Bill Bodden's Blog, page 30
February 15, 2013
Keep writing!
The best advice I've been given on writing is to keep doing it. I've heard that writing skills are like a muscle - if you don't exercise it - every day is best in this case - it will atrophy.
I don't know about that, but I do know that writing regularly and often is a great idea for a writer. It helps to get ideas down on paper, and once you finish a story, often a whole new flood of possibilities will begin to pop up in your mind. Even if you don't like the story you end up with, sometimes you'll be inspired to write a new story - or to rework the story you don't like into something different.
I was thinking about this because I'd just sent in a short story to an open call for submissions for an anthology. So far I've been writing short stories, and it seems to be working for me. I want to graduate to novels, but for now the strength training (so to speak) of writing short stories is helping me to grow my skills and proficiency as a writer.
I don't know about that, but I do know that writing regularly and often is a great idea for a writer. It helps to get ideas down on paper, and once you finish a story, often a whole new flood of possibilities will begin to pop up in your mind. Even if you don't like the story you end up with, sometimes you'll be inspired to write a new story - or to rework the story you don't like into something different.
I was thinking about this because I'd just sent in a short story to an open call for submissions for an anthology. So far I've been writing short stories, and it seems to be working for me. I want to graduate to novels, but for now the strength training (so to speak) of writing short stories is helping me to grow my skills and proficiency as a writer.
February 6, 2013
Contracts!
When you're a freelance writer, the contract is a critical thing. You don't have to be a legal whiz to understand them, but it's important to read them and familiarize yourself with terms commonly used. Don't be intimidated by big, unfamiliar words!
Most importantly, make sure the contract spells out clearly what rights you are giving to the publisher, and what rights are retained by the writer.
Having just returned my signed copy of the contract for my story in the anthology Sidekicks! from Alliteration Ink Publishing, this is understandably on my mind.
Make sure you have a contract in hand before your story, or your art, is published anywhere. Make sure too that the copyright for your part of the work is listed as yours, and the copyright for the project as a whole is the publisher's.
Also, be sure that a "kill date" is included in the contract. By "kill date" I mean that if the publisher fails to get your work published initially within a certain time frame (anywhere up to 12 months, usually), OR if your work is left out of print for a set period of time, the contract is void and all rights revert back to you. remember that digital rights can sometimes be different than print rights, and keeping a book "in print" can sometimes mean having it available as a digital download rather than an actual print book. Remember: READ YOUR CONTRACT!
As with most contracts, many details are negotiable. When you're new, be prepared to be flexible, but also stand up for your rights if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you. Most importantly, communicate well with your publisher, and don't be afraid to ask questions. By phrasing your concerns as "I'm uncomfortable with this clause; can you explain it to me?" rather than "You're trying to cheat me!" you will get a great deal farther in life.
Most importantly, make sure the contract spells out clearly what rights you are giving to the publisher, and what rights are retained by the writer.
Having just returned my signed copy of the contract for my story in the anthology Sidekicks! from Alliteration Ink Publishing, this is understandably on my mind.
Make sure you have a contract in hand before your story, or your art, is published anywhere. Make sure too that the copyright for your part of the work is listed as yours, and the copyright for the project as a whole is the publisher's.
Also, be sure that a "kill date" is included in the contract. By "kill date" I mean that if the publisher fails to get your work published initially within a certain time frame (anywhere up to 12 months, usually), OR if your work is left out of print for a set period of time, the contract is void and all rights revert back to you. remember that digital rights can sometimes be different than print rights, and keeping a book "in print" can sometimes mean having it available as a digital download rather than an actual print book. Remember: READ YOUR CONTRACT!
As with most contracts, many details are negotiable. When you're new, be prepared to be flexible, but also stand up for your rights if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you. Most importantly, communicate well with your publisher, and don't be afraid to ask questions. By phrasing your concerns as "I'm uncomfortable with this clause; can you explain it to me?" rather than "You're trying to cheat me!" you will get a great deal farther in life.
January 24, 2013
Got It Covered!
Just saw the cover for a new anthology that will include my latest short story "In The Shadow Of His Glory". Take a look behind the link: http://sarahhans.com/2013/01/24/sidek...
December 27, 2012
The Waiting Game Is Over - For Now...
Just had word that my short story "In The Shadow of His Glory" has been accepted for publication by editor Sarah Hans and publisher Alliteration Ink for their upcoming anthology Sidekicks! I'm thrilled to be part of this project, and very pleased with my story. I hope you'll give Sidekicks! a shot when it comes out later this spring, and I especially hope you'll enjoy "In The Shadow of His Glory". I've just heard that Alex Bledsoe has a story in this one too; already I'm in good company! Congratulations Alex!
December 11, 2012
The Waiting Game
Being an author often requires a lot of waiting. Once you submit a story for consideration, it often takes weeks or months before you hear anything - whether they love your baby or have consigned it to the trash heap. The best advice I've heard for dealing with this is to keep writing. Hopefully, you'll get engrossed in other projects and the time will pass more quickly - and you'll spend less time obsessively hitting the "refresh" button on your email, waiting for The News.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't check in from time to time, but for goodness' sake, don't ever query until AFTER their deadline for responding to you (note this is different from your deadline to have the story turned in!) has passed. In fact, it's best to wait a week to two weeks after their response deadline just to give those considering your work a little extra time - they have lives too, and as the saying goes, shit happens.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't check in from time to time, but for goodness' sake, don't ever query until AFTER their deadline for responding to you (note this is different from your deadline to have the story turned in!) has passed. In fact, it's best to wait a week to two weeks after their response deadline just to give those considering your work a little extra time - they have lives too, and as the saying goes, shit happens.
July 7, 2012
More Kudos for Haunted
Haunted: 11 Tales of Ghostly Horror (in which my story "A Quiet House In The Country" appears) was mentioned in Ellen Datlow's Best Horror Of The Year volume 4.
"Haunted: Eleven Tales of Ghostly Horror edited by Monica Valentinelli (Flames Rising Press) is about ghosts and ghost hunters. The best stories are by Alana Joli Abbott and Preston B. DuBose."
Getting a shout-out like this is important and a huge boost. It means the anthology was noticed, and that while the stories may not have considered good enough to make it into BHOTY v.4, the collection was of high enough quality that Ms. Datlow took the time and space to mention it in print. Thanks Ms. Datlow!
Congratulations to Alana. Preston, and the rest of my fellow authors on a great anthology. Thanks especially to Flames Rising Press and Matt McElroy for making it happen, and in particular to editor Monica Valentinelli for the thankless job of editing the beast.
To find a copy, visit your favorite local bookstore and ask them to order it for you. If that doesn't work, you can always order a copy (either print or ebook/PDF) using this link:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/95397/H...
"Haunted: Eleven Tales of Ghostly Horror edited by Monica Valentinelli (Flames Rising Press) is about ghosts and ghost hunters. The best stories are by Alana Joli Abbott and Preston B. DuBose."
Getting a shout-out like this is important and a huge boost. It means the anthology was noticed, and that while the stories may not have considered good enough to make it into BHOTY v.4, the collection was of high enough quality that Ms. Datlow took the time and space to mention it in print. Thanks Ms. Datlow!
Congratulations to Alana. Preston, and the rest of my fellow authors on a great anthology. Thanks especially to Flames Rising Press and Matt McElroy for making it happen, and in particular to editor Monica Valentinelli for the thankless job of editing the beast.
To find a copy, visit your favorite local bookstore and ask them to order it for you. If that doesn't work, you can always order a copy (either print or ebook/PDF) using this link:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/95397/H...
December 19, 2011
Blogging About Author Readings
Over at a site I often write for - Flamesrising.com - is a new post by yours truly about my experience organizing author readings for the anthology Haunted: 11 Tales Of Ghostly Horror. Here's a link:
http://www.flamesrising.com/organizin...
http://www.flamesrising.com/organizin...
November 7, 2011
Second Reading Scheduled!
A reading of selections from Haunted: 11 Tales Of Ghostly Horror, is scheduled for Tuesday November 15 at A Room of One's Own bookstore. Here's a link: http://www.roomofonesown.com/event/ha...
Readings are both exciting and nerve-wracking; it's never clear how many people will show up until the actual event is happening. Crowd reaction to the story as it unfolds, and discussion afterwards are always rewarding.
Besides myself, Alex Bledsoe, Georgia Beaverson and Jason Blair will also be reading from their stories in this new anthology. Stop by, listen to creepy tales being read by their authors and enjoy a few refreshments!
Readings are both exciting and nerve-wracking; it's never clear how many people will show up until the actual event is happening. Crowd reaction to the story as it unfolds, and discussion afterwards are always rewarding.
Besides myself, Alex Bledsoe, Georgia Beaverson and Jason Blair will also be reading from their stories in this new anthology. Stop by, listen to creepy tales being read by their authors and enjoy a few refreshments!
November 2, 2011
New Books Acquired!
I bought two new-ish books from my FLBS (Favorite Local Book Store) A Room of One's Own in Madison, Wisconsin: The Bible Repairman by Tim Powers (A new Tim Powers book - SQUEE!) and Griots A Sword and Soul Anthology, edited by Milton J. Davis and Charles R. Saunders. The second is interesting because it's a collection of sword-and-sorcery type tales NOT based on European settings - these are all set in Africa - both mythic and historic. I can't wait to dig into both of them, especially the latter; it's good to vote with my dollars to show that non-Euro fantasy has an audience willing to buy it.
BTW, please allow me to direct you to the Carl Brandon Society: http://carlbrandon.org/ It's an organization founded to promote writing by people of color. Check them out.
BTW, please allow me to direct you to the Carl Brandon Society: http://carlbrandon.org/ It's an organization founded to promote writing by people of color. Check them out.
October 31, 2011
First Reading Is A Success!
Our first live reading of Haunted went off very well tonight. Georgia Beaverson and I read tantalizing excerpts from our stories, Matt McElroy and Monica Valentinelli talked about putting together an anthology (the phrase "herding cats" leaps to mind) and we had 22 audience members crammed into a small room at the Ashman branch of the Madison Public Library. The staff were great and very accommodating, and I'm grateful as well to so many people who showed up to support local authors and small publishing.
