Susan Forest – Page 195

August 15, 2008

Speaking of successes …

I have friends who don’t write, who are invariably amused when I brag, “I got an excellent rejection letter!” People who don’t write don’t realize, I think, how hard we work for a personalized rejection, and what it can mean: the editor actually read the submission and liked it enough to take their time to be encouraging. In this competitive business, that is really awesome. And, as in my first sale to Asimov’s, an initial rejection can lead to a sale.

So, I’ve been yakking about science fiction writing, and didn’t mention that I belong to more than one writers’ group. Kensington Writers Group is a non-genre group that is quite small, but highly successful, and includes not only writers of genre, novels and short stories, but YA, non-fiction and poetry as well. As much as I value my connection to IFWA and the expertise they possess in SF, I have learned a lot about writing by working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

One member of my group, Jan Markley, has just received a very positive rejection from a Canadian publisher for her YA novel, “Dead Frogs on the Porch.” The editor wrote her almost a page of critique, praising the novel on a number of levels and suggesting Jan look at just a little tension-tightening (and who can’t benefit from that?). She’s doing re-writes for another submission and we’re all on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what happens (okay, we may be on the edge of our seats for a few months)!! Jan’s novel is funny, gripping, unique, and has great characters with distinctive voices. I would not be surprised if she doesn’t wind up with a sale on her hands.

Susan

August 13, 2008

Next Con – Next Weekend

So, just got back from Denvention yesterday and my next con starts Friday, here in Calgary: Conversion. Actually, I will miss most of it because I’ll be to flying to Toronto for my father-in-law’s 80th birthday!! That will be fun. Of course, I will miss the short story judging which will be too bad because my daughter has an awesome story in it. However, I will be there Friday night for IFWA Players’ Armageddon Idol. last year, as you may know, I directed The Phantom of the Space Opera, which was a ton of fun and turned out really well (we got invited to Vulcan for their con, where we performed for Eugene Roddenberry, who suggested we might like to bring the show to Las Vegas). This year, though, I get to act: I am one of 3 judges of the singing competition between Heaven and Hell for all the souls at the end of the world. The judges sing a really funny song filked from “Why Can’t the English Learn to Speak” from the musical, My Fair Lady. Our song is called, “Why Can’t Celestials Learn to Sing?” If you’re in Calgary, you have to come to the show. It’s free as long as you are a member of the con.

August 12, 2008

Back home

So, the con was awesome. Connected with great people, picked up good tips and accomplished the business I went to accomplish, all the while having a great time. I found the whole milieu inspiring. The panel I presented on was entitled, “Writing In Spite of Your Environment,” and for me Denvention was a part of that — or perhaps I wrote because of my environment. On the drive to Denver I did a little bit of writing; the first couple of days I managed to squeeze in maybe 2 hours a day of writing. Saturday and Sunday, as well as in the car both days driving back I wrote almost non-stop (well, I had to stop a bit Saturday night to see the Hugos). Very productive, and I am very pleased with where my writing is going right now.

August 9, 2008

News from Denver

The sessions continue to be great — too many to choose among — and it is wonderful to hear about writing and the business straight out of the mouths of top authors and agents. The other thing is, of course, that you recognize them when you meet them. Although, that may not always be the best thing. My good friend, Kim Greyson, who is in charge of guests for World Fantasy (which will be in Calgary in October) knows EVERYONE, so last night he introduced me to writer David Coe. The first thing I said was, “I know you — where have we met?” He was a little confused; then I realized — I’d seen him on a panel. Oops! But he was very gracious about the mistake.

Parties, of course, are where a lot of the business is done. I fell into conversation with a top agent, Lucienne Diver, who gave me her card, then Kim introduced me to Kathleen Doherty who offered to place my manuscripts in front of the right editor at Tor. What an opportunity! Thanks, Kim! Also, for the first time, I got to make an introduction. I introduced Randy McCharles to Sheila Williams at Asimov’s. I read in her June editorial that she is looking for humour and the first person I thought of was Randy because he is not only an awesome writer, he writes humour. So, once the craziness dies down, he said he would send something to Asimov’s.

August 8, 2008

Denvention, Day 3

Would have posted earlier, but I only just today got Internet.

I’m very much enjoying Denvention. Sessions have been interesting and informative with lots of big name authors, agents and editors providing advice. One thing about advice is that once you hear it, it often makes so much sense you think, “Why didn’t I realize that before? It’s so simple!” John Scalzi, Michael Kabongo (agent) and Mary Robinette Kowal (Nebula nominee) gave a really funny panel on schmoozing that included, “What is a great elevator pitch?” Mary’s pitch for one of her current novels is “Jane Austin — with magic!” Just having a couple of examples like that is really helpful. So instead of the one I thought of earlier for my novel (“an adventure fantasy in which a journeyman thief is politically manipulated into. . . “) I’m thinking of, “adventure fantasy with thieves and con men.” Maybe I can still work on it (my daughter, Heather — a wonderful writer in her own right — could probably make it better), but at least it’s shorter and hopefully gets to the cool part sooner. Let’s hope I get a chance to try it out.

As for shmoozing, I’ve done a little. I had dinner last night with Edge Press publisher Brian Hades, and up-and-coming authors Ed Willett and Adrian (KA) Bedford. The day before, our table included L.E. Modesitt. Yesterday, I was on hand when friend, writer and OnSpec editor, Barb Galler-Smith learned that her first book has been picked up by Edge Press and will likely see its launch at Anticipation World Con in Montreal next summer. Very exciting news!! I also touched base with Analog editor Stanley Schmidt (who suggested I sit on a few panels — which I will be doing tomorrow), good friend Rob Sawyer, and generous mentor, Mike Resnick. Today, I signed copies of Tesseracts Ten and Tesseracts Eleven with Randy McCharles, a wonderful SF humorist whose stories appear in Tess Eleven and upcoming in Tesseracts Twelve. Afterwards, I volunteered at the SFWA table.

Tomorrow I sit on a panel on “Writing in Spite of Your Environment,” followed, of course, by the Hugo Awards (keeping fingers crossed for Rob’s book, Rollback). Looking forward to it!