Cryptopedia Magazine is a new horror ezine, and they're looking for submissions.
From their website:
"Cryptopedia Magazine is actively seeking submissions of horror, dark fantasy and darker edged science fiction, non-fiction, reviews, interviews, features, profiles, comics, artwork and more! We will be published quarterly in a downloadable PDF format, as well as being available on our website for paid subscribers to view and enjoy online. We will be distributed to a vast network of publishers, agents, authors, artists and other movers and shakers in the horror field, and will also feature excerpts and interviews from established authors as well as promising up-and-comers."
More details can be found on their submissions guidelines.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Sounding the Trumpet
Hope you all enjoyed your long weekend and are eagerly scribbling some new stories to send out.
Today's spotlight is on fantasy writer Catherine Hellisen.
Catherine Hellisen lives in Johannesburg, and 2007 sees her first short story in print. Taking Back the Castle is available in the shared world anthology When The World Runs Thin. Set in the year 2140, this collection of short stories highlights the fate of six cities. Taking Back The Castle is, naturally enough, about Cape Town.
Issue #3 of horror 'zine Something Wicked is out. If you can't find it at your local bookshop or comic shop, then order online at Something Wicked.
The featured writers this issue are Lauren Beukes, Kirk Dixon, Erika Frouws, One, Charles Paston, Werner Pretorius, Karen Runge, Miranda Sherry, and Brett Venter.
Today's spotlight is on fantasy writer Catherine Hellisen.
Catherine Hellisen lives in Johannesburg, and 2007 sees her first short story in print. Taking Back the Castle is available in the shared world anthology When The World Runs Thin. Set in the year 2140, this collection of short stories highlights the fate of six cities. Taking Back The Castle is, naturally enough, about Cape Town.
Issue #3 of horror 'zine Something Wicked is out. If you can't find it at your local bookshop or comic shop, then order online at Something Wicked.
The featured writers this issue are Lauren Beukes, Kirk Dixon, Erika Frouws, One, Charles Paston, Werner Pretorius, Karen Runge, Miranda Sherry, and Brett Venter.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
You don't pay to publish.
Let me repeat that, my fellow South Africans.
You don't pay to publish.
The publishing house pays you.
If you paid to have your work published, then you've either been conned, didn't do enough research into the publishing industry, or - and this is the minority - know exactly what you are doing and have weighed the odds. You also probably have a lot of time to market your work, and knowledge of exactly how good marketing works.
I was trawling through the various writerly and publishery sites that litter the internet, and I kept coming across the same sort of questions - how much will it cost me to get my book published, what kind of fees will my publisher charge me, I don't have R25 000 to publish my book, and so on.
A legitimate publisher will, if they accept your work, pay you a certain amount upfront - your advance. When your royalties from the sales of your book have earned that money out, you will then begin earning royalties. Not all books earn out, but even if they don't, you will not be asked to return your advance.
The publisher will not only pay you an advance, but will also pay the related publishing costs, and will most likely have a budget set aside for marketing. If you're a n00b writer, that budget probably amounts to having your book advertised in trade magazines, if you're Stephen King, well, lets just say it's a little bigger.
But in all of this, no-one is going to be asking you to finance your own book. They'll want you to do your bit by working with the editors and copy-editors on any changes, and proofing the work before it goes to press, but that's your job - you're the writer. And there's another thing; a legitimate publisher will edit your book so that is it as free from error as is humanly possible.
You will also not be expected to buy your own book. Most publishing houses give the author a number of copies to keep and for review purposes, but they don't expect sales to come from your family and friends.
So before you run off to a glorified printing company masquerading as a publisher, do your research, and find out how to submit your manuscript to valid publishers. Sites like Preditors And Editors have exhaustive list of publishers and agents, with information relating to their legitimacy.
You don't pay to publish.
The publishing house pays you.
If you paid to have your work published, then you've either been conned, didn't do enough research into the publishing industry, or - and this is the minority - know exactly what you are doing and have weighed the odds. You also probably have a lot of time to market your work, and knowledge of exactly how good marketing works.
I was trawling through the various writerly and publishery sites that litter the internet, and I kept coming across the same sort of questions - how much will it cost me to get my book published, what kind of fees will my publisher charge me, I don't have R25 000 to publish my book, and so on.
A legitimate publisher will, if they accept your work, pay you a certain amount upfront - your advance. When your royalties from the sales of your book have earned that money out, you will then begin earning royalties. Not all books earn out, but even if they don't, you will not be asked to return your advance.
The publisher will not only pay you an advance, but will also pay the related publishing costs, and will most likely have a budget set aside for marketing. If you're a n00b writer, that budget probably amounts to having your book advertised in trade magazines, if you're Stephen King, well, lets just say it's a little bigger.
But in all of this, no-one is going to be asking you to finance your own book. They'll want you to do your bit by working with the editors and copy-editors on any changes, and proofing the work before it goes to press, but that's your job - you're the writer. And there's another thing; a legitimate publisher will edit your book so that is it as free from error as is humanly possible.
You will also not be expected to buy your own book. Most publishing houses give the author a number of copies to keep and for review purposes, but they don't expect sales to come from your family and friends.
So before you run off to a glorified printing company masquerading as a publisher, do your research, and find out how to submit your manuscript to valid publishers. Sites like Preditors And Editors have exhaustive list of publishers and agents, with information relating to their legitimacy.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
International Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch Day
The stories are starting to go live, and the links are being collected at the IPSTP livejournal.
An interview with David de Beer is up at Dasef Central. He talks about flash fiction and gives a good list of markets.
An interview with David de Beer is up at Dasef Central. He talks about flash fiction and gives a good list of markets.
Friday, April 20, 2007
So you're in it for the money?
Then I suggest you take up gambling.
No really, if you're writing for the oodles of cash, then rather take up playing the lotto professionally. You have just as much chance there.
While the point is obviously to reach as many readers as possible, and hopefully make a living out of writing, if you're expecting JK Rowling-sized paychecks then you're in for disappointment.
Science Fiction writer Tobias Buckell has a very interesting article about the kind of advances you can expect in the SF/fantasy genre corner. Karen Fox has a similar article about the expected earnings of romance writers.
In other news April 23 is set to be International Pixel-stained Technopeasant day, where many pro (and not so pro) authors will be giving it away on the web. To see what it's all about head over to this post on World Fantasy award winner Jo Walton's blog.
No really, if you're writing for the oodles of cash, then rather take up playing the lotto professionally. You have just as much chance there.
While the point is obviously to reach as many readers as possible, and hopefully make a living out of writing, if you're expecting JK Rowling-sized paychecks then you're in for disappointment.
Science Fiction writer Tobias Buckell has a very interesting article about the kind of advances you can expect in the SF/fantasy genre corner. Karen Fox has a similar article about the expected earnings of romance writers.
In other news April 23 is set to be International Pixel-stained Technopeasant day, where many pro (and not so pro) authors will be giving it away on the web. To see what it's all about head over to this post on World Fantasy award winner Jo Walton's blog.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Horror market calls for submissions
New horror ezine Noctem Aeternus is looking for stories of up to 4000 words for their free quarterly PDF.
They pay 10 cents a word, which is very good rates for short fiction.
They pay 10 cents a word, which is very good rates for short fiction.
"We are looking for horror stories with a solid plot, strong character development, and attention to detail. Stories should also grab the reader’s attention quickly and hold it until the end. Although a good story can include gore, we don’t want gore for gore’s sake.
We are looking for great horror stories. Stories can be about monsters, the paranormal, serial killers, or anything else that evokes fear.
Science fiction, mystery, western, or fantasy elements are acceptable, however, there should be no doubt the story is horror."
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Finish the story first
Karen Miller has a post about The Tyranny Of The First Draft. It tackles the fear of finishing a story, and encourages you to give yourself the permission to be crap.
James D Macdonald, over on the Absolute Write boards, has lots of excellent advice for writers, the best of which is to sit down and write, commonly abbreviated on the boards as BIC (butt in chair). The thread is well worth reading, and it's at close on 250 pages now.
James D Macdonald, over on the Absolute Write boards, has lots of excellent advice for writers, the best of which is to sit down and write, commonly abbreviated on the boards as BIC (butt in chair). The thread is well worth reading, and it's at close on 250 pages now.
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