S.A. Bolich's Blog, page 4
April 28, 2011
Firedancer Due Out in September!
I have been quiet for far too long, but with excellent reason. I was approached at Radcon back in February by a small press publisher who really, REALLY wanted to see some of my work. (Yes, short stories do get you noticed.)
She wanted a series; all of mine need work. I dug around in the drawer instead and dusted off an old standalone moldering in there called Firedancer. She loved the concept: there are no swords here; the enemy is elemental fire lurking at the heart of the world, battled by the Fire Clans through the medium of the Firedance. But our heroine, Jetta, lost her last battle with the Ancient, Old Man Fire, and with it, the village under her charge--and her lifemate. Now she has been ordered to another village by her clan, where she must find the courage, and the means, to fight an enemy that seems to have grown far more clever, and no longer responds to the Dance as it should.
Long story short, after a frantic 10 days completely overhauling the second half of the book, I send it off. An hour later I got a phone call with an offer for a three-book contract. So now this standalone is about to become a series, and I'm busy trying to figure out where the story is going next.
All good! But that's on top of editing someone else's novel, doing 4 intensive critiques for Norwescon, writing a new story in the Firedancer universe for an anthology, and trying to keep up with client work and my workshop duties for Other Worlds. Oh, and cleaning up still another, much longer, MS for another publisher altogether (also by request). Were March and April busy? You could say that!
So that's my sob story (well, not really, I'm pretty jazzed) as to why I haven't been blogging. Now I'm off to finish that story...
She wanted a series; all of mine need work. I dug around in the drawer instead and dusted off an old standalone moldering in there called Firedancer. She loved the concept: there are no swords here; the enemy is elemental fire lurking at the heart of the world, battled by the Fire Clans through the medium of the Firedance. But our heroine, Jetta, lost her last battle with the Ancient, Old Man Fire, and with it, the village under her charge--and her lifemate. Now she has been ordered to another village by her clan, where she must find the courage, and the means, to fight an enemy that seems to have grown far more clever, and no longer responds to the Dance as it should.
Long story short, after a frantic 10 days completely overhauling the second half of the book, I send it off. An hour later I got a phone call with an offer for a three-book contract. So now this standalone is about to become a series, and I'm busy trying to figure out where the story is going next.
All good! But that's on top of editing someone else's novel, doing 4 intensive critiques for Norwescon, writing a new story in the Firedancer universe for an anthology, and trying to keep up with client work and my workshop duties for Other Worlds. Oh, and cleaning up still another, much longer, MS for another publisher altogether (also by request). Were March and April busy? You could say that!
So that's my sob story (well, not really, I'm pretty jazzed) as to why I haven't been blogging. Now I'm off to finish that story...
February 22, 2011
4 Steps to Advancing Your Writing Career
I'm feeling a bit odd tonight. After years and years of writing for fun, I made a decision a couple of years ago to get serious about subbing and selling my work. And lo and behold, it started to sell (imagine that!).
Getting an editor to buy your work is Step 1 in getting your spec fi writing career past scribbling in the dark. Step 2 is getting the editor of a pro market, as recognized by SFWA, to buy your work. Step 3 is getting nominated and/or winning recognized awards for your work, which opens many doors.
I have arrived at Step 3.
My story, "Kraken's Honor," published in Issue 31 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, was my first professional sale and made me eligible for the John W. Campbell last year and this year. I missed the boat last year because I had no idea I was even eligible. This year, a kind friend, Swapna Kishore, pointed it out (someone who is also eligible, bless her heart).
Thus begins Step 4 of the writing career: self aggrandizement.
This is the part every writer hates. Few people really enjoy blowing their own horn; it feels boorish and rude to be waving your hand yelling "look at me!" all the time, in exact opposition to what your mother told you when you were a kid. Not to mention that every minute you spend promoting your work is a minute you don't get to spend writing new stories. Yet, to be successful, you must get your work noticed. That means tooting ye olde horn.
So, since the Campbell award is given on the basis of votes received, I find myself now tooting my horn whenever and wherever I can. Dang it. People attending Worldcon 2011 (Renovation) are eligible both to nominate and vote for the Campbell and Hugo awards (my story "An Infinity of Moments," published in On Spec, Fall 2010, makes me eligible for the Hugo as well).
If y'all are so inclined, check them out. Then go vote if the story touches you, or check out some of the other worthy folks with stories in contention. We want you to read spec fi. So go read, and then vote.
Meantime, I'll go on trying to get the hang of this self promotion thingy.
Getting an editor to buy your work is Step 1 in getting your spec fi writing career past scribbling in the dark. Step 2 is getting the editor of a pro market, as recognized by SFWA, to buy your work. Step 3 is getting nominated and/or winning recognized awards for your work, which opens many doors.
I have arrived at Step 3.
My story, "Kraken's Honor," published in Issue 31 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, was my first professional sale and made me eligible for the John W. Campbell last year and this year. I missed the boat last year because I had no idea I was even eligible. This year, a kind friend, Swapna Kishore, pointed it out (someone who is also eligible, bless her heart).
Thus begins Step 4 of the writing career: self aggrandizement.
This is the part every writer hates. Few people really enjoy blowing their own horn; it feels boorish and rude to be waving your hand yelling "look at me!" all the time, in exact opposition to what your mother told you when you were a kid. Not to mention that every minute you spend promoting your work is a minute you don't get to spend writing new stories. Yet, to be successful, you must get your work noticed. That means tooting ye olde horn.
So, since the Campbell award is given on the basis of votes received, I find myself now tooting my horn whenever and wherever I can. Dang it. People attending Worldcon 2011 (Renovation) are eligible both to nominate and vote for the Campbell and Hugo awards (my story "An Infinity of Moments," published in On Spec, Fall 2010, makes me eligible for the Hugo as well).
If y'all are so inclined, check them out. Then go vote if the story touches you, or check out some of the other worthy folks with stories in contention. We want you to read spec fi. So go read, and then vote.
Meantime, I'll go on trying to get the hang of this self promotion thingy.
