eyes could blind him for a few minutes. Better yet, some cooking oil or dish soap on the floor makes for a slippery chase scene. And that's just the kitchen.
For you ladies, take a look at your knick-knacks. How many of them would make a good weapon? I've got a brass crane on the shelf next to my desk. It's looking straight up, with a long sharp beak that could poke an eye out. The body is slender and fits comfortably in my hand. I have all kinds of rocks and shells around the house. Some of them have sharp edges that could cut. And there's small jars, about the size of baseballs and filled with stones, that are pretty heavy if you've got a good pitching arm. I also have a two foot long, two inch square piece of flagstone that could do some damage. And there's always the pens and pencils laying around on the desk.
Bathrooms are filled with cleaning products, a hair dryer and toilet paper could start a fire. Do you have a fire place or wood stove? You've got pokers and shovels at your disposal. If you make it to your garage or basement, you've got hammers, saws, drill bits, all manner of tools at your disposal. Spray paint to the eyes will slow a person down. But please, forget the chain saw, much as they love to use them in the movies, they aren't a reliable weapon.
Have you got kids? What toys do they have scattered around the house that would make a good weapon? A plastic sword to the eye. A skate board left to trip over, or bash in a head. I wonder if a slinky would work to choke someone? One of those blow up punching bags or balloons could make a loud enough bang, if poked with a pin, to distract someone, unless, of course, he thinks he's being shot at. That one might find you in the line of fire. But getting him to shoot, might alert the neighbors that there's a problem.
So, what have you got laying around your house that would make a dandy weapon in a home invasion story?
The kitchen is a good place to start. Your first thought would be that block of knives sitting on your counter, right? That would be the bad guy's first thought, too, and he'd be watching. So what else?
A cast iron frying pan or a rolling pin swung with enough force could do some damage. Yank one of those box cheese graters across his face - yikes, does that hurt. And yes, I've scraped the skin off my fingers more than once. If you can manage to turn the stove on, drop a dish towel or even a roll of paper towels on the burner. A nifty blaze or billowing smoke will distract anyone. Not to mention the smoke alarms going off. While glass jars are almost a thing of the past, most people have heavy coffee mugs that could do some damage or break a glass so you have a cutting edge. A spritz of 409 in the eyes could blind him for a few minutes. Better yet, some cooking oil or dish soap on the floor makes for a slippery chase scene. And that's just the kitchen.
For you ladies, take a look at your knick-knacks. How many of them would make a good weapon? I've got a brass crane on the shelf next to my desk. It's looking straight up, with a long sharp beak that could poke an eye out. The body is slender and fits comfortably in my hand. I have all kinds of rocks and shells around the house. Some of them have sharp edges that could cut. And there's small jars, about the size of baseballs and filled with stones, that are pretty heavy if you've got a good pitching arm. I also have a two foot long, two inch square piece of flagstone that could do some damage. And there's always the pens and pencils laying around on the desk.
Bathrooms are filled with cleaning products, a hair dryer and toilet paper could start a fire. Do you have a fire place or wood stove? You've got pokers and shovels at your disposal. If you make it to your garage or basement, you've got hammers, saws, drill bits, all manner of tools at your disposal. Spray paint to the eyes will slow a person down. But please, forget the chain saw, much as they love to use them in the movies, they aren't a reliable weapon.
Have you got kids? What toys do they have scattered around the house that would make a good weapon? A plastic sword to the eye. A skate board left to trip over, or bash in a head. I wonder if a slinky would work to choke someone? One of those blow up punching bags or balloons could make a loud enough bang, if poked with a pin, to distract someone, unless, of course, he thinks he's being shot at. That one might find you in the line of fire. But getting him to shoot, might alert the neighbors that there's a problem.
So, what have you got laying around your house that would make a dandy weapon in a home invasion story?
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Question of Noir
The question of noir was brought up in one of the groups I'm in which for some reason brought me to two Westerns that are, in my opinion noir. Both were directed by Sam Peckinpah and show, for me the two sides of noir.
The first was "Ride the High Country". A film that deals with darkness but keeps most of the violence off screen. The second, as you might guess, is "The Wild Bunch" where all the violence is right there in your face.
I prefer the quiet darkness of "Ride the High Country" to the violence in "The Wild Bunch", though I enjoyed both films. And my reading and writing preference of noir tend in the same direction. I like the darkness that pulls you in and slowly spins you down into the depths of despair until you can barely breathe.
While reading the Wikipedia entry on Sam Peckinpah I came across this paragraph that pretty much sums up what noir is. Violent or not, this is the bottom line of noir.
"Peckinpah's films generally deal with the conflict between values and ideals and the corruption and violence of human society. His characters are often loners or losers who harbor the desire to be honorable and idealistic but are forced to compromise themselves in order to survive in a world of nihilism and brutality."
The first was "Ride the High Country". A film that deals with darkness but keeps most of the violence off screen. The second, as you might guess, is "The Wild Bunch" where all the violence is right there in your face.
I prefer the quiet darkness of "Ride the High Country" to the violence in "The Wild Bunch", though I enjoyed both films. And my reading and writing preference of noir tend in the same direction. I like the darkness that pulls you in and slowly spins you down into the depths of despair until you can barely breathe.
While reading the Wikipedia entry on Sam Peckinpah I came across this paragraph that pretty much sums up what noir is. Violent or not, this is the bottom line of noir.
"Peckinpah's films generally deal with the conflict between values and ideals and the corruption and violence of human society. His characters are often loners or losers who harbor the desire to be honorable and idealistic but are forced to compromise themselves in order to survive in a world of nihilism and brutality."
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Plots With Guns
Just received a note from Patti Abbott saying that Plots With Guns editor, Sean O'Kane, asked her to pass along the news to female crime fiction writers that he's looking for more character-based stories and less shoot-em up stories. Go get 'em ladies! http://www.plotswithguns.com
Writing Time
Thanks to the lovely Brian Lindenmuth for the link to an essay by Nick Mamatas about finding time to write.
http://janeunderwood.typepad.com/mistress/2011/09/how-to-find-time-to-write-by-nick-mamatas.html
http://janeunderwood.typepad.com/mistress/2011/09/how-to-find-time-to-write-by-nick-mamatas.html
Editor's Notes
One of the editors of Shimmer magazine has a list of "Three Simple Things" that a writer can do to make an editor's life easier and make their submission stand out from that crowded slush pile. http://www.shimmerzine.com/2011/09/21/three-simple-things/
Editor, David Barber, of the Flash Fiction Offensive says he's looking for dark Christmas stories when they reopen for subs. http://theflashfictionoffensive.blogspot.com
And over at Six Questions For... they're talking with Dirty Noir senior editor, Doc O'Donnell. http://sixquestionsfor.blogspot.com/2011/09/six-questions-for-doc-odonnell-senior.html
Editor, David Barber, of the Flash Fiction Offensive says he's looking for dark Christmas stories when they reopen for subs. http://theflashfictionoffensive.blogspot.com
And over at Six Questions For... they're talking with Dirty Noir senior editor, Doc O'Donnell. http://sixquestionsfor.blogspot.com/2011/09/six-questions-for-doc-odonnell-senior.html
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Shock Totem
Shock Totem is open for subs through November. This is a print magazine looking for dark fantasy and horror that also trips into the mystery/suspense genre - so long as horror is the main element of the story. Pay here is 5cents a word for original stories and 3cents for reprints with a $250 cap. You can find the details here http://www.shocktotem.com/guidelines
Basement Stories
For those of you who write spec-fiction (sci-fi and fantasy) Basement Stories has opened to submissions for their 5th issue. They're looking for shorts up to 6000 words and payment is 3cents a word. They're also looking for poetry, non-fiction, and artwork. You can find the details here http://basementstories.org/about-2/submissions/ And there are four issues available for your reading pleasure and to check out what type of stories they publish.
I'm Smiling!
Great discussion about short stories in the e-book market place! Hat tip to Michael Bracken for the link.
http://www.fearnet.com/news/interviews/b23910_short_stories_ebooks_discussion_with.html
http://www.fearnet.com/news/interviews/b23910_short_stories_ebooks_discussion_with.html
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Market Notes
Damnation Books has extended the deadline for their superhero "Corrupts Absolutely" anthology to December 1. They're looking for shorts of 3000 to 5000 words, payment is shared royalties. Guidelines here http://damnationbooks.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/anthology-call-for-submissions Their web site here http://www.damnationbooks.com
And Jersey Devil Press' online zine is now a quarterly instead of a monthly http://www.jerseydevilpress.com
And Jersey Devil Press' online zine is now a quarterly instead of a monthly http://www.jerseydevilpress.com
Short Fiction Matters
is a new group that Gerald So is starting. You can read all about it and find a link to join here http://geraldso.blogspot.com/2011/09/short-fiction-matters.html
Monday, September 19, 2011
Almost Forgot
And speaking of pulp, Jodi MacArthur is hosting a Pulp Ink contest on her blog. You've got a chance to win gum and $25 grand prize for decoding a Tarantino quote. I'll let her explain the gum http://jodimacarthur.blogspot.com/2011/09/contest-decode-tarantino-and-win-gum.html
Pulp
I'm not sure about this market and for some reason Aurora Publishing is ringing a bell in my head, but I don't know why. Googling didn't help because there's about five companies with that name. Anyhoo, Pulp Corner is looking for shorts from flash to 30,000 words in all genres. Their idea is to sell individual stories for 25 to 75cents a piece and split the profits. They're just getting started so I have no clue how this will all fall together. The editor is Scott Epstein and submissions are through Submishmash. You can check them out here http://www.pulpcorner.com And they have more details on their blog. There's a link to the blog at the top of the page.
Twit Publishing has a new anthology call up for a new genre, Diesel Punk. They're looking for shorts of 4000 to 9000 words in any genre, so long as you incorporate the Diesel Punk theme into it. US writers only. The deadline is April 30, 2012 so you have plenty of time to play around with this. No pay mentioned. http://www.twitpublishing.com/Submissions.htm
From Twit Publishing I also found a link to New Pulp Fiction. This is not a short story market, but rather a site that keeps you abreast of the latest in pulp fiction. They do have a list of zines and publishers of the new pulp fiction on the site though. You can check them out here http://www.newpulpfiction.com/
And for those of you who like a prompt to work with there's The Friday Challenge. Every Friday this site gives you a prompt, then you have a week to post a short story to your own site or in their comments section. They do offer prizes occasionally. This site seems to work on the same premise as Flash Fiction Friday. You can check them out here http://www.thefridaychallenge.com
Twit Publishing has a new anthology call up for a new genre, Diesel Punk. They're looking for shorts of 4000 to 9000 words in any genre, so long as you incorporate the Diesel Punk theme into it. US writers only. The deadline is April 30, 2012 so you have plenty of time to play around with this. No pay mentioned. http://www.twitpublishing.com/Submissions.htm
From Twit Publishing I also found a link to New Pulp Fiction. This is not a short story market, but rather a site that keeps you abreast of the latest in pulp fiction. They do have a list of zines and publishers of the new pulp fiction on the site though. You can check them out here http://www.newpulpfiction.com/
And for those of you who like a prompt to work with there's The Friday Challenge. Every Friday this site gives you a prompt, then you have a week to post a short story to your own site or in their comments section. They do offer prizes occasionally. This site seems to work on the same premise as Flash Fiction Friday. You can check them out here http://www.thefridaychallenge.com
Sunday, September 18, 2011
And the Anthony Awards
The Rap Sheet has posted the final list of awards from Bouchercon. http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2011/09/anthony-sends-regards-from-st-louis.html
Congrats to all the winners!!
Congrats to all the winners!!
Stupid is as Stupid Does
I often wonder what a writer is thinking when their protags do stupid things. Yes, it's human nature to do something stupid, but to continue making the same mistakes over and over is unforgivable, at least to me.
What brought this subject up? One of the books that I picked up at the book sale. The premise sounded great and I was looking forward to the read. After 50 pages, I've set it aside because the heroine is just too stupid to live, let alone save the day at the end of the book.
Our protag is a cop and as she comes into the story she is tired from sitting in court all day and now has to work the night shift. She decides to go outside of her patrol area to take a dip in the lake to wake herself up. On the way there she remembers the reprimand she got for being outside of her area before - having sex with another officer. Stupid #1
On the road she see a person on foot running away from her vehicle and out through the woods. She pulls into a clearing and finds she's stumbled on a murder. Now, knowing there is someone in the woods, she neither secures her car nor looks for that man. And, you guessed it, her car gets stolen while she's wandering around looking for clues. Stupid #2
About a week later, she once again travels out of her patrol area to have sex with her boyfriend and has to rush to another murder scene. This girl just doesn't learn from her mistakes! Stupid #3
Finally at the beginning of Chapter 5 she's going to a bar with a cop she knows isn't trustworthy. This was the beginning of Stupid #4 and the end of the book for me. If she's this stupid how in hell is she ever going to solve the crime? Not only that, she's wondering if she should even be a cop and I want to yell at her, "No, you don't. You're too stupid to be a cop!"
Now, I know that characters are going to do things they shouldn't that will get them into trouble but to play the same stupidity over and over (and in the course of only 50 pages!) is just...stupid. So why does a writer do this? How am I supposed to believe in a character who doesn't learn from her mistakes and doesn't even care if she's in the story?
How about you? What turns you off in a book? And how far will you let the author take you before you throw the book against the wall?
What brought this subject up? One of the books that I picked up at the book sale. The premise sounded great and I was looking forward to the read. After 50 pages, I've set it aside because the heroine is just too stupid to live, let alone save the day at the end of the book.
Our protag is a cop and as she comes into the story she is tired from sitting in court all day and now has to work the night shift. She decides to go outside of her patrol area to take a dip in the lake to wake herself up. On the way there she remembers the reprimand she got for being outside of her area before - having sex with another officer. Stupid #1
On the road she see a person on foot running away from her vehicle and out through the woods. She pulls into a clearing and finds she's stumbled on a murder. Now, knowing there is someone in the woods, she neither secures her car nor looks for that man. And, you guessed it, her car gets stolen while she's wandering around looking for clues. Stupid #2
About a week later, she once again travels out of her patrol area to have sex with her boyfriend and has to rush to another murder scene. This girl just doesn't learn from her mistakes! Stupid #3
Finally at the beginning of Chapter 5 she's going to a bar with a cop she knows isn't trustworthy. This was the beginning of Stupid #4 and the end of the book for me. If she's this stupid how in hell is she ever going to solve the crime? Not only that, she's wondering if she should even be a cop and I want to yell at her, "No, you don't. You're too stupid to be a cop!"
Now, I know that characters are going to do things they shouldn't that will get them into trouble but to play the same stupidity over and over (and in the course of only 50 pages!) is just...stupid. So why does a writer do this? How am I supposed to believe in a character who doesn't learn from her mistakes and doesn't even care if she's in the story?
How about you? What turns you off in a book? And how far will you let the author take you before you throw the book against the wall?
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Brian Garfield
Cullen Gallagher has a wonderful interview with Brian Garfield posted on his blog, Pulp Serenade. http://www.pulpserenade.com/2011/09/brian-garfield-interview.html
Saturdays with Scott and John
I have a regular blog beat on Saturday mornings. First, I stop over to Do Some Damage and read Scott Parker's post. Yes, I'm a regular there and enjoy all the contributors, but Saturday morning with Scott meshes together nicely with my second stop, John Floyd's Mississippi Mud column at Criminal Brief. This morning was John's last column at CB and it's a great one about writing tight http://criminalbrief.com/?p=18150
If you haven't heard, the short story blog, Criminal Brief is closing its doors on Monday. The achieves will remain, but there will be no new content. This saddens me because I've learned a great deal about writing and short stories from this fine group of writers. And while CB is closing up shop, some of the contributors and a few of their writing friends have created a new blog. While not being focused on short stories, there will be plenty to learn from their new blog, SleuthSayers. And happily, John has the every other Saturday spot, which he'll be sharing with Elizabeth Zelvin, another favorite of mine. He also has his first post up this morning. So drop on over and check out the new blog http://sleuthsayers.blogspot.com They've got a great lineup of contributors coming your way!!
If you haven't heard, the short story blog, Criminal Brief is closing its doors on Monday. The achieves will remain, but there will be no new content. This saddens me because I've learned a great deal about writing and short stories from this fine group of writers. And while CB is closing up shop, some of the contributors and a few of their writing friends have created a new blog. While not being focused on short stories, there will be plenty to learn from their new blog, SleuthSayers. And happily, John has the every other Saturday spot, which he'll be sharing with Elizabeth Zelvin, another favorite of mine. He also has his first post up this morning. So drop on over and check out the new blog http://sleuthsayers.blogspot.com They've got a great lineup of contributors coming your way!!
More Awards from Bouchercon
The Rap Sheet has a rundown of the Barry Awards, Crimespree Awards, and the Shamus Awards from Bourchercon http://therapsheet.blogspot.com
Congrats to all the winners!! And a special shout out to friend of the blog, Hilary Davidson, for her Crimespree win for best first novel!!
Congrats to all the winners!! And a special shout out to friend of the blog, Hilary Davidson, for her Crimespree win for best first novel!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
King on Short Stories
Gary Dobbs has posted a Stephen King interview that he found on his blog. In the interview King talk about the art of writing short stories.
http://tainted-archive.blogspot.com/2011/09/art-of-short-story.html
Thanks, Gary!
http://tainted-archive.blogspot.com/2011/09/art-of-short-story.html
Thanks, Gary!
From Bouchercon
Bouchercon is one of the mystery world's biggest conventions. Last night the first of several awards that are be presented at the con was announced. Congrats to all the nominees and the winners of the Macavity Award. http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2011/09/macavity-award-winners.html
Macavity Awards:
Best Mystery Novel
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Best First Mystery Novel
Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva (Forge-Tom Doherty Associates)
Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction
Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (HarperCollins)
Best Mystery Short Story
“Swing Shift” by Dana Cameron in Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side (Berkley)
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley (Minotaur)
Macavity Awards:
Best Mystery Novel
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Best First Mystery Novel
Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva (Forge-Tom Doherty Associates)
Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction
Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (HarperCollins)
Best Mystery Short Story
“Swing Shift” by Dana Cameron in Crimes by Moonlight: Mysteries from the Dark Side (Berkley)
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley (Minotaur)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Anthology Calls
The monthly list of anthology calls has gone up over at Angie's Desk. http://angiesdesk.blogspot.com/2011/09/anthology-markets.html
Prime Suspect?
There are times when my mind kicks into overdrive on a subject and just seems to worry it to death until I come to some sort of conclusion. Recently that topic has been the new "Prime Suspect" that's due to premiere this fall.
Helen Mirren's, DCI Jane Tennyson opened the doors for female characters in crime dramas to actually be in charge. In the course of thinking about all the new female characters that have followed in Mirren's footsteps it occurred to me that American TV has already remade "Prime Suspect".
What? Yes, and they were smart enough not to tell viewers that the show was a remake and smart enough to call the show "The Closer". That's right, Deputy Chief Benda Lee Johnson is America's answer to Jane Tennyson. A woman walking into a man's world and taking charge. And having to fight to win their respect by proving she can do the job she was hired to do.
And yes, I'm going to give Maria Bello a chance to step into Tennyson's shoes and hope she does as well as Kyra Sedgewick. The sad thing is Bello has to overcome a whole lot of baggage being saddled with the chore of stepping into Mirren's shoes, something the creators of "The Closer" managed to avoid.
Helen Mirren's, DCI Jane Tennyson opened the doors for female characters in crime dramas to actually be in charge. In the course of thinking about all the new female characters that have followed in Mirren's footsteps it occurred to me that American TV has already remade "Prime Suspect".
What? Yes, and they were smart enough not to tell viewers that the show was a remake and smart enough to call the show "The Closer". That's right, Deputy Chief Benda Lee Johnson is America's answer to Jane Tennyson. A woman walking into a man's world and taking charge. And having to fight to win their respect by proving she can do the job she was hired to do.
And yes, I'm going to give Maria Bello a chance to step into Tennyson's shoes and hope she does as well as Kyra Sedgewick. The sad thing is Bello has to overcome a whole lot of baggage being saddled with the chore of stepping into Mirren's shoes, something the creators of "The Closer" managed to avoid.
A Writer's View
LJ Sellers has a guest post over at Poe's Deadly Daughters about pen names. What I like about the post is her position that a writer's brand is their name, not a series or platform that they've created for themselves. http://poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.com/2011/09/are-pen-names-becoming-pointless.html
TN Tobias has an interesting post about unlikable characters that bring a book to life. http://tnt-tek.com/writing/do-we-have-to-like-characters-for-them-to-be-interesting/
And Bryan Thomas Schmidt assures us that our writing doesn't have to be absolutely perfect for us to let it go. http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/2011/09/14/lessons-in-letting-go-the-author-and-his-babies
TN Tobias has an interesting post about unlikable characters that bring a book to life. http://tnt-tek.com/writing/do-we-have-to-like-characters-for-them-to-be-interesting/
And Bryan Thomas Schmidt assures us that our writing doesn't have to be absolutely perfect for us to let it go. http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/2011/09/14/lessons-in-letting-go-the-author-and-his-babies
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
In Support of Shorts
"Authors join 'tweetathon' in support of short stories in protest at BBC Radio 4's plans to reduce its short-story broadcasts, Joanne Harris and Neil Gaiman are among authors joining Twitter users to produce collaborative tales."
For the rest of the story on how the tweetathon will proceed and how you can support it, go here http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/14/authors-tweetathon-short-stories
Spread the word all you short story twitter folks!! #soatale
For the rest of the story on how the tweetathon will proceed and how you can support it, go here http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/14/authors-tweetathon-short-stories
Spread the word all you short story twitter folks!! #soatale
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
On Writing
The Clarion Foundation blog has a great essay by Eli Effinger-Weintraub about story killers. I had to chuckle while I was reading this because I knew exactly what she was talking about - having to kill all those "darlings" because they don't really work, we're just in love with them. http://clarionfoundation.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-writers-craft-37-story-killers/
While the Clarion Foundation is basically about writing sci-fi and fantasy, their writer's craft series of blog posts are for all writers.
And Ursula K. LeGuin's essay, "Dangerous Writing, Dangerous Cover Copy" gives writers a lot to think about. http://blog.bookviewcafe.com/2011/09/12/dangerous-writing-dangerous-cover-copy/ This is a topic I've been thinking about lately. How much shock value (read blood, foul language, horrific scenes) does a story really need?
While the Clarion Foundation is basically about writing sci-fi and fantasy, their writer's craft series of blog posts are for all writers.
And Ursula K. LeGuin's essay, "Dangerous Writing, Dangerous Cover Copy" gives writers a lot to think about. http://blog.bookviewcafe.com/2011/09/12/dangerous-writing-dangerous-cover-copy/ This is a topic I've been thinking about lately. How much shock value (read blood, foul language, horrific scenes) does a story really need?
Monday, September 12, 2011
NPR' s Flash Contest
The lovely Katherine Tomlinson sent me this link to NPR's newest 3 Minute Flash Contest. The theme is arriving and leaving. The deadline is September 25 for shorts of 600 words or less. You can find all the details here
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/10/140353661/three-minute-fiction-round-7-arriving-and-leaving&sc=fb&cc=fpI
Many thanks, Katherine!
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/10/140353661/three-minute-fiction-round-7-arriving-and-leaving&sc=fb&cc=fpI
Many thanks, Katherine!
Rick Mofina
Okay, why has nobody told me about Rick Mofina? I picked up "Vengeance Road" at the book sale Saturday and finished it today. It's one helluva ride!!
And no, this isn't about short stories, but every once in a while you've got to hear about an author who can really ramp up the tension and leave you gasping for breath when you're finished.
And no, this isn't about short stories, but every once in a while you've got to hear about an author who can really ramp up the tension and leave you gasping for breath when you're finished.
Spinetingler
After a few technical problems, Spinetingler is back with a vengeance. There's a whole slew of new reviews up and two new short stories. "Scaffold" by Michael Canfield and "The Stone Pigeon" by Terry White. http://www.spinetinglermag.com/
Correction: That would be "The Store Pigeon". I really need to read my own writing better :)
Correction: That would be "The Store Pigeon". I really need to read my own writing better :)
Grift
John Kenyon has just announced the launch of a new crime magazine called "Grift". You can find the online zine here http://www.griftmagazine.com Starting in Febuary of 2012 "Grift" will be a print magazine available three times a year in, February, June, and October. The submission guidelines are still be hammered out, but they will be looking for short stories, flash, and reviews. You can also follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/griftmag
You can find John at http://tirbd.com
Here's hoping that "Grift" will be with us a long time!!
You can find John at http://tirbd.com
Here's hoping that "Grift" will be with us a long time!!
MicroStory
Microstory A Week is a new flash zine that I stumbled across over at Duotrope this morning. They've been publishing for about a year now. This is a non-paying market for flash pieces of 600 words or less. And if you're looking for new flash markets they have links on the side. You can check them out here http://www.microstoryaweek.blogspot.com
Anybody's Guess
The ebook guessing and predicting continues.
From Richard Parks - http://ogre-san.livejournal.com/461050.html#cutid1 and from Lee Goldberg http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/
At this point in the game everybody's got a theory about how the brave new world of epubbing will play out. My guess? Hang onto your hat because it's going to be one helluva ride no matter how it plays out.
From Richard Parks - http://ogre-san.livejournal.com/461050.html#cutid1 and from Lee Goldberg http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/
At this point in the game everybody's got a theory about how the brave new world of epubbing will play out. My guess? Hang onto your hat because it's going to be one helluva ride no matter how it plays out.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Stories in the Flood
I found this tiny scrap of words about the death of a 95 year old woman due to the floods so tragic.
http://www.wnep.com/weather/severeweatherhome/wnep-brad-first-death-caused-by-the-recent-flood-20110910,0,2691945.story
Of course the writer in me kicked in and I tried to imagine sitting there on a counter in the cold water. Her son was with her and I wondered, what did they talk about? Twelve hours alone together in the dark, with the water rising, and no help in sight. Then him, sitting there alone.
http://www.wnep.com/weather/severeweatherhome/wnep-brad-first-death-caused-by-the-recent-flood-20110910,0,2691945.story
Of course the writer in me kicked in and I tried to imagine sitting there on a counter in the cold water. Her son was with her and I wondered, what did they talk about? Twelve hours alone together in the dark, with the water rising, and no help in sight. Then him, sitting there alone.
Ebook Shorts
If you're looking for an ebook full of crime shorts, you might want to check out this list http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2011/09/short-story-ebooks-our-top-8-crime-collections/
Remembering
I was cooking lunch for my husband when it happened. I was listening to ER on TNT when suddenly there were planes crashing into a building and I walked into the living room wondering why the program had switched to another episode. There was no show, only reality. And yet, how unreal that this could be happening in the US, in New York City, of all places. Then the Pentagon and the plane crashing here in PA.
My dad was in the hospital that day, so a long drive to Tunkhannock with the radio relaying the news of dust and fires and the dead. For days, the tragedy of the towers was the only news. As a nation we were angry that this could happen. That an enemy, most of us weren't even aware of, could kill so many in such a short span of time.
And yet, life churned on, but never quite the same ever again. Not only had the skyline of NY changed forever, but the hearts and minds of the people in this country would never again take their safety for granted.
There have been many disasters since then that have turned the world as we know it upside down, but none with the nationwide, no, worldwide, impact of 9/11.
My dad was in the hospital that day, so a long drive to Tunkhannock with the radio relaying the news of dust and fires and the dead. For days, the tragedy of the towers was the only news. As a nation we were angry that this could happen. That an enemy, most of us weren't even aware of, could kill so many in such a short span of time.
And yet, life churned on, but never quite the same ever again. Not only had the skyline of NY changed forever, but the hearts and minds of the people in this country would never again take their safety for granted.
There have been many disasters since then that have turned the world as we know it upside down, but none with the nationwide, no, worldwide, impact of 9/11.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Step into Fantasy
With a hat tip to Angie's Desk we have this great link to some fantasy artwork of women who are actually wearing armour that would protect them in battle - and yes, you can still tell they're women! http://womenfighters.tumblr.com/
Of course that type of armour might not work for this Fantasy anthology call from Mitzi Szereto for Cleis Press called "Kingdoms of Desire: Erotic Tales of Fantasy". Pay here is $50 to $70 for erotic fantasy shorts of 3000 to 6000 words. Deadline is December 15. You can find all the details here http://mitziszereto.com/blog/writers-call-for-short-story-submissions
Of course that type of armour might not work for this Fantasy anthology call from Mitzi Szereto for Cleis Press called "Kingdoms of Desire: Erotic Tales of Fantasy". Pay here is $50 to $70 for erotic fantasy shorts of 3000 to 6000 words. Deadline is December 15. You can find all the details here http://mitziszereto.com/blog/writers-call-for-short-story-submissions
Thursday, September 8, 2011
How High's the Water, Mama?
Just thought I'd let everyone know that even though most of Eastern PA up into New York State is submerged, and the rivers aren't due to crest until tonight and into tomorrow, we're safe and dry. Truth is, if the water reaches us, you'd best have an ark built and ready to go. Sure wish we could send some of this water to our friends in Texas! You can see pictures of the flooding here http://www.wnep.com/
Keep safe out there, everyone!
Keep safe out there, everyone!
Litreactor
If you're interested in improving your craft, there's a new site that might be of interest to you called Litreactor. You can check it out here http://litreactor.com/ The site is due to launch on October 1, but you can sign up for their newsletter and start receiving writing advice in your email from this fine list of authors:
Chuck Palahniuk
Max Barry
Bret Easton Ellis
Jack Ketchum
Craig Clevenger
Amy Hempel
Steve Erickson
Neil Gaiman
Christopher Bram
Holiday Reinhorn
Stephen Graham Jones
A tip of the hat to Brian Lindenmuth for the link!
Chuck Palahniuk
Max Barry
Bret Easton Ellis
Jack Ketchum
Craig Clevenger
Amy Hempel
Steve Erickson
Neil Gaiman
Christopher Bram
Holiday Reinhorn
Stephen Graham Jones
A tip of the hat to Brian Lindenmuth for the link!
Linkage
Over at Poe's Deadly Daughters there's an interesting look at writing short stories by Steve Liskow. http://poesdeadlydaughters.blogspot.com/2011/09/short-simple-quickie-lesson-on-short.html
On her blog, Juliette Wade takes a look at the usefulness of metaphors when writing. http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2011/09/metaphor-is-worth-1000-or-at-least-10.html
And just for fun is this interview with Joe R. Lansdale wherein he speaks of monsters. http://creatureantho.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/interview-with-joe-r-lansdale/
On her blog, Juliette Wade takes a look at the usefulness of metaphors when writing. http://talktoyouniverse.blogspot.com/2011/09/metaphor-is-worth-1000-or-at-least-10.html
And just for fun is this interview with Joe R. Lansdale wherein he speaks of monsters. http://creatureantho.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/interview-with-joe-r-lansdale/
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Speaking of Mr. Block's Shorts
Editor, Alec Cizak, has just announced the lineup for issue #1 of Pulp Modern. Is that a great lineup or what? http://nomoralcenter.blogspot.com/2011/09/ladies-and-gentlemen-line-up-for-issue.html and don't forget they're open to subs for issue #2 until November 1.
Market News
It seems to be the week for Western market news. Rope and Wire has announced their 2011 short story contest. There is a $15 fee, most of which provides the prize money for the winners. The deadline is November 20 for Western shorts of 2500 to 4000 words. You can check it out here http://www.ropeandwire.com/index.html
And NewPages.com has posted submissions calls for September on their site. http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls/
And NewPages.com has posted submissions calls for September on their site. http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls/
The Process of Collections
Yesterday I sent my collection of short stories off to Snubnose Press. What an interesting project this has been. Who knew that putting together a collection was more than slapping together a few stories you'd written and patting yourself on the back for a job well done?
Of course, I've never been one to do things the easy way. Half of the stories I put into the collection are new, including one novelette. And that novelette was a novella of nearly 15,000 words, of which I dumped one character and over seven thousand words because the ending just really sucked (you know, boy rushes in to save girl from disaster when she could just as easily save herself). Yeah, with two weeks to deadline! With one short story I wound up adding another two thousand words because the story just seemed to stop. A week before deadline I realized exactly where to take it for a much better ending. Of course, that's my opinion and the editor may not agree. All in all it was a hair-pulling, nerve wracking, excitingly delicious experience.
Then came putting it together. How many stories? What order? Does this one fit? Are there too many with a similar theme? And the questions just kept piling up.
I finally wound up with nineteen stories, nine of which are totally new and one that was lengthened from a published flash piece, much of which remained intact at the center of the story. And editing and editing all of the stories over and over again, catching mistakes where I thought there were none.
As for the order, I spent hours writing down lists of stories, their themes, lengths, male or female protags. I finally wound up loosely putting them together in groups of four - two dark stories, one paranormal and one humorous. What I hoped for in this arrangement was to break up the intensity of the darkest crime stories so that readers didn't feel like they were being pummeled to death with disaster. Will it work? I'm hoping so. One other thing that I did was mix in a good dose of male protags so the male readers won't be overwhelmed with a feminine point of view. I didn't want the collection to appeal strictly to women, I wanted something for everyone to enjoy.
And then there's the title - I've had three already and the final one is still up in the air at this point. I did submit it with the working title of "Cold Rifts" with "Crooked Roads" as another option if the editor doesn't like the first. Of course, at this point I could just name it "Another Damn Collection of Shorts". I wonder if that would sell very many copies. :)
Quite a few of you have been putting together collections and anthologies, what had you pulling your hair out?
Of course, I've never been one to do things the easy way. Half of the stories I put into the collection are new, including one novelette. And that novelette was a novella of nearly 15,000 words, of which I dumped one character and over seven thousand words because the ending just really sucked (you know, boy rushes in to save girl from disaster when she could just as easily save herself). Yeah, with two weeks to deadline! With one short story I wound up adding another two thousand words because the story just seemed to stop. A week before deadline I realized exactly where to take it for a much better ending. Of course, that's my opinion and the editor may not agree. All in all it was a hair-pulling, nerve wracking, excitingly delicious experience.
Then came putting it together. How many stories? What order? Does this one fit? Are there too many with a similar theme? And the questions just kept piling up.
I finally wound up with nineteen stories, nine of which are totally new and one that was lengthened from a published flash piece, much of which remained intact at the center of the story. And editing and editing all of the stories over and over again, catching mistakes where I thought there were none.
As for the order, I spent hours writing down lists of stories, their themes, lengths, male or female protags. I finally wound up loosely putting them together in groups of four - two dark stories, one paranormal and one humorous. What I hoped for in this arrangement was to break up the intensity of the darkest crime stories so that readers didn't feel like they were being pummeled to death with disaster. Will it work? I'm hoping so. One other thing that I did was mix in a good dose of male protags so the male readers won't be overwhelmed with a feminine point of view. I didn't want the collection to appeal strictly to women, I wanted something for everyone to enjoy.
And then there's the title - I've had three already and the final one is still up in the air at this point. I did submit it with the working title of "Cold Rifts" with "Crooked Roads" as another option if the editor doesn't like the first. Of course, at this point I could just name it "Another Damn Collection of Shorts". I wonder if that would sell very many copies. :)
Quite a few of you have been putting together collections and anthologies, what had you pulling your hair out?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Odds and Ends
Alan Rinzler has an informative piece up on his blog about new ways to sell short stories. You can check it out here http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2011/09/04/new-ways-to-sell-short-stories
Big Pulp has opened to submissions until September 30. This is a paying market for various genres of short fiction. http://www.bigpulp.com/index.html
The Western Online is celebrating two years of publication and they're now a paying market. $5 for shorts and $3 for non-fiction articles and artwork. You can find them here http://www.thewesternonline.com
And there's a lovely review of Pulp Ink here http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/2011/09/pulp-ink-review.html
Big Pulp has opened to submissions until September 30. This is a paying market for various genres of short fiction. http://www.bigpulp.com/index.html
The Western Online is celebrating two years of publication and they're now a paying market. $5 for shorts and $3 for non-fiction articles and artwork. You can find them here http://www.thewesternonline.com
And there's a lovely review of Pulp Ink here http://juliamadeleineauthor.blogspot.com/2011/09/pulp-ink-review.html
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A Pair of Links
Lawrence Block has an interesting look at the future of short stories on his blog. And he also shows us how the short form has worked to forward his career as a novelist. http://lawrenceblock.wordpress.com/2011/09/03/whither-the-short-story/
Michael Bracken sent me this link to an essay by Tobias Buckell about the difference between milestones and goals. http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2011/08/25/writers-and-pellets/ Mr. Buckell really puts the writing life into perspective with this.
Michael Bracken sent me this link to an essay by Tobias Buckell about the difference between milestones and goals. http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2011/08/25/writers-and-pellets/ Mr. Buckell really puts the writing life into perspective with this.
Market News
Issue #15 of All Due Respect is live with "The Peeper" by C.J. Edwards http://www.all-due-respect.blogspot.com ADR has also closed for submissions until sometime next year.
Pulp Modern has opened to subs for issue two with a November 1 deadline. http://www.pulp-modern.blogspot.com
Evil Jester Press has two anthologies open for subs. Attic Toys pays 1cent a word and Twisted Encounters in the Fun Park pays 1/2 cent a word. You can find the deadlines and word counts here http://eviljesterpress.lefora.com/
Pulp Modern has opened to subs for issue two with a November 1 deadline. http://www.pulp-modern.blogspot.com
Evil Jester Press has two anthologies open for subs. Attic Toys pays 1cent a word and Twisted Encounters in the Fun Park pays 1/2 cent a word. You can find the deadlines and word counts here http://eviljesterpress.lefora.com/
Western News
The September issue of "Frontier Tales" has gone live http://www.frontiertales.com/ It was nice seeing J. R. Lindermuth, a familiar name in the crime shorts arena with a story in this issue.
On the site I also discovered that there's now a blog associated with Frontier Tales called Cactus Country Publishing http://cactuscountrypublishing.blogspot.com/ I also found a contest that centers on the picture of an unknown cowboy. Details for the contest can be found here http://www.highhillpress.com/Cactus%20Country.htm They're looking for 3000 words with a November 30 deadline. Winner receives 5 copies of the anthology the story is published in.
Cactus Country is also launching a line of anthologies which is open to subs up to 5000 words. I didn't see any mention payment. You can find the details here http://cactuscountrypublishing.blogspot.com/p/cactus-country-anthology-submission.html
High Hill Press also looks to be a Western Publishing site that you might want to check out. http://www.highhillpress.com/
On the site I also discovered that there's now a blog associated with Frontier Tales called Cactus Country Publishing http://cactuscountrypublishing.blogspot.com/ I also found a contest that centers on the picture of an unknown cowboy. Details for the contest can be found here http://www.highhillpress.com/Cactus%20Country.htm They're looking for 3000 words with a November 30 deadline. Winner receives 5 copies of the anthology the story is published in.
Cactus Country is also launching a line of anthologies which is open to subs up to 5000 words. I didn't see any mention payment. You can find the details here http://cactuscountrypublishing.blogspot.com/p/cactus-country-anthology-submission.html
High Hill Press also looks to be a Western Publishing site that you might want to check out. http://www.highhillpress.com/
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Pulp Ink
Chris Rhatigan, one of the editors of Pulp Ink is interviewed here
http://kindle-author.blogspot.com/2011/09/kindle-author-interview-chris-rhatigan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KindleAuthor+%28Kindle+Author%29
And if you've been hemming and hawing about buying a copy of Pulp Ink, well hey, it's on sale this weekend for only 99cents. So what are you waiting for? Go grab yourself a copy! It's a great read and cheaper than one of those mocha frappe cappuccinos with whipped cream on top. And yes, I drink plain old Folgers, so I might have gotten those coffee terms wrong. :)
http://kindle-author.blogspot.com/2011/09/kindle-author-interview-chris-rhatigan.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KindleAuthor+%28Kindle+Author%29
And if you've been hemming and hawing about buying a copy of Pulp Ink, well hey, it's on sale this weekend for only 99cents. So what are you waiting for? Go grab yourself a copy! It's a great read and cheaper than one of those mocha frappe cappuccinos with whipped cream on top. And yes, I drink plain old Folgers, so I might have gotten those coffee terms wrong. :)
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Market News
If you're looking for a market for those shorts you spent the summer writing, head on over to Duotrope for their first of the month market openings. With 145 markets opening for subs today, you' re bound to find the perfect match. http://www.duotrope.com/recentupdates.aspx
If you like a long lead time to get a story written, Apex Book Company has a new anthology call posted. Dark Faith 2 will be paying 5cents a word with the submission period opening January 1, 2012 and closing January 31, 2012. You can check out the details here http://www.apexbookcompany.com/pages/apex-books-guidelines
And while we've got all these markets opening there are a few that have bit the dust.
Bloody Bridge Review and Pulp Carnivale have both disappeared into the ether. I'd also have to say that Demolition is a dead market at this point. After putting out a call for subs back in March there is still no submission guidelines up or even the appearance of a first issue.
If you like a long lead time to get a story written, Apex Book Company has a new anthology call posted. Dark Faith 2 will be paying 5cents a word with the submission period opening January 1, 2012 and closing January 31, 2012. You can check out the details here http://www.apexbookcompany.com/pages/apex-books-guidelines
And while we've got all these markets opening there are a few that have bit the dust.
Bloody Bridge Review and Pulp Carnivale have both disappeared into the ether. I'd also have to say that Demolition is a dead market at this point. After putting out a call for subs back in March there is still no submission guidelines up or even the appearance of a first issue.
New Issues
The first issue of Noir Nation is now available for sale with short stories by Scott Wolven, Paul Brazill, Jean Charbonneau, and Les Edgerton to name just a few. http://noirnation.com
And the all crime issue of Pank has hit the virtual streets with some familiar names like Frank Bill, Kyle Minor, and Keith Rawson. http://www.pankmagazine.com/category/2011/crime-issue
In celebration of their soon to released anthology "Pirates & Swashbucklers", Pulp Empire is having a sale of all their issues until Sept. 9 http://pulpempire.com/mag
And The Red Penny Papers is set to go live today with their 1st anniversary issue. And for the first time their zine will be available in ebook format. http://redpennypapers.com/
Lots of fine reading on this lovely 1st of September!
And the all crime issue of Pank has hit the virtual streets with some familiar names like Frank Bill, Kyle Minor, and Keith Rawson. http://www.pankmagazine.com/category/2011/crime-issue
In celebration of their soon to released anthology "Pirates & Swashbucklers", Pulp Empire is having a sale of all their issues until Sept. 9 http://pulpempire.com/mag
And The Red Penny Papers is set to go live today with their 1st anniversary issue. And for the first time their zine will be available in ebook format. http://redpennypapers.com/
Lots of fine reading on this lovely 1st of September!
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