CALLIHOO Newsletter ----------------------------------------------------------------- Market News for Writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Vol. 7 No. 38 Editor: Julia West March 21, 2000 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Web page: http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/CALLIHOO/index.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS Life, the Universe, & Everything 18 is March 23-35, 2000, at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. Life, the Universe and Everything is a symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature sponsored by Brigham Young University's College of Humanities. LTU&E is FREE to the PUBLIC! LTU&E is the biggest, longest running, student-run symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy literature in the United States, maybe the world. This year's guests are: * MARGARET WEIS, of Dragonlance fame. * L. E. MODESITT, Recluse and the Parafaith Wars. * M. K. WREN, Legacy of the Phoenix. For more information on the symposium, visit our website at http://humanities.byu.edu/ltue/default.html or email us at LTUE@byu.edu DEADLINES Check out the CALLIHOO website, listed above, for more information on these contests, magazine issues, and anthologies. (Where it says "GLs in Vol. X No. Y," these are volume and issue of the CALLIHOO newsletter.) =Speculations= Micro Story Contest, deadline 31 March 2000. [Online contest, SF/F/H, to 400 words, first place $20, second place $10, third place $5. Post stories online. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 37)] =Writers of the Future=, 2nd quarter 2000, deadline 31 March 2000 [$1000 first, $750 2nd, $500 3rd place. =No entry fee=. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630-JBW, Los Angeles, CA 90078. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 10)] =Starlight 3= anthology, deadline "summer 2000". [SF/F, pays 7- 1/2 cents/wd., no upper word limit, (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 38)] =The Doom of Camelot= anthology from Green Knight Publishing, deadline 21 April 2000. [Arthurian stories, 3-7,000 wds, pays 3- 5 cents/wd., pays shortly after accept. No E-mail subm. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 29).] LDS Alien anthology, outline/idea due 3 March 2000, story deadline 22 April 2000. [Alien viewpoint, based on documented alien sighting, LDS worldview. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 36)] =The Asylum Volume 2: The Violent Ward=, deadline 30 April 2000. [Print anthology, H 2500-5000 wds, pays 1 cent/wd. as advance of royalties, on pub (Jun 2000). No reprints. Prefer E-mail subm. to victorheck@darktales.com. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 38)] =The Darker Side of Eternity, Volume II=, contest deadline 1 May 2000. [contest/print antho, H (SF/F elements okay) stories. Must be member of World Horror Convention. Short to 2500 wd, long to 10,000 wd stories. 1st prize (short) $100, (long) $300. Runners-up 3 cents/wd. Pays on pub. No reprints or E-mail subm. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 24)] The 6th =Chiaroscuro= Short Story Contest--the Piggies, deadline 15 May 2000. [Contest, H/DF to 5000 words, no reprints or mult subm, only E-mail subm, First place pub in =Gothic.net= at 23 cents/wd., second place pub in =Chiaroscuro= at 7 cents/wd., third place pub in =Twilight Showcase= at 4 cents/wd. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 37)] =Brainbox: The Real Horror= electronic anthology, submissions accepted 1 February to 31 May 2000. [E-antho, H (and nonfic tale of what inspired it) 2500-10,000 wds, pays 2-4% quarterly royalties. E-mail subm only, no mult. subm. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 35)] Warner Books' First Novel Contest, deadline June 30, 2000. [SF/F novels. Synopsis + first several chapters (up to 60 pages maximum). No entry fee. Prizes: Publication with advance and royalties.] =On Spec= Theme Issue ("World Beat") deadline 31 Aug 2000. [Canadian print mag, theme of non-North American-based (different cultures) SF/F/H to 5000 wds, pays $50-$180C on accept., no reprints, faxed, or E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 7 No. 31)] =Byline= genre fiction contest, deadline September 5, 2000. [Short story that fits category: romance, sci-fi, confession, mystery, western, etc. No children's stories. 5,000 words max. =Entry fee $5=. Prizes: $50, $30, $15.] Nineteenth Annual Science Fiction/Fantasy Short Story Contest Sponsored by Science Fiction Writers of Earth, deadline 30 October 2000. [Annual contest, SF/F by unpubl authors, 2000 to 7500 wds. =Entry fee $5 for 1st ms. (gives memb to SFWoE), $2 for each other ms.= Prizes $200 1st, $100 2nd, $50 3rd. (GLs in Vol. 7, No. 33)] The Best of Soft Science Fiction Contest opens 1 Oct 2000, closes 15 Dec 2000. [Annual contest, soft SF, to 7000 wds, published or offered for pub during year, enter as many as want, =no entry fee=, prizes 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. GLs in Vol. 7 No. 33] ***************************************************************** * "There is no perfect time to write. There's only now." * * --Barbara Kingsolver * ***************************************************************** ANTHOLOGY =The Asylum Volume 2: The Violent Ward= [Print anthology, H 2500-5000 wds, pays 1 cent/wd. as advance of royalties, on pub (Jun 2000). No reprints. Prefer E-mail subm. Deadline 30 Apr 2000.] Editor, Victor Heck Subm. to victorheck@darktales.com http://www.darktales.com/ =The Asylum= has two themes to it. A main theme and a subtheme. The main theme is an obvious one, and that is that there must be an asylum in the story somewhere. The story does not have to revolve around the asylum if you don't want it to, just as long as it's in there somewhere. Now the subtheme. In each edition we want to explore a different kind of psychosis. The psychoses we want to explore in this one are violent ones, with characters who suffer from explosive bouts of uncontrollable or senseless rage due to either organic reasons or chemical imbalances, OR perhaps it's an otherwise 'normal' person put into a situation so alien to their methodology, theology, or upbringing and experience that they react in a sudden and explosively violent manner. Gore, taboo and/or extreme subject matter, etc is all welcome as long as it fits the story and isn't gore for gore's sake. Even though this editor is into darker subjects, the simple fact is that 5000 word sojourns into worlds of pure atrocity will not make it into the anthology. We are looking for original, never-before published stories (no reprints) between 2500 and 5000 words. Pay is one cent per word as an advance against royalties of 8% split evenly among the authors for English Language Anthology Rights for a period of two years from the date of first publication. The advance will be paid at time of publication. Publication date is set for late June 2000 as a trade paperback. We are accepting submissions from January 3rd 2000 to April 30th 2000. Royalties are paid twice a year in June and December. Of course, the best way to see what our anthology is like is to check one out for yourself. Copies of =Asylum Vol 1, The Psycho Ward=, are still in stock and can be purchased via credit card on our catalog page, or by check or money order direct from the publisher (mailing information is on the catalog page of the website). I prefer story submissions to be made via email and that they be in the file formats .doc or .rtf for use with Microsoft Word. If this cannot be done, then I will also take the text of your stories pasted into the body of an email as ascii text, but only as a last option. Remember, the closing date is a firm April 30th, 2000. Submissions beyond that point will not be accepted. [E-mail from guidelines@darktales.com dated 21 Mar 00] ***************************************************************** * "By the time one has finished a piece it has been so often * * viewed and reviewed before the mental eye, that one loses, in * * a good measure, the powers of critical discrimination. Here * * the best criterion I know is a friend." * * --Robert Burns * ***************************************************************** MARKET GUIDELINES =LC-39= [print mag, academic literary SF, pays 1-2 cents/wd on pub, no sim subs or reprints. RT 4-6 wks.] Editor: Matthew Walls LC-39 P.O. Box 9307 Baltimore, MD 21228 Queries to editor.lc-39@home.com http://members.home.net/editor.lc-39/ I have described =LC-39= as an "academic literary journal" of science fiction. What does that mean to you, the hopeful contributor? Nothing. The distinction I make between literary journal and pulp is one of presentation. Pulps are made to be consumed and thrown away. They are crammed with text, printed on newsprint, and are cheap. Literary journals are, alternatively, very liberal with their white space, printed on quality paper, and are a tad more expensive. But these are design distinctions. What do they mean to you? By choosing this format, =LC-39= allows a story to flow across the page, not be squeezed into it. Now that I've described what =LC-39= is, what kind of fiction do I want? =LC-39='s writers' guidelines can be summed up in four words: we don't have any. By choosing to be an academic literary journal, I would hope to receive stories that in some way challenge traditional storytelling: the first issue, for example, has a second-person narrative and a non-linear non-chronological narrative. Should they all be that way? Absolutely not. But they should be character driven. It makes no difference how good a plot may be if you can't get interested in a character. I am not looking for works of pure fantasy or horror. My personal tastes: I love hard science fiction. Pick up a copy of =The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF= (edited by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer), and if you think you can write something like that, send it in immediately. Also, I'd like to see more poetry and stand-alone artwork. Bottom line: I buy what I like. Of course, the best way to see what I buy is to get a sample copy. Now for the writerly concerns. Format should be the standard double-spaced, one side only, etc. Make sure your name and address is on it somewhere, and a word count is on the first page. Length to 20,000 words. No simultaneous submissions, and, as a rule, no previously published works (special cases will be considered, however). Please provide adequate postage for the return of your manuscript or mark it DISPOSABLE and include a #10 SASE for your reply. Response time is 4-6 weeks. =LC-39= pays 1-2› per word for fiction and between $5 and $10 per poem for poetry for First North American Serial Rights. Payment will be made upon publication and will include 2 contributor's copies. Upon acceptance, I will ask you to provide some biographical information (not a bibliography) for our Contributor's Notes. Send submissions to LC-39, P.O. Box 9307, Baltimore, MD 21228. Queries should be directed to editor.lc-39@home.com [http://members.home.net/editor.lc-39/] MARKET INFORMATION =Alien Tempest= Will Cliffe, editor of =Alien Tempest= e-zine, says, "It appears there was a problem with anyone trying to submit to the 'zine. If you tried, please try again! People have been telling me they haven't had any response. "Extreme apologies." http://www.alientempest.com/ [sff.publishing.electronic, 8 Mar 00] =AlloyBooks= Alloy Plans Offline Book Series Teen Internet destination Alloy Online (Nasdaq: ALOY) has formed a partnership with Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers to create AlloyBooks, a teen print publication showcasing Alloy's most popular features. Alloy plans to print a series of 12 books that will address "relevant teen issues and interests," to be marketed through both Penguin and Alloy's multiple outlets. The partnership emerged from Alloy's recent acquisition of 17th Street Productions, a media property developer for teens and producers of the popular Sweet Valley High series. "The Alloy book imprint represents an important step in Alloy's expansion into other media platforms and further strengthens our leadership in the Generation Y marketplace," Matt Diamond, Alloy co-founder and CEO, said in a prepared statement. "We are excited to be able to produce quality content for teens and most importantly, give them a voice and new vehicle to share their thoughts and ideas." President and Publisher of Penguin Putnam's Puffin Books Tracy Tang will head the AlloyBooks project, which is set to publish its first books this summer. Titles focusing on poetry, dream analysis, and beauty will be released in August, company officials said. Fiction and nonfiction series are slated for print through Spring 2001. "Alloy's ability to provide us with real and fascinating material from teens is innovative for the publishing industry," said Doug Whiteman, president of the Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers division, in a prepared statement. "We are truly excited about this partnership...together developing and distributing content for teens that is unique and meaningful." The source for much of the books' contents will be teen submissions made daily on Alloy.com, which provides a mix of community, commerce, and entertainment content aimed at Generation Y, arguably the fastest growing segment of the Internet population. Contact Jodi Smith; 212-244-4307 x 8359, jodis@alloy.com, http://www.alloy.com Contact Robert Cavosi; 212-366-2687, rcavosi@penguinputnam.com http://www.penguinputnam.com [sff.publishing.electronic, 29 Feb 00] =Fick Film Productions= We are looking for story submissions for possible film adaptation. This is not Hollywood though, and our budgets are low. Nevertheless, we are a little unique as independents go. We have the production capabilities to make movies that (at least) "look" epic. So, we are definitely NOT interested in the typical indie fare of "talking heads and two locations." We are not buying Options. Authors are paid a fee and a profit share in exchange for film rights to their story. Print rights are retained by the author. The story may have previously been published, so long as film rights remain available and unencumbered. We are interested in both historical and science fiction subjects. If you have a story of this sort or may be interested in writing one, particularly of novella length, please send a self-addressed envelope to: Fick Film Productions, PO Box 6274, Ellicott City, MD 21042-0274 USA. We will send you complete guidelines and a Submission Release which must be completed and included with any story submission. Do not send any story submissions at this time. Any submissions received without a suitable signed release must be returned unread. Submissions not including SASE are assumed disposable. [sff.publishing.market-reports, 7 Mar 2000, sfick@worldnet.att.net] =Weird Tales= John Betancourt, who worked as a reader for =Weird Tales=, explains a few of the "shorthand" terms often used in rejection letters from the magazine. MURKY = Hard to visualize, hard to follow what's going on. Usually due to lack of clear sensory cues as to what's happening. (This can usually be helped by adding additional sensory information: a few sentences of clear visual description and additional sounds/scents/textures to give the reader a clearer idea of the setting and what is actually happening around the narrator. Unless, of course, said narrator is floating in a sensory deprivation tank or walking on flat ground through a dense fog!) TEDIOUS = The reader found it hard to keep going to the end. This can be due to a variety of things: a too-slow pace, a storyline that isn't involving enough, unsympathetic characters who the reader doesn't care about, or simple wordiness. (Eschew surplusage.) "George [Scithers] and Darrell [Schweitzer] have a very narrow view of what works in fiction. Just because they don't buy a particular work doesn't mean it's not publishable (or worth publishing)." [sff.writing.response-times, 21 Mar 00] ==End of the CALLIHOO newsletter for 21 March 2000==