Aaron Polson's Blog, page 35
February 11, 2011
Friday Freak Out: Suspiria
Why did it take me so long to see this movie? Suspiria is the closest thing to a nightmare on screen I've ever experienced.
Have a great weekend.
February 9, 2011
WIP Wednesday is Fraught with Absurdity
We have another snow day. Eight this year. I'm going a little batty, to tell the truth.
So I spent a good deal of my morning editing Borrowed Saints. This afternoon, I'll have another look at Anthony J. Rapino's Uprooted, the next chapbook for Strange Publications.
If you find yourself snowed in and need something to read (or just need something to read), might I steer you toward Jeremy Kelley's "This is Nathan Hall" (a serial short at his blog).
Innsmouth Free Press #6 is up and running, too, featuring several lovely pieces of weird fiction by writers such as Angela Slatter, Joshua M. Reynolds, Daniel José Older, and yours truly with "Drowning Old Milford". As always, it is a free read, and you can download the PDF issue for free, too.
Have a lovely day. No more snow, okay?
So I spent a good deal of my morning editing Borrowed Saints. This afternoon, I'll have another look at Anthony J. Rapino's Uprooted, the next chapbook for Strange Publications.
If you find yourself snowed in and need something to read (or just need something to read), might I steer you toward Jeremy Kelley's "This is Nathan Hall" (a serial short at his blog).
Innsmouth Free Press #6 is up and running, too, featuring several lovely pieces of weird fiction by writers such as Angela Slatter, Joshua M. Reynolds, Daniel José Older, and yours truly with "Drowning Old Milford". As always, it is a free read, and you can download the PDF issue for free, too.
Have a lovely day. No more snow, okay?
February 8, 2011
21st Century Digital Boy
Yesterday I was amped for a rant (of sorts). Actually, it was more of an airing of my dirty laundry, past mistakes and present failures...
Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Note the phrase "too much". Any good writer should doubt a portion of his/her work because, let's be honest, no one does it right every time. No one writes a perfect story on the first draft. No one. (Although Harlan Ellison has come close...check out "Flop Sweat"...he wrote it in one day to be read on air that night. Chilling as today's temperature: 3 degrees Fahrenheit--I won't even convert to Celsius...yow.)
I still doubt myself. But I've moved on. Sort of.
And I'm thankful for the 21st century. I'm thankful for the ability to do certain things* for myself in the future. I'm thankful a 21st century storyteller can reach out and find an audience, even a small audience, without having to prostate himself to the whims of the big meat grinder.
I'd rather have a small, honest audience than a huge audience to which I lie so somebody else can reap the benefits. Don't know what I'm talking about? For the latest example, read: "E-Book Royalty Math: The House Always Wins" (thanks for the link to Robert Swartwood)
Look, no publisher which intends to stay in business can have only an author's best interests in mind. Publishers are in business to make money, and there are plenty of want-to-be writers lined up waiting to take an author's place if that author doesn't pay the bills. Didn't make a profit for the publisher? Next...next...next...
I've had dealings with three small presses--Belfire Press, Virtual Tales, and Aqueous Press. Jodi Lee and company at Belfire have been great. I have certain reservations about the author agreements I've signed with the other two, although Virtual Tales has been top-notch with artwork, promotion, and other "intangibles". Certain things remain to be seen with Aqueous. I'm not excited at all with recent developments (which have nothing to do with my book) because of the "guilt by association" factor involved. Again, I'll refer you to Mr. Swartwood for the scoop. One thing I appreciate about Robert is his unflinching honesty. I'm too much of a chicken-shit most of the time.
So why did I sign on? Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Doubt leads to fear. Fear leads to decisions founded in sand.
I've come to the conclusion that an author's best interests are handled best by that author unless you are a machine (e.g., Stephen King, John Grisham, etc.). An agent can be great in looking out for an author's interests but only as far as it serves the agent (i.e., makes the agent money). No, it's not sour grapes; it's business, and I don't fault any agent for seeking only those clients which will make him/her the most money. That is an agent's job. Many have kids to feed.** But I haven't bothered to query an agent in almost two years. It just doesn't seem like the right time for me.
So for me, small time author, right now it's best to do what I can for myself. The 21st century has laid the tools in my lap.*
At least, this way, when mistakes are made, they're all mine.***
One final note: thanks to everyone who has purchased, promoted, or talked about 52 Stitches. Jamie was family, and it does my sometimes bitter and jaded heart good to see the power of my extended internet family.
*cover art, e-publishing, promotion, etc.
**I do. Let me tell you, having a family changes perspective on a lot of things.
***Selfish much?
Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Note the phrase "too much". Any good writer should doubt a portion of his/her work because, let's be honest, no one does it right every time. No one writes a perfect story on the first draft. No one. (Although Harlan Ellison has come close...check out "Flop Sweat"...he wrote it in one day to be read on air that night. Chilling as today's temperature: 3 degrees Fahrenheit--I won't even convert to Celsius...yow.)
I still doubt myself. But I've moved on. Sort of.
And I'm thankful for the 21st century. I'm thankful for the ability to do certain things* for myself in the future. I'm thankful a 21st century storyteller can reach out and find an audience, even a small audience, without having to prostate himself to the whims of the big meat grinder.
I'd rather have a small, honest audience than a huge audience to which I lie so somebody else can reap the benefits. Don't know what I'm talking about? For the latest example, read: "E-Book Royalty Math: The House Always Wins" (thanks for the link to Robert Swartwood)
Look, no publisher which intends to stay in business can have only an author's best interests in mind. Publishers are in business to make money, and there are plenty of want-to-be writers lined up waiting to take an author's place if that author doesn't pay the bills. Didn't make a profit for the publisher? Next...next...next...
I've had dealings with three small presses--Belfire Press, Virtual Tales, and Aqueous Press. Jodi Lee and company at Belfire have been great. I have certain reservations about the author agreements I've signed with the other two, although Virtual Tales has been top-notch with artwork, promotion, and other "intangibles". Certain things remain to be seen with Aqueous. I'm not excited at all with recent developments (which have nothing to do with my book) because of the "guilt by association" factor involved. Again, I'll refer you to Mr. Swartwood for the scoop. One thing I appreciate about Robert is his unflinching honesty. I'm too much of a chicken-shit most of the time.
So why did I sign on? Once upon a time I was a writer who doubted myself too much. Doubt leads to fear. Fear leads to decisions founded in sand.
I've come to the conclusion that an author's best interests are handled best by that author unless you are a machine (e.g., Stephen King, John Grisham, etc.). An agent can be great in looking out for an author's interests but only as far as it serves the agent (i.e., makes the agent money). No, it's not sour grapes; it's business, and I don't fault any agent for seeking only those clients which will make him/her the most money. That is an agent's job. Many have kids to feed.** But I haven't bothered to query an agent in almost two years. It just doesn't seem like the right time for me.
So for me, small time author, right now it's best to do what I can for myself. The 21st century has laid the tools in my lap.*
At least, this way, when mistakes are made, they're all mine.***
One final note: thanks to everyone who has purchased, promoted, or talked about 52 Stitches. Jamie was family, and it does my sometimes bitter and jaded heart good to see the power of my extended internet family.
*cover art, e-publishing, promotion, etc.
**I do. Let me tell you, having a family changes perspective on a lot of things.
***Selfish much?
February 7, 2011
Walking On
Okay, I know sports metaphors are overdone...and I don't usually use them. I have a (sort of) personal connection to this one.
The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl. Yeah, yeah huzzah for them and all that. The story I want to tell is about one of their receivers, Jordy Nelson, a kid (and yes, even though he now holds the Green Bay postseason record for yards in a postseason game, I can still call a guy ten years younger than me "kid") who grew up about fifteen miles from my hometown.
Long before Nelson grabbed nine passes and scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl, before the Packers chose him in the second round of the draft, before he set Kansas State records as a senior, he was a walk-on for that Wildcat team as a freshman. And before that, he was "just" a Kansas farm kid.
He saw something he wanted and went for it.
Now he's a world champion.
Does everyone achieve what they "go for"? No. Of course not.
But the only way to guarantee failure is by not trying at all.
I don't even need to explain the correlation with writing, do I?
(Tim Fox/The Dallas Morning News)
The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl. Yeah, yeah huzzah for them and all that. The story I want to tell is about one of their receivers, Jordy Nelson, a kid (and yes, even though he now holds the Green Bay postseason record for yards in a postseason game, I can still call a guy ten years younger than me "kid") who grew up about fifteen miles from my hometown.
Long before Nelson grabbed nine passes and scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl, before the Packers chose him in the second round of the draft, before he set Kansas State records as a senior, he was a walk-on for that Wildcat team as a freshman. And before that, he was "just" a Kansas farm kid.
He saw something he wanted and went for it.
Now he's a world champion.
Does everyone achieve what they "go for"? No. Of course not.
But the only way to guarantee failure is by not trying at all.
I don't even need to explain the correlation with writing, do I?
(Tim Fox/The Dallas Morning News)
February 6, 2011
Write 1 / Sub 1 Weekend Update #write1sub1
Well, I managed to get a piece of flash out into the ether this week, a short little thing titled "Why Susie McTavish Believes in Angels". I'm not sure it works, but it gave me shivers when I wrote it. We shall see...
I'm doing okay on the writing side of things but falling behind on editing and revising. I will not send a story out before it's ready. So, I have three longish tales (3K or more) written and waiting for editing/revision and another flash story in the queue. I suppose I should hammer them into shape before writing another word.
Speaking of hammers, one features as an important prop in The House Eaters, my YA horror book (which adults should dig, too) which was released this week. How's that for a segue?
If you're interested in a signed copy, drop me a line (aaron.polson@gmail.com). I'm selling them at cover price + shipping, so no gouging here. Maybe I should offer a discount...(haha)
I'm doing okay on the writing side of things but falling behind on editing and revising. I will not send a story out before it's ready. So, I have three longish tales (3K or more) written and waiting for editing/revision and another flash story in the queue. I suppose I should hammer them into shape before writing another word.
Speaking of hammers, one features as an important prop in The House Eaters, my YA horror book (which adults should dig, too) which was released this week. How's that for a segue?
If you're interested in a signed copy, drop me a line (aaron.polson@gmail.com). I'm selling them at cover price + shipping, so no gouging here. Maybe I should offer a discount...(haha)
February 4, 2011
We're All Winners
Once Upon a Time...I was an art student. Have you seen Google Art Project? Wow. Zoom in on van Gogh's The Starry Night. Amazing.
The winner of my Loathsome Reviews Contest is Mary Rajotte. Drop me a line, Mary, and claim your cash money prize. (It was another Canadian...someone will cry "foul")
Take the little poll thingy (upper right-hand corner) to help me choose where to donate January's $5.
And, don't you like it when advertisers go out of their way to be weird?
No, I will not taste the rainbow, but a dude in a giant tube sock is pretty cool.
The winner of my Loathsome Reviews Contest is Mary Rajotte. Drop me a line, Mary, and claim your cash money prize. (It was another Canadian...someone will cry "foul")
Take the little poll thingy (upper right-hand corner) to help me choose where to donate January's $5.
And, don't you like it when advertisers go out of their way to be weird?
No, I will not taste the rainbow, but a dude in a giant tube sock is pretty cool.
February 2, 2011
WIP Wednesday Gets Out of the Way
Because The House Eaters is now available in paperback. I'm excited, of course, because I love this story and its sarcastic, wise-cracking narrator, Nick Gillingham. Nick Gillingham knew that moving before his senior year would really suck... but he never imagined a nightmare like Broughton's Hollow. It's bad enough that Nick hears disembodied voices after moving near "the House"—a crumbling relic with a sinister past. But then the local football team decides to make him their new tackling dummy, the "hot babe" at school starts manipulating him for her own nefarious purposes, and his parents' marriage falls apart. When Nick's elderly neighbor hints that whatever lurks within "the House" might be the cause of his troubles, he sets out to uncover the truth behind the local Indian legend of the "Eating Monster." Nick will to have to rely on a band of social outcasts from school—and his looney kid sister—to put his life and family back together again. But even if he survives a close encounter with "the House," Nick will still need to find a date for the homecoming dance...
So yeah, to sum up: excited. You can purchase a copy at Amazon.com or signed copies through me (just send an email to aaron.polson@gmail.com). Ebook edition to follow soon...
February 1, 2011
Snowpocalypse Now
Seriously, I should be teaching, but mother nature has dumped a massive (like from New Mexico to Michigan) sized storm of the U.S.
Speaking of teaching, one of the skills I've learned as a teacher is how to transition between topics. Try this:
Snowpocalypse Now is a cheeky reference to the movie Apocalypse Now which is based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness which is the template for my book, Loathsome, Dark, and Deep.
Whew.
Well check out this nice review of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep at Hellnotes:
It's a cleverly thought out survival novel that turns into a "search for a man who can answer our questions" novel, with Henry taken prisoner by a fellow named Curt who can explain the presence of the zombie-like "Ruined Men."
Now that's nice. Click above to read the rest (should you want to, of course). Daniel Powell, author of An Autumn Harvest, had some nice things to say, too. Thanks for reading.
This transition isn't as smooth.
I've come to the end of my first "month of experimentation" with Kindle publishing, and, well, have (drum roll please) seven sales! Yes, seven copies of The Bottom Feeders sold in January, and, I'm surprisingly excited about it. Why? Because everybody I know already bought copies before January (I think)--that means seven "strangers" gave it a go. So my "profit" total for 2011...
7 books x $.35 a book = $2.45!
Now, I know I said I was going to donate 10% to a charity each month...I am. At least. 25 cents doesn't seem like much of a donation, does it? So each month I make less than $10 (could be the whole year, folks), I'm going to donate at least $5.
So who should the $5 go to this month? I'm taking suggestions and then will hold a poll.
I'll announce the winner of the review contest tomorrow...stay tuned. We're likely snowed in for a few days...
Speaking of teaching, one of the skills I've learned as a teacher is how to transition between topics. Try this:
Snowpocalypse Now is a cheeky reference to the movie Apocalypse Now which is based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness which is the template for my book, Loathsome, Dark, and Deep.
Whew.
Well check out this nice review of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep at Hellnotes:
It's a cleverly thought out survival novel that turns into a "search for a man who can answer our questions" novel, with Henry taken prisoner by a fellow named Curt who can explain the presence of the zombie-like "Ruined Men."
Now that's nice. Click above to read the rest (should you want to, of course). Daniel Powell, author of An Autumn Harvest, had some nice things to say, too. Thanks for reading.
This transition isn't as smooth.
I've come to the end of my first "month of experimentation" with Kindle publishing, and, well, have (drum roll please) seven sales! Yes, seven copies of The Bottom Feeders sold in January, and, I'm surprisingly excited about it. Why? Because everybody I know already bought copies before January (I think)--that means seven "strangers" gave it a go. So my "profit" total for 2011...
7 books x $.35 a book = $2.45!
Now, I know I said I was going to donate 10% to a charity each month...I am. At least. 25 cents doesn't seem like much of a donation, does it? So each month I make less than $10 (could be the whole year, folks), I'm going to donate at least $5.
So who should the $5 go to this month? I'm taking suggestions and then will hold a poll.
I'll announce the winner of the review contest tomorrow...stay tuned. We're likely snowed in for a few days...
January 31, 2011
"When Megan Could Fly" at Liquid Imagination
I have one of "those" stories up at Liquid Imagination today (I'll let you, dear readers, decide what that means). You can read "When Megan Could Fly" or listen to the wonderful Robert Eccles read the story. I had originally intended the tale to be part of How We Die in a Hungry Town when the manuscript was titled We're All Liars Here, but then the character of Megan changed. Too much, really.
Liquid Imagination serves a few pictures to go with each story, and I found the first to be rather thought-provoking. Let me know if it provokes you, too.
Thanks to the Liquid Imagination crew for publishing "When Megan Could Fly". Part of the story is true, but I'll leave you to decide which part...
Liquid Imagination serves a few pictures to go with each story, and I found the first to be rather thought-provoking. Let me know if it provokes you, too.
Thanks to the Liquid Imagination crew for publishing "When Megan Could Fly". Part of the story is true, but I'll leave you to decide which part...
January 29, 2011
Write 1 / Sub 1 Weekend Update
If you're counting, this is number three. I'm going to stop counting because, well, I just am.
I've managed my fourth story in four weeks, this one an anti-war sci-fi number called "What to Pack When You're Bound for [a really big number I can't even remember.3]" to Clarkesworld. I'm currently 17 in the queue, so when I get my rejection tomorrow, it will head back into sub land post haste.
The really big number, if you'd like to know, corresponds with a planet astronomers think might have liquid water (a necessity for life as we know it). "They" are the enemy, however, and my dear protagonist is a "trigger".
My current WIP is "vexing" me greatly, and I'm about to "raise the stakes". (i.e., punch it in the mouth)
That is all.
I've managed my fourth story in four weeks, this one an anti-war sci-fi number called "What to Pack When You're Bound for [a really big number I can't even remember.3]" to Clarkesworld. I'm currently 17 in the queue, so when I get my rejection tomorrow, it will head back into sub land post haste.
The really big number, if you'd like to know, corresponds with a planet astronomers think might have liquid water (a necessity for life as we know it). "They" are the enemy, however, and my dear protagonist is a "trigger".
My current WIP is "vexing" me greatly, and I'm about to "raise the stakes". (i.e., punch it in the mouth)
That is all.
