Markets for the More Discerning Submitter–Kaleidotrope
Welcome to the first installment of Markets for the More Discerning Submitter, where i discuss a token or semi-pro paying market i particularly like and why. I’m hoping to post at least one installment a month. Today we open up with the market Kaleidotrope.
Disclaimer: I have a story coming out with them later this year.
Kaleidotrope is a speculative fiction zine. From their launch in 2006 up until the end of 2011 they published print issues (which are all now available as free PDFs), but in 2012 moved to a solely online format.
They’re eclectic, and one of the things i love about them is that they’re willing to take chances on stories told in non-traditional ways or with non-traditional structures (if they like them enough, that is 
).
They pay 1c a word (US) for fiction. They accept electronic and postal subs, as well as multiple subs (3 at a time maximum). They do not accept simultaneous submissions. They have no maximum word limit, though stories over 10,000 words will be a hard sell. They also enjoy flash fiction. Full submission guidelines here.
There’s plenty to like about Kaleidotrope. They’re well established, being now in their 6th year. As already mentioned, they’re not afraid to take chances on unusually structured or told stories, and they publish a great range of fiction. But, they don’t just publish fiction. They also publish essays, memoirs, creative non-fiction, criticism, interviews, comics, sketches, and poetry.
Something else that might make your writer’s antennae bobble is that each issue is reviewed by Locus Online and SFRevu. In fact, Tea in the Sahara, by Daniel Braum and published in Kaleidotrope’s Winter 2012 issue, received a RECOMMENDED from Lois Tilton, the Locus short fiction reviewer, which is no mean feat. To put that in perspective, four pro-paying mags were also reviewed by Lois Tilton in that slot, and only 1 of their 9 stories got a RECOMMENDED.
Kaleidotrope is currently closed to subs, but will be back open on July 1, 2012. If you haven’t subbed to them before, why not do so when they reopen?
New Markets: Jukepop Serials, and Specutopia
Welcome to the first installment of New Markets!
You’ll notice each market i discuss is given an overall Sam rating based on what i perceive to be the venue’s pros and cons. This is very subjective, being as it’s based only on my opinion, and is certainly not official. There is no ceiling or floor for the ratings either, but i expect most will end up between 0 and 2, with anything higher meaning i really like them. Time will tell, of course.
Jukepop Serials
Two new semi-pro paying markets have popped up on my radar recently. The first of these is Jukepop Serials.
I have to say, when i first spotted Jukepop Serials i got excited. I’ve got a soft spot for serial fiction, but there aren’t many markets for it, and fewer that pay. Jukepop Serials is offering 2c a word for initial submissions (at least during their start-up phase), and the possibility of cash prizes each month following.
Now, serial fiction can be a tricky proposition, particularly in gaining a readership base, as well as making sure the authors that’ve signed on don’t leave everybody high and dry. But, i think Jukepop is going about it the right way. On their FAQ page they outline what they’re hoping to achieve, as well as what the monthly prize money will be (and this prize pool isn’t just for 1 or 2 writers, but for the top 30). Of course, this means that not everybody will get paid regularly (or at all) past the first installment, and even if they do, the pay will probably work out to less than semi-pro, but i still love the idea.
Jukepop Serials is hoping to launch in September 2012 with 100 writers writing serial fiction. They are currently listed on duotrope, but not on ralan. They also allow up to 3 submissions at one time per author.
Okay then, let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros:
Shiny website
Good initial pay-rate @ 2c a word (max 5,000 words)
No tricky submission requirements (that i could see), good clear FAQ page
Social media presence (twitter; tumblr–though no real facebook page that i can find)
Allows multiple subs
Cons:
No information onsite about editorial staff
Overall Sam rating: 4
Would i submit there? Yes, and may already have done so 
Specutopia
Specutopia is a new spec fic magazine launching 1 July 2012. Their current payrate is 1c a word for stories between 1500 and 5000 words long.
When i first read Specutopia’s guidelines i had an immediate gripe. Their policy was only to respond to stories they wanted to buy, or to writers they wanted to see more of. All the rest of their submitters were to assume rejection if they hadn’t heard anything within 21 days. I didn’t like that idea. For one, unless a zine has a gang of dedicated first readers, slush times quickly expand beyond the 21 day mark, so such a policy would likely quickly become unworkable. Two, it reminded me of the typical no-response policy most literary agents have. One of the reasons i enjoy submitting short fiction is that i get a response, even if it’s a brief, form no.
However: Specutopia have changed their guidelines! Hooray! Now, they say they’ll typically respond within 60 days. They do ask for only one submission per writer during their reading periods (unless otherwise notified), but that’s all good. At least writers will know where they stand in respect to subs. That change to their guidelines earns them a Sam rating pro point for being sensitive to writer preferences.
Specutopia doesn’t have any details re editorial staff onsite, which is a con, but the message board posts of theirs i’ve seen are signed by a managing editor, so perhaps those details are coming. They also don’t have any social media presence that i can find. EDITED TO ADD: As per the comment below from Dale Wise, who’s heading up the launch for Specutopia, they now have a facebook page, twitter account, and blog. Thanks for stopping by, Dale, and best success with the zine!
They’re listed on duotrope and ralan. Here are their submission guidelines. They allow sim subs (which some might view as a pro, but because so few other spec fic markets allow sim subs currently, to me it’s neither here nor there).
Their website isn’t flashy, but certainly isn’t difficult to look at, read or navigate. Functionally attractive, i’d say.
Pros:
Semi-pro pay–1c a word
Sensitive to writer preferences; detailed submission guidelines
Social media presence
Cons:
No information onsite about editorial staff
Overall Sam rating: 2
Would i submit there? Yes!
Introducing Two New Blog Features
Today i’m introducing two new feature post series to the blog. Some time ago i published a weekly spec-fiction newsletter, full of various tidbits and market information. It was time-consuming to put together, but enjoyable. Unfortunately, time constraints have forced me to stop publishing the newsletter, but i still keep track of what’s happening in the spec fic markets (i am a writer, after all).
So, with the above in mind, and a desire to make myself blog more regularly, i’m introducing a new blog feature entitled ‘New Markets.’ Rather than making this a weekly feature, i’ll post whenever i spot a new market that looks interesting (and pays–though there may be the odd exception if a terrific non-paying market rears its head).
This isn’t an especially novel thing to blog about. There are plenty of market blogs out there already. But examining new markets is something i enjoy, and is always useful.
I’ll list what i think the pros and cons of each market are, with an overall rating based on those pros and cons at the end of the spiel.
That’s blog feature number one. Today i’ll be looking at two new markets–Jukepop Serials, and Specutopia. Stay tuned!
The second new blog feature will be called ‘Markets for the More Discerning Submitter.’ In this feature i will blog about a token to semi-pro market i particularly like, and why i think you should like it to. Beware, these posts will likely include links to venues where i’ve been published or bought. This idea was inspired by the most excellent Jennifer Mason-Black, who was contemplating something somewhat similar (but quite different and much grander in scope) a wee while back. I don’t think she has started her blog series yet, but i’m looking forward to it.
This second feature may be a weekly or semi-monthly thing. I haven’t decided yet. Why the focus on token to semi-pro markets, you ask? Well, the pros get plenty of attention already, but there are some great lower-paying zines out there that can’t afford to pay pro-rates yet, but publish some excellent stuff, and get reviewed in good places, and feature well-known spec fic writers, etc. As writers, we may be aware of these markets, but not of all the extra stuff we could enjoy if we are published by them.
Right-o, then, let’s get this show on the road: New Markets–Jukepop Serials and Specutopia
So, Sam, what’ve you been up to?
Seeing as i haven’t properly posted for 2 1/2 months, it’s probably past time for a general update.
So, what’ve i been up to?
Well, not all that much new writing, unfortunately. There’s been new subbing, though. In April i made a concerted effort to get finished stories out the door. Before April i had 11 stories circulating, and up until 2 days ago i had 15. 2 of those additional 4 were brand new subs, stories that’d needed polishing and editing since Jan, and the other 2 were old stories that’d been languishing on my hdd since their last rejection (1 for around 18 months). I do have another piece subbed a couple times this year that’s currently indoors, but i’m still deciding whether it’s actually a story or not.
I also discovered some most excellent submission tracking software in April. It’s called Sonar3, coded by Simon Haynes, who’s a writer as well as a programmer. It’s free (though registration isn’t an expensive option), easy to use, and very nifty. It’ll even keep track of how much you’ve earned per story. It was a good discovery, because my spreadsheet system was getting a little cumbersome, and while i use the duotrope tracking system as well, i like having my own system, too (and not all markets are in duotrope, amazingly).
So if you’re looking for something to help you keep track of your subs, i’d definitely recommend Sonar3.
Issue #3 of C&C is live. The full TOC (out of order), plus notes about some upcoming changes to the zine, is here.
A little while back, my story ‘A Touch of Heresy’ came out in the Spring 2012 issue of Big Pulp, one of the bookends for the science-fiction section. It’s not available onsite yet, but is available in print and ebook format. When i got my contributor’s copy and read the story i had a ‘did i really write this?’ moment. I got that same feeling when i first read ‘Pistols at Dawn Amongst the Evergreens’ in my contrib copy of Electric Velocipede #21/22 (which was their last print issue, incidentally). Must be something to do with being able to hold the story in my hands on something i didn’t print out.
Finally, for no reason, here’s a list of the titles of the stories i have circulating at the moment:
Aftershocks
Born Yesterday
Consequences of Service
Fire Season
Home-Time
Hyperdreamics
Just Add Water
Machinations
Orion’s Belt
Seaborn
The Body in the Culvert
The Other Side of Forever
The Surveyor
Through the Rhombus
Glad to see there aren’t any too similar, though it appears my opening letter alphabet stops at T
How’ve things been for you?
A sale
Nearly 3 months between posts *looks sheepish* I have been busy, but still…
Anyhoo, i have some actual writing news to report. Yeah, i know. Personal news and everything.
I got my 43rd submission response for the year today, and it wasn’t a rejection. *does a dance*
Untied Shoelaces of the Mind has picked up my very difficult to classify flash fiction piece, Dromedary. I’m very excited (and not just because it’s first sale of the year).
Strangely enough, my last two sales have been very odd stories of less than 1500 words.
Dromeday will appear in issue #7 of USotM, and as well as appearing free onsite looks like it’ll be available in audio format, too (and there’s a print version). Hoorah!
Oh, hello blog
Apparently i’m not doing so well at blogging more regularly. I think about it, but that seems to be as far as i’m getting right now.
However, here i am, talking into the electronic void. Hear me, interweb! For i am writer! Sometimes.
Actually, not much of one this month, if we’re being brutally honest. Yes, i’ve subbed two brand new stories, but they were finished last month. One of them even, the novelette i’ve mentioned in passing before, was started way back in May last year. Finally finished at the beginning of Jan, and edited this month. It’s 9,700 words and i like it very much. However, i do have trouble telling if longer stuff is actually done and has its weight in all the right places. I’ve had other long stories i’ve liked very much which haven’t worked on several levels, and i’ve got the writer frets that this one isn’t working either. I’m yet to hear back from the market it’s at, so we shall see.
The other piece that’s gone out the door is flash. It’s vignette rather than complete story, though, and it’s lit rather than genre, so i’m not sure where to send it (it’s had a couple Rs already and is now sitting in my to-send folder). Does Every Day Fiction go for vignette? Most of the stories i recall from them have beginnings, middles and ends. Mine does too, but it’s character introspection rather than action.
Speaking of mainstream/lit stories, you might recall last year i sold a story to NZ literary print zine, Takahe. Well, this morning i got an email from The Review Review saying they’d reviewed Takahe #73, and that they thought they’d let me know i and my story, The Race, got a mention. It was a nice mention (almost two mentions, actually), and particularly so because The Race is the only piece of non-spec-fic stuff i’ve sold (and before this month the only piece i’d tried to sell). The full review is here.
Last month was light on the rejections, this month not so much. 10 so far, with a couple days left. No sales yet for the year. 12 stories out, and 2 stories written last month that are awaiting a polish.
Like i said up top, i haven’t written much of anything in Feb. I had one public holiday day where i ripped out some novel words–Badgerpunk!–but apart from that i haven’t had the energy in the evenings or weekends to write. That’s not to say i haven’t had the desire or the ideas. In fact, i’ve been following this month’s Flash Fiction challenge over at Absolute Write, and keep going, ‘ooh, i’ve got something for this prompt,’ and ‘ahh, i know what i could do for this prompt.’ I will write you, prompt ideas, i will! And, seriously, those prompts are really good. The four stories i wrote in January were based off the first four challenge prompts for that month. Three of them were longer than flash, too.
Issue #3 of C&C is slowly coming together. I’ve sent out contracts for poetry tonight, and heard from L.E Badillo a couple days ago that the cover is nearing completion. I’ve got a few stories in my maybe pile, but there’s still acres of room if you’re thinking of submitting. Don’t worry if you’re a previous contributor; i’m quite happy to publish the same writers in each issue if they keep sending in awesome stories 
One of the ideas i’ve had to get me blogging more regularly, and to perhaps expand the scope of the blog from it just being me the writer talking about writing, is to do prompt blogs. I threw this out there on Twitter a couple weeks ago, and Polenth Blake suggested mushrooms. So, my next blog post will be on mushrooms. And it will be next week, not in four weeks time. Anybody got ideas for my next one after that (in a general interest, interesting vein–not really in a deep and meaningful issues vein)?
January Wrap
January’s done already. Wow. Then again, i say that at the end of every month 
So, what’s happened writing- and editing-wise for me this month?
I reopened C&C to subs. Picked a layout for cover #3 of C&C (once again being done by the immensely talented L.E. Badillo). Have yet to buy any stories for the issue, but do have a few in my maybe pile.
Personal writing-wise, i gathered together some poems at the beginning of the month and sent them off to a market i’d love to be in. Have yet to hear back on any of them, but i’m sure i will soon.
Wrote over 16K on the badgerpunk novel. Most of that was during my vacation time. It’s a fun book, though i foresee readership difficulties because it’s so easy to think of the animals as cute and cuddly, and forget that they’re also carnivores and omnivores and there’s a war brewing. Which is to say, some animals die. In all honesty, it shocked me when i realized this, but i can’t see a way around it. At least they’re not dying at the hands of human cruelty–there are no humans in the story–but still. But then i remember all the cool cybernetic/steampunky stuff i’ve got going on and keep writing.
During the middle of the month i went on a bit of short story writing frenzy. Wrote 4 complete stories in 4 days. 1 was flash, but the rest were between 1300 and 2200 words. I’ve edited one up and sent it out the door already. That was my official W1S1 sub for the month. It’s called ‘Just Add Water.’
I also finished the first draft of a novelette i’d been working on, titled ‘Seaborn.’ A few days ago i went back to edit, thinking i’d easily cut words, and ended up adding words instead. It’s about 9,800 words long. I may have trouble selling it, but i do like it very much.
Only 5 rejections for the month, plus a story i withdrew from a market that looks dead and resubbed elsewhere. I had a story make it to the final round at one zine. They included notes from the slushies in the R, and i was surprised it’d been held for final consideration as none of them seemed to like the story! I have two stories in the red on duotrope (i own the longest pending response time for one of them) and i have another that i know for sure has made it past slush. In total, i currently have 10 stories and 5 poems out on sub.
Not a bad month, all round. Not as much writing as i’d like, but it’s hard to write and slush at the same time. I’ve found they take quite different mindsets.
How did January go for you?
January W1S1 Blog Chain Guest Post–Annie Colleen
Howdy folks. I’ve got a treat for you today. Continuing the January W1S1 blog chain, which is all about interviewing a character, we have a guest post from Annie Colleen. She doesn’t blog, but she’s participating in the AW W1S1 Novel Challenge and wanted to get involved in the blog chain, so she’s posting her interview here.
And i better not hog the floor anymore. Here’s Annie!
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Kim Kimball is the main character of Jaqueson Underground, a NaNoWriMo novel currently in revision. At the time of this interview, she’s in residence–or custody, depending who you ask–in the Outpost Resource Commission’s compound. Fortunately for the interviewer, the door in the fourth wall of her quarters cell bypasses the Commission’s monitors.
AC: So you’re Kim Kimball.
KIM: [shrug]
AC: We’ve gotten some questions from our readership about that name. The Resource Commission’s records list a Liza Kimball, daughter of Jules and Constance. Can you tell me about that?
KIM: You believe Commission records? [pause] Liza’s gone. Thirteen years now. My name’s Kimball.
AC: Called Kim.
KIM: [half-smile] If I like you well enough, maybe.
AC: Thirteen years. That would be the disaster at the Jaqueson Cooperative mine?
KIM: If you know about it, why ask?
AC: But you – Liza – weren’t at the mine that morning.
KIM: I’m sitting here, aren’t I? [long pause] No. No, I wasn’t. My father didn’t…. They’d had equipment failures. Machinery degrading faster than it should have. He went down to look it over. Might be we could scrounge repairs without begging more credit. [laugh] Or pin the repairs on them. Those were Commission machines.
AC: Then you feel equipment failure was responsible for the collapse?
KIM: [silence]
AC: I’m sorry. I know this is a painful subject for you.
KIM: It happened. People died. What else can you say?
AC: Only as much as you want to. Now, what about the present day? I understand you at least still live in the Jaqueson Hills.
KIM: Who told you that? Commission says I live in Jacky-town. There’s nothing left in those hills.
AC: And yet Station gossip says Kim Kimball in town means trouble for someone.
KIM: Do they say that? I wouldn’t know.
AC: [pause] So, tell me about what’s happening now. We’re hearing about salvage efforts at some of the old sites, maybe even excavating the old mine. How do you think Jaqueson might benefit from those operations?
KIM: Benefit? I don’t know; is it a benefit when the ground collapses under you? Or when more people die trying to blast more sump rock out of the hills?
AC: Then you don’t think it can be safely done.
KIM: Safely. [pause] No. No, I don’t think it can. They don’t know what caused the first collapse. What makes them think it won’t happen again?
AC: Then these new operations should expect some opposition? Even those already licensed through the Resource Commission?
KIM: You mean, is Kim Kimball going to swoop down from the hills and spook them into the sump? [laugh] You’ve been listening to stories. Kim Kimball is going to walk into the Commission offices like a civilized person and let them know exactly what these — operations — have been up to. The Commission never licensed what’s been happening.
AC: Such as?
KIM: Trespassing, alienation of rights, illegal restraint….
AC: All that, even though there’s nothing left in these hills?
KIM: They’d like to think that.
AC: And you’re confident that your testimony will get those permits withdrawn?
KIM: The Commission has supported Jaqueson from the beginning. They have no reason to change that now.
AC: There’s been talk that the Commissioner who granted Jaqueson’s autonomy was certified insane.
KIM: The Mad Commissioner? The one who thought a swarm of cats was trying to kill him? I bet they told you sump dust causes hallucinations, too.
AC: You mean the rocks in those hills really do stand up and walk? And the big cats have human faces, and whisper nightmares?
KIM: Well, I don’t know. Are you a murdering corporate thief, or a rational human being?
AC: Point taken. We’ll leave that alone. So, tell me about Kim Kimball. Living in Jacky-town. Chatting with the Resource Commission. What does she do when she’s…I won’t say at home. Not otherwise occupied. And who would you say — in a general sense — is fortunate enough to be on first-name terms with Kim, as opposed to Kimball?
KIM: You think Kimball’s unfortunate? [pause] Not otherwise occupied. That’s hard to come by. Always more that needs doing. [long pause] Anything from before. You’ll think that’s sad.
AC: I’d say that could be seen as perfectly rational.
KIM: Now you’re being polite. [smile] There are…friends is too weak a word. Allies, say. Kin. Other Jaquesons. They’re more than anything. [pause] You want to get at Kim Kimball, that’s how you find her. But you won’t like what you find.
AC: I take it you mean something more — direct — than hazardous mining operations.
KIM: Illegal restraint, alienation of rights? For “trespassing” on a corporate expedition? Trespassing. Jaquesons, in the Jaqueson hills. Think about that.
AC: So you’re appealing to the Commission to free your friends.
KIM: Oh, they’re free. I wouldn’t wait on the Commission for that.
AC: So you…what, you let the corporates arrest you? In exchange for your friends?
KIM: Don’t make that sound too noble. It saved me some walking, is all. I was coming here anyway.
AC: Then you’re confident of a favorable result at the Commission hearing.
KIM: Didn’t I say that? They’ve always been fair with us. [starts to say more, but stops herself]
AC: Well…I won’t take up any more of your time. You’ll want to be ready for that hearing.
KIM: Right, of course. Come back any time. That door’s always open.
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Awesome stuff, Annie! Thank you for participating and for allowing me to post your interview.
If you’re keen to read more of the January W1S1 blog chain, the previous post in the chain is defcon’s interview with Steven, and the next interview will be up at Dianna’s Writing Den shortly. For a full list of interviews, click this link.
Interview with a Character–a link in the AW January W1S1 blog chain
I have the honor of kicking off the AW W1S1 January blog chain. This month the theme is ‘Interview with a Character.’
The character i’ve chosen to interview is the protagonist of my WiP, which is entitled Dachs. The protagonist’s name is Stirling, and to lessen any confusion that might occur once you start reading the interview, he’s a badger, and the the story is set in a post-apocalyptic Berlin. Humans have yet to be spotted.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Interview with Clanner Stirling of Grenze
Sam: Stirling, thank you for allowing us the time for this brief interview, especially given that you’re busy hunting for the winter months.
Stirling: *sits on his haunches, front paws resting on the ground, a clan bandana tied loosely around his neck* No problem.
Sam: So, is Stirling your full name? Do you have a last name or a title or anything?
Stirling: Yeah, Stirling’s pretty much it. Formally, I’m known as Clanner Stirling of Grenze. I’m also a hunt leader, though that just means I lead hunting groups. It’s not a title or anything.
Sam: No surname, then?
Stirling: I’m a badger. Badgers don’t really go for surnames. That’s a rat thing. They love their names. First names, middle names, last names, the works. I guess if the clan got big enough it might be useful, but there’s only twelve of us and none of us have the same name.
Sam: Twelve is a small clan, then?
Stirling: No, twelve is about average. Times have been good, before this last winter at least. Often a clan splits once it gets larger than fifteen or sixteen. I’m not a fan of that idea. Safety in numbers and all. But, to be honest, I don’t think we’ll be growing much over the next season or two, so it’s probably not worth thinking about right now.
Sam: Not much growth? Why’s that?
Stirling: Last winter was longer than usual, and spring and summer have been very cold. There were no pregnancies this spring, and we’re struggling to fill our storerooms. If we don’t we might lose one or two of the older or weaker of the clan during winter. Of course, we’ll go hunting in the snow if we have to, but that’s always a dicey proposition.
Sam: Ah, I see. Well, I hope the clan finds a way to make it through.
Stirling: You and me both. My opinion is that we need to organize proper trade with the other clans. Right now, we only trade if we happen across each other when hunting, which isn’t often because most of the clans stick to their territories.
Sam: You’re pretty close to the edge of your land now, by the looks.
Stirling: It’s because food is so scarce. This is basically no-clans land, and we’d usually stay clear of it so as not to make Clan Umsichtig feel threatened. Yeah, we need to trade. It’s the only way we’ll survive as the populations grow. We have a treaty with the rats from the concrete wastelands, but not for trade. Just one that says we won’t attack each other. Occasionally they send delegations to us, but I think they’re more interested in gathering information than trading. Not that they’d attack. They’re just insatiable devourers of knowledge. I bartered a book off them once, written by one of their scientists. It’s called Treatise of Technology and it’s amazing. I had to give them a basketful of fruit for it. It took four of them to carry the basket away. I think I got the better deal, though.
Sam: Treatise of Technology?
Stirling: Yeah. It talks about artificial aids that strengthen the body or improve functionality and speed. I know one of the other badger clans already uses surgical techniques that allow an artificial limb to be grafted on to replace one that’s been amputated, but this is something else again. And it talks about machines and other implements that can be used to help with menial tasks. And it talks about cold storage. Gives it a funny name that I can’t pronounce, but basically you can store things in these devices and they stay fresh for much longer. We could sure use that.
Sam: So, you don’t think the rats are a threat, even with all their advanced technology?
Stirling: We have a treaty with them. Plus, they stick to the concrete wastelands, and nobody likes going there. Except maybe Erich.
Sam: Erich?
Stirling: He’s the other hunt leader, and most likely to take over the clan if Chief dies. Chief’s almost bedridden nowadays, but I think he’ll survive another winter. He’s made of tough stuff.
Sam: Erich would be a good leader, then?
Stirling: Yeah, I guess so. I mean, he’s not all that imaginative, but he’s strong and tough and the other clanners listen to him when he tells them what to do.
Sam: Have you thought of yourself as being a possibility to lead the clan after Chief dies? Which, hopefully, doesn’t happen for a while.
Stirling: *laughs* Me? I doubt it. Chief listens to my ideas, but he’s always chuckling about them. Plus, I’ve only been a hunt leader for a few seasons. I’m a good hunter and warrior, but nothing like Erich. He’s definitely the best choice.
Sam: I’ve heard rumors…
Stirling: Idle talk. It means nothing. Though, it’d be great one day if… ah, it doesn’t matter.
Sam: No, go on.
Stirling: *looks embarrassed* It’d be great if one day all the clans were united under one leader. Not in the same sett, of course. Could you imagine how many tunnels it would need? But if all the clans had the same vision we’d be able to do better than hold our own against the dog raiding parties. We could drive them back and set up a secure border, and thrive on the exchange of goods and ideas. That’d be something.
Sam: A goal for you to work towards.
Stirling: It’ll never happen. Just a dream. But it’s nice to think about.
*Growling and yapping sounds in the distance*
Stirling: A raiding party of dogs. Must’ve heard me mention them. I’ve got to go. I’d rather avoid the fight if I could, but it’s pretty hard to reason with dogs.
Sam: Well, thanks for your time, Stirling. Go forth for the Clan.
Stirling races off on all fours, the bandanna around his neck flapping in the breeze. Sam retreats a safe distance into the trees, wondering what will become of this young badger and his strange ideas.
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Next up is PriyankaB, whose post should be up in a day or two. The full list of participants is at the bottom of this post.
More things
My holiday has continued to be busy with things.
I now have an Amazon author’s page. Except i can’t include C&C #1 and #2 on my list of books because i put myself down as the editor, not an author, and apparently editors can’t include stuff they’ve edited on their author page. Which makes sense, i suppose. I could email them and ask that i be changed from an editor to an author, but that wouldn’t be right, and i like for things to be accurate.
On a side note: the like button may be the invention that finally transcends the wheel.
I also signed up for SpecFicNZ, which is New Zealand’s speculative fiction organization. It was only formed in 2009, and i think i might be member 100. I’m not usually all that into fiction associations/organizations/et al, but this is a local endeavor, and speculative fiction in NZ needs as much support as it can get.
Dachs is being written. I’m enjoying it immensely. Just under 13K in (and will be finishing off a scene after i write this post), and already i’m adding new cast members and expanding the roles of other groups. Heh–i can even see potential for a trilogy.
I’ve looked at some design layouts for the cover of C&C #3, and chosen one, and i think it’s going to be awesome. Really, really awesome.
Oh yeah, i’m thinking of starting a cafepress store for Comets and Criminals. I have to say, the idea of walking around wearing a Comets and Criminals tee or hoody is very appealing. As is drinking from a Comets and Criminals mug. And paying for things out of a Comets and Criminals wallet. I probably shouldn’t get too carried away, though.
Speaking of C&C, this week i added a ‘Released This Week‘ page, which displays the stories and poems released this week. It needs to be manually updated, but it’s only editing a tiny piece of code to make sure it’s replicating the right pages. Hopefully this’ll make it easier for people to get to the newest stories and poems. I’m not sure ‘Released This Week’ is the best page title, though, so if you have any ideas for a better one, let me know in the comments
Last day of leave tomorrow. I have a novelette that needs editing, but i think that’ll wait until the weekend. I have more badgerpunk (or Dachpunk, if you prefer) to write!
Challenges
A member of SpecFicNZ
