I hate waiting. It is easily the hardest part about being a writer for me. Did I mention I hate waiting? I sent my most recent short story submission off in January. And since I hate waiting (I mentioned that, right?) and I’m in revision mode on the novel, I want to work on a short story. But I don’t have any ideas…so that leads me to Duotrope.
I wavered back and forth on whether or not to subscribe to Duotrope. It’s not a huge expense but it is an expense and for someone who doesn’t make her living as a writer, I have to be careful about what I pay for when it connects to the writing side of the business.
But after discussing with Steve Long, another short story author (he’s also a game designer and friend), and my husband, I decided to go ahead and subscribe. While the submission tracker aspect is really cool, it is the aggregate sourcing of open submissions that I really like.
One of my own struggles as an author is that I don’t seem to have this unending pile of stories in my head waiting to come out. (I think I’ve mentioned this before.) So having an anthology with a theme or a shared world is a good way for me to get my brain moving in the direction of writing.
So after joining Duotrope, I found 3 anthologies that I might be able to submit something to: An Urban Fantasy Anthology, A Pirate Anthology and a Devil/Incubi anthology. Plus there is a company that is reprinting time-travel stories. I may send them my first story from Rum&Runestones since it is time-travel. J
Of course all have short deadlines but I tend to write better under pressure. I play around with a couple ideas and see what bites during Mysticon the most.
Speaking of Mysticon, both James Fulbright and I will be there and paneling. Here is my schedule, stop by and see me!
Fri 5:00 PM Genre Mashups
No longer does a writer have to stick to their particular genre, like science fiction, fantasy or horror‐‐now they can mix steampunk with paranormal romance, science fantasy, mystery with any other genre, and so forth. Does this make it harder for the author or easier? Does it take them to go beyond what they knew before?
Stuart Jaffe (M), Jason Cordova, Betty Cross, Glenda Finkelstein, Tera Fulbright, Misty Massey
Fri 10:00 PM Writing On The Edge of Your Seat
Panelists discuss how to structure a mystery and keep the reader's interest without frustrating them or giving ttoo much away
Tony Ruggiero (M), H. David Blalock, John L French, Tera Fulbright
Sat 9:00 AM Signing Table Sharon Stogner, Tera Fulbright (I’ll have copies of the anthologies for those who don’t have one for sale!)
Sun 1:00 PM "Hook, Line and Sinker" How to Begin and End A Story
Join our panelists as they discuss how to create a captivating beginning that lures readers in and an ending that satisfies.
Peter Prellwitz (M), Betty Cross, Glenda Finkelstein, Andrew Fox, Tera Fulbright, Zachary Steele
On an unrelated side note, I still find it incredibly cool that after running cons for a number of years and scheduling guests for panels…I’m actually sitting on panels with folks like Misty Massey and Tony Ruggiero.
Some need to pray to the sun at high noon
Some need to howl at the midwinter moon
Reborn and baptized in a moment of grace
We just need a break --
From the headlong race
Some need to howl at the midwinter moon
Reborn and baptized in a moment of grace
We just need a break --
From the headlong race
~Rush, “Between Sun and Moon”
