Kelly McCullough's Blog, page 32

Ebook is Coming, the Ebook is Coming....

I'm happy to announce that the e-book version of my first novel, Archangel Protocol, will soon be released from Wizard's Tower Press!  It's kind of been an amazing journey, perhaps, too, a slightly ironic one since the novel is cyberpunk and I ended up having steal a copy of my own book from Torrent in order to have a version of the book which had all the editoral changes (because back when this was published we did everything in paper.)  Anyway, I'm super exicted about this.  I hope some new people give it a try!

Uh... Wow...

For the record, io9 has won my heart back entirely.

http://io9.com/5965211/why-we-decided-to-stop-publishing-fan-fiction-friday

Exactly what was bothering me they were sensitive to.  Absolutely wonderful response.

Interview with Tate

If you're curious what's next in Tate's career, you can check out http://amberkatze.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/author-interivew-with-tate-hallaway.html. 

Several days ago, I came home to discover a request for an interview in my in-box. So I took a few minutes to answer the dozen or so questions and send it back. I got asked that ubiquitous question, "If they ever made a movie of your books, who would you cast...?" Normally, I hate that question because I don't watch enough TV or movies to even have a clue who's the new hottie superstar (and clearly, that's what the answer is supposed to be).

But, I now have a defaut answer! J. Michael Tatum. He is, in fact, the only actor I know. True, he's currently best known as the voice of Sebastian in "Black Butler" and for his work in "Ouran Host Club," but, having met him at Gaylaxicon, I can tell you, he'd make a fine Valentine or Sebastian in live-action. So, ta dah! I finally have a decent answer to that question. Granted, it makes me look perhaps a bit like a super-geek to name an Anime voice actor, but to which I say, "And your point...?"

The fun part of this story was that I was feeling brave so I texted J. Michael himself and told him this (through reasons that still somewhat baffle me, we exchanged phone numbers at the end of Gaylaxicon--apparently I didn't give him the impression I thought I did, which was, "Idiot Squeeing Fan Grrl"), and, anyway, instead of getting back, "And you are...?" He wrote back something very sweet which implied that he remembered me, but also made him seem like possibly the NICEST GUY ON EARTH. It's possible that he stared at his phone and thought, "Who the fuck is this?" but then shrugged and decided, "Well, you know, it never hurts to be nice," and then later went to the Googles to try to remember what possessed him to give his real phone number to someone in Minnesota who wasn't Anton... but, hey, it kind of made my day, regardless.

Fan Fiction Friday FEELS

Right. For obvious reasons, people have directed me to both of these:

http://io9.com/5962913/fan-fiction-friday-iron-man-and-captain-america-in-hungry

http://io9.com/5964738/fan-fiction-friday-harry-potter-and-lucius-malfoy-really-have-to-go-in-rain-of-gold?popular=true

I admit, I laughed. It was, however, a guilty sort of laugh, because I'm really not sure I'm okay with what's happening here. There is, in point of fact, a reason that there are warnings posted on slash. Porn is very, very personal. It actually takes a lot of courage to write slash, particularly when things start getting hot-and-heavy, because as a writer you're VERY AWARE of your shortcomings. What if I'm the only person who finds this hot? What if I actually really suck at writing the hot? What if the physics of the hot _don't actually work_? What if I'm showing off my complete and utter lack of knowledge about male/female/trans/other anatomy?? WTF, OMG I'M HITTING "POST"!! (And then you either cower in the corner nervously awaiting comments/kudos or you alternately do that while also hitting "refresh.")

Fic and slash communities are supposed to be safe places for you to try out your kink and maybe, with luck, find people who appreciate it and share your interest. Our community is also very young, which means it ought to be forgiving and supportive.

Now there's a troll in our midst. Someone who is intentionally ripping open sensitive, raw, vulnerable things in a public forum AS ENTERTAINMENT. I have nothing but sympathy for the fan writers who have been targets so far. I only hope that they have good friends, loyal readers, and the number of an excellent therapist.

Something like this would ruin me. Not only does Mr. Brinken poke at the porny bits, he also mercilessly attacks the prose. I would never be able to write again if one of my pieces were skewered in this way. Not just porn, but anything, ever. I'd probably be hard pressed to write my grocery list after treatment like this because I'd be thinking, "Oh god, this is probably laughable and stupid."

Reviews are hard on professional writers.  Crap like this could kill an amateur. And, yeah, you can point fingers and say, maybe that's a public service, but I say no. I say this isn't cool.

I also want to know if io9/Mr. Brinken are asking for permission before they publish excerpts of these writers' works. When the Pioneer Press did an article on blogs, they called me to ask to make sure it was okay to reprint A SINGLE LINE. I want to know that io9 is doing these writers the same courtesy. I bet not. I bet they feel free because we're a vulnerable community. I bet they don't even consider it for a second because what we write technically violates copyright in a way that makes us feel we have no redress, no rights, no sense that we DESERVE to be treated fairly.

Also, I had always imagined io9 as a fan ally.  This may very well destroy the fan fic/slash community.  Why the hell would I ever post anywhere io9 could find me if I knew I could become a target of such cruelty?

So much so wrong. I am actually now incoherent with rage.

Brain Balm Arnason Style

OMG, the election, right?

Anyway, now that that's all over, how about treating your fried brain to The Glutton: A GoxHat Accounting Chant by our very own Eleanor Arnason, as it appears in the latest issue of Apex #42?

A Writer, A Fan, and An Instructor Walk Into a Bar....

If you are also doing NaNoWriMo, you can become my writing buddy or check out my progress on "Shattered Mask" by following (or whatever) user: lydamorehouse. I have to confess that if you go there today you will see that I have a word count total of 3,944. This is a lie. That *is* the progress I have on this novel to-date, but it's actually the chunk that I wrote previously.

I wrote nothing yesterday.

Actually, uh, well,...

Okay, another problem I'm having? As I was setting up my profile for NaNoWriMo, do you know what I found? A FORUM FOR PEOPLE WRITING FAN FICTION!!!!! Yes, I am screaming! I'm screaming because, hello? How is that going to help my problem? As I said on Facebook (with apologies to my friends in the recovery community,) it's like walking into your first AA meeting and discovering an open bar in the back room!

On the flip side, the universe has finally told me how I can make money writing fan fiction. I got an amazing e-mail the other day from the woman who runs the teen writing program at the Loft. She told me that she was going over the evaluations for the workshop that I did for the Loft during their teen writing conference (a surprise 40 kids had signed up!), and she asked if I'd be willing to consider teaching some summer courses for teens at the Loft. Of course, I said yes without even thinking much about it. She sent me a list that had been produced by the kids on the questionnaire in answer to the question, "What kind of classes would you like to see taught?" Guess what? At least one person put down, "Writing Fan Fic." There was another person who specifically wanted help writing Dr. Who fan fic, and someone else trying to figure out how to make the switch from writing fan fic to writing original work.

I figured I must have died and gone straight to heaven. It would only have been more perfect if someone had specifically requested, "Writing Bleach Fan Fic: 10 Tips for Characterizing Renji Abarai."

The Loft is specifically looking to me to teach writing SF/F, of course, but I thought I might actually also propose a week-long class called, "No More Kudos! How to Make the Move from FanFic to Original Fiction" about some of the differences between (and struggles with) writing fan fic and writing original work. Because, for my money, there are a bunch of ways in which fan fiction is significantly different--there's a lot more "front loading" of characterization (and character description) necessary, for instance. There's the problem of how soap opera/"plot, what plot" can be fine for a meandering 200,000 word fic, but is death to the commerical novel. And, then there's the emotional withdrawal of the difference between writing in community versus writing alone (and ultimately kind of unsupported.) I think there's EASILY five days worth of subject matter that could be covered in a course like that. Plus? I really, really think there are teen writers out there that are craving a class like this. When I was desperately trying to find common ground with the students in my workshop, fanfic was it. All the eyes in the room lit up when I randomly asked, "Okay, how many of you are into fanfic? How many write it?" Hands shot up all over. When I admitted to also writing fanfic (and how valuable I found it when I was first learning to write), there was actually almost an audible, "Oh!" that carried with it a sense of, "Holy shit, a grown-up/professional writer who GETS this!!??" I could almost instantly tell that the mood had shifted from "bored now," to "Maybe I should listen to what she says...."

Fingers crossed, because, damn it, that would be a truly legit way to make money off my fan work.

Plans

I mentioned that I have a couple of contracts. One is for the sequel to Ring of Swords. I have been stalling on the final revision for years now. However, I have made a commitment to the Wyrdsmiths that I will bring in 30 pages of the revision to every meeting till the novel is finished. That means it will be done and mostly out of my life by next Wiscon.

I also have a contract for a novelette to be included in a theme anthology. I have something like 3,750 words written, a rough plot and a lot of world building done. My plan is to make it a National Novel Writing Month project, and finish it in November, while continuing to put the novel through my workshop.

This means I need to write something like 2,100 words a week starting today. This should not be difficult. It will give my life structure. I find life without a job kind of fuzzy.

Work

Kris Rusch wrote a three part series on her blog on why writers disappear. All at once, you notice that someone whose work you liked is no longer publishing.

The reasons are the usual: writing pays too little money, and you need to get a day job; you need health insurance; personal crises drain your financial and emotional resources; publishers are no longer interested in your work.

Rusch points out that many writers change their names to get away from bad sales records, or move into a new genre.

Or people simply lose interest in writing. They proved their point and said what they had to say. More painful, the creative springs can run dry, who knows why.

I think I (sort of) fit into the category of writers who became less visible, maybe even invisible. Back 15 or more years ago, I looked at the neat little report that the Social Security Administration sends on expected Social Security income; and I realized I had spent too many years working low paying jobs and part time. I did this in the theory that it would leave more time and energy for writing; and it more or less worked out.

But now I needed to build up my Social Security; and I needed to save some money. So I began to work longer hours, at somewhat better pay. I found these new jobs both interesting and draining, and I wrote less than before.

When I got laid off in 2009 and wasn't able to find a new job and formally retired, I finally had time to write. I've had to relearn writing. At first it was really difficult. I no longer enjoyed working on stories. Slowly -- very slowly -- I have gotten my creativity back. Maybe not all of it, but enough to produce new stories that I like and want to place.

And I've noticed that working on a writing career takes time and energy -- networking, corresponding with editors, reading contracts, proofreading stories before they are finally published. I realized years ago that freelance writers have two jobs: getting contracts and then writing the novel or whatever it is; and the marketing is as hard as the writing. I'm relearning that now.

Look over this post and notice how often I have written "job" and "work." Writing is a job. It is work.

On Being An Unemployed Writer

I don't think a free lance writer can be unemployed, if he or she is writing. I checked an online dictionary. Meaning # 1 is "to hire." Meaning # 2 is "to keep busy." Meaning # 3 is "to use." Meaning # 4 is "to occupy or devote."

If you don't have a contract, you are unemployed in meaning # 1, but not in meanings # 2, #3 and #4.

I have almost never written under contract, because I don't like the pressure. Instead, I write the story I want to write and then try to sell it. In most cases, I do manage to sell it, though I have never made the kind of money that other Wyrdsmiths have and do.

I told one of my editors years ago that my income from writing paid for conventions and Laura Ashley skirts. I no longer buy Laura Ashley clothing. So maybe now -- in a good year -- my income from writing pays for conventions and J. Jill clothing.

Because I don't like pressure, I write slowly. I think a bit of pressure might help me write more quickly and more, which is one reason I have two contracts right now.

In any case, I don't think of myself as unemployed, but rather as self-employed.

Friday Cat Blogging.

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