Aaron Polson's Blog, page 22
August 16, 2011
My Recurring Nightmare
School starts again tomorrow.
My thirteenth year in education. Thirteen years of students, books, papers, discipline...
An unlucky number for some. For me? I always feel a little nudge of butterflies in my gut, but I like school. If I have to work outside my home, and right now, I do, this is the place I want to be.
Besides, my students inspire me.
Heh.
My thirteenth year in education. Thirteen years of students, books, papers, discipline...
An unlucky number for some. For me? I always feel a little nudge of butterflies in my gut, but I like school. If I have to work outside my home, and right now, I do, this is the place I want to be.
Besides, my students inspire me.
Heh.
August 14, 2011
The August Experiment
versus
I announced a few days ago the release of two new collections.
What I didn't mention was the small experiment I'm running. See, These Darkened Streets, containing more stories and tales which haven't been reprinted as often, is priced $1.99. A Feast of Flesh is one of "those" 99 cent books.
Maybe there isn't enough difference between the prices. Maybe the "content" is so different I won't gain useful, valid data. So far, A Feast of Flesh is outstripping These Darkened Streets by a 2 to 1 margin in sales. Two books by the same author released on the same day, and the 99 cent book is selling twice as fast...
Food for thought.
nom...nom...nom...
August 13, 2011
The Sad Truth about Short Fiction Markets
I made a short story submission this morning. It's been a few weeks since doing so. While I was at Duotrope, I tinkered around a bit with my records.
Let's face it: short fiction markets, unless they are some time-honored tradition kept alive by the good will and deep pockets of a benefactor, aren't built to last. Even non-paying venues take time and effort (and often cash) to produce.
Of the recorded 153 "acceptances" (some reprints, some markets which never published), I counted 61 closed (permanently) or dead markets. Granted, some of those "closed" were anthologies, but roughly 40% of the markets to which my work has "sold" in the past four years are gone.
Gone, gone.
It saddens me a little.
What doesn't sadden me is the story I submitted. The first bit from "Jack is Almost Eight":
Night was coming, and Jack was afraid.
The shadow man only came at night, the darkest nights. Jack held his covers close to his seven-year-old chin as if the blanket could keep the monsters away. His thin, light brown hair stuck in sweaty ribbons against his forehead. A television hum rose from the stairs and trickled into Jack's bedroom. Evan was watching wrestling. He would smell of beer and sweat and a day's grease from the shop. Jack could keep his eyes shut for a while, but only so long before fear nibbled away at the fringes of his seven-year-old brain.
Here's a hint (if you didn't catch it from the sample): more than one monster lurks in this story.
Have a great weekend.
Let's face it: short fiction markets, unless they are some time-honored tradition kept alive by the good will and deep pockets of a benefactor, aren't built to last. Even non-paying venues take time and effort (and often cash) to produce.
Of the recorded 153 "acceptances" (some reprints, some markets which never published), I counted 61 closed (permanently) or dead markets. Granted, some of those "closed" were anthologies, but roughly 40% of the markets to which my work has "sold" in the past four years are gone.
Gone, gone.
It saddens me a little.
What doesn't sadden me is the story I submitted. The first bit from "Jack is Almost Eight":
Night was coming, and Jack was afraid.
The shadow man only came at night, the darkest nights. Jack held his covers close to his seven-year-old chin as if the blanket could keep the monsters away. His thin, light brown hair stuck in sweaty ribbons against his forehead. A television hum rose from the stairs and trickled into Jack's bedroom. Evan was watching wrestling. He would smell of beer and sweat and a day's grease from the shop. Jack could keep his eyes shut for a while, but only so long before fear nibbled away at the fringes of his seven-year-old brain.
Here's a hint (if you didn't catch it from the sample): more than one monster lurks in this story.
Have a great weekend.
August 10, 2011
WIP Wednesday: Fear
From my current WIP, an as-yet unnamed supernatural "thriller" (in other words, a weird-ass horror book I hope might have a tiny bit of commercial appeal):
Following her up the stairs, Kelsey paused to ask, "so what are you afraid of, Erin?"
"Oh, me? The only thing which scares me is knowing too much."
You see, Erin is the girl who has everything: looks, brains, a perfect California tan. Unfortunately, she's also psychic. Puts "knowing too much" in perspective, doesn't it? One member of their little group has already vanished, but it wasn't a member of the cast--no, the house, or whatever might be in the house, decided to start with the crew. Goodbye, sound man. It seems he had heart trouble, too. So sad.
Why don't they just leave if things are getting a bit out of hand? Good question. I asked myself the same thing while watching Paranormal Activity.
But I have several answers.
This is where things turn really "sour".
Stay tuned.
Following her up the stairs, Kelsey paused to ask, "so what are you afraid of, Erin?"
"Oh, me? The only thing which scares me is knowing too much."
You see, Erin is the girl who has everything: looks, brains, a perfect California tan. Unfortunately, she's also psychic. Puts "knowing too much" in perspective, doesn't it? One member of their little group has already vanished, but it wasn't a member of the cast--no, the house, or whatever might be in the house, decided to start with the crew. Goodbye, sound man. It seems he had heart trouble, too. So sad.
Why don't they just leave if things are getting a bit out of hand? Good question. I asked myself the same thing while watching Paranormal Activity.
But I have several answers.
This is where things turn really "sour".
Stay tuned.
August 7, 2011
Reasonable Book Promotion
I received an interesting piece of mail the other day. An author (who will remain nameless) sent a glossy, two-sided postcard, a glossy 5x7 photograph (signed, no less), a business card, and a "special extra" item related to his/her forthcoming book. A small press (with which I am unfamiliar) is releasing the book.
I was unfamiliar with the author or book before receiving the mailing.
I'm not going to buy it.
Yes, you have to promote your work for people to discover it. Of course. But take this anonymous author's work for example. The glossy, two-sided postcards aren't cheap. Add the photo, business card (glossy and full color), and the bonus item--not to mention the first class postage and envelope... Well, there was probably a good dollar's worth of stuff in that envelope (and that doesn't include the stamp).
Reasonable promotion? Not hardly--I don't know what anonymous author's percentage is, but considering a mass mailing will not have a very high success rate, I can't imagine it paying off.
Promotion should pay off. Writing is a business. Business is about making profit. If expenditures outstrip income, well... Find another business. I mailed a bunch of bookmarks, press releases, and review copies of Loathsome, Dark and Deep when it was released. You know what? With my latest royalty check, I've almost paid for my "promotion". I think the review copies (I mailed about ten), netted three or four reviews. Not good business sense, but I've learned.
Too many self-styled Indie-writers focus too much energy on the promotion of their books. Yes, promotion is necessary, but not as necessary as a good book. Are you getting what you "pay" for in terms of book promotion? Remember, your time has value, too. Time spent promoting is time away from writing. Or hanging out with your family. Or some other worthwhile pastime.
So I'll mention two new releases of mine, collections of stories (reprints from the small press with a few new nuggets tossed in):
The twelve stories in These Darkened Streets play on the foggy boundary between horror and magical realism . You'll find shivers here, dear reader, and other, more thought-provoking flights of imagination all set in small towns with dark, quiet streets...
A Feast of Flesh: Tales of undead fiends, bloodthirsty monsters, and hideous nightmare-ghouls waiting to rend and tear human flesh...
I'll mention them, but for now, that's about all. I have more stories to write.
Have a lovely day.
I was unfamiliar with the author or book before receiving the mailing.
I'm not going to buy it.
Yes, you have to promote your work for people to discover it. Of course. But take this anonymous author's work for example. The glossy, two-sided postcards aren't cheap. Add the photo, business card (glossy and full color), and the bonus item--not to mention the first class postage and envelope... Well, there was probably a good dollar's worth of stuff in that envelope (and that doesn't include the stamp).
Reasonable promotion? Not hardly--I don't know what anonymous author's percentage is, but considering a mass mailing will not have a very high success rate, I can't imagine it paying off.
Promotion should pay off. Writing is a business. Business is about making profit. If expenditures outstrip income, well... Find another business. I mailed a bunch of bookmarks, press releases, and review copies of Loathsome, Dark and Deep when it was released. You know what? With my latest royalty check, I've almost paid for my "promotion". I think the review copies (I mailed about ten), netted three or four reviews. Not good business sense, but I've learned.
Too many self-styled Indie-writers focus too much energy on the promotion of their books. Yes, promotion is necessary, but not as necessary as a good book. Are you getting what you "pay" for in terms of book promotion? Remember, your time has value, too. Time spent promoting is time away from writing. Or hanging out with your family. Or some other worthwhile pastime.
So I'll mention two new releases of mine, collections of stories (reprints from the small press with a few new nuggets tossed in):
The twelve stories in These Darkened Streets play on the foggy boundary between horror and magical realism . You'll find shivers here, dear reader, and other, more thought-provoking flights of imagination all set in small towns with dark, quiet streets...
A Feast of Flesh: Tales of undead fiends, bloodthirsty monsters, and hideous nightmare-ghouls waiting to rend and tear human flesh...I'll mention them, but for now, that's about all. I have more stories to write.
Have a lovely day.
August 4, 2011
Infestations (A WIP Thursday...Sorry No Alliteration)
[image error]
I'm obsessed with haunted houses.
No, not the Halloween theme spook houses, with genuine haunted houses (if such things exist). I've never been in one--as far as I know--but the idea fascinates me. Some of my favorite novels feature spooky houses--The Haunting of Hill House, Hell House, 'salem's Lot. Yes, I know the last one is about vampires, but the Marsten House certainly haunts the protag. The House of Leaves is an amazing book about--you guessed it--a bizarre house.
The House Eaters features a house--a semi/sort of haunted place. I've written stories about "places" with hauntings or "infestations". That's a good word for it, I suppose: infestation.
Here's the set up for my WIP:
Six people volunteer for a reality style show set in an old country house. The rules: they must stay inside for seven full days. No slipping out for a walk on the veranda or stroll through the garden. For their time, each will receive a minimum of $12K.
Four of them have been there before, but that time there were five. They sought shelter during a snowstorm (their van had landed in a ditch and there was no cell phone reception in the boonies).
The fifth member of their party disappeared in the house. The police, of course, theorized he wandered out into the snow to find help and never found any.
His body, of course, was never found.
But the four friends did find something else, upstairs in the house.
And I'm not telling what.
Yet.
I'm obsessed with haunted houses.
No, not the Halloween theme spook houses, with genuine haunted houses (if such things exist). I've never been in one--as far as I know--but the idea fascinates me. Some of my favorite novels feature spooky houses--The Haunting of Hill House, Hell House, 'salem's Lot. Yes, I know the last one is about vampires, but the Marsten House certainly haunts the protag. The House of Leaves is an amazing book about--you guessed it--a bizarre house.
The House Eaters features a house--a semi/sort of haunted place. I've written stories about "places" with hauntings or "infestations". That's a good word for it, I suppose: infestation.
Here's the set up for my WIP:
Six people volunteer for a reality style show set in an old country house. The rules: they must stay inside for seven full days. No slipping out for a walk on the veranda or stroll through the garden. For their time, each will receive a minimum of $12K.
Four of them have been there before, but that time there were five. They sought shelter during a snowstorm (their van had landed in a ditch and there was no cell phone reception in the boonies).
The fifth member of their party disappeared in the house. The police, of course, theorized he wandered out into the snow to find help and never found any.
His body, of course, was never found.
But the four friends did find something else, upstairs in the house.
And I'm not telling what.
Yet.
August 2, 2011
I Will Write No More Stories
No, I'm not quitting.
Sorry.
But I'm not sure how to approach short stories anymore. Not the writing of them, but the sharing of them with readers.
I took a good, long look over my records the other day. I've had seven stories published, as per contract, for which I was never paid. Granted, the total lost pay lands just over $100...
But I signed contracts, right?
Seven stories (an unlucky number?) under contract were never published. Combined, these "stolen" stories and orphans represent about 10% of my published/accepted work. Wait--10% is a pretty big chunk, right?
Right.
Several markets have closed in the past six months to a year. I know short stories are not profitable for publishers. Are they profitable for authors? Not really--not in terms of dollars and cents. Even my biggest paydays, two "professional" sales, averaged only a few dollars per hour spent honing those tales. I can schelp lumber for customers at the local Home Depot for much more and get a workout to boot. Money isn't why I write, of course.*
It sours me on shorts a little. 10%. 10%
I'm in "novel" mode now, and that's okay. Thanks to a long weekend away from home and a Phillip K. Dick novel, I now have another novel idea and I'm itching to write.
But I cut my teeth on short stories. I love them, so I won't be saying goodbye.
At least I don't think so...
What the h#ll does "cutting one's teeth" mean, anyway?
*I do it for the free pizza.
Sorry.
But I'm not sure how to approach short stories anymore. Not the writing of them, but the sharing of them with readers.
I took a good, long look over my records the other day. I've had seven stories published, as per contract, for which I was never paid. Granted, the total lost pay lands just over $100...
But I signed contracts, right?
Seven stories (an unlucky number?) under contract were never published. Combined, these "stolen" stories and orphans represent about 10% of my published/accepted work. Wait--10% is a pretty big chunk, right?
Right.
Several markets have closed in the past six months to a year. I know short stories are not profitable for publishers. Are they profitable for authors? Not really--not in terms of dollars and cents. Even my biggest paydays, two "professional" sales, averaged only a few dollars per hour spent honing those tales. I can schelp lumber for customers at the local Home Depot for much more and get a workout to boot. Money isn't why I write, of course.*
It sours me on shorts a little. 10%. 10%
I'm in "novel" mode now, and that's okay. Thanks to a long weekend away from home and a Phillip K. Dick novel, I now have another novel idea and I'm itching to write.
But I cut my teeth on short stories. I love them, so I won't be saying goodbye.
At least I don't think so...
What the h#ll does "cutting one's teeth" mean, anyway?
*I do it for the free pizza.
July 30, 2011
Some Light Reading, Some Heavier
If you haven't read my short humor piece, "How to Write a Horror Story" at Eric's Hysterics, I invite you to do so. It's inspired by... Well, something I'm sure. Maybe you'll find it informative.
Triangulation: Last Contact has been released as well, and I'm pleased to say I made the cover this year. Grab a copy at Amazon ($16.00) or Barnes and Nobel (only $10.25!) and read this year's fine entries, including my minimalist sci-fi tale, "The Good Daughter".
Have a great weekend.
Triangulation: Last Contact has been released as well, and I'm pleased to say I made the cover this year. Grab a copy at Amazon ($16.00) or Barnes and Nobel (only $10.25!) and read this year's fine entries, including my minimalist sci-fi tale, "The Good Daughter".
Have a great weekend.
July 29, 2011
No Kids Movement?
I hadn't heard of such a thing, but read this article the other day. Go on--be surprised and shocked.
Maybe I'm insulated because we do have kids and seem to only go places where other kids abound, but come on people. They're children!
In the comments (and no, I didn't read all ten billion of them), I noticed a number of folks spouting about how parents need to do a better job "controlling" their kids.
Control is such an illusion, folks. If I've learned one lesson in a dozen years as a teacher, it's that.
Control is an illusion.
Sigh.
Maybe I'm insulated because we do have kids and seem to only go places where other kids abound, but come on people. They're children!
In the comments (and no, I didn't read all ten billion of them), I noticed a number of folks spouting about how parents need to do a better job "controlling" their kids.
Control is such an illusion, folks. If I've learned one lesson in a dozen years as a teacher, it's that.
Control is an illusion.
Sigh.
July 27, 2011
WIP Wednesday: Now with words...
I'm posting to keep myself honest: for the past five days, I've wrenched myself from bed to write and averaged over a thousand words each day. Nothing groundbreaking, but this book isn't going to write itself.*
One of the characters, in fact the main character, is a young woman working on her PhD in psychology. Her area of study? Fear and anxiety.
There was nothing to fear. She was a God-damned expert.
But yet, in the quiet slumber of the house, a sound came to Kelsey. This sound crawled through the frame and walls, over the polished hardwood of the floors, and into the sheets and comforter on Kelsey's bed. It whispered in her ears.
I'm here.
Come play with me.
Yes, ol' Aaron is writing about a house again. But this one isn't haunted--not in the traditional sense. Have I mentioned two cameramen follow our intrepid characters around? But this isn't a Ghost Hunters knock-off. Oh no. The cameras are more interested in the living. Sort of.
More soon. Take care.
*of course, now I'm away from home for a wedding, so we all no nothing will get done for the next several days. Sigh.
One of the characters, in fact the main character, is a young woman working on her PhD in psychology. Her area of study? Fear and anxiety.
There was nothing to fear. She was a God-damned expert.
But yet, in the quiet slumber of the house, a sound came to Kelsey. This sound crawled through the frame and walls, over the polished hardwood of the floors, and into the sheets and comforter on Kelsey's bed. It whispered in her ears.
I'm here.
Come play with me.
Yes, ol' Aaron is writing about a house again. But this one isn't haunted--not in the traditional sense. Have I mentioned two cameramen follow our intrepid characters around? But this isn't a Ghost Hunters knock-off. Oh no. The cameras are more interested in the living. Sort of.
More soon. Take care.
*of course, now I'm away from home for a wedding, so we all no nothing will get done for the next several days. Sigh.
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