Erica Ciko's Blog, page 3

Read My Short Story “Macrophages” for Free on Writerfield!

Hi everyone, I’m really excited to announce that you can now read my short story “Macrophages” for free at the following link: https://writerfield.com/macrophages/.

I’m especially proud of this one as it touches on some very personal topics and opens the door to a question that has always fascinated me: Just because other people can’t see your dreams (or nightmares!), does it really mean that they don’t exist?

This one should also be more relatable to you readers who prefer human protagonists instead of aliens. It takes place entirely on Earth, even though the characters catch a glimpse of the other side now and then.

I’d be delighted if you’d give it a read. It’s only 3,400 words, so it shouldn’t take up too much of your time. It would be awesome if you’d share your comments below as well!

Major Updates for January 2020: 3 Short Stories Coming Soon!

Hi everyone, thanks for sticking with me for this long. I know it’s been forever since my last post, but I’ve been deep in the querying trenches. I achieved more of my writing goals in 2019 than I have in my entire life, so my efforts were focused elsewhere for most of the year. But now I finally have a moment to breathe, so I’d like to share some very exciting updates!

In October 22, I received some news that made me feel like all my hard work had finally paid off. One of my short stories was accepted for publication at last. Macrophages will be appearing in the Aggregate anthology in early 2020. It’s a weird, eerie tale that deals with the often-overlooked topic of generational mental illness–and one of my oldest, most beloved muses makes a brief appearance as well. There’s no release date yet, but I’ll let you all know as soon as I get the word!

You know how once one exciting thing happens, it seems like ten more follow in close succession until you’re completely overwhelmed? This is what happened to me when I got the news that The Sun Beneath the Glaciers will be appearing the final issue of in Alban Lake’s Outposts of Beyond. This is monumental news as this was my very first “serious” short story that I wrote with the goal of publication in mind. This story hearkens back to my Lovecraft-fanatic roots: It’ll take you on a hair-raising hellride to the hidden depths of our planet and the human mind. It’ll be available in July 2020 from Alban Lake!

And just when I thought I’d had enough luck for one year, I got the awesome news that The Eternal War will be appearing in Volume 2, Issue 2 of The Kyanite Press. I’m especially excited about this one because their covers are absolutely jaw-dropping! They have a very talented digital painter on their team who turns every single issue into a true work of art. I’m really in love with the old-school design of this magazine, so my story being chosen was huge.

Here’s a little confession: The Eternal War was probably the nerdiest story I wrote all year. I had a lot of fun coming up with all the crazy alien tech and biology for this one, and I think any hardcore SF fans will seriously enjoy it. You’ll be able to get your hands on this one on February 1, 2020. If you can’t wait, you can already preorder it from the Kyanite Press!

Anyways, I don’t want to keep all of you for too long. I just wanted to share the exciting news and give everyone a chance to get hyped for what’s to come. I’m still querying Tales of a Starless Aeon Book One: To Be Young and Whole Again. I’ve been working hard on the yet-unnamed Book Two since the end of October, and I can promise you that this one is truly an Epic Space Opera that will take you to the far reaches of the galaxy and mortal understanding.

Happy New Year, everyone, and keep an eye out for more updates from the Dysnomian Galaxy!

Art by Desmond Varen

Exclusive Interview With “Science Fiction Tropes”

Last week, I was lucky enough to get asked to do an interview for Science Fiction Tropes! I had a lot of fun with it, and tried my best to give in-depth answers to all the questions.

Read the full interview here: http://www.scifitropes.com/erica-ciko-campbell/

The Metamorphosis of Spring: May 2019 Updates and Musings

To start things off, I want to apologize for taking a small eternity to update this blog. For those of you that are still with me despite my abhorrent self-control when it comes to posting on a regular basis, I truly appreciate your dedication. I wanted to share a few updates about what I’ve been up to lately, as well as what’s in store for Written Constellations.

I’m Nearly a Quarter of the Way Done with Editing the Novel

As I discussed in my last blog post (Wow, it’s really been over a month?), I finished my first novel on April 8th. As of May 25th, I’m nearly ¼ of the way done with the first pass of the editing process. To be honest, things aren’t going as quickly as I’d hoped: But I’m still really proud of all the progress I’ve made.

It’s so surreal to see all that hard work I put in finally start to pay off. Chapters that were once filled with disjointed, incoherent rambling have evolved into an eloquently-worded narrative that promises to transport the reader to a realm of freedom beyond the stars. My favorite part by-far is seeing the huge blocks of notes disappear after I’ve incorporated everything into the text. There’s something so satisfying about seeing it all woven together on the page after sitting in stasis for far too long.

Since the first draft weighed in at right around 160,000 words, I’m currently trying to shave off some extra scenes. But I vowed to never sacrifice the integrity of the story to fit the word count of some agent or editor, so I’m really not sure how much is going to end up getting trashed. It would be awesome if I could get the final manuscript down to around 150k, but if I don’t, I’m not going to lose sleep over it.

I believe in this story. And if my future agent does too, they’re going to have to accept it for what it is: An Epic Gothic Space Opera.

A (Bittersweet) Sci-Fi Short Story Update

Recently, I’ve delved into the world of publishing Sci-Fi short stories. I’m in the process of trying to get one published, and the journey has been . . . turbulent, to say the least. Let’s just say that trying to get short stories published brings out the blistering negativity inside my own heart like nothing else. I’m still new to this whole “rejection” thing, and to be honest, the fifth hurts almost as much as the first.

When I look through sites like Twitter and Instagram at the faces of countless authors who have already been published (in the magazines that rejected me, no less), it’s really hard to find inspiration in their success. And to be honest, 95% of the time, I end up wallowing in my own self-perceived failure instead. I’m really not sure if this will change until I can finally get my own work published: So I’ve vowed to use each rejection as fuel for the fire.

There’s one glimmer of hope in this sea of soul-sucking misery, however: At least now I’ve already been rejected for something that isn’t nearly as important to me as the novel. Maybe it will hurt less when I face the inevitable scorn of agents and editors once it’s finally finished?

What’s in Store for Written Constellations this Summer?

On a brighter note, I still have availability for a couple more science fiction writing clients this summer. I’m willing to take on fantasy writing projects as well. I’d love to work with you to bring your dreams to life this summer! Whether you need an entire novel written or just a few short pages, I’ll make sure your writing project stands the test of time.

Thank you for taking the time to learn what’s been going on in my life this past month. Let’s hope the update is a little bit more “upbeat” next time! I’d love to share news with all of you that I’m ¾ done with the editing when the next blog post rolls around. And who knows, by then, maybe my latest short story will finally see the light of day as well.

On Instant Gratification and Your First Novel

If you’re in the process of writing your first novel, congratulations! Whether you’re on the first chapter or the last page, you did what countless people around the world wish they could do.

However, we all know that writing a novel doesn’t happen overnight—and it could be a long time before you get to share your work with anyone besides your immediate friends and family. You might be feeling fed up with pouring your soul onto the pages, only to have your best work collect dust on your computer. But before you let the frustration get the best of you, here are some ways to combat the lack of instant gratification that most writers face while writing their debut novel.

An actual photo of the inside of my head after a long day of writing.

Build a Social Media Following

Even though you can’t share your novel with the world just yet, that doesn’t mean you can’t talk about it on social media! Sites like Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter are a great place to get potential readers excited about your novel long before it hits the shelves. You’ll also be able to connect with fellow writers who are all-too-familiar with the lack of recognition that first-time novelists face. And although seeing your follower count go up doesn’t compare with the satisfaction you’ll feel when your novel is finally published, for now, it might be the extra pick-me-up you need.

Social media: Keeping first-time novelists sane since 1997.

Keep in mind that if you plan on getting your book traditionally published, you won’t want to use direct quotes or give away too much of the plot. However, if you’re going the self-publishing route, feel free to tease potential readers to your heart’s content.

Write a Weekly Blog Post

Starting a blog is another great way to scratch your itch for instant gratification. After you build a following, the likes and comments will start rolling in with every new post. If you’re lucky, you may even get some helpful feedback on your writing style from fellow bloggers! Don’t forget that blogging is also a great way to drive traffic to your social media pages and gain followers.

Additionally, writing a weekly blog post offers a much-needed break by taking your mind off your novel for a while. And every first-time novelist knows that even if you don’t think you need a break, you probably do once in a while. If you choose a niche you’re passionate about, writing a blog will feel like a much-needed breather rather than work.

Don’t make the same mistake I did and write about your novel so often that you get sick of blogging, too.

Research Potential Literary Agents

When it’s time for a break, researching agents is a great way to unwind while still working towards the success of your novel. Personally, I’ve been using both Duotrope and QueryTracker to put together my “dream list” of Science Fiction agents. It reminds me that there’s an end in sight, even on my most anxiety-filled days, and it gives me the extra boost of motivation that I need to keep on writing.

In the world of novel-writing, agents are the ones who can hand you the keys to the kingdom.

Although digging through endless list of agents in your genre won’t give you the same jolt of instant gratification as some of the other options in this article, it’s still a way to break up the monotony—and it’s a major step towards your ultimate goal: Publication.

Try Your Hand at Short Stories

If none of these other choices satisfy your craving for instant gratification, short stories are the way to go. They’re far less of a commitment than a full-length novel, and the wave of satisfaction you get from writing the last word may be the boost you need. Here, have a prompt: Write a short story that takes place in the same “universe” as your novel, but fifty years in the past or the future.

Disclaimer: No wormholes are actually required for this prompt.

The submission process for short stories is often far more forgiving than it is for full-length novels, so this is a great way to get your feet wet and get some experience in the weird world of publishing. Plus, it looks impressive to potential agents when you’ve already been published before. And if you don’t feel like jumping through all the hoops, you can simply self-publish the stories on your own site.

Relax and Be Proud of Your Progress

Unless you’re already famous, writing your first novel can be rough: and that’s why most people never try at all. From the moment you sit down at the keyboard, you know that you won’t get a shred of recognition until long after the final word is written—and most people can’t deal with that, but you can.

That’s why it’s so important to be proud of yourself for attempting to write a novel at all! You’ve done what most of humanity could never even dream of doing, and I’m proud of you. I hope your writing journey is someday full of all the instant gratification you dreamed of and more.

Someday this will be you, relaxing by the ocean and reading your finished book.

5 Reasons Why You Should Cancel Your Medium Membership in 2023

Instead of crushing your confidence for the low price of just $5 a month, save your money and buy a latte instead.

Like many up-and-coming writers, I was lured into Medium’s Partner Program by promises of organic growth. I looked forward to thoughtful insights from their curation team, and I hoped to gain a bit of exposure while connecting with writers around the world. However, I quickly found that their Partner Program had many fatal flaws that make it impossible for most writers to achieve success on Medium.

After doing a bit of research on the brief-but-turbulent history of the Medium Partner Program, as well as conducting a little experiment of my own, I found countless other writers who are just as dissatisfied with the site as me. For the overwhelming majority of new users, Medium offers disappointment rather than success—and it’s time to expose their empty promises once and for all.

Medium has a proven track record of leading writers on in the beginning

Picture this: You finally cave in and sign up for Medium. Although you’ve heard how hard it is to find success on the platform, to your surprise, all your articles are instantly curated. Naturally, you feel like you’ve struck gold. You’re one of the lucky few that will find success on Medium! You start writing your heart out, and you even go and tell your friends and family about this awesome new site that they just have to join. You may even be lucky enough to see the dollars start rolling in. You’re more motivated than ever to continue creating awesome content to publish on Medium.

However, next month, things start to go downhill. Suddenly, your articles aren’t getting curated instantly and without second thought. Your first rejection stings more than you thought it would, and your confidence is shaken. Still, you vow to try harder next week. The curator must have made a mistake, you tell yourself. Maybe they were having a bad day. After all, Medium has been good to you so far, and all the signs are pointing to success and organic growth.

Next week, your article gets published again: Phew. The dollars from last month’s articles are still trickling in, and everything seems great again . . . Until next month, when the rejections become the norm rather than an anomaly. Sadly, you realize that not a single article you submit anymore is getting curated, no matter how hard you try.

My personal take on Medium’s notorious welcome message: This is why I’m a writer, not a graphic designer.

It’s a story as old as the Medium Partner Program itself, and a phenomenon that many writers around the globe have noticed. Medium is becoming notorious for building writers up in the beginning, then casting them aside to focus on brainwashing the next slew of new arrivals with false promises of success and exposure.

If your work isn’t curated, you won’t get any views . . .

Most writers will find that if the curators (a.k.a. gatekeepers) don’t share their stories, their work collects dust with single-digit views for weeks at a time. Unlike other sites, there’s no way for readers to “stumble upon” your articles organically if the curators reject it. In my experience, the search bar on Medium simply leads to—you guessed it—a selection of stories with tons of claps, hand-selected by the curators. Therefore, unlike Instagram or Twitter, tags won’t get you anywhere unless the curators allow it.

If Medium’s goal is silencing writers and making sure their stories stay hidden without approval from an elite few, they’re doing a great job. A quick search brings up countless stories that the curators have smiled upon, complete with hundreds of claps. However, there’s no way to sort by “new” articles. The default search simply brings you to a list of the “most popular” stories, which leaves the majority of Medium Writers in the shadows with no hope of exposure.

. . . But the curators might not even read your writing half the time

Now I realize that without evidence to back it up, this is a bold claim. That’s why I’ve included this screenshot of a poem I recently published, which should be a real eye-opener for anyone who thinks I’m coming up with conspiracy theories over here.

As you can see, my poem has one view, but a read ratio of 0%. but After six hours of sitting on the site, my single view came from the curator who rejected it: And they didn’t even read the entire thing through from start to finish.

If this were a 20-page manifesto, I’d understand their lack of interest. However, we’re talking a couple paragraphs here. And this isn’t the first time I’ve had my work rejected without the curators even bothering to read the article in its entirety. I’ll be honest, this was the thing that pushed me over the edge and encouraged me to finally cancel my membership.

Off-Site Promotion is Useless

Since my articles weren’t getting curated anymore, I decided to do a little experiment where I promoted them offsite to gain views my own way. It was quite successful, and one of my articles ended up getting over 2,000 views in a single day from me promoting on Reddit.

However, despite my overzealous efforts to inform people around the globe of seedy internet skull prices, I made a lousy $4 from the article. I brought 2,700 new visitors (and potential Medium customers) to the site, but since not many people “clapped” for the article through the Partner Program, my efforts were basically thankless. I would have been much better off promoting the article through my own site instead, but again: this was all for the purpose of experimentation.

My conclusion? If your story isn’t curated, promoting your Medium article offsite is a waste of time. Don’t be fooled by Medium’s promise of a payout: Your self-promotion efforts are far more valuable when you can bring readers to your own site and market your services to them directly.

No matter how many views you get, you won’t see much of a payout if your article isn’t curated—because all that matters is applause, not views. And without the gatekeepers’—I mean, curators’—blessing, you won’t get anywhere on Medium. You’d be much better off distributing links to your own blog, where you can advertise your services and get readers to sign up for an email list.

Also, to be fair, this little experiment taught me a lot about self-promotion and gaining traffic without relying on the curators—which is far more valuable than a pat on the back from Medium.

There’s no such thing as organic growth on Medium

In your first weeks on the site, it may seem like the “organic growth” you were promised when you signed up is completely obtainable. However, when you take a closer look at the curation system, you’ll find that any growth you experience isn’t organic at all—but orchestrated by a team of “curators” whose qualifications are mysterious at best. And if your material doesn’t fit into their narrow little narrative, you’re out of luck. Organic growth on Medium is a pipedream, because the curators won’t allow it for most writers. And until that changes, I’ll be focusing my efforts elsewhere.

I’m not going to lie: this felt exactly as good as I expected it to.

Will Medium Up its Game?

A curation process veiled in mystery on a site where curator approval means everything: It’s a recipe for countless disappointed writers. Is Medium’s time in the sun coming to an end? Personally, I won’t be recommending the site to my friends or family any time this century, unless Medium seriously ups its game.

Keep in mind that the contents of this article reflect my own personal experience, and yours could be very different. Who knows, you could even be the curators’ next Golden Child, beloved by bored office workers and quirky housewives everywhere.

How to Dismantle Your 4 Greatest Writing Fears

If you’re aiming for success in the writing sphere, there’s a good chance you’ve learned more about anxiety than you ever dreamed possible. Whether you’re facing the criticism of clients, the rejection of publishers, or even the misunderstanding of your friends and family, it’s a writer’s destiny to constantly fend off the unwanted judgment of others.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to learn to grow from your stress, instead of crumbling beneath the pressure time and time again? Here are some tips to make that dream a reality by evolving your anxiety into progress. We’ll discuss 4 common fears faced by writers around the world, and learn how to conquer them once and for all.

Fear #1: Will I be able to meet the word count on time?

Whether you’re a first-time freelancer or a seasoned novelist, word counts are the bane of all writers. Nothing kills inspiration faster than the relentless pressure to meet a word count—and that’s before you throw a deadline into the mix. It’s easy to see why countless writers around the world are plagued by the gnawing fear of not being able to finish their masterpiece.

When you obsess over the number of words you’ve poured onto the page, your writing suffers. When all else fails, the best thing you can do for yourself is ignore the word count completely. 

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by word count, take a step back from the big picture.

If you’re struggling to meet your quota, my best advice is to disable the word count feature entirely and write for an hour, uninterrupted. Now, the worst possible outcome is that you end up going over your target. If this happens, simply trim down your project later. You’ll probably find that dwelling on the numbers is holding back your creativity more than anything else.

Fear #2: Will my friends and family laugh at my story?

Will anyone ever take time out of their busy day to read your story? If they do, will they immediately burst into hysterical laughter and say it’s the worst thing they ever read? When your anxiety gets out of control, it’s easy to imagine yourself as a court jester at the mercy of all your friends and family. However, this fear is almost always a result of your anxiety taking over.

Remember, your loved ones care about your success. Even if your novel is so bad that it makes Twilight seem like the greatest literary work of our time (which is highly unlikely), your friends probably aren’t seasoned literary critics. The odds are, they’ll appreciate your work simply because it was written by someone they care about. If you’re especially worried about their judgment, simply ask your loved ones to be gentle-but-honest when providing feedback.

Fear #3: Will I run out of inspiration before I reach the end?

Most writers run into rough patches every now and then, especially when taking on a massive endeavor like writing a novel. However, worrying about running out of inspiration is similar to dwelling on a word count: the more you obsess over it, the more likely it is to drag you down. Instead of ruminating over your word count incessantly, here are some more productive ways to get the ideas flowing:

Go for a long walk outsideRead back through your old material and reflect on your progressListen to your favorite musicRead success stories from other writersBrowse artwork that resonates with your visionJoin a writers’ group

Getting lost in dreamy artwork is a great way to stimulate your creativity.

Of course, there are countless other ways to open the floodgates of creativity. What works best for you may not have even made it onto the list. But as long you aren’t sitting around obsessing over running out of inspiration, you’re probably on the right track.

Fear #4: Will my life’s work be rejected?

It doesn’t matter if you’re querying a full-length novel, or submitting a 500-word blog post: the fear of rejection will always be lingering right around the corner–until you learn to live with it. There’s always going to be people who don’t appreciate your work. But for every agent who thinks your novel is doomed to fail and wouldn’t touch it if it was the last book on Earth, there’s probably another one who thinks it’s awesome.

If you go into writing thinking that you’re going to please everyone, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Instead, you should focus your efforts on tailoring your work to an appropriate audience. Researching suitable agents and publications is essential before you plan to submit any story, and mastering this process is the key to success for many writers. Submitting your work to the right audience can be the difference between cold rejection and global success.

Master the Art of Dismantling Your Fears.

Although we’ve only scratched the surface of the countless fears that haunt writers around the world, these 4 are by far the most common. By learning to identify and deconstruct your greatest anxieties, you’ll be able to reach your full potential as a writer. In time, if you learn to master the art of dismantling your fears, you may even find that your worries have melted away completely and been replaced by the confidence you deserve.

A successful writing career will help you reach the freedom you always craved.

Making the Most of Rejection as a Writer

Whether you’re pitching an epic novel to an agent or posting a short article on your blog, dealing with rejection as a writer sucks. Like you, I dream of a stardust utopia where every sentence I spew out is eagerly swallowed up by the masses—but unfortunately, at this point in my career, I’m far more familiar with dismissal than blind applause. Here are some quick tips that will help you make the most of your next rejection.

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Learn from Past Mistakes

Maybe you spent all week thinking of the best article of your career, but pitched it to the wrong publication. Or maybe you spent too much time describing the surroundings in your last short story, and not enough focusing on the thoughts and motivations of the narrator. Well, don’t waste any more time beating yourself up over it—instead, learn from it, and vow to never do it again.

When you teach yourself to think of every “failure” as a learning experience, you’re destined to grow rapidly as a writer. It’s important to realize that every new project you take on is an opportunity to rewrite your old mistakes. Keeping a project journal is a great way to sort out your thoughts and highlight what you want to do differently next time.

Channel the Anger into Progress

There’s nothing better than the noxious sting of rejection to give you the motivation you need to finally reach the stars. If you’re like me, you’ll want to show the world that you’re far more than a number in the rejection pile—and that you don’t need some editor’s approval to make a name for yourself.

If your story is rejected by one publication, find three more to take its place. If an editor tells you it “isn’t a good fit” for a blog you’ve submitted to, post it on your own! You can even find countless forums across the internet that will help you get your story out into the world. Personally, I’ve found that Reddit is a great tool for reaching a widespread audience.

Don’t Dwell on Past Failures

When you’ve spent all week slaving over a story only to have it rejected, it’s hard not to let the negativity consume you. However, it’s important to realize that the low points of your journey don’t reflect your worth as a writer.

To avoid getting burnt out and overwhelmed in the wake of rejection, you should take some time away from the computer. Draw, play videogames, watch a movie, go for a walk . . . It doesn’t matter what you do to distract yourself, as long as it keeps your mind off writing. This ensures that when you get back to work, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated rather than worn out.

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Remember that You Aren’t Alone

It takes a long time to build a legacy as a writer. Just ask Edgar Allen Poe, who struggled to pay the bills for half his life even though he was destined to be remembered as one of the greatest authors of all time. If your passion lies in a lesser-known genre (such as my personal favorite: Sci-Fi Horror), you can expect a long, thankless climb to the top—just like the great writers that came before you.

And the “curse of the unappreciated writer” isn’t limited to the distant past: all you have to do is take a quick look through Medium to find countless modern-day writers who share your struggle. Last week, I found myself doing this very thing, and I stumbled across an interesting piece by Oliver Miller that made me feel a lot less alone.

Remind Yourself that Your Writing is Valuable

By changing your attitude, you’ll be able to see rejection as an opportunity to improve rather than an attack on your writing style. Dealing with the disappointment isn’t easy, but it’s all part of the journey to reaching your dreams as a writer—and there are countless other writers in every corner of the Earth who are going through the exact same thing as you.

On your darkest days, always remember that your writing is valuable—and so are your rejections. They set you apart from other people, and make you a veteran at overcoming obstacles that others could only dream of.

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