Phil Giunta's Blog, page 11

My Farpoint 2023 Schedule

If you’re attending Farpoint SF Convention in Hunt Valley, MD during the weekend of February 10-12, 2023, here’s my schedule of events. Otherwise, I’ll be wandering around the con somewhere. Look forward to seeing everyone!

FRIDAY
5PM – Salvaging Old Ideas – Salon D (mod)

SATURDAY
11AM – Part Time Vs Full Time Writing – Salon D
1PM – Author Readings (Giunta, Knight, Hauman) – Derby
2PM – Toys From Our Past – Salon E
5PM – Author Autographs (Wilson, Giunta) – Table 1

SUNDAY
12PM – Publishing Nightmares And Cautionary Tales – Salon D

 

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Kristen Lamb asks, “Would you STILL write even if I told you you’d never make a dime and likely die in obscurity?” Something to ponder as you embark on your writing journey.

Christina Delay explains how to clear our creative “ley lines” when we’re feeling blocked while Anne R. Allen encourages us to create (or resurrect) a blog rather than relying on the train wreck that is social media.

James Scott Bell helps us avoid sinkholes in our plot, Dave King speaks out in defense of the prologue, and Oren Ashkenazi points out typical mistakes when writing fight scenes—both with and without weapons.

All that and much more! Enjoy…

The Prologue is Past? by Dave King

Finding Those Laser Beam Words by PJ Parrish

To the Pain: Is Writing a Career or a Hobby? by Kristen Lamb

Three Things That Can Sink Your Novel by James Scott Bell

Creativity: Avoiding Blocks and Refreshing Ideas by Christina Delay via Jami Gold

Five Common Weapon Mistakes in Speculative Fiction by Oren Ashkenazi

Six Common Mistakes in Fight Scenes and How to Avoid Them by Oren Ashkenazi

7 Tips from Ernest Hemingway on How to Write Fiction by Open Culture

Stephen King’s 20 Rules for Writing by Open Culture

Blogging is Essential in the Era of Fragmenting Social Media by Anne R. Allen

Honey, I Shrunk the Plot! Learning to Love Synopses by Diana Giovinazzo

The Art of Misdirection: How to Keep Readers on Their Toes by Maggie Smith

TikTok to Sell Books Directly to Users via Marketplace by Arwa Mahdawi

BookBub Ads 101: How the Auction Model Works by AJ Jack

Book Review: Robert A. Heinlein’s Red Planet

On Mars, members of Earth’s South Colony prepare to migrate north before winter arrives. It is also the beginning of a new school year at the academy on Syrtis Minor, near the North Colony. Returning to the school are best friends Jim Marlowe, Frank Sutton, and Jim’s pet, Willis. The latter is a round, furry Martian creature with the uncanny ability to remember everything it hears and repeat it with perfect accuracy.

This talent comes in handy when Jim, Frank, and Willis arrive at the academy and find themselves subject to the draconian rules and regulations of the new headmaster who confiscates Willis and locks the Martian in his office. While there, Willis overhears a conversation between the headmaster and the colony’s leader, Harold Beecher. After he is liberated by Jim and Frank, Willis recites all that he heard, including a plot to prevent the colonists in the south from migrating, thereby assuring that many will not survive the winter. With the headmaster monitoring all communications to and from the academy, there is no way to send a warning.

Can Jim and Frank break out of the school with Willis and survive the journey back to the South Colony on their own?

Published in 1949, Red Planet is the third in Heinlein’s juvenile novel collection (what might be called young adult in today’s vernacular). It’s a delightful romp with an imaginative take on indigenous Martians and their world’s landscape. I couldn’t help but think of Percival Lowell upon reading about the canals that our heroes traversed during their journey home.

About This Writing Stuff…

It’s been three months since I gathered a collection of informative articles here, something that was once a monthly feature on this blog. My life took an unexpected and disquieting detour in September which affected my health and my writing. I’m struggling to put both back on track as we head into the new year, but for now…

Philip Athans thinks there should be a little bit of Harlan Ellison in all of us and I agree. Harlan remains one of my literary heroes.

Kristen Lamb warns us against self-sabotage in all its forms while over at Good Story Company, Mary Kole offers advice on dealing with criticism.

Anne R. Allen encourages believability over realism in our fiction, Jami Gold explains the differences between foreshadowing and spoilers, and Amanda Patterson shows us how to use motifs.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

Maybe We Should All Be More Like Harlan Ellison by Philip Athans

How to Deal with Negative Criticism by Mary Kole

Self-Sabotage: I Don’t Deserve Success by Kristen Lamb

5 Tips to Boost Your Professional Writing Cred by Lori Freeland

7 Ways Public Readings Can Help Your Writing by Kathryn Craft

Revise for Success – A Stree-Free Plan for Polishing Your Novel by Jodie Renner via Anne R. Allen

Why Realism is Irrelevant in Fiction: Aim for Believability Instead by Anne R. Allen

How to Enhance Contrast In Your Writing by Jessica Strawser

Foreshadowing vs. “Spoilers”: What’s the Difference? by Jami Gold

Do You See Dead People? by PJ Parrish

How to Motivate Yourself to Write and Finish Your Novel by Lorna Faith

What is a Motif in Fiction? by Amanda Patterson

After Action Report – Lehigh Valley Comic Con

Enjoyed a fantastic day at the final Lehigh Valley Comic Con of 2022. It was a bleak and soggy day and attendance seemed lower than the August show, but I sold a few books, caught up with old friends, and as always, the cosplayers were outstanding. Looking forward to returning next year, hopefully with a few new titles.

 

After Action Report: Philcon 85 – In the Presence of Giants

In GPS we trust and that’s precisely what I did on my way to Philcon when my usual route through the City of Brotherly Love turned into a parking lot. If you know the area, you probably guessed the Schuylkill Expressway and you would be correct.

So instead of ol’ Ben Franklin, it was Walt Whitman what got me into New Jersey this time. I landed at the Cherry Hill Doubletree around 4PM, checked in, schlepped my baggage to my room, then proceeded to con registration to collect the usual accoutrements (badge and program book) before I was sent up four floors to con ops to pick up my tent card and free drink tickie for the opening reception.

In the lobby, I reunited with friends Ef Deal, Serg Koren, and Susanna Reilly. It was wonderful to catch up with them before my 7PM panel, Writing: The Long and Short of It adroitly moderated by writer pal, Hildy Silverman. Fellow panelists included Elektra Hammond, Marilyn “Mattie” Brahen, and Jim Stratton. We discussed such topics as developing short story plots, number of characters and points of view, and crafting short stories as standalone works versus passing off the opening chapter of a novel.

Photo credit: Michael Ventrella

As that was my one and only panel of the evening, I stopped by the freebie table where I picked up a few gems including a copy of Nate Segaloff’s authorized biography of one of my literary heroes, Harlan Ellison.

At 9PM, I attended an edifying panel on Finances for Creative Professionals led by veteran writer Susan Shwartz with James Stratton, Nate Hoffelder, David M. Axler, and Russell J. Handelman. The discussion went beyond tax deductions and touched on wills, trusts, long term care insurance, and literary executors. I walked out of there with a short list of items to take care of in the coming year.

Later, I meandered over to the opening reception where I used my drink ticket for a Pepsi (no booze for me) and chatted with writer buds Aaron Rosenberg and Russ Colchamiro from Crazy 8 Press and Neil Clarke, founder and editor of Clarkesworld Magazine before calling it a night.

Since I didn’t have a panel until noon on Saturday, it was time for more book shopping. Philcon’s dealer room never disappoints when it comes to vintage SF as you can see…

My noon panel was also my second and final one of the con (they took it easy on me this year). Horror Without Gore was moderated by Bram Stoker award nominee Carol Gyzander and included Amy Grech, Gary Frank, and Martin Joseph Berman-Gorvine. Through a lively discussion, we determined that yes, you can write a fine horror story without graphic blood and guts through the use of suspense, atmosphere, and psychological terror. Photo credits (below): Alp Beck.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting in on such panels as State of the Short Fiction Market moderated by Stephanie Burke with participants Neil Clarke and Margaret Riley followed by We ARE Living in Philip K. Dick’s Future, Aren’t We? with Michael Swanwick as impromptu moderator (in lieu of Gregory Frost), Ken Altabef, Lawrence Kramer, and Anatasia Klimchynskaya. The group analyzed aspects of contemporary society in the context of how it compares to Philip K. Dick’s dystopian vision. The short answer to the panel’s title is… yes we are.

After that, it was time for a delightful dinner in the hotel restaurant with friends Susanna Reilly and Francis Barron after which, fatigue set in and a power nap was in order. By the time I awoke, it was well past 8PM and I decided to stay in my room, write for a bit, watch some TV then call it a night.

The highlight of the con occurred on Sunday during my noon autograph session when Nebula-award winner Michael Swanwick invited me to his home in Philly for a small after party. I grew up in the section of the city where he has lived for decades but never knew it until we connected on Facebook three years ago. While there, I was honored yet again to meet SFWA Grand Master Samuel R. “Chip” Delaney. Michael and Chip are legends in science fiction literature and beyond and for two and a half hours on Sunday evening, I was in the presence of giants much in the same way as when I met another literary hero, Harlan Ellison, back in 1999. I drove home that night with treasured memories and an invitation from Michael to return next year. I look forward to it!

My Philcon 85 Schedule

My Philcon schedule is below. They went easy on me this year. When not speaking on a panel, I’ll be in the audience, perusing the book dealers, or hiding in my room writing. If you’re going, I hope to see you there!

Friday, November 18 at 7:00 PM in Plaza 4 – Writing: The Long and Short of It

Saturday, November 19 at 12:00 PM in Crystal 3 – Horror Without Gore                         

Sunday, November 20 at 12:00 PM.  Autograph Table – Autographs: Robert E. Waters, Phil Giunta  

Book Review: Successful Self-Publishing by Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn provides a slim but informative overview of the tools, processes, and mindset needed to self-publish and market your books. If you want more detailed information on these topics, however, she provides links to her own website and refers you to her other books and weekly podcasts. Nevertheless, this is a solid starting point for burgeoning writers or even experienced authors who are self-publishing for the first time.

Book Review: My Runaway Summer by Larry Schardt

Escaping his abusive father, fifteen-year-old Larry Schardt runs away from his Pittsburgh home in the summer of 1970 and hitchhikes with a friend to Ocean City where he finds love, kinship, and a sense of belonging all while sleeping on back porches and under boardwalks. Larry’s ultimate goal is to continue on his journey to freedom all the way to Haight-Ashbury, a hippie haven in San Francisco but it isn’t long before he learns that you cannot run away from your problems. All told, Dr. Schardt presents a fast-paced coming of age memory that carries the reader away on an adventure of peace, love, and rock ‘n roll!

Book Review: Robert Heinlein’s Double Star

When the leader of the Expansionist Party, John Bonforte, is kidnapped, unemployed actor Lorenzo Smythe is hired to take his place just before an important ceremony that will serve as a peace treaty between Mars and Earth. Should he fail, however, the results could be interplanetary war.

While the resemblance between Lorenzo and Bonforte is remarkable, the actor undergoes intense training to learn the politician’s background, thought process, manner of speech, and body language as well as the Martian phrases he must utter with impeccable precision during the ceremony. Coached by Bonforte’s team, Lorenzo delivers a flawless performance.

Shortly after, the real John Bonforte is found, but his mind and memories have been scrambled, leaving him in no condition to resume his responsibilities until he is fully recovered. Even his personal physician is uncertain how long that will take. Thus, Lorenzo must continue his impersonation, fearing that at any moment, the charade will be revealed.

As one of my favorite Heinlein novels, Double Star is a thoroughly entertaining, fast-paced romp with likeable characters, witty dialogue, and constant tension.