The Australian Horror Writers Association: The Paul Haines Challenge
February 4th, 2010

Original post here.

‘The Nameless’ challenge is OPEN to submissions!

The AHWA and ‘Nameless’ competition director Stephen Studach are thrilled to announce that the ‘Nameless’ competition will be judged by multi-award winning master of dark fiction Ramsey Campbell.

In honour of Mr. Campbell’s involvement, the competition’s deadline has been extended to the 13th of March, 2010.

* Read the story (Part I here; Part II here), get to know the story elements, the characters, their journey and their motivations. Then, write a fitting ending for ‘The Nameless‘ and give the tale a title while you’re at it.

* Make your donation of AU$10 (ten dollars) through PayPal using our official PayPal ID: ahwa@australianhorror.com

* Send your conclusion, with title, to ahwa@australianhorror.com

* Your title and ending will then be sent to one of our Judges. If your piece makes it into the finals corral you will be notified.

* Those writers and organisers who have already participated in the assembling of ‘The Nameless’ as well as the judges in said comp, are barred from taking part in the competition itself. Outside of that specification anyone from anywhere can compete as many times as they like.

* Once submissions have closed, the six best endings will be featured on the HorrorScope site, when Ramsey Campbell will decide the winner.

And the winner will receive cold hard cash to the sum of $500! As well as the following:

  • The honour of giving the story a title.
  • A copy of The Last Days of Kali Yuga, the second collection of Paul Haines’ stories. This one is from Brimstone Pressand due to be released in December of this year. Kindly donated by Angela Challis.
  • A manuscript version of the story signed by all of the writers involved.
  • A copy of The Australian Writer’s Marketplace 2009/2010.
  • A copy of ‘The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror’ 19th annual collection (edited by Datlow, Link & Grant.)
  • Free 1-year membership, or 12-month renewal, to the Australian Horror Writers Association.
  • Books: Signed limited editions of – Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge. Wild Things by Douglas Clegg. Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck.

As well as – Development Hell by Mick Garris. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Infected by Scott Sigler. The Nature of Balance by Tim Lebbon. The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell. A used copy of The Books of Blood (vols 1-3).

All proceeds from this competition will go to Paul Haines to use in whatever manner that he and his family see fit.

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Posted in Contests & Giveaways, Publication Opportunities |
Dark Discoveries Submissions Guidelines
February 3rd, 2010

Submission Guidelines

We are currently accepting submissions for 2010 – 2011.

FICTION:

* Improperly formatted manuscripts will be immediately rejected. Electronic submissions are preferred.*

* Stories from 500 to 5000 words, query for longer. Must be in the Horror/Dark Fantasy and Dark Mystery veins (no straight Science Fiction, Mystery, Fan Fiction, or Sword & Sorcery).

* Looking for well-written, powerful, original ideas and new twists on old Horror conventions. Vampire and werewolf stories are a tough sell, but we are open to those with an original twist. Especially looking for stories that examine the darker side of the human condition, but we are also interested in supernatural tales. New writers are welcome to submit. Please consider purchasing a sample copy to see what type of stories we are publishing.

PAYMENT:

* Three ($.03) to five ($.05) a word (The minimum payment is $25 and the maximum payment is $150).

* Payment is within 60 days of publication. Rights revert to author upon publication. No Simultaneous submissions (to other publications). One story submission at a time (please wait to send another story until your current one has been responded to!). Response time is 3-4 months.

INTERVIEWS/NONFICTION:

* Looking for interviews with established & newer personalities with recognition in the Horror/Dark Fantasy and related fields. Payment for interviews in copies only. Query for details.

* Also looking for relevant non-fiction articles by new & established writers. Query first, please. Payment varies (usually $.03 to $.05 a word). Simultaneous submissions okay, one at a time – same as above.

ARTWORK:

* Looking for original art in Horror/Dark Fantasy style, B&W or Color. Final format for publication: 300DPI minimum, TIFF preferred. B&W illustrations should be formatted for Grayscale. For queries, it is OK to send JPG in email.

* Payment is $25 – $50 for small interior art plus two copies and up to $150 plus two copies for a cover piece. Payment within 60 days of publication. Simultaneous submissions OK. Will look at multiple art subs, but please query first before sending to make sure it’s okay. Rights revert to Artist upon publication.

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Posted in Publication Opportunities |
Call for Writers and Editors – Moot Mag
February 3rd, 2010

Moot Mag – Today’s Amazing Stories is a fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and humor magazine whose stories are illustrated with the finest digital art. Moot Mag could be compared to the old pulp mags and the Onion for it’s attitude and satire, but Moot’s focus is the paranormal, supernatural, and oddity. Moot Mag is also an extension of Moot Movie. Check out MootMagMovie.com to be sure this is for you.

We are seeking writers and an editor for our first issue to be released at WonderCon in San Francisco this April. Please send resume and samples that reflect a unique edgy point of view.

We have specific 500-1000 word articles and stories that need to be written.
Immediate availability.

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Posted in Publication Opportunities |
The Writer’s Retreat
February 2nd, 2010

Well, it’s official. I will be ‘out of the office’ in all ways from February 13th to the 20th.

No internet.

No home (as in, I won’t be at home, not that I won’t have a home).

Questionable phone availability.

All I will have is a room (not even with a desk), my laptop and plenty of time to write. Oh, and alcohol after five.

I have never been on a true writer’s retreat before, and I certainly haven’t been anywhere away from home by myself since I moved to Australia. This ‘retreat’ is more like a ‘let’s see if she comes out sane’ exercise’, but I am slowly getting past the nerves and to the prospect of this being a good thing.

I’ve written a lot since I moved here, but most of it consisted of both professional and non-professional blog posts. I would estimate my creative writing efforts to be at maybe 10-15% of the lot. What does that mean? It means I’ve started quite a few things but finished few.

There will be posts while I’m gone, thanks to the wonder abilities of ‘post ahead’ on Wordpress. Even so, you can imagine me sitting on a bed (remember – no desk – the rooms are small) with my laptop, desperately trying to write (finish?) something.

I don’t want to think of it this way, but I can’t help regarding this as the ‘make or break’ moment of my writing. This time away will show me if creative writing is still in the cards for me…

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Posted in General |
Inkyblots Blog Carnival – February 2010 Edition
February 1st, 2010

Welcome to the February 1, 2010 edition of Inkyblots!

Tiffany Colter presents Read extensively posted at Writing Career Coach, saying, “This article discusses the importance of reading to improve your craft.”

Fiction

Lindsay B presents The Goblin Brothers and the Sword Master’s Apprentice posted at Goblin Brothers — Short Stories for Children (Grownups Allowed), saying, “A new adventure starring Malagach and Gortok, a pair of goblin siblings who get out of trouble using only their wits.”

JennH presents Opportunity posted at Mixed Metaphor.net.

Morgan Schwartz presents From Battling Dyslexia to Reading Anna Karenina posted at Omaha.net – Local Writing from the Heartland, saying, “thanks!”

Genre-centic

Madeleine Begun Kane presents The Vibrator Play on Broadway (Review and Limerick) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

mike presents Last Year’s Admirable Few posted at We Work For Cheese.

How-To

Tiffany Colter presents How to nail your ending posted at Writing Career Coach, saying, “This article helps writers to nail their ending.”

Tiffany Colter presents Unique marketing ideas posted at Writing Career Coach, saying, “This article talks about a new way for writers to market their books.”

Tiffany Colter presents This opening line really grabbed me. posted at Examiner, saying, “This article helps writers to improve their opening line.”

Publishing and Agents

Tiffany Colter presents Interview with author Miralee Ferrell posted at Writing Career Coach, saying, “This article is an interview with author Miralee Ferrell.”

Livia Blackburne presents Livia Blackburne: Writing Career Advice From a Neuroscientist, Part I: Choose your Projects Carefully posted at Livia Blackburne.

Livia Blackburne presents Writing Career Advice from a Neuroscientist Part 2: Know the Literature posted at Livia Blackburne.

Livia Blackburne presents Writing Advice from a Neuroscientist Part 3: Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin posted at Livia Blackburne.

Livia Blackburne presents Writing Career Advice From a Neuroscientist Part 4: Don’t Take Criticism Personally posted at Livia Blackburne.

Worldbuilding

Sandra Lopez presents The Evolution of the Book (Infographics) posted at Best Colleges Online.

Gracie Turner presents 100 Little Ways You Can Dramatically Improve Your Writing posted at Online Colleges.net.

***

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of inkyblots using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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Posted in Blog Carnival |
Sunday Scribblings 200 – Milestone
January 31st, 2010

This is the 200th Sunday Scribblings prompt! When I started this blog in 2006, I hoped that a few people would want to write with us once a week. I had no idea it would last this long or that so many people would continue to participate. Thank you so much for continuing to come and play! Is there anyone out there who has done every single one?

In honour of number 200, the prompt for this week is: Milestone.

You know what? I don’t know what to write. I started on something, didn’t like it, and I haven’t thought of anything creative since.

I guess I’ll just have to pass this week.

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Posted in Sunday Scribblings |
Calling All Authors – Promotion Opportunity
January 30th, 2010

I’m used to posting the calls for submissions, not putting out my own call. :P Anywho, I have a fun promotional opportunity for the new year. I’m working on a new blog called “Life in the First Draft” that focuses on – yep, you guessed it – anything and everything to do with the first draft. Be it making time to write, those funky little writer habits you have or just the fun things you have on your desk, I’m looking to create a comfortable hub for any and all aspiring writers. (And for established writers as well! We have to go back and face that first draft again and again…)

So, let’s get to the nitty gritty. What I’m looking for:

*One (to three) guest post/s in the range of 250 – 500 words – with a title, please
*Any pictures that correspond to your post (for example, if you decide to write a ‘my desk/my writing space’ guest post – take a picture of it!) .jpgs please
*A brief biography with a link to your website and/or blog
*A picture of you or your book cover

Easy peasy.

If you’d like to participate but are feeling a bit stuck for a topic(s)…

*Introduce us to your writing space (with pictures, hehe)
*How do you make yourself write when you don’t want to?
*Do you have a daily word count goal or do you go by some other measurement?
*How do you balance your ‘regular’ life with your writing life?
*Finding inspiration
*Anything on character, plot, setting, research, etc
*What has been going on in your mind before you sit down to write the first words of that first draft?
*Are you a ‘planner’ or a ‘pantser’ (outline or no outline)?
*Finally typing ‘The End’ on your first draft…

Please send all guest posts to jmfictionscribe (at) gmail (dot) com.

Dates will be scheduled in the order they come in, so it’s sort of a first come, first serve. When you email me, I will email you back with the ebook and the date you will appear at Life in the First Draft.

Cheers.

PS. The URL is: http://lifeinthefirstdraft.blogspot.com/

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Posted in Announcements |
Writer’s Retreat?
January 28th, 2010

Almost every writer I know would like a little more time, a little less chaos and a lot less noise when it comes to writing. They imply that they’d like nothing more than to be stuck in the middle of nowhere to write to their hearts’ content.

But would you? Truly?

If you were offered a week with no internet, questionable phone service, no friends or family, no shops/theatres/etc to distract you, would you take up the offer?

Would it be a dream? Or would it actually be something that made you nervous?

I’m curious to know if writers would truly want what they claim to want, or if it is their current environments that make them the writers they are.

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Posted in General |
Wordless Wednesday
January 27th, 2010

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Posted in Wordless Wednesday |
Light Bulb Moment – Characters
January 26th, 2010

I have a few stories I am working on right now that I could call my ‘work in progress’, but there is one I have been really focusing on since early December.

I have been having a lot of trouble with this WIP – the kind of WIP that has, on occasion, made me wonder if I should just put it away and work on something. But I believe I have a good idea here and all the issues that are popping up are ones that come from my own head.

One big problem I have had is that my main character remained not so much a mystery as inconsistent. One moment she was adjusting to her circumstances fine and well, the next moment she was emotional and yelling at her newest friend.

While this makes for great drama in the story, it doesn’t make for a likable main character – and it certainly doesn’t make my job easier.

I fully admit that my main characters are all a part of me in one way or another. I don’t see that as a problem unless they are utterly and completely me. This woman? This woman wouldn’t even tell me her name. I keep switching it in the hope of finding a right fit for her. I felt like she was refusing to tell me anything about her, and so the book would fail for lack of a clear character.

In comes the light bulb. In the bath, no less, which is one of my favourite places to think.

After weeks of worrying and trying to figure out exactly who my main character truly is, it finally occurred to me:

My main character was so much like me that I couldn’t see it.

No wonder I couldn’t figure her out! I can’t figure myself out at this point in my life.

Of course, this means I’m going to have to do some major revising with her so it’s an actual book in the making rather than me simply going on a joy ride in my imagination. But finally, finally, I feel like I have gotten rid of one of those ruddy hurdles making me feel like I can’t write anymore.

Phew!

Have you had any light bulb moments lately?

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Posted in Characters |
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