Over at io9 they have an article about Heinlein’s use of form letters for correspondence. Say what? I’ve heard of form letters for publishers and editors, but for correspondence? Did the guy really get that much fan mail? That’s just amazing! I hope I get that much fan mail some day! Anywho! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
I’m now starting to work in a new direction. Well, that’s not entirely true. What is happening is I am switching a bit on where I’m placing my focus. I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on short stories. While I don’t believe that is an entirely negative thing I have noticed that this focus has sucked away the time I spend on other projects–namely novels. True, I want to write short stories, get some published, and be known as someone who writes good shorts, but I also want to write good novels and, well, with my spending so much time on shorts it’s hard for me to get a lot of practice in on writing novels. I’ve only finished one novel–WISB–and really, I should be writing more novels. Let’s face it, the short market isn’t as viable as it once was. Novels are the big career makers and I want to have a career at this–this being writing,of course. I want to go on tours and meet new people and do autographs and have people tell me “hey, I read your book and it was good” even if it’s only one person saying it. Yet I’ll never finish any of the many novels I have in the works if I don’t take a moment to actually finish them.The Lies of Venicia is about 1/3rd finished, maybe 1/5th depending on where the story goes. I’ve started a novel for young readers–The Mysterious House of Mr. Whim–and I’ve barely dug into it. I have many other novel ideas in the works, some partially written, some that began as short stories before I realized they were something more, but put to the side because I couldn’t devote the time they deserved to finish them. That said, I have at least ten novels in various genres that I could be writing, fixing, editing, formatting, and submitting to agents. That’s what I should be doing. I know, short stories are great, and I won’t stop writing them, but I have to focus on the novels long enough to get one in submittable condition.Additional to this, I’ve noticed that I’ve spend so much time writing shorts that I’m not editing them, or putting enough focusing into the editing. This is creating some issues in the writing that are now coming to my attention. Some stories feel strained, others feel like they are missing something important, or have too much going on.So here is what I’m going to start doing: All short story writing is officially on hold except in the following cases: Finishing stories that have been started, but still need finishing. In the event that some super crazy awesome idea comes to me that I must write down or I’ll die, or implode, or explode like a supernova, thus causing irreparable damage to the inner solar system…you should beg me to write the story then, for all our sakes… Assessing all the shorts and novels I have to find those I feel are most promising for publication. Weeding out stories that were written so long ago that they aren’t worth working on anymore due to my style having changed or my writing having matured. Editing stories that have been finished to make them publishable. Submitting those stories and keeping my shorts in circulation until they are published, since that is one of Heinlein’s rules. Writing the novels that need to be finished. The Lies of Venicia, The Mysterious House of Mr. Whim, The Spellweaver of Dern, for starters. Also, planning these novels as necessary. I feel like this is an appropriate change to the way things have been going. I can still push the short story market, still bring in new material, and also focus on finishing a few other projects that are simply being set aside and ignored, which isn’t fair in some respects to you guys–my readers–since some of you might be waiting for me to finish The Spellweaver of Dern. So, that’s what’s going to go on here!
To anyone happening by that has a PW account, or wants to get one, my website–Young Writers Online–has ad space now through PW. If you have a website or a book you’d like to advertise, go check us out. Right now the ads are by the quick reply sections on every single thread on the site, including new ones created. These are probably the highest trafficked areas for our members as almost everyone uses the quick reply button. We’re going to try this out for a while and see how it goes.You can either go to the main page and just click the “your ad here” thing, or you can find us on PW by searching in the advertisers section for “young writers online” or clicking here. Anything of interest to writers, such as books, writing, comics, etc. are welcome. We’re really rather open to all kinds of ads! Anyway! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
I’ve just got the most delicious and fiery cocktail recipe through my inbox from Juno Books, to celebrate Carole Nelson Douglas’ new novel, BRIMSTONE KISS.Ingredients follow: Brimstone Kiss CocktailInvented in Brimstone Kiss by Carole Nelson Douglas “Sounds like something you’d sip on all night long and I’d knock backin couple slugs.”- Rick Blaine/Humphrey Bogart CinSim in Brimstone Kiss 2 shots Inferno Pepper Pot vodka1 shot DeKuyper “Hot Damn!” Hot Cinnamon Schnapps2 shots Alize Red Passionjalapeno pepper slice (optional)2 ounces Champagne (for second version) Version 1: Pour all the ingredients into a martini shaker with ice. Shakegently. Pour into a martini glass garnished with the jalapeƱo pepperslice. A hell of a drink! Sure to knock your socks off. Version 2: For the classier birds amongst us: Pour all the ingredients into a tall footed glass filled with ice. Stir well. Top off with two ounces of your favorite Champagne. A perfect frothy but potent brunch libation that might lead to pleasantdamnation. If you like the sound, try this cocktail invented for BRIMSTONE KISS’s precursor, DANCING WITH WEREWOLVES, or consider buying the books both cocktails come from. The Albino Vampire Cocktail is purely delish! Thanks to editor Paula Guran of Juno Books for letting us post this here.
This has been mulling in my head for quite a few days now. I was a Burger King having, well, a burger, obviously. There was an older gentleman there and he wished me a good dinner, which I thought was nice of him–I said the same to him. Generally I feel odd when random people say things to me, perhaps because I don’t know them and Santa Cruz is, unfortunately, somewhat shady in comparison to other small towns I’ve been in. Still, it was nice of him.So, I got my food, I ate, and then I packed up and headed for the door. At the door, the man looked up at me from his table and said, “Have a nice night.” And then, it got weird.“You look like a Christian,” he said.I sat there baffled and said, “Oh, well, umm…”“Are you?”“Not really, no. I’m sort of spiritual.”He proceeded to tell me that it wasn’t a bad thing to be Christian–which I knew, kind of–and mentioned how a lot of kids sort of rebelled at my age–which is true.I said, “I think it has a lot to do with parents who are religious really pushing their religion on their kids rather than letting them grow into their own beliefs. It’s hard for some kids, who live in such a diverse world, to accept their parents’ faith if it’s crammed down their throats.” Basically, my “kids aren’t really as stupid as parents think they are” speech.He agreed and suggested some other reasons, wished me a good night, and then we parted ways. What struck me about this, though, was the fact that I looked like a Christian. What exactly does a Christian look like? Is it white? Clean shaven with a little stubble? Unbrushed hair that lies messy (my hair isn’t long)? Cargo pants? I don’t get it. What about me looks Christian? How could someone of a particular religion look like someone from that religion (setting aside priest outfits and the like)?So, what do you think? Do you think I look like a Christian?
I’m not sure if I mention there there is an official website now for Survival By Storytelling Magazine. It’s mostly to provide a more “professional” atmosphere for the magazine so it doesn’t become cluttered by YWO. In any case, there you go.Also, we’re now open to non-fiction submissions, for anyone wanting to become a member of YWO and submit to the magazine. We’re still open to fiction and poetry too. Heck, we’re interested in just about anything right now. With three stories and one poem already slated to be in the first issue, we’ve got space we want to fill with more good stories, poems, and articles (and four contracts have gone out already, which is really cool). This has been a fascinating experience thus far for me, being an editor and all and knowing this thing is actually going to see the light of day as an actual publication of talented writers younger than myself. I should be jealous. Anywho! (Don’t click the read more, there isn’t any more after this!)
