Archive for March 2009
Writing fiction
I rarely write fiction, although I do wish that I was a fiction writer. The truth is, I’m not that good at it – that, and it’s damn hard work. I’ve found that many of my compatriots in publicity – even more so among book reviewers – are frustrated writers like myself. That’s not to imply that reviewing and promoting books isn’t hard work, you understand, but I’ve found that some things come more naturally to me than others.
That being said, I do want to write more fiction and I know enough about successful writers to know that it’s a long, hard slog for most of them to achieve success, so for me – someone who isn’t naturally “inclined” toward fiction – the process of achieving mere competency is nearly agonizing. My brain, long trained in a certain style of writing, doesn’t want to twist and contort in the ways that fiction requires. Learning to write for me is like going through some form of physical therapy: lots of stretching and strenuous labor for my abused, neglected or damaged muscles. Each sentence, such a small gain, requires great sacrifice on my part. Still, I carry on.
Why? It’s because I’m reading great books. Great books make me want to write. It’s because I spend so much time speaking with authors, and there’s just a tiny little bit of me that wishes I was among them. It’s because I can’t help myself. While I might not see anything more of mine published for a long time, I carry on because I know that each little twinge of pain makes me that much stronger.
My latest effort is a science fiction/fantasy piece set on Mars. It’s the Mars of the 19th century: canals, jungles and ancient magics. I just completed the first draft, and qt just over 4,000 words, it’s probably the longest short story I’ve ever written. I’ve sent it along to a cadre of people willing to be first readers, and while I cringe a little bit at the criticism I’m expecting, it’s a necessary process in the journey to a final draft. After that? Who knows? Maybe I’ll submit it to a few places. Maybe not. But at least I will have learned something.
Do any of you struggle with the the gap between your urge to write and what you consider your lack of natural talent? Do you think “natural talent” is a misnomer and writing is a skill? What have you learned as you’ve struggled to write fiction? I’d love to hear about it.
One-Minute Weird Tales, No. 1
Found at http://www.weirdtales.net
An open call for fantasy games of all kinds
I’ve recently accepted the mantle of games reviewer at Realms of Fantasy magazine. This is in addition to my current post as adult fiction reviewer alongside lead reviewer Paul Witcover (whom I may add is a very capable author of fiction as well).
Thanks to the assistance of editor Doug Cohen I’ve had no difficulty at all in getting the word out to fiction publishers, but making contacts among games manufacturers and producers has proven to be a bit more difficult. This is why I’m turning to you, dear reader. I need to spread the word far and wide that I’m open to reviewing any and all games with some kind of fantasy component. That is, roleplaying games, video games, board games, war games, card games, etc., as long as they’re fantasy-themed.
Anyone with a gaming product that they’d like for me to consider for review can contact me at mattormeg (AT) gmail (DOT) com, and I’ll send along information about where they can send their game.
Please spread the word. Thanks!
Matt
“Thanks, Elder Sign!”
This bit of madness courtesy of Blackwing Bear -
Links and Things
Fictional characters are signing book deals
The cover alone has just sold me on Philip Palmer’s “Red Claw”
John Joseph Adams interviews Terry Pratchett (Via Grasping for the Wind)
“Bad writing advice” from Jim C. Hines
Ellen Datlow and Laird Barron on “Poe: 19 Tales Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe”
Ellen Datlow’s photographs from ICFA
Editor, anthologist and all-around spec fic mover and shaker Ellen Datlow was kind enough to send along a link to photographs taken at this year’s International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts (ICFA). There are too many great pictures for me to choose from, so I urge you to drop by and check them out for yourself. It’s pretty much a who’s who of fantastic literature.
Meanwhile, speaking of Ellen, be sure to pick up her Poe anthology. I keep hearing that it’s great – also check out her new anthology of cat horror The Twists of the Tale. As I’m a lifelong cat lover I’ll be picking that one up too.
Links and Things
Omnivoracious looks at Paul Tremblay’s “The Little Sleep”
Mark Charan Newton on the “Dying Earth” subgenre (via Bookninja)
The Crotchety Old Fan on con volunteers: Why not have a “volunteer central”?
Publishers need to “re-emasculate” books?
“You must be this high IQ to read ***’s writing”
MidSouthCon memories
MidSouthCon 2009 has come and gone, and now that I’ve managed to catch up at least on most of my sleep I’m in a position to reminisce with something approaching lucidity.
I’ll remember the con for many reasons, but mostly for the number of talented writers with whom I was privileged to share this event. Finding an unassuming Glen Cook selling books in the dealers’ room was a delight; he’s a very nice man with a fine inventory of books rare and common. If you see an opportunity to shop with him at your next convention I suggest you do so. I bought a signed Joe R. Lansdale collection called Mad Dog Summer, a Clark Ashton Smith collection I’ve been looking for, and one of Cook’s own books, an early title from Golden Gryphon that he was kind enough to sign for me.
I was also fortunate enough to meet C.J. Cherryh. She’s truly a delight. A regal lady with a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of writing and publishing. I can’t believe that she’s not written a book about the industry. Cherryh is also a wonderful host: we spent an hour or so in her hotel suite attempting to lure the two cats with whom she and novelist Jane Fancher (also a lovely woman) travels within petting distance.
I also got to meet longtime speculative fiction editor Marty Halpern, a funny guy with a near-endless supply of stories earned from a lifetime spent in the fiction trenches. He and author Andrew Fox of New Orleans were there to support Fox’s new book from Tachyon Publications The Good Humor Man. Fox is the very image of a gentleman, genial and witty, with a good sense of humor about him. He’s a guy that really loves fiction and the craft of writing. If you get a chance to interview him you should do so.
Links and Things
Women commit to books, men not so much
New fantasy books for March 2009
Is Baker & Taylor too important to fail?
Stephen Bissette on the recent hardback Swamp Thing collections
Ten most successful literary sequels ever
OFBLOG on M. John Harrison’s “A Storm of Wings”
All 13 episodes of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” now online
Interview with Gary Turner of Golden Gryphon press
Links and Things
Discovery sues Amazon over Kindle
The Pulp Fantasy Library: “Imaro” by Charles R. Saunders
Hero attacks girlfriend, ruins novel
Win “In the Courts of the Sun” by Brian D’Amato
Review: “Fast Forward 2” anthology
M. John Harrison on Urban Fantasy
Thoughts on M. John Harrison’s “The Pastel City”
Scott Edelman as Frankenstein’s Monster
LOTS MORE AFTER THE JUMP
