'Nathan Burgoine's Blog, page 175
May 18, 2012
May 17, 2012
May 16, 2012
March 17, 2011
And the Winner Is...
I've said this many a time before, but I've been really lucky.
For one, have you met my husband? Egad, I'm not sure how I ever earned the windfall that is my fella, but just waking up with my husband is enough to remind me every morning that I live one heck of a charmed life.
Lately, I've also had some pretty freaking stellar luck in the form of the word "finalist."
First, I made it as a finalist for the Saints and Sinners Short Fiction contest with my wee tale "Hometown Boy." I didn't win, but the real win was in supporting the festival in the first place, and being a finalist was more like the cherry on top. (If you missed it, Sally Bellerose won, and Felice Picano and John Morgan Wilson were the runners up.) I'll be heading down to New Orleans in two months for the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival itself, and will absolutely be picking up the anthology - the one from last year was fantastic.
Second, BLOOD SACRAMENTS is a finalist in the 2010 Foreward Magazine Book of the Year Awards. The suprise - and major honor - here is that the anthology is nominated in the Fiction - Horror category. Generally speaking, erotica isn't often nominated for anything other than erotica categories; that the anthology stood up to a different measure speaks volumes to the strength of its editor, Todd Gregory, who really managed to deliver a collection of fresh vampire stories.
Third, this morning the finalists in the Lambda Literary Awards were listed, and TENTED is up for the Gay Erotica category. When Jerry Wheeler first contacted me about the circus themed anthology, I remember having to really stop and wonder - I'm so glad I got the opportunity to work with him, as he put together such a great range of stories that still held the theme. The Lambda Literary Awards saw a major surge this year in entrants - and I'm also rather stoked to see that there were enough works in the Transgendered category that it got split into Fiction and Nonfiction this year.
I'm incredibly excited about all of this, and also consider it fabulous that I know quite a few of the finalists in many of the categories in the various awards lists this year - I wish everyone luck.
For one, have you met my husband? Egad, I'm not sure how I ever earned the windfall that is my fella, but just waking up with my husband is enough to remind me every morning that I live one heck of a charmed life.
Lately, I've also had some pretty freaking stellar luck in the form of the word "finalist."
First, I made it as a finalist for the Saints and Sinners Short Fiction contest with my wee tale "Hometown Boy." I didn't win, but the real win was in supporting the festival in the first place, and being a finalist was more like the cherry on top. (If you missed it, Sally Bellerose won, and Felice Picano and John Morgan Wilson were the runners up.) I'll be heading down to New Orleans in two months for the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival itself, and will absolutely be picking up the anthology - the one from last year was fantastic.
Second, BLOOD SACRAMENTS is a finalist in the 2010 Foreward Magazine Book of the Year Awards. The suprise - and major honor - here is that the anthology is nominated in the Fiction - Horror category. Generally speaking, erotica isn't often nominated for anything other than erotica categories; that the anthology stood up to a different measure speaks volumes to the strength of its editor, Todd Gregory, who really managed to deliver a collection of fresh vampire stories.
Third, this morning the finalists in the Lambda Literary Awards were listed, and TENTED is up for the Gay Erotica category. When Jerry Wheeler first contacted me about the circus themed anthology, I remember having to really stop and wonder - I'm so glad I got the opportunity to work with him, as he put together such a great range of stories that still held the theme. The Lambda Literary Awards saw a major surge this year in entrants - and I'm also rather stoked to see that there were enough works in the Transgendered category that it got split into Fiction and Nonfiction this year.
I'm incredibly excited about all of this, and also consider it fabulous that I know quite a few of the finalists in many of the categories in the various awards lists this year - I wish everyone luck.
January 24, 2011
What's in a Name?
I'm working on a story, and a familiar sensation has arrived: utter blankness when faced with a character name. This used to drive me utterly insane, but thanks to a panel at Saints and Sinners, I was given a great little trick by one of the generous authors (I think it was Jess Wells, but I might be mistaken.) Never stop when it's flowing - not to look up something, or describe something, or, in my case, name something - just keep writing, and make a note to go back later. I use square brackets.
Instead of staring at the screen with a cursor while I stare and try to will a name to appear, I give the character a quality or quick moniker, and move on. "Explain," said [WITCH]. The story progresses, I know who [WITCH] is, and it's easy to type.
More importantly, a quick Find and Replace moment leaves me with the option to change all those [WITCH] appearances into whatever little name I finally decide upon - without interrupting the flow. If only this trick worked with titles - but I've already talked about the horror that I find titles.
Speaking of which, I don't have a title for this story. Naturally.
My point, however, is that I'm about to need names again. I've almost used up my store of names from work - I think I've now used the name of every staff member in one of my stories or another - and I do have that trusty "10,000 Baby Names" book I bought way back in high school to help pick names for characters. Incidentally, that's a fun purchase to explain to a worried parent when they find it.
Sometimes, a name really matters - I've used the name Reuben for a specific plot reason in a story, one where the character has been using the name "Ben" but that the two are one and the same person hasn't occurred to anyone else. I've also spent far too long mining the internet for name meanings - Cary, Jennifer, and Dylan, for example, had names chosen entirely for their meanings one of my more recent stories.
Where do you go for character names? Do they appear, fully formed with the character, in your mind? Do you also mine your co-workers? Friends? Random street corners, or a glance through the newspaper?
Instead of staring at the screen with a cursor while I stare and try to will a name to appear, I give the character a quality or quick moniker, and move on. "Explain," said [WITCH]. The story progresses, I know who [WITCH] is, and it's easy to type.
More importantly, a quick Find and Replace moment leaves me with the option to change all those [WITCH] appearances into whatever little name I finally decide upon - without interrupting the flow. If only this trick worked with titles - but I've already talked about the horror that I find titles.
Speaking of which, I don't have a title for this story. Naturally.
My point, however, is that I'm about to need names again. I've almost used up my store of names from work - I think I've now used the name of every staff member in one of my stories or another - and I do have that trusty "10,000 Baby Names" book I bought way back in high school to help pick names for characters. Incidentally, that's a fun purchase to explain to a worried parent when they find it.
Sometimes, a name really matters - I've used the name Reuben for a specific plot reason in a story, one where the character has been using the name "Ben" but that the two are one and the same person hasn't occurred to anyone else. I've also spent far too long mining the internet for name meanings - Cary, Jennifer, and Dylan, for example, had names chosen entirely for their meanings one of my more recent stories.
Where do you go for character names? Do they appear, fully formed with the character, in your mind? Do you also mine your co-workers? Friends? Random street corners, or a glance through the newspaper?
January 12, 2011
The Short Version
My winter issue of Icarus Magazine arrived a couple of days ago, and I opened it with the intention of quickly skimming through the table of contents and the interview, and then tucking aside the magazine for reading on my upcoming train trip to Toronto. Instead, my eye caught on the first line of Sunny Moraine's "The Shapes of Shadows." Soon, it was time for dinner, my stomach was growling, and I'd read the magazine cover-to-cover.
I've had a real run of good luck with finding incredibly well written and enjoyable short pieces lately - so I thought I'd spread the love.
"The Shapes of Shadows" by Sunny Moraine is an absolutely fantastic short speculative fiction piece done in the highest regard for the oft-done notion of a group of humans trying to decode an alien artifact. Taking that idea and breathing a fresh life into it, and the intelligence and cleverness used in the process, is no small feat. I did not want this story to end - always the highest praise I can give to a piece of short fiction. I could absolutely see this world, and these characters, revisited in another story. Or at least I can hope! You can find this story in the Winter 2010 issue of Icarus Magazine.
"First Flight" by Mary Robinette Kowal is another speculative fiction short that I bumbled into by accident when I was filling my Kobo with short stories for the upcoming train trip - and I'm aware I have already read it, yes, it's a failing of my ability to say no to a good story. Time travel is another device that has been used so often it loses its shine, but Kowal offers the "quantum leap" limitation - the main character of the tale is over a hundred years old and specially sent because she's the only living person they've got who can go far enough back in time to reach a momentous occasion that history would like to see recorded. The characters are fantastic - in specific, the main narrator's voice is delightful - and I loved the unfolding of the tale. You can find this story at Kobobooks - and it's actually a free download.
Third, for those Pratchett and Gaiman lovers out there, I humbly submit "Overtime" by Charles Stross. Another failed attempt at stocking my e-reader prior to the train trip, I have at least learned I can't do this more than a day in advance. Stross presents his Laundry (a kind of organization designed to keep the metaphysical/supernatural/otherworldly issues from ripping apart our own world) during one of the creepiest and darkest times of the year: Christmas. (My role as a retail salesperson might colour my interpretation of that reason for the timing of the story.) Done with a really charming humor that consistently made me think of Pratchett and Gaiman's "Good Omens" this short story got more than a few giggles, and the ending was clever. I need to seek out his Laundry novels. You can also find this story at Kobobooks - it's another free download.
Have you bumped into a short you've loved lately? I adore the short fiction form, and would love to be aimed in some new directions.
I've had a real run of good luck with finding incredibly well written and enjoyable short pieces lately - so I thought I'd spread the love.
"The Shapes of Shadows" by Sunny Moraine is an absolutely fantastic short speculative fiction piece done in the highest regard for the oft-done notion of a group of humans trying to decode an alien artifact. Taking that idea and breathing a fresh life into it, and the intelligence and cleverness used in the process, is no small feat. I did not want this story to end - always the highest praise I can give to a piece of short fiction. I could absolutely see this world, and these characters, revisited in another story. Or at least I can hope! You can find this story in the Winter 2010 issue of Icarus Magazine.
"First Flight" by Mary Robinette Kowal is another speculative fiction short that I bumbled into by accident when I was filling my Kobo with short stories for the upcoming train trip - and I'm aware I have already read it, yes, it's a failing of my ability to say no to a good story. Time travel is another device that has been used so often it loses its shine, but Kowal offers the "quantum leap" limitation - the main character of the tale is over a hundred years old and specially sent because she's the only living person they've got who can go far enough back in time to reach a momentous occasion that history would like to see recorded. The characters are fantastic - in specific, the main narrator's voice is delightful - and I loved the unfolding of the tale. You can find this story at Kobobooks - and it's actually a free download.
Third, for those Pratchett and Gaiman lovers out there, I humbly submit "Overtime" by Charles Stross. Another failed attempt at stocking my e-reader prior to the train trip, I have at least learned I can't do this more than a day in advance. Stross presents his Laundry (a kind of organization designed to keep the metaphysical/supernatural/otherworldly issues from ripping apart our own world) during one of the creepiest and darkest times of the year: Christmas. (My role as a retail salesperson might colour my interpretation of that reason for the timing of the story.) Done with a really charming humor that consistently made me think of Pratchett and Gaiman's "Good Omens" this short story got more than a few giggles, and the ending was clever. I need to seek out his Laundry novels. You can also find this story at Kobobooks - it's another free download.
Have you bumped into a short you've loved lately? I adore the short fiction form, and would love to be aimed in some new directions.
January 5, 2011
A Very Good Place to Start
At the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival two years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of having someone ask me where I'd gotten the idea for "Heart." "Heart" was my first published short story, and I'd just finished reading from it - in front of actual people - and was probably a little less than coherent in my answer.
Partly because I didn't really know.
Inspiration is sometimes quite memorable for me. I know, for example, exactly how the latest story I'm working on came to be. I was quite literally staring at the screen, with music playing in the background, trying to think of how I could write a story that involved a train (the theme of the anthology to which I wanted to submit a tale) and at that moment, the iPhone played DeVotchKa's "How It Ends."
I'd heard the song before, but between the song's lyrics, the random photos of trains and train stations I was looking at online, an idea formed almost fully there and then. I wrote it the (very) rough draft in one massive sitting over the space of a few hours.
For the record? That's rare.
Othertimes, there's no one set moment of inspiration and I have, instead, a character, a setting or - most often - a final line or scene in mind where I want the tale to end. Often it doesn't actually end up resembling that original piece, but it will get me going.
As for "Heart," it wasn't until quite a bit later I found the answer. I was cleaning up my many, many journals and filing scraps of paper (so many scraps of paper!) upon which I'd written bits and pieces of ideas, or dialog, or what-have-you. I was filing them, and found the journal and scraps of paper I'd written on while my father was in the hospital for the last time. He had a rare cancer - heart cancer - and at some point, I'd scribbled something along the lines of this:
What if you could heal, but you only had it in you to keep one heart going?
Not quite what "Heart" turned out to be, but it was where the idea apparently germinated. Who knew?
I've had ideas form from songs, from walking tours (do yourself a favor and take a "Haunted Walk" tour sometime!), from vacations (Scotland is a trove of wonderful ideas), from paintings (a particular image of Prometheus in chains has sparked a story that has been in my "in progress" pile for a long time) and other random bits and pieces (someone wrote their name in the sand where I was on honeymoon, and that sparked a series of 100 word entries as a cohesive story.)
So how about you? Where have some of your ideas begun?
Partly because I didn't really know.
Inspiration is sometimes quite memorable for me. I know, for example, exactly how the latest story I'm working on came to be. I was quite literally staring at the screen, with music playing in the background, trying to think of how I could write a story that involved a train (the theme of the anthology to which I wanted to submit a tale) and at that moment, the iPhone played DeVotchKa's "How It Ends."
I'd heard the song before, but between the song's lyrics, the random photos of trains and train stations I was looking at online, an idea formed almost fully there and then. I wrote it the (very) rough draft in one massive sitting over the space of a few hours.
For the record? That's rare.
Othertimes, there's no one set moment of inspiration and I have, instead, a character, a setting or - most often - a final line or scene in mind where I want the tale to end. Often it doesn't actually end up resembling that original piece, but it will get me going.
As for "Heart," it wasn't until quite a bit later I found the answer. I was cleaning up my many, many journals and filing scraps of paper (so many scraps of paper!) upon which I'd written bits and pieces of ideas, or dialog, or what-have-you. I was filing them, and found the journal and scraps of paper I'd written on while my father was in the hospital for the last time. He had a rare cancer - heart cancer - and at some point, I'd scribbled something along the lines of this:
What if you could heal, but you only had it in you to keep one heart going?
Not quite what "Heart" turned out to be, but it was where the idea apparently germinated. Who knew?
I've had ideas form from songs, from walking tours (do yourself a favor and take a "Haunted Walk" tour sometime!), from vacations (Scotland is a trove of wonderful ideas), from paintings (a particular image of Prometheus in chains has sparked a story that has been in my "in progress" pile for a long time) and other random bits and pieces (someone wrote their name in the sand where I was on honeymoon, and that sparked a series of 100 word entries as a cohesive story.)
So how about you? Where have some of your ideas begun?
July 10, 2010
A Man Named Ricker
Way back when, I told you about a story that lost me all my points on the Cat side of the Cat-Dog war that my husband and I engage in on an irregular basis. That story, At the End of the Leash, by one Jeffrey Ricker, was in Fool For Love: New Gay Fiction, the anthology in which my first story saw the light of day. I'll repeat what I've said earlier: the company I'm keeping in this book is amazing.
But specifically, I want to talk to you about Jeffrey.
When I wrote my wee reviews of all the stories, I sent Mr. Ricker a note exclaiming how much I'd enjoyed his tale - though there may have been some discussion of how his story resulted in my husband turning to me and saying, "that story couldn't have happened with a cat." Jeffrey's story is witty, romantic, and the romantic spark is palpable.
I got to meet Jeffrey at Saints and Sinners, and we both read at the FOOL reading, where he also showed himself to be a great reader as well as a great writer. He's also incredibly generous with his feedback, and more than one of my stories is the better for his input.
Since then, I've managed to read Jeffrey's essay in Paws and Reflect: Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs - a book about gay men and their dogs. Yes, you read that right. I purchased a book about gay men and their dogs. I suppose I should just throw in the Cat towel and be done with it.
It came as no surprise that Jeffrey's essay was witty and sweet, and that it melted even my feline-loving-heart. Again.
But I'm actually not going to talk about that, either.
I also happen to know - by virtue of once again being in Mr. Ricker's splendid company - that he's got another story coming in Blood Sacraments. I promise you, you're in for another treat with Jeffrey's story.
But - again - that's not what I'm here to talk about.
See, the big news is this: Jeffrey Ricker's novel, DETOURS, will be coming out in 2011. Yep, now you're going to have the opportunity to have an entire novel full of Mr. Ricker's wit and spark.
The official press release is below, but take my word on this one. I'll keep an eye out, and the moment the pre-order option lights up, I'll remind you.
You can thank me next year.
Press Release: New Title from Jeffrey Ricker
Bold Strokes Books is pleased to announce the acquisition of Jeffrey Ricker’s new novel, Detours, scheduled for release in 2011 from Bold Strokes Liberty Editions.
Detours – Coming in 2011
Joel Patterson should be happier than ever. He’s just returned from a two-week vacation in London, where he met Philip, who might be the man of his dreams. Instead, Joel’s heading to Maine for his mother’s funeral. He quits his job to fulfill one last request for his mother: unload his parents’ albatross of an RV by delivering it to an old family friend—in California.
Somehow, Joel’s high school “friend” Lincoln has invited himself along on the ride—and into Joel’s bed. The other person who’s invited herself along? The ghost of his mother, who still has plenty to say about her son’s judgment (or lack thereof). Joel has to get the RV to San Francisco, get rid of Lincoln, and get back to Philip. It would also make him feel better if he learned what’s keeping his mother tied to this earthly plane. However Joel manages it, the route is likely to be anything but straight.
About the Author
Jeffrey Ricker is a writer, editor, and graphic designer. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, his writing has appeared in the literary magazine Collective Fallout, the anthologies Paws and Reflect, Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction, and the forthcoming Blood Sacraments from Bold Strokes Books. Detours is his first novel. He lives with his partner, Michael, and two dogs in St. Louis, where he is currently publications editor at the Missouri Botanical Garden and is working on his second novel. Follow his blog at jeffreyricker.wordpress.com.
But specifically, I want to talk to you about Jeffrey.
When I wrote my wee reviews of all the stories, I sent Mr. Ricker a note exclaiming how much I'd enjoyed his tale - though there may have been some discussion of how his story resulted in my husband turning to me and saying, "that story couldn't have happened with a cat." Jeffrey's story is witty, romantic, and the romantic spark is palpable.
I got to meet Jeffrey at Saints and Sinners, and we both read at the FOOL reading, where he also showed himself to be a great reader as well as a great writer. He's also incredibly generous with his feedback, and more than one of my stories is the better for his input.
Since then, I've managed to read Jeffrey's essay in Paws and Reflect: Exploring the Bond Between Gay Men and Their Dogs - a book about gay men and their dogs. Yes, you read that right. I purchased a book about gay men and their dogs. I suppose I should just throw in the Cat towel and be done with it.
It came as no surprise that Jeffrey's essay was witty and sweet, and that it melted even my feline-loving-heart. Again.
But I'm actually not going to talk about that, either.
I also happen to know - by virtue of once again being in Mr. Ricker's splendid company - that he's got another story coming in Blood Sacraments. I promise you, you're in for another treat with Jeffrey's story.
But - again - that's not what I'm here to talk about.
See, the big news is this: Jeffrey Ricker's novel, DETOURS, will be coming out in 2011. Yep, now you're going to have the opportunity to have an entire novel full of Mr. Ricker's wit and spark.
The official press release is below, but take my word on this one. I'll keep an eye out, and the moment the pre-order option lights up, I'll remind you.
You can thank me next year.
Press Release: New Title from Jeffrey Ricker
Bold Strokes Books is pleased to announce the acquisition of Jeffrey Ricker’s new novel, Detours, scheduled for release in 2011 from Bold Strokes Liberty Editions.
Detours – Coming in 2011
Joel Patterson should be happier than ever. He’s just returned from a two-week vacation in London, where he met Philip, who might be the man of his dreams. Instead, Joel’s heading to Maine for his mother’s funeral. He quits his job to fulfill one last request for his mother: unload his parents’ albatross of an RV by delivering it to an old family friend—in California.
Somehow, Joel’s high school “friend” Lincoln has invited himself along on the ride—and into Joel’s bed. The other person who’s invited herself along? The ghost of his mother, who still has plenty to say about her son’s judgment (or lack thereof). Joel has to get the RV to San Francisco, get rid of Lincoln, and get back to Philip. It would also make him feel better if he learned what’s keeping his mother tied to this earthly plane. However Joel manages it, the route is likely to be anything but straight.
About the Author
Jeffrey Ricker is a writer, editor, and graphic designer. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, his writing has appeared in the literary magazine Collective Fallout, the anthologies Paws and Reflect, Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction, and the forthcoming Blood Sacraments from Bold Strokes Books. Detours is his first novel. He lives with his partner, Michael, and two dogs in St. Louis, where he is currently publications editor at the Missouri Botanical Garden and is working on his second novel. Follow his blog at jeffreyricker.wordpress.com.
June 27, 2010
Title Fight
It is a quirk of my particular make-up that I can never pick a title. When I was at Saints and Sinners this year, at the erotica panel, listening to Jeff Mann, Gavin Atlas, Dale Chase, William Holden, and Jerry Wheeler, and at one point, someone mentioned titles, and I sat there, feeling the crushing weight of horror.
I hate titles.
Dale Chase (I think it was she) had mentioned at the TENTED dinner how she always has a title in mind before the story begins, and how she collects titles for future use.
Seriously. A title surplus? I would hate you, Dale, if you weren't so awesome.
My history with titles is one of fighting, wrestling, and staring at the ceiling.
"Heart" was a case of settling. I couldn't come up with anything else, though, to show you how much energy I waste trying to decide upon a title, I had an entire page of one of my journals that had, among other things: "Heart," "Heartbeat," "Pulse," "Breathe," "Heartache," "Beat," and - probably the worst - "Heartfire." The last one turned out to also be the title of a novel by a bigot, so I scratched that one out. In pencil, never seriously considered, was "The Big Book of Boyfriend Things to Say." I eventually started asking people about which title they thought I should go with when I gave it to four friends to read, and they all picked a different title from the list. Finally, I just picked "Heart" and sent it off.
"Last Call" was another double-meaning title, and it took me forever. It had originally gone by the moniker "Collect Call" and I didn't like it, but couldn't think of anything else. When it was accepted for the TOUCHED anthology (which unfortunately never happened) the newer, better title was suggested to me. It bore that name when the story - with quite a different edit - became a finalist in the Saints and Sinners Fiction Contest this year (How chuffed was I? Very.) I haven't given up on this story. I figure every edit makes it stronger, and maybe it'll find a home someday.
"First Touch" also remained without a title the entire time I worked on it, and only got a title after I edited the ending a bit and saw the words on the page. Prior to that, it didn't have a journal page. It had a blank page. I had no idea where to go with a title for it, and would probably still be thinking about it, had I not noticed the words on the edit.
"Cakewalk" was a rare moment for me when, while working on the story, the pun occurred to me half-way through one of my edits. I got up from my computer and did a little dance around the room, changing the file name from "I DO TWO SUBMISSION" to "CAKEWALK" with a finality that made me giddy.
"Aiming to Please" had a few thousand different titles, none of which I can remember right now, which probably means they were awful. I believe "Edge" was a contender. Feedback from the fabulous Stickabutter, however, moved me toward the word "Aim" or "Aiming" and the rest finally fell into place thereafter. Also, I learned that erotica nipples are larger than quarters.
"Synonyms" would have been "Whisper" had it not been for someone reading over my shoulder at work and pointing out that Synonyms was a much better title. He was right, damnit. But the piece got a better title, so it was a win-win.
"Three" nearly drove me mental when it came time for a title. The file remained "BLOOD SACRAMENTS STORY" for the entirety of the writing, and for most of the beta readers, and once again I think it was Stickabutter who came up with the title, or at least mentioned how she liked the whole notion of the "three thing" and finally gave me the title.
"Line of Sight" was another rare moment for me where the title occurred during the story writing. Which makes two out of all of these, I'd like to point out. Once again, I did the dignified 'I found a title!' dance through my living room. I'm particularly proud of this title, as it has about four meanings that fit the story.
"Range of Motion" waffled between "Range of Motion" and "Range of Emotion" and a few other titles. An author I greatly admire helped me work on the title of this one, settling it down to the final version after he so generously offered to give it a test-drive. I'm lucky to have so many people willing to tear my stories to shreds (not that he did, but that he would have were it the right thing to do) and point out flaws.
All this to say that I've finished a rough draft for a story, and have sent it to get a once-over (and a shredding) and you can guess what it's called, can't you?
Yep. Nothing.
Ah well. Maybe I'll call Dale and ask her for ten or twenty of her spare titles.
I hate titles.
Dale Chase (I think it was she) had mentioned at the TENTED dinner how she always has a title in mind before the story begins, and how she collects titles for future use.
Seriously. A title surplus? I would hate you, Dale, if you weren't so awesome.
My history with titles is one of fighting, wrestling, and staring at the ceiling.
"Heart" was a case of settling. I couldn't come up with anything else, though, to show you how much energy I waste trying to decide upon a title, I had an entire page of one of my journals that had, among other things: "Heart," "Heartbeat," "Pulse," "Breathe," "Heartache," "Beat," and - probably the worst - "Heartfire." The last one turned out to also be the title of a novel by a bigot, so I scratched that one out. In pencil, never seriously considered, was "The Big Book of Boyfriend Things to Say." I eventually started asking people about which title they thought I should go with when I gave it to four friends to read, and they all picked a different title from the list. Finally, I just picked "Heart" and sent it off.
"Last Call" was another double-meaning title, and it took me forever. It had originally gone by the moniker "Collect Call" and I didn't like it, but couldn't think of anything else. When it was accepted for the TOUCHED anthology (which unfortunately never happened) the newer, better title was suggested to me. It bore that name when the story - with quite a different edit - became a finalist in the Saints and Sinners Fiction Contest this year (How chuffed was I? Very.) I haven't given up on this story. I figure every edit makes it stronger, and maybe it'll find a home someday.
"First Touch" also remained without a title the entire time I worked on it, and only got a title after I edited the ending a bit and saw the words on the page. Prior to that, it didn't have a journal page. It had a blank page. I had no idea where to go with a title for it, and would probably still be thinking about it, had I not noticed the words on the edit.
"Cakewalk" was a rare moment for me when, while working on the story, the pun occurred to me half-way through one of my edits. I got up from my computer and did a little dance around the room, changing the file name from "I DO TWO SUBMISSION" to "CAKEWALK" with a finality that made me giddy.
"Aiming to Please" had a few thousand different titles, none of which I can remember right now, which probably means they were awful. I believe "Edge" was a contender. Feedback from the fabulous Stickabutter, however, moved me toward the word "Aim" or "Aiming" and the rest finally fell into place thereafter. Also, I learned that erotica nipples are larger than quarters.
"Synonyms" would have been "Whisper" had it not been for someone reading over my shoulder at work and pointing out that Synonyms was a much better title. He was right, damnit. But the piece got a better title, so it was a win-win.
"Three" nearly drove me mental when it came time for a title. The file remained "BLOOD SACRAMENTS STORY" for the entirety of the writing, and for most of the beta readers, and once again I think it was Stickabutter who came up with the title, or at least mentioned how she liked the whole notion of the "three thing" and finally gave me the title.
"Line of Sight" was another rare moment for me where the title occurred during the story writing. Which makes two out of all of these, I'd like to point out. Once again, I did the dignified 'I found a title!' dance through my living room. I'm particularly proud of this title, as it has about four meanings that fit the story.
"Range of Motion" waffled between "Range of Motion" and "Range of Emotion" and a few other titles. An author I greatly admire helped me work on the title of this one, settling it down to the final version after he so generously offered to give it a test-drive. I'm lucky to have so many people willing to tear my stories to shreds (not that he did, but that he would have were it the right thing to do) and point out flaws.
All this to say that I've finished a rough draft for a story, and have sent it to get a once-over (and a shredding) and you can guess what it's called, can't you?
Yep. Nothing.
Ah well. Maybe I'll call Dale and ask her for ten or twenty of her spare titles.
May 22, 2010
Saints and Sinners I - A Voice of My Own
My voice is returning (though I've still got more Barry White than Betty White going on in my vocal range) and the coughing has started to recede as much as my hair, so I'm going to try a drive-by posting about Saints and Sinners.
Of the many things that Shawn Syms mentioned in the Xtra! article is how I walk out of Saints and Sinners every year with a completely restored faith in the queer literary community - and my potential place within it.
I'm sure I'll revisit the Saints and Sinners experience more than a few times over the next week, but as thoughts occur that I hope are of interest, I'd like to pass them along.
First off, if you ever get the chance to hear Michael Nava talk, go. He spoke about his experiences and processes in writing a novel, and was so incredibly generous with his talent and skill that I walked out of the room thinking, I might be able to do this.
He mentioned a quote, Doris Lessing I believe: What does it matter if you fail? Why be so arrogant? Just begin.
I learned that my - ahem - scatter-shot approach to writing isn't unusual. Introduce your novel with a scene, or a character? Point of view was also discussed, and I felt happier about my recent decision to re-do what I'd already done in first person when the affable Nava mentioned that you can still have a larger range of information given to the reader with a very perceptive first-person character. I figure psychic fits the bill there.
There was also a strong discussion of dialog - my favorite - where Nava really hit the nail on the head about what is awesome (and not so awesome) in the world of dialog. Knowing the character, and the lovely balancing act between verisimilitude and forwarding the narrative. It's crucial, but not real life speech. And yet the reader has to not notice that it's not like real life speech.
The characterization discussion had me so involved I barely took notes (good sign for the class, bad sign for my memory) but I did end up flipping my notebook to the back and scribbling two pages of revelations about two of my characters that I didn't want to forget.
Revision was another popular topic, and again the sheer volume of variation among writers was a comfort, though the "five point" review process seemed like a fantastic place to start.
1. First draft. Just get it done. Don't worry about whether or not it's good, or nonsensical, just leave notes for yourself where you need to flesh bits out.
2. Walk away. Let it percolate. Maybe make a short story or work on another short piece between it. (I think this piece of advice is also something I read in something Stephen King wrote about writing.)
3. Come back. Read it twice. Once very quickly, just to see how the narrative plays out and see if you enjoy the result or succeeded at what you were going for. Second reading is when you bring out the red pen. Cut, slash, add, fill in all those "notes" you left yourself.
4. Type up the new version. This is the second draft. Break out the thesaurus where you've used a word till it snapped. Check the dialog, see if you can focus and sharpen the story, cut out unnecessary exposition, and develop your characters.
5. Then you've got the third "polished" draft to play with. Read the prose. Read the pacing. Hand it out to the people who love you enough to say "wow, this part made me stumble completely, and I have no idea what you mean." Listen to the criticism behind the statements, and see what you can draw from it - don't blindly change everything everyone mentions, but find the seed of the real issue.
All this from just the first class. See what I mean about feeling focused and reinvigorated?
This, folks, is why y'all want to go to New Orleans and sign up for next year's Saints and Sinners festival.
More later, after two days of working on The Novel(TM). 'Cause I'm not that arrogant.
Of the many things that Shawn Syms mentioned in the Xtra! article is how I walk out of Saints and Sinners every year with a completely restored faith in the queer literary community - and my potential place within it.
I'm sure I'll revisit the Saints and Sinners experience more than a few times over the next week, but as thoughts occur that I hope are of interest, I'd like to pass them along.
First off, if you ever get the chance to hear Michael Nava talk, go. He spoke about his experiences and processes in writing a novel, and was so incredibly generous with his talent and skill that I walked out of the room thinking, I might be able to do this.
He mentioned a quote, Doris Lessing I believe: What does it matter if you fail? Why be so arrogant? Just begin.
I learned that my - ahem - scatter-shot approach to writing isn't unusual. Introduce your novel with a scene, or a character? Point of view was also discussed, and I felt happier about my recent decision to re-do what I'd already done in first person when the affable Nava mentioned that you can still have a larger range of information given to the reader with a very perceptive first-person character. I figure psychic fits the bill there.
There was also a strong discussion of dialog - my favorite - where Nava really hit the nail on the head about what is awesome (and not so awesome) in the world of dialog. Knowing the character, and the lovely balancing act between verisimilitude and forwarding the narrative. It's crucial, but not real life speech. And yet the reader has to not notice that it's not like real life speech.
The characterization discussion had me so involved I barely took notes (good sign for the class, bad sign for my memory) but I did end up flipping my notebook to the back and scribbling two pages of revelations about two of my characters that I didn't want to forget.
Revision was another popular topic, and again the sheer volume of variation among writers was a comfort, though the "five point" review process seemed like a fantastic place to start.
1. First draft. Just get it done. Don't worry about whether or not it's good, or nonsensical, just leave notes for yourself where you need to flesh bits out.
2. Walk away. Let it percolate. Maybe make a short story or work on another short piece between it. (I think this piece of advice is also something I read in something Stephen King wrote about writing.)
3. Come back. Read it twice. Once very quickly, just to see how the narrative plays out and see if you enjoy the result or succeeded at what you were going for. Second reading is when you bring out the red pen. Cut, slash, add, fill in all those "notes" you left yourself.
4. Type up the new version. This is the second draft. Break out the thesaurus where you've used a word till it snapped. Check the dialog, see if you can focus and sharpen the story, cut out unnecessary exposition, and develop your characters.
5. Then you've got the third "polished" draft to play with. Read the prose. Read the pacing. Hand it out to the people who love you enough to say "wow, this part made me stumble completely, and I have no idea what you mean." Listen to the criticism behind the statements, and see what you can draw from it - don't blindly change everything everyone mentions, but find the seed of the real issue.
All this from just the first class. See what I mean about feeling focused and reinvigorated?
This, folks, is why y'all want to go to New Orleans and sign up for next year's Saints and Sinners festival.
More later, after two days of working on The Novel(TM). 'Cause I'm not that arrogant.
