Tag: short story

Tough Job

I don’t normally find short stories hard to write. In fact, they are often a welcome break, in part for their ease. The harder job is going through the polishing process.

Today I finished the first and second drafts of my latest short story (The Comfort of Beanbags)- the first for 2011, but conceived late in 2010. This was the very first time it took more than 3 sittings to get drafted, and it was tough to write. My words were fine – the flow of writing (which is often a common symptom of writer’s block) was unaffected. It was trying really, really hard to get some strong and complex themes across into a format that, by necessity, needs to be easy to read – simple.

Time will tell whether this worked or not.

2010 Writing Roundup

I might do this six monthly.

I suspect most people aren’t very interested in extremely anal statistics on my efforts to be published, but I do keep meticulous records, mainly to make sure I don’t mess up my submissions (like sending a submission twice to a publisher, or breaking the rules about the length of time before I can send something else). I have to admit that I keep the stats also so that I can measure my success, intrinsically, and in comparison with the past. This is helpful for me, and my ego.

Perhaps, and only perhaps, other writers can get an idea of how much effort and how much potential reward (including disappointment) comes with the effort. I can only say that if you are a serious writer, writing short stories is smart, and submitting them and getting a foot into the industry, even if some of it is the tail end, IS WORTH IT.

So here are the simple facts (notwithstanding some last minute stuff happening – which will mean I will update this – so if you are reading this after 1 Jan 2011, it is up to date and complete).

Firstly, here is a breakdown of my submissions (they include short stories and novels. Rejections do include 3 withdrawals on my part because a given publisher is an ignoramus, or simply didn’t respond after a very long period of time). I also include efforts at various awards and contests  – note that all bar one will not resolve until 2011.

 

I consider myself a fantasy writer, but interesting enough I had my fair share of scifi success. Another interesting stat is that I got a very good hit rate with anthology submissions. Note that some of my successes will not publish until 2011. "Pub" is basically novels.

If you don’t count the ‘No unfinalised’, my hit rate overall is 18%, or 1 in 6. I am happy with that. In fact, 12 successes is, in my view, a good result for the first year I am serious about this stuff. My goal next year is to have the same number, but to publish at least 3 of my stories in an SFWA acceptable medium. Watch this space.

Here are some graphic representations, for the heck.

And finally, my list of successes for 2010:
 

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Steampunkery – Some Observations

I entered the field of the Steampunk Universe in an odd way. It came via two threads of activity in my life, and not the usual way.

The first thread goes back a few decades. When I was young (up to my twenties) I was a massive Moorcock fan and read all of his works, and also, I enjoyed reading (and viewing, in terms of movies etc) Wells and Verne stories. In other words, I was immersed in the stuff that pre-dated Steampunk, and which were some of the critical sources of the subgenre. To add to that, in my middling roleplaying days,  I was introduced to an absolutely fantastic roleplaying game called Space: 1899. If anything was pure Steampunk, but predating the subgenre, this would have been it (I am guessing there are no small number of Steampunkers who actually play it to this day).

The second thread is my current writing effort, reflecting my early influences (thread 1), and actually writing the stuff. I have written 3 steampunk stories (as I define them), and two have been accepted to date.

The reason why I am writing this journal piece is because I am reading Anthology of Steampunk (Sonar4 Publications), which is, obviously, a rich collection of steampunk stories. This is the first time I am actually reading ‘mainstream’ steampunk stories (one of which is mine), and assessing what I may have missed in my journey in the subgenre. In other words, what was thread 3 like, since until now, I missed it?

I have two, almost conflicting opinions. Firstly, I believe my stories are consistent with the representation of the subgenre, and for that, I am happy. In a way, by not being heavily read in the current literature, I was able to find my own voice, and for that I am eternally grateful. However, I can also kick myself for not reading more. There’s a lot of good stuff out there, including in this anthology. I have read about a third of the stories, and the standout for me, is Tonia Brown’s short, Excellent Service, which isn’t just awash in Victoriana and steampunkery, but it also was strong in social commentary and the plot was, quite simply, highly original. Well done, Tonia (I don’t want to give away the story – heck, buy it!)

I have grown as a writer, and particularly in the short story craft, and I don’t normally write pure plot-driven stories anymore. I want to grab the reader by the testicles (or equivalent) and make them think. I want them to feel delighted (in a dark, light, or whatever way) when reading my stories through to the last word. The beauty of steampunk is that it, among many other subgenres, can, and will be, a rich medium for excellent writing.

These are some of my observations, today.
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A precious story

One of my more precious stories, Halo In The Sky (a steampunk story), has finally been committed to a publisher – Hydra Publications. They had a steampunk anthology going but didn’t think my story was ‘steampunk enough’ – I know what they mean – I didn’t have the ‘classic’ steampunk elements in it, but they loved my story and wanted it to be in a science fiction anthology that will open for submissions in March next year, and then get published around October 2011. They don’t have a name for the anthology as yet. I umm’d and ahhh’d for a while, and after they categorically stated they will publish my story, I agreed today.

This was, to some extent, a hard decision. I don’t mind publishing my ‘lesser’ stories in almost any reputable publication, but my ‘precious’ stories – I count about half a dozen at this time (out of 39 that are ‘publishable’, or are published), I really want to publish with commensurately better publishers. Forgive me Hydra for saying it, but you guys aren’t ‘up there’, but on the other hand I thought that it was important to get my story out, and a commitment is a commitment – if I submit, I have to be willing to accept the offers. For what it’s worth, I think this will end up good, and I certainly will offer the story to the Aurealis Awards for 2011.

Well, this is my twelfth submission that has been accepted… it is worth celebrating.
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A few wins…

Alright folks, just bursting and needing to share good news. While not publishing short stories in Analog and Clarkesworld (yet) I scored a double hit with Planet Magazine – Three Destinies and also Last – fantasy and science fiction. They are both already published (once they made the decision, it was literally a few hours to publication – they can be found here: Three Destinies and Last.

Here is the breakdown of my attempts at getting published or obtaining awards since 1 January 2010:

                    Mags Anthologies Awards Agent/Publisher (novels)    Total
Rejected:    20             4                 1                        1                               26
Accepted:     5              2                 0                        0                                 7
In train:       8               0                5                        0                               13
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Total:          33             6                6                         1                               46

Note that this does not include IFWG Publications (shouldn’t count – 3 short stories published and a YA Novel, but I do submit them for awards, which are reflected here).

I probably sound like a parrot, but I genuinely believe if you like writing short stories submit them to different markets, and try to get into the SFWA group. Get exposure. Same with awards. Don’t feel shy, you can only try. Use Ralan.com if you are into specfic, and http://www.duotrope.com for any genre.

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Good Break

Had a great week in Fiji as well as a restful five days in the Gold Coast (southern Queensland, Australia). The Fiji wing was much better than expected as it was idyllic, the weather was perfect, and the resort was uber-family friendly (Erin was assigned a nanny from 8am to 9pm each day – which we didn’t fully utilize of course). The journey there was interesting, as was the return journey – another story to tell.

Tomorrow we fly to Melbourne, take another day off, and I am off back to work on Friday. I can honestly say that I couldn’t have recharged my batteries better in a fortnight break.

Oh, and I wrote two short stories that I’m very happy with.

Good start to time off from work

Very good start.

Today is my first day of 14 off from work which allows me a much needed break. We are packing today and late tonight we fly to Fiji (Nandi) and then shuttle off to another island soon afterward. Then 6 days on an island paradise.  After that, a few extra days in the Gold Coast, which will also be very relaxing.

Also, got my short story, David Rorshach’s Dream Comes True, accepted for Sonar4 Publication’s anthology, For The Oceans. The revenue goes to a worthy cause, but it is nice to get my unusual science fiction accepted for it. It made me happy indeed.

I will be on the Internet here and there during the day, but then there will be a black out for me in terms of online – so have a good 10 or so days!

Writing/Publishing Update: Wings to Success

I finalized with Penina the contract for her painting Wings, which was the inspiration of my new novel, Guardian of the Sky Realms. She will sign in the next few days, and once the niceties are over, I will be able to use the painting for my novel’s cover. Brilliant! Thank you very much Penina for your kind assistance.

The proofing of Guardian will be completed this weekend. All that will be left is the block formatting with InDesign. My novel was planned to be published in October – still on track, and perhaps can even be released earlier.

I have some commitments in the publishing game, but once the pressure is a little over, I look very much forward to returning to my first novel, The Scepter and the Orb, and think long and hard what I want to do with it. I love it and it is the introductory book to a vast world I created (Evyntyde). The real area of interest is whether I split it or not, to make the production more economically viable. I think it is likely I will go that way. I think, because I have learned much over the last year or so, that I may also do a serious revision. Oh well.

I have four short stories to go, set in the world of Evyntyde, which will complete my anthology. This is likely to be my second Title that will come out, both courtesy of IFWG Publishing.

My second Evyntyde novel, Crystal Peak, will have to wait a while. A bit of a shame, since it is two-thirds completed.

Regarding publishing, I recently finished editing and proofing Biola Olatunde‘s wonderful adventure novel, Blood Contract. This should be come out next month – I look forward to it. Another edit job I did – The Devil Came East (crime thriller) by Geri Fitzsimmons and Andy Stephenson, was held back from publishing a few months to allow synchronization with some marketing activity. I think it will also be published next month – and I have a very good feeling about that one. It is so very good in its genre. I also have had some luck getting Paul Goat Allen to review it (shortly). My next edit job is an inspirational novel, by Linda Lenehan, called They Never Gave Up. I look forward to that job.

All in all, a pretty busy time for me. (I love it).

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