So it was that I re-read The Danforth Account once it made its way to my website. The story is about a man who prepares himself with the knowledge that he will soon be coming face to face with a serial killer who preys on those of his namesake. In reading this short tale, I thought to myself: serial killers are no longer scary. I mean, think about it, the two words strung together, "serial killer," do not provoke much fear in the horror genre. After all, it's plain as day what such a character is going to do...kill, right? Not to mention, as a society, we see serial killing on a regular basis (at least in the metropolitan areas); therefore, readers may easily identify the literary serial killer as a part of "normal" day-in/day-out life.
The serial killer character has lost its edge in the horror genre. I feel that we can attribute this to the increase of serial killing in reality, along with the psychoanalyzing of such made available to the public through television news magazines and two-hour documentaries that immortalize those who have taken the lives of others. We know that serial killers crave attention, they almost always leave a calling card, and their motto of murdering is usually the same.
That being said, how can the serial killer be brought back to life in horror fiction? After all, werewolves, vampires, and other such monsters have survived horror fiction for decades, even centuries. The wise fiction editors of various horror publications advise to make antagonists unique and different. Yet, there's only so much you can do with a serial killer. I don't feel the serial killer in my story, The Danforth Account, is different from any other serial killer. In fact, the theme itself may be considered "common." So why did I write it? Well, let's say that I always wanted to write about a serial killer in short fiction and this was my rendition, perhaps my personal taking on the scenario.
Analyzing my writing, I realize that I have a serial killer personality in a couple of other short stories and in my first novel. However, these differentiate the serial killer character by moving him into a secondary character position within the work. What I mean by this is that (besides The Danforth Account), my other serial killer characters are simply sub-plots and act as a minimal driving force to the main plot.
So it is, that this is where serial killers end up in the horror genre--as secondary characters. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Secondary characters can help drive the main plot. Will I use a serial killer as a character in an upcoming novel? Sure, because the novel will not be about or revolve around such a character. Will I ever write a full-length novel centered around a serial killer? Absolutely not! To me, the serial killers are no longer terrifying in the horror genre. They are a by-product of evil. I prefer to write about the evil itself. Perhaps I may be mistaken...but I see the horror genre going back to its roots and providing a modern theme--a place where inexplicable monsters no longer lurk in the shadows, but lunge from the acts of everyday events. This makes me wonder how long before such creatures are no longer antagonists in the horror genre either.
If you want to read a tale about a serial killer, feel free to read this month's free short story, The Danforth Account. Feel free to comment or email me about what you thought of the story.
Also, I would love to hear your take on serial killers in the horror genre. Comment on this blog and let me know.
In the month of April, as I anticipated the release of Nightfall, I held a promotion for my first novel, The Rules of Temptation. The contest was simple...subscribe to my MySpace blog and be one of two people who would win a signed copy of The Rules of Temptation.
To all those who subscribed, thank you for your support! By being subscribed to my Write Now.... blogs, you will stay up to date on all of my writing endeavors (from creation to submission).
I am pleased to announce the two winners of the "Blogging the Rules" promotion as follows:
Carlos A. of Phoenix, Arizona
Chelsea C. of Apopka, Florida
Congratulations to you both! I hope you enjoy the book!
On that note, please visit the Contests/Promotions page on my official website to learn about the "Final Temptation" promotion I will be holding in May. This will be the LAST time I will be promoting my novel The Rules of Temptation.
Oh, how I am truly abhorring the summer months! I want nothing to do with 20-30 days of 110-degree+ weather! I know, I know, you are instantly thinking, then why doesn't he move? To that question, I have two answers. 1) There is too much here in terms of family and relationship, 2) One word: culture. I simply love the culture in Phoenix! In fact, without that culture, my first novel would have never been created. Phoenix is the sixth largest city in the U.S., but yet it is not congested. You see, Phoenix exists in a very large valley; therefore, it is spread out all over. That's why nobody walks here. You have to have a car. Yes, it kind of sucks considering the current fuel crisis. But, hey, everything has its price, right?
Moving right along, I exited April with accomplishing much that I set out to do with my writing. Of course, there were a few obstacles along the way. Hell, there always is.
To recap the month of April...
I finalized my short story, Joseph's Request, and submitted it to Cleis Press' Best Gay Erotica 2009 anthology. This is such a crazy horror story, (chock full of sex, death, and violence) that, if rejected, I plan on definitely adding it to my short story collection, Much of Madness, More of Sin. It certainly fits the bill!
I finished editing my short story, Sacrilege: Experiments With Holy Water. All that is left to do is query the anthology to which I will be submitting it to.
Ah, A Cub's Tail. This short story has been going on and off the back burner for months! I still have to give the story a worthy end (no pun intended). However, I have discovered an anthology I am interested in submitting it to. Once again, it is an anthology by Cleis Press entitled Daddies. I know, the name may seem demeaning, but it really works for the story.
As for the story I was researching for the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition (The Metamorphosis of Tatiana), I came to the decision to hold off on the story. On the other hand, it is definitely worth adding to my forthcoming collection.
In the interim of these stories and beginning the process of researching/writing others, I submitted a chapter to The Edward Ballister Project. For those of you who may have not read my previous blog, Edward Ballister is intended to be the "ultimate horror novel" comprised of multiple writers who weave the terrifying tale with a contributed chapter to the collective work. Currently, chapters are still being written and I am awaiting publication news of the collaboration. For more information on my work with The Edward Ballister Project, read my previous blog entitled My Time With Edward a.k.a. Contributing To The Edward Ballister Project.
Shadow City Press (the publisher of my new novel, Nightfall) put out the book trailer for Nightfall. It's great, so please check that out on my website. Speaking of Shadow City Press, they also (very recently) announced that "due to production delays" the release date for Nightfall was changed from May 21, 2008 to June 24, 2008. OK, I guess I take the bad with the good.
There are many other projects transpiring which I don't feel are worth expanding in this blog. After all, this particular blog revolves around my monthly writing goals. That said, I'm sure that I will have many entries to follow this one. Remember though, to keep with the current, read the blogs and visit my website (www.AndrewWolter.com).
So, moving on to May's writing goals, I plan on the following:
1) Finalizing and submitting A Cub's Tail (short story) to Cleis Press' Daddies anthology.
2) Submitting Sacrilege: Experiments In Holy Water (short story) to anthology.
3) Submitting Jailed (short story) to publication (to be determined).
4) Finish re-writes of Being Human (short story) (no publication yet determined).
5) Organize final edits of Much of Madness, More of Sin (short story collection).
That being said, I hope to sizzle (creatively, that is) with my inspiration in the month of May. I pray the 100-degree mark doesn't hit, but who am I kidding?
To put it simply, the idea of The Edward Ballister Project is to put together the ULTIMATE horror novel. Seems simple, right? After all many horror scribes have placed terrifying scenes into print. However, The Edward Ballister Project takes the works of multiple authors in order to make a complete novel. Each writer submits one chapter in attempt to create an overall novel of terror. The overall concept may appear easy to a writer--simply create a horrific chapter surrounding the characters and setting provided--yet, I can attest that there is truly more than meets the eye (the reading eye) when it comes to The Edward Ballister Project!
Before I continue, let me give you a brief history of Edward Ballister. Edward Ballister was created by Jeff Ezell (Wish World). After creating the first chapter of Edward Ballister, Jeff came to a pause in order to tend to another story he had in the works. In the interim, the technology of MySpace offered blogs from his MySpace friends and he began reading some of their work. Two authors' works in particular (Jessica Lynne Gardner and Charlotte Emma Gledson) stood out to Jeff, and he approached them both about the idea of taking a tale and using the imaginations of various authors as the building blocks of one complete novel of terror. Hence, The Edward Ballister Project was born. There may be more behind this, but that's my taking and, perhaps, the Cliff's Notes version.
There have been over twenty authors (myself included) involved with The Edward Ballister Project. Although creativity is highly suggested to all contributors who partake in this work, one must also realize that the work of each author must maintain a continuity to the story as well. In my opinion, that is where seasoned writer comes in. After all, depending on the chapter one is assigned, it is imperative that the writer read previous chapters to keep plot, characterization and setting somewhat in place. After all, a main character's mannerisms rarely change in a novel. For example, if a writer has mentioned that his main character continuously lights up a cigarette in chapter three, it would kill the credibility of that character if (in chapter sixteen) the reader discovers that X character waves a hand to a passing pedestrian who is taking a drag of a cigarette. Though it may seem like common sense to many writers, such mannerisms can easily be overlooked in creating a full-length novel. In fact, I've been guilty of falling into the "continuity trap" myself.
So it was that I was assigned Chapter Fourteen of Edward Ballister. I accepted this as both a challenge and a godsend. The challenging portion was attributed to the fact that there were thirteen previous writers who had set the main ideas and crux of the plot into motion. It was ever so important for me to keep track of all the details surrounding the characters and events taking place in the novel. In fact, as I read each chapter of Edward Ballister, I scribbled various notes to use as a reference for such details.The godsend of it all was that I would be creating a chapter that was far enough in the novel, that I could (or so I was hoping) develop a turn in events, a shocking surprise, without hurting the credibility of the overall plot. This, too, became a challenge. As I read through each chapter I began to mentally produce where I saw the story going and began penning my ideas for my chapter. However, as I reached the chapters before my own, I was greeted by many twists and turns that killed my take on the plot altogether. I recall mentally cursing, Damn! This isn't going to work in my chapter! It was at that point that I continued taking notes; however, I decided to refrain from the creation process until I finished the final sentence of Chapter Thirteen. As I read the last page, my inspiration was at a standstill. Chapter Fourteen of Edward Ballister began with me closing my eyes. Darkness enveloped me; my thoughts were random. I began typing and, before I knew it, I'd come to understand the direction with which I was heading with Edward Ballister.
My ultimate goal was to live up to the concept of Edward Ballister being the "ultimate horror novel." Therefore, my mind raced with various ideas that, not only I, but many others would find to be horrific. In the end, I was extremely happy with my contribution to Edward Ballister. I don't want to give away the details of my chapter as I am hoping that the novel will be published and readers will get the enjoyment of reading such a cutting edge novel.
Details of the novel's publication are not yet available, as Edward Ballister is still in the process of being created. For a brief overview of The Edward Ballister Project and a list of contributing authors (which reminds me, I still have to submit my author bio), check out the official Edward Ballister MySpace page.
In my opinion, I feel that contributing to Edward Ballister was a challenging and enlightening experience that I am proud to be a part of!
Before I end this entry, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Jeff Ezell, Jessica Lynne Gardner, and Charlotte Emma Gledson for giving me the opportunity to contribute to such an amazing project!
Yes, I write horror. And, yes, my characters are no different than those of writers who create characters defined by masculine traits who tend to fall in love with a feminine counterpart. My characters are simply (predominantly) men who fall in love with and have an attraction toward other men. It doesn't necessarily mean that any heterosexual guys should cringe. After all, if you've read any Christopher Rice or Clive Barker novels, you should be safe. Considering that their characters are just as "gay" as mine, doesn't necessarily mean that male readers of such works are gay themselves. Come on, this is the 21st century, and I tend to think that we are in an age of acceptance. Gay characters in literature are no more awkward than the fictitious five-horned beasts awaiting to rape a young virgin.
Needless to say, my short story (Joseph's Request) has been released upon the world of fiction. I completed the final edits on Saturday and submitted it to Cleis Press' Best Gay Erotica 2009 today. That being said, I tend to think of Joseph's Request as every male's fantasy. The thought of being able to come back from death and still enjoy the everlasting bliss of unending sex exactly fits into that category. And, although there are many sexual scenes in the story, I maintain the moral of 'what is lost can never be forgotten.' Female readers will surely discover that male animal magnetism is synonymous and may be no different from similar emotional attraction felt by a woman.
Therefore, I give up my ghost! Well, my ghost story that is. I throw it to the world of literary acceptance and hope that it finds a home. After all, it is he who shall reside in the crux of the story, my ghost.
As always, I will keep you all updated on the fate of this story via this blog and/or my official website (www.andrewwolter.com).
Click on the video below to view the book trailer for my new novel, Nightfall.
I often look back at previous blogs and the goals that I set for my writing career each month. I find that there are times I accomplish what I set out to do and this pleases me. Of course, there are other instances where I find that certain writing goals get thrown to the proverbial "back burner" due to changes in criteria for certain publications and an overall interest (on my part) of new anthologies/magazines that are open to submissions. Yet, there are times where I discover that a manuscript I initially anticipated sending to one publication does a 180-degree turn to fit the guidelines of a much more well-suited publication.
The point I'm trying to make is that my monthly blog, revealing my goals for each month, is not a definitive. It is, plain and simply, a structure of projects I am working on. I do this for those who are interested in following my writing career and I do this for myself as well. It gives me a bit of sanity in a maddening world of creating, marketing, and submitting works. That being said, I try not to come down on myself when I fail to meet certain writing goals defined by my "Goals" blog entry. After all, for certain projects that do not get completed, there are projects that are unexpectedly accomplished.
Thus, to recap the month of March....
I finally received a release date for the limited hardcover edition of my novel, Nightfall. The book will be released by Shadow City Press on 5/21/08. If I'm lucky, it may be sooner. I suppose that all depends on the final product.
In regards to the many short stories that have been circulating between the realm of submission and publication, I received news that my short story Puppeteer will be published in the premiere issue of The Ashen Eye magazine! I came to the conclusion, while editing my short story A Cub's Tail, that the story would be more suited for an upcoming anthology by Cleis Press. Hence, I will not be sending it to Velvet Mafia as previously indicated. I have finished editing my story Joseph's Request and anticipate submitting it to Cleis Press' Best Gay Erotica 2009 anthology before mid-April (yes it is a horror story). I have to give it one final read (blame it on the perfectionist in me).
I did manage to get some research done relating to the short story I will be entering into the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition.
Which brings me to April's writing goals:
1) Submission of Joseph's Request (short story) to anthology.
2) Finalizing A Cub's Tail (short story) and preparing it for submission to anthology.
3) Write The Metamorphosis of Tatiana (short story) for the Writer's Digest competition.
4) Edit and finalize Sacrilege: Experiments With Holy Water (short story) for submission to anthology.
It looks as if April has the best of me and is already two days in. Therefore, it's time that I spring into action as well!
For any of you who are not familiar with The Ashen Eye, it is a new small press publication that publishes quality fiction, of a darker nature, on a quarterly basis. Not only does the magazine/online publication publish short stories, but it also publishes poetry and art of the same caliber. The premiere issue of The Ashen Eye is scheduled to be released later this year (according to their website). To get a sneak peak of The Ashen Eye and the authors who will be part of the premiere issue, you may visit the publication's website at www.ashen-eye.com. Please note that since I was just informed of Puppeteer's acceptance in The Ashen Eye's premiere issue, their website is not currently updated with the story's information or my short bio (as a contributing author). When this is updated, you will be able to read an excerpt of my short story, Puppeteer, as well.
If you have been staying up-to-date with previous blogs, you are probably aware of the birth of the premise centering Puppeteer. If not, I can sum up the story (without giving too much away) by stating that it is a tale of how far one will go to maintain control over the love of his life. Given the genre in which I write, you can imagine the scenario will be rather terrifying!
I am simply ecstatic that Puppeteer will be a part of The Ashen Eye's premiere issue! It will be an honor to share the pages with other rising authors such as Ben Eads, Jeffrey Buford, Barry Wood, Greg Schwartz, and Jim Kelley (to name just a few)!
I will keep you all posted on when you can expect the release of the premiere issue of The Ashen Eye!
There will be TWO winners to this promotion and each will receive a signed, paperback copy of my first novel, The Rules of Temptation. What's more, it's very simple to enter!
To enter to win this promotion, simply subscribe to my MySpace blog between March 27, 2008 and April 30, 2008. That's it! Simply visit my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/andrew_wolter), and click on the link that reads "Subscribe to My Blog." There's nothing left to do after that. Although, you may enjoy reading my regular "Write Now...." blog entries. This blog follows the many different roads I travel with my writing career--from ideas to submissions--and keeps readers updated on any new projects I'm working on.
On May 1, 2008, I will choose TWO subscribers (at random) who will receive a signed, paperback edition of my novel The Rules of Temptation. Both winners will be announced on my official website and in a MySpace bulletin that same day.
By the way, in all fairness, those of you who have subscribed to my blog before this promotion will also be eligible to win!
So what are you waiting for? Subscribe today and you may soon learn that some rules weren't meant to be broken!
Good luck!
It is without a doubt that the subject of ghosts easily ranks among the top type of horror stories ever written. From the brilliant imaginations of Nathaniel Hawthorne, H.P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allen Poe to the modern-day conceptions of Poppy Z. Brite, Clive Barker, and Douglas Clegg--spectral forms are just as abundant in fiction as they were centuries previous. Ghosts are a mystery to humans, not only in a fiction but in all reality.
There are some who believe in the existence of such spectral forms and others who dismiss their likeliness as mirages of the human mind. Ultimately, ghosts are defined as spectral forces who are bound to reality (Earth, if you will) because the human they once were died before their time. Evidently, these restless spirits have something more to live for because: a) they were violently murdered and seek vengeance; b) they were bound to a love lost that didn't run its course; or c) they were victims of their own hand (suicide). Please note that I'm not an expert on ghosts, I am simply revisiting the scenario of classic ghost stories as they pertain to fiction and urban legend.
As an author of horror fiction I've always wanted to write a ghost story. In fact, I don't know of many writers of the horror genre who haven't made a stab or two at writing and publishing ghost stories. After all, it is a market that will never die (no pun intended). Ghosts will always be around as long as there are children who secretly whisper to each other of the lady who once lived in that age-old house and who group around a campfire on a cool, Spring night.
Of course, the plot of a ghost story can be rather simple. At least its moral, or driving force, can usually be defined by a structure based on vengeance or lost love. Surely, add a grieving widow or unsuspecting innocent and a writer can allow terror to run its course. Yet, in my author mind, I've seen many of these plots before. I've witnessed houses haunted by grueling phantasms hellbent on righting their own timely demise. I've read of widows who are incessantly pestered by mischievous forces during the grieving process.
Surely, amongst the classic theme of ghost stories, there has to be something new!
A couple of years ago, I began writing a ghost story that centered around the concept of lost love. I managed to get halfway through the story and was distracted by other ideas that soon took precedent. Over the past two years, I have revisited that same story, read it from beginning to unfinished middle, and have always dismissed it. Surely, I wanted to write a ghost story but, unfortunately, its time was premature. Perhaps I didn't have the edge I sought. After all, the tale of a spirit at unrest can be a difficult sell in the writing world.
Since that time I have created many stories, even novels. Three months ago, I revisited that same story of a ghost at unease. Finally, I found myself beginning from the middle of the story as if I had never stopped writing it. The characters were still fresh in my mind in the way the aroma of spring flowers remind one of another coming season. Yet, I was still undetermined as to what the edge to my ghost could possibly bring to the literary world. When I asked myself this, I realized that sometimes it is best to go back to basics.
I revisited the concepts of the classic ghost--a human dead before his time, vengeance, love lost--it can never be changed. So it was that I stuck with these primary qualities of a spirit at unrest and simply changed the atmosphere and setting. Sure, the ghost wants to right all that is wrong, but why? Why now opposed to fifty years ago? And it was that particular question that provided the answer to the completion of my ghost story, Joseph's Request.
I discovered the answer to the riddle of my ghost story. It's rather simple (sometimes the answer is right in front of you): modernize with situation and setting, not necessarily the plot. Unique situation can provide a new twist of events to an overdone antagonist such as a ghost. And the setting...hell!..a writer's setting is his domain, his exclusive world that no other person can touch! A contemporary setting can truly take a classic scenario into a new world not traveled by any other.
I am in the process of completing the final edit of Joseph's Request. Afterward, I will be submitting it to Cleis Press' Best Gay Erotica 2009 anthology. Yes, this story centers on homo-eroticism (gay erotica). As you all know, I love to blend erotic elements with the terror of the supernatural. Though it doesn't influence every word I create, heavy essentials of eroticism work best with this particular story. After all, I write what I feel, I convey a moral to be learned, and I create to entertain. Joseph’s Request will move you in one way or another, regardless of your sexual preference.
There are some who believe in the existence of such spectral forms and others who dismiss their likeliness as mirages of the human mind. Ultimately, ghosts are defined as spectral forces who are bound to reality (Earth, if you will) because the human they once were died before their time. Evidently, these restless spirits have something more to live for because: a) they were violently murdered and seek vengeance; b) they were bound to a love lost that didn't run its course; or c) they were victims of their own hand (suicide). Please note that I'm not an expert on ghosts, I am simply revisiting the scenario of classic ghost stories as they pertain to fiction and urban legend.
As an author of horror fiction I've always wanted to write a ghost story. In fact, I don't know of many writers of the horror genre who haven't made a stab or two at writing and publishing ghost stories. After all, it is a market that will never die (no pun intended). Ghosts will always be around as long as there are children who secretly whisper to each other of the lady who once lived in that age-old house and who group around a campfire on a cool, Spring night.
Of course, the plot of a ghost story can be rather simple. At least its moral, or driving force, can usually be defined by a structure based on vengeance or lost love. Surely, add a grieving widow or unsuspecting innocent and a writer can allow terror to run its course. Yet, in my author mind, I've seen many of these plots before. I've witnessed houses haunted by grueling phantasms hellbent on righting their own timely demise. I've read of widows who are incessantly pestered by mischievous forces during the grieving process.
Surely, amongst the classic theme of ghost stories, there has to be something new!
A couple of years ago, I began writing a ghost story that centered around the concept of lost love. I managed to get halfway through the story and was distracted by other ideas that soon took precedent. Over the past two years, I have revisited that same story, read it from beginning to unfinished middle, and have always dismissed it. Surely, I wanted to write a ghost story but, unfortunately, its time was premature. Perhaps I didn't have the edge I sought. After all, the tale of a spirit at unrest can be a difficult sell in the writing world.
Since that time I have created many stories, even novels. Three months ago, I revisited that same story of a ghost at unease. Finally, I found myself beginning from the middle of the story as if I had never stopped writing it. The characters were still fresh in my mind in the way the aroma of spring flowers remind one of another coming season. Yet, I was still undetermined as to what the edge to my ghost could possibly bring to the literary world. When I asked myself this, I realized that sometimes it is best to go back to basics.
I revisited the concepts of the classic ghost--a human dead before his time, vengeance, love lost--it can never be changed. So it was that I stuck with these primary qualities of a spirit at unrest and simply changed the atmosphere and setting. Sure, the ghost wants to right all that is wrong, but why? Why now opposed to fifty years ago? And it was that particular question that provided the answer to the completion of my ghost story, Joseph's Request.
I discovered the answer to the riddle of my ghost story. It's rather simple (sometimes the answer is right in front of you): modernize with situation and setting, not necessarily the plot. Unique situation can provide a new twist of events to an overdone antagonist such as a ghost. And the setting...hell!..a writer's setting is his domain, his exclusive world that no other person can touch! A contemporary setting can truly take a classic scenario into a new world not traveled by any other.
I am in the process of completing the final edit of Joseph's Request. Afterward, I will be submitting it to Cleis Press' Best Gay Erotica 2009 anthology. Yes, this story centers on homo-eroticism (gay erotica). As you all know, I love to blend erotic elements with the terror of the supernatural. Though it doesn't influence every word I create, heavy essentials of eroticism work best with this particular story. After all, I write what I feel, I convey a moral to be learned, and I create to entertain. Joseph’s Request will move you in one way or another, regardless of your sexual preference.
As a writer, I have realized that it isn’t too difficult to modernize the classic ghost. Initially, I had overlooked the basic elements of a ghost story. However, I concluded that situation and setting are key! Adding these components will provide a tale that evocatively lingers as any phantom at unrest.
There are many exciting things to look forward to in March. But first, a recap of February....
It seems that I have been consumed with promoting my forthcoming novel, Nightfall. The process has taken a lot of time, however, it's difficult to promote a novel that doesn't have an official release date as of yet. I'm looking forward to announcing this news very soon! What's exciting about Nightfall is it is going to be first released as a limited edition hardcover novel. Of course, most hardcover novels (especially limited editions) tend to carry a heftier price tag. On the other hand (being a collector of hardcover first editions), at least a hardcover novel long outlasts a paperback.
In regards to the short stories that have been submitted for possible publication, I am still awaiting to hear the fates of my stories Rush, Puppeteer, and Jailed.
I'm still in the process of organizing my short story collection, Much of Madness, More of Sin. Currently, I have placed this project on the proverbial "back burner" until I have worked out the last business related to Nightfall.
Other than those projects, I have been working on some exciting new stories for submission into a couple of anthologies of interest. In addition, I'm in the midst of researching information for a short story to submit to the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition.
That said, my writing goals for March are as follows:
1) Tying up loose ends (with) and providing release date news for Nightfall
2) Finalization of A Cub's Tail (short story) and submission to Velvet Mafia
3) Final edit and submission of Sacrilege: Experiments With Holy Water (short story) to anthology
4) Final edit and submission of Joseph's Request (short story) to anthology
5) Research completion for The Metamorphosis of Tatiana (short story) {to be submitted to the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition before May}
March seems to be looking as busy as February was. And with the amazing sensation of invigorating, springtime temperatures here in Phoenix (we're in the upper-seventies/low eighties all week), I think I'll find myself relaxing with my laptop on my patio a lot!
Check back to my LiveJournal and MySpace Write Now... blog (or visit my official website) regularly so that you can stay up to date!
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time passes. It's not that I have gone non-existent to the community (my "online" MySpace status and bulletins can assure you of that); rather, I've been enveloped in the other world of a writer. I refer to it as a "dark" place because I don't enjoy it as much as I adore creating the written word and evil struggles between fictitious characters. In all reality, it is the part of the writing process that involves editing and marketing.
In the past couple of weeks, I've been buried in editing and advertising strategies. My office is literally cluttered with marked-up manuscripts of this story or that, half-written pages with ideas that will probably never see the light of day, multiple notepads with disorganized strategies to market my upcoming novel, listings of magazines that I would like to submit work to, handwritten index cards containing character traits for my upcoming novel, and computer printouts of research topics that I refuse to add to my browser "favorites" for fear of overlooking them amongst the hundreds of other "favorites" already saved. Somewhere within this littered area of my office, there is a contract I must review.
After the last paragraph, I took a few minutes to locate that contract in question. Success! This blog really does help keep me somewhat sane. It's a way for me to see my voice as I type versus thinking about something that may be easily eclipsed by a thought right after.
Truly, I'm the last person to lack organization skills. In fact, I'm somewhat of a neat freak. However, these last couple of weeks have been brutal. I came to the realization that I am overwhelming myself with projects. It wasn't intended. It usually isn't. One thing leads to another and, in this industry, one tends to jump all over the latest opportunity that is fresh.
Have I made progress? Absolutely!
Before I get into some of the positive things I'm heading toward, I must bring to light that I received a response back on the submission of my short story, Jailed, to Apex Digest Magazine. Ultimately, it was rejected and I completely understand why. I put the blame on me for not being as observant of the stories they accept. You see, Apex Digest publishes some very powerful, awesome stories. Yet, many of the horror stories they accept tend to have a science fiction undertone to them that Jailed lacks. Many of you may be wondering why I would openly admit that I had a story rejected. However, this blog is all about my travels through the writing life. After all, I wouldn't hesitate to post a blog about any of my fiction pieces being accepted by a publication. I'm real and simply keeping the atmosphere real. Nonetheless, writer's are rejected time and time again, regardless if they've had work previously published. You learn to take whatever criticism may have come with the rejection and move on. That being said, I will be submitting Jailed to another publication in the coming days.
Moving on...
I have decided on two future anthologies to which I will be submitting short stories for possible acceptance and publication. Those stories are Joseph's Request and Sacrilege: Experiments with Holy Water. I have also decided to enter a new short story to the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. I have been researching to discover the perfect tale of the macabre and think I have finally found it! I still have to write it, but the deadline isn't until May. I have organized my short story collection entitled Much of Madness, More of Sin and will be reading through it one final time before I submit it to potential publishers. I've been working on edits of my next novel Double-Goer and have made great progress in the research of my following novel, The Haunted Ones. Regarding my forthcoming novel, Nightfall, I am pleased to informally announce (only because I will blog a formal announcement soon) that I am in the midst of signing a contract for the release of the novel's limited edition hardcover. I promise to keep everybody updated on ALL of the news revolving these many projects in future blogs.
Speaking of the limited edition hardcover of Nightfall, have you entered the promotion to win a free autographed copy yet? If not, you have until midnight of this Friday (technically Saturday March 1, 2008). The winner will be announced on March 2, 2008. All you have to do is "friend" Stefan Powell (the main character of Nightfall) on his MySpace page. For details, you can check out the "Contests/Promotions" page of my official website (www.AndrewWolter.com).
Well, February has truly flown by without a second glance! I look forward to blogging again about my many projects very soon.
As a writer, it is sometimes difficult to place the destiny of a written work into the hands of a publication. On one hand, there is the excitement that comes with the waiting period of the publication's decision to publish the work. When submitting a story (or novel for that matter) it is customary for the writer to adhere to the publication's guidelines. Those guidelines include the response time it will take for the publication to render its decision of the story. Whether its the author's first time submitting to a publication or their fiftieth story they have submitted to a publication, I have to believe that there is always that brimming anticipation of checking one's email or mailbox for that letter fateful of acceptance. On the other hand, there is also a fear that that accompanies such high hopes. Some call it "fear of failure/rejection" and others deem it "lack of confidence." I recognize it as a subconscious entity that I relate to as my "writer's beast." What it boils down to is that most artists--whether they be writers, sculptors, or vocalists--are their own worst critic; therefore, it is common to experience such self-doubt when submitting their art for examination.
On that note, I finished editing my story, Puppeteer, this afternoon, prepared that all important query letter (that should accompany any story) and have submitted it for possible publication. The waiting game ensues.
In Puppeteer (as with many of my latest writings), I wanted to create a blend of realism and the dark fantastic to the final product. Therefore, to achieve a modern reality that could segue into a world of horror, I began brainstorming the concept of true evil. Of course, the first thing I thought of was how Man himself is his own worst enemy. Not to mention, Man is quite possibly the most evil being inhabiting the Earth. This is due to Man's ability to express emotion. Think of it...Man has the ability to affect others with his emotions of sadness, happiness, jealousy, fear, control...ahem...CONTROL. We have a winner!
Control was the key premise to the creation of Puppeteer (does the title make sense now?). Soon, using the power of a writer's best friend--brainstorming--I began thinking of a realistic scenario of control. The idea of control in a relationship immediately came to mind. I can't even count, on two hands, the number of people I have met in my life who have suffered the spiteful wrath of a domineering boyfriend (or girlfriend) while in a relationship. Just think...how far would one go to control his or her better half? To what extent would he or she profess his love to MAKE the other KNOW that he or she loved him? For better, for worse. How much worse? Where is the imaginary line that draws the boundary of going too far in the name of love? What's more, can the control of a person's love be so great that extends into the afterlife?
With all these thoughts at hand, it became easy to understand who the adversary of my story was and who the victim. It was plain to associate the act of control with that of a monster reminiscent of legend. Hence, Puppeteer was born.
I could go on and on, but I don't want to spoil the story. I need my readers to be able to enjoy the end product! However, it's funny to think of how much thought goes into a plot when the story itself is short. After all, Puppeteer is approximately 1500 words in length. Still, it make a statement and punches the reader into a reality turned maddening.
Of course, I will keep you all updated on possible publication of Puppeteer. Simply tune in to my future blogs. Until then, remember that control begins and ends with you.
As I look out my office window, the skies over Phoenix are clearer than they have been for a majority of the month. Winter in Phoenix is ending. Winter? Yes, our idea of Winter in Phoenix is overcast days filled with wind gusts and, sometimes, rain. Rain has been abundant this month, what with the total rainfall of the month being half of what we usually receive in an entire year! It's not quite over. The local meteorologists predict that it will rain Sunday and Monday (yes, that would be Superbowl Sunday hosted here in the Valley of the Sun). Other than that, the stormy weather has almost passed. The remainder of our storms will begin in the first part of July, with the arrival of the freakish weather from the annual monsoon.
Comparable to this past month's weather, my January writing goals have created a similar type of unexpected turns. I'm not sure why it is, but I tend to change gears with certain goals throughout the month. It's not that I'm accomplishing nothing whatsoever. Rather, other ideas seem to branch from the goals at hand and I take off with them! As a writer, it would be stupid not to run with an idea for a new story if the inspiration is there.
Although, I did get a quite a few things accomplished.
I revamped my official website. I changed the look completely and made it more user friendly. It makes it easier for me to update on a regular basis! On the Contests/Promotions web page, I began a promotion for readers to win a hardcover, autographed copy of my upcoming novel, Nightfall. It's kind of cool if you're into the MySpace crowd and want to learn more about the main character of the novel (Stefan Powell).
Writing wise, my short story I'll Be Home For Christmas ranked thirteen out of seventy-three stories (for category Short Story Horror) in the 2007 P&E Reader's Poll. I finalized a short story, entitled Jailed, and submitted it to Apex Digest for publishing consideration. I wrote and finalized a new short story, Puppeteer, and will be submitting it to a magazine this week (I'm not sure which one quite yet). And, I'm almost done with the final edits of my story A Cub's Tail. As for my stories Dead Asphalt and Being Human, I was informed by Amazon Shorts (to which I was going to submit both) that they were currently not accepting submissions. I may keep these two for the short story collection I am currently working on.
As always, for more specific information on the status of any of my writing goals, you can read previous posts from that month.
January was definitely a creative month for me in the short story department!
For February, I'll be focusing on a lot of promotion and marketing. My writing goals for February are as follows:
1) Final edit of A Cub's Tail (short story) and submission to Velvet Mafia
2) Submission of Puppeteer (short story) to a yet-to-be-determined publication
3) Promotion and buzz for Nightfall (novel), including release announcement
4) Organizing Much of Madness, More of Sin (short story collection) for submission
As always, check back to my LiveJournal or MySpace blog entries for announcements and how I am progressing.
The official results of the P&E (Preditors & Editors) 2007 Reader's Poll results are in. As many of you might remember, my holiday short story "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was nominated in the category of Horror Short Story for 2007.
I'm happy to announce that, among SEVENTY-THREE other short stories nominated in the same category, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" ranked number THIRTEEN! I know, just barely short of the top ten spot. Perhaps I'll reach it next year!
Thank you to all who supported the story (published in The Open Vein's special Christmas 2007 issue). Without my friends, my readers and my fans, it wouldn't have been possible. Again, I appreciate all of you who support my work and, more importantly, my voice in fiction.
As a published writer with a much-anticipated novel ready to hit the market, it’s common for readers to expect that they can walk into any bookstore chain (i.e. Borders, Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks) and instantly find one of my novels. I’m flattered by the presumption, and I can veritably envision the upturned frown of an anxious fan when the bookseller tells them “that book isn’t in stock.” Of course, that is followed up by the mandatory, “but we can order it from our warehouse.” The speechless fan doesn’t understand why the book isn’t available because it was released the previous week. Sure, the book isn’t on the New York Times bestseller list, but they are standing in a retail bookstore filled with thousands of books!
You see, I understand. I’m not just empathizing because I am a writer. Rather, I once worked in a bookstore years ago. I recall saying those words on a regular basis (“That book isn’t it stock, but we can order it from our warehouse.”) That phrase became robotic, especially if said reader wasn’t searching for authors with the last name of King, Barker, Rice, or Straub.
What is the reason for this? It boils down to a battle royal of sorts...the one many deem as large publishing houses vs. small publishing houses.
I would think the difference between the two is obvious. But let’s do an experiment to prove it. Grab the last five books you purchased from within a bookstore chain such as Barnes & Noble or Waldenbooks (special orders excluded). I can bet that at least three out of those five books are branded by any of the following publishing houses: Viking, Doubleday, Simon & Schuster, Knopf, Random House, Harper Collins, Hyperion, or a number of their affiliate/sister companies with which there are simply too many to list. Does this make me psychic? No. I’m a writer, not a clairvoyant.
Aspiring writers are discovering that publishing a novel through traditional, large publishing houses has become a grueling task. First, most major publishing houses, such as Viking and Doubleday, won’t go near a book proposal without it being submitted by an agent. OK, so get an agent. The reality of getting an agent (without having to incur unsubstantiated costs) can be a whole other task in itself. That said, there are many “agents” who prey on aspiring writers by nickel-and-diming them. The reality with agents is that if they charge a writer a “reading fee,” forget them! However, that’s a whole other story. Most importantly, large publishing houses don’t publicize books like they once did. Large publishing houses are so adamant on making a profit off material (in a society in which reading books is diminishing), that they count on the author’s own marketing to get books out of the bookstores and into the hands of would-be fans.
Hence, the modern-day author tends to see or discovers (in the process of submitting his or her first novel) the bureaucracy involved in being published. With that, they turn to smaller presses. Many smaller presses will take a finished novel without an agent. On the other hand, they usually don’t pay as much in royalties and aren’t as widely recognized.
Now we have come full circle.
A book published by a small press is unlikely to have multiple copies available upon a bookshelf in a chain store filled with thousands of publications. Unfortunately, books published by small publishing houses are blind to the perusing eye of a book lover eagerly searching the shelves at his/her local Barnes & Noble (or other bookstore chain). Think about it...how many great stories are going unread, or are yet to be discovered, simply because of the bookstore fearing the loss of revenue by putting a book published by a small press upon their shelves.
I’ve witnessed this with my first novel, The Rules of Temptation.
Recently, I received correspondence from four people who visited bookstore chains to purchase my first novel. Two of them responded with, “I got the last copy!” Although, I came to the realization that that was possibly one of three copies the store carried. The other two fans stated that the bookstore didn’t carry the novel and they had to “special order” it. Truly, I felt embarrassed.
Recently, I became a member of The Next Generation Writers. You were probably already aware of this is you saw the banner on my MySpace page. The Next Generation Writers was founded by Kristy Tallman (author of the highly acclaimed novels Crows on the Cross and The All-Souls Faerie). The purpose of the group is to bring (a much needed) light to small presses and authors who are published by such (or even self-published).
The importance of a group such as The Next Generation Writers cannot be stressed enough! There is a growing concern from authors when preparing their manuscript for the possibility of publication. Think about all the hard work, the endless days and nights and the blood, sweat, and tears an author puts into writing a book. Now, regardless of how excellent their novel may be, if said writer was rejected from a large publisher for such bureaucratic reasons such as absence of a reputable agent, graphic scenes within said novel, or because the publisher doesn’t recognize a “trend” in the marketplace for such a book, how do you think that author feels. From experience, I can recall that horrible feeling of defeat! When you think about it, it’s a damn shame!
Who’s to predict what trend the readers of the world should be subjected? Furthermore, who’s to say that such an undiscovered talent wouldn’t be much appreciated by readers? Isn’t the next best thing usually something new one has never experienced before?
Imagine how many writers have felt such defeat and given up. Think about how many voices of all the aspiring talent in the world are being hushed due to their ingenious creativity!
It’s time for writers, readers and small presses to take a stand against autocracy created by large publishing houses. It’s time for ALL to be heard!
This is but one of many doctrines that The Next Generation Writers stands for. Please learn more about The Next Generation Writers by visiting their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/thenextgenerationwriters). There is so much you will be surprised to learn.
Because of the stand with which The Next Generation Writers is making, I decided to become a member. I ask all fans, friends, and fellow writers who also believe in this cause to support it by also becoming a member. Even if you’re not a writer and you want to support the principles of which The Next Generation Writers stands for, I urge you to sign-up for Fan Membership or make a donation of any amount.
All the information you need to know about The Next Generation Writers can be located on the groups MySpace page.
Thank you, in advance, for your support of this writer about a cause!
“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives”
Bummer!
I have one slight problem with this: if a major player such as Amazon was closed to submissions for their line of Amazon Shorts, why didn't they just state that they were closed to submissions from the beginning instead of sending their submission guidelines when recently queried? Nonetheless, I am still a fan of Amazon Shorts and the authors whose works are available. I simply feel that I got the short end of the stick.
Hence, I have the short story back in my hands (so to speak). There are two other publications with guidelines that are suitable for my story "Jailed." Today, I submitted the manuscript to Apex Digest. While Apex Digest predominantly deals with science fiction, they are also open to dark fantasy and horror. Turn around time for a response from the publication generally ranges from three to four weeks.
If all else fails, I will plan to use "Jailed" as a piece in the short story collection I'm currently working on.
I'll keep you all updated with the status of the story.
There's a certain unprecedented fear in knowing that you have been stripped of your freedom and are stuck in a caged-in area where seconds move like minutes, minutes like hours, and a day like an eternity. Our minds make an effective attempt at grasping for any hope to avoid being in such a place. And in that moment, in that stretch toward believing that you will be confined from society, the fear begins to mount. It is the fear of the unknown, a test to witness if everything you had seen on the television was true (or close to the truth).
We give so much horrid thought to what we are about to face, that we tend to forget about the horrors that may be happening while we are imprisoned.
Such were the thoughts that inspired my latest short story, entitled "Jailed."
Today, I finish finalizing the story. Yes, it's been read over repeatedly, edited, changed, re-edited, changed again and, hopefully, polished to publication form. After reading the short story one last time, I made the decision that Amazon Shorts was the place I would be submitting it to. I have found many wonderful e-zine and magazines to submit a number of my short stories to. However, "Jailed" best suited the guidelines for Amazon Shorts.
The turn around time for submissions sent to Amazon Shorts is about three to five weeks. Therefore, if they decide to accept it for publication, it will be available in the coming months. I look forward to hearing their criticism of the story and I will keep you all updated on their response.
Nightfall is coming. And now, more than ever, there is no doubt in my mind. I am hopeful that all obstacles have finally been diminished from the frustrating task of having this novel see the light of day (yes, I know...a bit of irony given the title). Though the official date is weeks from being announced, I felt it imperative to promote it by giving a reader, a fan, or a friend an autographed hardcover copy of the novel.
However, with this specific promotion, I wanted friends and fans to be involved with the book. Specifically, I wanted readers to interact with what is coming. What better way to do such by creating my main character--Stefan Powell--as a living and breathing entity that exists beyond the covers of the novel with which he was born. Suddenly...it hit me! MySpace!
Thus, I have created a MySpace profile for Stefan Powell, my protagonist of Nightfall. You see, not only does Stefan have the weight of the world on his shoulders; rather, he has the fate of the entire planet resting there as well!
I must say, it was quite the brilliant idea I instantly became fond of.
And it is this that has become the last promotion for my upcoming novel, Nightfall. I have placed the details of the promotion in this blog as viewed on my official website (www.andrewwolter.com). Yes, I managed to completely revamp my website as part of my January goals.
Read on and get a free, signed copy!
From the Official Website of Andrew Wolter:
Many readers and fans of my work have asked if Stefan Powell--the main character of my much anticipated novel, Nightfall--will be as strong of a character as Kieran or Anthony (from my first novel, The Rules of Temptation). While Nightfall substantially differentiates from the genre in which The Rules of Temptation was written--after all, Nightfall is a horror novel--readers are finally able to have the opportunity to get to know Stefan Powell personally.
And, just for being a "friend" of Stefan's, you will have a chance at winning a signed, hardcover copy of my forthcoming novel, Nightfall! Don't worry, you don't have to battle other worlds or be constantly looking over your shoulder, anticipating the wretched grasp of some mythological creature catching you from behind. No, nothing like that! All I'm asking is to be Stefan's friend. Now, that's a small price to pay to have the opportunity to get a free, autographed book, right? Not to mention, you'll have a chance to get to know somebody that's about to take on an entire netherworld of evil. When is the last time you can say you had a friend who did that?
Here's how it works...
From January 19, 2008 until March 1, 2008 become one of Stefan Powell's friends on his MySpace page. This is completely free to do! To do so, simply go to Stefan's MySpace page (www.myspace.com/stefanpowellaz) and click on the "Add" link in the "Contacting Stefan" box (beneath his picture). Once the add is confirmed, you have entered to win a autographed, hardcover copy of my forthcoming novel, Nightfall.
You see, it's rather painless, isn't it? But why stop there? While you're on Stefan's MySpace page, feel free to read all about him and learn about the character you will soon be reading all about. Check out his blog (it will be featuring some of his dark poetry and ramblings) and watch as the world around him begins to unravel as we get closer to the coming of Nightfall!
On March 2, 2008, I will be announcing the winner on this website and on a MySpace bulletin (make sure you friend me as well).
Good luck to you all!
So there you have it. Life imitating art!
It appears that every word I write, and all I have been working on for the New Year, has been related to a number of developing short stories. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, writing a short story is a nice break from the enduring task of writing a novel. Don't get me wrong...the writer still has an intimate connection with his characters; however, the reader is not privy to the numerous details of the protagonist or antagonist of the story.
I wouldn't say that writing a short story is easier than writing a novel. Sure, it may take less time. On the other hand, it can become difficult for the writer to convey the overall tone of the story. After all, depending on the publication he/she may be submitting to, the writer may be limited to a certain word count. A perfect example of this has been outlined in one of my previous entries. I submitted a flash fiction piece, entitled Rush. The publication to which I submitted the story limited the total word count to 750. Imagine...trying to create a scene that is descriptive enough to open the eyes of the reader to another world, yet still maintain the story fundamentals of a beginning, middle and end within 750 words! Yes, it was truly difficult--quite the challenge, I might add--but I managed to overcome the challenge. On a side note: I am still awaiting to hear the fate of Rush from the publication.
I have a plethora of short stories within my mind, just waiting to be released. Some are awaiting the finalization of editing, some are being submitted to various publications, and others are merely in the developmental stage. This month alone, I am hoping to finalize and submit six stories. I am working on other short stories that will become a part of my collection that I anticipate releasing by the end of this year, beginning of next.
During the process of writing these short stories, I have stumbled upon an older short story that I decided to re-write and submit to a particular publication as well. And, during my month of slaving to the written form of the short story, I have discovered that my recently published piece, I'll Be Home For Christmas, was nominated for the Preditors and Editors 2007 Reader's Poll for Best Short Story in horror. Voting ends tomorrow, so I will let everybody know what rank the story placed. Honestly, I would be happy if it made it into the top ten!
In the midst of short story mania, I told myself I wouldn't work on any other short stories this month. The reason being that I wanted to focus on the stories at hand and submit them to various, predetermined publications. Afterward, I intend to return to the final edits of my short story collection and finishing my next novel. Still, like some unstoppable force that cannot die, another story unexpectedly surfaced. Recently, a very close person to me came across a short story that I had written months back. Unbenknownst to me, the I neglected to save the story to the hard drive of my new computer. With a smile on his face, this person said to me, "I read your story, Puppeteer." My mind raced to the familiar title and the almost-forgotten tale. "I really liked it," he said. "You have to make sure to keep your stories laying around more often." This reference was made toward the story encased in a manila envelope. Of course, this piqued my interest, and I was instantly intrigued to revisit my short story Puppeteer. After reading it, I decided that it could not go without a final edit and submission to a publication I had recently encountered (and I wonder why I can't reach my specific writing goals each month). My drawback with this particular publication was that it was very limited to its content and word count. Coincidentally, Puppeteer fits within these guidelines. Hey, everything for a reason, right?
So it is that I am surrounded by short stories. I am living my nights executing compendious selections of prose. I am spending my days antagonized by characters begging for change and worlds awaiting to climax. One may think that I am veritably haunted by the short story as a literary form. But I absolutely love it!
January. This month has obviously been filled with abounding ideas and hopeful accomplishments. I have six short stories to finalize, one story that has been nominated for a reader's poll award, and a short story that has returned from the past. But I am complacent in knowing that I have a story to tell and that my stories move the reader.
Whether I attain the achievement of completing all of these various stories remains unknown. However, my intention for February is to work exclusively on my next novel. I suppose there is nothing short about that!
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