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.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
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.
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