Final March links: sf markets.

Dreams of Decadence to Re-launch

So... if you write paranormal romance and/or urban fantasy, keep an eye on this market. Also note that links to the submission engines at Lightspeed [new market], Clarkesworld, Fantasy Magazine, and EV are in this post.

Polyphony, Or -- what happened to that book I ordered? In this case an anthology, but... it's an interesting brief discussion about marketing and submissions.

It does make you think... with this many people who submit to a market, who DOES buy the result? And -- as William said not long ago, how would you know to seek the book or antho out had you no idea of its existence?

Just because.

"He must be very stupid," said Ellery.

"Sure," said his father cheerfully. "They're only smart in the fairy tales you write. Now if this were one of your mystery plots, Ellery, you know who'd be the criminal?"

-- from Four-&-Twenty Bloodhounds, edited by Anthony Boucher (Simon & Schuster, 1950).

I love Ellery Queen. The wealth in that little exchange is priceless. I've just begun chasing down Queen stories, so I have a little time before I mine them out.

I recommend that particular volume, as it's a fun concoction of the Mystery Writers of America, back when they were young -- only six years old! -- with John Dickson Carr, Anthony himself, among others. And of course Ellery Queen. :D

What's signal and what's noise?

I don't have an answer. That's from a Cats Laughing song -- in War for the Oaks by Emma Bull.


But here I store links. Which are both signal and noise; it just depends on the viewer's perception

William brings up where books go, from the New York Review of Books. So far I think my favorite line, in a horrified sort of way, is "the utopian fantasy that in the digital future content will be free of charge and authors will not have to eat."

A discussion about race/whiteness in a newly reviewed book...


Ahhh... technology! How college students got Tweeted -- by their prof!

The Future of Publishing: A really clever video... be strong and listen all the way through. It's worth it; through Moonie.

After the Ides: March links.

Since I've been behind on blogs lately: A workshop I missed hearing about... in NYC.

And a bunch of other nifty links from Moonie. The Jane Austen one was nifty. :D

I also recommend a standard submission process and what if a submission needs more work?

I cannot believe it's really spring -- I hear it was snowing yestereve in Kansas! Mostly because it's my niece's birthday. I wonder how well she's sleeping? I know her parents and grandparents are... a little light on sleep what with my nephew's extreme youth!

It's been a long week. I hope your weekend's going well.

[Hi, Rachel!!!]

A nameless post...

I don't tend to get over to LJ as much anymore. Some years ago, I did. Once I came home to the Midwest, my life was very different, and so I just don't make it out of Blogger land as often.

But today I did.

Jim Hines talks about Why Advances Matter. Right now he's doing a First Novel Survey. Also note the comments in that -- authors add in things Jim hadn't, and as always, Jim discusses things further.

Something I love about the cool people I know is that they're smart and articulate. Not only do they teach me things, but they can teach you.


And because I adore her, and have come late to this discussion... Pamela Dean talks about her WIP. It grew. It must shrink. Drastically.

Installments: 2100 words; spoilers & of coral made; Chapter Three: catch a falling star; icicles, or 4-6; empty book... as a sparrow sees it; 75%, or twice mown?

I think I would give my firstborn child, had I one, for that two-volume book that will not be.


ETA: Sharyn November's news for teen writers. Guess what? Much of this applies to grownups too. I highly recommend her links to Justine and Scalzi in #5. Remember, just because you know an author/editor, ASK. Don't assume he or she is dying to read your stuff. 'Kay?

March voting...

Pepsi is doing a monthly grant program with Web voting.

John's got a proposal there for OtherWorlds. I noticed a few days ago, but today he's posted about it. :>

And the 2010 Locus Poll is open. Nonsubscribers can indeed vote. Remember that you can write in candidates for 2009 works -- up to five per category.

Go check out the voting on both, eh?

The importance of research and wonder...

Crows using tools -- no, this isn't made-up either.

Story as meme, to create change... is something that Mark Chadbourn is interested in.

William defines genre. This is really excellent -- what a great spot of "finding" that I'm having. But it does come down sometimes to knowing cool articulate people, and/or expecting to find 'em. Or as a friend of Steve's said, paraphrased: Why shouldn't he write about witty intelligent people? That's who he knows!


I have neglected keeping up with Moonie lately. She hasn't failed me -- Moonie's links:

• A reprint through self-pub: The Silk Road.
• Literary ennui, or Our Boredom, Ourselves, at the NY Times; can you get through it?
• Anomie, a shot in the arm, or... 2009's Write Your A** Off Day -- found belatedly in my case, sorry! -- which Moonie instituted this year in early Feb.
• Aprilynne on why you should not abandon Your Idea [past the artwork].
• Starting with Moonie's own preface, and thence to Marie Mockett's essay about why debut writers deserve a chance.
• And Dadrat explains the basics of query letters to Moonie; so cool! Make sure to peek in the comments.

Now WYAOD is officially in June [thanks, Moonie!]. :D So you can still make it!

I think that's much food for thought, eh?

Particularly when I had half a night's insomnia... don't worry, I only spent about an hour or so, wandering through Moonie's links [and 31 of her own posts, sigh]. Happy March to you.