Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Pirate Booty


Ahoy thar buckos!

 

 Bein' that it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I be want'n to share some plunder! Arrrrr!!!!!

 

 Fer ye' lovers of canine bilge rats, I be sharin' with ye two links:


Dog Shaming - Fer those particularly scurvy bilge rats

 

My dog: the paradox - A mighty "Arrrr!" to the scurvy wench that goes by Vero fer markin' an X on this buried treasure 

 

Fer ye' lovers of yarns of the metal-man and fantastical variety (science fiction and fantasy), feast yer yellow-dog eyes on  these:

 

Daily Science Fiction - Make yer mark fer a yarn sent daily by e-bottle 

 

 If'n yer learnin' aint too good an' ye' be wantin' to hear yer yarns rathar'n read 'em, sail yer ship o'er to Escape Pod an Pod Castle (both be willin' to pay ye fer yer own yarns).


Finally, fer ye lubbers that be lackin' inspiration, sight yer cannons on Penumbra! These urchins be wantin' yer yarns!


A' vast ye and shiver me timbers!!! 

 

Friday, September 14, 2012

Shout Out Friday

It's been a while since I've posted any shout-outs and I think today is a good day for it.

First off, the always interesting Veronica Sicoe posted a great piece asking how much science (and scientific plausibility) is necessary in science fiction?

Along the same thread, check out the 2012 Hugo winning Fan-zine SF Signal for tons of cool science fiction content.

Baby rhinos are so cute! Photo by Han van Hoof.
For those folks interested in actual science, here's a very cool story about tainting rhino horns in order to deter poachers. Very cool!

For those of you wanting to get a manuscript out to agents in a new and exciting way, be sure to check out Miss Snark's First Victim's "Bakers Dozen Challenge" where 60 stories will be selected to have their first 250 words posted for agents to "bid on".Nice!

Want a laugh? Check out OFW's "Ten Gifts You Should Never Give a Writer". Brief but hilarious!

Finally, I've had to update my "My Fiction" page because I've had another micro-fiction (I think that's the most appropriate term for it) piece published on 140fiction.com. Please check out my story "God's Plan".

Have a great weekend!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Science Fiction and Fantasy Paying Markets

ATTENTION: YOU CAN VIEW UPDATED LISTINGS BY CLICKING THE TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE OR BY CLICKING HERE.

I've posted a new page here on my blog that I hope will help some folks sell some stories! I'm also including the info in this post.

There are plenty of good sites out there listing paying markets for fantasy and science fiction short stories but most of the time that's all they are, lists. I put this table together for my own reference and I'd like to share it with you. I make absolutely no promises that the information is up to date or accurate (although I will try my best). Please see individual websites for specific information. If you have any corrections, addition, and/or comments, please feel free to email me at adamg73(at)juno(dot)com.

If there's a blank cell that means I couldn't find that bit of information. C/W means cents per word.

Name Genre(s) Max Length Pay Response Time Notes
Abyss and Apex Sci-fi, Fantasy 10k 5 c/w up to 1.5k, $75 for longer 3 months Especially interested in flash fiction (&lt1.5k)
Analog Sci-fi 2k-7k for shorts, 10k-20k for novelettes, and 40k-80k for serials 6-8 c/w up to 7.5k, $450-$600 for 7.5k-10k, 5-6 c/w for longer 5 weeks
Azimovs Sci-fi 20k 6-8 c/w up to 7.5k, 6-6.5 c/w for 7.5k+ 5 weeks
Black Gate Epic Fantasy None 3-6 c/w up to 5k, $150-$200 from 5k-15k, $200-$250 for 15k+ 3-5 months Currently closed to submissions, Accepts simultaneous submissions
Buzzy Mag Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror 10k 5 c/w 6-8 weeks Accepts novel length manuscripts
Clarkesworld Sci-fi, Fantasy 1-8k 10 c/w up to 4k, 5 c/w for longer 2 days
Fantastic Frontiers Sci-fi, Fantasy 500-2k 3 c/w
Fantasy and Science Fiction Sci-fi, Fantasy 25k 6-9 c/w 8 weeks Snail mail only
Flagship Sci-fi, Fantasy 2k-7k $25/story
Interzone Sci-fi, Fantasy 10k Snail mail only
Miscellanea Sci-fi, Fantasy, Horror 300 $10/story
On Spec Sci-fi, Fantasy,Horror 1k for "short short stories", 6k for short stories "sss" = $50, ss = $125 (1k-3k), $175 (3k-5k), $200 (5k-6k) 3 months
Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show Sci-fi, Fantasy None 6 c/w up to 7.5k, 5 c/w for 7.5k+ 3 months
Strange Horizons Sci-fi, Fantasy 9k (5k max prefered) 7 c/w, $50 min. 2 week avg., 70 day max
Tugboat All 3.5k 10 c/w, $50 min. Currently closed to submissions

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

BEER!!!! (and what it might say about your characters)

Prince Charming just put in a long hard day fighting dragons and all he wants to do is put his feet up and watch a little bit of jousting on MSPN (Mid-evil Sports Programing Network) but when he gets back to Camelot (which is a silly place) the Princess is on a rampage because the enchanted woodland critters have soiled the tapestries again (This is a castle and we have many tapestries, and if you are a Scottish lord then I am Mickey Mouse!). After shooing the enchanted animals outside and cleaning up their enchanted droppings, our hero puts the seven dwarfs to bed and then, finally, sits down with a nice cold flagon of his favorite brew.


But what brew? What epic beer does our epic hero epically quaff in this epically epic fantasy? And does it matter?

You bet your ass it matters!!!

As I've said before, I'm a beer nut, a brew fanatic, a hop head, an alcoholic...wait, scratch that last one. I love beer!

Most people follow a similar beer path. Generally, folks start their beer journey in the Land of American Style Pilsners. This is a very desolate, colorless land full of frat boys and NASCAR logos. There's nothing wrong with starting here, or even visiting on a hot summer day, but I don't recommend taking up residence. Once you stop drinking beer just to get drunk, it's time to move on into the Realm of Micro-brews. There are two routes that most people take to get there, either through the mountain pass of light citrusy wheat beers or through the darker amber beer mines. Both routes are safe, delicious, and inviting. Usually beer travelers take their time on these roads and some never leave. Those that choose to press on tend to head to the Kingdom of Ports and Stouts. A heady place full of depth and intrigue. There's a lot to see there and it's usually best to visit in the winter. A few brave souls press on and finally reach my home, the Land of Hops where the IPAs and hoppy reds roam free. By the time you've made it here you are sure to be a beer snob and proud of it. From the Land of Hops you might visit your old haunts back along the path or take occasional forays into the Valley of Sours, the Plains of Alt, or any of the attractions the diverse world of beer offers.

Brewed in Japan, this batch of Hitachino Nest Beer spent 3 extra days in the mash due to the giant earthquake of 2011. This resulted in a unique, once in a lifetime, un-replicable brew that beer nuts like me have been clamoring over.
I believe that where you are along your beer journey, and therefore what you drink, can say a little about who you are. For example:

Pilsners - Your a working class, blue-collar, salt of the earth sort of person. You drink the same beer your daddy did and if it was good enough for him, then by god it's good enough for you (the same could be said for your politics). Wherever you're from, you're proud of it. Slow to change your ways and often stubborn, you say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Wheats - You are one laid back individual. Problems slough off you like water off a ducks back. You're a dreamer who knows that money doesn't make a person happy. As a result, you often find yourself in money trouble. Outdoorsy, you can usually be found on some forest trail with your bike or your dog.
  •  Sure Bets:
    • CooperSmith's Brewing (Fort Collins, CO) "Mountain Avenue Wheat"
    • Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, GA) "Sunray Wheat"
    • Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, MI) "Founders Fest Wheat"

Porters and Stouts - You're an intellectually minded person who takes life seriously. You like your coffee black and your beer blacker. Slow to judge and even slower to react, you prefer to take your time to ponder over the many issues that life throws your way. you like rainy days and big fireplaces.

  • Sure Bets:
    • Great Divide Beer Co. (Denver, CO) "Yetti Imperial Stout"
    • Deschutes Brewery (Bend, OR) "The Abyss"
    • Lagunitas Brewing (Petaluma, CA) "Cappuccino Stout"
    • Oakshire Brewing (Eugene, OR) "Espresso Stout"
The Beer Gods shining down on my favorite brewery.

IPA's and Red - Adventurous and gregarious, you are a risk taker with a reputation for taking any situation to the edge (sometimes past). You tend to consider yourself smarted than you actually are but, either through dumb luck or the help of your friends, it usually doesn't get you into trouble. You're naturally funny but you also tend to try to hard in social situation.  
  •  Sure Bets:
    • Terminal Gravity Brewing (Enterprise, OR) "IPA"
    • Green Flash Brewing (San Diego, CA) "West Coast IPA"
    • Good Life Brewing Co. (Bend, OR) "Descender IPA"
    • Double Mountain Brewing (Hood River, OR) "IRA"
    • Bridgeport Brewing Co. (Portland, OR) "Kingpin Red" 
This was my birthday present from my wife this year. She knows what I like!

Are these characterizations always true?

No. 

Are they ever true?

I have no idea.

Are the beers worth trying.

Hell yes.

Enjoy!