WIP Wednesday is Fraught with Absurdity

We have another snow day. Eight this year. I'm going a little batty, to tell the truth.

So I spent a good deal of my morning editing Borrowed Saints. This afternoon, I'll have another look at Anthony J. Rapino's Uprooted, the next chapbook for Strange Publications.

If you find yourself snowed in and need something to read (or just need something to read), might I steer you toward Jeremy Kelley's "This is Nathan Hall" (a serial short at his blog).

Innsmouth Free Press #6 is up and running, too, featuring several lovely pieces of weird fiction by writers such as Angela Slatter, Joshua M. Reynolds, Daniel José Older, and yours truly with "Drowning Old Milford". As always, it is a free read, and you can download the PDF issue for free, too.


Have a lovely day. No more snow, okay?

WIP Wednesday: I Have a Story and I Swear it is True

Why are you reading this when you should be ordering/reading Cate's short story collection?

Revolution and Migration

First things first: can I have another weekend?

Our forensics (speech and drama) state competition was fun, but exhausting. One of my students "broke" into semifinals, the first time in years, so that was pretty cool. We're all dragging a bit today.

If you notice the page title, you'll realize I've changed the blog name. Well, do to the ease of updatage, I'm migrating my website to blogger. I'll keep the old http://www.aaronpolson.com/ domain, but I'm eventually going to have it redirected here. Until I can afford a professional web designer (right...like that will happen), blogger gives me the best options and customizability--especially with the new "pages" feature (my pages are listed under the title above). The pages allow me to free up a little of the sidebar, so each page doesn't look quite as cluttered. I'm doing the same with the Strange Publications' site (http://www.strangepublications.com/). The migration should be "complete" this week.

Borrowed Saints should be done this week, too. I won't hold my breath, but it's getting close. So close. I've just loaded the final reel...

WIP Wednesday: Four Projects of the Apocalypse

Since this is a blog about writing (for the most part), I'll start with my latest WIP...the now-desperate-for-a-title YA ghosty-type story. I've only just begun in earnest, adding at least 1K words a day for the past few. The flip flop between brother and sister's POV (all 3rd person, of course) is making for an interesting narrative with nice parallel stories. I'm pleased.

An excerpt (from Phoebe's storyline):

Lunch in the cafeteria was hell. Phoebe gathered her brown bag from her locker, shut it gently, and slunk through the bustling corridors toward the auditorium. No one would be there between fourth and fifth period. The auditorium had been her secret, her hiding place, her sanctuary...

I've had a number of older stories I'm pretty pleased with, so, as most of you know by now (via Twitter, etc.), I put together an ebook collection. The free version of The Bottom Feeders and Other Stories includes ten previously published pulpy-horror tales. I wanted to release a Kindle edition, and since I can't offer a free version there, I added four stories, including two previously unpublished. I can't have people paying for the same thing they'd receive for free elsewhere. Because we live in an era of choice, I'm offering the "bonus edition" via Smashwords for 99 cents. If you like pulpy-horror tales, please give it a look. I consider this an experiment in 21st century storytelling. I'll let you know how it works out...



And I'm reading, of course. I took a break from Darkness because a used copy of Michael Moorcock's The Black Corridor landed in my mailbox the other day. I picked up the book after reading a mention of it in The Book of Lists: Horror under "the ten best sci-fi horror novels". I can't say I'm disappointed 50 pages in...more to come. The Black Corridor is out of print (the only copy I could find was via Half.com, but it was a quite affordable book club edition). Courting Morpheus also landed in the ol' mailbox on Monday, and I'm salivating for a crack at that. One book at a time, dear Aaron.

Finally, Barry Napier's chapbook, The Final Study of Cooper M. Reid, is available for preorder at Strange Publications. Strange will only produce 26 hand-lettered copies, all signed by the author (guess I should get him those signature sheets, huh?), and the price is too affordable to miss. As with all Strange chapbooks, it includes two previously published stories by Mr. Napier. You can also purchase a "subscription" to the first three chapbooks in the series for a considerable discount.

Monday is for Monsters, Madness, and Magic

I just felt like a little alliteration today, okay?

First of all, head over to the Strange Publications blog and welcome Cate Gardner to the fold. I'm thrilled to say Strange will be publishing her short story collection, Strange Men in Pinstripe Suits and Other Curious Things. I'm speaking of magic here, folks. Magic.

As for the madness, well the NCAA Men's National Championship will be decided tonight between Butler and Duke. My estimate is about 90% of the country (that gives a shite) will be cheering for Butler. Sorry Dukies, the Bulldogs have a much better story. Maybe I'm wrong on this...I guess that would be more madness...

And monsters. Plenty of them.

Because I like monsters. In fact, I like monsters so much, I'm running a poll over in the sidebar. Your vote is appreciated through midnight (US central standard time) this Friday. Have a lovely week.

Waiting for the Lion

Loaded with linkage today, folks.

So the most-magnificent Jodi Lee made my inbox happy with a home for "Tiny Fingers". The accepted-then-released story from the first run of Arkham Tales will appear in Jodi's forthcoming Ante Mortem. I know Natalie L. Sin will be among the TOC, so a big Huzzah! there.

(I don't know that I've squeezed more links into a single paragraph before...)

Robert Swartwood's novelette "Through the Guts of a Beggar" is available with nifty download options. You know you want to read it. (I do)

I'm trying to focus on edits this week...some for me ("Traveling Through the Dark" and a rewrite of "Keeper of the Dead"--I changed POV from 1st to 3rd and made the ending nasty), some for Strange Publications (Barry Napier's The Final Study of Cooper M. Reid). I also have some reading to do...but I won't let that particular cat slip out of the bag just yet.

Speaking of cats...it's almost the end of March; I wonder where that lion is hiding. Here kitty, kitty, kitty...

WIP Wednesday: Plurality

In other words, what am I not working on?

My YA WIP has a title. Sort of. The word borrowers or borrowed will be in there somewhere. Maybe. (I wouldn't want to mix readers up with The Borrowers.) See, there are certain malevolent spirits in the book who sneak into living bodies (body-grabbing) and cause some real effed-up mayhem (let's call it "personality confusion"). Our dear protagonist can see "borrowed" people, just as he can see the ghosts (or at least echoes of them). Of course, at this early stage in the book, he isn't sure what the $(#&^! is going on. Development of ancillary characters has been one of the weaknesses of my earlier YA books, so I'm spending some serious time putting the secondary cast through their paces as well. Basically, I'm plotting extensively before writing much more. So there, paltry word count!

Then there's the short stories...when will I ever stop? I've had three very tantalizing "short list"/"moving on to the other editors" messages in the last few days. These notices just make me want to write more shorts! Agggh! (but it hurts sooooo good)

I have other projects in the works. But those are still secret. Some involve my work; some the work of others. (tee-hee)

Oh yeah...the Shock Totem contest...beta-reading...a few subs for the Sand Chapbooks to read...

*sigh*

Good thing spring break is next week, huh?

WIP Wednesday: I'm Writing. Promise.

My supposed "WIP" is a stubborn monkey.

I have managed a few thousand words since last week. I've also written two flash pieces (one for the Shock Totem competition) and started a short story. In addition, I've made progress on the chapbook front for Strange Publications. So, yeah, I'm giving the novel short shrift.

Sue me. My protag is a nasty, sarcastic teenage boy. Sue him, too.

Our resident born-again Elvis impersonator, Matthew Rexrode, sat next to Christina. He told me once I’d burn in hell for having “bad thoughts” about women. I asked him how Elvis felt about having his mojo thieved by such a total butt-nugget. Matt made collages, Jesus or a cross in every one. Think: “variations on WWJD”.

And feel free to investigate the merits of giving your work away with Scott Sigler.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Okay, aside from the obvious (or should be obvious)...my family, job, etc.

1. Even though my beloved Chiefs suck this year (um, for the last four years), I'm taking Owen to his first game on Sunday. I guess I should say "because" they suck this year, I'm taking him to the game. When your team is 3-10, playing another squad at 2-11 (the Cleveland Browns), you can pick up pretty good seats for 10 bucks on eBay. Just sayin'.

2. Running a small potatoes publishing outfit is a boat-load of work, but you (sometimes) receive submissions from authors that make you squee. I found just such a sub for 52 Stitches in my inbox this morning, and I'm honored every time a writer I respect chooses us as a venue. By the way: only five slots open for the 2010 line up. (nudge, nudge)

3. The forthcoming twelve consecutive days off. I check out of school at 1:45 next Tuesday and don't come back until the 4th of January. Finals get to all of us. Praise be to Zeus.

There's more, of course...these just seemed extra poignant this morning. Hope you find much that rocks your world today.

(Oh yeah, I posted the first recommendation over at Skull Salad yesterday. I've been meaning to write up a bit about Michael Stone's Fourtold...so I finally did.)

WIP Wednesday: Other Schtuff

Yeah. Another "snow day" (I'm bracing for another barb from our friends on the east coast...). Hey man, we have drifts. Big drifts. ;)

Anyway. Here's what I have to offer on this WIP Wednesday: Ed's departure from our publishing venture has left me in solely in charge at Strange Publications (evil laugh). So Sand is morphing, evolving if you will, into a chapbook line. Because chapbooks are cool and so indie. Because I can. I've been toying with this idea since Ed bowed out. Guidelines are up...queries accepted in January.

Then there's the issue of our annual holiday letter. I'm going "green Christmas" on this and posting the letter as a PDF file anybody can download (right click and 'save as' or just click). Enjoy:

Holiday Update 2009 PDF

(if you find any glaring typos, please let me know...the holiday update isn't my favorite thing to write...)

Finally, I'm applying a high sheen to Loathsome, Dark, and Deep before sending out to some beta-folk.

Enjoy Wednesday.

Writers Beware?

We've been receiving spam from Ecostamps in the Strange Publications inbox.

I'm skeptical. (as I often am about things that sound too good to be true)

One line that made me wary: "Writers pay a nominal fee per submission"

Um, I don't pay any fees to submit anywhere (unless you count the cost of stamps or contest entries, and then I'm very selective).

Another line that raised my eyebrows (Spock-like): "100% of "profits" (fees after expenses) directly supports literacy programs."

Yes, the word profits was in quotation marks and then defined for the reader. I'm not stupid. I know what profits are. I'm not sure I know what "profits" means, though.

Maybe I'm just grumpy the day after St. Pat's. Check out the site: http://www.ecotamps.org/ and see what you think. The folks at Strange Publications won't be using any service that requires authors to pay a fee.

2008 In Review: Blah, blah, blah

I'm starting to think about goals for next year, but I can't properly move forward without giving a nod to the past.

My first published story (not the first acceptance, but that's the way of publishing) saw the light of the interweb last February. "Rock Gods and Concrete Altars" is a vignette of small town life, dreams, and tragedy. Any regular reader will notice a similarity between that title and the title of my NaNo effort this year. That's not all they have in common...

My favorite published story to date is a two-way tie between "Reciprocity" in the September issue of The Battered Suitcase, and "Catalog Sales" in Necrotic Tissue #4. "Reciprocity" received unexpected but highly appreciated praise from the blogosphere; "Catalog Sales" features my favorite character to date, a hobo-bookseller from the great depression. I have several forthcoming pieces I'm stoked about, but that's another post.

With an old buddy of mine, I started a small publishing company, Strange Publications. We launched our flagship 'zine, Sand: A Journal of Strange Tales, last Spring. Ed agreed to be the editor because, at the time we started accepting submissions, I had yet to be published. I guess I was afraid of having my name out there, I don't know, but Ed's having a hell of a time and won't give up the reins...yet(and that's good, I guess). Since the 'zine's inception, we've also published Tainted: Tales of Terror and the Supernatural and are currently working on Fifty-Two Stitches.

We started Strange when I was feeling the blues about my writing. I've learned too much to quantify/qualify, and Ed has learned more than he probably wanted to. Hopefully we've helped some good stories find some good readers.

That's about it for the writing/publishing front...I've had other adventures this year: Owen is in kindergarten, Max is chatting up a storm, Aimee started a new job, my high school students achieved "Standard of Excellence" on their state reading assessments. Writing has made me a better teacher of writing (and reading).

As far as what genre I write? Looking back at the four stories I mentioned, one is literary, one is more magical realism, one is dark fantasy, and one is just plain goofy (clockwork rabbits who don't know they aren't real?). I like Cate's comment on my previous post. I like odd. Sometimes the lights go out (spooky); sometimes they don't.

Peace all.

Goodbye, October

Taking a break from NaNoWriMo and "slush"* reading to reflect on the last 31 days.

I wrote some flash in October:

"Spare Parts" - micro fiction / out with Flashshot
"Hollis Jones Transformed" - out with Drabblecast
"God's Creatures" - entered in Microhorror's Halloween Contest
"Hollow John" - needs revision
"To Make Things Right" - needs a market...

Two mid-range stories (between 1-2K):

"Fresh Produce" - out with Weird Tales (who knows?)
"At the Hall of Resurrection" - already spanked by Space and Time / now with Apex Digest (I don't know if there's enough "science" to be considered science fiction...)

Some longer fiction (over 2K):

"On the Dead River, Traveling South" - out with Dia de los Muertos
"The Demon Hustle" - still waiting to hear from The Book of Tentacles (tentacles crossed)
"The Thing in the Wall" - needs revision and a new title

Received a pile of rejections (why do they still hurt?). One was from Cemetery Dance with a personal note. That was nice, as far as rejections go.

Sold:

"Little Fingers" to Arkham Tales
"To Put Away Childish Things" to Kaleidotrope
and a poem, "She Waits" to Nocturnal Lyric

Finally, I made one more revision to The Last Days of the Springdale Saints.

October was a busy month.

*By the way, I hate the word slush. Ed and I have been impressed by some of the flash already sent in for Fifty-Two Stitches. Writing is never slush.

1,000 words down on my NaNo project. So far, so good. (Can I count blog entries toward my word count...please?)

Oh yeah, the NaNo project is going by the name Rock Gods and Scary Monsters.

Number 5 Cake: I'm No Expert...plus...Win a Free Book

Everybody likes free books, right? See the bottom of this post for how to win.

Thanks to Carrie Harris's quest to become the Batman eyebrows expert, I checked my webmaster stats. So...people are coming to me for advice on how to make a number 5 cake. I did post pictures of the cake I made for Owen's fifth birthday, along with simple directions, but really...

Here's the book contest. Strange Publications has released Tainted: Tales of Terror and the Supernatural, and I want to give some lucky soul a free copy.

The catch: write at least one sentence featuring one of the words below.

morbid, obstinate, emaciated, grotesque, pestilence, devastate, abyss

(These are vocabulary words for my high school classes; I always present vocabulary "in context" and have the students figure out the meaning.)

Respond to this post with your sentence(s), and I will place your name in a drawing (one time for each sentence). Deadline is this Sunday (10/19/08) at midnight (Central Standard Time - US). I will announce the winner on Monday (10/20/08).

Goofy contest, sure, but I thought it would be a fun way to combine my two passions.

New Flash Horror Publication

Strange Publications (http://www.strangepublications.com/) has guidelines up for a new flash fiction market (horror/dark fantasy). The listing isn't up at Duotrope or Ralan yet, but Ed said I could go ahead and toss this one out to the masses.

They are trying to publish a story a week during 2009-they aren't paying much, $3 a pop, but offering discounts on the book at year's end.

Anyway, I figured some of my dear readers might be interested. The direct link for the guidelines can be found at http://52stitches.blogspot.com/2008/10/guidelines.html