Prose Writing for Publication Mr Jason Erik Lundberg GEB Literature Seminar 23 August 2008.

Prose Writing for Prose Writing for PublicationPublication

Mr Jason Erik LundbergMr Jason Erik Lundberg

GEB Literature SeminarGEB Literature Seminar23 August 200823 August 2008

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

IntroductionIntroductionNarrative HooksNarrative HooksSustaining Reader InterestSustaining Reader InterestOriginality vs. PolishOriginality vs. PolishEffective EndingsEffective EndingsSubmitting to PublishersSubmitting to PublishersProtocols with EditorsProtocols with EditorsOnline MagazinesOnline MagazinesAttitudes/Behavior after PublicationAttitudes/Behavior after PublicationBuilding a Writing CareerBuilding a Writing CareerMaintaining Interest / Facing RejectionMaintaining Interest / Facing Rejection

Who Am I?Who Am I?

WriterWriter

PublisherPublisher

Where Did I Start?Where Did I Start?

Where Am I Now?Where Am I Now?

Narrative HooksNarrative Hooks

Start your story with a strong, interesting Start your story with a strong, interesting hook that introduces the protagonisthook that introduces the protagonist

Should include hints of scenery, conflict, Should include hints of scenery, conflict, genre, tensiongenre, tension

Does NOT necessarily mean explosions or Does NOT necessarily mean explosions or high drama/actionhigh drama/action

Great Opening LinesGreat Opening Lines

"The sky above the port was the color of "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." television, tuned to a dead channel." —William Gibson, —William Gibson, NeuromancerNeuromancer"They say it came first from Africa, carried in the "They say it came first from Africa, carried in the screams of the enslaved; that it was the death screams of the enslaved; that it was the death bane of the Tainos, uttered just as one world bane of the Tainos, uttered just as one world perished and another began; that it was a perished and another began; that it was a demon drawn into Creation through the demon drawn into Creation through the nightmare door that was cracked open in the nightmare door that was cracked open in the Antilles." —Junot Díaz, Antilles." —Junot Díaz, The Brief Wondrous Life The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waoof Oscar Wao


““It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” —George Orwell, were striking thirteen.” —George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-FourNineteen Eighty-Four““An hour before he shot himself, my best friend An hour before he shot himself, my best friend Philip Strayhorn called to talk about thumbs.” Philip Strayhorn called to talk about thumbs.” —Jonathan Carroll, —Jonathan Carroll, A Child Across the SkyA Child Across the Sky““A squat grey building of only thirty-four storeys. A squat grey building of only thirty-four storeys. Over the main entrance the words ‘Central Over the main entrance the words ‘Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre’ and, London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre’ and, in a shield, the World State’s Motto: ‘Community, in a shield, the World State’s Motto: ‘Community, Identity, Stability’.” —Aldous Huxley, Identity, Stability’.” —Aldous Huxley, Brave New Brave New WorldWorld


Many more can be found at:Many more can be found at:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Opening_lineshttp://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Opening_lines

http://io9.com/5027128/great-opening-senthttp://io9.com/5027128/great-opening-sentences-from-science-fictionences-from-science-fiction

Pre-Writing ExercisePre-Writing Exercise

Take 15 minutes and brainstorm the Take 15 minutes and brainstorm the beginning of your short story (this must be beginning of your short story (this must be a new story, not one you’ve previously a new story, not one you’ve previously been working on).been working on).

Jot down some notes on your main Jot down some notes on your main character, the setting, potential conflict, character, the setting, potential conflict, mood, tone, etc.mood, tone, etc.

Sustaining Reader InterestSustaining Reader Interest

The rest of your story must be the payoff that the The rest of your story must be the payoff that the opening sets upopening sets up

Think of the hook as a promise to the reader of Think of the hook as a promise to the reader of what’s to come; if you can’t fulfill that promise, what’s to come; if you can’t fulfill that promise, you lose the readeryou lose the reader

Set up questions in the reader’s mind, whose Set up questions in the reader’s mind, whose answers will be revealed later in the text.answers will be revealed later in the text.

Postpone as long as possible (or even eliminate) Postpone as long as possible (or even eliminate) the potential for the “Red Line of Death”the potential for the “Red Line of Death”

The “Red Line of Death”The “Red Line of Death”

““Beginning writers are not competing with Beginning writers are not competing with the well-known established writers who the well-known established writers who can get away with whatever they can get away with whatever they choose. They compete among choose. They compete among themselves. Your competition is with all themselves. Your competition is with all the others in the slush pile, and if you the others in the slush pile, and if you can come up with a clear, can come up with a clear, straightforward opening that draws the straightforward opening that draws the reader in, you are already ahead of reader in, you are already ahead of three out of four of your competitors.” three out of four of your competitors.” —Kate Wilhelm, —Kate Wilhelm, StorytellerStoryteller

The “Red Line of Death”The “Red Line of Death”

““It does not take pages and pages to establish what It does not take pages and pages to establish what normality is. [...] Indiana Jones is teaching his university normality is. [...] Indiana Jones is teaching his university class when he is summoned. That is enough. We know he class when he is summoned. That is enough. We know he is a professor and there is a real setting of his classroom. is a professor and there is a real setting of his classroom. Now he can go off and have adventures.Now he can go off and have adventures.

We can see Dorothy [Gale], her aunt and uncle, the We can see Dorothy [Gale], her aunt and uncle, the farmhands, the house. We have a character and a real farmhands, the house. We have a character and a real setting. Now the tornado can blow her away.setting. Now the tornado can blow her away.

In the case of the unplotted story, the writer must know the In the case of the unplotted story, the writer must know the significance of what is to be shown, and care taken of significance of what is to be shown, and care taken of what events or days will reveal that significance. The what events or days will reveal that significance. The writers must know writers must know what to leave outwhat to leave out as well as what to as well as what to include.” —Kate Wilhelm, include.” —Kate Wilhelm, StorytellerStoryteller

Writing ExerciseWriting Exercise

Take another 15 minutes and write the Take another 15 minutes and write the beginning of your story, based on the beginning of your story, based on the notes that you just took down.notes that you just took down.

Make sure to introduce your main Make sure to introduce your main character, and give clues that your reader character, and give clues that your reader will want to know the answers for.will want to know the answers for.

Don’t give away everything at the Don’t give away everything at the beginning; establish an air of mysterybeginning; establish an air of mystery

Originality vs. PolishOriginality vs. Polish

It is important to remember that writers It is important to remember that writers writewrite; make sure to finish what you start; make sure to finish what you startNobody ever got published or won awards Nobody ever got published or won awards by by thinkingthinking about writing a story/book about writing a story/bookYou can polish a story until it gleams, but You can polish a story until it gleams, but you may remove what makes it a unique & you may remove what makes it a unique & interesting piece of writinginteresting piece of writingIf you don’t write lots of different kinds of If you don’t write lots of different kinds of stories, you won’t progress as a writerstories, you won’t progress as a writer““One Million Words of Crap”One Million Words of Crap”

Effective EndingsEffective Endings

Your ending should be the ultimate reward Your ending should be the ultimate reward for reading your storyfor reading your storyReaders should feel emotionally satisfiedReaders should feel emotionally satisfiedCan be ambiguous (“Every Angel is Can be ambiguous (“Every Angel is Terrifying” by John Kessel) / end with an Terrifying” by John Kessel) / end with an uncertainty or a choice (“The Lady or the uncertainty or a choice (“The Lady or the Tiger?” by Frank Stockton)Tiger?” by Frank Stockton)May not tie up all the plot elements, but May not tie up all the plot elements, but must complete an emotional journeymust complete an emotional journey

10-minute Break10-minute Break

Submitting to PublishersSubmitting to Publishers

Read the publications you want to submit Read the publications you want to submit to, in order to determine if your story would to, in order to determine if your story would be an appropriate fitbe an appropriate fit

If the publication has an online presence, If the publication has an online presence, look for “Submission Guidelines” or “About look for “Submission Guidelines” or “About Us” pageUs” page

GLs will show exactly what editor/ GLs will show exactly what editor/ publisher wants in terms of genre, content, publisher wants in terms of genre, content, word limit, ms. format, delivery, etc.word limit, ms. format, delivery, etc.


http://www.tinhouse.com/mag/mag_submithttp://www.tinhouse.com/mag/mag_submit.htm.htm

http://strangehorizons.com/http://strangehorizons.com/Guidelines.shtmlGuidelines.shtml

http://apublicspace.org/submit/http://apublicspace.org/submit/

http://ralan.comhttp://ralan.com

http://writersmarket.comhttp://writersmarket.com


1.1. Read the Submission Guidelines Read the Submission Guidelines carefullycarefully

2.2. FollowFollow the Submission Guidelines the Submission Guidelines

3.3. Repeat as neededRepeat as needed

4.4. Inculcate patience as you wait to hear Inculcate patience as you wait to hear about acceptance/rejectionabout acceptance/rejection

You You willwill get rejected, a lot, so it’s good get rejected, a lot, so it’s good to build up a thick skin against itto build up a thick skin against it

Protocols with EditorsProtocols with Editors

Do notDo not contact the editor to see if he or contact the editor to see if he or she received your story; assume that it she received your story; assume that it made it to them successfullymade it to them successfullyIf you have not heard from the editor on If you have not heard from the editor on your story’s status within 3 months, you your story’s status within 3 months, you can send a querycan send a queryIf your piece is rejected, If your piece is rejected, do notdo not question question the editor’s decision and/or persuade him the editor’s decision and/or persuade him or her to reconsideror her to reconsider

Protocols with EditorsProtocols with Editors

Stories are rejected for lots of reasons:Stories are rejected for lots of reasons:

Author didn’t follow GLsAuthor didn’t follow GLs

Writing is sub-par / full of careless errors / Writing is sub-par / full of careless errors / too shallow / lacks precisiontoo shallow / lacks precision

Story just didn’t grab editor’s interest / Story just didn’t grab editor’s interest / wasn’t to editor’s tastewasn’t to editor’s taste

Editor already bought a similar storyEditor already bought a similar story

Do Not Take Do Not Take Rejection Rejection PersonallyPersonally

Just shrug it off...Just shrug it off...

……and resubmit the story elsewhereand resubmit the story elsewhere

Online MagazinesOnline Magazines

Quarterly Literary Review Singapore: Quarterly Literary Review Singapore: http://qlrs.comhttp://qlrs.com

Argot: Argot: http://literarysociety.wordpress.com/magazine/http://literarysociety.wordpress.com/magazine/

Strange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.comStrange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.com

Farrago’s Wainscot: http://farragoswainscot.comFarrago’s Wainscot: http://farragoswainscot.com

Hot Metal Bridge: http://hotmetalbridge.orgHot Metal Bridge: http://hotmetalbridge.org

Subterranean Magazine: Subterranean Magazine: http://subterraneanpress.com/magazinehttp://subterraneanpress.com/magazine

After PublicationAfter Publication

Congratulations! You’ve sold a story! If you Congratulations! You’ve sold a story! If you get paid for it, even better!get paid for it, even better!

So what happens now?So what happens now?

After basking in the glory of publication…After basking in the glory of publication…


……keep writing.keep writing.

You only improve by doing it more, and by You only improve by doing it more, and by learning from your mistakes.learning from your mistakes.

Don’t expect that all your writing will be Don’t expect that all your writing will be good, or even publishable; you may not good, or even publishable; you may not use a good portion of it, but you absolutely use a good portion of it, but you absolutely should should learnlearn from it from it


After several publications, don’t let the After several publications, don’t let the success go to your head; no one likes an success go to your head; no one likes an arrogant n00b lording over supposed arrogant n00b lording over supposed knowledgeknowledgeCultivate humility and continually push Cultivate humility and continually push yourself to reach the next level (non-yourself to reach the next level (non-paying > paying > professionally paying > paying > paying > professionally paying > collection > collection from large publisher collection > collection from large publisher > novel > award-winning novel)> novel > award-winning novel)


Pay it forward: try to help out other Pay it forward: try to help out other beginning writersbeginning writersSpread the word about new marketsSpread the word about new marketsShare experiences with writing and Share experiences with writing and submittingsubmittingDon’t get jealous of friends’ successes; Don’t get jealous of friends’ successes; instead, congratulate theminstead, congratulate themDon’t feel good about friends’ failures; Don’t feel good about friends’ failures; instead, commiserateinstead, commiserate

Building a Writing CareerBuilding a Writing Career

Be mindful of the markets to which you Be mindful of the markets to which you send your fiction; will you still be proud to send your fiction; will you still be proud to be published there in 10 years’ time?be published there in 10 years’ time?

Think of writing as something you will do Think of writing as something you will do for the rest of your life; you may not see for the rest of your life; you may not see success yet, but that doesn’t mean you success yet, but that doesn’t mean you won’t in a year, or 5 years, or 10 yearswon’t in a year, or 5 years, or 10 years

Be zen about the whole processBe zen about the whole process

Building a Writing CareerBuilding a Writing Career

Start a blog; read other writers’ blogsStart a blog; read other writers’ blogs

Sign up on Facebook, and widen your Sign up on Facebook, and widen your social circlesocial circle

Get to know other writers online and in Get to know other writers online and in person; support systems are importantperson; support systems are important

Join a writing group; get critiques and Join a writing group; get critiques and feedback from your peersfeedback from your peers

Never stop learningNever stop learning

Maintaining Interest / Facing RejectionMaintaining Interest / Facing Rejection

When the rejections come (and they When the rejections come (and they willwill come), come), celebrate them; you wrote and finished a story, celebrate them; you wrote and finished a story, and sent it out, something that 90% of beginning and sent it out, something that 90% of beginning writers won’t dowriters won’t do

If editors/publishers provide feedback, take it If editors/publishers provide feedback, take it under consideration, revise the story, and send it under consideration, revise the story, and send it back outback out

Keep a spreadsheet of where you send your Keep a spreadsheet of where you send your stories, and record the sent date and the stories, and record the sent date and the acknowledgment date, to keep track of response acknowledgment date, to keep track of response times and avoid sending multiple submissionstimes and avoid sending multiple submissions


Remember why you started writing in the Remember why you started writing in the first place: not for external validation, but first place: not for external validation, but for internal gratificationfor internal gratification

Stick with it; it may take you 10 years or Stick with it; it may take you 10 years or more to make your first salemore to make your first sale

Don’t compromise on quality or your own Don’t compromise on quality or your own artistic vision; always aim high with your artistic vision; always aim high with your proseprose


Don’t be afraid to experiment with other Don’t be afraid to experiment with other narrative forms (lists, all-dialogue, narrative forms (lists, all-dialogue, bibliographies, leaving out “e”, self-bibliographies, leaving out “e”, self-reference, biographies)reference, biographies)Try new things with your writing, and Try new things with your writing, and stretch yourself with both form and stretch yourself with both form and languagelanguageTake advantage of trends (YA, slipstream, Take advantage of trends (YA, slipstream, etc.), but don’t become bound by them etc.), but don’t become bound by them (horror in the ’80s)(horror in the ’80s)


Above all, take enjoyment in what you doAbove all, take enjoyment in what you do

At the end of the day, it’s just you and your At the end of the day, it’s just you and your pen/keyboardpen/keyboard

If writing becomes something that you If writing becomes something that you don’t enjoy, or feels like a drudgery, then don’t enjoy, or feels like a drudgery, then STOP; you can always come back to it STOP; you can always come back to it laterlater

Writing TimeWriting TimeKeep working on your story, Keep working on your story,

building upon your opening hook, building upon your opening hook, and fleshing out the conflictsand fleshing out the conflicts

10-minute Break10-minute Break

Critiquing TimeCritiquing TimePass up your story, and I will read Pass up your story, and I will read your opening section aloud; the your opening section aloud; the

class will listen and give feedbackclass will listen and give feedback

The Very Best of The Very Best of Luck to You AllLuck to You All

Contact InformationContact Information

[email protected]@jasonlundberg.net

http://jasonlundberg.nethttp://jasonlundberg.net

http://facebook.com/people/http://facebook.com/people/Jason_Erik_Lundberg/627526750Jason_Erik_Lundberg/627526750

http://twitter.com/jelundberghttp://twitter.com/jelundberg

Copies of Copies of Surreal BotanySurreal Botany are $10 today are $10 today only for attendees of this workshoponly for attendees of this workshop

Prose Writing for Publication Mr Jason Erik Lundberg GEB Literature Seminar 23 August 2008.

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