Cate Gardner's Blog, page 40
April 24, 2011
Spark Point
My life in your hands, Amelia Pond
My Easter weekend was/is complete with the above, the rest is just fanciful trimmings.
We've lost our heatwave, so the reading has wandered a little and I've been hiding out in my study again pretending to get work done and at times actually getting work done. I'm rewriting a few short stories, pulling them apart and making something brand new. I've also been scratching plans for something other, but hush, we don't tempt the fates for fear they'll scratch out our eyes, pierce our brain and remove such delightful wonderings.
Assuming they're delightful at all, we are at *spark point* and everything is amazing, brilliant, 'OMG! Why didn't I think of that before' there.
Beware, the monsters are coming.
April 22, 2011
All Hail the Easter Chick
Sitting in the garden in 70 degree weather with spring blossom falling about me and reading short stories is a gorgeous start to the Easter holiday. I plowed through two issues of Black Static and Shock Totem 3. If the weather lasts (it won't) I could clear the decks and buy lots...more...books.
Downside: the Easter chocolate is melting.
April 17, 2011
A Kaleidoscope of Stories
My story 'Dead Green Glow' - an odd tale of Icarus and radiation - is available in print and e-book format from Kaleidotrope. And, another tale 'The Quiet of the Hour Glass' - about the Hourglass Girl and Old Father Time - is available in ebook format in In Space No One Can Hear You Scream.
And thus, we conclude our public service broadcast.
April 14, 2011
Writing for Anthologies: A Guide to Placing Your Story (Sure Thing Guaranteed)
Fear not fellow intrepid writers, the story you wrote for *that* anthology, you know the one that only wanted stories about possessed moustaches, that was rejected because there wasn't enough room or it was about demonic beards instead or was crap, well here is a guide for you.
How to get it into a print anthology even if the editor said no…
First off, you must purchase a copy of the anthology. Done that? Right, let's get started. For this task, you will need the anthology, paper, pen, scissors and tape or glue.
Type up your story, making sure the font matches the one used in the book, and that the margins and page size are reasonably similar. DO NOT USE WILLIAM SHUNN'S GUIDELINES--they work just fine for your submission but look out of place in the actual book. Finished? Now, print out your work. Good, you're almost there.
The next part is tricky and requires sharp implements and glue. DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE. This is not about getting pieces of you into the anthology, it's about getting your story in. Place your typed sheets at the back of the book directly after the last story and before the contributor guidelines. Glue or sellotape into place. You can sew it into place if you are adept at needlework, but if you aren't, don't.
Done that? Well, you're almost there.
Now, go to the front of the book and add your name and story title to the bottom of the page. Write neatly, unless the editor has used comic sans or another *unusual* font. Then return to the back of the book and place a sticky label at the bottom of the contributors page (or if there's no space, place it over another contributor's name) and add your bio. Do not use sparkly inks or windings because editors tend not to.
Guess what? You are now in the anthology and you can show it to family and friends. Go you.
WARNING: If anyone expresses an interest in buying the book from say, Amazon, you must intervene and tell them you get a discount from the publisher and will get a copy for them. Don't forget to repeat the above process for each book or you'll look like a prat.
NOTE: It is not advisable to add your story to a collection by Stephen King, Neil Gaiman or other prominent authors. Yes, you could put a sticky label at the beginning of the book from Steven King or Nial Gaiman claiming they thought your story was so marvellous that they added it to their collection, but I don't think even your family are that daft.
*No books were harmed in the making of this post
**This post was triggered by the author's consumption of chocolate
***The author has not tried this at home, although she'd quite like to write a story about a possessed moustache.
How to get it into a print anthology even if the editor said no…
First off, you must purchase a copy of the anthology. Done that? Right, let's get started. For this task, you will need the anthology, paper, pen, scissors and tape or glue.
Type up your story, making sure the font matches the one used in the book, and that the margins and page size are reasonably similar. DO NOT USE WILLIAM SHUNN'S GUIDELINES--they work just fine for your submission but look out of place in the actual book. Finished? Now, print out your work. Good, you're almost there.
The next part is tricky and requires sharp implements and glue. DO NOT USE SUPER GLUE. This is not about getting pieces of you into the anthology, it's about getting your story in. Place your typed sheets at the back of the book directly after the last story and before the contributor guidelines. Glue or sellotape into place. You can sew it into place if you are adept at needlework, but if you aren't, don't.
Done that? Well, you're almost there.
Now, go to the front of the book and add your name and story title to the bottom of the page. Write neatly, unless the editor has used comic sans or another *unusual* font. Then return to the back of the book and place a sticky label at the bottom of the contributors page (or if there's no space, place it over another contributor's name) and add your bio. Do not use sparkly inks or windings because editors tend not to.
Guess what? You are now in the anthology and you can show it to family and friends. Go you.
WARNING: If anyone expresses an interest in buying the book from say, Amazon, you must intervene and tell them you get a discount from the publisher and will get a copy for them. Don't forget to repeat the above process for each book or you'll look like a prat.
NOTE: It is not advisable to add your story to a collection by Stephen King, Neil Gaiman or other prominent authors. Yes, you could put a sticky label at the beginning of the book from Steven King or Nial Gaiman claiming they thought your story was so marvellous that they added it to their collection, but I don't think even your family are that daft.
*No books were harmed in the making of this post
**This post was triggered by the author's consumption of chocolate
***The author has not tried this at home, although she'd quite like to write a story about a possessed moustache.
April 13, 2011
WIP Wednesday: We Have The Technology
My year so far widget it lies... I don't have fourteen short stories out with editors, I have nine. I'm going through a period of ripping apart every rejected story and composing something new and (hopefully) something better. So far 'Name Carved on Empty Space' has survived the process and has crawled (postal sub) back out into the world, and now I am working on 'Kodak Dragons'... Only it isn't called that anymore.
KD was a straight science-fiction story with a cheery ending. What was I thinking? During the rewrite it's turned into something darker. Although still set in the near future, it's now a story about old photographs and souls and stalking and drugs and how we are no longer who we used to be.
Or at least that's the plan.
Current word count: 3008 words and counting
April 12, 2011
British Fantasy Society Awards
The British Fantasy Society Awards longlist has been announced and three short stories I loved (and nominated) made the list. Camelot by Patrick Samphire, After the Dragon by Sarah Monette and All the Kings Monsters by Megan Arkenberg are on the list.
Or do all stories that are nominated make the long list? Okay, that could be a dunce moment from me. In fact, I'm certain it's a dunce moment. Anyway, if you have voting privileges, I recommend you check them out.
Okay, guess I should get to reading the books in my to read pile that made the list and surely this is the perfect opportunity to buy more books. Ahem! If you tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it and claim some evil imp typed the words 'buy more books'.
Or do all stories that are nominated make the long list? Okay, that could be a dunce moment from me. In fact, I'm certain it's a dunce moment. Anyway, if you have voting privileges, I recommend you check them out.
Okay, guess I should get to reading the books in my to read pile that made the list and surely this is the perfect opportunity to buy more books. Ahem! If you tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it and claim some evil imp typed the words 'buy more books'.
April 9, 2011
Saturday Afternoons, Sunshine and Small Presses
This post is sponsored by a trip to Amazon.
Today, I bought pretty (awesome) books even though I'm not supposed to be buying any until my current to read pile has shrunk. In fairness, I'd been meaning to pick up Lavie Tidhar's 'The Bookman' for a year, and I loved Carrie Ryan's two previous books so I had to have 'The Dark and Hollow Places' and then I discovered a book by Genevive Valentine that I hadn't heard of before - Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti. Check out that blurb and the cover... Plus, yesterday I finally renewed my subscription to Interzone and Black Static, because I'd have felt guilty if I didn't, and they're fantastic magazines and I worry, our small presses are going to fold in on themselves and die!!!
Bloody hell, I guess I have my melodramatic head on today. Someone fan me and feed me grapes.
In other news: Did you know, I'm cultivating a forest in my back garden and there's a note on the seed packet about monsters? Stay tuned for more news...
That sentence is sponsored by things I hate about summer: gardening, gardening and yep, more gardening. Guess what I did today? Well some folk would claim 'my acts' didn't resemble gardening at all but I stick my tongue out at them and hand them a spade.
I guess, if I'm done writing for the day (we don't talk about the word count), I should catch up with my reading. I have about a thousand short stories to read before I can buy anymore (promise), and that is not an exaggeration. Okay, maybe a slight one. Oh wait, it's almost time for So You Think You Can Dance?
I do, I do.
Today, I bought pretty (awesome) books even though I'm not supposed to be buying any until my current to read pile has shrunk. In fairness, I'd been meaning to pick up Lavie Tidhar's 'The Bookman' for a year, and I loved Carrie Ryan's two previous books so I had to have 'The Dark and Hollow Places' and then I discovered a book by Genevive Valentine that I hadn't heard of before - Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti. Check out that blurb and the cover... Plus, yesterday I finally renewed my subscription to Interzone and Black Static, because I'd have felt guilty if I didn't, and they're fantastic magazines and I worry, our small presses are going to fold in on themselves and die!!!
Bloody hell, I guess I have my melodramatic head on today. Someone fan me and feed me grapes.
In other news: Did you know, I'm cultivating a forest in my back garden and there's a note on the seed packet about monsters? Stay tuned for more news...
That sentence is sponsored by things I hate about summer: gardening, gardening and yep, more gardening. Guess what I did today? Well some folk would claim 'my acts' didn't resemble gardening at all but I stick my tongue out at them and hand them a spade.
I guess, if I'm done writing for the day (we don't talk about the word count), I should catch up with my reading. I have about a thousand short stories to read before I can buy anymore (promise), and that is not an exaggeration. Okay, maybe a slight one. Oh wait, it's almost time for So You Think You Can Dance?
I do, I do.
April 7, 2011
A Curious Edit
Day one of life without the novella (that thing had me in its stranglehold since Feb 14th) and from the file of short stories I need to rewrite/edit, I chose the one with...
...a broken heart, cobwebs and spiders.
Hmm. I'm sensing a theme here.
...a broken heart, cobwebs and spiders.
Hmm. I'm sensing a theme here.
April 6, 2011
WIP Wednesday - And Breathe....
I've finished editing my novella Barbed Wire Hearts for the moment. It's out for a beta read with two people who I am sure will tell me which parts are full of suckage or if the whole thing is full of suckage or if just I am full of suckage. I am almost blind from reading and rereading the story and although I'd swear there couldn't be a single typo, I bet there are some. Pesky blighters.
The market I wrote the novella for is closed until late summer/early fall, but I suspect I'll try somewhere else first. I have my eye on somewhere pretty and pretty impressive. Tie balloons to your arms and float as high as you possibly can (maybe I should work on this diet thing first or I'm gonna need an actual hot air balloon to lift me) and if an editor pops a balloon don't fret, climb onto a trampoline and you'll bounce right back up again.
Boing.
In other news, I found out today that my senior school has been knocked down. :( In its honour, I'll post two pictures of me (gasp, horror) from my school days...
I'm the second one along from the left (or is that right)... I'm the one holding the book. I've only had my hair cut short once in my life and this was it. Freaky.I wonder what we're reading. I wonder if it's something I've written. (Yeah, right)
Ooh, me all grown up... Or so I thought. True fact: I still look like this*
Goodbye Sacred Heart building. Does this mean I'm getting old now? Or is there no getting about it...?
*in this photo.
The market I wrote the novella for is closed until late summer/early fall, but I suspect I'll try somewhere else first. I have my eye on somewhere pretty and pretty impressive. Tie balloons to your arms and float as high as you possibly can (maybe I should work on this diet thing first or I'm gonna need an actual hot air balloon to lift me) and if an editor pops a balloon don't fret, climb onto a trampoline and you'll bounce right back up again.
Boing.
In other news, I found out today that my senior school has been knocked down. :( In its honour, I'll post two pictures of me (gasp, horror) from my school days...
I'm the second one along from the left (or is that right)... I'm the one holding the book. I've only had my hair cut short once in my life and this was it. Freaky.I wonder what we're reading. I wonder if it's something I've written. (Yeah, right)
Ooh, me all grown up... Or so I thought. True fact: I still look like this*
Goodbye Sacred Heart building. Does this mean I'm getting old now? Or is there no getting about it...?
*in this photo.
April 3, 2011
March was the month....
...filled with spiders and hearts and icky things.
Monthly Word Count: 28,130 words
Yearly Word Count: 76,948 words
Best Day: 4,424 words
Worst Day: 103 words
Days Off: None
Acceptances: None
Rejections: Few, and those I did get, I'm holding onto the stories to do some rewrites.
Determination to Succeed: Tra La La La La
New Short Stories:-
None - totally obsessing over the novella
Things found lurking in the pages of the above: Spiders, mannequins, a stolen kiss, more spiders, a pyre of magazine's (the gentleman's kind), candy floss, coroner's stitches, hearts in jars, hearts in kidney shaped bowls, hearts in bodies, hearts not in bodies, hearts dribbling down thighs, even more spiders, love, and fear, and sorrow.
Current WIPs: Barbed Wire Hearts - editing
Last line of March 2011:
THE END
Monthly Word Count: 28,130 words
Yearly Word Count: 76,948 words
Best Day: 4,424 words
Worst Day: 103 words
Days Off: None
Acceptances: None
Rejections: Few, and those I did get, I'm holding onto the stories to do some rewrites.
Determination to Succeed: Tra La La La La
New Short Stories:-
None - totally obsessing over the novella
Things found lurking in the pages of the above: Spiders, mannequins, a stolen kiss, more spiders, a pyre of magazine's (the gentleman's kind), candy floss, coroner's stitches, hearts in jars, hearts in kidney shaped bowls, hearts in bodies, hearts not in bodies, hearts dribbling down thighs, even more spiders, love, and fear, and sorrow.
Current WIPs: Barbed Wire Hearts - editing
Last line of March 2011:
THE END
