Aaron Polson's Blog, page 45

Works Not in Progress Thursday

I can't seem to finish a story.

Oh, I've been writing them, but each disappoints in the end. I'm sure there's a few possible reasons for this:
I've forgotten how to write.I'm more critical of my work now.I'm more critical of venues to which I'll send my work.On #1...I hope this isn't true. I still "get" it. The words are still there. I keep scribbling little notes, typing sentences, developing characters, putting them in unfortunate situations....

So maybe it's #2. I like some of what I've written lately, but I don't love it. I should love it, right?

And I know #3 is part of the equation. In the beginning, I was happy to have a "yes" from anyone. I'm just not there any more. Pay and prestige aren't the only deciding factors--I want to send something that is a fit for the magazine/anthology/etc. With more experience, I find the list of possible markets for any particular story grow smaller (and smaller).

So, yeah. Working. Writing words. I suspect I need some dedicated editing and revision time...

I've been reading, too, and falling in love with much of what Kelly Link writes. If you're unfamiliar with her work, "The Specialist's Hat" is a good place to start. Don't be surprised if you finish the story with more questions than answers.

(By the way..."Black Medicine Thunder and the Sons of Chaos" finishes this week at Red Penny Papers)

Works Not in Progress Thursday

I can't seem to finish a story.

Oh, I've been writing them, but each disappoints in the end. I'm sure there's a few possible reasons for this:
I've forgotten how to write.I'm more critical of my work now.I'm more critical of venues to which I'll send my work.On #1...I hope this isn't true. I still "get" it. The words are still there. I keep scribbling little notes, typing sentences, developing characters, putting them in unfortunate situations....

So maybe it's #2. I like some of what I've...

A Little Weird

Head over to Everyday Weirdness to read "Bona Fide King of His Realm" today.

(And don't say I didn't warn you.)

A Little Weird

Head over to Everyday Weirdness to read "Bona Fide King of His Realm" today.

(And don't say I didn't warn you.)

On Monuments

I took the family to Council Grove, Kansas, this weekend, a place I jokingly referred to as "the dark heart of Kansas". Council Grove has its fair share of history--for several years it was the last stop heading southwest on the Santa Fe Trail. Last stop before Santa Fe, that is...

The Kanza people used to live around Council Grove, and our fair state takes its name from their tribe. In an act of cruel, bitter, irony, the last Kanza were forced out of Kansas to "Indian Territory" (now Oklah...

Hello, I'm Friday

And for the next ? weeks (as long as it takes, I suppose), you can hip-hop on over to http://borrowedsaints.blogspot.com and read installments of The Borrowed Saints. Yes, I'm posting the whole $^#&@* thing until it's out there, free for the taking.

Why?

Because I can, I suppose.

Because once upon a time, this man:

Thought it would be a good idea to record a live album in prison (with inmates as the audience), and he was right.

I find that a wee bit inspiring. The lesson? Just do it.

Hello, I'm Friday

And for the next ? weeks (as long as it takes, I suppose), you can hip-hop on over to http://borrowedsaints.blogspot.com and read installments of The Borrowed Saints. Yes, I'm posting the whole $^#&@* thing until it's out there, free for the taking.

Why?

Because I can, I suppose.

Because once upon a time, this man:

Thought it would be a good idea to record a live album in prison (with inmates as the audience), and he was right.

I find that a wee bit inspiring. The lesson? Just do it.

The Proverbial Sh*t Hits the Fan

***please forgive any spammy emails from my address...I've been hijacked, again***

I failed to mention yesterday's installment of "Black Medicine Thunder and the Sons of Chaos" at The Red Penny Papers yesterday (bad writer!). Oh yes, things go from bad to severely f*cked this week, or as Max would say, "What the heck?"

(We've worked so hard at keeping the little scamp's language clean. Can't you tell?)

Also, review goodness from ScaryMinds re: Dark Pages Volume 1...

"And Cargo by Aaron Polson calls to mind the best of Romero in a sort of sifting through the ashes of post apocalyptic society way."

Awwww...I conjured Romero. (I'm not even sure if the things out there in the dark were zombies. Hell Heck, this review at ASIF suggests it was a vampire apocalypse. Now I'm confused.)

The Proverbial Sh*t Hits the Fan

I failed to mention yesterday's installment of "Black Medicine Thunder and the Sons of Chaos" at The Red Penny Papers yesterday (bad writer!). Oh yes, things go from bad to severely f*cked this week, or as Max would say, "What the heck?"

(We've worked so hard at keeping the little scamp's language clean. Can't you tell?)

Also, review goodness from ScaryMinds re: Dark Pages Volume 1...

"And Cargo by Aaron Polson calls to mind the best of Romero in a sort of sifting through the ashes of post apo...

WIP Wednesday: Flashing

Head over to Eclectic Flash for "A Little Bit for Braz" in their September 2010 issue.

As for WIPing...I'm hammering away at the end of a longish piece, "Down There", and putting the icing on a flash story for NPR's Three-Minute Fiction contest. Sorry, the NPR contest is only open to U.S. residents. And sorry again, if you're going to write a story better than mine (which is likely), you aren't allowed to enter.

Kidding, of course.

So, in interest of the end of "Down There", which is more frightening:

1. finding a mutilated body

2. a missing person but signs they may have been mutilated

I don't usually do gore, but the story calls...