Last year I attempted to post writing progress updates each week. At Necon, the previous year, someone told me that that's how he kept himself motivated to write. So I gave it a go.
It lasted eleven weeks.
Not that I needed motivation to write, of course; I needed—and still need—to manage my time better. So the weekly updates did nothing to help me write consistently. Plus, to me, they seemed boring and rather haughty. So I stopped doing them. Weekly, anyway.
So here's a new update.
I now work from home, so I have an extra two hours to write each day. I haven't been fully utilizing those extra hours, but I am slowly weeding out distractions and getting a lot more done. This month, I submitted short stories to Camera Obscura and Weird Tales, as well as four poems to Toasted Cheese. And more submissions are lined up, once additional rewrites are done.
I still have a story short-listed with Dark Recesses, but they've been silent—on-line and off—since September, when they told me the story was short-listed. Queries have also gone unanswered. That's never a good sign.
The better news is that my story "Goddamn Electric" has been accepted for inclusion in The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1, a new anthology being put out by Jason Sizemore and Apex Publications. (This may actually come out under a new imprint name; not entirely sure yet.) Wait...I mentioned this in a previous post, huh? I think I did. Whatever. It rocks. Simulated high-five and/or fist bump...GO!
As for new stuff, I'm currently putting the finishing touches on "A Deeper Kind of Cold," a twisted sci-fi horror tale. I began this one years ago, then put it aside, then picked it, then put it aside. It needed to simmer...for a long time, apparently.
Then there's "She Cries," a sad ghost story which I really dig. It's another old story that I've recently rewritten. But before that, I'll be finishing the beginning of a collaborative story between me, John Boden, Nick Contor, and Mercedes M. Yardley. Can't wait to see how this one comes together.
And there you have it.
Oh...and another round of Shock Totem holiday tales, just in time for Valentine's Day? I think so. Dig!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Storitus Interruptus
The woes of a writer.
I'm contemplating withdrawing a story. Problem is, it's with a magazine that I dig. Worse, they short-listed the story back in September and said I'd hear back in four to five weeks. I gave them nearly three months before querying—twice.
Unfortunately, I heard nothing back. So I contacted someone by other means who said I'd hear back last week. I didn't. Now I'm torn. Do I continue to wait, or pull it and move along?
Recently, I withdrew another story from a market which had had my story for six months. I think that's too long to wait. (It took them a year the first time I submitted.) If F&SF can respond in eleven days—by mail!—then surely any other publication can respond within six months. Of course, there are few "big" markets out there, really, so I guess they can get away with it. But for me, that's just too long to hold someone's story, even if the publication allows simultaneous submissions. Most don't, which sort of renders that allowance worthless.
So while I think six months is long enough to wait, I'm not sure about three.
Another concern is this particular publication's future, which is showing telltale signs no writer likes to see. The magazine was heading skyward, but has since stalled on the tracks. No updates since September. Bummer. So I don't know what to do. Thus, I rant. Weakly.
I'm contemplating withdrawing a story. Problem is, it's with a magazine that I dig. Worse, they short-listed the story back in September and said I'd hear back in four to five weeks. I gave them nearly three months before querying—twice.
Unfortunately, I heard nothing back. So I contacted someone by other means who said I'd hear back last week. I didn't. Now I'm torn. Do I continue to wait, or pull it and move along?
Recently, I withdrew another story from a market which had had my story for six months. I think that's too long to wait. (It took them a year the first time I submitted.) If F&SF can respond in eleven days—by mail!—then surely any other publication can respond within six months. Of course, there are few "big" markets out there, really, so I guess they can get away with it. But for me, that's just too long to hold someone's story, even if the publication allows simultaneous submissions. Most don't, which sort of renders that allowance worthless.
So while I think six months is long enough to wait, I'm not sure about three.
Another concern is this particular publication's future, which is showing telltale signs no writer likes to see. The magazine was heading skyward, but has since stalled on the tracks. No updates since September. Bummer. So I don't know what to do. Thus, I rant. Weakly.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Shock Totem #3 Now Available
Shock Totem's third issue is available. Most of you know this, but I forgot to mention it here. Shocking.
Anyway, if you've not seen it, here is the brilliant artwork, done by Mikio Murakami:
[ click photo to enlarge ]
And here is the final table of contents:
* Victim of Changes: An Editorial, by K. Allen Wood
* Bop Kabala and Communist Jazz, by Tim Lieder
* The Meat Forest, by John Haggerty
* Tying Notes to Bricks: A Conversation with D. Harlan Wilson, by John Boden
* Drift, by Amanda C. Davis
* Worm Central Tonite! by John Skipp
* Fifth Voyage, by WC Roberts
* Strange Goods and Other Oddities (Reviews)
* Abominations: Voracious Black: An Article, by Mercedes M. Yardley
* Day Job, by Merrilee Faber
* A Birth in the Year of the Miracle Plague, by Jeremy Kelly
* The Outlaw Fringe: A Conversation with Count Lyle (Ghoultown), by K. Allen Wood
* Wanting It, by Aaron Polson
* Eye, You, by Joseph Morgado
* Bloodstains & Blue Suede Shoes, Part 1, by John Boden and Simon Marshall-Jones
* Stitched, by Christopher Green
* Ruth Across the Sea, by Steven Pirie (2010 Flash Fiction Contest Winner)
* Duval Street, by Mekenzie Larsen
* Mr. Many Faces, by S. Clayton Rhodes
* Howling Through the Keyhole (Author Notes)
Currently you can order it directly from us through Paypal and also through Amazon.com. More online retailers will make it available in the coming days and weeks. Visit Shock Totem to order now.
Oh, and don't forget, our first two issues are on sale for the rest of the month. The cost for each is just $3.89, plus shipping.
Anyway, if you've not seen it, here is the brilliant artwork, done by Mikio Murakami:
[ click photo to enlarge ]
And here is the final table of contents:
* Victim of Changes: An Editorial, by K. Allen Wood
* Bop Kabala and Communist Jazz, by Tim Lieder
* The Meat Forest, by John Haggerty
* Tying Notes to Bricks: A Conversation with D. Harlan Wilson, by John Boden
* Drift, by Amanda C. Davis
* Worm Central Tonite! by John Skipp
* Fifth Voyage, by WC Roberts
* Strange Goods and Other Oddities (Reviews)
* Abominations: Voracious Black: An Article, by Mercedes M. Yardley
* Day Job, by Merrilee Faber
* A Birth in the Year of the Miracle Plague, by Jeremy Kelly
* The Outlaw Fringe: A Conversation with Count Lyle (Ghoultown), by K. Allen Wood
* Wanting It, by Aaron Polson
* Eye, You, by Joseph Morgado
* Bloodstains & Blue Suede Shoes, Part 1, by John Boden and Simon Marshall-Jones
* Stitched, by Christopher Green
* Ruth Across the Sea, by Steven Pirie (2010 Flash Fiction Contest Winner)
* Duval Street, by Mekenzie Larsen
* Mr. Many Faces, by S. Clayton Rhodes
* Howling Through the Keyhole (Author Notes)
Currently you can order it directly from us through Paypal and also through Amazon.com. More online retailers will make it available in the coming days and weeks. Visit Shock Totem to order now.
Oh, and don't forget, our first two issues are on sale for the rest of the month. The cost for each is just $3.89, plus shipping.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
It's Goddamn Electric!
Early last year, after a period of not writing anything, I whipped up this short little thing about a thousand words long. Took me an hour or two, but I was excited that I'd finally written something after many weeks of writing nothing at all. So I showed it off—"Look here now! I wrote this!" Problem was, it was a bit of a mess, and people were quick to let me know it.
(Learn that lesson early: Never show people first drafts!)
So I went back to the drawing board—which I knew I would, of course. I cut the original in half, added an additional 5,000 or so words, and a few months later emerged "Goddamn Electric," my very first zombie tale. And if you're wondering, yes, that title is a nod to the almighty Pantera.
Being a huge music fan, I love doing that sort of thing. There's also a Ghoultown connection to the story, though that was entirely unintentional. I named the protagonist Everett Sykes. It's the first name that popped into my head, and it was perfect. Then I remembered a little Ghoultown jam called "The Ballad of Everett Sykes." Whoopsie.
Anyway, long story shorter than it could be, "Goddamn Electric" has been accepted for The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1, a new anthology from Apex Publications. Check out the cover art and TOC below:
"Goddamn Electric" is my second sale, but my first pro (i.e. big) sale. Diggity! Sharing pages with Lee Thompson and newcomer BJ Burrow is pretty sweet as well. Tentative release date is late February, I believe.
Lastly, a few weeks ago I posted a free Christmas tale, "Streamer of Silver, Ribbon of Red," which takes place in Bridgetown, Massachusetts, the fictional location of "Goddamn Electric," and also features Little Jimmy Stanford, a character from "Goddamn Electric." If you're interested in reading it, click here. Little Jimmy fares a bit better in the holiday tale.
Anyway, here's to 2011, Year of the Wood. Haha.
(Learn that lesson early: Never show people first drafts!)
So I went back to the drawing board—which I knew I would, of course. I cut the original in half, added an additional 5,000 or so words, and a few months later emerged "Goddamn Electric," my very first zombie tale. And if you're wondering, yes, that title is a nod to the almighty Pantera.
Being a huge music fan, I love doing that sort of thing. There's also a Ghoultown connection to the story, though that was entirely unintentional. I named the protagonist Everett Sykes. It's the first name that popped into my head, and it was perfect. Then I remembered a little Ghoultown jam called "The Ballad of Everett Sykes." Whoopsie.
Anyway, long story shorter than it could be, "Goddamn Electric" has been accepted for The Zombie Feed, Vol. 1, a new anthology from Apex Publications. Check out the cover art and TOC below:
"Goddamn Electric" is my second sale, but my first pro (i.e. big) sale. Diggity! Sharing pages with Lee Thompson and newcomer BJ Burrow is pretty sweet as well. Tentative release date is late February, I believe.
Lastly, a few weeks ago I posted a free Christmas tale, "Streamer of Silver, Ribbon of Red," which takes place in Bridgetown, Massachusetts, the fictional location of "Goddamn Electric," and also features Little Jimmy Stanford, a character from "Goddamn Electric." If you're interested in reading it, click here. Little Jimmy fares a bit better in the holiday tale.
Anyway, here's to 2011, Year of the Wood. Haha.
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