Aaron Polson's Blog, page 62
January 6, 2010
WIP Wednesday: Polishing the House Eaters
2010 has been all about the edits thus far. I'm steadily working through another revision of Loathesome, Dark, and Deep and just yesterday received the first round of edits on The House Eaters. I'm happy to report no major issues with only a few items which I needed to address.
But yeah. Editing.
Things are pretty tense for our small crew in Loathsome. Halfway up the river, they've lost a boat...and most of their supplies.
"We only have enough food for one more day." Olson's white fingers m...
But yeah. Editing.
Things are pretty tense for our small crew in Loathsome. Halfway up the river, they've lost a boat...and most of their supplies.
"We only have enough food for one more day." Olson's white fingers m...
January 5, 2010
The Big Hazy Rejectometer...it's GOOD!
Speaking of looking for an agent in 2010, literary agent Janet Reid breaks down a number of rejections on her blog (all after requesting full manuscripts). Scary.
As an English teacher, I'm well versed in the haze of writing well. Some of Ms. Reid's stats are very helpful (structural problems, starts too slow, characters are caricatures...). Then we have "Just plain not good enough".
What, exactly, does "good enough" mean?
Good is uber-subjective right? We all know when we've read somethin...
As an English teacher, I'm well versed in the haze of writing well. Some of Ms. Reid's stats are very helpful (structural problems, starts too slow, characters are caricatures...). Then we have "Just plain not good enough".
What, exactly, does "good enough" mean?
Good is uber-subjective right? We all know when we've read somethin...
January 4, 2010
Goals 2010 and Other Updates
I suppose I need to put together a "goals" post or else I won't have anything upon which to reflect at the end of the year. Make sense?
Just like last year, there are things I want out of 2010. Some I can control; some I can't.
What I can do:
1. Always have at least one story in front of a pro paying market.
2. Finish my final pass of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep and have it ready to query/submit in February. (Get on this one, eh?)
3. Write my fifth novel*--a ghost/suspense/YA thing with no title...
Just like last year, there are things I want out of 2010. Some I can control; some I can't.
What I can do:
1. Always have at least one story in front of a pro paying market.
2. Finish my final pass of Loathsome, Dark, and Deep and have it ready to query/submit in February. (Get on this one, eh?)
3. Write my fifth novel*--a ghost/suspense/YA thing with no title...
January 1, 2010
Ten Years Late
Millie woke to a clacking sound, a rhythmic tic-tic-tic-tic outside her window.
"Jerry?"
The shape next to her mumbles and rolls over. "Mmmmm."
Millie slides out of bed, flinches when her feet touch the cold wooden floor, and goes to the window. She parts the blinds. Sunlight forces her back for a moment, but her eyes adjust. What she sees drives a spike through her already hangover-addled skull.
The street below is devoid of cars. Now covered with ruddy cobblestones, she traces it to the dista...
"Jerry?"
The shape next to her mumbles and rolls over. "Mmmmm."
Millie slides out of bed, flinches when her feet touch the cold wooden floor, and goes to the window. She parts the blinds. Sunlight forces her back for a moment, but her eyes adjust. What she sees drives a spike through her already hangover-addled skull.
The street below is devoid of cars. Now covered with ruddy cobblestones, she traces it to the dista...
December 30, 2009
Writing 2009 In Review
I just revisited last year's goals/"resolutions". My goals and how I did:
1. Always have one story in front of a pro-paying market. Right now I have six...granted, three are flash pieces, but I did receive a rewrite request on one longer piece. Still waiting.
2. Finish Rock Gods and Scary Monsters and query that sucker by year's end. Done and done. Still waiting. I currently have two fulls out.
3. Write The House Eaters. Um, done.
4. Write at least one high-quality story a month. Well...I averag...
1. Always have one story in front of a pro-paying market. Right now I have six...granted, three are flash pieces, but I did receive a rewrite request on one longer piece. Still waiting.
2. Finish Rock Gods and Scary Monsters and query that sucker by year's end. Done and done. Still waiting. I currently have two fulls out.
3. Write The House Eaters. Um, done.
4. Write at least one high-quality story a month. Well...I averag...
What Not to Do
Submitting fiction for publication is like a drug habit (in theory, anyway...I haven't had any drug habits). Those first submissions, oh how the rejection stings. Later, when you get the first "hit", sweet nirvana. Then you go back for more. The stings aren't so bad this time, but the hits don't take you as high. You crave bigger hits. Pro sales. That book deal that will make everything okay.
Only it won't.
The writing has to be the high, really. Why do it if it's not?
All right, enough...
Only it won't.
The writing has to be the high, really. Why do it if it's not?
All right, enough...
December 28, 2009
Decade, You Have Been Good To Me
Whatever history will end up calling the last decade, she's almost over.
In the last ten years I've:
...married my wife (the current and only one).
...seen ten senior classes leave McLouth High School.
...witnessed the birth of my two beautiful boys (Owen in 2003...Max in 2006).
...started and finished my M.S. program at the University of Kansas.
...been nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year.
...written four books and nearly 200 stories. One of the books really sucks; one is being published; the...
In the last ten years I've:
...married my wife (the current and only one).
...seen ten senior classes leave McLouth High School.
...witnessed the birth of my two beautiful boys (Owen in 2003...Max in 2006).
...started and finished my M.S. program at the University of Kansas.
...been nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year.
...written four books and nearly 200 stories. One of the books really sucks; one is being published; the...
December 25, 2009
Crenshaw's Gift
Little Ralphie hugs the package to his chest and shakes it back and forth. The contents rattle, a muted clatter-clatter.
"It's so big," he says, smile beaming.
Mom leans over to Dad and lowers her voice to a whisper. "Legos, right?"
Dad shakes his head while Ralphie strips the paper from the large box.
"Well...it's big. Almost as big as the boy." She frowns. "Tinker Toys?"
Head shake.
"Lincoln Logs?"
Head shake.
"All right...I give."
Ralphie yanks open the end of the box. "Whoa..."
Dad smiles. "Remembe...
"It's so big," he says, smile beaming.
Mom leans over to Dad and lowers her voice to a whisper. "Legos, right?"
Dad shakes his head while Ralphie strips the paper from the large box.
"Well...it's big. Almost as big as the boy." She frowns. "Tinker Toys?"
Head shake.
"Lincoln Logs?"
Head shake.
"All right...I give."
Ralphie yanks open the end of the box. "Whoa..."
Dad smiles. "Remembe...
December 23, 2009
WIP Wednesday: Holidays (Not for the Kids)
Merry Christmas to all, and stay away from Santa's cookies!
December 21, 2009
Reviewy-Tuesday
Catching up on some reviews and other news.
I've posted my recommendation of See No Evil, Say No Evil by Matt Betts at Skull Salad.
Jorge Solis of Fangoria.com had some nice things to say about Dead Bait , including my contribution, "Grim Adaptations":
My favorites in the collection are Tim Curran's "Piraya" and Aaron A. Polson's "Grim Adaptations." In both tales, dead fish are reanimated back to life as zombies to feed off of humans...
Luke Reviews covered Monstrous back in May, but I've only rec...
I've posted my recommendation of See No Evil, Say No Evil by Matt Betts at Skull Salad.
Jorge Solis of Fangoria.com had some nice things to say about Dead Bait , including my contribution, "Grim Adaptations":
My favorites in the collection are Tim Curran's "Piraya" and Aaron A. Polson's "Grim Adaptations." In both tales, dead fish are reanimated back to life as zombies to feed off of humans...
Luke Reviews covered Monstrous back in May, but I've only rec...
