"Bayne's Climb" draws some attention

"Take a fascinating glimpse at the process of a pulp-style writer growing as an artist and learning to create something that is beautiful as well as exciting."

Those are some of the words of author Brent Nichols writing about my experimental fantasy novel, Bayne's Climb: Part I of The Sword of Bayne.

For Brent's full account of my novel, check out this link.

I'm glad he liked the book. And I'm glad he "got it."

Whenever someone else can get a glimpse of what I am trying to accomplish with a particular piece of fiction, that to me is a highlight of being a writer, one of the best things about being a writer.

I also like it when readers take away things unintended by myself. I find it fascinating what those who perceive art can come away with.

For example, the song Blackbird by The Beatles, mainly a work of Sir Paul McCartney. To me, this is a song about death, but also a song that deals with setting someone free to go on to better things. But Paul has said more than once that Blackbird is about the civil rights movement of the U.S. in the 1960s. Go figure.

100 sites for fiction writers: #28 - Eugie Foster

This is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.

Eugie Foster

Eugie Foster must be one busy writer. Every time you turn around, it seems she has another short story appearing in some anthology or magazine or online site. She is also a voting member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), has earned the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novelette, and the 2009 Phobos Award. On top of all that and more, she works with the Georgia General Assembly to edit legislation.

On top of all that, Foster has taken the time to discover and keep track of a large and growing number of Markets where fiction writers can potentially sell their stories and/or novels. Here not only will you find a hefty list of book Publishers, but you can also find an extensive list of Children's Markets, meaning publications that are seeking literature for children.

If you feel you need to have your work critiqued by others who know what they are talking about, you should probably check out the list of Workshops that Foster has on her site. And if you are interested in learning about other writers, Foster's Links page has quite the list that will take you to other writers sites and blogs.

To be clear, this site is not necessarily one you will want to go to if you are looking for tips and such on writing. There is some of that here, but not all that much. Even Foster's Blog tends to be more personal or focus upon her writing career, but there is nothing wrong with that. The importance of this site for other fiction writers, despite interest one might find specifically in Eugie Foster, are those lists upon lists of markets I have mentioned, especially the markets for children's literature, as that can be difficult to find separate from the more traditional adult-fiction market lists.

Also, if you are interested in writing for the younger market, you should look into Foster's Columns, originally titled Writing for Young Readers. Though these columns are more than a few years old now, they still hold excellent information about writing fiction for young people.

On a side note, as Foster is mainly a writer of the speculative, you fans of science fiction and fantasy and horror will also likely want to check out this website.

100 sites for fiction writers: #27 - Apex Publications

This is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.

Apex Publications

What exactly is Apex Publications? It is a small press publisher of speculative literature, meaning science fiction, horror and fantasy. Apex offers books in these genres, but online and often in print there has been an Apex Magazine, once called Apex Digest.

Big deal. So what? Why should a fiction writer care about this one little publisher?

Because this one little publisher has published the likes of Brian Keene, Ben Bova, Poppy Z Brite and Cherie Priest. If you are not familiar with those names, surely you have heard of Neil Gaiman?


For another thing, this little publisher isn't so little any more. Recently Publisher Jason Sizemore announced Apex Publications' books and magazines will be distributed in the U.S. and U.K. through Diamond Book Distributors. That's a pretty big deal. Not only does that show expansion, it also takes this company into a much wider market.

All of that's nice, but still, why should a fiction writer want to visit the site?

Well, obviously you could submit stories and novels to Apex Publications once you have read the Guidelines, but potentially more importantly you need to check out the site's Blog.

Yes, another blog. I can read your mind. Why in the world would you want to read yet another blog about writing? Truth be told, the Apex Publications blog isn't necessarily specifically for writing. The blog holds news about new editions of the magazine and books to be published through the company. But by reading the blog on a regular basis, you can also become a little more familiar with what the publisher and editors are looking for, which could potentially help your sales with the company.

And then, yes, there is plenty of information at the Apex Publications blog about writing. Guest posts are quite common, with regulars appearing every few days. Many of these blog posters are writers themselves, and some of them are editors or related to the publishing business in some other manner. Here you will find plenty of interviews with authors, as well as some news about the publishing industry and a good number of tips and ideas about writing.

Oh, and don't forget to read some of the great free fiction at the site. If you're a fan of the speculative, you are sure to find something there to like.

Books read in 2011: No. 35 - The Black God's War: A Novella

by Moses Siregar III

Started: July 7
Finished: July 10

Notes: This is a novella that previews the upcoming novel of the same name, which as of this writing is scheduled to be released in August of this year. This novella has garnered much praise, so I'm looking forward to it.

Mini review: This was a darn fine read. Not quite perfect, but shows much, much promise. This novella is 15 chapters of an upcoming, longer novel that as of this writing is scheduled to be released later this year. With more work being done on the story, and the expansion of the tale itself, I dare say this might in the end be one of the best epic fantasy novels I've yet to come across from an indie author (not that I've read all of them, of course). As a fellow writer, I'm not quite jealous, but I can look over the border into the lands of jealousy. This should be an awesome book when it comes out.

100 sites for fiction writers: #26 - CreateSpace

This is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.

CreateSpace

So you've been writing for a while, and maybe you think it's time you had a book published. You've considered going the traditional route by sending query letters to publishers and editors and literary agents, but for reasons of your own you have decided to publish your own books.

How do you go about this?

One of the most common ways today is to utilize a site such as CreateSpace, by Amazon. At CreateSpace, you can upload the file for your book, do some formatting and soon your book will be available for readers to purchase it online at Amazon.com. How does the site work so fast, through print-on-demand technology.

Sounds simple. Truth to tell, there's more to it than that, but you can find out the specific details at the Book section of CreateSpace. Here you can find out about royalties and more technical issues such as tools for creating your book cover.

If you feel you need some help with your book, you can always find it at the Services section of the CreateSpace site. There you can find information and potentially help with editing, layout and even marketing of your book. These services are not free, however, and can cost as much as $299, but it might be worth it to you.

Keep in mind, the basics of CreateSpace will not cost you a dime. You can even get a free ISBN for your book, and that will be necessary for selling.

So how does CreateSpace make money from all us? Several ways. For instance, there are the services I mentioned above. Most noticeably, CreateSpace (Amazon) takes a little money from each of your books they have to print out. There are also a handful of other ways they make money, one being a special distribution program writers can pay to join, such a program promising better distribution for your books and a slightly larger percentage of money from the sales of your books.

There are those who prefer working with print-on-demand companies like Lightning Source, and I won't argue one way or the other, though I will say it is good to have options. When it comes to printing, you need to be aware of your options. Some sites might offer only certain types of paper for printing, or perhaps offer only certain types of books (hardback vs. trade paperback, etc.) So before you spend time and money on a site such as CreateSpace, or any other publishing site, make sure you learn what's what. You'll be better for it in the long run.

I'd also like to add, for you musicians and budding filmmakers out there, CreateSpace also offers CD and DVD services. So check out the site if you'd like to publish your own CD and/or DVD.

100 sites for fiction writers: #25 - National Novel Writing Month

This is an ongoing series looking at websites that can be of help to fiction writers with their craft and career.

National Novel Writing Month

November can be a crazy month for some fiction writers and those who want to be writers. Since 1999, thousands have taken part in National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo). The very first such month was in July, but it was moved to November starting in 2000.

Are you not familiar with National Novel Writing Month? Here are the basics: Writers from around the globe sign up at the website, then make a pledge to write 50,000 words of a novel in the month of November.
Quite simple, though writing 50,000 words in a month is a hefty task for most people. If you reach the 50,000 words in one month, then you submit your writing for verification. Once your work is verified to meet the length of 50,000 words, you are given an electronic award which you can put up on your blog or website. There is no single winner because everyone who reaches the goal is considered a winner.

But that doesn't mean you have to wait until October or November to visit the NaNoWriMo site. This website has plenty to offer throughout the rest of the year, especially for beginning writers.

If you'd like to pick up some tips and ideas about writing, you probably want to pay a visit to the Forums. There you can learn much, but you can also just hang out and have a good time.

If you feel you need a boost in your confidence, head over to the Pep Talks area to receive some advice from authors.

Are there children in your house who show an interest in fiction writing? You might want to check out the Young Writers Program at NaNoWriMo.

If you'd like an online retreat, a digital place to get away from world and just write, write, write, there is also a NaNoWriMo writing camp called Camp NaNoWriMo.

And once you have completed a novel, what do you do then? For suggestions check out the I Wrote A Novel, Now What? section.

Whether you are a budding novelist or an old pro, this site can help keep you motivated and help to keep you in your writing seat and those fingers typing. Don't wait until near the end of the year to visit the NaNoWriMo site. And there's plenty more at the site than what I've mentioned, so don't forget to check it out.

Books read in 2011: No. 34 - The Gateway (Harbinger of Doom Volume 1)

by Glenn G. Thater

Started: July 4
Finished: July 7

Notes: Fellow indie author Thater has been offering this e-book for free for some while now, I'm sure in a bid to draw in readers, and I've been thinking for some time I should give it a shot. Besides, I've been ignoring too much fantasy fiction this year in order to catch up on some other reading, and I think it's time I got back into some fantasy.

Mini review: I've read better, but I've also read worse. The beginning was jarring because there are so many characters thrown at the reader, but eventually you're able to make out who is who. The Theta character is by far the most interesting, with hints of a past that sound quite interesting, leaving me wanting to know more.