The anthology "Pulp Ink" went on sale today at Amazon and Smashwords and at one point was sitting in the #10 spot on the mystery anthology chart. The idea behind this antho was using the soundtrack and lines from the movie "Pulp Fiction" to create short stories.
Editors, Nigel Bird and Chris Rhatigan gathered together an amazing group of talented people who will just blow your socks off. And you don't have to believe me, check out Ron Brown's review of the stories here http://rthomasbrown.blogspot.com/2011/08/pulp-ink-fron-nigel-bird-and-chris.html I do have to admit that this is the first time one of my stories has been "icked". :)
http://www.amazon.com/PULP-INK-ebook/dp/B005HB3TDW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1313430268&sr=8-2
Monday, August 15, 2011
Market News
Literary zine "storySouth" has opened to submissions until December 15. http://www.storysouth.com/
For those who write historical shorts you might try "Alt Hist". http://althistfiction.com/ They are looking for historical and alternate history fiction shorts of under 10,000 words. They are a print and ebook publisher with subs through Submishmash. Pay is $10 or 1 copy.
Musa Publishing is a new enterprise which started up this month. Of interest to readers here is the fact that they're also starting a new zine called "Penumbra" which is looking for shorts of 500 to 3500 words in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres. Payment is 5cents a word. They also have three calls listed for special issues with themes and deadlines for stories under 3000 words. You can find details here http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/p/penumbra.html They're looking at an October 1 launch for the zine.
And for you sci-fi writers, we have Schrodinger's Mouse http://schrodingersmouse.com They're looking for stories of 2500 to 5000 words, stories under 1000 words have a flat pay rate of $15 and articles pay 2cents a word. There was no pay listed for longer stories but I think it might be the same as articles, something you'll need to check. They have a query form on their guidelines page.
For those who write historical shorts you might try "Alt Hist". http://althistfiction.com/ They are looking for historical and alternate history fiction shorts of under 10,000 words. They are a print and ebook publisher with subs through Submishmash. Pay is $10 or 1 copy.
Musa Publishing is a new enterprise which started up this month. Of interest to readers here is the fact that they're also starting a new zine called "Penumbra" which is looking for shorts of 500 to 3500 words in the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres. Payment is 5cents a word. They also have three calls listed for special issues with themes and deadlines for stories under 3000 words. You can find details here http://musapublishing.blogspot.com/p/penumbra.html They're looking at an October 1 launch for the zine.
And for you sci-fi writers, we have Schrodinger's Mouse http://schrodingersmouse.com They're looking for stories of 2500 to 5000 words, stories under 1000 words have a flat pay rate of $15 and articles pay 2cents a word. There was no pay listed for longer stories but I think it might be the same as articles, something you'll need to check. They have a query form on their guidelines page.
Yellow Mama
The August issue of Yellow Mama has hit the virtual streets with stories from Jason Duke, Matthew C. Funk, and Jim Harrington, just to name just a few. And they've opened for submissions today! Check it out here http://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/index.html
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Would You Look at that Cover!
http://nigelpbird.blogspot.com/2011/08/pulp-ink.html Now how cool is that cover? Still can't quite believe I'm in there as I've never in my life watched the movie, Pulp Fiction, which was the basic theme for this anthology.
Zines: What to Look For
In the last post, Ron asked if I'd put together some of the tell-tale signs that a zine doesn't meet professional standards. And yes, you can be a professional market without paying. :) As you know, many writers and organizations believe that if the writer isn't paid that it's not a pro market. But we're talking online zines here and unless you're writing sci-fi there are very few markets that pay professional rates.
1. One of the first things to look at is the over-all appearance of the zine. Is it readable? Is it easy to maneuver? Are the links working? Would you be proud to have your story displayed on the site or embarrassed to have anyone see it there?
2. Is there a submission page? Believe it or not, I've found sites that have no guidelines in place. All they have is an email address and a sentence or two that tells you send your best stuff. A good zine should have not only a submission address but a word count, formatting instructions, and a few paragraphs that explain what they're looking for.
3. Is there a masthead or page where you're introduced to the staff? It's nice to know who you're going to be working with. A short bio and link to the editor's personal blog can help a writer decide if they want to work with this person. And how they maintain their own websites and blogs is a good indicator of how they'll manage their zine.
4. Have the stories that are posted been edited? This also applies to editorial content. Are they filled with misspelled words? Are they formatted properly? Is the punctuation where it's supposed to be? Now, not everyone is going to like every story on a site, but after reading two or three, do you find yourself scratching your head and wondering how these stories ever got published? A good editor will publish the best stories they can find, they'll make sure that they're edited and easy to read.
5. You can generally tell how long a zine has been in business by scrolling to the bottom of the page and checking out the copyright date. On a blogzine, the archives will generally show how long they've been in business. New zines can be tricky because you don't know if there will actually be a first issue or not. And for zines that have been in business for a long time you can tell if the issues are posted in a timely manner or just helter-skelter.
6. How fast do they respond to submissions? If the response time listed is longer than three months you might want to find another market. Believe it or not, I've seen zines with eight months or longer response times. I can understand this with a professionally paying market because they'll be swamped with subs and it can take that long to wade through them. I have noticed that many zines are now posting submission periods where they accept subs for one month, then respond in the following month which makes it easy for both editor and writer.
That's some of the basics to look for. Every writer has to decide for themselves if they are comfortable with the market. You need to ask yourself if you can work within their guidelines, and can you format your story the way they want it done? And I know it's been said, but a writer really should study the market they're submitting to so they can be sure their writing is a fit before submitting.
Many writers refuse to submit to non-paying markets. You'll usually find the payment schedule in the guidelines or within a contract that is posted on the site. On the other hand, there are some non-paying markets such as Out of the Gutter and Needle (print zines) where the company you'll be keeping is worth more than a few cents a word. These zines also get reviewed in places like Bookgasm which is a huge plus especially if your story is singled out. And yes, there are online zines such as ThugLit(closed now), Beat to a Pulp, Spinetingler and PulpPusher where the company is stellar and you're proud to see your story posted alongside authors you admire.
I guess that pretty much wraps it up, but feel free to tell us what you look for when submitting and things that worry you about possible markets.
1. One of the first things to look at is the over-all appearance of the zine. Is it readable? Is it easy to maneuver? Are the links working? Would you be proud to have your story displayed on the site or embarrassed to have anyone see it there?
2. Is there a submission page? Believe it or not, I've found sites that have no guidelines in place. All they have is an email address and a sentence or two that tells you send your best stuff. A good zine should have not only a submission address but a word count, formatting instructions, and a few paragraphs that explain what they're looking for.
3. Is there a masthead or page where you're introduced to the staff? It's nice to know who you're going to be working with. A short bio and link to the editor's personal blog can help a writer decide if they want to work with this person. And how they maintain their own websites and blogs is a good indicator of how they'll manage their zine.
4. Have the stories that are posted been edited? This also applies to editorial content. Are they filled with misspelled words? Are they formatted properly? Is the punctuation where it's supposed to be? Now, not everyone is going to like every story on a site, but after reading two or three, do you find yourself scratching your head and wondering how these stories ever got published? A good editor will publish the best stories they can find, they'll make sure that they're edited and easy to read.
5. You can generally tell how long a zine has been in business by scrolling to the bottom of the page and checking out the copyright date. On a blogzine, the archives will generally show how long they've been in business. New zines can be tricky because you don't know if there will actually be a first issue or not. And for zines that have been in business for a long time you can tell if the issues are posted in a timely manner or just helter-skelter.
6. How fast do they respond to submissions? If the response time listed is longer than three months you might want to find another market. Believe it or not, I've seen zines with eight months or longer response times. I can understand this with a professionally paying market because they'll be swamped with subs and it can take that long to wade through them. I have noticed that many zines are now posting submission periods where they accept subs for one month, then respond in the following month which makes it easy for both editor and writer.
That's some of the basics to look for. Every writer has to decide for themselves if they are comfortable with the market. You need to ask yourself if you can work within their guidelines, and can you format your story the way they want it done? And I know it's been said, but a writer really should study the market they're submitting to so they can be sure their writing is a fit before submitting.
Many writers refuse to submit to non-paying markets. You'll usually find the payment schedule in the guidelines or within a contract that is posted on the site. On the other hand, there are some non-paying markets such as Out of the Gutter and Needle (print zines) where the company you'll be keeping is worth more than a few cents a word. These zines also get reviewed in places like Bookgasm which is a huge plus especially if your story is singled out. And yes, there are online zines such as ThugLit(closed now), Beat to a Pulp, Spinetingler and PulpPusher where the company is stellar and you're proud to see your story posted alongside authors you admire.
I guess that pretty much wraps it up, but feel free to tell us what you look for when submitting and things that worry you about possible markets.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Starting a New Zine
I'm a huge fan of the online zines. They provide a place for beginning writers to cut their teeth by learning how to submit, deal with editors, and learn about rejection. And yes, with a few exceptions, they are looked down upon by many of the professional writers out there because they're not, for the most part, paying markets.
In the last few weeks I've found two new online markets, La Criminophile and Icemedia, for crime fiction. The blogs were set up and the calls for submissions issued, then bam, they were gone. No explanations, just vanished.
I was really excited about La Criminophile because I really believed that the people behind the zine had a great idea. Icemedia, I found a couple of days ago but didn't mention. Why? Because the editor had published one of her own stories as an example of what she was looking for, but reading through the story I found several misspellings. If she didn't care enough about her own work to edit it properly, how could she respect ours?
It is so easy to set up an ezine. Get an idea, set up a blog, and post a call for submissions. And this is the problem with many new zines. There's no thought put into it before the subs do or don't come rolling in. These are all things I look for when searching for new markets, you can almost tell who's in it for the long run and who's just starting up on a lark. And yeah, sometimes, they fool you.
I've been in on the beginnings of several new zines. The editors asked for feedback on their ideas. My first question has always been, "Are you sure you're up for this?". Zines are a lot of hard work, from setting up the pages to editing the stories and writing rejection letters. You're also going to have to put up with a lot of shit from writers who don't have a clue how to act professionally.
To start, you need to have a vision of what you want your zine to be and stick with it. You need to surround yourself with a support system of people who are willing to help with the work, especially if your zine takes off. You need to know that running a zine is time consuming and will eat into your writing time and your family time if you aren't careful.
If that doesn't scare you and you're still willing to get into the zine business here are a few tips that might help.
1. Run your zine like a business. You're offering a market for writers so be as professional as you expect them to be. Set up guidelines that say more than, "send me your best shit" but don't get so nit-picky that you scare off potential contributors. Set up a page that explains who you are and why you're getting into the zine business. If you're a weekly, monthly, or quarterly set the pub dates and hit them. People will only show up to read if you're there on time. They won't come back if your weekly issue turns into a whenever-I-feel-like-it issue. And writers get tired of their stories being held in limbo until you finally decide to put it up. Your new zine is a business, you're self-employed, and if you don't do the work it won't get done and you've failed.
2. Most zine editors are writers and you have a circle of writer friends and writers you admire. Tell them what you're doing and ask for submissions for your first issue. Most of them will be glad to supply a story, either new or a reprint. Once you've got your issue ready, post it. With this issue you've given new writers an example of what you're looking for, you've set the tone of your zine, and writers looking for markets know that you're taking this new project seriously. Don't believe me? Take a look at Needle magazine and Beat to a Pulp, that's how they got started.
3. Have fun with it. Yes, it's work, but it's also your "baby", so to speak. If you're having fun putting it together, it will show. Readers and writers both will respect the trouble you've gone to for them and they will spread the word. That word of mouth will be the best advertisement your zine will get to help turn it into a success.
There are probably a million other things that you need to know if you go ahead and start a new zine. What I've posted here are just a few basics I've learned along the way. Enough to know that I don't want to be in charge, but has given me a healthy respect for those who take on the job and succeed.
In the last few weeks I've found two new online markets, La Criminophile and Icemedia, for crime fiction. The blogs were set up and the calls for submissions issued, then bam, they were gone. No explanations, just vanished.
I was really excited about La Criminophile because I really believed that the people behind the zine had a great idea. Icemedia, I found a couple of days ago but didn't mention. Why? Because the editor had published one of her own stories as an example of what she was looking for, but reading through the story I found several misspellings. If she didn't care enough about her own work to edit it properly, how could she respect ours?
It is so easy to set up an ezine. Get an idea, set up a blog, and post a call for submissions. And this is the problem with many new zines. There's no thought put into it before the subs do or don't come rolling in. These are all things I look for when searching for new markets, you can almost tell who's in it for the long run and who's just starting up on a lark. And yeah, sometimes, they fool you.
I've been in on the beginnings of several new zines. The editors asked for feedback on their ideas. My first question has always been, "Are you sure you're up for this?". Zines are a lot of hard work, from setting up the pages to editing the stories and writing rejection letters. You're also going to have to put up with a lot of shit from writers who don't have a clue how to act professionally.
To start, you need to have a vision of what you want your zine to be and stick with it. You need to surround yourself with a support system of people who are willing to help with the work, especially if your zine takes off. You need to know that running a zine is time consuming and will eat into your writing time and your family time if you aren't careful.
If that doesn't scare you and you're still willing to get into the zine business here are a few tips that might help.
1. Run your zine like a business. You're offering a market for writers so be as professional as you expect them to be. Set up guidelines that say more than, "send me your best shit" but don't get so nit-picky that you scare off potential contributors. Set up a page that explains who you are and why you're getting into the zine business. If you're a weekly, monthly, or quarterly set the pub dates and hit them. People will only show up to read if you're there on time. They won't come back if your weekly issue turns into a whenever-I-feel-like-it issue. And writers get tired of their stories being held in limbo until you finally decide to put it up. Your new zine is a business, you're self-employed, and if you don't do the work it won't get done and you've failed.
2. Most zine editors are writers and you have a circle of writer friends and writers you admire. Tell them what you're doing and ask for submissions for your first issue. Most of them will be glad to supply a story, either new or a reprint. Once you've got your issue ready, post it. With this issue you've given new writers an example of what you're looking for, you've set the tone of your zine, and writers looking for markets know that you're taking this new project seriously. Don't believe me? Take a look at Needle magazine and Beat to a Pulp, that's how they got started.
3. Have fun with it. Yes, it's work, but it's also your "baby", so to speak. If you're having fun putting it together, it will show. Readers and writers both will respect the trouble you've gone to for them and they will spread the word. That word of mouth will be the best advertisement your zine will get to help turn it into a success.
There are probably a million other things that you need to know if you go ahead and start a new zine. What I've posted here are just a few basics I've learned along the way. Enough to know that I don't want to be in charge, but has given me a healthy respect for those who take on the job and succeed.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wish Fulfillment Characters
I'd never heard the term Mary-Sue before this weekend, but boy, has it been making the rounds! Here are a few more links for those interested in learning about wish fulfillment characters :)
From Zoe Marriott http://thezoe-trope.blogspot.com/2011/08/you-can-stuff-your-mary-sue-where-sun.html She also gives us the name for the male counterpart Gary-Stu.
In response to Zoe's post we have Holly Black's http://blackholly.livejournal.com/157736.html
And then there's Christa Faust who has coined a new term for us, the Jenna Sue, after one of her characters was termed a Mary-Sue by a reviewer. http://faustfatale.livejournal.com/264464.html
And off the top of my head, here's a few Gary-Stu characters that came to mind while I was reading these posts. But truth be told, I doubt that any of them have been referred to as such by reviewers. Jack Reacher, Dirk Pitt, Doc Savage, and Tarzan. How about you? When you write, do you have a wish fulfillment character in mind? You know, that perfect creature you'd like to be.
From Zoe Marriott http://thezoe-trope.blogspot.com/2011/08/you-can-stuff-your-mary-sue-where-sun.html She also gives us the name for the male counterpart Gary-Stu.
In response to Zoe's post we have Holly Black's http://blackholly.livejournal.com/157736.html
And then there's Christa Faust who has coined a new term for us, the Jenna Sue, after one of her characters was termed a Mary-Sue by a reviewer. http://faustfatale.livejournal.com/264464.html
And off the top of my head, here's a few Gary-Stu characters that came to mind while I was reading these posts. But truth be told, I doubt that any of them have been referred to as such by reviewers. Jack Reacher, Dirk Pitt, Doc Savage, and Tarzan. How about you? When you write, do you have a wish fulfillment character in mind? You know, that perfect creature you'd like to be.
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