Day: April 12, 2009

I should be ashamed of myself

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 4 Comments

I am just shameless enough to use my blog for this.  Maybe someone can help me out.  I knowthere are a few competent writers out there reading my blog (no names so I don’t put anyone on the spot or leave anyone out) and I am looking for a favor.  First, some background.

I stumbled across a contest at coolstuff4writers.com that challenges writers to write a scene using only dialogue.  I sat down and started playing with it.  I started out with some detective and lieutenant talking about a perp and bored myself sufficiently to delete the whole thing and start over.

I’m much happier with what I have now.  It’s more than a scene; it’s a one-scene story…I think.  It takes place over the phone and I really felt the need for a line of explanation as to who hung up.  The contest (which I haven’t conclusively decided to enter) seems to prohibit even that much.  I think I managed to end things (a bit of a dangling ending, but that works sometimes), I just want some feedback.

I guess what I’m (shamelessly) asking is: anyone got time to skim a 1200-word story just to let me know if it has an ending?  Let me know and I’ll send you a copy.  Other commentary would be welcome, but the ending is mainly what I’m looking for.

Normally I’d take it to Critters or maybe Baen’s Bar, but it’s not technically a “ready” story.  That and the contest has a deadline.  I’d be happy to offer a reciprocal critique to any takers.  No pressure though; I know how my schedule gets.  Just thought I’d ask.

-Oso

free stuff from my past

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

I dug through a file on my computer called “sold stories” and found some gems that will not likely be sold as reprints unless I make it big or need filler for my own anthology. Not to say they were bad stories — they sold, didn’t they? — but they aree clearly from my past.

I decided to post one of those stories here, despite mixed opinions from my readers.  The story I’m posting (right now) is “Blood of a Soldier”, my 5000-word military-vampire story.  It’s probably more science fiction than it is horror, but it does get a touch graphic.  I am more disturbed by some of the amateur flags I flew throughout the story (watch for my not-too-blatant “said bookisms”).  Still, there are a few well-turned phrases and a lot of my preferred direct style.  Surprisingly there is little in the way of dialog; I feel I’m usually strong with dialog and fill stories with it because of that.

Anyway, this is where I’ve been.  Stories like this got me this far.  Depending on its reception, I mayreplace it sometime in the future, but it’ll be here for a while.  I don’t have a trunk of pieces I’m ready to fling around for free…at least not yet.  Maybe someday.  For now, enjoy.