Writerly Ruminations, 2002
20/12/02
Less than a week now before I head off to the US for a few days to
see virtual writerly family and friends. Hard to believe this year
has gone so quickly and yet at the same time so slowly. Still waiting
on job stuff, and I really hope something happens soon. In the meantime,
one back from ChiZine at 42 days and a sideways discovery
that another market I'd sent to is dead. Down to 57 out there now,
but I'll address that further today. I have a couple of subs out
there at the moment that are starting to make me nervous. It's that
borderland space where they've gone over the expected return time, and
yet it's too early to query. Not that I like sending those queries
-- it conflicts with a slightly superstitious nature.
Addendum: I forgot; I had a Blue Form of Death from Realms
of Fantasy at 80 days.
18/12/02
Back to normal operational practice. I had one back from Night
Train today at 37 days, one back from City Slab at
20 days, and one of those that really, really hurt a couple of days ago.
Don't you just hate it when an editor really likes your story, but decided
it's not quite close enough to the theme? So I got one of those from
Paradox
at 78 days. A reluctant pass. Also another back from F&SF
at 21 days. Either Gordon is slowing down, or he's thinking about
them more. This may be a good thing. And finally, a form rejection
from Mota at 188 days.
12/12/02 BIG
NEWS DAY
Roc Books is acquiring my SF novel Wyrmhole with another
book to follow it. A very quick response from Jennifer Heddle at
47 days, and I am absolutely glowing with the news. Also, I received
my contract for Penumbric last night. I think, finally,
things are starting to pick up. I've also had a quick response from
a nameless anthology, a bounce, and a 17 day return from The Palace
of Reason, but you know what...?
8/12/02
Interminable waiting. That's what this game is all about.
Nothing back on the novels currently out there, still waiting to hear on
employment stuff, over sixty submissions out there and waiting, waiting.
Hopefully, something might happen on the employment front before the end
of the year, but it doesn't seem likely at this stage with the wind down
to the silly season. I've expanded the job search to include countries
and places I'd not considered before. A couple of weeks and I'm heading
off to the Big Evil for a period in the bosom of those near and dear --
hopefully that will lift the mood. So, I finished the novelette this
morning. It came in at 10,400 words. It's actually the longest
piece of short fiction I've ever written. That's not counting cut
down novels which I've been submitting regularly to the Spanish prize.
In the last couple of days I've had one back from Weird Tales
at
70 days, one back from NFG at 46 days, one from
F&SF
at
19 days (I was holding out some hope there when it was that long -- oh
well), and one back from Andromeda Spaceway's at 26 days.
3/12/02
Early hours of the morning, and I've just received an email saying
my poem "The Taste" has been accepted for Penumbric.
In
other news, good progress made on one of the current projects, and a knockback
on a job I interviewed for last Friday. Otherwise, I've had a 104
days bounce from Asimov's, and an 8 day return from F&B.
27/11/02
Land/Space is out, containing my story "Please Don't
Walk on the Grass." Details are Land/Space: an anthology of prairie
speculative fiction
Edited by Judy McCrosky & Candas Jane Dorsey,
Tesseract Books/Books Collective, $16.95 pb, 260 pp, ISBN 0-895836-90-5,
$28.95 collector's cloth, ISBN 0-89536-92-1. Now I can't wait to get my
contrib copy! This from Prairie Books Now: "Boss, the
plains, the plains! Speculative fiction takes the Prairies to new heights
I've been intrigued by the fact that both prairie fiction and science fiction
have common themes: harsh environments, beauty found in subtleties, the
spirit and strength of people who choose to live and explore the difficult
environment."
23/11/02
Well, they're coming thick and fast now. I've also decided to
indicate the market before contracts come through. *shrug*
"The Sleazy Banana Bar," a 7,000 word science fiction tale co-written with
Barbara Galler-Smith will be appearing in the anthology In the Outposts
of Beyond at some time in the future. Other returns: Analog,
46 days, the Missouri Review 10 days,
The New Yorker,
172 days. Still haven't finished the novelette I'm working on, but
hopefully more progress today. There's a lot of time being chewed
up by job search activities at the moment.
19/11/02
Urghhh. Two back from Asimov's at 111 days a piece,
and two back from Sci Fiction at 64 and 53 days respectively.
Another story written in the meantime, and one in progress. The job
front thing is really starting to concern me. Winding down to the
silly season, and people aren't going to be doing too much hiring.
This is not a good thing. News of one acceptance, but I'll wait for
contracts to come through before confirming. Oh, and some new stories
up at Fictionwise.com.
16/11/02
Down to seven things lift on my to-be-written list. Things back
in the last couple of days include a poem at Abyss & Apex
at 3 days, another at NFG at 23 days and a close but no cigar
on a story at Flesh & Blood with a 5 day turnaround.
News from Jack that he's also lifting payrate to 4-5c a word.
12/11/02
A 37 day bounce from Glimmer Train last night, but I'm
up to about 57 subs out there right now. A couple on hand, and they'll
be going out shortly. Last night saw the monthly Borders do hosted
by Pat Cadigan, and it was a great evening. Speakers/readers were
Chris Priest and Ken MacLeod. A bunch of us finally ended up around
4:00 this morning, rather in our cups and discussing the state of the world.
A good evening. A very good evening. So, at the moment, the
books are out there, I have the current novel to finish and I have about
six stories I need to finish, as well as a non-fiction piece, plus a couple
of outstanding reviews for The Fix. Three of the tales
are for particular anthologies, and another is for an anthology I would
like to submit to, just because it interests me. Plenty to do over
the next few weeks before heading off to NYC and New Jersey for the silly
season. And in that regard, sometimes it's really nice to have friends
-- very good friends.
8/11/02
Just a little bit depressed today. I received a bounce on a novel
this morning. 42 days turnaround which isn't bad, but it still hurts.
Yesterday saw one back from Gothic Net at 11 days, and another
this morning from Analog at 42 days.
5/11/02
Phewww!!!! I am back from World Fantasy. A very good convention.
The reading went very well and was extremely well received. It was
an intense time seeing lots of folk it was very good to see. Although,
strangely, and a lot of us commented in the fact that we were staying in
the vampire hotel. It sucked the energy and everyone seemed to be
far more tired than they should have been. So, back with many projects
to work on. A few returns in the meantime: A no from The
Night Has Teeth at 70 days, a bounce on a poem at NFG
at 14 days, one from the Yale Review at 125 days, one from
Strange
Horizons at 24 days and one from Vestal Reviewat
28 days.
Oh, and I nearly forgot -- I found out the other night that SF
World in China has a print run of 300,000, but a readership of
1.5 million!
28/10/02
I had a very pleasant email this morning. SF World
in China, which has a readership of 300,000, is picking up my story "Fairy
Lights" for publication next year! It took 538 days for the response,
but hey!
And a little later, a 78 day bounce from Weird Tales.
26/10/02
A mainstream bounce from Agni at 20 days this morning.
Yesterday I did another 1,000 words on a new short story, and rewrote another,
which is now about 1,000 words longer than it was. So far, around
10,000 words this week. That ain't too bad. We'll see what
it's like by the end of the weekend. I have to get the production
up, what with next week. A couple of launch parties and a plane to
Minneapolis. Perhaps I'll do some more writing on the plane, but
more than likely I'll sleep. Hopefully, by the end of this weekend,
I'll have four new pieces of short fiction to hit the streets. It
shows what you can do when it's working. I also have to make the
most of the convention. With the state of current finances, it may
be the last trip I'll be taking for a while.
25/10/02
WFC looms ever closer, and my sleep patterns are all over the place.
I've finished two stories so far this week, however, and should have another
done by the end of the weekend. One came back from Weird Tales
at 69 days with the 'protag should protag' macro, and another from Abyss
& Apex at 1 day. Sometimes I love e-subs. I'm currently
waiting for my US stamps to arrive from my US Postal Service order, so
I can put together some more submissions. I have four on hand right
now, and a couple more submissions out there that I'm prepared to write-off
completely. I've also decided to retire a couple more stories --
they've been everywhere I'd currently want to see them.
22/10/02
Nothing much to report except a quick flurry of returns. Alchemy
at 7 days, NFG at 10 days, Black Warrior Review
at 111 days and about a one day turnaround from As Of Yet Untitled
on a poem.
20/10/02
Back into the wilderness of waiting, both on the fiction and the employment
front. I'm amazed at how much of my life is spent waiting for responses
from people. I'll be honest now, folks. I'm a filthy backslider.
It was either last time I came back, no, the time before that I returned
from the States, I fell off the wagon and started smoking again.
Now I'm putting myself through all that crap of giving up again.
It probably helps that I've been laid low with a cold for the last few
days. The cough doesn't help the desire to smoke, so all well and
good.
Apart from that, one back from Analog yesterday at 38
days. I have an idea where I might send it, but the number of markets
I'm prepared to send to is ever dwindling. I queried another market
a couple of days ago, on the basis of an earlier query and response.
Again, I received the reply of a promise that he'd be back to me within
a couple of weeks. Right. Well, currently it's sitting at something
like 256 days. That's way, way too long by any account.
Hmmm. Just looking through the yearly stats, and apart from the
reprint sales (of which there are eleven) I've had six other sales this
year. One of them, I know, is probably never going to see the light
of day. That's sadly disappointing. Last year I had thirteen
short fiction sales. And yet, I have something like 52 submissions
out there. Is it because I'm becoming more picky with the markets?
Or maybe these things just go in cycles. I could make myself crazy
trying to work these things out, and ultimately, that's just more displacement
activity.
11/10/02
A few bounces in the last couple of days. Cicada
back at 61 days, NFG at 4 days, Strange Horizons
at 19 days and TTA at 5 days. They've all gone back
out again.
07/10/02
A lightning fast turnaround at 2 days from Gothic Net
last night. Another week, and today yet another story up at Fictionwise.
I'm back to 47 submissions out there and a couple of novels doing the rounds.
That feels more healthy. Still have to up the count though, and the
energy level is strangely lacking focus. Hmm, better pull my finger
out and start working.
06/10/02
Yesterday saw the arrival of my contrib copy
of Octoberland from F&B Press. A nice little production
from Jack Fisher, and of course, my story "Grandma Yagaski's Barn," therein.
I also received a 9 day bounce from Alchemy. Steve
Pasechnick is getting as good as GVG with those turnarounds. Amazing
stuff. Having spent so much time over the last couple of weeks on
novel rewrites, my mental mode is still in the longer form, so I'm torn
whether I should be devoting energy to the short stuff or getting back
into the other novel. I think what I'll do is work on the book, and
hit the short fiction as soon as something grabs my brain, which happens
with regularity. Either way, there'll be more production.
What with the job situation (none yet), the whole justification for
attending WFC is becoming harder, but I think I can just about reconcile
stuff. I'm down for a reading there for The Thackery Lambshead
Guide along with Neil Gaiman, China and others, so that's a good
reason. Also Jonathan Carroll is GoH, so that's a really big motivation
to be there. Of course, the other reason, to see and spend time with
those who are near and dear to me, exists with no need for justification.
02/10/02
It's October, isn't it? Strange. Where has the year gone?
I finished a rewrite on one of the novels last night, so that's two of
them out, doing the rounds and another one to work on. I need to
take a short fiction break before I get into the other book and I have
a couple of tales to finish by the end of the weekend. Yesterday
saw another snappy return at 3 days from F&B and this
morning Weird Tales came back at 68 days with one of their
only slightly relevant macro letters. And meanwhile, London Underground
continues to make everyone's life a misery. Another tale up at Fictionwise
this
week.
I've fallen woefully behind on my targeted short fiction production,
but the books have been taking primacy. And so it should be.
26/09/02
I did something last night I very rarely do, but one has to draw the
line somewhere. (Oh, apart from putting my mother on a plane back
to Australia after a lovely visit.) I withdrew my submissions from
an anthology. After 266 days, a number of queries and no answer,
I decided enough was enough. The anthology in question was Shocklines.
One back yesterday from Frequency at 7 days, and two this morning.
A personal from Harpers at 86 days, and a form from Alchemy at 18 days.
So, that's five more that I have to fix up and send out. The other
novel is taking precedence though. Interesting to see that the sales
on my mainstream piece are much, much lower at Fictionwise.
22/09/02
Yet another convention passes the way of all conventions. Good
to see a number of folk, and, of course, to get The Tooth Fairy signed
and personalised by Joycie. One more return yesterday from TTA at
an unusual 13 days. Andy must really not have liked this one.
Oh well. Out it goes.
21/09/02
FantasyCon is in full swing, and this morning only a touch worse for
wear. More today, so we shall see. I did receive one back yesterday
from Strange Horizons at 43 days with some encouraging words.
19/09/02
I have just virtually walked in the door from the airport. Several
days in Verona and Venice which were lovely -- unhurried, relaxed, pleasant.
I had a strange moment in Verona, however. We popped into an antique
shop, and there in the window was a book of the 1936 Olympiad, complete
with the Nazi symbols and everything all over the cover. They wanted
£400 for it. I was suddenly very creeped. I was also
further creeped, when I thought about who might buy such a thing.
Not a good feeling.
Apart from that, I would strongly recommend staying somewhere like
Verona or Padova and catching a train to Venice for day trips. It
was nice as a day trip, and, of course, the tourist throngs were there
en masse. Much nicer to be in a less touristed area, eat and drink
well, and not have to fight against the crowds, though Verona had its own
goodly share of tour groups.
On my return, the dreaded blue from RoF at 42 days, but with positive
commentary written upon it, also an 11 day bounce from Gordon at F&SF
and another from The Drexel Online Journal at 182 days. Nice personal,
but waaaaaay too long. Oh yeah, and another bestseller up at Fictionwise.
This is a Good Thing. I also received my contrib copies of the Bubonicon
Program Booklet, where I wrote up an intro for Maman Esther.
11/09/02
A strange day. Avoiding the media wherever I can, but the thoughts
are unavoidable as I just came back from an airport to pick my mother up.
Still, other things going on. I received contracts for my non-fiction
piece in The Encyclopaedia of Storytelling, my story "Fairy Lights" is
on the bestseller list at Fictionwise and there's another new one up there.
Oh, and there've been a couple of nibbles on the job front. I will
wait and see.
08/09/02
I'm baaaack. Though I'd barely know it. Thank god for British
Airways. Upgrades both ways. It has been a long trip, but worth
it, methinks. Of course, I returned to a pile of mail. Payment
for my story up at Fangoria which is nice. Four returns: Two
from Interzone at 90 and 81 days repectively, one from Doubletake at 91
days and one from Mars Dust at 36 days. Oh, and while I was away,
one back from GVG at the usual 14 days. The Fictionwise story is
doing well, and I'm looking forward to the new ones going up there soon.
02/09/02
This has been a very strange convention for me. The weekend that
got away, almost. I spent about 36 hours asleep under some bug, unable
to get up unable to do much else. In the limited time I did have
available, I caught up with a number of people it was good to see, and
did a panel, had dinner with Gene Wolfe and wife Rosemary (fannish moment
-- Gene has always been one of the great genre literary influences on my
life) and generally drank and partied a lot less than I would have normally.
I had two back from Glimmer Train today at 62 days, and had news that I
have a new story, "Fairy Lights" up at Fictionwise. Check it out.
Do a search by author for "Hartley."
Tomorrow, I head back up to The Big Evil to do some more catching up
and spend some productive time in a hotel room working.
27/08/02
I'm sitting on a plane over the Atlantic, writing this, on my way to
WorldCon in San Jose. Do I know the way? Too damned right I
do. You get on a plane, get off a plane, get on another plane have
some taxis in between and be grateful you get there. It's a long
way. I have the joy of an airport hotel tonight before I catch my
flight in the morning. On the way back, I'll take a few days in New
York to catch up with people and do the things I do in New York.
A couple of days ago saw a bounce from Gothic Net at 33 days, and I
had one back from Ellery Queen's at 70 days with encouragement from the
editor to send more. This was good, as it's only the second sub I've
made there. Looks like I will be turning my hand to a few mystery-type
stories over the next few weeks.
24/08/02
A couple back today. A bounce from The Night Has Teeth at 72
days and also word that Fangoria has decided only ever to run with an author
once, so though Thomas Deja liked the story, there's no hope of running
it in Fango. Instead, he has offered me a slot in Underworlds #5,
which I've decided to accept. Proofs also arrived from Fictionwise
last night, so stories should be going up soon. Also, one back at
72 days this morning from The Hudson Review.
I've finally managed to book a little side trip with my mother when
she's here. We'll be spending a few days in Verona with side trips
to Venice thrown in. It should be a lovely time.
21/08/02
One back from Asimov's today at 66 days. The last couple of days
have seen another back from Alchemy at 12 days and one from Granta at 9.
A query to the Low Port anthology revealed a lost story, in transit or
however, who knows. Annoying though. Gearing up for the US
and Worldcon next week, and my mother's arrival when I return. Meanwhile,
I had an idea on a short story that's going to change it from Fantasy to
Science Fiction. I'll have to see whether that flies.
17/08/02
Well, I'm back up to fifty subs out there and nothing on hand.
Stories remaining to be finished, however, so hopefully there'll be more
out there soon. I'm currently doing some work on synopses and things
for some of the novels, and that's occupying space. Yesterday saw
a 17 day return from Brutarian and one back a couple of days ago from Ellery
Queen's, a form, not surprisingly, as it's the first time I've subbed there.
11/08/02
Happy birthday, Jennifer. We're a long way away from each other,
but always close. I am always proud to be your son.
Yesterday saw a return from SciFiction at 40 days with some useful
commentary. I'm currently working on a plan of the book. I have enough
to know what it's going to be now. Also, a non-fiction writing gig
that I'm doing the research for, and finishing the current short story.
Nothing new on the job front, but things have a way of working out in directions
you might least expect, so, I'll keep plugging away and see what happens.
09/08/02
Yes, August is running true to form. Another two back this morning.
One back from Weird Tales at 56 days, and another from City Slab at 31.
Both acceptable return times. I'm behind on my story production.
Though I've started a new one, it is not yet written and I must attend
to that and other writing things this weekend. Time to catch up.
08/08/02
So, at last some good news today, on both fronts. I have had
word from the inimitable Mr. Klima, that my story "Nature's Way" will be
appearing in a future issue of Electric Velocipede . I have also had word
from my friend Jay, that the same publication has accepted his story "The
Ship" for an issue to be announced. Ahh, yes. Share the joy.
And meanwhile, the recovery, both from the Paris sojourn and last night's
launch party of Robert Holdstock's new book continues. Holdstock
is one of those truly wonderful crafter of literate genre tales.
I felt honoured to be at the event.
07/08/02
I have just returned from 5 days in Paris with Maman Esther and Annie.
Museums, food, shopping and an otherworldly experience -- Parc Asterix.
Very French Disney-type affair based on the Asterix comics. Certainly
an experience. All in all, a good time had by all.
Meanwhile, the dreaded blue form from Realms of Fantasy at 57 days,
one back from F&SF at 15 days, another from The Mid American Review
at 57 days (personalised again, which is nice) and another from Strange
Horizons at 21 days. I also had a very strange email from an agent
saying that I should not send an attachment, but please send a query in
the body of an email. Now the heading was such that it looked like
a legitimate query. It's either a damned strange virus, or someone's
using my email address. Either way, I'd sent them nothing, so it's
a concern.
31/07/02
A return back last night from Horror Garage at 50 days,
and one back from TTA at 187 -- way too long. As another
thought, for some fine dark fiction go and check out GOTHIC
NET. It wouldn't hurt to subscribe, either.
30/07/02
As is normal, June/July are pretty lean months on the return front.
I seem to get most responses in August. I guess it's all those editors
ramping up and clearing their desks before WorldCon. The mainstream
marketplace is completely different, as they tend to have closed and open
periods. A large proportion of the mainstream marketplace opens from
September until about March, so most returns occur at the tail end of that
period. I finished another story last night, Science Fiction this
time, and sent it off, so I'm keeping up the production rate. I also
have done some real work on the book these last few days.
So, this morning saw my cheque arrive from Elysian
Fiction. Hoorah! Payment! I also had a return from
SciFiction
at 48 days, and one from The Boston Review at 21 days --
personalised this time. Is this progress on the mainstream front?
I also received my renewal for the British Airways Executive Club.
They've demoted me to Silver status. It shows what an impact the
general worldwide cutbacks in travel have been. Not that I'm travelling
that much at the moment. I'm off to Paris on Friday to spend a few
days with Maman Esther and daughter Annie (Little Sister) so much mayhem
and combat shopping is bound to ensue. It's also back to my usual
hotel in Paris where my production rate is greater than any other place
in the world. Haven't yet worked out why that is, but hell, I'll
use it.
23/07/02
I'm nearly at the end of what amounted to my garden leave with Andersen,
and still nothing in sight. It's becoming a concern and affecting
my ability to concentrate on the writing. Still, I received my signed
Fictionwise
contracts today, which is a good thing. I also received another bounce
from Alchemy at a speedy 14 days, and a note from The
Bellingham Review that I'd missed their reading period. Of
course they also sent me a whole lot of information about contest details.
As a rule, I don't enter contests, especially not if you have to pay for
the honour.
20/07/02
Just a couple of returns in the last few days, another story written
and sent off, and that's about it. One from Granta
at 29 days, but this time the form was personalised, so that's progress,
and a nice little bounce from Alchemy at 29 days. I
should be working on the book, but I have real urges for short fiction
at the moment that I need to put to bed.
11/07/02
Yesterday I received contracts from
Fictionwise which will see 9 more of my stories going up for
electronic distribution. Very pleased about this, including mainstream
and English versions of the foreign language publications. I just
finished a new story today, a couple of days ago I finished a novella and
sent it out, a collaboration, and now back to the book. Meanwhile,
a
few returns: The Chattahoochee Review at 20 days,
The
Boston Review at 9 days, The Pedestal at 29 days
and Night Train at 31 days. Yeah, okay, I happen to
be ramping up the mainstream quotient again.
06/07/02
You know, it must be harder for some people getting older, particularly
when their dreams are nothing more than fragile eggshells protecting the
hollow inside. Wherever you are, I hope it was all worth it.
One return from TTA at 21 days.
30/06/02
Ah, what a way to round out the month. I like red letter days.
I've just returned from Brussels where I spent a relaxing weekend just
for the hell of it. Well, I need to use those accumulated points
somehow. I came back to news that my story "Fishing" has been accepted
for The Mammoth Book of Future Noir, scheduled for publication
in Spring, 2003. The other bit of news, is that my story "Porcelain"
has just been posted at Fangoria's
Frightful Fiction.
26/06/02
A quick flurry of bounces in the last couple of days, mainly mainstream.
The
Atlantic Monthly at 8 days, The Chattahoochee Review
at 9 days and Playboy at 8 days. One back from Gothic
Net also, at 34 days. Meanwhile, still waiting for news on
the book. And life goes on.
19/06/02
Bits and pieces of news today. I have just found out that The
Thackery T. Lambshead Guide to Exotic and Discredited Diseases
will now be released next year in both hardcover and paperback, which is
nice. My tale "Grandma Yagaski's Barn" in Octoberland
should be out next month and available at Horrorfind. My story, "Porcelain",
at Fangoria's Frightful Fiction should be up towards the
end of this month. I also expect the tale, "The Devils Within" at
Elysian
Fiction to be up some time next month. I received the returned
and countersigned contracts yesterday. It looks like July's going
to be busy. The job didn't happen, so that's a bit of a down, but
we shall see what works out.
16/06/02
Update time again. I just finished redrafting a story that came
as a result of the workshop. I'm pleased with that. And it
was proper writing. Two of the resulting stories have now gone out.
Back to the book for a while, in the write dammit mode. It's strange
having nowhere particular to go for a while, just being here with writing
being the thing to do and nothing else. It's a transition I have
to make, I guess, though I did have a job interview, well, a couple at
the same place, last Thursday. We were talking about the US primarily,
so that could be a good thing. I also spoke to my stepfather today.
80th birthday is significant, methinks. He sounded in fine form.
Returns? One from F&B at two days. I have to work
out what Jack likes a little better. One from The Edge
at one day. That was by snailmail. Amazing.
11/06/02
So, here we are again. Back in London and away from the steamy
mugginess of NYC. The Stokers went well, though the hotel left a
few things to be desired. Awful, awful attitude. Probably a
hang-over from the owner's days. It was fun to be in New York again,
to catch up, to do business to indulge, to feel like home. I'm starting
to think that I really don't want to be in London any more. Well,
maybe I've known that for a while. Also love the shopping in New
York. I managed to buy myself a nice 1920's Parker fountain pen for
very reasonable money and a gorgeous Prada summer coat at 50% off.
The week with Kris and Gardner was revealing. Just write, dammit.
That's the answer. Write and send it out. I've been spending
the time since I returned sorting out my short fiction. Now that
I'm currently a "full-time writer" I can do that, for as long as it lasts.
In the interim, I've had three or four returns. One back from Horror
Garage at 49 days, one from ChiZine at 15, one from
Oceans
of the Mind at 56 days, and one from Gothic Net at
28 days. I was also bemused and a little pleased to discover that
The
New Yorker only accepts e-subs now.
So, the novel is in the process of being read. If we do a deal,
I'll got to NY to sign, just because I want to. In the meantime,
I will continue to work on the other stuff, the short fiction, the current
book, and hit any potential job opportunities that promise to get me over
there.
22/05/02
This will probably be the last update I make for a couple of weeks.
I fly out tomorrow to the US, for a combination of the Kris and Gardner
show, meetings with friends, editors, agents and the Stoker Award weekend.
I'll be back after that. Today is another milestone of sorts.
This is 14 full days without a cigarette. Of course, it's hard to
settle, to sit back and not have the nagging urge, but I'm getting there.
The nagging urge is an insidious thing. It plays little games, like
"Oh, if I just go and buy a pack of cigarettes, I can have one or two,
and then put them away again." Yeah, right. Today is Day 14.
I don't want to go back to Day 1 again. In the meantime, I've had
another bounce from 3SF via the agent at 30 or so days.
Apart from that, there's not much else happening. I'm still ploughing
through the massive amounts of reading for the workshop, and having things
drop into my awareness that relate to the current novel. I also retired
six stories last night, and sent out another four. I still need to
rewrite one. I've realised in all this reading that I chickened out
in the particular tale; I opted for a safe ending, when I should have pushed
those boundaries a little more. If you have the time, check out Gardner's
volume called Supermen. It's a nice collection.
With reference to what I'm talking about, the tales by both Gene Wolfe
and Robert Reed are indicative. But then again, I love Wolfe.
Particularly the short fiction. In this tale, he turns the whole
post-human trope on its head. I guess that's what I like about it.
When I get back, I need to start thinking about employment again.
So much effort and energy goes into finding a job. Still, hopefully
the workshop will give me a kick on the short fiction and I can get some
stuff out, then concentrate on the current novel again.
19/05/02
Day 11. It's supposed to get easier, right? Anyway, this
is still day 11 without a cigarette. Totally clean. The Clarke
Awards last night give me a fair trial of discipline. Social gathering,
alcohol, normal smoking type environment, but I held out. I also
had word that my story "Porcelain" will be going up at Fangoria Frightful
Fiction next month, and that my story "End in Light" which will
be appearing in Underworlds #2 is going to have a nice illustration
to go with it. Hmm, all good stuff really. Still heaps of reading
to do for the Kris and Gardner show before I leave on Thursday.
09/05/02
Okay, it's official. Today I am a full-time writer. So
I'd better do some more writing then, eh? I backslid over the last
couple of days with farewell drinks and stuff, meaning the evil nicotine
wormed its way back into my life. Today, however, I'm clean.
Day one again. I have to be totally clean by the time I go to the
US again on the 23rd. I will do it. Today, one back from ChiZine
at
45 days. Looking at it, it's time to retire a few of the tales and
write some new ones.
05/05/02
Sitting at home, confirmed in the knowledge that I will be officially
a full-time writer as of next weeek, at least for a little while.
I'm in the process of giving away the evil weed, so my brain isn't really
functioning. Too much of that evil oxygen stuff in my blood.
I am, however, making some small progress on the book I'm writing.
I also just purchased a printer last week for portability. Tiny,
it is. The Canon BJC 55. It has its own battery, connects through
USB or infrared, prints in colour or mono, and the quality is excellent.
The only drawback is it's a manual feed. I guess you have to sacrifice
something for the portability.
Meanwhile, a note back from The Silver Web saying they
are closed to unsolicited submissions, a huge notice up on the Winter
Raven website saying they're killing the publication, and one back
from Glimmer Train at 25 days. About five on hand now,
about 30 out there.
29/04/02
One back last night from The Pedestal at 37 days and
one on Saturday from Extremes 5 at 85 days. Still working
on the interim book, still waiting to see how the company screws us and
meanwhile waiting, waiting. Why? Well the other book was delivered
to L'Editor by L'Agent last week.
24/04/02
So, what's been going on? Still trying to get back into time
zone, which is not good. I've noticed this the last couple of times
I've returned from the US. It's fine going the other way, but coming
back is hard. I finally had confirmation that my Speculon
publications qualify me for active SFWA membership after much back and
forth. This means that I have at last achieved fully qualified membership
of both professional organisations that are most visibly active in the
areas I write: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America,
and the Horror Writers Association. Links to both of
these can be found on my homepage as well as to the British Fantasy
Society which is a membership rather than a qualifying body, though
still does some worthy stuff within the field.
In other news, I've had a bounce from Steve for the Mammoth Book
of Best New Horror at 144 days, and one from Artemis
at 95, the latter coming via the agency.
19/04/02
Two back today. One from Future Orbits at 55 days,
apologising for the delay...and one from Palace of Reason
at 22 days. The reading homework for the Kris and Gardner show is
an enormous pile of stories crossing multiple genres. Struggling
with some of them and not with others. It's an interesting exercise
though. Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that
Wednesday saw the final paperwork and settlement for the divorce.
It is now, finally, all done. Am I a happy boy? Oh yes indeed.
It could not have worked out better.
Oh, oh, and one other thing. While I was at WHC I managed to stumble
across a volume entitled The Collected Macabre Stories of L.P.Hartley.
This was quite a find for me, in a nice volume from Tartarus Press.
He was my great uncle after all.
18/04/02
No more returns to report, but something interesting all the same.
Yesterday I received abusive email from an anonymous fool. I don't
know what the intent or purpose was, but the result was wry amusement.
Ultimately, I have to take such a thing as backhanded flattery and should
expect probably more of these things to happen as the recognition factor
grows. Perhaps I beat the person into an antho slot or something,
but whatever it was, I can but feel a little sorry for whoever it may be
-- such pointless effort.
Oh, yes. Nearly forgot. I also received my contract for
"The Devils Within" for Elysian
Fiction yesterday.
16/4/02
Okay, I returned from Chicago yesterday having had a wonderful time
at my first World Horror Convention. The Horror Community generally
seems to be a nice, supportive, friendly group of people. Almost
all of the time was spent either locked in the hotel, or in search of decent
coffee, which ended up being at a Krispy Kreme donut shop. That's
one of the problems with conventions way out of town at places like airport
hotels -- you're fairly reliant on the hotel's facilities. Coffee
was not one of them. Well, not that which passes for coffee.
The list of familiar names I could mention is way too long, but it was
very good to meet new people and catch up with some old friends.
In the meantime, I've had another bounce from 3SF but not
much else to report.
09/04/02
Just about on my way to Chicago for WHC. Still doing some work.
A snappy turnaround at one day from 3SF, a couple of queries
sent, but that's about it. Still waiting for the axe to fall from
the company. It will happen once their appropriate due process is
done with. Also ramping up for the Kris & Dean and Gardner show
in West Oregon at the end of May. I'm now booked, and it allows me
to swing by NYC in the following week and catch up with a few people as
well as attend the Stokers weekend, which will be nice. I suppose
I really should start ramping up on the employment front soon, but while
the blood on the streets continues to grow, and before the dust settles,
I don't think there'll be much coming of it. I have a few feelers
out, but so far nothing concrete eventuating.
02/04/02
Having just returned from St. Helier in Jersey for the British Eastercon,
I wonder at how much my body and brain can take. Sleep? What's
that? Very quiet place, Jersey. Very quiet convention.
I did, however, manage to get some work done on the between-books book
-- a nice compact little horror novel that came out of a story rejection
suggestion by a particular editor. Ramping up for World Horror in
Chicago the weekend after next now.
Bounces, I've had a few -- but I did it my way. Sorry, couldn't
help that. Okay, Deathlings came back at 10 days, Would
That it Were at 88 with a suggestion for another market, and Strange
Horizons at 29. Oh and of course, I received my contract
for Octoberland to appear later this year. A couple
of short story ideas chugging away in the back of my head, and now that
I've delivered the novel to La Agent, there's quite a bit of random energy
floating around in my head. Real life continues to spiral downwards
with the imminent implosion of the firm, so we'll wait and see what happens
and where I end up.
26/03/02
Some more good news today! My story "The Devils Within" will
be appearing in Elysian Fictionsome
time in the next couple of months. In other news, I have been accepted
into the Kris and Gardner show in West Oregon at the end of May.
One week intensive professional short story workshop. I'm really
quite excited about it. Also, I'm sending off the novel tomorrow
-- finally.
Downsides? Work continues to implode as the company falls apart.
One back from Flesh & Blood at 3 days and one back at
113 from ChiZine.
19/03/02
It's vewy, vewy, quiet, on the writing front, anyway. Good news
with another story appearing on Fictionwise
today. Go, see, do an author search on Hartley. On the other front
of real life, the world's exploding in strange ways. I'm sure you've
seen the news. Just back from New York and Lunacon over the weekend.
Fun times. However, I am back early as I had to cut the trip short
in light of recent happenings. A plane full of Irish firemen who'd
been to NYC for St Patrick's. Hmm.
07/03/02
One back from Flesh & Blood today at 3 days.
Great turnaround time, Jack! Good to see my story "Grievous Music"
up there among the top 30 or so best selling short stories at Fictionwise.
06/03/02
My brain hurts. It really does. Final thrashing work marathon
on the novel. Off to the US for a couple of weeks very soon for work.
Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Chicago again. At least I manage to squeeze
in Lunacon in between somewhere. I'll be delivering the manuscript
to La Agent whilst there. One back from Malefica today
at 27 days, one back yesterday from Future Orbits at 22,
and my application sent off for the Kris and Gardner show. Back to
the book. Onwards!
28/02/02
Good things! My story "Guilt-Edged Security" is now up at Speculon.
26/02/02
A new story up at Fictionwise.
Nice. Up there on the front page under "Hot Short Fiction." Apart
from that, a couple back from Twilight Showcase at around
22 days. Currently debating whether I should attend the Kris &
Dean show in Oregon in May. I may yet so do, if they'll have me.
23/02/20
So, what's been going on? In London, briefly. Working hard
on the book. I'll be heading off to Germany this week, but in the
time when I'm here, catching up with mother Esther, who is over for a trip.
She will be pleased. I have hamsters for her. One back from
Future Orbits at 22 days, and that's about it. I've
just finished reading the most recent Patrick O'Leary. I really do
like his stuff. Not quite as much as Jonathan Carroll, but goodly
writing. I will be hitting US shores again soon, and putting in a
showing at Lunacon along the way. Travel all booked for Helicon and
stuff organised for WHC as well. Ah well, missed out on getting on
the preliminary Stoker ballot by one recommendation. Such is life.
There's always this year, right?
12/02/02
One back this morning from Future Orbits at 40 days.
The returns are keeping fairly consistently good, however Black Gate
sent one back yesterday at 155 days. Very well-written fantasy, yada,
yada... I've spent most of the last few days having fun with Laura
Anne and Peter, over from the US. Friday night we did the educate
people about Friday night in London thing. Drinks at the George Inn
followed by an educational trip to Brick Lane for a curry. What else
do you do on Friday night in London? Sunday, wine, food, stupid drinks.
Last night, Pat Cadigan's thing at Borders, where Laura Anne did a guest
gig and then the pub after -- of course. Mister Berlyne tells me
I need to get a new authorial photograph for this site. Okay, I'll
think about it. Messrs Nash, Kavanagh, Lavery and others all helped
to make it a night that still leaves me suffering a little. Anyway,
I hope our American friends had fun. Back to the workaday now, and
back to finishing the book for good and all.
08/02/02
Back in London for a little while, and already they're coming in for
the month. One back from Asimov's yesterday at an astounding
36 days for them and one back from Palace of Reason at 20
days this morning. Time to send them out again...
06/02/02
I am currently sitting in Paris. (Yet again, he says).
I've had a couple back over the last few days, from Glimmer Train
at a very reasonable 14 days, but I'm at that point again where
I'm struggling to find markets to which I'm prepared to send my work.
Things are lean out there, and one has standards, right? Well, so
I'm often being counselled by some of my friends and colleagues.
It looks like I may make Lunacon mid March, somewhere in the middle of
a massive North and South American roadshow that I'm trying to plan the
logisitics for. Very difficult and methinks exhausting in the long
run. It will easily be weighed up against the opportunity to see
particular folks very soon, and that's nice. It's none of it confirmed
yet, but looks like it may happen. I will probably have to pass on
the Nebulas as a result.
31/01/02
Well, well, well -- not too bad really. I have had word from
an anthology that will remain nameless at the moment, that one of my stories
will be included if the project goes ahead. Okay, so it's an intent
to buy, rather than a sale, but I will still count it as a sale.
Second for the month. And meanwhile, a poem came back from Strange
Horizons at 23 days.
29/01/02
So what is it about this January? I've given up trying to predict
patterns in the return cycle. There just ain't no logic. One
back from Twilight Showcase at 81 days and one back from
On
Spec at 136. Already 17 returns this month. Past years
have shown January to be generally pretty quiet. Okay. Forget
it. Trying to predict the pattern is just another form of anal displacement
activity, right? Get on with the writing, James.
28/02/02
Wow, has it really been that long since I've updated? Strange.
I have had a couple of returns. Strange Horizons at
24 days and Oceans of the Mind at 54. And yeah, I'm
back to working on finishing the novel. Paris next week, but hopefully
the first draft will be done by oh, soonish. Once the first draft
is finished, then I need to do a few rewrites -- mainly to do with characterisation
in the first few chapters, but I have the taste for these guys now.
Okay, sleep now.
22/02/02
In the wee hours. And today (well yesterday really) was the day
of big returns and no cigars. One back from Weird Tales
at 48 days saying that if they were monthly, they probably would have bought
it. One back from Twilight Showcase at 84 days saying
it made the final 16 but not the final cut. One back from Spectrum
at 19 days, and one back from Extremes at 57 days saying
the tale really didn't fit the guidelines (hmm, it was set in Sydney, though
not overtly) and that it was too SF for the market. Okay, that I
can take. Well, they're relly starting to roll in now.
19/01/02
Paris. Grey, chill Paris, but Paris nonetheless. Here for
a few days, but everyone in the office has the rheume, and I feel like
it's creeping up on me as well. Intention: Get as close to
finishing the first draft as possible. Reality? We'll see how
I do. Meanwhile, a return from The Pedestal at 29 days.
Things are very slow at the moment. Hmm, and by the looks of things,
I am not going to make the Stoker ballot, but at least I was up there on
the recommended works.
11/01/02
Oh yes!
9/1/02
Another poem back yesterday from Strange Horizons at
35 days. Not much else going on. I guess everyone has yet to
truly kick into the new year. Or is that to boldly go?
4/1/02
Four poems back from Gothic Net
today at 273 days, though one of them was a sale. It will appear
next Friday.
3/1/02
Here we are in the New Year and felicitations to all. I'm just
back from a very chilly US of A where I had a delightful time visiting
friends and spending real quality time. Combat shopping, combat eating
and combat drinking. It just feels so good to be over there with
clan. The past year has been mixed, so it's truly time to move on
to much better things. Plans? The final work on the novel and
that's about it till it's done. So far, I've had my first return
of the year from DNA at 108 days.
Last year in summation saw 156 genre returns of which 13 were sales
and 92% were personal. On the mainstream front, I had 28 returns
and no sales along with a paltry 25% personalised rejections. I guess
I move in different circles. Still, if we ignore the real life stuff,
the year wasn't bad in a writing sense. Let's see if this one can
be any better.
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