I Get It

Lately I've been blogging less and when I do get around to it, writing is only a small topic because, well, I'm not doing any at the moment.

I get that most (if not all) of you are not interested in my sporting prowess. Understandable.

I get that most of you couldn't give a toss that I've been reading. I understand that. All you really want to know is whether or not your story has been short listed for Dark Pages Volume 1. I get that. I do.

We have begun our first heat wave of the season here (bear with me, there is relevance). Yesterday was well over 35C and today is forecast 38C. Wednesday through Friday is forecast to be 39C with a cool change blowing in for Saturday with a freezing cold 34C. A heatwave around here is anything forecast at 35C and up. Normally we don't see these extended periods of super hot temperatures until January/February.

Thing is, I've been struggling with pain in my joints, particularly my knees, during the colder months. Now it's hot, I don't get as much pain. That is - not as much pain...so it's still there and sometimes it's just as bad, but most of the time it's better. Unfortunately, during all this reduced pain, my family is suffering in the intense heat. A grumpy family can make for less comfort than painful knees (still with me...nearly there).

So what is better? Pain in the joints and a happy family, or less pain for me but more discomfort for everyone else?

Depends on the point of view you're looking at it from and what your priorities are (see where I'm going yet?).

You send out a story you've worked long and hard on to a very cool new anthology market being edited by this seriously talented first time editor (or you send it to me) - and then you hear nothing back for ages, or, worse, you get back a rejection in almost record time. In either case, you drop to your knees and plead to the pantheon of creatures both divine and sublime, and wish for a response to your submission/for an editor to take longer and saviour the brilliance that is your work.

You surf over to the editor's blog and see requests for shorter stories or dark urban fantasy or witty black comedy set in the future, and you think, 'But that's what I sent you' - which loops back to you dropping to your knees and decrying the unfairness of those fantastical creatures sitting high on their pearl thrones because you haven't yet had a response/already received your rejection letter.

The point of all this is simple - be careful what you wish for (yes, it was going home via the cape but hey, what did you expect?).

If you want editors to be quicker in responding, you may not like what you get back. If you want editors to take more time in considering your work, then be prepared to wait.

However, there is a sure fire way to circumvent all of this! Yes, my friends, I have for you a wonderful cure-all that shall take away your ills and add strength to any failing faith you have in this craft or this industry in which we are so deeply ensconced. And it's free - well, it doesn't have to cost money - but it will cost time and effort on your part.

The solution to all you woes: write a kick arse story that addresses the criteria set out in the guidelines or direct requests as stated on the editor's blog! Do this and you will receive a very fast email stating that it is to be held over for further consideration.

Tomorrow I am in meetings all day, so I intend to get some reading done today that I didn't get to yesterday. My to-read submission pile is dwindling and all my dreams for this project has not yet been met - send more stories - blow my mind!

And finally - onto more important news:

Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street!

Link Salad

It is still way too hot over here to do anything really constructive. For dinner tonight we'll be having cold meat and salad rolls - that is cold meats, fresh salad on just-from-the-bakery rolls - very nice. We are having this as no one wants to cook in 43C and no one wants to go back outside get take away or eat at a restaurant - even if we could afford it. So cold meat and salad rolls it is.

And for the blog today, I'm also going to cut a few corners and add a link salad. Get it? Cold meat and salad...link salad...sorry...I did say it was hot, didn't I?

In no particular order:

Speakeasy has a good post on improving the craft, which contains good links to other stuff writers should read.

Litmatch dishes out some worthwhile encouragement

The wonderfully named Ms Sin hands out a reminder on confidence and exactly where it should be placed.

And lastly Alexandra Sokoloff has posted an article about "The High Concept" within your story.

Speaking of Alex, I contacted her the other day for some information regarding the Australian release dates of her books and passed on my overall thoughts after reading her first book "The Harrowing". Her response was, apart from providing me with the requested info, and being humble in response to my praise, was to encourage me to write quicker so she could then read my work.

A nice sentiment, but it awakened a stronger need in me. I don't need to write quicker, I need to learn quicker on how to write well. And it is happening.

Over the past few months, I've been learning what makes up a good story, both in print and in film. Alex has prompted everyone who goes to her site, to start thinking about the films they like for specific things. I'm reading some excellent writing books. Websites and blogs of quality information have been offering up brilliant suggestions. Interaction with other writers has shed light on things all writers should know.

I am now beginning to take books and films apart automatically. Not every scene as I still wish to enjoy what I'm watching or reading, but I do mentally bookmark bits to come back to, or add a post-it note to a book. On second viewing or reading, I start to seriously pull things apart. I can now recognise what makes me think something is good, and just as importantly, recognise what is missing for me to think something is not-so-good.

I'm thinking in layers. I'm thinking about how I can better convey theme through additional layers. I'm thinking how I can better describe individual things and relate things back to character, setting, or theme. I'm thinking this way in both the short and long form of story telling.

I'm still improving in my writing - which is timely because Too Late the Rain has just gathered another rejection. The current version of this story was written in August last year. It has garnered two rejection since then. The first came after it was passed around for a second read, so it was in the running. The second came back with a very long and detailed response. Food for thought.

Both markets were in the flat payment, semi-pro, market range. I think I currently have 22 other markets of similar prestige and market positioning listed on the AHWA market database. Not all of these will be interested in this type of story, but the point is, I'm not finished sending this out yet. And then there is the lower paying and exposure markets.

I may have a play with the suggestions from the latest rejection, or at the very least, give it another going over to see if I can improve the writing, but as sure as I know these days of 40C+ temperatures can't last forever, this story will continue being sent to market and this story will find a home one day.

Go read the links and good luck with your submissions

BT

Something Different

I finished preparations for the new school year yesterday. My website now sits ready to accept my progress through the coming year of study.

I've read about half of the first module. Due to the current heat wave (it got to 45.7 on Wednesday and 44.6 yesterday, well over 40 again today and more to come for the next week or so), I'll have time over the weekend to read the remainder.

Next week I begin the first assignment.

Today I wrote another piece for the Cafe Doom flash challenge. We'll see how that goes. I liked it. It is a definite skill to be able to write a fully fledged story in 350 words or less. I think I got it right this time round.

I updated the market information on the AHWA database. I'm still waiting on a couple of reports to complete it, but the majority of the work required for Feb has been done.

As well as completing my course reading over the weekend, I intend to polish my two current works in progress to the point of being able to send out to my beta readers. On that note, I'm looking for someone who writes dark fiction to swap work with. If I have left a comment on your blog or interacted with you within the comments section of this one, and you would like to swap work on an informal basis - give me a yell.

I have no idea what the schedule is like in anyones life so I'm not going to make specific requests of anybody. If you'd like to give it a shot at working together, I'd be happy to hear from you.

I love my current beta readers to death. They have, and continue to help me immensely, but neither write on the dark side (although some of their work points very much to them dipping in a toe - maybe I'm affecting them with the stuff they have to read of mine...). I'm curious to see what another writer of the dark stuff thinks of my work.

Hoping to speak to at least one of you soon.

BT

2009 Truly Begins

Yesterday I worked some more on Digging Up The Past, my story slated for the Devil's Food Antho. Today I finished the first draft. She now sits at 5186 words. I'll let it sit for a while before revising.

Its not as if I don't suddenly have anything else to do.

You see, my course books arrived last night.

First Module off the rank is titled "Writing For Film & Television" - and surprisingly enough, the course book goes on and on about all the things I've been learning about over at Alexandra Sokoloff's blog (link in sidebar - I know, I'm lazy).

The biggest issue I have is the way the course coordinator wants a short script each fortnight. The first is to be only two pages long, the second 3, the next 5, and on we go till we get to assignment 8 where the script is to be up to 15 pages in length. Each one is to have a beginning, a middle and an end.

Formatting for scripts is somewhat different than my normal story writing. You can fit way less on the page, and detail of setting is to be kept to a minimum. How does one tell a complete story in a visual format in less than a few minutes? I know independent film makers just starting out tend to do it all the time, but they always seemed cliche or totally abstract when I watch them. Not sure I can do that. I'm going to give it a go by adapting some of my flash stories, starting with my piece titled Wake-Up Call. At least I don't have to think up the dialogue and the scene doesn't change. What's that saying about 'gently into the fray...'

While struggling with this module, I'll also be doing Write Fiction 2. I really enjoyed the lead up module to this one, and it is a requirement for me to move onto writing a novel next year (that would be polishing the current WIP I hope).

My battle with Mr Jonathon Stone continues in the second half of the year when I become an internal student. That will be interesting. To round off the year I get to examine contemporary Australia which will be in line with the current direction my writing is heading anyway - cool, hey! For more detailed information - go look here.

Anybody see how I'm attempting to manipulate things here so my writing works for my assignments which is working for my writing in an ever increasing circle? Hopefully folding my learning layer over layer (Sara Lee anyone) will result in a greater grasp of the craft leading to a breakout year next year (if not sooner - although the plan is still for 2012).

This brings to mind another great saying: The best laid plans of Mice and Men...

Last night I also received 4 new stories to slush. I've read one so far. I'm still yet to suggest accepting anything :c(

Currently outside we are experiencing temperatures in excess of 45C. I'm inside, at my day job, where the air conditioner is keeping things at a lovely 30C+ (Yep--it can't cope either).

Don't get me wrong, I prefer it to be hot than cold. The cold makes me ache, joints seize up, life is miserable. Heat equals movement, less pain, and females with less clothing on. How can any male prefer the cold?

Enough from me for today. I'll be heading over to my website to update a few things and to create the new pages for the 2009 academic year. Pop on over if you ever get a chance or want to check out my progress.

Adios for now.

BT

Comment Response

Too many things to cover so rather than answer individual responses I'll just list them off here.

Felicity: The Blackness Within is the antho you're after. Looks like it could be a good one to aim at.

Cate: I'll add your suggested authors to my reading list. Definitely add Alex to yours. I've just finished reading her first book "The Harrowing" and found it to be deliciously dark, extremely well thought out, and beautifully written. It's getting four stars from me when I do the review. At only 250 or so pages, it's an easy read I knocked off inside a day but that may also be due to the story just pulling me in and not letting go. Highly recommended.

Ben: Good on you for having some pieces in the works. I'm looking forward to reading something of yours.

Jamie & KC: I found it somewhat liberating to finally make a decision on some of the older stuff and finally move on. I've also come to the conclusion I'm all about quality rather than quantity. In my first year I wrote a bad fantasy manuscript and 14 short stories. Last year I wrote about half that plus all my assignments. This year I'll still have the same number of assignments, I'm looking to do the second half of my manuscript but I'll be lucky to do half a dozen shorts. I'm aiming at publications with deadlines down the track a ways to give me ample chance to work on the stories. By next year, I'm guessing I'll be lucky to write a couple of shorts.

The Weather: This week deserves its own comment. Today is forecast to be 35C. Tomorrow, 42C. Wednesday, 41C. Thursday, 42C. Friday, 42C, Saturday, 42C.

By the end of the week, we should have all melted. Nice.

Still Playing

I've figured out how to put a background onto the blog but not how to extend it all the way to the right edge - still working on that.

According to my counters, people are visiting my little corner of cyberspace but none of you wish to leave a comment :( Please let me know what you think of the layout and the content. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please. OK I'll stop begging now.

My critiques are still receiving good feedback from TPN which is nice. I'm glad to be useful to some. My crit of a FF members short was also received favourably. I'm not into blowing sunshine up the proverbial so it's comforting to know that some people are serious about wanting to improve their craft. I'm not a total prick about it either so people needn't worry I'm going to set out to destroy them. I only want to help.

I need to update the version of "Too Late the Rain" that is going on Critters soon (I think - I hope) and do at least one crit for those members.

Still waiting on a response from any one of the six pieces I currently have out in the market. Five of them are now over due a response. One has probably been overlooked and the editors not bothered to respond as this is a freelance market and they can be notorious for not responding. Four of them are due a response sometime this month as the deadline was the end of last month. The market is after 500 stories for an anthology of which I've submitted four. The last isn't due a response until mid next month. Soon, "Drinkers" and "Too Late The Rain" will be joining them.

The heat continues here in Adelaide. Today is supposed to top 41C with tomorrow being 39C and Sunday 40C. Not looking good for the cricket grand final. I may well have already played my last game. I've been nominated by the umpires for the Grade 2 medal for cricketer of the year which was nice. I don't expect to come close to some of the others who have been nominated from other clubs but it is nice to get the nod for the 6th time (I think) in my time playing cricket. Unfortunately I've never won it.

Well - time to go crit something for Critters and resub "Too Late the Rain".

Good luck with whatever you're writing at the moment and remember no editor will purchase your work if you don't submit it.

BT

Playing

As you can see, I'm playing around with the background and the colours. I am far from finished. If you visit and like what you see or absolutely hate it, then please comment.

For now - I'm going to bed as its getting late and the heat has drained me. We are currently in the middle of the longest heat wave in Australian history here in Adelaide. 11 days straight over 35C. Today got to 41C and tomorrow is forecast the same. I need some sleep.

My assignment has been posted and I'm completely up to date on my crits. Cricket season finishes this weekend so beginning next week - I'll have time to organise my schedule and really start enjoying life and my writing - looking forward to it!

Hope everything is going as well for you as it is for me. Now if I can only get some acceptances...

Good luck with your submissions.

BT