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Pay to Play Anthologies
Vanity anthologies are a popular way for unscrupulous companies to make money on writers’ hunger for publication. By far the most common vanity anthology scheme is the free contest scheme, in which writers are enticed to enter poems or stories…
Write on the River 2011
2011 WRITE ON THE RIVER CONFERENCE SHOWCASES PACIFIC NORTHWEST LITERARY TALENT Wenatchee’s year-round writing organization has outdone itself this year, bringing three New York Times best-selling authors and an experienced homegrown array of predominantly Pacific Northwest authors and editors to…
Duncan Jones, Director of Source Code – a Video Interview
Director Duncan Jones discusses crafting stories, science fiction, and the making of his latest feature, SOURCE CODE.
Milford SF Writer’s Conference Opens for Registation
You are cordially invited to join the Milford SF Writer’s Conference, held at the Trigonos Centre in Snowdonia, Wales.
Key Conditions for Suspense:
Part 20 – Patterns for Presenting the Problem 1-3
Have you thought about starting with a bang right away? Or does your story want another hook before you roll the main one out on the stage?
Clarion West to Honor
Paul Park, Connie Willis, and Gardner Dozois
On June 24 at 8 p.m., Clarion West will open the Locus Awards Weekend with a party in honor of CW instructor Paul Park. The party will also celebrate Awards Toastmistress Connie Willis, SF Hall of Fame inductee Gardner…
In Memoriam: Joanna Russ
Joanna Russ (b.1937) died on April 29, 2011, two days after entering hospice. Russ was admitted to hospice following a series of strokes. Russ received a BA from Cornell in 1957 where she studied under Vladimir Nabokov. She began publishing…
The Interminable Agency Clause
An “interminable agency clause” (sometimes called an “interminable rights clause” or a “perpetual agency clause”) is language inserted into an author-agency agreement whereby the agency claims the right to remain the agent of record not just for the duration of…
Self-Publishing: An Interview with Scott Nicholson
Somewhere during the summer, when I got the latest “I can’t sell this” from an agent, I realized, “You can’t, but I can.” I have not looked back since.
Hugo & Campbell Best New Writer Nominations Announced
Nominees for the Hugo Awards and for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer have been announced.
Key Conditions for Suspense:
Part 19 – Use Patterns & Options, Not Formulas
Building stories is like building houses. Yes, you need a foundation, walls, and a roof, but holy cow–look at all the variations that are possible AND successful given those basic requirements!
Tidbits
Last October, I blogged about David Boyer, a self-styled author and publisher who was discovered to be committing extensive plagiarism, publishing stories and books both under his own name and his many aliases.
Guest Post: Klingons Invade WorldCon
Every summer, Klingon speakers from around the world have gathered for a long weekend of barking and spitting, singing and storytelling, impromptu game shows, off-the-cuff translations of broadway musicals, and vaudeville routines.
Quick Updates for 2011-04-21
Member News for Randy Henderson, Donald Norum, Jason V. Brock, K.V. Johansen, Adam Christopher, Allan Cole, David Levine, Vonda N. McIntyre, Anna D. Allen, Mary Robinette Kowal, Paul Cornell, and Kay Kenyon.
Renovation: Teaching SF Workshop
Renovation, the 69th Worldcon, is delighted to announce “Teaching SF”, a workshop for teachers, librarians and parents on how to use science fiction as a teaching tool.
Guest Post: The Google Books Settlement–It’s Not Too Late to Fix It
The question now becomes, “where do we go from here?” The parties were left free to negotiate a new settlement, or continue the original lawsuit.
Nebula Awards 2009 Interview: Jeff VanderMeer
With regard to Finch, I think a lot of readers who thought I did more leisurely-paced fiction were surprised (although they shouldn’t have been) that I could write what amounts to a thriller-noir-spy story mixed with elements of visionary fantasy.
Key Conditions for Suspense: Part 18 –
The 3 Phases of Problem Solving for Suspense
Along every step of the way, readers need to be surprised, not about everything, but about enough of the particularities of the problem, character, actions, reactions, and resolution that it prevents the reader from knowing what WILL happen.
Bull Spec is SFWA’s newest qualifying market
The board of directors of SFWA voted to add the magazine Bull Spec to the list of SFWA qualifying markets.
Book Fair Bewares
Throughout the year, book fairs draw crowds of publishers, agents, and industry professionals of all kinds to promote their products, take stock of the competition, and make rights and other business deals.
Nebula Awards 2009 Interview: N.K. Jemisin
I believe in probability, which most of us refer to as luck, mostly because that word is easier to say than “outlier” or “likelihood as n approaches infinity.”
Guest Post: Labadie Mansion, A Visitation
Our destination is Labadie Mansion, a derelict house that neither of us have ever seen, and the site of numerous accounts of ghostly activity. According to “sources,” the house is hidden by trees, with no visible road going to or…
What SFWA Authors Need to Know about
Archiving Their Literary Papers1
You and your work are important. Science fiction and fantasy literature permeates our culture. The mission of libraries, archives, and museums is to document our culture. We want to preserve the historical record of the SF/F field in all of…
Key Conditions for Suspense:
Part 17 – Structure is Problem Solving, Not Voodoo
Our job as writers is to create a narrative that evokes this desired experience in the reader. Yes, we have to be passionate about our story. Yes, it’s an art and is complex and sometimes feels a bit mystical. But…