I have stacks of short stories half written. I've planned out a novel and was gonna rip into it in NaNoWriMo, but now I've been hit with crippling arm pain. I'm talking can't lift a chocolate bar or use my left arm kind of pain.
Factor in that I've got a full time job that's the only income for my family of five, then factor in that I have three small boys.
Writing is, by neccessity, on hold. And I've already heard of voice recognition software, okay? I just don't write that way, though if this persists I'll be forced to try.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Vote for Girl Power!
Sorcerous Signals has a voting page where you can vote for Girl Power. It already seems to have eight votes, so if everyone who reads this blog goes there and votes for it too, it might even reach double digits!
Monday, August 11, 2008
PMCT Conclusion Published.
Part 5 of Pardon Me, Coming Through has now been released to the wild by Infinitas. After a tantalising five months, I hope the ending has the punch to meet your expectations.
I origially envisioned the story as the start to a novel, but I'm so busy with the three other novels I'm chipping away at (and the tyranny of Normal Life) that it'll never happen. Maybe a novella sometime...
I origially envisioned the story as the start to a novel, but I'm so busy with the three other novels I'm chipping away at (and the tyranny of Normal Life) that it'll never happen. Maybe a novella sometime...
Sunday, August 03, 2008
AHWA Commendation
The Australian Horror Writers Association has just judged their 2008 Flash & Short fiction competition, and my Pacific Highway themed story The Biting of Nails came up for a commendation! I didn't think it had the layers or resonation to win, so I didn't have high hopes for it. This is a pleasant surprise.
I should also point out that fellow writer Christian Girard came up with an er.. killer title for the story: Speed Demon, but I moved this title into the story instead, for two reasons. One, the story starts out realistic and then punches into speculative, and the title would have clued the reader in, and two, it made the protag's final revelations that much stronger.
While it was great getting a commendation (ie being in the top 5 out of 100 or so), it means that the story hasn't actually been accepted for publication, and now I have to send it out. Psst! Wanna buy a story?
I should also point out that fellow writer Christian Girard came up with an er.. killer title for the story: Speed Demon, but I moved this title into the story instead, for two reasons. One, the story starts out realistic and then punches into speculative, and the title would have clued the reader in, and two, it made the protag's final revelations that much stronger.
While it was great getting a commendation (ie being in the top 5 out of 100 or so), it means that the story hasn't actually been accepted for publication, and now I have to send it out. Psst! Wanna buy a story?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Girl Power (finally) published!
Well, it's been a long road but my comic fantasy Girl Power finally found its way into a publication at Sorcerous Signals.
The story of the story:
I wrote it.
It was critiqued by my colleagues in the Prose Nest at AuthorsByDesign.com.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was accepted by ShadowSword Magazine!
Then months went by (which is normal, to inform non-writers)
Then a notice appeared on the ShadowSword Magazine web site that they'd gone out of business.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then it appeared on an honourable mentions list in Allegory Magazine (who had rejected it. WTF?)
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then the rejection was rejected- they'd made a mistake!
Then came the usual rewrites, etc.
Then TODAY it's finally been published!
So after a lead up like that, what are you waiting for? Click on the pic of Noelene and Shaz, and go read it!
The story of the story:
I wrote it.
It was critiqued by my colleagues in the Prose Nest at AuthorsByDesign.com.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was accepted by ShadowSword Magazine!
Then months went by (which is normal, to inform non-writers)
Then a notice appeared on the ShadowSword Magazine web site that they'd gone out of business.
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then it appeared on an honourable mentions list in Allegory Magazine (who had rejected it. WTF?)
Then I submitted it.
Then it was rejected again.
Then the rejection was rejected- they'd made a mistake!
Then came the usual rewrites, etc.
Then TODAY it's finally been published!
So after a lead up like that, what are you waiting for? Click on the pic of Noelene and Shaz, and go read it!
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
PMCT Part 3 Published
Part 3 of Pardon Me, Coming Through is now online at the Infinitas site.
You finally get to see the other side of the dimensional membrane for the first time. Where/When/What could it be?
You finally get to see the other side of the dimensional membrane for the first time. Where/When/What could it be?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Comp entry
Well, the Australian Horror Writers Association has their competition on again this year. I came second in the 2005 flash comp, won the 2006 flash comp, then didn't enter in 2007, so I thought I'd better do something this year.
I've written a story about deaths on the Pacific Highway, set at a particular point on it that I saw a lot growing up. If you click here you can see a bridge to the left with a sharp bend on the left side of it, on the Old Pacific Highway. The reason that section is now the old Pacific Highway is that it was a nasty black spot. A family friend's brother died there when his tractor went into the river, and they get a mention.
I'm not sure the story has the legs to win a comp, but you'll never, never winnit if you never, never submit.
I've written a story about deaths on the Pacific Highway, set at a particular point on it that I saw a lot growing up. If you click here you can see a bridge to the left with a sharp bend on the left side of it, on the Old Pacific Highway. The reason that section is now the old Pacific Highway is that it was a nasty black spot. A family friend's brother died there when his tractor went into the river, and they get a mention.
I'm not sure the story has the legs to win a comp, but you'll never, never winnit if you never, never submit.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
No fate but what we make.
I've discovered something interesting about having a serial piece published.
See, it's kinda hard to get good feedback about a story. If you show it to your friends and family, they will ALWAYS say the same three words, without variation (do I even need to say what they are?).
The stories might get reviewed, but reviewers (for the most part) are pushing an agenda: This story rocks/sucks because it's new wierd/flash fiction/humour/australian/insert flavour of bigotry here.
Critique groups are the best for useful feedback, but they take up a lot of time and it's hard to find one that a)has writers experienced enough to tell you something helpful, b)Has the courage to tell you what sucks and not just stroke your ego, and c)has the courage to tell you what really works well, and not just feel good about themselves because they can criticise others.
You want to know so many things. Are the characters believable? Did the setting serve the story or was it distracting? Was the pacing just right? And the holy of holies:
Was tension maintained?
Eloquent prose and slick science and funny gags are ALL subservient to keeping the reader moving along and wondering ANOTHER three words.
Which brings me back to serials, because I've received those sweet three words over and over with Pardon Me, Coming Through: What happens next?
When that happens it's great, but the responsibility then rests on the writer to deliver a payoff/ending that justifies that tension. Even more so in this case, because you the reader are waiting a month for every installment. Pearson, mate, your fate had better be worth it. Both our necks are on the line here.
See, it's kinda hard to get good feedback about a story. If you show it to your friends and family, they will ALWAYS say the same three words, without variation (do I even need to say what they are?).
The stories might get reviewed, but reviewers (for the most part) are pushing an agenda: This story rocks/sucks because it's new wierd/flash fiction/humour/australian/insert flavour of bigotry here.
Critique groups are the best for useful feedback, but they take up a lot of time and it's hard to find one that a)has writers experienced enough to tell you something helpful, b)Has the courage to tell you what sucks and not just stroke your ego, and c)has the courage to tell you what really works well, and not just feel good about themselves because they can criticise others.
You want to know so many things. Are the characters believable? Did the setting serve the story or was it distracting? Was the pacing just right? And the holy of holies:
Was tension maintained?
Eloquent prose and slick science and funny gags are ALL subservient to keeping the reader moving along and wondering ANOTHER three words.
Which brings me back to serials, because I've received those sweet three words over and over with Pardon Me, Coming Through: What happens next?
When that happens it's great, but the responsibility then rests on the writer to deliver a payoff/ending that justifies that tension. Even more so in this case, because you the reader are waiting a month for every installment. Pearson, mate, your fate had better be worth it. Both our necks are on the line here.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
PMCT Part 2 Published
Part 2 (of 5) of Pardon Me, Coming Through is now downloadable in PDF format in the May 2008 Infinitas Newsletter.
I've read it so many times while writing and proofreading, and only just realised the freudian name I gave the protagonist. It should become apparent to you this episode.
I've read it so many times while writing and proofreading, and only just realised the freudian name I gave the protagonist. It should become apparent to you this episode.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
PMCT Pt 1 Published
That was quick! Part 1 (of 5) of Pardon Me, Coming Through is now downloadable in PDF format in the April 2008 Infinitas Newsletter. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Another sale!
The Sorcerous Signal has just accepted my story Girl Power! It's one of the ones I've had the most fun writing, a fairy tale that's been given a shake up, a twist and a squeeze of lemon.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
A Serial Sale!
I've just sold my first ever serialised fiction!
Pardon Me, Coming Through will be appearing in five successive issues of Infinitas. It took me a long time to write and included quite a bit of research, we'll see how it goes.
There, I got through that post without some lame breakfast cereal joke :)
Pardon Me, Coming Through will be appearing in five successive issues of Infinitas. It took me a long time to write and included quite a bit of research, we'll see how it goes.
There, I got through that post without some lame breakfast cereal joke :)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Words still being found
Well I can't find any gaps in my life to find some words yet, but my story "Finding the words" is still going strong.
The Year's Best Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror 2007 Edition has just been reviewed over at Horrorscope. Reviewer Chuck McKenzie said:
‘Finding the Words’ is an emotionally upsetting piece dealing with the death of a child. I don’t recall having read anything by author Steven Cavanagh before, but I shall certainly be searching out his work in future. This story is an absolute gem.
I really respect Chuck McKenzie. We have a couple of things in common (he's one of the few of us who love to write humour, he's had to throttle back on writing because of family), however I don't look like that guy from doug anthony all-stars.
Then reviewer Robert Black also chimed in on Horrorscope, saying:
Finding the Words is a very innovative tale which explores the emotional power of loss (specifically the death of a child) under the guide of a horror tale. It is a superb and creative use of a genre tale to explore personal emotional pain.
I think Finding The Words is now a benchmark for my writing. Not so much that I feel a need to win comps and awards with every story, but when I wrote this one I was really in the zone (feeling stupid and wierded out because tears were running down my cheeks), and it showed in the writing. I'd like to find that magic point every time I write.
The Year's Best Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror 2007 Edition has just been reviewed over at Horrorscope. Reviewer Chuck McKenzie said:
‘Finding the Words’ is an emotionally upsetting piece dealing with the death of a child. I don’t recall having read anything by author Steven Cavanagh before, but I shall certainly be searching out his work in future. This story is an absolute gem.
I really respect Chuck McKenzie. We have a couple of things in common (he's one of the few of us who love to write humour, he's had to throttle back on writing because of family), however I don't look like that guy from doug anthony all-stars.
Then reviewer Robert Black also chimed in on Horrorscope, saying:
Finding the Words is a very innovative tale which explores the emotional power of loss (specifically the death of a child) under the guide of a horror tale. It is a superb and creative use of a genre tale to explore personal emotional pain.
I think Finding The Words is now a benchmark for my writing. Not so much that I feel a need to win comps and awards with every story, but when I wrote this one I was really in the zone (feeling stupid and wierded out because tears were running down my cheeks), and it showed in the writing. I'd like to find that magic point every time I write.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
ADFH 2007
Just got my contributor copy of Brimstone Press' AUSTRALIAN DARK FANTASY & HORROR 2007 edition, featuring my award winning "Finding the Words". Brimstone always do a great job on their books, the quality is top-notch. Some big Aussie names in this one, too. I'm about a third of the way through reading it, and I'm being pulled in by each and every story.
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