Fiction Writing's topics - tribe.net

Identical Real-Name Dilemma

Elissa — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:00:04 GMT

A writer I know has the same name as a well-known one. Both write material dealing with similar issues. The writer I know is looking at potential publisher interest in her book, but so far it's through a third party (not an agent) and there's been no direct contact between writer and publisher at this point. She's concerned that her name might be a hindrance, even though it is her real name.

My layman's take is that she has the legal right to use her legal name, but publishers might balk because of the marketing issues involved. Including a middle initial would help differentiate, but I don't know if this person has one.

Any thoughts, advice, etc., are much appreciated! Thanks.

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Contests?

Stacie — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:49:11 GMT

Anybody submitting to any contests this summer?

If you see any good ones, post them here.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Ok, so who is NEW???

Stacie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:23:09 GMT

As moderator, I know that a few people have joined this tribe in recent months. Therefore, I feel a roll call of sort is in order. Introduce yourselves and let us know what projects currently grace your drawing board.

posted in Fiction Writing - 18 replies

How much research do you do?

Stacie — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:23:49 GMT

Here's a two prong question:

How much research do you do on a new writing project?

AND

Do you read similar books in the genre to see if you are duplicating someone else's idea?

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

short story writing books

minder_bug — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:09:24 GMT

Hello out there!
I am looking for a great book on writing short stories. I have a friend who is very good and whose birthday is coming up. There is always room for improvement and he loves to read. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance. Oh BTW, the birthday is soon so if I need to order something let me know quick. Thanks again!

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Casting a character

minder_bug — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:06:14 GMT

I am taking a writing class. This weeks' homework is to cast my main characters using actors from books, movies, TV shows etc. I have an idea for most of them but I am stuck on one of my characters. Gabriella (Gabby) is of Colombian decent, small, petite, and spunky. I can't think of anyone to 'play' her. I can see her in my mind but I can't find anyone to cast as her. Any suggestions?
BTW, if you cast characters for your novels/stories, share your ideas. Maybe that will spark some ideas for me too.

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

PSA: For US-based SASEs

Elissa — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:39:34 GMT

Given that snail-mail submissions/SASEs tend to have a several-month turnaround, here's the USPS list of new postage prices effective May 12, 2008:

http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm?from=bannercommunications&page=prices

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Genre? What's your story?

Stacie — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:29:58 GMT

I was just wondering what genre, if any, you guys feel your work fits into. And how do you feelo about how "genre" fiction is treated as opposed to "literary" fiction?

I guess I would fit into some sort of spooky urban fantasy? Or erotic thriller? Or delusional ranting? Who knows!

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

Luck of the Irish?

Stacie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:29:40 GMT

Getting ready for St. Patty's Day.

How about you? Who is your favorite Irish author?

How about stories about those little guys with the pots of gold?

What did St. Patrick have against snakes anyway? And do you think that is some sort of code for pagan, snake revering beliefs?

Discuss...

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies

Who is your HERO?

Stacie — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:04:08 GMT

I got some advice about writing a compelling protagonist lately that seems to pinpoint some of the problems I have been having.

I was told to think of a person who is my hero, and what qualities that person has that makes them heroic to me, and also to consider what the opposite of that would be.

Then, include those kinds of qualities in my protagonist.

Trouble is, the people I admire tend to be subtle and nuanced, which makes my protagonists a little borign or even unlikable if I am not careful. I need to re-define my heroes a bit, perhaps?

Who is your hero and why?

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Off-topic: Poetry as fiction stimulator

Stacie — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:06:03 GMT

I just got back from the 2008 San Francisco Writers' Conference. I plan to put up a full update of it tomorrow, but for now I am throwing down a gauntlet.

For lots of reasons, but chiefly to take my poetry more seriously, I intend to write 40 poems in the next 40 days. The theory is that it will help me be more artistically observant of the world around me. I'll post some of the best ones and we can deconstruct them or revise them. Or just make fun of how facile I can be when I am writing on a deadline.

I'm starting tomorrow, 2-18-08. Anybody else want to try it?

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies

2008 Valentines

Stacie — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:24:33 GMT

We did this last year and got some great responses.

Who do you LOVE this year, writing wise? What books have grabbed you in the last year?

For me, I have been reading the His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman lately. I'm digging it.

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies

20 Master Plots?

Stacie — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:02:21 GMT

Has anyone read this book? Is that really all there is? Does someone coming up with that theory mean that those formulas are the only ones that work commercially?

Let's discuss...

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

References between publishers

Joy — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:03:14 GMT

This is a professional ettiquette question. My first novel was under consideration by a small publishing house in 2007 and was championed mightily by my contact there, but being a small house they could only choose one book to focus on in 2008 and it was somebody else's. So I am going out again with the queries etc.

If another publisher or an agent is interested, is it kosher to refer them to my champion at the house that rejected my book, for a publisher's view of its virtues and potential? Or should I start each relationship from scratch? Is it Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Thanks, everyone!

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

On the Air

Elissa — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:38:47 GMT

I will be doing a phone interview tonight as part of the "Jordan Rich Show Book Club, Winter 2008 edition."

The interview will occur at around 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, February 2 (the show runs from midnight to 5 a.m.). It can be heard on

http://www.wbz.com/pages/6202.php

where you can click on the blue "Listen Live" button in the upper right.

I was at the WBZ studio in Boston for my first appearance on the Jordan Rich Show in October 2002. At that time Jordan invited me back when I had a book published -- so, here I am! The second volume in my series is due out later this year.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

New York Writers Conference

Leia — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:39:49 GMT

Is anyone going? I am, it's sold out. 7,000 people!!! www.awpwriter.org Let me know let's meet up!

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Acceptance to Unspeakable Horror anthology

Elissa — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:48:29 GMT

To round out an extraordinary publishing year...

This morning I got word that my story "Memento Mori" was accepted to the anthology Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet, to be published by Dark Scribe Press.

I've posted my publications tally for 2007 over at
http://hurricanecountry.blogspot.com/2007/12/tally-ho.html

Blessings to you all for 2008. Happy New Year and beyond!

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Writing Resolutions for 2008?

Stacie — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:16:02 GMT

Okay, who has some resolutions?

Mine is pretty simple: Learn to write again with a toddler in the house. I don't know how I am going to do with that one.

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

Free Writing Class

C. — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 00:16:15 GMT

I'm not sure who might be interested but I thought I'd post this anyway! I've posted this on some other groups also :D

www.fmwriters.com is a great site. If you're looking for some help getting a novel started then the owner is starting a great class that starts the frist of Jan. It's 2 years long, an assignment a week, but it's great for anyone looking to give their writing an extra jump. I've taken the class two times.

tell us if you decide to join up! I talked myself into signing up again! (now to find an idea.... hmmm)

www.fmwriters.com/community...cboard.php

You will have to join fmwriters.com to post and join the class.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Book contract signed (really, this has been an extraordinary week!)

Elissa — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:05:22 GMT

I've just signed a contract with Aisling Press for Appetite, the second volume in my Deviations series. (The first volume, Covenant, is available at http://www.aislingpress.com and elsewhere. I've got vendor links up at http://home.earthlink.net/~emalcohn/deviations.html .)

And I've made arrangements to be on the Jordan Rich Show (WBZ Newsradio 1030 Boston) on Saturday, February 2, 2008. The show will focus on fiction authors and will run from midnight to 5 AM Eastern time. We plan to do an interview by phone around 12:30, and will firm up details as we get closer to the air date. The show is broadcast nationwide and is accessible on the Web at
http://www.wbz.com/pages/6202.php

I was a guest on Jordan's show in October 2002 (I lived in Boston then, so was over at the studio), and we spent a great hour talking about science fiction with each other and with listeners who called in. Afterwards, he invited me back when I had a book published.

Here I am... :-)

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Just got an acceptance to Helix

Elissa — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:51:03 GMT

My story "Prometheus Rebound" has just been accepted to Helix: A Speculative Fiction Quarterly. I don't know which issue it will be in, but it will be available for free perusal when it goes live. I'll post a link when it's up.

That now makes four stories forthcoming, joining "Identity Theft" in The Drabbler #10, "Hermit Crabs" in Electric Velocipede #14, and "Arachne" in Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory (Scriblerus Press, June 08). "Arachne" will be a reprint, having originally appeared in Aboriginal Science Fiction's Nov./Dec. 1988 issue.

Grinnnnnn.

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies

Is "first person" lame?

Stacie — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:55:40 GMT

I was reading the submission guidelines for a small literary zine, and one of the things the editor lists that they are not interested in is "first person accounts".

Did I miss something? Since when is writing in first person a problem? Is it considered lazy or something?

Just curious to see what people think this means.

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Terry Pratchett

feiruz_al-bnefsagia — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:48:09 GMT

FYI

http://www.paulkidby.com/news/index.html

:(

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Advice and tips

Pam — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:23:16 GMT

This is something i wanted to do when i was a lot younger. But never got round to it. I guess life itself took hold got a job and the dreams disappeared
Today when i woke i got thinking maybe i can give it a go. But being a complete novice i don't know how to go about it. Its more to do finding a suitable publisher not wanting to get ripped off
Because i know it will be hard work.

Any tips any advice

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Publishing under a Pseudonym

Joy — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:57:20 GMT

I didn't see this brought up under the topic below about whether pen names are passe, so I'll pose the question here:

If I'm going to publish under a pseudonym, how do I manage this with the publisher? Do I say up front that the name on the story will not be my legal name? Or do I put the pseudonym on my mailbox and checking account and do all my communications under that name, depositing checks made out to that name?

I can't help thinkng of Alice Sheldon, who wrote for decades as James Tiptree, Jr. and no one ever knew Jim was Alice, not even her editors.

posted in Fiction Writing - 9 replies

Recommended contemporary writers

Kelley — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:20:10 GMT

Having admitted that fiction continued to be written after the 1940s, who are some contemporary writers or specific works that are recommended for somebody who doesn't particularly like historical fiction, sci fi, or fantasy writing?

Need different books on the bedside table.

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

TriggerStreet.com now accepting short stories and novels

Elissa — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:39:25 GMT

Up until recently, TriggerStreet was accepting only short films and screenplays. Since then, they've added plays and now short stories and books to their site.

From their e-mail to me:
"Since its inception, TriggerStreet.com has been the place to go if you wanted to find exposure and feedback for your Screenplays and Short Films online. Now, in addition to being able to upload your Short Stories to the site, a section we launched earlier this year, you can now also upload Books that you have written."

Normally a member must submit a couple of reviews of others' work before submitting their own, but there is currently a "free" period (meaning no previous review is needed) for short story and book uploads.

Creative Commons has a post that pretty much encapsulates what TriggerStreet is about, at
http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/4419

I haven't used the site, myself, but I became interested in it after seeing Kevin Spacey (who founded it) interviewed on the Charlie Rose PBS show a while back.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Interview

Elissa — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:52:00 GMT

Just a little crow... I was down at the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading on Saturday (which was wonderful) and was interviewed by Brad Stager, Program Director of the WUSF Radio Reading Service. Part of that interview is near the end of a two-minute audio slide show now up at WUSF.org. Links and a still shot are at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268343@N00/1801181630/

More photos and details about the festival are up at:

http://deviationstrilogy.blogspot.com/2007/10/from-panel-to-st-petersburg.html

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Nature Writers?

whyvandalism — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:30:11 GMT

essays, poems, prose, fiction, sci-fi, other?

are there any nature writers out there today in e-space?

deadline for the november issue of Why Vandalism?
October 29th, 2007

www.whyvandalism.com/
submissions page:
http://whyvandalism.com/submissions.html

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Acceptance to String Theory Anthology

Elissa — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:54:11 GMT

My story "Arachne," originally published in Aboriginal Science Fiction (November-December 1988), has been accepted for reprinting in the String Theory Anthology forthcoming from Scriblerus Press, the publishing arm of the Banyan Institute.

http://www.banyancollege.org/scriblerus/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=6&Itemid=35

Wrote editor Sean Miller:

"I'd love to discuss with you what it is about your piece that we appreciate so much, and I'm hoping that as we approach publication, we'll have the chance to do so. But for now, due to time constraints, we can only offer you this somewhat generic approbation and welcome."

Grinnnnnnnn.

The anthology is scheduled to go to press in May 2008. My blog entry "Weaving Without a Loom" ( http://hurricanecountry.blogspot.com/2005/07/weaving-without-loom.html ) describes my process of writing that story (the photo of the spider up top is before my "good camera" days).

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In Print!

Elissa — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:50:49 GMT

Advance copies of my novel Deviations: Covenant made their debut at Necronomicon, Tampa's annual science fiction/fantasy/horror convention. More info is at

http://people.tribe.net/0563a508-c05e-4e85-9680-ba4966fb1d2c/blog/f9c40b4c-61f3-43c8-a4c8-01ba616fb132

I brought back copies to have at several local promotional events I'm doing this month. Aisling Press ( http://www.aislingpress.com ) will release Covenant on November 28. Copies can be pre-ordered at discount through Aisling, and also through Barnes & Noble.

I'm trying to figure out if it's all hit me yet, since I've now launched into Sales Mode. :)

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Banned Books Week

Stacie — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:26:17 GMT

What is your favorite Banned Book?

Everyone knows I am huge Harry Potter fangirl, but I have been making my way through other banned books just out of spite.

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

October writing prompt

Stacie — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:44:05 GMT

For this month's prompt. Throw down a few paragraphs of Proustian Rapture about the candy in your Trick or Treat bag.

Mad props to the best one.

Oh, and it is okay to respond to the older prompts if they tickle your fancy.

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

September Writing Prompt

Stacie — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:45:14 GMT

Scenario: Something a child saw while hiding in a pile of autumn leaves.

As usual, best response gets bragging rights.

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

Drabble Contest: A last-minute quickie!

Elissa — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 16:32:25 GMT

This contest started on August 1, but I just learned of it today. Its deadline is (*cough!*) tomorrow.

The Tenth Between Kisses Drabble Contest
http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/betweenkisses/DrabbleContest010.htm

A "drabble" is a very short story containing exactly 100 words...no more, no less. Its title is limited to 15 words, no more.

Deadline: 2400 hours Central Standard Time on 30 September 2007

See the website for more info.

In other news, my poem "Forest Dragons" received an honorable mention in the Science Fiction Poetry Association's sonnet contest. Another entry, "Salvage," reached the top ten for "at least one" judge. Both will appear in a chapbook of the contest's top sonnets, to be released by Spec House of Poetry ( http://www.spechouseofpoetry.com/store ) in cooperation with SFPA. Contest entries included 262 poems by 165 poets.

And I've dashed off a drabble and sent it in... :)

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Mitchell and Webb on editing

Elissa — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:06:06 GMT

One of my critique buddies sent me this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo1XFz0kac0

Before today I'd never heard of the comedy team of Mitchell and Webb, but this video had me laughing out loud.

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Compulsive or deliberate?

Stacie — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:52:48 GMT

Are you the type of writer that "has" to write or you will go mad? Or are you able to be more deliberate and sublimate that urge to your schedule?

Just wondering how everyone is doing.

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Shameless plug: Covenant is now available from Aisling Press

Elissa — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:48:42 GMT

More detail is at
http://people.tribe.net/0563a508-c05e-4e85-9680-ba4966fb1d2c/blog/a7bc6c85-e87a-4219-8d10-a42e1c08215d

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Ray Bradbury's birthday...

Unsilent — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:37:41 GMT

Falls on this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

What would you do?

Stacie — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:56:59 GMT

If you went blind? How would you write? I have been having some eye problems lately, and I have been forced to think about this question, although my eye problems are not that serious (yet?).

But if you were forced to work with a visual impairment, how would you go about it? Would using methods that didn't use your eyes, such as dictation or using a transcriber, change the way your stories turn out.

Personally, I get a different result from just using a computer vs. typewriter or writing by hand. I can only imagine how dictating a story would change it.

What do you guys think?

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Hot off the presses

Elissa — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:41:27 GMT

1. A photo collage on the cover of Harp-Strings Poetry Journal (you can view the collage at http://www.flickr.com/photos/30268343@N00/422140063/ )
2. An article on copyright in Poets' Forum Magazine. (Writing the article inspired the poem that Asimov's is using.)
Both are Summer 2007 issues.

I've also been invited to write another article for PFM, and an article (a paying gig!) for my college alumni magazine. Tonight I'll send in topic proposals for the latter.

Our central A/C has died after a generous 27-year run, so when I felt too hot to draft I spent time typing up my handwritten journal. This is an infrequent but regular activity of mine, and since I'm usually inputting months if not years worth I get to rediscover and integrate all sorts of things. This time it was a vague story sketch from 2005, inspired by an article I'd read in 2004. I'm between book drafting and saw how I could possibly make the short story fly: where the conflict lay, the character and plot dynamics, etc. Before then it had been a concept I wanted to play with but wasn't sure how.

So, I've started drafting that -- and will see how far I get as my brain fries pending the installation of a new A/C system.

My anthology submission was an "almost" -- enough so that the editors asked to keep it on file in case they expand the project. "We're not doing this to many submissions, but we thought your story was too interesting to let disappear," they wrote. One of the better rejections. :) Meanwhile I'm free to submit it elsewhere.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Another acceptance

Elissa — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:53:36 GMT

-- of poetry, by Asimov's, but I mention fiction in the post :)

I got the good news via email yesterday. Asimov's has a poetry backlog, so it may be some time before the piece appears. But it will be my second poem in there, following my first one back in 1983 ("Wings," mid-Dec., reprinted in the anthology Burning With A Vision (Robert Frazier, Ed., Owlswick Press, 1984) & the 1984 Rhysling Anthology (Science Fiction Poetry Association), which contains nominees for the best sf/f poetry of the year). Asimov's also published two stories of mine, one in '84 ("Lazuli," Nov., which got me on the final ballot for the John W. Campbell Award) and one in '86 ("The S.O.B. Show," Dec., a spoof of the planetarium field, in which I did volunteer work for 5 years. The title, in which S.O.B. stands for Star of Bethlehem, is trade slang for the Christmas show).

It's good to be back! :D

In other news, last Wednesday I finished the first draft of Book #5. After some tweaking on Friday it tops out at 85,792 words. I have a couple of projects to tackle before I proceed to the next and (as currently planned) last book in the series.

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

Are pen names PASSE?

Stacie — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:29:46 GMT

Do you or would you use a pen name? For all of your work or just some of it?

I have a great last name (Ferrante), but I still wonder if I would go with a pen name if I try to find a market for this quasi-romance I am writing. For the mainstream work (whatever that means), I would just use my real name.

Not that I am ashamed, I'm just thinking of future PTA meetings, etc.

Any thoughts?

posted in Fiction Writing - 12 replies

What is hard to write about?

Stacie — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:40:10 GMT

Something Elissa said in another thread got me thinking. At least for me, I cull a lot of ideas from my own life for my writing, usually so I can warp it. But there are a few things in my life that people casually comment "Oh, you should write a book about that!" My mother says this constantly about my struggles with my family building. But there is no way, while I am in the midst of it, that I could get enough emotional distance to write about it yet.

So I guess what I am wondering who else has these kinds of suggestions made to them? Who suggests writing projects to you, especially the ones that never fly?

Or, alternately, are you the type of writer that plumbs the depths of your own life for fun and profit, with little going unexamined publicly?

Or, on the third hand, do you avoid including any details about yourself? And how the heck do you do that while maintaining realism?

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

Summer Resolutions

Stacie — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:22:29 GMT

Mine is that I will get over myself and SUBMIT at least 10 pieces/queries for possible publication this summer.

What about you guys?

posted in Fiction Writing - 14 replies

OK, I'm doing some things that I normally don't do

Kelley — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:06:34 GMT

(a) starting a thread here
(b) writing a longer fiction piece
(c) posting each section of this piece as I write it in my blog
(d) asking for any feedback / feed forward / etc.

Oh yeah, it's in my tribe blog . . .

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

Online fiction writing class offered this fall ... $78

Jennifer — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:22:33 GMT

Viscount John Morley called creative writing the “most seductive, the most deceiving, the most dangerous of professions.”

Find out what all the fuss is about.

Writing Short Fiction: a fully ONLINE course offered through Ohlone College
begins the last week in August 2007
16 weeks of stimulating instruction for only $78!

We’ll write until our fingers are numb, taking inspiration from contemporary writers such as Lorrie Moore, George Saunders, and T.C. Boyle.

For more information, or to enroll, email the instructor at jhurley@ohlone.edu

Jennifer Hurley is an assistant professor of English at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA. Her writing has appeared in various literary journals, including The Mississippi Review, The Green Hills Literary Lantern, and Natural Bridge. She spent the month of January as a writer-in-residence at OBRAS in Portugal, where she communed with wild pigs, doused herself in red wine, and started writing her first novel.

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Erotica or Romance?

Stacie — Mon, 14 May 2007 03:49:57 GMT

How do you decide what you have on your hands? Is romance more formulaic? Erotica more edgy or perhaps less story driven?

I'm working on a piece that has a definite story, but also focuses on a sexual relationship between two people. I'm having trouble figuring out what market to go after with it. (I know, just shut up and write the thing already).

I don't want to get lost the shuffle of the sheer volume of erotica that is out there. One (non-paying) site I looked at had over 500 new stories posted in the last week. Paying markets in erotica seem like a vast and uncharted sea to me. I don't consume a ton of erotica myself, so my gauge for the quality of a given publisher is severely lacking.

But the romance genre is just so, well, PINK. That section of the bookstore gives me hives. I know that there is money to be made in that genre, but it seems that it has a lot of rules/formulas. Even though what I am writing could be classified as a Romance, I am loathe to go there with it, especially since it is a rather unconventional story.

Any ideas?

posted in Fiction Writing - 6 replies

New Queer Fiction Journal

Pericula — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:32:17 GMT

Angela Faith Brown, former Alyson editor, has started up a stylish new online journal called subterraneans. My short story 1000 Miles was reprinted in the premiere issue:

http://www.subterraneansonline.com/current%20issue.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bridget Bufford
Author, Minus One: A Twelve-Step Journey

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

Show some love!

Stacie — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:33:10 GMT

The other thread about the editor-gone-wrong got me thinking. There has to be just as many GREAT people to work with out there.

Who have you worked with, editor-wise, that just rocked your socks?

For me, I would have to say I learned a lot from my Reno News and Review editor, Jimmy Boegle. He has since moved to Tucson, but I learned a lot about finding my voice (at least as a columnist) from him. He could tweak my work in small ways that didn't change the flavor of the piece, but always made me sound more clever and polished.

Mad props!

Who else?

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

JT Leroy thread

Stacie — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:56:03 GMT

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/22/entertainment/e132659D26.DTL

Let's discuss whether or not this will change the way people use pseudonyms in writing. It seems that the ultra-hot "memoir" genre is littered with the bodies of troubled writers.

Is the false persona "art" or is it "fraud"?

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Just got an acceptance...

Elissa — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:57:46 GMT

My short story "Hermit Crabs" has just been accepted over at Electric Velocipede "for publication in a future issue."
Wrote editor John Klima in his e-mail, "I'm blown away."
Grinnn.

I don't know yet when publication will actually occur, but I'll pipe up when it does. I learned about EV through Lisa Mantchev, who has an excellent story forthcoming there. (I was lucky enough to read her draft.)

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

Published flash fiction!

Stacie — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:37:24 GMT

http://www.whyvandalism.com/issue_jun07.html

My flash fiction piece, "The Basement Muse" appears in this month's issue of why vandalism?

*little happy dance*

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

It is June: What's cookin'?

Stacie — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:18:50 GMT

Ok people. It is TOO quiet. Hopefully that means you are busy writing. What is on your front burner this month?

Me: Still working on "Daniel" a novella of short vignettes. Also working on submitting work for publication/collecting rejections.

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

When is DARK writing dangerous?

Stacie — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:33:24 GMT

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/04/20/creative_writing/

Link is to an article in Salon about students who write grisly work, and whether there is a connection.

Where is the line between free expression and the signs of dangerous thinking? I'm interested to hear some viewpoints on this.

posted in Fiction Writing - 21 replies

International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day

Elissa — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:30:49 GMT

Thanks to Lisa Mantchev ( http://www.lisamantchev.com/ ) for alerting me to International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day.
According to its originator and host Jo Walton ("Bluejo"), IPSTD is, "the day when pixel-stained technopeasants everywhere are stretching and smiling and putting down their technotools to celebrate their existence by releasing their works into the wild, or at least the web."
Bluejo hosts IPSTD over at:
http://papersky.livejournal.com/
and was responding to this post on the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) page at Live Journal:
http://community.livejournal.com/sfwa/10039.html
Since I already have a couple of stories up on my webpage, I added my link to the growing list.
My sampler (found at http://home.earthlink.net/~emalcohn/fiction.html ) contains two of my 1980s publications. "Cog" appeared in _Tales of the Unanticipated_, Fall/Winter 1988. ("Cog" is the second story down. I list it first here because IPSTD focuses mainly though not exclusively on science fiction and fantasy.) "Variations for Four Hands" appeared in the erotica journal _Yellow Silk_, No. 14, Spring 1985.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

New tribe!

♀BorkBork — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:56:58 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/revolutionizedversion1/tribeallposts?action=DeleteTopic&topicid=32d3232d-5d53-4286-94db-feafa3edca22

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Ray Bradbury Day: April 18 (I don't know why -- it's not his birthday)

Pericula — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:01:21 GMT

From ZEN AND THE ART OF WRITING

To sum it all up, if you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling.

You must write every single day of your life.

You must read dreadful dumb books and glorious books, and let them wrestle in glorious fights inside your head, vulgar one moment, brilliant the next.

You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads.

I wish for you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime.

I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon you.

May you live with hysteria, and out of it make fine stories --science fiction and otherwise.

Which finally means, may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And, out of that love, remake a world.

--Ray Bradbury

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies

Writing Prompt

Pericula — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 19:34:13 GMT

When I look at you I don't think of love.

posted by:
Duchess Aletheia, on my own Creative Writing of Columbia tribe. Used by permission.

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Kurt Vonnegut

Masque — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:53:52 GMT

He was such a hero of mine. Not so much for his writing, per se. But for his wisdom about the craft. I can't count the number of quotes I use from him in my creative writing classes.

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

Ever write a bunch of crap?

Stacie — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:38:27 GMT

Or to be more specific, do you ever finish a project only to become convinced it is utter garbage?

How do you stop yourself from stoking the furnace with your manuscripts?

posted in Fiction Writing - 6 replies

Super-short story challenge-an exercise.

Stacie — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:47:47 GMT

Ok, show off your skills.

Please tell a story using exactly 5 sentences. Bragging rights to the best one.

posted in Fiction Writing - 25 replies

Exercise #2: The Bank Robbery

Stacie — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:03:17 GMT

Imagine you have a character that is robbing a bank. Write a paragraph or so (of whatever length that is shorter than War and Peace) that illustrates why he or she would take such a risk. Raise the stakes as high as you can.

As always, bragging rights for the best one.

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

What is on the Front Burner? April 2007

Stacie — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:24:02 GMT

I'm working on my series of erotica-ish shorts entitled "Daniel-The wheel of a year". It is just for fun and my own sick amusement.

What is everybody else doing this month?

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

What's cookin':Late March 2007

Stacie — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:45:40 GMT

Okay, it is too quiet. Hopefully that means people are writing. What projects are on your desk right now? Anything promising?

posted in Fiction Writing - 13 replies

always accepting submissions

whyvandalism — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 15:12:15 GMT

always accepting submissions
why vandalism? is an online arts journal currently accepting submissions from visual artists and writers of poetry, fiction, and gonzo. We also publish original art/film reviews and essays.

www.whyvandalism.com/

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Valentine's day Special: What writers do you LOVE?

Stacie — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:22:40 GMT

For Valentine's day, I *heart* Margaret Atwood.

posted in Fiction Writing - 9 replies

How messy are your edits?

Stacie — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:05:13 GMT

I find I am trying to be so tidy about my editing/rewriting process. Maybe that is erroneous? Do you guys maintain tight control over the editing process, or do you really unravel things and mess about with it?

Just curious about how other people work.

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

Who has PAIN??

Stacie — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:12:19 GMT

My carpal tunnel is acting up something fierce this week.

Who else has PAIN? Do you have a favorite remedy?

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

easy money as a porn writer?

diazo — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:32:21 GMT

i heard that you can make decent money writing porn, or should i say "erotica." so i can be like a tasteful anais nin kind of thing. anyone know how i can do this? i just wrote something choice.

posted in Fiction Writing - 13 replies

Depression and creativity

Stacie — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:07:04 GMT

I'm going through a deep situational depression, and all work on everyhting has ground to a halt.

When you are super down, how do you perservere?

posted in Fiction Writing - 5 replies

Zen and the art of the book proposal

latteberry — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:09:32 GMT

I FINALLY finished my non-fiction book proposal to by agent's satisfaction. Glory be and hallelujia! Anybody else here doing or ever done a non-fiction book proposal? Was it crazy hard for you? Or is it just me. I swear it would have been easier just to write the book.

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

E-Books

Stacie — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:06:35 GMT

How viable are e-books? Have you ever purchased one? If you were presented with an opportunity to sell your work to a publisher, but e-books were their main platform, with smaller amounts of hard copies being created, would you do it?

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

Malaprops

Pericula — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:50:08 GMT

Anybody got a favorite malaprop? I love the ones that combine two phrases: "My plate runneth over;" "Let's take this back to the ironing board;" "We need to take the bull by the horns and run with it."

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

Literary Fiction

jmparker — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:45:28 GMT

What's "literary fiction?"
Does it mean different things to different agents and publishers?
Does it mean different things in the US and in the UK?

posted in Fiction Writing - 6 replies

Showing and not telling

Stacie — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:55:12 GMT

Telling and not showing is my biggest sin, or it was until about a year ago. I'm putting a lot of effort into getting down into the story instead of watching from a safe, passive distance.

One of the ways I am getting that emotive stuff out of my character's head and into more interesting action is through an increase in dialog. My characters are having more conversations than they ever had. I'm finding that more engaging than just listening to my character think.

What ways do you show instead of tell?

posted in Fiction Writing - 10 replies

Mardi Gras and Lent?

Stacie — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 20:11:59 GMT

What will your fictional characters gorge on today, and then give up for Lent?

posted in Fiction Writing - 6 replies

Adult Fiction

jmparker — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:46:19 GMT

What's "Adult fiction?"
What's "Literary Adult fiction?"

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Your Day Job

Pericula — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:15:30 GMT

Just got home from a half-day of doing respite for kids with autism while their parents are in training. Tonight I'm going to lead a writing workshop, one of three I facilitate every week. Those keep me writing even when I'm feeling rushed, stressed or uninspired, plus they bring in a little extra income.

I try to work no more than 20-25 hours a week so that I can have more time to write, but it's tough. In the winter I do respite at these trainings, plus a smattering of other odd jobs; in the summer I've been working for a landscaper (which is interesting, but leaves me too hot, tired and dirty to write on those days).

What do you do? How do you do it? I know WHY I do it, but it's a long hard climb.

posted in Fiction Writing - 14 replies

What is the best writing "fuel"?

Stacie — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:51:49 GMT

I'm talking about the "substances" that give you that extra goose to go on a writing jag. Do you have a favorite? Or are such things just crutches?

Caffeine? Alcohol? Sex? An extra dose of Religion?

I personally like a nice cup of coffee in the evening hours, when I do my best work. Some writers were well-documented drinkers. I find that I think I am more witty than I really am if I have alcohol while writing.

Don't know much about other drugs. Not that I am suggesting their use, mind you. I was just curious if anybody had experimented, and what the results were in the sober light of day.

posted in Fiction Writing - 27 replies

My first order of business as Moderator...

Stacie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:59:34 GMT

Was to approve the 120 pending member requests! So we just grew a ton! Hopefully, this will mean lots of wonderful new input!

Cool! Welcome everybody!

posted in Fiction Writing - 14 replies

Last one is the winner!

Stacie — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:55:40 GMT

Who has published the most recently? Either paid or unpaid, web or print. Shout it out! The most recent published author gets tribe bragging rights.

I already lose. My last freelance newspaper article was over 2 years ago. I haven't published anything new while I was working on the novel.

posted in Fiction Writing - 9 replies

What do you think of the current tribe description?

Stacie — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 16:53:40 GMT

Is it a bit short and lacking in imagination for a writing tribe? Should we rewrite it or re-imagine the tribe's mission in any way?

Ideas? Comments?

posted in Fiction Writing - 11 replies

Public of Moderated?

Stacie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:33:59 GMT

Any thoughts? I'm willing to do this either way, but do you prefer that the tribe be public or moderated?

Speak now, or ...speak again later.

posted in Fiction Writing - 20 replies

How many words will you write this week?

Stacie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:35:26 GMT

Let's see how people are doing. What kinds of projects are you currently working on, and how is it going?

I'll start: I'm doing edit/rewrite on my novel manuscript. I will likely write 1K-3K words this week as I tweak and fine-tune. I might cut just as many, though.

posted in Fiction Writing - 10 replies

Do you write for FREE? Sucks, huh?

Stacie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 03:23:57 GMT

The more I work on writing for pay, more bummed I get about trying to make a living in a world where other writers accept writing for free. In the world of blogs and online non-paying markets and magazine start-ups, how is a girl supposed to get those Benjamins?

I shouldn't talk, because I put writing effort into my blog regularly, although that is just "for fun". But other people write short stories "for fun" and that is why it is hard for a hack like me to sell my work.

So, let's discuss:

How to you make the transition from hobbyist to paid wordslinger-for-hire? How do you "turn pro"?

posted in Fiction Writing - 7 replies

We need new photos!

Stacie — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:20:44 GMT

I know this is supposed to be a tribe for writers, but we need some new pictures for the tribe album. Maybe think of it as practice for your dust-jacket photo?

Anyway, load them up, and don't forget to label them! Show us who you are, or your favorite writing-related images.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

I nominate Stacie

Masque — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:02:23 GMT

Okay, so the moderator idea seems to be losing some steam. This thread officially nominates Stacie to take over as moderator. I think she'd be perfect. Everyone please sign on so that the tribe doesn't disappear, and we can all bask in the glow of Stacie's brilliance and creativity!

~Masque

posted in Fiction Writing - 4 replies

Moderator?

latteberry — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:50:00 GMT

What happened to the moderator? Do we need someone to get the old creative juices working?

posted in Fiction Writing - 20 replies

How to submit a manuscript (x-posted)

feiruz_al-bnefsagia — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:02:45 GMT

This is just too funny...

http://www.sfwa.org/writing/howto.htm

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Introduce yourself!

Karen — Thu, 25 Sep 2003 14:21:28 GMT

This general topic will allow new tribe members to introduce themselves to the group. We can all get to know each other better!

I'll go first... Then you all jump in too.

posted in Fiction Writing - 45 replies

How to tell if a publisher is legit?

Bart — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:07:18 GMT

I have a publisher interested in my manuscript. It has gone as far as my sending a querry, their reply was they wanted to see the entire manuscript. I did just that and several weeks later I received an email from them stating they wanted to publish my manuscript and sent me a contract. I read through it and saw nothing that would indicate they were a "vanity press" or a "publish on demand" press. Fortunately, my step-daughter is a lawyer and she is reviewing the contract. I am still waiting to hear from her.

But the question remains, how can a previously unpublished writer know or can tell if a publisher is honest, legitimate, and not a vanity press? I don't expect the same treatment as one of their "name authors" or the same marketing budget their top authors receive. What is the norm for an author being published for the first time?

Thanks for yor comments.

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

Submitting my writing for review/critique?

Bart — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 06:09:13 GMT

I am new to Tribe.net and I like what I see so far. But being new to this web page there is lots of information I don't know and need some help. For the time being my primary concern is where may I post my creations so that other authors may comment and critique, if they wish , on my writing? Also, where do I go to read, comment, and critique other author's work?

All suggestions are welcome...thanks.

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

How long between first and second drafts?

Fri, 19 May 2006 16:13:38 GMT

Today or tomorrow I'll reach 70k words on my mystery novel. That shall conclude the rough draft. I understand that it's good to set a work aside for a time, but for how long? Also, what if I don't want a break but want to plough ahead?
Any experienced hands here have some advice?
Thanks,
M

posted in Fiction Writing - 8 replies

List of writing/publishing blogs

Elissa — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:28:58 GMT

I just discovered "The White List" at
http://archer904.livejournal.com/24741.html
-- "a list of writers, editors, and other publishing professionals that have LiveJournals or LJ RSS feeds."

... This has been a public service announcement ... :)

posted in Fiction Writing - 0 replies

Writing for Children?

Pericula — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:34:42 GMT

I realize this tribe isn't specifically about this, but when I tried to find one, all the children's writing tribes looked inactive (i.e., no posts in over a year).

I do editing and critique to supplement my writing "income" (I use the term loosely), and recently received some children's manuscripts. I've been looking online at publishers' guidelines, which in general seem to be about the same as the adult submissions, but so far have found little about formatting.

My question is this: does text formatting for children's books differ? Is it more lax? Specifically, I'm working on a ms in which the author uses a number of techniques to show emphasis: all caps, repeated letters (WHAAAAT?), bold type, underlining, italics, and exclamation points. This is a chapter book for the middle elementary range, maybe grades 3-4.

I sometimes work part-time with kids, so I do look at children's books; my feeling is that there is probably a somewhat different expectation for children's writing, but that it would be a good idea to move in the direction of more standardized usage for a first submission.

I'd like to help this author get her ms into shape. Any help on this would be appreciated.

Bridget Bufford
Author, Minus One: A Twelve-Step Journey

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

screenplays

Michele — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:12:07 GMT

Hi everyone, I have recently joined the group and excited about having others to bounce around ideas. I am currently writing a novel; however, I have completed a screenplay. Does anyone have any experience with getting a screenplay into the right hands??

posted in Fiction Writing - 1 reply

What Makes A Good Story?

jonathanstray — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 04:45:03 GMT

I've spent a couple of years writing now, and I have at least the beginnings of answers to a lot of questions about this craft. I even have some idea of what I want to say with my writing, and what sort of of styles and forms I'm attracted to. I'm even starting to get a handle on creating interesting characters.

And yet, this weekend I suddenly realized that I have no answer at all to the question "what makes a good story?"

It's always refreshing to suddenly discover how ignorant you are.

posted in Fiction Writing - 17 replies

Crowing!

Elissa — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 04:20:52 GMT

I've just signed a contract with Koboca Publishing -- http://www.kobocapublishing.com/index.html -- for _Covenant_, the first volume in my _Deviations_ trilogy. Release is projected for late 2007.

Koboca is headquartered in Wesley Chapel (a Tampa suburb) with another office in Tomales, CA. I met its representative Bo Savino when my partner Mary and I were at Necronomicon, Tampa's annual science fiction convention. It was my first sf con in almost 20 years and Mary's first one ever ("unless you count some people trying to sell Star Trek memorabilia in a church basement"). I brought pitch packages with me -- query, brief synopses, return envelopes/stickers/stamps, and business cards -- and went about networking.

Normally Koboca asks for the first three chapters if it likes the synopsis. I was asked to submit the entire first book. Three days after I e-mailed _Covenant_ I was given an acceptance by e-mail and was asked to send the second and third volumes. Two days after that I had the contract in hand. This is Koboca's regular, non-POD publishing arm.

I've had short fiction successes -- my novelette "Lazuli" (_Asimov's_, Nov. 1984) got me on the final ballot for the 1985 John W. Campbell Award, and my short story "Moments of Clarity" (_Full Spectrum_, Bantam Books, 1988) reached preliminary ballot for a Nebula award. I've also had stories in _Amazing_, _Aboriginal SF_, and various small press magazines. Most of my publications date from the 80s -- I was working multiple shifts in the 90s, which put a serious damper on my writing. These past few years I've been trying to get back up to speed in an industry that's changed so much I feel like Rip Van Winkle.

I'd been trying to sell this trilogy for 2-1/2 years -- I'd started trying to sell novel-length works back in the *1970s* (I wrote my first novel when I was 15) -- so I was quite pleased! If ever the dictum to go to conventions and network was brought home, this was it.

More information about the _Deviations_ trilogy is at
http://home.earthlink.net/~emalcohn/deviations.html
Thanks for reading!

posted in Fiction Writing - 2 replies

New Member

ShamanZen — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:24:04 GMT

Hello all!

I've just joined the group (good to be here) and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ashandra-Aah and my first novel, The Gate of Galithonel (www.gateofgalithonel.com), has just been released after five years of work. (Woo-hoo!) Now all I have to do is get it to sell... Any marketing ideas out there?

Thanks for all your wonderful posts. Looks like an active group, serious about the craft.

Happy writing!
A-A

posted in Fiction Writing - 3 replies