Adventures In Writing

[Slamhamster]

Ah, is that a generous offer or a bit of good natured pimpage?

[kahless]

Well Lightspeed Mag live up to their name, had a reply in super quick time.

They're not taking my story, said it didn't really grab them.

So that's 2 rejections for the same story, both for different reasons - 1st because military steampunk didn't fit with the anthology & 2nd because it didn't grab the reader.

I lifted this story out of the anthology I'm putting together, it's going back in as it is without any re-reads or edits.

[Starkers]

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

I've just started a blog to get back into the habit of writing for at least a few hours a week. My previous job entailed a lengthy commute and was a busy night shift so I was usually a bit too knackered to put pen to paper; now that I have a bit more spare time I'm hoping to ease back into things.

The blog should be available at http://thespiralarm.wordpress.com/ but there isn't a lot there at the moment. From small acorns etc.

Damn! Reading through the last few pages it seems most of you lot are published already. Any tips for the newbie?

I think Stephen summed it up best...persistence is the watchword, you have to keep going, take the knocks and come back punching-- I'd also add in that proof reading, and editing are vital. I still don't do either enough, but my work is of a far higher standard than it once was.

Other than that, I'd say trying to write a little every day, even if just a few hundred words, is a good thing to aim for as well.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by kahless

Well Lightspeed Mag live up to their name, had a reply in super quick time.

They're not taking my story, said it didn't really grab them.

So that's 2 rejections for the same story, both for different reasons - 1st because military steampunk didn't fit with the anthology & 2nd because it didn't grab the reader.

I lifted this story out of the anthology I'm putting together, it's going back in as it is without any re-reads or edits.

wow that is pretty quick. I notice they take stories up to 7500 words, and more importantly will look at things with sexual content or themes. Finally might have found someone I'd be comfortable sending my 'didn't quite make the cut' Satyr story too, although given it's 9000 words long I'd have to see if I could trim it.

Good luck with the anthology. I've now started on my new novel so that's my main focus, at the moment at least, but I'm still mulling over the kindle anthology idea...

[Stephen Palmer]

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

Ah, is that a generous offer or a bit of good natured pimpage?

Both, I guess! Us authors have profiles to maintain...

[Starkers]

Nothing wrong with a little self promotion now and again!

For anyone who's interested, Black Library (Games Workshop's publishing arm) have made some changes to their submission guidlines, amending the submission window somewhat (they seem to have pulled it back a month), they're also introducing choose your own advernture stories and, after this upcoming window won't be accepting novel pitches from new writers, only short stories.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/Getting-...k-Library.html

[Stephen Palmer]

Originally Posted by Starkers

Nothing wrong with a little self promotion now and again!

... and that's why I have a new author photo.

[Starkers]

And another Interzone rejection letter

[kahless]

I don't know if anyone has read Empire State by Adam Christopher?

Adam, along with Angry Robot have created Worldbuilder whereby the author and publisher are allowing authors to create and submit original stories, poems, comic strips, scripts set in the world created by Adam in Empire State.

Interesting concept.

[Starkers]

That’s interesting, looks like they potentially want to expand the universe further; perhaps they feel it’s got the potential to create a large scale franchise out of it.

Or maybe it’s a good way to sell more copies of the book or maybe they just think it’d be a lot of fun.
I suspect it’s probably a mixture of the three. I haven’t read the novel, but have to admit it did sound

interesting, and it’s potentially a nice opportunity to get some work into the public domain, get a foot a little bit further in the door. Doubt I can do anything with this anytime soon but I’ll definitely keep it at the back of my mind.

[Iain Gibson]

I did read the novel - and although I mostly enjoyed it, I can't say it's the sort of universe I really wanted to play in. It seemed a bit to specific for the story - I didn't really get a sense for the world beyond what was actually in the book.

It is an interesting concept - although I wonder if it would really move beyond be anything more than authorised fan fiction.