Search found 139 matches
- Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:18 am
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: First Story, Rejected
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3178
Re: First Story, Rejected
Look at it this way: you need two things to be a writer--rejections and acceptances. You've got the rejection now, so you're halfway there, right? Right! Matt, if you're telling me it's supposed to be a 1:1 ratio I've got a huge pile of acceptances headed my way. Aaaaaaaaaaany minute now... Gods, i...
- Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:45 am
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: First Story, Rejected
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3178
Re: First Story, Rejected
Look at it this way: you need two things to be a writer--rejections and acceptances. You've got the rejection now, so you're halfway there, right? Right!
(I have no time to read, I'm afraid--PodCastle is open, so I'm reading slush rather than beta atm--but I wish you the best of luck :) )
(I have no time to read, I'm afraid--PodCastle is open, so I'm reading slush rather than beta atm--but I wish you the best of luck :) )
- Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:17 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Reading vs writing
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5187
Re: Reading vs writing
Most of my reading now is audiobooks through Audible, as I have an hour's commute each way. I'll also read on my Kindle some nights, but that tends to be short fiction magazines before sleep. Writing tends to be 2-3 hours a night on weeknights, so I guess it's about 50-50. You can't write without re...
- Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:15 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Can I submit stories I'm posting on my website?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 4247
Re: Can I submit stories I'm posting on my website?
Definitely only count as reprints. Even stories originally posted on Patreon--where they're locked away--get considered as reprints by most markets (e.g. PodCastle).
- Tue Jun 19, 2018 1:40 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Held for consideration
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4322
Re: Held for consideration
As a writer I don't reply, unless (very rarely) there's an explicit request for "please let us know if this is okay". (Not sure if I've ever actually seen it, or am imagining it.) As a slusher, I don't mind a reply, but that's because (at PodCastle) bump notices usually go out from the slu...
- Wed May 30, 2018 12:18 am
- Forum: Story Critique Exchange
- Topic: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
- Replies: 62
- Views: 23194
Re: critters.org Manuscript Notifications
Well... aburt has rather overreacted to the introduction of GDPR and blanket-banned EU members from the site. I can visit, I can log in, but I can't view the queue. Which is rather unnecessary, as he clearly had consent for the basis of processing, but there it is: after five full years, I'm no long...
- Tue May 29, 2018 1:13 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Cover Letters v Standard Manuscript Format
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4149
Re: Cover Letters v Standard Manuscript Format
SMF should include contact information unless guidelines explicitly state otherwise. I know Mike Resnick for one uses that contact info. A manuscript and a cover letter do not always travel hand in hand, if an editor reads on physical copies or an eReader, for example. FWIW if I'm submitting anonymo...
- Thu May 24, 2018 11:17 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Five Minute Rant
- Replies: 1179
- Views: 327512
Re: Five Minute Rant
The Tobias Buckell essay Sataris references above went up on Apex yesterday, and everyone should read it. It's really good & important stuff: https://www.apex-magazine.com/how-i-lea ... let-it-go/
Incidentally, on related note to all this: PodCastle opens in a week ;)
Incidentally, on related note to all this: PodCastle opens in a week ;)
- Thu May 24, 2018 1:28 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Five Minute Rant
- Replies: 1179
- Views: 327512
Re: Five Minute Rant
Lukewarm would be someway of saying "send in another story" evidently editors who say that mean it and aren't just being nice or polite. Hot would be a personal comment, especially if it says you were close. FWIW this is what we do at PodCastle. There are 4 tiers of rejections, available ...
- Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:29 pm
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Five Minute Rant
- Replies: 1179
- Views: 327512
Re: Five Minute Rant
Got a rejection today... yet another in a long string of form rejections. I know these folks don't have time to spare for lowly folks like me, but this one tripped me up and got me in a funk all damned day. You asked for a specific style of story, I provided said story in that style (and really lik...
- Thu Apr 26, 2018 1:01 pm
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
- Replies: 5013
- Views: 1337283
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
Here's an idea, since Sean Hazlett dropped by (hi Sean!). Why don't we fill the short jaunt to 5000 with advice on how to win the contest from former winners. It can be something you did that turned the page, something you learned at the workshop, something someone told you on a critique, advice fr...
- Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:40 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 4296
- Views: 1187935
Re: Success!
I sold a story to The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction . *faints* Blogged about it here: http://www.ympang.com/i-sold-a-story-to-the-magazine-of-fantasy-and-science-fiction/ It's close to April Fool's. Wouldn't blame y'all if you didn't believe me. Blimey! F&SF is my dream market, and I'...
- Sun Mar 04, 2018 4:30 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Can I plagiarize my own material?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 10382
Re: Can I plagiarize my own material?
Thousands of examples. Ender's Game started as a short. Flowers for Algernon started as a short. Martin is just turning his Clarkesworld short Today I Am Paul into a novel. I can't think of a flash turned into a short--which arguably compete more than shorts v novels--but chances are it would take ...
- Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:03 am
- Forum: Writing: Craft, Talent, Technique
- Topic: Rules of Writing
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4474
Re: Rules of Writing
Never self reject. 

- Tue Feb 06, 2018 12:36 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Developmental Editor
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4760
Re: Developmental Editor
Spencer Ellsworth is an excellent writer and excellent person, and currently open to work: http://spencerellsworth.com/editing-proofreading-services/ (I thoroughly recommend his space opera trilogy, btw, currently A Red Peace + Shadow Sun Seven with Memory's Blade out next month. This month? Soon, a...
- Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:20 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Success!
- Replies: 4296
- Views: 1187935
Re: Success!
I mentioned being accepted into an anthology of game-tie-in fiction a few months ago and the publisher finally announced it: http://azurekeep.com/portfolio/tales-of-ruma/ Looks like Dave and I are going to be anthology buddies again. /channels Matt Dovey and celebrates success whilst stabbing malic...
- Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:10 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Magical Realism?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7816
Re: Magical Realism?
Clever about the scar on your arm. Ever tell how that really happened? Now where would be the fun in that? wotf011 Plus, choke, that story was great. Tina did a wonderful job reading it. Tina is an amazing reader. She does a lot at Escape Pod, but she also has her own podcast that's just started up...
- Wed Nov 29, 2017 12:39 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Can I plagiarize my own material?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 10382
Re: Can I plagiarize my own material?
Thousands of examples. Ender's Game started as a short. Flowers for Algernon started as a short. Martin is just turning his Clarkesworld short Today I Am Paul into a novel. I can't think of a flash turned into a short--which arguably compete more than shorts v novels--but chances are it would take y...
- Fri Nov 24, 2017 12:30 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4782
Re: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
On another note related to this thread, what do y'all do about facebook? Do you keep a separate profile for writing associates? for fans? just create a "page" for ppl to follow? I've just gained access to this incredible network of writers, but I'm not sure I want them to see my blanket F...
- Wed Nov 22, 2017 4:19 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Magical Realism?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7816
Re: Magical Realism?
and I appreciate your fine notes too, sir, even if the narrative is off. ;) It's fun to hear about the experience. Anyone willing to write about it is awesome-possum in my book. :) I'll take what I can get. And photographers following your every move? Nice. Love the luggage photo too lol wotf013 Ac...
- Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:04 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Retellings
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4004
Re: Retellings
I think, to be honest, the market was flooded with retellings for a while and they've become a bit... passé. Which is not to say it can't be done, but that it needs to be more than simply retelling it with a modern setting or from another character's perspective; it works best when combined with som...
- Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:01 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4782
Re: Websites (This one's not spam, I swear)
Before I made the plunge, I poked around other author websites first. Matt Dovey's uses a service called DISQUS, which seems nice. Brandon Sanderson uses a private web design company (Blue Mountain Media) as does Patrick Rothfuss (Authors on the Web), but a lot of other writers, including David Dal...
- Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:55 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Magical Realism?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7816
Re: Magical Realism?
I'm for sure going to put together a bit of a diary/journal thing on the winning experience. I won't be the first to do it, but if it helps anyone it's worth it, right? Don't reckon on getting anything written up during the week, you'll be too busy! But keep notes about each day, because by the tim...
- Fri Nov 17, 2017 4:30 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Magical Realism?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7816
Re: Magical Realism?
I won with magical realism, albeit in an historical setting. And speaking from a PodCastle perspective (where I slush), "speculative element in the real world" absolutely counts as fantasy for our purposes. Personally I usually find it more interesting than secondary world, especially if ...
- Wed Nov 15, 2017 11:58 pm
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: Magical Realism?
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7816
Re: Magical Realism?
I won with magical realism, albeit in an historical setting. And speaking from a PodCastle perspective (where I slush), "speculative element in the real world" absolutely counts as fantasy for our purposes. Personally I usually find it more interesting than secondary world, especially if t...
- Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:03 am
- Forum: Quarterly Results
- Topic: Quarter 4, Writers & Illustrators of the Future, Vol 34
- Replies: 23
- Views: 7708
Re: Quarter 4, Writers & Illustrators of the Future, Vol 34
Two winners from the forum! Top showing :D
Congrats to you both! I'm sure you don't need telling, but start getting excited--you're going to have an amazing week :)
Congrats to you both! I'm sure you don't need telling, but start getting excited--you're going to have an amazing week :)
- Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:01 am
- Forum: Publishing: The Business Of
- Topic: The editorial process for short fiction
- Replies: 12
- Views: 6962
Re: The editorial process for short fiction
I think it's worth making a distinction between edits after acceptance and revise & resubmit . For the former, it's usually copy-edits IME--an editor highlighting an image they think could be clearer, or striking something they think hurts the momentum, but the story is fundamentally still the s...
- Fri Nov 10, 2017 2:14 am
- Forum: Problems and Troubleshooting
- Topic: Fixing the place up
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5709
Re: Fixing the place up
For one, I can no longer find the link that shows all new posts and comments as my front page. Found it! It's under the Quick links menu in the upper left: http://forum.writersofthefuture.com/search.php?search_id=unreadposts . It used to be under the thread/post list. I'll leave it where it is. Tha...
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:59 am
- Forum: Problems and Troubleshooting
- Topic: Fixing the place up
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5709
Re: Fixing the place up
The avatar limit is set to 6KiB, which is so tight I can't upload a 180x180 JPG because it is 6,968 bytes i.e. 6.8KB. Might be worth easing up on it a little bit? Bandwidth isn't that expensive anymore wotf001 (this may be why my avatar has disappeared from my posts altogether, even though it still ...
- Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:51 am
- Forum: The Contest - Quarterly Topics, and Other Items
- Topic: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
- Replies: 5013
- Views: 1337283
Re: Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29
Surely, if we're that close, we can make it by the end of the year?