Planetside Full Archives
Planetside: The Online Magazine of SFWA
No post found!
The SFWA Blog
Writer Beware’s Swag Shop for Discerning Scammers
Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware
Writer Beware’s Swag Shop for Discerning Scammers
As many of you know, Writer Beware is a 100% volunteer endeavor. We do receive support from our sponsor, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Ameri…
Nebula Voting Closes TODAY
SFWA Active and Lifetime Active members, today is the last day to vote for the Nebula Awards. You may do that online with the Nebula final ballot. Your vote must be received by Friday, March 30th, 2012 at 11:59pm PDT…
PublishAmerica, Literary Agent: An Inside Look
A little while back, I blogged about yet another of the ways in which PublishAmerica was attempting to extract cash from its authors: a fee-charging “literary agency.”
To Our Readers: Thank You
Sometime over last weekend, the Writer Beware blog passed the 20,000 subscriber mark!
We’d like to offer a heartfelt thank you to all our readers and subscribers for their attention, support, and participation (we love comments! We love questions!) …
Alert: Raider Publishing International / Purehaven Press
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Raider Publishing International over the years. Founded by a former (and disgruntled) PublishAmerica author, it’s basically a self-publishing service with some added bells and whistles.
2012 Service to SFWA Award goes to
Clarence Howard ‘Bud’ Webster
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America would like to award Clarence Howard ‘Bud’ Webster the 2012 Service to SFWA Award for his outstanding work on behalf of the organization.
Shortlist for the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award Announced
Six novels have been announced as finalists for the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
The Con Man Who Tried To Buy Writer Beware’s Silence
I thought Writer Beware’s readers might be interested in hearing about the only time I’ve ever had a face to face meeting with a known writing scammer.
Guest Post: Finding Inspiration
I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite ways of finding inspiration — some of them obvious, some of them less so. But it’s always good to have reminders, and if you haven’t used a few of these sources…
Publishing Industry Terms and Contracts: Some Resources, and Some Advice
I often see small presses using a contract template they’ve picked up from somewhere, which may employ outdated terminology (such as referring to plates or unbound sheets) or contain unnecessary language (such as including a revised editions clause in a…
When is a Dodgy Publisher Like a Stopped Clock?
A stopped clock is right twice a day. A dodgy publisher is right…well, less often. But sometimes
An Interview with Jason Heller
I love worldbuilding. I love using symbolic and metaphorical social constructions to exaggerate and concentrate the issues we deal with in the real world.
SFWA Announces Honorees of the 2012 Solstice Awards
The Solstice Awards were created to acknowledge members who have had a significant impact on the science fiction and fantasy landscape. It is especially meant for those who have made a consistent, positive, major difference in the genre.
Nebula Awards Interview: Connie Willis
Research is a lot more fun than writing. I could go on looking things up forever, and sometimes that’s a problem.
Last Day to Nominate for the Hugo Awards
On Sunday, March 11, 2012, at 11:59 PM (Pacific), the window to nominate works for this year’s Hugo Awards and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer will close.
When a Writing Contest Has a Hidden Agenda
If you’ve been reading this blog for long, you may have guessed that I’m not a big fan of writing contests.
An Interview with Myke Cole
I absolutely love the military, but I’m not blind to the challenges and limitations of the life either. Control Point was definitely a steam valve in some respects.
Why You Can’t Always Trust the Source
Many writers assume that a literary agent’s inclusion in a market guide or listing–whether it’s a print book, such as Jeff Herman’s Guide, or a website, such as QueryTracker–is an imprimatur of reputability. Surely the agent wouldn’t be listed if…
Guest Post: The Joy of Discovery
…I firmly believe that the joy found at the heart of reading is the same joy found at the heart of writing: it is the joy of discovery.
New French Law Seizes Digital Rights
The issue of orphan works–out of print, still-in-copyright books, films, photographs, etc. whose rightsholders can’t be found–is one that has been much in the news lately.
Voting for the 2011 Nebula, Bradbury and Norton Awards Now Open
Voting for the 2011 Nebula Awards, the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy Book is now open to all SFWA Active and Lifetime Active members. Ballots…
2012 Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop
Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop, held in Laramie, Wyoming, is now accepting applications for its 2012 session.
Nebula Awards Interview: Christopher Barzak
I’ve written too many stories and books now to not notice patterns of theme, image, character type, etc, emerge over and over. It can be a bit disconcerting to see ones own obsessions so clearly after a while. …
In Memoriam: Mark Bourne
Author Mark Bourne, 50, died Saturday February 25, 2012.
His short fiction appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Realms of Fantasy, and numerous anthologies.