K.C. Shaw's Blog, page 27
October 15, 2010
Awesome book time!
I almost forgot to post this! Cate Gardner's book, Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits, is now available! It's a collection of her wonderfully strange short fiction. You can order it from Amazon or directly from the publisher. I just found out I get a limited-edition bookmark with my preorder, and also because I am SPECIAL.
Cate's fiction is truly awesome! If you haven't sampled any of her stories before, you're really in for a treat.
What is fantasy? How does it differ from SF?
A brief post yesterday at The OF Blog has set off a number of other bloggers. What's the difference between SF and fantasy? The post doesn't really speculate, just brings up the topic in an "I've been thinking about this lately" kind of way, but a few other bloggers have followed up with more in-depth thoughts.
Spiral Galaxy responded with a post arguing that in fantasy, certain special people are "born with the power." That is, only certain people can wield magic, while anyone can use technology. There's a follow-up at Smith Orbit that agrees and goes a little further, stating that fantasy contains a "romantic notion of authenticity"--that is, in fantasy, certain things or places are more pure or sacred or special and therefore contain power, while in SF, places and things are subject only to natural forces, which do not include "specialness."
Me, I'm inclined to follow Orson Scott Card's advice that SF contains rivets and fantasy doesn't, a short-hand way of differentiating between technology-driven SF and non-technological fantasy. But that's a bit simplistic too. Not all SF is about spaceships. Not all fantasy is about magic. When I shelved the fantasy section at a used bookstore years ago, I used to argue with our fiction director about where Anne McCaffrey's Pern books belonged. I wanted them in SF because the dragons were bioengineered creatures on another planet, the dragons' teleporting abilities were explained (in a handwavy way) as using natural processes, and while the people on the planet Pern had mostly forgotten about their past and had reverted to a much less technologically advanced society, they had originally arrived by spaceship. The fiction director wanted the Pern books in fantasy because, well, they had dragons on the covers. We were both right.
I don't really agree with the bloggers I linked to earlier, since I think they're using fantasy in a very narrow way. As I say, not all fantasy has magic. (Think of Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint). Giving fantasy all the people with special abilities ignores the varied abilities of real world people. For example, some people are tone deaf and literally cannot hear music as music, which doesn't make the rest of us special for hearing music where others hear cacophany. Likewise, ascribing specialness to things and places that are not actually any different from similar things and places is a human attribute and shows up in all kinds of fiction (the lucky penny, the sacred grove, the Indian burial ground, the magic sword, the holy book).
If this post is coming across as disjointed, that's because I've been working on it on and off for about two hours now. Basically, everyone draws the line between SF and F in a different place. Sometimes you don't even need rivets.
Spiral Galaxy responded with a post arguing that in fantasy, certain special people are "born with the power." That is, only certain people can wield magic, while anyone can use technology. There's a follow-up at Smith Orbit that agrees and goes a little further, stating that fantasy contains a "romantic notion of authenticity"--that is, in fantasy, certain things or places are more pure or sacred or special and therefore contain power, while in SF, places and things are subject only to natural forces, which do not include "specialness."
Me, I'm inclined to follow Orson Scott Card's advice that SF contains rivets and fantasy doesn't, a short-hand way of differentiating between technology-driven SF and non-technological fantasy. But that's a bit simplistic too. Not all SF is about spaceships. Not all fantasy is about magic. When I shelved the fantasy section at a used bookstore years ago, I used to argue with our fiction director about where Anne McCaffrey's Pern books belonged. I wanted them in SF because the dragons were bioengineered creatures on another planet, the dragons' teleporting abilities were explained (in a handwavy way) as using natural processes, and while the people on the planet Pern had mostly forgotten about their past and had reverted to a much less technologically advanced society, they had originally arrived by spaceship. The fiction director wanted the Pern books in fantasy because, well, they had dragons on the covers. We were both right.
I don't really agree with the bloggers I linked to earlier, since I think they're using fantasy in a very narrow way. As I say, not all fantasy has magic. (Think of Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint). Giving fantasy all the people with special abilities ignores the varied abilities of real world people. For example, some people are tone deaf and literally cannot hear music as music, which doesn't make the rest of us special for hearing music where others hear cacophany. Likewise, ascribing specialness to things and places that are not actually any different from similar things and places is a human attribute and shows up in all kinds of fiction (the lucky penny, the sacred grove, the Indian burial ground, the magic sword, the holy book).
If this post is coming across as disjointed, that's because I've been working on it on and off for about two hours now. Basically, everyone draws the line between SF and F in a different place. Sometimes you don't even need rivets.
October 13, 2010
Thanks, brain. Thanks a lot.
Just a few weeks before NaNo starts and what have I been doing? Have I been finishing up Christopher Kaplan like I'd planned? Have I been jotting notes for Adventures in Zoology? Maybe I've just been too busy editing The Weredeer to do much writing at all.
No, indeed. The last two days I've spent my time obsessively plotting out a steampunk version of "Goldielocks and the Three Bears." Today I started writing it and I'm 1,000 words in.
Seriously, that's what I've been wasting my time on. "Goldielocks and the Three Bears." WTF, brain, WTF?
Actually, this isn't a novel and I've been meaning to write it for weeks. CatsCurious Press has opened for submissions to its second Faery Taile double-feature and I wanted to try it out. What could be more of a challenge than a 12,000 word retelling of "Goldielocks and the Three Bears"? It's a story with hardly any plot to speak of. Take out the actual, literal bears, turn it into a gritty steampunk drama (but not too gritty, because this has to be appropriate for the 12 and up crowd), and make sure the bad guy--Papa Bear, now a steamworks part-owner (a "bear") named Jimson Ramsey--has plenty to do off-screen for the companion story, and it's even more challenging. So yes, that's what I'm working on right now. Why do you ask?
No, indeed. The last two days I've spent my time obsessively plotting out a steampunk version of "Goldielocks and the Three Bears." Today I started writing it and I'm 1,000 words in.
Seriously, that's what I've been wasting my time on. "Goldielocks and the Three Bears." WTF, brain, WTF?
Actually, this isn't a novel and I've been meaning to write it for weeks. CatsCurious Press has opened for submissions to its second Faery Taile double-feature and I wanted to try it out. What could be more of a challenge than a 12,000 word retelling of "Goldielocks and the Three Bears"? It's a story with hardly any plot to speak of. Take out the actual, literal bears, turn it into a gritty steampunk drama (but not too gritty, because this has to be appropriate for the 12 and up crowd), and make sure the bad guy--Papa Bear, now a steamworks part-owner (a "bear") named Jimson Ramsey--has plenty to do off-screen for the companion story, and it's even more challenging. So yes, that's what I'm working on right now. Why do you ask?
October 10, 2010
Now it can be revealed
I have the okay to announce this already! BeWrite Books has accepted The Weredeer for publication--maybe even as soon as this December. We've already done one round of edits, which has me cringing at my overuse of certain words and phrases. Time to edit everything else I've ever written. They're also interested in the sequel. That's doubly awesome, but I need to do some work on it before I let anyone (much less an editor) see it.
I'm thrilled, since The Weredeer has long been my favorite of all the books I've written. I've learned an awful lot about writing from it, too. I can't wait to see the cover once it's done!
So it's celebration time for the Weredeer!
I'm thrilled, since The Weredeer has long been my favorite of all the books I've written. I've learned an awful lot about writing from it, too. I can't wait to see the cover once it's done!
So it's celebration time for the Weredeer!
October 8, 2010
A tiny message
I have good news! Which I can't share yet! But I will soon!
Um, so, that's the extent of my blogging abilities tonight. I tried to get some writing done today at lunch but accidentally picked up a book instead. I've been reading a ton of YA/MG books lately. I just seem to be in the right mood for them right now. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how much fresher stories for kids feel right now? The fantasy I'm reading for grown-ups feels formulaic and mostly 'safe,' whereas the YA/MG books go off in fun and unexpected directions.
Um, so, that's the extent of my blogging abilities tonight. I tried to get some writing done today at lunch but accidentally picked up a book instead. I've been reading a ton of YA/MG books lately. I just seem to be in the right mood for them right now. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how much fresher stories for kids feel right now? The fantasy I'm reading for grown-ups feels formulaic and mostly 'safe,' whereas the YA/MG books go off in fun and unexpected directions.
October 7, 2010
Eight Questions
The lovely and talented (um, that phrase is only half-working right now) Alan W. Davidson has tagged me! You should definitely check out his blog, if only to see him in a fez, although definitely stick around for the thoughtful posts, photographs of Canadian wilderness, and of course the excellent fiction!
I have to answer these eight questions.
If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?
I want the flying superpower. That's it. I'm not picky. I think it would be completely awesome to be able to fly. And think about it--you could swoop up and rescue people when they were about to fall from a high place, or from the top of a burning building, or cats stuck up in tall trees.
Who is your style icon?
I'm pretty sure I'm not smart enough to answer this question. I don't know what a style icon is. I'm 100% sure that my style icon is not Lady Gaga, though.
What is your favorite quote?
"Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
No, wait, that's not it! Really! Actually, I'm terrible at remembering quotes, even if they're important to me at the time. I had a quote by the brilliant animator Seamus Culhane taped on my computer monitor for years, and I can't even remember now what it was about, much less what it said. Um, my favorite quote is by Seamus Culhane.
What is the best compliment you've ever received?
Like all writers, I remember the negative comments jot and tiddle, and can't remember the compliments. For that matter, I do that in my regular life too. I guess I'm just one of those sensitive, high-maintenance people.
I'm not doing a very good job of answering these questions.
What playlist/CD is in your CD player/iPod right now?
As it happens, I've got Pandora Radio playing in the background this very moment. It's playing "Wild Horses" by The Sundays. Oops, it finished and now it's playing "Run Run Run" by Concrete Blonde. Concrete Blonde is one of my very favorite bands ever.
Are you a night owl or a morning person?
Morning person, definitely. My mom said she loved waking me up in the morning when I was little. She'd have to go into my brother's room repeatedly to make sure he was actually out of bed and reasonably mobile. Then she would go into my room and say, "Time to get up, hon," and I'd jump out of bed and say, "Hi, Mommy!"
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
I like them both equally. Millions of hugses for the dogs and cats! I miss my Newfoundland dog and mixed-breed cats fiercely. All my pets are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
What is the meaning behind your blog name?
It's from the poem "Forester's Song" by A.E. Coppard. The relevant lines are "And I leave a knotted thicket / As a chamber for the stag." I love that little poem far more than it probably deserves.
Of course, my blog is where memes go to die, so although I'm supposed to tag some other folks, as always I will say "if you want to do this, consider yourself tagged!"
I have to answer these eight questions.
If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?
I want the flying superpower. That's it. I'm not picky. I think it would be completely awesome to be able to fly. And think about it--you could swoop up and rescue people when they were about to fall from a high place, or from the top of a burning building, or cats stuck up in tall trees.
Who is your style icon?
I'm pretty sure I'm not smart enough to answer this question. I don't know what a style icon is. I'm 100% sure that my style icon is not Lady Gaga, though.
What is your favorite quote?
"Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb."
No, wait, that's not it! Really! Actually, I'm terrible at remembering quotes, even if they're important to me at the time. I had a quote by the brilliant animator Seamus Culhane taped on my computer monitor for years, and I can't even remember now what it was about, much less what it said. Um, my favorite quote is by Seamus Culhane.
What is the best compliment you've ever received?
Like all writers, I remember the negative comments jot and tiddle, and can't remember the compliments. For that matter, I do that in my regular life too. I guess I'm just one of those sensitive, high-maintenance people.
I'm not doing a very good job of answering these questions.
What playlist/CD is in your CD player/iPod right now?
As it happens, I've got Pandora Radio playing in the background this very moment. It's playing "Wild Horses" by The Sundays. Oops, it finished and now it's playing "Run Run Run" by Concrete Blonde. Concrete Blonde is one of my very favorite bands ever.
Are you a night owl or a morning person?
Morning person, definitely. My mom said she loved waking me up in the morning when I was little. She'd have to go into my brother's room repeatedly to make sure he was actually out of bed and reasonably mobile. Then she would go into my room and say, "Time to get up, hon," and I'd jump out of bed and say, "Hi, Mommy!"
Do you prefer dogs or cats?
I like them both equally. Millions of hugses for the dogs and cats! I miss my Newfoundland dog and mixed-breed cats fiercely. All my pets are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
What is the meaning behind your blog name?
It's from the poem "Forester's Song" by A.E. Coppard. The relevant lines are "And I leave a knotted thicket / As a chamber for the stag." I love that little poem far more than it probably deserves.
Of course, my blog is where memes go to die, so although I'm supposed to tag some other folks, as always I will say "if you want to do this, consider yourself tagged!"
October 6, 2010
Where's my fanfare?
The princess is going to bed. Where is her fanfare? Her ladies-in-waiting scattering rose petals? Her handsome young man playing the harp?
Oh well, at least she still has her lovely, lovely bed.
I got my canopy!
Oh well, at least she still has her lovely, lovely bed.
I got my canopy!
October 5, 2010
Now that's what I call a TOC
The TOC for the Distant Realms novella antho has been announced!
Katherine Shaw, "The Price of Justice"
Trent Roman, "The Battle of Transvaal"
Alfred D. Byrd, "The Seventh Proficiency"
Eliza Granville, "Snatchlings"
Robert J. Santa, "Turning Point"
As it happens, Rob Santa was one of the first editors I ever worked with. He bought the third story I ever sold, and the first story I wrote specifically for a market, "Sea and Sky" in the awesome anthology Black Dragon, White Dragon. The world of writing is a small one.
I'm really looking forward to this anthology! I think novellas are sadly underappreciated these days; hopefully this antho and its SF companion, Distant Worlds, will help change that.
Katherine Shaw, "The Price of Justice"
Trent Roman, "The Battle of Transvaal"
Alfred D. Byrd, "The Seventh Proficiency"
Eliza Granville, "Snatchlings"
Robert J. Santa, "Turning Point"
As it happens, Rob Santa was one of the first editors I ever worked with. He bought the third story I ever sold, and the first story I wrote specifically for a market, "Sea and Sky" in the awesome anthology Black Dragon, White Dragon. The world of writing is a small one.
I'm really looking forward to this anthology! I think novellas are sadly underappreciated these days; hopefully this antho and its SF companion, Distant Worlds, will help change that.
October 3, 2010
Gearing up for November
I've typed up everything I had written out longhand for Christopher Kaplan. I'm at 13,000 words! That's more than I thought, and I figure it's probably a third complete. Since I know precisely where the story is going (well, minus the details), I'm going to try and work on it for the next few weeks. I'll see how far I can get before NaNo.
Don't forget to sign up for NaNoWriMo! I've already signed up and donated. If you want to join me in the race to 50,000 words this November, buddy me. My handle is Saanen and you can find my profile at here.
Don't forget to sign up for NaNoWriMo! I've already signed up and donated. If you want to join me in the race to 50,000 words this November, buddy me. My handle is Saanen and you can find my profile at here.
October 1, 2010
October Gardening
The pepper plants are turning out peppers like they're on an assembly line. I've sent off all the peppers people ordered; if you still want some, drop me an email. There are lots left, and will continue to be lots until our first frost, which probably won't be until late November (or even December).
I think I've chosen my NaNo finish-it project for this year. And the winner is...drumroll...
Adventures in Zoology. It's two-thirds finished already and it would benefit from the zany details I tend to shove in when writing at breakneck NaNo pace. Better yet, it only needs about 25-30,000 words, which means once I'm done I'll have to pick up another project to finish, probably Christopher Kaplan. It's a twofer!
Dear God, I never thought I'd use the word 'twofer' ever in my whole life.
