Lawrence M. Schoen is one of the most innovative and surprising authors in science fantasy. He has brought heartfelt personal symbolism together with golden age space opera traditions in his new novel “Barsk: The Elephants’ Graveyard” from Tor Books. He has impressed the luminary Walter Jon Williams and I have little doubt Lawrence will cast a broad light to expand visions of sci-fantasy. Have a look, get acquainted, and please pre-order!
If people could perceive their situation without bias or prejudice, there would be very little drama. There would also be no horror.
“By gosh Sheriff Brody, all evidence points at an enormous shark! The short term financial benefit is outweighed by the risk of life and Amity’s reputation. As mayor, I close the beaches!”
“Say little brother, have we even seen a picture of our grandparents? Aren’t we making assumptions going along with these weird old coots?”
“Living on the sidewalk is probably better than staying in a brownstone that may be the gate to Hell. Just thinkin’ out loud.”
I did not make and take no credit for this chart. I found it on Mental Floss. Have a listen to their podcast “You Are Not So Smart.”
Is not about writing. It’s about pride in your work and the threshold of what you will do for your work.
This advice made me send my work to loftier markets, where I was surprised to be accepted. This advice forced me to up my game and not be comfortable with my current skills. This advice found me friends and advisers of high caliber, who have done more and who know more. Editors, pro writers, semi-pro writers all follow this advice.
What small success I have had I owe to this:
I’ve mentioned Unreality Mag before. Here is an older article I came across with advice on giving your characters to a nice farm family where they have lots of room to run and have other characters to play with.
Can you imagine if Martin did that on Game of Thrones? “Joffrey’s got his own yard by a lake where he can chase rabbits and geese and romp with other Grimdark psychopath royalty.”
We all know Edgar Allen Poe invented the modern short story structure, the mystery story, the detective procedural, and also knew how to break the rules and still make great tales.
Open Culture opens a warehouse filled with artful advice, prompts, news, and obscurities.
This past Memorial Day weekend, I attended ConQuesT in Kansas City. It was my fourth such visit and it was by far the best con experience I’ve had so far. How did I make that happen? Well, I’ll tell you.
Confluence of Efforts: My novel was out this time and on the table to be sold. And it sold five copies. People liked the texture of the cover stock (no foolin’. It made a difference!). Folks nodded and made DeNiro face at the “Preliminary Ballot of the Stokers.” The back copy and blurbs made people stare and wonder if they could risk reading such a well-received thriller.
So writers: Have your ad copy up to professional standards.
Surrounded By Help: The book sold at the table of my publisher, Noble Fusion Press. My publisher laid out a professional presentation with other authors of note like Lawrence Schoen, who has a Hugo nomination and two Nebula nominations, one Neb nom for his current offering on the table right beside my book.
Writers: You cannot do it all yourself. Find like-minded people like writers groups and coordinate your efforts and skills.
MAGIC ATTENTION-GRABBING WORD: Yes, there is a magic word that will pull in passers-by. No, not that one. Or that one. The word is “chocolate.”
I crooned, “Cho-co-la-a-ate.” I held a gem of Dove Bite aloft between my fingers. The passersby swayed to the siren call, then succumbed.
Writers: Offer chocolate. Good stuff. Quality chocolate means you respect your audience.
Volunteer for Panel Discussions: Concentrate on your areas of obvious expertise. If you contact early and offer to panel, the committee may solicit you for ideas for panels. If you don’t feel comfortable in front of people, offer to help the con committee in setting up. Either way, you meet people who do what you do and want to help you do it better.
Socialize: After programming parties are swell. Even the tipsy people act like grown-ups. Go to the hotel bar and look for a familiar face: “Hey, I really liked your panel…” or even say “Hi, I’m new here. How’s your day been?” Don’t try to sell. Just meet people. Everything is about people.
What did I get from the convention? Lovely face-to-face time with my publisher. Meeting another small press publisher. A regaining of confidence. Encouragement on two novels I will now write proposals for. A possible novel collaboration. A whole bunch of people who will remember my name and think “chocolate” and “nice guy who wasn’t pushy”.
It is a small foundation but it is solid and ready to be built upon.