Monday, March 28, 2011
Good evening, Dave.
So now I'm back up and working. My machine is running, with some slightly adjusted software, ( I had to download OpenOffice to be able to open my wps files) and I'm back on the treadmill. My first draft is up to an 82k word count, and aside from having lost a TON of stuff, like all my demotivational posters, the life has resumed. Onward and upward.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The 800 pound gorilla is not in your corner.
So my PC came down with something like the virus in 28 days later, and had to be wiped. If I hadn't had a backup storage that I keep my stories on, you would've heard my agonized, soul-wrenching shriek, I promise. I got my machine back from the repair place down the road on Thursday, only to find that my sound card still needed to be reconfigured. So it'll be Monday at the earliest before I am cyber aware again. I am grateful to my beloved wife for trusting me with her precious baby and letting me post.
At Con DFW, I asked a writer on one of the panels (I'll grant him anonymity) what effect he thought the filing of chapter 11 by Border's was going to have on the industry. His answer was that it's going to make Barnes and Noble's a bigger, stronger, 800 pound gorilla. He talked about how big storefront chains like Borders and Barnes and Noble have been struggling for a while now, against things like Amazon and the rise of e-readers like the Nook and Kindle and books you can download onto your phone.
Yesterday I went to go reacquaint myself with the gorilla. It's been a while since I really looked inside the Barnes and Noble's that I used to frequent, and walking in there with fresh eyes, I realized just how much of their floor space is dedicated to selling things other than books. They have racks of kits for things like origami and keepsake boxes. The kits have books in them, so I can see how it fits, but it's less of a book than a ready made craft set. They also sell toys, puzzles, and calenders. Those items, plus the non-fiction and the kid's and young adult section, took up half the store.
Over in the other half, there were sections for magazines, books on art, and travel books. In the fiction areas, I was really surprised to see how many reprints and collections of classics they had. I would guess that about a quarter of the stuff they had sitting out was by writers who were dead, if not long dead. I browsed around in the science fiction section for a while, and then in the general fiction. The sign I kept looking for, but didn't see, was 'Horror.' On my way out, I stopped by the information desk, and the young lady there informed me that they kept the horror mixed in with the general fiction. It wasn't a surprise, but it was disappointing.
Shall I add that Border's has a horror section, as does the Half-Price Books that my wife and I just got back from? If what Barnes and Noble's is doing helps them survive, then I'm all for it. There are other venues, but especially for a guy pounding out his first book, B&N is important. They will be the ones taking a book from an unknown writer and putting it up in front of the people who buy books. That's what will put money in the writer's pocket.
So with that in mind, I'm a little more forgiving of all the emphasis I've been hearing about how important it is for a writer to get out there into the world and sell both himself and his book. The book-buying public's options just became a little narrower. As writer's, part of our new job is to widen it again. Right now B&N seems to be adjusting to what the public wants, and if you can make them want you, guess what B&N might do?
So what, exactly, to do? Well, I heard a story, again at a convention, about how Larry McMurtry once asked his publishers just where his books were selling, and they told him they were doing well at truckstops and diners. So he went on the road with a van that dispensed coffee and beer out the back, and spent some face time with the working class folks who decided where his books ended up on the racks: down at the bottom, or up at face level. Something like that might not work today, but the example is a good one. The gorilla is not a single mind. It's made up of thousands of different people, each with their own priorities. That's the good news. For now, I'm off to hunt down some bananas.
*Note: When I initially wrote this entry, I had to rush. I've since smoothed it out a bit.*
At Con DFW, I asked a writer on one of the panels (I'll grant him anonymity) what effect he thought the filing of chapter 11 by Border's was going to have on the industry. His answer was that it's going to make Barnes and Noble's a bigger, stronger, 800 pound gorilla. He talked about how big storefront chains like Borders and Barnes and Noble have been struggling for a while now, against things like Amazon and the rise of e-readers like the Nook and Kindle and books you can download onto your phone.
Yesterday I went to go reacquaint myself with the gorilla. It's been a while since I really looked inside the Barnes and Noble's that I used to frequent, and walking in there with fresh eyes, I realized just how much of their floor space is dedicated to selling things other than books. They have racks of kits for things like origami and keepsake boxes. The kits have books in them, so I can see how it fits, but it's less of a book than a ready made craft set. They also sell toys, puzzles, and calenders. Those items, plus the non-fiction and the kid's and young adult section, took up half the store.
Over in the other half, there were sections for magazines, books on art, and travel books. In the fiction areas, I was really surprised to see how many reprints and collections of classics they had. I would guess that about a quarter of the stuff they had sitting out was by writers who were dead, if not long dead. I browsed around in the science fiction section for a while, and then in the general fiction. The sign I kept looking for, but didn't see, was 'Horror.' On my way out, I stopped by the information desk, and the young lady there informed me that they kept the horror mixed in with the general fiction. It wasn't a surprise, but it was disappointing.
Shall I add that Border's has a horror section, as does the Half-Price Books that my wife and I just got back from? If what Barnes and Noble's is doing helps them survive, then I'm all for it. There are other venues, but especially for a guy pounding out his first book, B&N is important. They will be the ones taking a book from an unknown writer and putting it up in front of the people who buy books. That's what will put money in the writer's pocket.
So with that in mind, I'm a little more forgiving of all the emphasis I've been hearing about how important it is for a writer to get out there into the world and sell both himself and his book. The book-buying public's options just became a little narrower. As writer's, part of our new job is to widen it again. Right now B&N seems to be adjusting to what the public wants, and if you can make them want you, guess what B&N might do?
So what, exactly, to do? Well, I heard a story, again at a convention, about how Larry McMurtry once asked his publishers just where his books were selling, and they told him they were doing well at truckstops and diners. So he went on the road with a van that dispensed coffee and beer out the back, and spent some face time with the working class folks who decided where his books ended up on the racks: down at the bottom, or up at face level. Something like that might not work today, but the example is a good one. The gorilla is not a single mind. It's made up of thousands of different people, each with their own priorities. That's the good news. For now, I'm off to hunt down some bananas.
*Note: When I initially wrote this entry, I had to rush. I've since smoothed it out a bit.*
Monday, March 7, 2011
A marker reached
I hit a bit of a milestone yesterday. A short while back, I did some research on what the 'right' length for a novel is. A bunch of the short stories that I've written have ended up in the 10,000 word range, and while I think that length gives you enough space to tell a good, rich story, anything like that is a pain to sell because most print magazines and anthologies want 5000-6000 word pieces. There were different opinions, but many agreed that 80,000-100,00 words is a good length.
I started this book, Roja, a few years ago, and set it aside when I got a better idea of what the market and the competition are like, and focused on short stories so that I could get my name out there on paper somewhere. Now that I've picked it back up, the last thing I want to do is look up when I'm done and realize I have a monstrosity the size of Atlas Shrugged. I tend to have all sorts of great ideas about other stuff that should be added when I'm rewriting something, and while I don't plan on hacking out stuff that fits someone else's formula, one of the end goals is to have something that some hard-working editor will pay me for.
Last night, while still cursing the fact that I seem to have lost one of the handwritten sheets of paper that I'm transcribing, I looked up after hitting the 'save' button once again, and did a word count. 80071 words. Not bad for someone who used to abandon whatever he was working on whenever he got a new idea.
Next stop, who knows? I'll keep you posted.
I started this book, Roja, a few years ago, and set it aside when I got a better idea of what the market and the competition are like, and focused on short stories so that I could get my name out there on paper somewhere. Now that I've picked it back up, the last thing I want to do is look up when I'm done and realize I have a monstrosity the size of Atlas Shrugged. I tend to have all sorts of great ideas about other stuff that should be added when I'm rewriting something, and while I don't plan on hacking out stuff that fits someone else's formula, one of the end goals is to have something that some hard-working editor will pay me for.
Last night, while still cursing the fact that I seem to have lost one of the handwritten sheets of paper that I'm transcribing, I looked up after hitting the 'save' button once again, and did a word count. 80071 words. Not bad for someone who used to abandon whatever he was working on whenever he got a new idea.
Next stop, who knows? I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Allow me to introduce myself.
So who am I? Well, what would you like to know? I'm a writer who still has his day job, for a start, and what I'm focusing on right now is getting some short stories published while finishing my first book. So far I've appeared in Absent Willow Review, (http://absentwillowreview.com/) winning their editor's choice award with 'Roaming' and getting my first paid sale. Another of my stories, Trolls, tied for third place in the Fen Con VI short story contest.
I go to a lot of conventions, hitting FenCon, ConDFW, and A-Kon regularly. This year World Horror Con will be in Austin, and I'm really looking forward to it. While at cons I'm usually working at my wife's booth (Pan-gaia Designs) in the dealer's room when I'm not at panels. If you're at one of the conventions, by all means stop by and say hello.
As you might have guessed, in addition to writing horror, I'm a big fan. Mostly books and movies, but sometimes I'll find a painting, photo, or poem that touches the same nerve. I read King, Matheson, Lovecraft, Poe, and am constantly picking up books by people I have never heard of before.
I listen to old metal songs that remind me of the 80's, and new pop that makes me smile. I'm a gamer, a veteran, and I've been told by more than one friend, usually in an exasperated tone while they're in the passenger seat, that I drive like a little old lady.
What I plan on doing here is talking about the stories I'm writing, have written, stuff by other writers that I recommend, and pretty much whatever else I feel needs to be said, in that order. This is going to be where I talk to you, people who I feel the need to comment on, and myself. I'll give you as much as I feel might pique your interest and not send you running away screaming.
Welcome.
I go to a lot of conventions, hitting FenCon, ConDFW, and A-Kon regularly. This year World Horror Con will be in Austin, and I'm really looking forward to it. While at cons I'm usually working at my wife's booth (Pan-gaia Designs) in the dealer's room when I'm not at panels. If you're at one of the conventions, by all means stop by and say hello.
As you might have guessed, in addition to writing horror, I'm a big fan. Mostly books and movies, but sometimes I'll find a painting, photo, or poem that touches the same nerve. I read King, Matheson, Lovecraft, Poe, and am constantly picking up books by people I have never heard of before.
I listen to old metal songs that remind me of the 80's, and new pop that makes me smile. I'm a gamer, a veteran, and I've been told by more than one friend, usually in an exasperated tone while they're in the passenger seat, that I drive like a little old lady.
What I plan on doing here is talking about the stories I'm writing, have written, stuff by other writers that I recommend, and pretty much whatever else I feel needs to be said, in that order. This is going to be where I talk to you, people who I feel the need to comment on, and myself. I'll give you as much as I feel might pique your interest and not send you running away screaming.
Welcome.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Near midnight, and talking to myself again.
So I've heard the advice over and over again, that to get your name out there as a writer, you need to have a blog. A blog lets the unsuspecting public get a peek into your mind, and later everyone can look back and laugh at all the dumb things that you will have said.
Well then, here we go. Fair warning: If you like good horror, whether in print or on film, or enjoy thinking for it's own sake from time to time, then you and I may have many a long evening of good conversation ahead. I can be a bit blunt, especially about something I feel strongly about, but I have no plans to use this as a soapbox. Polite comments are always welcome, impolite ones will be edited to make you look like an even bigger fool than you are.
On the other hand, if you frighten easily, or jump when you hear your name whispered when you know you're alone in the house, -- by all means, come on in. That chair right up front is just for you.
Well then, here we go. Fair warning: If you like good horror, whether in print or on film, or enjoy thinking for it's own sake from time to time, then you and I may have many a long evening of good conversation ahead. I can be a bit blunt, especially about something I feel strongly about, but I have no plans to use this as a soapbox. Polite comments are always welcome, impolite ones will be edited to make you look like an even bigger fool than you are.
On the other hand, if you frighten easily, or jump when you hear your name whispered when you know you're alone in the house, -- by all means, come on in. That chair right up front is just for you.
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