Aaron Polson's Blog, page 34
February 23, 2011
WIP Wednesday is Jealous
Oh, Sisyphus, how I feel for thee.
I'm on comment #1138 out of #2677 from an editor's pass on a book. None of the edits were changes to the text...oh no...they were just comments. 2677, people! Thank Zeus for digital files. If I had to do all of this on paper, I'd shoot myself. I just might, anyway, and then come back to haunt the editor in question.
So my WIP is jealous because I'm putting it on hold until I scratch through the rest of this ridiculous pile of comments. Thank goodness I've managed to send out my eighth Write 1/Sub 1 entry.
February 22, 2011
The Thing About Books
An old high school buddy sent an email the other day. He'd just read Loathsome, Dark and Deep and told me "[I'm] Still reading two to three books a week and just wanted to tell you how impressed I was by yours."
This guy used to read about a book a day. No shit. He'd read all day at school, and then, in the evening, tell me everything he read. A true speed-reader. We haven't seen each other in years, part of the tragedy of adulthood, but used to hang every day. A note like that means more than a professional review.
Speaking of Loathsome, I went to the Lawrence Public Library last night to pick up a copy of Roald Dahl's Dirty Beasts for a forensics kid, and found Loathsome, Dark and Deep on the "new fiction" shelf. Pretty cool. Now someone please check it out so it doesn't have to sit there and let all the bigger books bully it.
Speaking of books, I'm running a Goodreads giveaway for The House Eaters. I've noticed The House Eaters has landed on a number of "to be read" shelves, more than my other books, so there must be something to this giveaway thing. Will all of those translate into sales or even reads? I don't know...but it is worth noting. If you're interested, you can sign up below:
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
The House Eaters
by Aaron Polson
Enter to win
Speaking of books (man, I need a new transition), I've arranged my first book signing. More soon.
Enjoy Tuesday.
This guy used to read about a book a day. No shit. He'd read all day at school, and then, in the evening, tell me everything he read. A true speed-reader. We haven't seen each other in years, part of the tragedy of adulthood, but used to hang every day. A note like that means more than a professional review.
Speaking of Loathsome, I went to the Lawrence Public Library last night to pick up a copy of Roald Dahl's Dirty Beasts for a forensics kid, and found Loathsome, Dark and Deep on the "new fiction" shelf. Pretty cool. Now someone please check it out so it doesn't have to sit there and let all the bigger books bully it.
Speaking of books, I'm running a Goodreads giveaway for The House Eaters. I've noticed The House Eaters has landed on a number of "to be read" shelves, more than my other books, so there must be something to this giveaway thing. Will all of those translate into sales or even reads? I don't know...but it is worth noting. If you're interested, you can sign up below:
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(http://goodreads.com/images/layout/gr... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://goodreads.com/images/layout/gr... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The House Eaters
by Aaron Polson
Giveaway ends February 28, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win
Speaking of books (man, I need a new transition), I've arranged my first book signing. More soon.
Enjoy Tuesday.
February 21, 2011
Goodbye, Dear Friend
It pains me to report (although most of you have doubtless read), Necrotic Tissue will be closing its doors with issue #14.
Necrotic Tissue was my first HWA qualifying sale back when they paid $25 to make sure newbies could squeeze their toes through the "affiliate" door. I've been lucky enough to have three stories appear in Necrotic Tissue over the years: "Catalog Sales", "The Distillery", and the recent flash story, "Enough", in issue #13.
It's sad to see such cornerstones of the small press fade. Sadder still had it not been with us at all.
Thank you, Mr. McCoy and staff, for all the horror you've brought us.
Necrotic Tissue was my first HWA qualifying sale back when they paid $25 to make sure newbies could squeeze their toes through the "affiliate" door. I've been lucky enough to have three stories appear in Necrotic Tissue over the years: "Catalog Sales", "The Distillery", and the recent flash story, "Enough", in issue #13.
It's sad to see such cornerstones of the small press fade. Sadder still had it not been with us at all.
Thank you, Mr. McCoy and staff, for all the horror you've brought us.
February 20, 2011
Write 1 / Sub 1 Weekend Update
Always a bridesmaid...
We had two forensics (speech and drama) meets this week, and my squad scored second at both.
2nd!
I'm happy, of course, but we could have won both. We lost by a mere 5 points on Saturday (163-158). Granted, there were 14 teams so 2nd is pretty good.
What does this have to do with writing? Not much, only to explain I didn't spend much time writing. I did manage to finish edits on "Lullaby" a 2,500 word fantasy piece which I sent, appropriately, to Fantasy for quick rejection. It has since joined the ranks of slush piles everywhere.
Maybe I can get something done tonight...maybe.
Happy writing, folks.
We had two forensics (speech and drama) meets this week, and my squad scored second at both.
2nd!
I'm happy, of course, but we could have won both. We lost by a mere 5 points on Saturday (163-158). Granted, there were 14 teams so 2nd is pretty good.
What does this have to do with writing? Not much, only to explain I didn't spend much time writing. I did manage to finish edits on "Lullaby" a 2,500 word fantasy piece which I sent, appropriately, to Fantasy for quick rejection. It has since joined the ranks of slush piles everywhere.
Maybe I can get something done tonight...maybe.
Happy writing, folks.
February 18, 2011
Friday Art Show: Tiger, Tiger...
(Jungle Cats, Owen Polson, age 7)"The Tiger"
by William Blake (1757–1827)
TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
February 17, 2011
Hello, Goodbye
Thanks to everyone who read, commented, and/or rated "Soul Marbles". I appreciated all of it: the good, the bad, the ugly, and in between. Every Day Fiction is a perfect example of the power of online markets. The story garnered 20+ comments and 40+ ratings--you and I know there were many more readers. So, thanks.
Hello to Barry Napier's Masks of Our Fathers, which should be available for purchase on Kindle soon (it's already listed on Amazon). I read Masks in beta, and it's a great ride. Day Terrors, including my short story "Sea of Green, Sea of Gold", is also up for purchase in dead-tree format.
Finally, I must say goodbye to our local Borders store. As part of the bankrupcy, Borders will close 200 stores, including the Lawrence branch. Sorry I didn't buy more books...well...not really. We have a great, thriving indie store, The Raven, just down the street. If I'm going to support a brick and mortar, it'll be the indies.
Have a lovely Thursday. And no, we didn't win yesterday. We took second of ten.
Hello to Barry Napier's Masks of Our Fathers, which should be available for purchase on Kindle soon (it's already listed on Amazon). I read Masks in beta, and it's a great ride. Day Terrors, including my short story "Sea of Green, Sea of Gold", is also up for purchase in dead-tree format.
Finally, I must say goodbye to our local Borders store. As part of the bankrupcy, Borders will close 200 stores, including the Lawrence branch. Sorry I didn't buy more books...well...not really. We have a great, thriving indie store, The Raven, just down the street. If I'm going to support a brick and mortar, it'll be the indies.
Have a lovely Thursday. And no, we didn't win yesterday. We took second of ten.
February 16, 2011
"Soul Marbles" at Every Day Fiction
You can read my journeyman story, "Soul Marbles", at Every Day Fiction today. I use the word journeyman because a few top-notch flash markets have held it for "final review" and then rejected it in the end. I'm glad it finally has a home.
Is it speculative? I'll leave that for you to decide (and you will have to decide). As always, I appreciate the read, the rating, and any comments, good or bad, you choose to make.
I'm off to our "league" forensics meet today. It would be nice to bring home the banner...
Is it speculative? I'll leave that for you to decide (and you will have to decide). As always, I appreciate the read, the rating, and any comments, good or bad, you choose to make.
I'm off to our "league" forensics meet today. It would be nice to bring home the banner...
February 15, 2011
Ain't Taking Shorts No More (Writing for Free)
NPR's Morning Edition ran a piece this morning titled "Is Writing Online Without Pay Worth It?"
Listen to it. (Or at least read the summary) Then read David Carr's original article at the NY Times, "At Media Companies, a Nation of Serfs".
Yes, they're talking, in general, about non-fiction (sort of...I guess). Hell, just commenting on an article online is offering content for free. Some irony there, considering some of the comments on Carr's article. According to Carr, your Twitter feed and Facebook profile are forms of writing for free. Yikes... Facebook has learned how to cash in. Twitter isn't there. Yet.
Look--this isn't new. I occasionally listen to sports talk radio. I know, it might seem a little "out of character" for me, but it is entertaining. And you know what? The callers provide much of the content (and they are weirdos). No, it isn't a new phenomenon at all.
But is it scary? Yes, especially to anyone who wishes to write for money. Is there a corollary to fiction? Hell yes. I read a good deal of fiction online for free. Yes, many of the markets are well-paying (Apex*, Clarkesworld, Fantasy, etc.), but I'm not buying copies of Fantasy and Science Fiction or Asimov's when I'm spending my limited reading time with Redstone SF or Lightspeed online for free. I currently have subscriptions to Shimmer, Space & Time, and Necrotic Tissue. I try to spend a little money on small press every month (books, etc.), but the writing, I think, is on the virtual wall.
Will I stop blogging? No. Will I stop commenting on others' blogs, tweeting, or any of the other content-creating exercises? No. Am I going to throw an old-school Harlan Ellison rant about paying me? No.
Not yet.
And writing fiction? I'll quit when I'm dead. (but hopefully not from starvation)
*okay, so I did sign on for the Apex subscription, but I could read it for free.
Listen to it. (Or at least read the summary) Then read David Carr's original article at the NY Times, "At Media Companies, a Nation of Serfs".
Yes, they're talking, in general, about non-fiction (sort of...I guess). Hell, just commenting on an article online is offering content for free. Some irony there, considering some of the comments on Carr's article. According to Carr, your Twitter feed and Facebook profile are forms of writing for free. Yikes... Facebook has learned how to cash in. Twitter isn't there. Yet.
Look--this isn't new. I occasionally listen to sports talk radio. I know, it might seem a little "out of character" for me, but it is entertaining. And you know what? The callers provide much of the content (and they are weirdos). No, it isn't a new phenomenon at all.
But is it scary? Yes, especially to anyone who wishes to write for money. Is there a corollary to fiction? Hell yes. I read a good deal of fiction online for free. Yes, many of the markets are well-paying (Apex*, Clarkesworld, Fantasy, etc.), but I'm not buying copies of Fantasy and Science Fiction or Asimov's when I'm spending my limited reading time with Redstone SF or Lightspeed online for free. I currently have subscriptions to Shimmer, Space & Time, and Necrotic Tissue. I try to spend a little money on small press every month (books, etc.), but the writing, I think, is on the virtual wall.
Will I stop blogging? No. Will I stop commenting on others' blogs, tweeting, or any of the other content-creating exercises? No. Am I going to throw an old-school Harlan Ellison rant about paying me? No.
Not yet.
And writing fiction? I'll quit when I'm dead. (but hopefully not from starvation)
*okay, so I did sign on for the Apex subscription, but I could read it for free.
February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day Podcast
Matt Cowens has created a nifty little podcast of "Better Lessons" for Every Day Fiction.
Give it a listen, if you like. It's sort of a love story. I guess.
And this heart's for you (happy Valentine's Day):
Give it a listen, if you like. It's sort of a love story. I guess.
And this heart's for you (happy Valentine's Day):
February 12, 2011
Write 1 / Sub 1 Weekend Update #write1sub1
A week of flash fiction. Whew.
I subbed "A Long Walk to Never" (a riff on Kurt Vonnegut's "A Long Walk to Forever") to Abyss & Apex. Yes, it's a piece of flash fiction.
My first acceptance for a Write 1 / Sub 1 piece came last week: "The Ballad of Arkady and Nadia" will appear in 100 Stories for Queensland. I don't generally sub to non-paying markets anymore*, but I always will for a good cause. I did land two more acceptances this week (funny how these things come in clumps and then nothing for a month or more). "Poe's Blender" (an extension of a Friday Flash I wrote long ago) sold to Death Rattle and "Upon Leaving the Candy Factory" (a weird little thing with candy-making zombies) sold to Bourbon Penn. Both stories were nearing the end of their "lives", so whew.
One final piece of flash news, and then I'm off...three stories of mine have made the cut for The Best of Every Day Fiction 3: "Billy Boy", "How to Burn a House", and "Faith". I'm quite honored to find a place in the volume (TOC mates include Gay Degani, Robert Swartwood, Milo James Fowler, and many more excellent writers). A big thanks to Jordan Lapp and Camille Gooderham Campbell and the rest of the team at EDF for their hard work and finding something in my little stories.
All right...(rolls up sleeves)...I have some editing to do. Happy writing.
*In genre fiction (horror, fantasy, science fiction), there is a quality gap between most non-paying venues and those which pay at least token or semi-pro rates. The markets become more competitive, too, and competition makes us all better (even though it is frustrating at times).
I subbed "A Long Walk to Never" (a riff on Kurt Vonnegut's "A Long Walk to Forever") to Abyss & Apex. Yes, it's a piece of flash fiction.
My first acceptance for a Write 1 / Sub 1 piece came last week: "The Ballad of Arkady and Nadia" will appear in 100 Stories for Queensland. I don't generally sub to non-paying markets anymore*, but I always will for a good cause. I did land two more acceptances this week (funny how these things come in clumps and then nothing for a month or more). "Poe's Blender" (an extension of a Friday Flash I wrote long ago) sold to Death Rattle and "Upon Leaving the Candy Factory" (a weird little thing with candy-making zombies) sold to Bourbon Penn. Both stories were nearing the end of their "lives", so whew.
One final piece of flash news, and then I'm off...three stories of mine have made the cut for The Best of Every Day Fiction 3: "Billy Boy", "How to Burn a House", and "Faith". I'm quite honored to find a place in the volume (TOC mates include Gay Degani, Robert Swartwood, Milo James Fowler, and many more excellent writers). A big thanks to Jordan Lapp and Camille Gooderham Campbell and the rest of the team at EDF for their hard work and finding something in my little stories.
All right...(rolls up sleeves)...I have some editing to do. Happy writing.
*In genre fiction (horror, fantasy, science fiction), there is a quality gap between most non-paying venues and those which pay at least token or semi-pro rates. The markets become more competitive, too, and competition makes us all better (even though it is frustrating at times).
