Suzzanne Myers » Craft Mechanics

Orycon 2011 recap

Suzzanne — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:55:50 +0000

I attended Orycon this year with a really cool chick, Amy Bilhorn Thomas. She was pretty much my partner in crime as we navigated the good and bad panels and it was really great spending time just talking to someone at length about all the in’s and out’s of the writing craft. I know [...]

Continue reading: Orycon 2011 recap

Tip: Stalking the Editor

Suzzanne — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:49:07 +0000

Just because a call for subs has been announced on a publisher’s/editor’s website does not mean it isn’t talked about elsewhere, in detail, by the editors, with lots of useful extra info not in the sub guidelines. Learn to use Google to stalk editors (but please, don’t really stalk them) so you can learn what [...]

Continue reading: Tip: Stalking the Editor

Sub Opportunities

Suzzanne — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:35:27 +0000

New sub opportunities of interest in the distant-near future, specifically geared toward the female perspective/protagonist: MZB’s Sword & Sorceress Anthology series has been picked up by Norilana Books. This will be it’s 25th incarnation.

The Ladies of Trade Town: another Norilana Books production.

Realms of Fantasy’s “Women in Fantasy” themed issue. There’s been a lot [...]

Continue reading: Sub Opportunities

OryCon 31 Followup

Suzzanne — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:51:30 +0000

So, OryCon is now done. I met a few really awesome writers, including Mary Robinette Kowal, Ken Scholes and Nisi Shawl. These guys were part of some awesome panels like Writing the Other, Ken’s Writing Workshop and panels on selling your work and world-building. There was a lot of great advice from everyone on [...]

Continue reading: OryCon 31 Followup

Upcoming markets, work update

Suzzanne — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:31:34 +0000

There are quite a few good sub opportunities coming up. Parsec’s new 2010 Triangulation: End of the Rainbow anthology has been announced and I’d love to submit to this one. Jabberwocky is open until filled. Strange Horizons, Fantasy and Clarkesworld are closed until Jan 15, (Fantasy is closed until March 1), so now is the [...]

Continue reading: Upcoming markets, work update

Cover Letters

Suzzanne — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:05:53 +0000

Ever wonder how important that cover letter really is or whether it impacts your chances at publication? The short answer is: Your cover letter is very important. It's how you introduce yourself to the editor. [...]

Continue reading: Cover Letters

Description that doesn’t work

Suzzanne — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:27:00 +0000

"He was cloaked and his face veiled so deep in shadow that it could not be seen, but the firelight caught his eyes." Problems: 1. If someone is "cloaked" it is a general indication they are "hidden" inside the garment, meaning, they are wearing the hood as well as the cloak. No need to further describe how deeply hidden the cloak makes the character, or that the hood is up, or that the hood is also a cowl. 2. It's extremely difficult to have a hood so deep that a person's face is completely hidden by shadow, yet they are still able to move about, notice the scenery and participate in any action other than staring at the ground. Let alone then be able to see firelight in their eyes. Don't believe me? Try it. [...]

Continue reading: Description that doesn’t work