Market news: Duotrope's 2013 change.

An author friend mentioned Duotrope's Digest to me -- and how they've chosen to close their listings to you unless you subscribe there.

Here's another author's take on why "free" isn't owed to users, which I found refreshing and pragmatic.


If you're seeking an alternative to Duotrope for market research, there's a variety to choose from, courtesy of Author Alden -- including the long-standing Ralan.com, of course.

Market listings:  Ralan, SFWA's Pro Market List, Spec Lit Foundation's List; submission trackers:  Sonar 3, Writer's Planner, The Writer's Database, LibreOffice; and market response statistics:  Black Holes, the Write 1/Sub 1 Forum at Absolute Write, The Rejections and Acceptances Log.

Two are new market listings:  Submitomancy and The Submission Grinder.  I've linked the Grinder in case you'd like to help them out; for all ten links, please see Author Alden, above.

Greetings from the year 2013.

I've been quiet here lately.  From mid-August onward, 2012 had a lot of rough spots.

Of course high spots existed -- Chicon 7, for one.  :D  Christmas Day was another... as was Election Night.

Family members went in and out of hospital.  Multiple times.  I had computer problems again, which made the summer highly exciting.  Okay, nerve-wracking. I didn't make it to WFC 2012 like I'd planned to.

And there was the Connecticut tragedy.


I hope you all had a good start to your 2013.  I'm anticipating this year.  Why?  Why not?  Every year I meet more people who make life matter.

Happy New Year.

And Immortal ConFusion starts on 18-January.  Hope to see you there.  8)

About strangers...

"I don't know why I'm saying this to you."

"It's sometimes a good idea to say things like that to strangers.  They make uncomplicated confidants."

From Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh.

I really liked this exchange, and as it's not a spoiler in any way, I thought I'd put it here. I wanted to write about it, but I won't tonight.  Maybe later.

I haven't posted in weeks, so I hope you all had a lovely holiday this past week.

Happy New 2013!

November links. :)

Interesting things I found while researching.  Most of these are death, destruction, weapons, and guns.  I found some of them more fun than others, but hey, I like learning things, including weird things that are theoretical.


A shot to the head.  This is about death, yes; don't think it's something else, because it really isn't.  (Yes, I was looking up injuries and deaths, not planning on killing anyone; sorry!)  The internal links are brilliant!

Two angles, one on choosing handguns and the other about large caliber handguns and women.

How does it feel to receive a bullet?  Authors at the Absolute Write Watercooler.

And because Cracked.com should have the last word whenever possible -- okay, maybe not!  5 Weapon Myths You Probably Believe (Thanks to Movies).

Pretty sure I found that last link when I was searching submarines, but I could be wrong.  :D

Bonus link:  Confusing Words.  It hasn't got them all, certainly, but there are some that this is invaluable for.

You came here...

"I demand an explanation.  I intend to hold you to account for alienating the affection of my wife."

"Affections," Wolfe said.

"What?"

"Affections.  In that context the plural is used."

"I didn't come here," he said, "to have my grammar corrected."

"Not grammar.  Diction."

That's Nero Wolfe.  Sound familiar?

If that's not where the inspiration came for Mark Gatiss to write the opening scene of The Great Game, I'd be amazed.  (No, actually, I'd be curious to find out what his inspiration was, but I digress.)  But Mark's a fan of the Golden Age of Detection, and Nero Wolfe is one of the more famous detectives to follow Sherlock Holmes...

You can find the above scene, uncut, in Three at Wolfe's Door.  :D

Taking WFC off.

Cancelled my trip to WFC in Toronto for this weekend.

October was a really chaotic month -- family in hospital, one critically, and lots of other things going on.  Including a lot of sleep troubles.

I finally realized on 30-October that if that wasn't a case of Life causing con burnout, then something was.

So I'm home, and resting.  Finally got a good night's sleep.  Feels like I haven't slept well all week... possibly because I haven't.  (:/)

Even the neighbors hammering away didn't trouble me for quite some time (or they started later, hard to say).

Happy All Saints Day!  Try not to eat all your candy in one sitting, eh?  ;)

Almost to World Fantasy!

I'm anticipating the con.  The schedule's come.

Packing, arranging, and so on will be keeping me busy.  :D

Expect some quiet from me a weekend hence, from 1-Nov. through 4-Nov.  Probably major quiet.  Radio silence sort of quiet.

Unless I use Twitter.  Odds for that are not strong, even though this con is rather different than Chicon 7.  It being in Toronto will give me some challenges that no American con ever has, for one thing!

WFC will be interesting.  Some people who do Michigan cons are part of WFC 2012 staff.  

I'll work at the con, not sure where yet.  Possibly registration, possibly ops.  Don't know.

Cons tend to overset some of your plans... a bit like Pennsic War does.  8)

Anyway, I expect to Do Stuff, visit with friends, meet people, and come back both wired and exhausted.

Whatever happens for you, have a Happy Halloween!  I know I will.