Tag: Writing

Glow Baby update

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

I got my rejection from Stange Horizons today.  I expected it from such a tough market.  49 days it took.  Not bad.

This TykeLight from MOBI inspired "Glow Baby".
This TykeLight from MOBI inspired "Glow Baby".

I want to squeeze “Glow Baby” in under the wire for the second quarter WotF contest.  I believe the deadline is Tuesday.  I’m trying to brush it up, maybe hint at the speculative portion earlier in the story than where it currently shows up on page four, solidify the ending.  I’m not sure how it will fare, this being a story for select tastes, moreso than “Leech Run” that pulled my first HM.

I’ll let everyone know if it gets out in time.  It should since it’s no more than a day worth of editing I need.  This was one of my submissions to Clarion SD (and we know how that went with the whole close-but-no-cigar response).  We’ll see.

On a related note, I am leaving “Leech Run” alone for a while.  I can’t remember if I declared that already or not.  Anyway, it’s the only story I subbed to CW and if by some miracle I end up there, it believe it will be critiqued.  I’d hate to spend a lot of time and energy fixing a story before subjecting it to that amount of feedback.  I have modified it a lot based on the comments from Baen’s Bar, but a whole scene needed reworking in the middle.  I plan to adjust it this summer, be it through CW advice (in some parallel universe) or on my own while CW is going on without me.

Okay, enough from me.  I have editing to do.

-Oso

headaches and toothaches

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 2 Comments

I am at a place where I am trying to capture pieces of my life and store them away for future stories, either as major themes or minor plot elements.  Today I was trying to catalog things associated with pain.

I got a migraine during school today.  I know, it sucks.  I don’t get the monster migraines with the haloed vision and such, but they aren’t pleasant.  They make me want to pull my face off my skull and scrape the inside of my skull as if the pain is some barnacle clinging inside.  Loud noises make me want to weep like a baby.  My balance is off; I’m dizzy; my gag reflex works overtime at the mere thought of swallowing anything, even my migraine medicine.  I feel claustrophobic in even the most open spaces, like there’s a low shelf I can’t quite see right in front of my forehead, waiting to bump me and increase my agony.  The uses in a story are endless, be it for someone with a hangover or something else.

As for the dentist, it didn’t really hurt.  Novocaine is good for that.  There was a moment when I felt something pain-like, almost a cold itch where the anesthetic was wearing off.  That could be descriptively useful, too.

More interesting, though, is my tendency to fall asleep in the dentist chair.  There’s something about the angle of decline, head being a tad lower than my feet, blood rushing into the brain combined with the numbness around the nose.  It’s soothing in an alien-abduction kind of way.  I like the parallel, actually, though I hate alien abduction stories as a rule.  Surely there will be other uses for it.

What’s the point to all this?  Nothing, really.  Just a sample of the experiences I am stockpiling.  I am, however, curious whether this sleepy-at-the-dentist thing is common or if I’m just weird.  I also want to try out the polling feature on my blog.  So please, let me know how you handle the chair.

My Clarion SD Fate

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 2 Comments

Finally.  It’s a no.  I’m a little surprised since I though my application was stronger for SD than for Seattle, where I was waitlisted.  But reviews are subjective and there are some definite weaknesses in “Leech Run” and “Glow Baby” starts out fairly slow.  So I understand.  I won’t sneeze at my waitlisting for CW.  Maybe a slot will open for me, maybe it won’t.

So now what?  I guess I’ll check the usual suspect websites for the fates of others to offer congratulations or share condolences.  Then it’s back to writing.  It’s about time to finish up drafting my Kree story so I can enter the much more scientific editing process.  I should probably resume work on a novel, probably my military clone novel (wipe that Star Wars image out of your mind) as it seems the most promising.  The workshops had me focused on short fiction for a while.

I’m thinking of applying for Uncle Orson’s Literary Boot Camp.  It’s just a week, but it’s like $750 without room or board.  

I’m definitely going to investigate the convention circuit, trying to hone in on the most writer-friendly.  If anyone can offer recommendations, I’d be glad to hear.  Closer is better, but I have family in Dallas (not at all close to my end of Tennessee).  

Assuming no spots open at CW (the assumption I must run with for my own sanity), I’ll at least consider applying next year.  Circumstances may prevent me, but ambition won’t.  Unless I make it big before 2010.  Ha!

Congratulations and good luck to those that were accepted into Clarion, East or West.  

-Oso

The things you find…

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

I was surfing the contents of my own harddrive, as I am prone to do every so often, and rediscovered an old story of mine.  It was so old the byline was S. Winfield Baker rather than Scott W. Baker.  I don’t remember submitting it anywhere and I have no record of sending it out, but I had gone to the trouble of typing “Disposable Manuscript” at the top.

It was a story set in a world where people choose to save themselves as computer programs before they die, that signalling the end of their “fleshtime” but not their lifetime since they live forever as programs.  The idea was that exciting memories would be hot commodities for the program-people since they can’t do exciting stuff.  Even if they could, they lacked the adrenaline to truly enjoy thrills.  Memories of thrills from their fleshtime were the closest they could get.  These memories end up no more than computer files and can be transferred to others.  If someone in storage had real money (useless inside the program), they could pay flesh people to do what they wanted to remember in exchange for the right to acquire that memory.  I’m not sure it took that many words to describe the setting in the story.

Anyway, I had put the story away as not SF enough.  Can you believe it?  Sure the guy doing the stunt is a real person and doing stuff that is (kind of) feasible in present society, but the story falls apart without the speculative elements.

It’s a better story than I ever gave it credit for being.  I don’t think it’s pro-calibur, but I’ll probably brush it up and circulate it through some semi-pro zines.  I may Critter it first.  Some of the techniques were clever.  I wonder if I did them intentionally.

  • The story is a memory that is interrupted a few times by program-people chatting in text-like format.
  • The story is told in first person, the flesh person being the POV character.
  • It’s really supposed to be the memory roughly as perceived by the program-person.  The sensory events are good but need more tastes and smells.
  • The POV character is part of a clever little subculture.

It’s not brilliant, but it’s cute.  A little disturbing, too.  It might have more meaning in it than some of my better stories.  Death, as a theme, often plays well.  This story gives a reasonable first person account of dying since the memory is transferred to someone else.  The explanation of why everyone can’t do that needs a lot more strength, but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised by this old story.  We’ll see what comes of it.

-Oso

greetings lurkers

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 4 Comments

It has come to my attention that, since about 7:00 last night, the hits on this blog have been flowing in at record pace.  I suspect that, like me, there are lots of you looking for hints of Clarion SD acceptances and rejections.   You are most welcome here.  There aren’t a lot of sites or blogs talking about it right now, while I won’t shut up about it.  Feel free to look around, maybe leave a comment.  A little dialog could help us pass the time.

We are past Clarion’s published deadline for contacting accepted candidates.  But what are we going to do, decline an invitation because it’s too late?  I’m sure that something important or unexpected came up to delay our results.  Maybe they still don’t know.  (One slow reviewer or one lost-in-the-mail set of reviews would really slow things down.  A computer crash would be devastating.  I’m not saying any of these things happened, but I’m trying to view my apprehension through sympathetic eyes.  I’m not very good at it.

If anyone has any news — even if you aren’t supposed to share it — I’d love to know that you know something.  You can whisper it in my ear.  I have heard of one acceptance that was requested not to make the news public.  This is third-hand information and worth what you pay for it, but it’s the only hint I’ve heard.  I have found evidence of no rejections.

I am waitlisted for Seattle, but who wants to sit and wait?  I’ll be happy at either workshop, I just want to know.  Chances of me sliding in to CW can’t be better than fifty-fifty.  I’m really pulling for Clarion to come through for me.  In the words of Willy Wonka, “The suspense is terrible…I hope it lasts.”  Only without the second part.

In the meantime, introduce yourselves.  Share your knowledge or your stress.  We’re all looking for a community of writers.  Accepted or rejected, we can start that community now.

-Oso

Aaarrgh! (cry of frustration, not disappointment)

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

Still no word.  It’s like waiting for a response for a wedding proposal.  All the emotional investment hangs on one answer and the !@#$**! response won’t come.  Thecarrier pidgeon probably got eaten by a bird.

I am taking my last-minute contact as a sign that I am a borderline talent.  Maybe I’m on the waiting list.  Maybe I’m in the “which four of these eight do we want” stack.  Maybe I wrote the wrong phone numer or email address on my application.  Regardless, my rejection couldn’t have been an easy decision, at least from CW.  I have no confirmation yet as to whether Clarion (east) has started informing their rejects.

My West application was confirmed as received on the sixth of January.  That’s right, January.  My East app, February sixth.  We’ll see if six is my lucky number or not.  Damn, these workshops sure know how to make a guy sweat.

So I wait.  I’m not alone; Jamie, Sandra (I think), and others wait with me.  It’s still lonely, not knowing.

-Oso

Dormancy is not a good thing

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 2 Comments

My blog has been stagnant a few days, hasn’t it? Why? Well, nothing is happening. I’m making progress on my first draft of “Kree” (still no better title…it really needs one), but that’s about it. No news from workshops, no useful blogging of others being accepted. Squat. As best I can tell, West has 15 slots still unassigned (well, maybe unawarded would be better worder; I bet they’re assigned by now) and East has all 18.  I expect news from the latter this week if they are to meet their own deadline of March 20th (Friday).  But what am I going to do if they run long, refuse an invitation? I don’t think so.  West, on the other hand, has conflicting statements on their website.  In the FAQ it says applicants will hear by mid-March while the workshop page says the end of March.  Forum posts from people in the know have validated the later date.

cinitSo what to do now?  I was watching television with my 2-year-old daughter and her show offered me advice (while I was typing on the CW forum, no less):  “When waiting is really hard for you, just do something you like to do!”  Thank you, Kai-Lan.  So I am reading (John Kessel’s award-winning novella “Stories for Men”), writing (that Kree story), spending time with my daughter (she just got a Sit-n-Spin), and going to see The Watchmen tomorrow afternoon (reviews are everywhere, but I’ll surely add my $.02 here afterward).

-Oso

Bad Speculative Fiction

~ Scott W. Baker ~ 1 Comment

You know you’ve read some.  It may have been a big shot who sells millions or some guy that got into a magazine because the editor was experimenting with herbology, but bad sf/f/h is out there making big bucks.  I haven’t decided what I think about that.

On the one hand, I am very unhappy that some jerk out there cashed a check with mutiple zeros when I know I have stories — novels even — that are much better.  Why him (or her or it) and not me?  The reasons are there: 1) luck, 2) perseverence, 3) previous success, 4) connections, 5) maybe I just don’t get it.

Then there’s the flip side.  If this putz can gsell, I can, too.  It’s a reminder that success is 98% perspiration (and that stinks).  So reading some schlock can give me a boost of hope even as it knocks down my self esteem.

What made me think of this?  Christopher Paolini.  Nice enough guy as far as I can tell, one of my students is obsessed with him, but he needs a good editor with sharp scissors.  At least he needed it in Eldest, his second novel.  I enjoyed Eragon enough to buy Eldest.  I even enjoyed the story enough to buy Brisingr (gesundheit).  I did not enjoy it enough to get past page 2 of…that third book I can’t pronounce.

I think Paolini summarized my concern himself in Eldest when — on about page 300 — a character observes how lucky they are to have traveled from wherever to wherever and nothing happened.

reddragon3head**By the way, [SPOILER ALERT!!!]**

I further had issues with the protagonist’s efforts to become a worthy dragon rider by learning combat from an elf despite a serious injury that limits him physically and causes constant pain.  This training occurs intermittently while subtle relationships in the story are hinted at but never truly developed.  Of course the training helps him to improve, but he can just barely go through the motions.

Then it happens, some fancy dragon festival where ghostly dragons emanate and heal the protagonist of his wounds.  Yes, all of them.  Because he struggled so hard?  No.  Because he was innately worthy.  Wasn’t he innately worthy before a bunch of pages and my personal hours were wasted on combat training?  I suspect he was.  The character succeeds through the entire book despite never having any breakthroughs of his own.

Not what I want in a story.  I’ve been rejected for less.  But I didn’t self-publish a book that was successful enough to be picked up by a major publisher.  Will I one day?  Maybe.  Then some other wannabe can complain about my schlock on his blog.

-Oso

Realms of Fantasy snatched from the jaws of extinction

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

Can it be true?  Realms of Fantasy, recently announced as deceased, has apparently been purchased by another company, Tir Na Nog Press, this according to SFScope.com and this announcement.  According to the article, editors should be kept in place and rates for stories should also remain consistent.

Rumors of its death were greatly exaggerated.
Rumors of its death were greatly exaggerated.

Whenever I see news this good miraculously appear online, I fear it is a hoax.  This seems legit.  The deal apparently went down today and the news is already everywhere.  This means we will NOT be losing one of the classic professional speculative magazines.  Hoorah.

Now a confession.  I have never read a copy of Realms of Fantasy.  I had a subscription to F&SF and before that, Analog, but I don’t think I have so much as been in the same room with an issue of Realms.  A single consumer can only do so much.  I will look for this new May issue (expected next issue, missing only one) in bookstores near me so I can show my support.  I have also never submitted there as their guidelines always made it clear that they weren’t looking for new writers.

So is the resurrection of Realms a coup for the genre?  Absolutely.  Will it affect me personally?  Sure.  There will be more markets buying stories, increasing my chances (infinitessimally) of professional publication.  I don’t have to print in Realms to reap this benefit.  Every time Realms buys a great story, it’s one I don’t have to compete against in another mag.  A selfish view?  Absolutely.  Nevertheless, I’m glad it’s back.

-Oso

Blowin in the Wind

~ Scott W. Baker ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday I did something I haven’t done in years: I flew a kite.  It wasn’t an elaborate kite, just a one dollar Wal-Mart special with a picture of Elmo.  It was my wife’s idea that my daughter would enjoy it.  As usual, my wife was right. Abby wanted to hold the string the whole time and was very upset when the kite came down (which happened frequently in the gusty day).  It was a nice bonding moment.  I will get Elmo out again soon.

It was an experience I wanted to share with people, maybe write a story with such a scene, but I don’t think I can do it.  I could describe the actions, but there is no describing the feeling a parent experiences sharing a moment with their child.  The best I could hope to accomplish would be to stir that emotion in people who have experienced something similar.  It made me feel inadequate as a writer.

I am an inadequate writer, don’t get me wrong, but writers are supposed to write the stuff they feel it is important to share.  Really, it can’t be done.

Maybe I take the writer’s mission statement too literally.  Maybe it is most important that I make it clear that the character feels this, whether the reader feels it themselves could be irrelevant.  Negative emotions and sensations are so much simpler: anger, frustration, pain, defeat, sadness.  You don’t have to have had your fingernails removed with needle-nosed pliers to appreciate the description in a story.  I’m not sure the mix of love, pride, accomplishment, and giving shares that potential.

I am making it a goal to write a story including that kind of moment.  I’m not ready right now, but I want to do it.  Maybe at Clarion (east or west, whichever comes through) when my idea bank starts emptying out, when my skills are sharp and my wits are dull.  It doesn’t have to be a kite, maybe give the experience a speculative twist.  A wizard teaching his child to levitate objects.  A tribal alien sharing a first hunt with its offspring.

Think how many more experiences like this I have opportunities to enjoy.  Riding a bike, driving a car (way in the future), first love letter, first fishing trip (Mom may be better at that).  O am overwhelmed.  It makes me feel guilty for the number of days I’ve let slip by without sharing something new with her.  She is only two.  How many things can I expect her to appreciate right now?

It also makes me feel guilty for hoping so vehemently to leave her for six weeks this summer.  I did not stop being my own person when she was born, I need to continue pursuing my own dreams as well as hers, but I still feel like a heel.  I bet I could write that feeling into a story, selfishness and shame.

This is not usually what I do with this blog.  You are not my therapist.  I just felt this needed to be shared, so here it is.  I promise something more upbeat next time.

-Oso