Late Day Linkage

Yep, I'm a bit late in getting a post up today. There's a big ice storm heading our way and so we were in the great outdoors splitting and stacking the last bit of firewood so we don't freeze our butts off this winter. Well, my husband and son were, I had the George Jetson job, pushing the lever back and forth on the splitter. A job which leaves my mind to wander so long as I don't pinch any one's fingers between the splitter pusher and the block of wood.

And my mind did a lot of wandering mostly about these links that Michael Bracken sent me this morning. The links are a continuation of the paltry pay for short stories discussion that's being flung across the Internet.

http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2009/12/07/writing-neepery-short-story-pay/

http://www.markterrybooks.com/2009/12/money.html

http://jimhines.livejournal.com/479488.html

My conclusions? Most of these guys are comparing short story rates to non-fiction rates and the difference between the two types of markets is staggering. Many of these writers are in a much higher tax bracket than I'll ever see in my lifetime. See, when I get twenty-five bucks for a story it's a yippee-skippy day for me. Four of those will buy a week's worth of groceries. I think the best view on this subject comes from Jim Hines, the last link, who doesn't so much talk about the money but about the markets and what you want to achieve when you submit your stories for publication. He lays out some good solid advice in the post and continues through the comment thread.

And if you're on the fence about this writing thing give this link a try. http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2009/12/08/quit-while-youre-behind-why-you-shouldnt-be-a-writer/ This is from Brian Lindenmuth who asks the question, who else is going to send you foul-mouthed writing advice? Nobody, Brian! But I must admit, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I read this piece.

Oh, yes, the first issue of Pulp Metal Magazine has gone live. http://pulpmetalmagazine.webs.com/

If I'm not around tomorrow it will probably be because the ice took out the electric. It's one of those things we live with around here. At least, I've got a stockpile of books for reading and notepads for writing.

More on Pay Rates

Wow! There's a bunch of posts out there in the ether about writers and payment, all spawned from John Scalzi's posts that I linked to the other day. These links, though, take a look at the other end of the pay scale where most of us are living. In the posts and the comments there's a lot of food for thought.

From Catherine M. Valente "Short Fiction and You" http://yuki-onna.livejournal.com/548772.html This is coming from a short story writer who's making a fairly decent living from her shorts.

From the Clarkes World blog http://clarkesworld.livejournal.com/147945.html there's a look at pay scales from the zine side of things with the comments having some of the best information.

From Sarah Monette "Where We Are" http://truepenny.livejournal.com/697323.html This one is a good look at the place where many of are in the short story world.

From Clint Harris "What the Rest of Us Get Paid" http://wendigomountain.livejournal.com/161414.html This is a look at where the newbie's are hanging out and working their way up the ladder.

And with all the talk about pay aside here are a couple of links about actually putting words on the page and learning the craft. Both are excellent essays

Rachael Caine takes a look at some writing advice that was given to her early in her career http://rachelcaine.livejournal.com/154328.html

And from Damien G. Walter "Show Me the Risk Taking Writers" http://damiengwalter.com/2009/12/06/show-me-the-risk-taking-writers/ This one's about letting your writing "fly".

A New Zine

Yes, I'm back, and if my head wasn't attached, well you know the rest of that cliche! Paul Brazill sent me a note about a new zine that's looking to splash itself across the ether. The zine is called Pulp Metal http://pulpmetalmagazine.webs.com/ and they're looking for submissions. Short stories up to 5000 words, reviews, essays, art and comics. Our friend, Paul has also snagged himself a column called "I Didn't Say That, Did I?". This is a non-paying market but if you're interested in what they're up too and would like to submit, check them out.

Here and There

John Scalzi has added a few more posts that sprang from the Black Matrix discussion. There's much interesting discussion in the comments of both posts, I even kicked in a few words.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/03/aspiring-writer-stockholm-syndrome/

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/04/my-short-fiction-rates/

I was also thinking about this discussion and the thought crossed my mind that perhaps in the sci-fi arena there are a great deal more well-paying markets than in the mystery genre. Could be why we mystery writers are so touchy about the topic of little or no pay for our work.

Issue 6 of Pine Tree Mysteries has hit the virtual streets with short stories from Liza Rush-McLeod, Dorothy Baughman and DJ Barber. http://www.pinetreemysteries.com/

The December issue of New Mystery Reader is up and includes an interview with Tom Piccirilli along with their usual reviews http://www.newmysteryreader.com/

And finally, I polished up a new story today that wanders into the sci-fi/fantasy realm and in my search for a market discovered that Big Pulp has posted some new content but really had my funny bone tickled when I read "Call for Submissions" by Libby Cudmore and Matthew Quinn Martin in that issue http://www.bigpulp.com/goldenark_submissions.html Go have a read, you won't regret the few minutes it takes!

My Rant for the Week

I've got to wonder what John Scalzi is thinking when he writes a post like this http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/01/in-the-spirit-of-the-pulps-and-paying-even-less/

Then comes the Black Matrix Publishing response http://blackmatrixpublishingllc.blogspot.com/

And finally, Scalzi again http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/12/02/black-matrix-publishing-responds/

Of course we'd all like more money for our work or in some cases to even be paid no matter how prestigious the damn zine or review is. What I haven't figured out is why Scalzi is pointing his finger at only one publisher when there are hundreds paying at the same level. Black Matrix is putting out four print magazines and that's a whole lot of stories and they're not out there begging everyone to donate like the other sci-fi magazines were doing of late. Do you remember those "pros", Mr. Scalzi? "We need $10,000 or we're going to fold." Hey whatever trips your trigger at least they're (?) paying pro rates. Or how about those college "Reviews" that don't pay their writers. They're subsidized by Federal grants, the workers aren't paid and the college pockets the change. But hey, they're top of line.

But what really bites is the latest bit coming from both zines and anthology markets. They'll pay a penny a word for a story but if you're a "pro", they'll pay you 5cents or negotiate higher. WTF? If I follow the guidelines and submit a clean story that gets accepted, why can't I get paid the same as someone like Mr. Scalzi? If all the pros ( you know, the ones with a track record or a famous name ) took the stand that everyone should be paid equally, that would be something worth screaming about rather than how little one publisher is paying. My god, imagine how many novels could be published if King, Brown and Patterson didn't need millions in advance money.

In the end, it's up to each individual writer as to where they want to submit. When Mr. Scalzi says writers should boycott this market, he's instigating the downfall of a market that might be of interest to writers who can live with such a small amount. There are more writers at the bottom of the food chain than the top and some of them are pretty damn good but still can't crack the top rank. There is a need for these small markets because it's where new writers learn their craft and build their reader base.

New Issues Up

Issue 34 of ThugLit has hit the streets with eight short stories celebrating the holidays the Thug Way. Some favorite authors in this issue, guys, Ryan Zimmerman, Rob Loughran, Taylor Brown, Scott Wolven, Justin Porter, Chris Holm, Steve Pantazis and David Keaton. http://www.thuglit.com/

You'll also find that the December issue of The Gumshoe Review has gone live with new reviews http://www.gumshoereview.com/ and don't forget that they're open to short fiction submission so check out their guidelines.

Issue 5 of Sex and Murder is up http://sexandmurder.com/

PulpPusher has added some new content on their site http://www.pulppusher.com/

Short Links and Market News

We all know the value of "best of" lists but I thought this one might interest some of you. They've put together a list of the 10 best short story collections of '00's. While they're mostly sci-fi and fantasy there's a few that might interest readers here and the comments section contains a great many more not included on the list. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-10-best-shortstory-collectons-of-the-00s,35747/

John Fox has an interesting interview with short story writer Tod Goldberg about his new collection of shorts. http://www.thejohnfox.com/bookfox

And a bit of market news:

The theme for the Scalped spring issue is torture with a February 21 deadline. http://www.scalpedmagazine.com/index.html

Big Pulp has opened for a month's worth of submissions. http://www.bigpulp.com/index.html

The print magazine Ghost Light will be open for subs until January 31, 2010. http://www.greatlakeshorror.com/

And finally two new zines looking to get off the ground.

Bastards and Whores is looking for flash and shorts with a January 31, 2010 deadline for their first online issue. Payment is a token of $1 http://www.bastardsandwhores.com/about/submissions.html