Malon Edwards's Blog, page 2

Paleontologists Find Dinosaur Feathers in Canadian Amber

Image via Science/AAAS

You know those dreams you keep having where the velociraptors are chasing you?



Now you can nightmare those awesome hunters with pretty feathers.



Paleontologists just found dinosaur feathers in Canadian amber.



As if you need more authenticity for your terror. 

Speaking Of Zombies...

My latest short story, Little Miss Saigon, is now live at Electric Spec.



Here's an excerpt from it a friend liked:




"If Cora doesn't give us Isabella, Rehani will kill me. Literally. She'll wait for me to get all nice and juicy and healthy from a recent feed, and then eat me in my sleep.

Balls and all."




How's that to start your September?

Goin' Brain Pickin'

Connie B picks my brain, and not in the zombie sort of way. We talk about why I write speculative fiction short stories, exclusively. 



We also talk about why I started writing in the first place. Short answer: my wonderful sister. 



Check out the interview over at her space, Master of My Dark Twisted Make-Believe.

Connie B picks my brain, and not in the zombie sort of wa...

Connie B picks my brain, and not in the zombie sort of way. We talk about why I write speculative fiction short stories, exclusively. 



We also talk about why I started writing in the first place. Short answer: my wonderful sister. 



Check out the interview over at her space, Master of My Dark Twisted Make-Believe.

How to Win a Writing Grant: Three Tips

Twice a year, I volunteer as a judge and grants administrator for the Speculative Literature Foundation and its Older Writers and Gulliver Travel Research grants. It's a good gig; I get to read some good spec fic and provide constructive, honest feedback to applicants. 



Over the years (five, to be exact), I've seen some very good applications. I've also seen applications that needed a lot of work.



Make no mistake about it; good writing wins grants. But the judges won't read your good writing if your app is crap.  



Here are three tips to ensure your app is flawless and your writing sample will be in consideration for the grant you're applying for:



1. Read and adhere to the guidelines



 If the guidelines ask for a writing sample of no more than 10,000 words, don't submit a  sample of 12,000 words. During some application cycles, the Older Writers grant can receive 100-plus applications. Those 12,000 word writing samples? We stopped reading them at 10,000 words.The guidelines are there for a reason. Follow them. 



2. Submit your best work



Let me say that again: submit your best work. It's frustrating to read a cool-as-hell synopsis for a novel excerpt writing sample (its required in the Older Writers guidelines), only to get none of that cool stuff in the first three chapters submitted. We don't mind getting chapters 8, 9 and 11, especially if they make us wanna show our mamas (don't worry; we won't show our mamas). You've given us context with your synopsis. Give the judges what they want: your best writing. You just might win the grant if you do. 



3. Submit an application next year, especially if they tell you, 'We truly enjoyed your writing very much'



As I said earlier, one of the things I enjoy about being a grant administrator is the honest feedback I give applicants. We're not blowing smoke up your butt when we tell you we truly enjoyed your writing sample. We mean it. It's why we gave you an Honorable Mention. That means you almost won the grant. Submit just as high quality a sample next year, and you just might win the grant. Or you may not. The competition is sure to be just as tough. But you'll never know if you don't submit again. 

What Do You Write That Scares You? - Part 2

Yesterday's post got away from me a bit. I didn't intend it to be that long, or to ramble that much. But here's the essence of what I was trying to say.




While it was scary to post the link to Better Than Everything on Facebook and Twitter, when all was said and done, no one freaked out about it. 




A co-worker was a bit shocked after reading it and admitted that she looks at me differently now, but beyond that...crickets. 




Now, there could be two reasons for this. 




One: the story just didn't rub people the wrong way.




Or two: no one read it. 




On my days of uncertainty, I'm certain of two.




But on my days of certainty, I know I must write about the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable and the unjust because that's when I push myself. That's when my writing is at its best. 




And that's when scary is good.




What do you write that scares you?

What Do You Write That Scares You?

That's the question a friend on Facebook asked today.

She asked that question because she has an idea for a short fiction piece that somewhat scares her to write. 

I know the feeling. 


Recently, I wrote a short story that scared me as I wrote it. Why? Because I was afraid of what people would think of me once it was published. 



I mean, let's be honest; writers want praise. We want to be liked and respected for our craft--especially, for the writing that means the most to us.



Once "Better Than Everything" was published, I wanted that, 'They like me! They really like me!' praise. And why wouldn't I? I'd grown closer to that story more than any other story I'd written in a long time. It meant a lot to me.



It meant so much to me that I sabotaged it.



Sabotage #1: I ended the story far too soon with an ambiguous ending that was, in a word, horrible. An editor called me out on that in his rejection letter. 



Sabotage #2: I refused to develop the relationship of the two main characters. A different editor called me out on that in his rejection letter.



Sabotage #3: I refused to write a sex scene for the two main characters. My conscience called me out on that one every time I thought about the story.



Now, Sabotage #3 was the most awkwardly squeamish, considering Sabotage #1 and Sabotage #2 were essential to the story. If I wanted this story to be enjoyable, it needed to be longer, and the reader needed to care about my characters.



Besides, I convinced myself I didn't need to write a sex scene for two lesbian teenagers in love. It's not like I have the experience.  



But by the time I got to this point in my revisions, my fear of the story was already deep-seated. Huge drops of sweat would roll down my face at just the thought of posting the link of the published story on Facebook. 



My co-workers were Facebook friends. My boss was a Facebook friend. My Christian family were Facebook friends.



Now, don't get me wrong. It's not as if these people don't know I write. And it's not as if these people don't know I write some off the wall stuff. 



But teenage lesbians in love? That was just embarrassing. And, not to mention, a bit out there, even for me.  



But so what? Who cares? I don't!



That's what I told myself one night as I revised the story. 



And then, something unexpected happened. Despite my fear of the story, I got excited during the revision. 



This was daring. I'm the quiet, serious, predictable guy. Teenage lesbians in love wasn't just off the wall. It was some off the wall shit because one is a gynoid.



In the end, I made a compromise with the sex scene. I think it works. 



Given the feedback (ahem, lack of praise), I've received on the story, you'll just have to decide for yourself if you think it works.



Once you do, come back, nah, ya hear?



I'd love to hear what you have to say about it. 

First Lines, Stephen King and Zombies!

I'd meant to post this some time ago.



Back in July, Stephen King did an interview with Joe Fassler and The Atlantic about the importance of opening sentences. King even gives a bit of insight on the opening sentences of some well-known works, and some of the first lines in his own novels.



It's an interesting read, so check it out when you get the chance. 



Speaking of first lines, here's the first line of my soon-to-be published short story, "Little Miss Saigon":

'I wake with a start and fall out of my chair.'

It's a zombie story like none you have ever read before. And that's not just me blowing smoke up your butt.



Keep watching this space for the link to "Little Miss Saigon" when it goes live and some unique zombie goodness. 

Into the Breach

If you've ever wondered, 'What if Iron Man was a black woman who spoke Haitian Creole?' well, wonder no more.





"Into the Breach", my latest short story, is now live in the July issue at Expanded Horizons.




And for the record, the Rescue armor ain't got nothing on the Lark armor.

Rainbows and Unicorns

Invisible Girl never had it this bad.



"Rainbows and Unicorns", my latest short story (a flash fiction piece), is now live at Stymie Magazine.



And for the record, Marvel Girl is cooler than Invisible Girl.