So, from the publishing industry's point of view, e-books are a growing phenomenon.  And on the face of it, that should be a good thing for authors -- right?  I mean, any new media outlet for our work has got to add to our ability to sell our work, or so it would seem.  And, in a way it does. 

Yes, on reflection, I think it truly does.  HOWEVER, and I capitalize that whole word, because it is a big "HOWEVER," the pay scale for authors seems to plummet when it comes to e-books.  An author's share of the royalties, even for a novel, can be a mere pittance compared to even that of one of their sold short stories, if the author sold it to a standard, pro-rate magazine.  That's the simple truth.  E-books are sold so cheaply, and now can even be pirated at so many sites, that the author just doesn't make much off of them in many instances.  Why buy the book when some can steal it for free?  And in e-book format, that's just so easy to do.  Also, why pay a lot when one can get an e-book for so little by comparison to a hard print?

Now, there are exceptions to this, of course, when major publishers handle an author's e-books for instance, and pay more like the standard rates for royalties and such.  And, some smaller e-publishers do the same.  But, it is my personal experience that seldom if ever does my work generate as much income for me, as an author, when sold in e-book form, as it does when it goes to actual print.  What can I say -- that's my experience so far.  I stand by it.

So, although on the one side of the coin, the e-book marketplace is growing and that's a good thing, on the other side of that same coin we are seeing the primary producer of books, that is, the authors, facing a fall in their income as a result.  There is no doubt of this.  When a novel is sold for as little as $2.99, the author's share of the profits is just going to be proportionately smaller than a book sold for $18.00 or more! 

Now, I know some e-publishers will argue with this, will say that the high costs of printing such books leaves little or no profit margin, and yet, authors who have books sold in print form, seem to, on average, make much better money than most of their equivalent e-book brother and sister authors.   Don't believe me?  Ask Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds, etc., etc.  Oh, yeah, they are special, big name authors and so don't count -- right?  Okay then, name me equally big name authors who solely do e-book publishings?  Anyone?  So, reality check here, folks -- print authors just do better than e-book authors as a general rule.  That's a fact.  There are a number of reasons for this. 

One main reason is that print publishers usually have a good distritubtion network in place.  They have to, or they wouldn't still be in business.  So, a print book goes on the shelves, right in the public's eye, in major book stores and such.  They leap out at one as a consumer, much more so than a thumbnail picture will.  Also, print publishers will pay for advertising the book in various media formats, even television.  This guarantees a certain number of sales right at the "get go."   Also, print publishers, at least many, still offer the authors advances, and so they put a lot into trying to market and sell those books.  They have to, or again they go out of business quickly.  They have to make their money back.  Print publishers have a much greater vested interest, monetarily speaking, in seeing that a book gets wide distribution, good marketing, and such.  After all, printing a book is no cheap thing to do!  One has to make a profit.  "Publish or perish," as "they" say.  This may be a university-style quotation, but it works just as well in the publishing business world.

With e-books, it is a different scenario.  E-book publishers' overhead is minimal by comparison to a print publisher's overhead.  In fact, it's vastly cheaper!  That's why e-book publishing is so popular.  One can create a website and, voila, one is in business.  No muss, no fuss!  More importantly, no great expense!  That's why we've seen such a proliferation of e-publishers, because, honestly, anyone can do it -- even authors do it and all the time!  Many authors, would-be and otherwise, have started their own small e-publishing companies in order, primarily, to market their own work.    And that's not a bad thing!  Anything that helps authors get published, that is legal and ethical, is a good thing in my opinion.

But e-publishers just don't have to work as hard to sell books, or spend near the money to do so in the process.  Oh, they can, and some do, but many do not.  They sign a contract with the author, have the author do their own covers or pay someone else to do it for them (not always, but many e-publishers do require authors to supply their own covers and at their own expense), and have the author then do the vast majority of edits, and even the final edits with little or no help in that editing process.  The book is then posted, and whatever sales the book makes, the e-publisher gets a nice hefty portion of, while the author gets very little.  The book is linked to many sites often, such as Amazon.com, and this does help to sell them.  This does tend to create sort of a free advertising environment, but this works hand in hand for all the publishers and distributors involved.  They all make more money this way, they all take their cut, leaving little for the primary producer of the book -- the author.  And, e-publishers expect the author to heavily, and at their own expense, promote their own novels.  And yes, e-publishers do send the book to reviewers, but these reviews sites are, for the most part, free as well.  A win-win situation for the e-publisher. 

Now, this may be a rather jaundiced version of the process, but it is a basically sound one.  The author has sweated for months or even a year, or more, to produce a novel, which the e-publisher has little vested (monetary-wise) interest in.  If the book sells -- great. If it doesn't -- no loss for the e-publisher, or darn little.  Yes, they do have to maintain a website, but then so do most authors!  And the end result is the novel often generates less than a short story would for the author in the way of income.  And, the author has done tons of work, almost all, in fact!

Now, how can e-book publishers make money when this happens?  Well, first of all, they are getting the lion's share of what profit there is.  That's a given.  Secondly, it's a numbers game.  The more authors who post their books with an e-publisher, the more money that e-publisher makes.  In other words, instead of making a lot of money off a few authors, they make a little money off a lot of authors.  The individual author may not receive much, but overall, the e-publishing house does okay and at minimal expense to do this!

And something else, too; the quality of the books can be terrible!  Authors who would never have their works published by a creditable print publishing house, because the publisher has to invest too much and would take too big a hit on a bad story, do often get their works published through e-book publishers.  Again, why?  Well, if even just a few are sold, the e-publisher has made a little off of each such author. 

There's that numbers game at work again!  The author does disastrously, but the e-publisher, overall, stills does okay.  Authors come and go, but the e-publisher profits on.  Casinos work much the same way.  Overall, the house makes a profit, even though they do make payouts to people who win at gambling.  Gamblers come and go, some are winners, but most losers, and the casinos stay in business!  The "house," as they say, "always wins."

But for the e-publisher, there is precious little "gamble" involved.  The book either sells or does not sell.  If it does, they make money.  If it doesn't, no big deal.  They've often lost nothing, or just very little if at all.  But for the good author, this is a problem.  They are suddenly finding themselves in a field deluged with truly bad authors!  There isn't any real winnowing process anymore.  How does one get the attention of the reader under such circumstances?   How can a reader tell a good story from a bad story when they only have a book cover, thumbnailed-sized no less, to go by?  The answer is, they can't tell the difference.  The average reader may just as easily choose the wrong book as the right one under such circumstances.  So, for a good author to get published at an e-book site, may not mean anything at all.  It may not mean he/she has "arrived."

Now, how do I know about this "bad author" phenomenon?  Well, as I've mentioned before, I'm a professional reviewer, and I can honestly say I have read book after book through e-publishing outlets that were just awful.  I mean, absolutely terrible!  Usually, a book in print form has some redeeming qualities about it, because otherwise it would never have seen hard print.  A publisher simply wouldn't and couldn't invest their money and reputation into a truly bad work and stay in business for more than an eye blink.  But again, there is no problem with this with e-publishers.  If the author sells only a few and that's it -- they, the e-publishers move on -- they even made some money in the process, and so on they go -- no loss.  Again, authors can come and go, but the e-publisher lives on.  But not always, they often disappear too!  Which is even worse.  Authors are then left in the lurch, with contracts and novels they've slaved over now hanging in limbo.  And something else, even though e-publishers only contract for the "e-rights," and so the author thinks they can still get their novel published by someone in hard print -- think again!  Most publishing houses want all the rights to the book and they don't want it to have appeared anywhere else before them.  So, so much for that idea!

Now, by pointing all this out, I'm not trying to crucify e-book publishers.  Far from it.  It is a new media.  There are a lot of good, upright publishers in it.  Online magazines, for the vast majority, are darn good places to get published, and I have been, often and at many of them, and I'm thankful and grateful for that.  Plus, e-publishing is another method for an author to sell his/her works, and that's a good thing as well.  I don't quarrel with that idea.  Also, e-publishers aren't trying to deceive you.  Anyone can read a contract, and if they can't, their lawyers certainly can.  So, if you sign something, you've agreed to it!  Remember that. 

But like anything new, e-publishing has to go through a shake-out process.  Authors may have to form a guild or something, ultimately, to have enough sway to command a liveable wage, as it were.  As it stands now, there are just so many newbie authors out there that just want to see their works in "print" (meaning online), that they actually give it away for free.  So, we see sinking prices for what our books are sold for, considered worth, and thus we see sinking income as a result.  We work much harder, and often for much less payoff.  We must now compete in a market place that no longer winnows out the terrible writers, which makes for a more crowded, and generally lower level market as a result.   Think I'm kidding?  Check out what print published authors think of their e-published counterparts.  Definitely some snobbery there!  Again, for e-publishers to sell a cheap commodity they've gotten cheaply is a great business tactic, and a perfectly reasonable one.  But not necessarily for the sweatshop worker of an author who is producing the work!

That's life I suppose.  And like all new markets, it very well may be self-correcting in the long run.   that is, it may "fix" itself over time.  But it's the short run, my career span, which concerns me, as yours should concern you as an author.  And I have to be honest here; I would much prefer to see my own novels in print, lining my shelves, and for decent money, than getting some pittance for people being able to download my work online and on the cheap. 

The truth is, if your work is good, you should be paid well for it, whether it is in hard print form, CD form, or online format in PDF.  After all, it is only the medium that has changed, not the quality of your work and effort!  Heck, with such cheaper overhead, e-publishers should be able to give authors better royalities, not worse ones!  Right?

I don't know about you, but I don't want to end up toiling away in the literary version of a sweatshop.  And that isn't such a ridiculous comparsion as you may think.  Many of us writers work long into the night on our novels, because that's the only free time we have left to do it.  Little sleep, a lot of hard work, and hope, seem to be the principal ingredients in the recipe of many a novel.

So, think about this, as an author.  And be on your guard.  When you are ready to "sell" your novel, make darn sure you are picking the best publisher, the best type of publisher for your work.  After all, in the final analysis, it's your living, your life, we're talking about here.  Take charge and control of it.  Or, when it comes to e-publishing, you may, as an author, just end up as an "e-sucker!"

Anyway, I just wanted to mention that I recently was offered the chance to record one of my own stories, for Aberrant Dreams Magazine.  This was a heck of a chance for me, because I've never tried anything before like this in my life.  Oh -- I've had the odd readings here and there, and they always strike terror into my heart, but recording, oddly, is even worse!  When that microphone goes on -- I freeze!!!  Yeah, I really do.  But the good news is, if you have a decent computer recording software package, you can just back up and fix any and all mistakes.   So, I managed to record Without Omens, a short story I had published last year at Aberrant Dreams Magazine.  Although a harrowing experience, and time consuming for a beginner like me, it was exciting! 

Now, why am I excited about a podcast, other than it being my first, of course?  Well, it gives me more exposure.  It allows lots of readers to actually hear me, and thus get to know me better, and how I really feel about my story.  Lots of professional readers may do a better job than I would, overall, of reading aloud my story, but only I can give it the inflections, the stresses at certain points that I had in mind when I wrote it.  Only I can give it the appropriate tone, or atmosphere in how I read it.  With my story, the mood was meant, deliberately, to be overall a dreary one, a sad one, and one of a growing dread, and fear.  I think I managed this, at least to some good measure.  So, I'm happy with my podcast (hope the editor is now, too, because I just mailed it to him), and I think it will help further my career.

And, that's what other aspiring authors should consider when debating whether or not to do a podcast.  You, as a writer, can get your work out there as writing, but it never hurts to also have it done in your own voice.  Like radio of old, it helps more people to hear your work and not just have to read it.  That's a big factor.  Fewer people are reading nowadays.  They want their entertainment prepackaged.  So, on their way to work, they listen to talk shows, music, and/or audio books.  Podcasts from you can also be a part of this.  People at home often don't have time to sit still and read, but with a story audio CD popped into the stereo, they can move about the house, do their chores, and still get pretty much the same results as if they consumed valuable time just sitting and reading.  Is reading a book a great experience?  You betcha!  I love settling down on rainy days, and even sunny ones, and reading a good story.  Preferably, with a snack and some sort of drink nearby me.  But time, or the lack of it, is a big factor in all our lives, and it is one we must inevitably deal with to varying degrees, depending on our personal circumstances.    And think about it -- even people with children can play audio stories.  Not only can the adults listen, but so can the kids.  What a great way to introduce the next generation to your work!

So, not only does podcasting expand your usual "readership" as it were, but it expands it to those who might not ever have bothered or have time to pick up a book and read it.  You will play to a much larger audience.  You will have the opportunity to thus increase your name recognition, your work to a greater cross-section of the populace.  And, you can have a lot of fun doing it.  Who knows, you might even make a career of it.  You may even inspire more people to try turning to reading.  Who knows?  I honestly can't see any negatives with regard to this whole scenario.  At the very least, orders for magazines with your stories in it might go up, thus making you more in demand.  You may even sell more novels.  You might get offers for doing readings, for money! 

I think we've all heard excerpts on news broadcasts, at least, of J.K. Rowling reading from her Harry Potter books.  And having heard her and her abilities, I'm betting most of us can do just as well at reading aloud as she can!  And that's a fact.  Now, if we could just make her kind of money... oh, well!  Yeah, what can I say -- I want it all!!!!

Yes, reviewing books takes time, no doubt.  One has to read the book, consider it carefully, and then take the time to write a review.  And, more often than I'd like, many books I choose to read really don't commend themselves to great or even good reviews.  And that makes for difficulties when writing such reviews.  How to say, kindly, that a book just isn't very good in your estimation?  It "ain't" easy!

Still, there are a number of good reasons for authors also to be book reviewers.  First, as authors, we all need the advertisement boost that a good book review will bring.  And the more the better!  We also need to know what others like or don't like about our books.  We need that input to make ourselves better at what we do.  And who better to hear from then fellow authors?  But if we, as writers, don't or just aren't willing to do book reviews for others, than the source of such reviews might dry up for us as well, or at least severely diminish.  Or worse, you'll get people who don't know their ___ from a hole in the ground doing the reviews of our books instead of knowledgeable people!  Now don't get me wrong; I'm not talking about readers.  Readers who also do reviews are great!  Who better to hear from as to whether they like our books or not, than readers themselves, except for maybe authors, as well -- two great groups!

But if we don't pitch in, in this department, we will only hear from readers, and not other professional writers.  And, we will leave the field open for those with agendas to make the most of it!  Are there such people?  Oh, yes.  And nature abhors a vacuum, so they will undoubtedly come out of the woodwork sooner or later.  Some already have.  First, there are some review sites, thankfully as yet very few in number, that will say anything is good just so they can get authors to advertise there and make money that way off them.  As I've said, this is as yet uncommon, but I have a feeling, as with all things Internet, this could grow worse.

Then there are those who have an axe to grind, the ones with vendettas.  I myself have twice been a victim of such a type of review, and by the same person(s), who shall be nameless.  And, I'm betting it is going to happen again to me.  As "they" say, "leopards don't change their spots."  So, people with an axe to grind, people who are jealous of one's success, other writers who for some reason just don't want your work to succeed, perhaps because they have a grudge against the publishing firm involved -- who knows -- they could be the only ones left doing reviews if the rest of us won't.  Sounds paranoid, but it happens more often than most of us might think!  Whether it's a problem someone might have with you as a writer, your publishing house, or your genre, some  won't give a good review no matter what.  Fact.  Real life, people -- it "ain't" always pleasant.  But the good news is that there are ways around this sort of problem. 

As authors, you should do Book Reviews!  That's the answer.  The more people who do book reviews, the better!  With readers and authors all doing them, this greater number of reviewers effectively dilutes the few who aren't doing legitimate reviews.  We need genuine input, not vituperative harangues.  We need genuine input, not gilded-lily versions that are just to help someone else make advertising gains.  We need genuine input from our fellow authors as well as our readers.  Professional reviewers are great as well.  They know their stuff, know how to write a good review (in the sense that it is "good" in enlightening everyone), and saying something in a polite yet honest way.  The more reviews a book gets, the stronger the case can be made to a publisher that you are a good writer.  And if the reviews aren't very good, then it tells you as the author that you need to change your approach, improve yourself in some way.  The trick is, one review alone means little to an author, good or bad.  It's the numbers that count.  Comments or statements that are repeated by a number of reviewers will give an author a reliable indication of what is good or bad about their work.  So, you see, the more reviews the better!

So, if you're bored, have nothing to do, and are tired of reviewing your own work, think about occasionally reviewing someone else's book.  They'll appreciate it.  And there are a lot of websites that one can join to do this.  Coffee House Romances, Fallen Angels, NovelSpot, and others, all are book review sites that one can join.  Some are specific genre oriented.  Others are wide open.  Some of them do have a screening process for new members though, but that is a good thing!  So join in.  Read a few books besides your own, and help us all better ourselves, and improve our chances of real success!  And there is one last plus -- the more you review other books, the better you will become at knowing what is good and bad about your own work.  It's true!  In other words, my dear author friends, you'll get better at writing in the process.  I know I have.  Well, I hope I have...  Ah yes, "hope springs eternal," as "they" say.  So don't rain on my parade!

Well, not completely!  Recently, I had a rather prolonged negative experience with regard to a forum, and it brought up an important point for me as a writer, and I think it's something that all authors should be aware of; that is:

WRITERS CAN WASTE  VALUABLE, IRREPLACEABLE  TIME EVEN, POSTING ON SOME FORUMS WHEN THEY COULD BE WRITING INSTEAD!

Yes, as writers, our publishers encourage us to join forums, have blogs, websites, etc., and that's a good thing.  We need the publicity, the connections, the encouragement, and the links to useful sites, etc.  But what I didn't realize is that one needs to be careful how a writer/author should go about this.  As with all things, some thought, some very serious thought, should be given before joining or choosing any particular group or organization.

My own example is a case in point.  I joined EPIC.  Its blurb is something to the effect that it is the "voice of e-publishing," so it sounded like a good idea to join it at the time.  The membership fee was minimal.  Well, after some months, as a member, I made a suggestion.  The details are unimportant.  In general, it was just an idea to help authors, a sort of rating system or something, because of all the e-press closings we've had of late.  There have been a lot.  Heck, there were three reported to the group while this forum thingy was going on.

Well, the proverbial "spit" hit the fan.  A major battle ensued, posting-wise.  It became so heated that name calling occurred, people became furious, me included, and some (I don't know how many) left the group, and things generally went down hill.  Hundreds of e-posts flew about.  At one point, I was even nominated and seconded several times by my faction to become president.  I accepted.  But as the battle raged on, I became disenchanted with the whole thing, the group as a whole, included.  The personal attacks were unbelievable, numerous, and they were of every kind. 

So, I found that I responded in kind.  The number of posts grew and grew even more, until I was resorting to one-liners to respond to them.  Posts, as it turns out, when sent by email, tend to arrive in chunks.  I had as many as 79 in one swoop when I logged on to the Internet one day. And they came in all day long in such clusters!

Disgusted, exhausted, and frankly bored with it all, I withdrew my nomination and resigned from the group.  This, from what several friends still in the group told me, provoked even more posts for several more days before things quieted down.  Needless to say, I was so very relieved to get out of it all.  And by the way, I'm not saying my behavior was exemplary in all this either.  I became truly angry at some of the personal attacks and so struck back.  But the point is that it was all so pointless, so useless!  It wasn't necessary.  Most of the posts didn't help, weren't on the subject anymore, and just plain nasty.  This was bad enough, but even more damaging was the time it consumed!

And, where I had found friends, I then found enemies.  Of course, I did make new friends as well, like-minded people who felt as I did.  But people on all sides made outrageous statements and called each other names.  Some said I was attacking publishers, that I had a vendetta against them.  I don't.  How stupid would such a thing be as a writer????  What I did have was a sincere and strong belief that authors, especially new authors, needed more help than they are getting in navigating their way safely through the e-publishing world.  I, myself, had two stories tied up when two different e-presses failed.  But things, posting-wise, went off course.   I found I was defending myself against such attacks, rather than promoting my suggestion.  That sort of thing is always useless.  Perhaps, it is what was intended by the opposing faction, I just don't know, nor can I ever know, but I knew one thing;  I HAD WASTED HOURS UPON HOURS IN DAILY POSTINGS AND COUNTERING POSTS OVER AN ISSUE THAT DEVIATED SO FAR FROM THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE THAT IT WAS POINTLESS  TO CONTINUE WITH IT, BUT STILL I DID!  AS DID MOST THE OTHERS. 

I could have been writing.  I bet I could have finished my sequel if I'd just stayed on track and hadn't anxiously awaited the new round of posts, friendly and non-friendly to me.  I don't think many of us can imagine the sheer number of such posts I'm talking about.  Over a hundred could come in one single day!  Just trying to read them all, in order to see if I needed to respond to them became a major time-consuming event, one that occurred daily.

So, a friendly warning to all fellow authors out there, especially new ones.  By all means, join forums.  Many magazines have their own, and they are excellent.  One gets to "know" fellow writers and to learn lots of tricks and tips of the trade through such forums.  This is a good thing.  Those are good forums.

BUT BEWARE!  There are other forums that are pointless, or nearly so.  Some are self-serving, apparently, seemingly designed only to pat the members on each other's backs.  Others are like pack animals, they can turn on you "en masse" and be truly vicious if they feel thwarted or in any way threatened.  Just like real society can, sometimes, I guess.   So, choose the forum you join with care.   Am I saying you should avoid EPIC?  No.  It's probably no better nor worse than many others.  Each to his own, and who knows what suits each person's needs.  All I am saying is that extreme care should be exercised before you join any forum.  And when you do join, if it isn't a particular magazine's forum, then sit back a bit.  Watch how the posting goes before you get involved in it.  Such behavior could save you a lot of trouble.

STILL BEWARE!  If you select the wrong forum, or get too involved as I did with hundreds of postings flying every which way, at the very least you will consume large amounts of your time, your writing time!  Before you commit to that, think carefully on this advice.  It was hard earned and hard won by me!  Believe me.  As the line from Gone with the Wind said (a sign posted leading to the Wilkes' Plantation), "Time is the stuff of life.  Do not squander it."  Picking the wrong forum, or simply spending all your energy in them to the detriment of your writing is, perhaps, squandering your time.  So if your time seems to  run out prematurely, don't blame me!  I warned you!  

But if this advice acts to put  a flea in your ear as a writer, even a little one, then maybe, just maybe, I've saved you wasting some of your valuable time.  I truly hope so.  Now, enough of this blogging!  It's time I went back to my writing!  Have a good spring, folks!

Actually, with regard to my article on the mundane science fiction genre, now out in the current issue of AlienSkin Magazine, I thought I'd add a little more info about it all.   Where my article focused on the genre as a whole, and my feelings about it, this is a little bit more of a practical guide, a how-to on writing in this genre.  So, here's some things to remember when dealing with the mundane science fiction genre:

1.  It is becoming a common genre, more so now than ever.  So get used to it.  It's probably here to stay.  Why this is, I'm not certain, but it seems to be so.  Yes, I said this much in the article, but I wanted to emphasize the point here, as well.  If you are a sci-fi author, you ought to consider turning your hand to writing at least some mundane science fiction.  Otherwise, you are missing a new and growing area of the market.  It could be lucrative for you.  Yes, money may not really make the world go round, but it doesn't slow it down any, either!

2.  This genre stresses that science fiction must be "mundane," that is based on what we now have, and projected (usually), into the near future.  Again, as I've said in the article, if we don't have something, for example, like nanobots crawling around in our bloodstream now, you probably shouldn't have it that way in your mundane story.  An important point to remember here is that it is quite often, in fact almost always, set in a near-term future.  The reason?  If one extrapolates too far forward in time, trends may become so extreme as no longer to be considered "mundane" ones.  So an important point about mundane science fiction; it is self-limiting how far forward in time you can set your story.  Near futures are best.

3.  This is a point that was brought home to me by one of our readers, and that is that the viewpoint of mundane sci-fi stories is often the personal viewpoint of the editor of each particular magazine.  It is their personal vision of the near future they seem to be looking for, and that's why the limitations.  Their guidelines will say it all. Of course, some editors' visions are broader than others, and therefore may allow more leeway for the author to stretch the limits.

4.  With regard to editors' viewpoints; these are almost always clearly defined in their  magazines guidelines for submissions.  Again, they will tell you what they are looking for.  Some want stories about space exploration (but only in our own solar system, because again, that's what we're doing now), others want more planet-bound, earth-oriented stories.  The thing is, with these last, what the editors seem to want most are the effects of current trends, what they will become or cause in near-term futures. 

5.  Mundane science fiction is meant to be strictly that, of the mundane variety.  As much as you'd like to showcase your talent more, as much as you might like to slip something extra-exotic in; don't.  Do follow those editors guidelines closely.  Don't deviate.  Remember, even the broader-minded editors have written their guidelines for a reason.  Follow them, or like some authors who submit to AlienSkin Magazine, you could end up in a hall of shame.  An important point here is to remember that because of these limitations, it would appear the editors' are looking for more social-oriented stories, what the impact of certain trends may have on humanity, politics, daily life, etc. 

6.  Write your best story and then submit it!  I just threw this last step in because I didn't want to have the usual five steps.  KIDDING!  Truly, if you are going to write any story, give it your best shot, your all.  If the mundane sub-genre isn't your favorite, that doesn't matter -- never write less than your best, no matter what the genre, or don't write.  And of course, the final step for being successful as a writer is to submit your work, and keep on submitting to others, if it's rejected.  Start with the better paying magazines and then work your way down the list.  Even if paid very little, it never hurts to have another published story under your belt, to add to your resume.  And think of all those extra hits on the Internet it will generate!

And finally, I'm not a major advocate of mundane science fiction myself.  I freely admit that.  For me, such tales are often just a little too "mundane," to pedestrian in subject matter.  I find "mundane" sci-fi stories are often more suspense stories, like Blade Runner, with a lot of heavy social commentary.  Is this bad?  Certainly not!  It's a very necessary part of science fiction as a whole.  But for me, personally, I'm tired of the whole Blade Runner thingy.  When that came out, I thought it was a great piece of science fiction, which it was, but there have been just so many look-alike movies and so many copy-cat stories since then.  I mean, doesn't anyone ever gaze up at the stars at night anymore, and wonder?  Well, I still do!  And I can still see the stars, thank the heavens.

I'm personally terribly tired of futures that are dark, drippy, rainy futures, with everyone wearing black or gray, and walking about with grim faces in an even grimmer world.  I like to explore, soar to the stars, step into parallel worlds, have first contact with aliens, and deal with such things as the end or very beginning of the universe(s), and/or even time itself.  But hey, that's just me.  And whether it's the end of a universe as a whole, or just humanity due to it's own over-pollution of the earth, the differences aren't so very great, really.  After all, if we kill ourselves off now, we don't need to worry about the end of the universe.  For us, it won't matter any longer. 

To write mundane science fiction is a real challenge.  Any sci-fi writer worth his/her salt, should at least make the attempt.  Otherwise, don't sit in judgment on something you have no experience with, because that's just not right or fair.  Give mundane science fiction a shot -- who knows -- you may like writing it.   And if you don't, then join me on a trip to the stars.   For me,  that's where my writing future lies.  Where is your future in science fiction -- somewhere in the near term, or "in a galaxy far, far away?"  Only you, as a writer, can answer that one, and maybe even then -- not!

That partial quotation from Edgar A. Poe’s, The Raven, may not be exact, because it’s from my memory, which is hardly ironclad, especially about something which I read 25 years ago!  Nevertheless, it is that time of year, when the days are at their shortest, and the weather is at its bleakest.  So, like those Druids and others of old, we celebrate!  As my fellow columnist, Kevin, mentioned in one of his fascinating articles about the origin of Christmas trees, let’s hang some “glistening” entrails on the evergreens to shimmer in the moonlight!  And party down!   

Actually, I have every reason to celebrate, because I’ve had some darn good news of late.  One of my short stories, Soap Bubbles, has made it to the final reading pool of Dark Recesses.  I have a story, Serpent Caravan, coming out this year with Dark Wisdom, and a novella (or very long short story -- whichever), entitled, Avenger of The People, appearing in hardcover, in Aberrant Dreams’ first annual anthology.  And, in the signed limited edition will also be a reprint of my Bradbury County, as well.  And right now, I have my short story, Dreamtime, out with Jim Baen’s Universe Magazine.  So, I can’t complain!  Or can I????

Oh, and then there is a Regency Romance novel I wrote in just 40 days last month (no; it’s not entitled “Forty Days and Forty Nights”), and it has been contracted for publication in 2009.  The title is, Veracity in Truth.  And get this; the publisher liked it so much, they’ve asked for the sequel already!  I only sent it in two weeks ago!  And, I have another publisher that’s requested a Regency Romance as well.  So that’s THREE, going now.  Gee, I wish my lips were longer so I could kiss myself, but that would be another whole kind of romance, and too bizarre a one for me to write!!!

Surprised I write romances?  Don’t be, because even the darkest of us has a little romance at heart.  Look at Anne Rice and her Interview with a Vampire.  Definitely a little on the lovey-dovey side there!  My entry into romances started with a time travel romance novel of mine, Lost Echoes, and has evolved from there.  And don’t kid yourself; romances can be a real challenge, too!  And, they can pay very well!

But now (drum roll please), the real reason for this particular blog is to start showcasing responses to my article at AlienSkin Magazine, of course.  Bet you thought I’d never get around to that, right?   The article I wrote was on author self-censorship, its inherent dangers, and I promised I’d put as many of them on this site as possible, pro or con my own article, and so I will.  I will keep adding them to the bottom of this blog as they arrive, for as many as will fit here.  I may eventually have to delete the first ones to make room for newer ones, but I’ll leave as many as I can, for as long as I can.  Okay?

Now just a reminder for you, if you’ve read my article on self-censorship, you’ll see that I am totally opposed, in principle, to much of what Mr. Watson says in his email.  But, because I do happen to personally oppose censorship to a large degree, I am reprinting it here, just as I promised, in its entirety.  

And remember now, as the article clearly stated, I showcase your responses here, so don’t write me if you don’t want it in this blog – okay?  If you send me an email, you have by that very act agreed to allow me to reprint it here.  Also, any typos, spellos, or odd spellings are the letter writer’s and not mine.  This has been reproduced as faithfully as we could from a non-html format.  Any mistakes on our part, I will gladly correct if brought to my attention.   

ALL LETTERS REPRINTED HERE ARE STRICTLY THE PRODUCT OF THE PERSON WHO SENT THEM.  ALIENSKIN MAGAZINE DOES NOT ENDORSE OR IN ANY WAY CONDONE OR AGREE, EITHER IMPLICITLY, OR EXPLICTLY, WITH THE CONTENT OF ANY OF THESE LETTERS.  THEY DO NOT REPRESENT IN ANY WAY THE OPINIONS OF ALIENSKIN MAGAZINE, BUT ARE SOLELY THE LETTER WRITER’S OWN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ON THE SUBJECT.  WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY KIND FOR THEIR CONTENT.  AND WITH REGARD TO CONTENT, ALIENSKIN MAGAZINE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD THE PUBLICATION OF ANY RESPONSE WE FEEL, IN OUR OWN JUDGMENT, IS OVERTLY INFLAMMATORY OR WHICH CONTAINS EXCESSIVE VULGARITY.

So, here is Eric’s reply to my article (PLEASE REMEMBER, I DON’T HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH MOST OF THIS!  BUT, EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR SAY, WHETHER I AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.  THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF MY ARTICLE.):

ERIC’S LETTER:

“It is truly my regret to inform you that many of the writers which were persecuted for indoctrinating the people in Marxist ideology were in fact guilty of it. Sorry about that.

[The "greenies" could use a little persecution IMO. So many good stories lost in a morass of environmental histrionics.]

Self Censorship:

Some don't do enough of it; some do way too much.  Let's be real though. I'm a reader, been a reader for many years now.  The last two pieces of work which really wowed me were the "Young Miles"  stories from Bujold and "Snowcrash" by Stephenson. Oh, and the retelling of the Hornblower Saga, the "Honor Harrington" series.

Funny, I don't remember either one of those stories having explicit sex in them--the stories based upon Miles growing older did have sex; and it was to the detriment of the story in my opinion.  I don't read for sex.  If I  want sex, I'll go out and get some--or do porn and not waste my time with extra stuff (Particularly the twisted perversions and odd stuff that has been added to fiction lately by some of the newer writers.) I don't want
angst, I have angst enough of my own. Frankly, I don't care about gay angst or gay
porn or the desire for "rough sex".  I don't need that stuff in my head. 

I lived through the soft-porn of the late 60s and 70s; it really pisses me off to have to slog through that sh*t again (remember "Horseclans"?)

I want to know the players in the play; to like them, to hate them, to wonder if they have hidden depths which I will discover later or a myriad of other aspects of character.  I want the stage upon which the players present the story to be well defined; with consistency in the rules so that I may eventually perceive them. The backdrop may be presented with incredible clarity (because it  is a major element of the story) or be sparse, and filled in with brush-strokes and glimpses until it is complete (The latter being used by the masters to give a familiarity--then to twist it into a complete surprise.)

And, of course, I want a story dammit!

"1632" and "Young Miles" are not new plots or stories by any stretch of  the  imagination. The "voice" of the storyteller and the presentation of the story made hackneyed plots new again. "The Stainless Steel Rat" wasn't a new plot--if you had read the "Raffles" stories (and others) you were  quite familiar with it. The "voice" of the character, the tempo of the story and the twists in the background made them enjoyable and rejuvenated.

I have no illusions as to my own talents--I don't have any.  I wrote several books along the way and burned them.  They were unreadable.  I did not have a unique "voice" and I had nothing of merit to say--A shrill voice boorishly  cutting into someone else's conversation; wanting desperately to be a part of it, but having nothing to add to it. The end result is an awkward silence.

I want optimism back in science fiction.

I want clear role-playing back in fiction: You do something "bad" in the beginning of the story and you will pay heavily for it by the end. There may be hard-won redemption for a flawed hero, but the "bad guy" is going to die--horribly. THAT'S WHY IT'S FICTION. 

 In "real life" the bad guy gets to blame someone else, or worse yet is rewarded for his behavior. When I read, I want that f*cker to die, slowly and agonizingly if possible. [Or, if it is written from the POV of the bad guy, I want the "good guy" to be a sanctimonious puke so I can enjoy his horrible demise.]

The last things I want shoehorned into a story are: moral relativism, rabid environmentalism, attacks upon Christians/Jews, vegetarianism, twisted S&M, the ghey, or for God's own sake--bodice-heaving Frikking romance with male characters being named after pointy-things like Lance and Dirk. I especially don't want Lance and Dirk having the Frikking romance!   JEEZE!

Let me give you a message to pass on, GHEY ROMANCE will not make me more accommodating to gay people.  It makes me want to find the nearest screaming Queen and slap it.  Close the bedroom door.

Present the characters as PEOPLE; their sexuality is none of my business unless it is used to further the plot--and the plot had better be worth my putting up with creepy behavior. Case in point: Elizabeth Bear's "Carnival". Teh Ghey was used as bludgeon throughout the entire story.

It's all I remember about the book.  I also remember being very angry because there was a story buried underneath all of the propaganda.  Had the orientation (and bullsh*t over-emoting-drama-queen-ing) of the characters been a minor detail or perspective, there would have been a good story there.  Maybe not. I was really pissed over the $8.00 I misspent on the book.

Biologically Gay people should not have to put up with "breeder porn" either. The story should be important. The Characters and their development should be important. If sexuality of the character is more than a tiny detail there is something horribly wrong with the writer, they need help--or need to finish puberty before they attempt to write again.

Eric J. Watson”

And there you have it; Mr. Watson’s contribution.  We thank him for the time and effort to respond to the article.  If you wish to respond and/or send me an email with your own thoughts on the subject of self-censorship, please go to AlienSkin Magazine’s home page at: 

http://www.alienskinmag.com/

I’ll be glad to consider all letters.  But for the sake of all our readers, do try to keep them reasonably tasteful.  Hmm… maybe I am for some self-censorship at that!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!

Everything from keeping blogs, books signings, lectures, attending conventions, joining various organizations, handing out gifts, having contests on our websites, creating and maintaining our websites, handing out bookmarks, even sometimes selling our own books -- we're told we must do all these things.  OK, so we do have to.  I'll go with that.

But for me, there is just so much out there I'm supposed to do, that at times it seems overwhelming.  For instance -- blogs.  How many blogs are we supposed to maintain?  How many can we keep up, do we have time for?  Which are the best sites and circumstances under which to have a blog or blogs?  And conventions -- is it better to attend small ones and have a "higher presence factor" or attend large ones where we are virtually drowned in the chorus of other writers' voices?  And how about lectures -- we'd all like to do them in some big venue, but those don't come easily.  One has to get famous first to do that.  So, does doing them at local libraries help?  How about at high schools and universities?  Do these help?  You may develop a small local following that way -- if you are lucky, but does that help with the big picture, that is nationally, and internationally?

Well, having considered all this stuff, I've come up with a few personal answers or choices of my own.  First, what you do does depend on the genre you write in and for, and how much you want to succeed.  That last part is crucial.  Are you in the game to win the brass ring or is writing just a fun hobby or sideline.  If that's all it is, then self-promotion is, of course, far less important.  But if you are in the game to win -- ah, that's totally different!

For instance, if you write romances, then perhaps you should consider joining such groups as EPIC, etc.  If you are into science fiction, then maybe one would want to consider ultimately getting into SFWA.  The same would go for conventions.  And, I don't suppose doing readings and such are in anyway an adverse thing to do to help further your career.  Blogs, certainly.  Readings, probably.  Websites -- definitely.  Yes, in order to make it in writing, you will have to consider doing some or all of these things.  But to what extent?

You see, there is something to remember in all this; IT ALL TAKES TIME!  THE MORE SELF-PROMOTION YOU DO, THE LESS TIME YOU HAVE TO WRITE!  That's what I've discovered about all this.  Between conventions, blogs, readings, and maintaining contacts with everyone in the "Biz" I find my daily load of self-promotional work is seriously cutting into my writing time.  After all, we also have to live!  We've got to keep house, take care of family needs, work for a living (unless we are truly lucky and are making enough money at writing not to), and so when one adds self promotion to the mix, something has to give!  With me, sometimes, it's my writing, the very thing which I'm trying to promote!  Vicious circle, "ain't it?"

So, how do I balance all this?  With difficulty!  One has to work one's way through it all, to see what gives the best response.  I think a personal writing (homepage) website is crucial for most authors these days.  I do think doing a blog or two, is also a very good thing.  Joining those groups (such as SFWA) or agencies which best suit our genres can't hurt, but by the same token, give that some thought, because they can be time consuming.  I'm a big fan of Critters.org, because it's a free way to get reviews on one's stories before sending them to editors.  But, you must review other people's work once a week to remain in reasonably good standing to get your own work reviewed.  And that takes time!  Also, I'm a reviewer for NovelSpot, and I like doing that, but again, it takes time to read those books, give them serious thought, and comment on them.  One has to be very fair about doing book reviews.  You can't just glance at a book and then, for instance, give it a bad review!  If it's going to be a bad review, you'd better have read the entire book to make sure it does have serious flaws.  Otherwise, you are being grossly unfair to the author!

So for me, balance is about picking and choosing what I do.  I do attend some conventions -- not all -- and I usually choose the smaller venues -- for now.  Maybe later, I'll start immersing myself in the really big ones.  I maintain several blogs (better a few, in my opinion, that I can keep up with, rather than many that I can't do justice to), and do some readings, just for the heck of it and because I like to do it.  Correspondence takes a big part of my time, too.  I like to keep in touch with fellow writers and sympathetic editors.  Lately, I've discovered book trailers, and I'm doing those as well.  Those do take time to do adequately, so beware!  But I find them fun. 

So what's the upshot of all this?  Well, pick and choose which self-promotions you want to do -- carefully!  Remember, time is valuable, "time is the stuff of life -- do not squander it" as the plaque at Twelve Oaks Plantation in Gone With The Wind read.  And, always take advice from your editors/publishers as to what is the best way to go.  Remember, in helping your publisher to be a success, you are ultimately helping yourself as one of their authors.  But do use your own discretion.  You time is your own.  And, however you spend it, you will not get it back -- ever!  So do it wisely, is my advice.  Making it count!

Finally, and the most important thing of all in my opinion, is writing.  WRITE, WRITE, WRITE, AND WRITE SOME MORE!  The more you write, the better you get at it.  The more you get published, and in the higher paying venues, the more notice you will naturally acquire from your peers and publishers.  Nothing makes people notice you like success!  So, the best self-promotion you can do is to be a good and prolific writer.  That will make people sit up and notice you.  If your stories are appearing everywhere, then people will start to remember your name.  And any other self-promotion you do is then just icing on the cake.  That's my recipe for success.  Now, let's just see if I'm right?????  Because in the final analysis, these are just opinions by another author!

This raises an interesting point for all would-be authors/writers, and readers.  Why bother to go to conventions at all?  My original view of them was that they were just a place for a bunch of adults to go to dress up in costume, play silly games like a bunch of overgrown children, and spend money.  I imagine this may be many people's view of conventions.  So, I'd like to set the record straight and point out the positive aspects of attending conventions (besides those costume events and games, which are a lot of fun, believe it or not!).

For writers, conventions offer a multitude of benefits.  It's a chance to meet other authors, editors, publishers, and such, as well as your readers.  And remember, without our readers, we're nothing!  Don't ever forget that!  I met Ernie Saylor, one of the editors of Aberrant Dreams Magazine there, and we've become friends.  And although I haven't met my editor, Kay Patterson of AlienSkin Magazine there, I did meet her on another weekend outing, a ghost hunt, but that's another story!

When an editor meets you in person, and you meet them, it makes a real difference.  They get a whole different image of you, and you of them.  They know you as a human being, just as you know them as one.  Does that make a difference?  You betcha!  Despite all our modern telecommunications and the ability to contact people on line, etc., there is still nothing better than a little old-fashioned schmoozing!  It gives the writer a chance to find out exactly what the editor is looking for, information much more in-depth beyond mere posted guidelines.  It gives the editor a chance to size you up, to hear what you have to say, and perhaps to decide whether or not there is more to you than just a mere inquiry letter (lost among hundreds of others) can say or show.

Also, by attending panels, you learn a lot!  Ernie Saylor and I did one on the History of Science Fiction.  I had to study up for that one, despite thinking I already knew a lot about the subject.  So, not only was I helping to impart important knowledge about a genre I am deeply involved in, but I learned a heck of a lot too!  And don't forget that writers must promote themselves these days -- a lot!  Publishing companies just don't do much of that for you anymore, except for a very few major ones.  So, go to a convention, set yourself up a table, display your accomplishments, and do some book or magazine signings that have your stories in it.  Meet people.  Talk to them.  Promote yourself.  Learn what readers like to read these days.  Make contacts.  I've met Gerald Page (great author of H.P. Lovecraft style stories and a great guy), Christina Barber, a witty and funny horror writer, and Jana Oliver, an-over-the-top, brilliant author who must have belonged to the Algonquin Club of writers in a previous life, because she has that same acerbic wit, that wonderful droll and dry sense of humor as those great authors seemed to so often have.   Take a panel from her, and you'll have your eyes opened about the writing world, believe me!  And Christina is a charming mistress of the dark, full of vitality, and always a surprise.  What's amazing to me, is how her husband promotes her, and works faithfully by her side to showcase Christina's talent.  Now that's a marriage, partnership, and friendship all rolled into one that seems to work!  See what I mean?  You learn so much at these conventions, and so much of it is good.  You can make lasting friendships if you just try a little.

So, not only are conventions a great place to showcase your own talent, to learn things, to impart your own knowledge to others, and to make valuable contacts through networking, they are also a great deal of just plain fun!  You can't go wrong by spending a weekend with a bunch of happy people, intelligent peers, insightful publishers and editors, and of course those marvelous and anonymous people who stay in costume for the entire time.  And don't underestimate them, either.  These people are open, friendly, gregarious, and intelligent.  They can teach you a lot as well.  Close your eyes to this facet of of them, and you are missing more than you can possibly know!

So, is a convention a learning experience?  Absolutely.  Is it a chance to showcase yourself as an author?  You betcha!  It's a great way to promote yourself in a relaxed environment.  And as a reader, you get to meet some of your all-time favorite authors.  Between all that, the events, the panels, the parties, the games, and the sales/exhibits -- believe me, you will have one full weekend of fun!  You'll leave exhausted.  But you'll have fun!

So, if any of you can make it, please come to the HallowCon in Chattanooga!  Introduce yourselves to me, and we'll have a drink together and talk.  Jana Oliver, Ernie Saylor, my father, and I, all stayed up until 3:00 in the morning one night, discussing and debating just about everything you can imagine.  And believe me, folks, that was more than just fun.  It's something I've wanted to do all my life, to mix with my peers and enjoy each other's company, and knowledge!  You can't beat it, trust me!

So, here's hoping to see some of you at HallowCon this October!  Come on over to me and introduce yourself.  Let's have a drink and talk!  That's what conventions are all about -- meeting people, learning, growing, and of course promoting yourself as an author, and getting to meet some of those editors!  Oh, and of course, to have loads of fun!

Also, I have two stories coming out in Aberrant Dreams Magazine's first anthology.  This is a hard cover book, signed, limited edition.  It contains my story, Bradbury County, published earlier this year with them, and a brand new one -- Serpent's Teeth (Avenger of the People).  This is virtually a novella length story, being 11,500 words, approximately, in length.  Aberrant Dreams had a contest for readers to select a picture (one of several) and to write a short plot outline based upon it.  I was one of the authors selected.  Others were Alastair Reynolds, Ian Watson, Jana Oliver, and Christina Barber.  All great authors!  The Limited Edition, signed, is $50.00 for the hardcover, or you can get the standard edition anthology for $35.00 (unsigned), or the paperback for $19.00, I believe.  So, check out Aberrant Dreams Magazine, and order your copy to day.  The signed Limited Edition has over 400 pages!!!!!!

The cool part about Serpent's Teeth, is that my editor really liked it!  He said, and I quote, this "is a magical story," and it is the "best thing you've ever written."  Hey, who am I to argue with an editor, right???

Anyway, hang in there, check out our latest issue of Alien Skin Magazine, and do hop over to check out Aberrant Dreams new anthology for sale.  You can't go wrong on this one!

And, the real reason I'm posting this blog today is to let all our Alien Skin Magazine fans know that I'm a special guest at the FantaSciCon this year.  I'll be doing several panels, and I was hoping to meet some readers of Alien Skin Magazine.  I'll have my name tag on, so please, if you are an Alien Skin Afficionado, I'd love to meet and chat with you there.  BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!   Here's a link to the Special Guest page of the FantaSciCon:

http://www.fantascicon.com/guest.htm

Check It Out!  And do consider coming to the FantaSciCon!

AND SOME SUCCESSES!  I recently received news that my sci-fi short story, Serpent Caravan, has been accepted at pro rates by Dark Wisdom Magazine.  That, along with my story, Dreamtime, being accepted by Jim Baen's Universe, also for pro rates, makes me very happy indeed!

The new issue of Alien Skin Magazine, the February/March issue, is now online.  Check it out!  We have some great articles there on Fantasy, Horror, as well as one I've done on Science Fiction; this time one about why we don't, as authors, write more about UFOs.  There is also an interview I did with Alan Caviness, a MUFON certified UFO investigator.  It's a great article and not because I wrote it, but because Alan really goes all out and tells us a great deal about himself and his convictions.  Believe me, it's worth a read.  It will give you a real insight into things.  Also, we have a great ZAP for everyone, as well.  We had a "ripping" good time with this tale, believe me, and the author was a good sport about it all.

NOW FOR THE CHALLENGES:  As I mention in my article on writing stories about UFOs, and it being a sort of "no-no" subject in the science fiction world these days, I also wonder why so many other old topics are now considered, more or less, off limits for authors.  Whether it is UFOs, Time Travel, or Vampires and Werewolves for horror, or Elves and Pixies for fantasy, there are a host of topics now relegated to the dustbin of genre history -- at least for the most part. 

Some editors out there still accept them, but not many.  Well, why are they now banned for all practicality?  The answer is, of course, from the editors' point of view that they are "old hat," tired, worn out subjects.  And, they are right, sadly.  How many times have we seen a variant on someone going back in time and killing a great grandparent, only to wipe themselves out in the present as a result?  But what if we could restore interest, as authors, in these topics.  What if we accepted the challenge of trying to find a new and fresh approach, a strange twist on an old idea to make it new again?  It wouldn't be easy, and that's why I say it's a challenge, but if one succeeded, I'm betting they'd have a hit!  We might, by recapturing interest in so many no-longer-used subjects, actually make a shrinking genre-field expand again, reclaim old territory!  I always loved time travel stories, and I'd like to see more, but not more of the same old thing.  And don't tell me we can't come up with new ideas -- I don't believe that!  "Imagination knows no bounds," so there have to be fresh ideas out there about werewolves, vampires, time travel, and UFOs, for authors to discover and write about. 

ANOTHER CHALLENGE:  Writing about contemporary relevant issues, topical subjects, in Science Fiction.  Yes, yes, I know we all love to do stories about global warming and its consequences, extinction of species, and whatnot, but why don't we do more about current crisis issues of a political or social nature?  Why are we afraid, as a group of authors, to do stories set in current Iraq, Iran, or even Afghanistan?   The answer is, I'm betting, that it is politically correct to worry about the environment, so it's safe to write about that.  But not about political issues.

Yes, we all know Iraq is horrible enough without writing horror stories about it -- I mean, what could be worse than the reality there -- but how about a gentle fantasy of a young Iraqi woman discovering she is a shaman, has the power to heal?  How about a solder who thinks he's discovered a cache of the long-missing weapons of mass destruction, only to realize what he's stumbled upon is really alien in origin?  See what I mean?  We don't have to take political sides, we don't have to rant and rave about political issues, but we could delve into these areas, add them into the sci-fi genre, and write some genuinely wonderful and beautiful stories about it.  After all, it is part of the human condition, and therefore should not be off limits to us as writers. 

You know, as authors, we used to do this.  We wrote highly-charged novels such as 1984, Animal Farm, Brave New World, and all sorts of things, but now it's as if whole areas of our human world don't exist for us as authors, as if Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan, New Orleans, Somalia, and such are suddenly off limits, untouchables, politically hot potatoes that are just too hot to handle.  Why?  When did this happen to our genre?  When did whole areas of our planet's geography suddenly become off limits to us as writers?  And who made this so? 

When our world has problems, when it is in various crises, is when science fiction can do the most to illustrate a possible way out, a path through the thicket, so to speak.  Instead, unlike our writing forebears, we now shy away from this, afraid to discuss it, afraid we will offend someone, somewhere.  Well, perhaps we might.  That's a real risk, but I think it's a risk we writers have to take.  I don't mean we should deliberately try to offend anyone.  That would be just plain stupid and pointless.  First of all, once offended, people usually stop listening, so your story and point would fall on deaf ears.  But we have to be able to write about anything we feel is relevant, topical, and important to our world.  We do it about Global Warming, extinction of species, so why not other subjects.  The human condition requires it of us.

And I'm not saying that some writers don't do just this, and in doing so, have achieved monumental success.  Look at Frank Herbert's, Dune, series -- really discussing in large part the environment, and illustrating how delicate it can be, and how important!  He was one of the first, so now we all love to write about that and global warming.  But if he hadn't dared back then, where would authors be now?  He took a risk.  So did George Orwell.  So did Aldous Huxley.  Of course care should be taken to not offend unnecessarily, but writers should write.  They should, as authors, not consider any subject taboo, as long as it is handled with taste, compassion, and understanding to the best of their abilities as writers.

Censorship comes from the outside, is pressed down upon us with threats of dire consequences, which is a good excuse to give in to it, I suppose.  But how do we justify self censorship?  We do that to ourselves, take away our own rights.  Remember my earlier question about who is doing this to us?  Well, the answer is simple:  We, as authors, are doing it to ourselves.  We are fearful of repercussions.  Could there be some?  Of course.  And we can practice self-censorship for various reasons, but not out of fear!  There is no justification for that, no justification at all for this type of poisonous self-censorship!  And it's one thing we can control.

You know, for authors and writers of every persuasion, censorship is a terrible thing, but self-censorship is so much worse!  Think about it.   

 I've been in the writing ring for a while now and have met with some success, with a novel coming out, and numerous short stories and articles to my credit.  However, I am constantly in awe of how much marketing work goes into this whole process.   I imagine to some degree this has always been true.  For instance, I'm sure Shakespeare had to push to sell his plays to reluctant recipients, find patrons for his sonnets, etc., but today, it has gone way beyond that.  We deal with a society that now has narrowed its tastes considerably, and so publishers have followed suit.  Big names are what they want, what they are after, and God help the writer who isn't among them.  Time are tough for authors, or so they say!

Writing And Marketing

However, hasn't it always been that way?  How many writers in the past did London's theatres support?  How many authors were published in Colonial America?  There were definite limits, and the publishers in those days had to publish what the readers wanted.  Some things never change it seems.  And, authors are bewailing the fact that many people today do not read at all.  Well, how many were literate in the 17th Century, the 18th, 19th Century, or even the 20th Century?  Even in our own country, there have always been a lot of the illiterate, or those who just didn't, couldn't, or wouldn't read, so let's not go overboard about that aspect of things.  The illiterati have always been with us. 

The fact is, there has always been a problem for writers about who will buy their work, the quality of it, and the available market for it.  Writing then, has always been the stuff of economics, and what the market of the day demanded, and could bear.  Competition?  It's always been there.  It's a basic maxim of real estate agents, for example, that if a business opens up in an area and makes a great profit, within months to just a few years, many other would-be entrepeneurs will follow suit.  This carves up the once lucrative market, creates much more competition, lowers the price on the goods provided, and lowers profits accordingly.  It's called capitalism, and it works best for the consumer in many respects.  In other words, if WalMart is great, it won't be long before other companies see this and duplicate the successful model. 

The same holds true for writers.  J.K. Rowling is good?  Well, move aside, because a flood of wanabes will follow.  What holds them back?  Just her current powerful position.  But, as they say, every dog must have its day, and all writers, sooner or later, fall from favor.  Check out the top echelon of authors from the 1940's versus the 60's, and then the 80's, and today.  The names change, but the dance goes on, always with new faces.  Is there only room for a few at the top?  Yep!  But then, that's the way it's always been in this world.  A country can have only one king, or one gets civil war.  Whether in Hollywood, politics, or guilds, there is only room for so many in a market.  How does one get around this?  By struggling to gain access of course, but also by, perhaps, creating new niches in an existing market, or creating a demand for something new.  Capitalists do it all the time.  Everyone drinks bottled water now, for example, despite the fact that tap water is generally just as good or even better.  And, we do it at a buck a pop or more!  Twenty years ago, people would have said you were crazy if you paid anything for water!   A market that virtually didn't exist two decades ago (except for mineral water) is now a multibillion dollar industry!  So it can be done.

Why is this?  Well, with books, and over time, fashions and styles change as to what people want to read, or learn about.  In the eighties and early nineties it was the introspective, self-help books.  This soon edged toward the "me generation" and "greed is good."  When the markets crashed, it became all about the philosophy of finding happiness in the little things (like poverty, I suppose), and taking life one day at a time.  New Age, already popular, became much more so, especially with women.  As more of them moved into the work force and the daily drudge of making a living, more wanted to know "what's it all about and for," and how to cope with it.  And so the dance goes and continues to go. 

What Makes A Writer Popular And A Success?

Now there is a question that if I had the complete answer to, I wouldn't be writing this column.  But, I do observe well and draw conclusions.  There was one professor, who'd never written a novel.  He bought a number of bestsellers, read them all, re-read them, and then dissected and analzyed them.  He then wrote his first novel, which turned out to be a New York Times Bestseller.  True story.  So, are bestsellers formula?  To a very real degree, YES!  Robert Heinlein pointed out there are only several basic story types that are embellished and retold with different settings, characters, and time periods, but they are always pretty much the same.  Other authors have narrowed this concept down to just one basic premise.  Here it is:

A hero faces incredible odds, and through trials and tribulations (nearly failing at one point against almost seemingly impossible odds), somehow manages to win through and save the day, or fails in such a way as to help others, or make a very important point.  A noble failure, as it were.  It's okay if they die, apparently, but only after acheiving something very worthwhile.  Oh, well!

So how does one become a successful author?  Here are some points to remember:

1.  If the story is always pretty much the same, a successful author needs to figure out the mechanics of such a story.  He/She needs to adhere to them, know them, and practice the art of writing stories that fit all these criteria of the one "true" story that works throughout time.  Construct the story according to the time-tested framework, the one that's worked throughout the millenia.  Remember the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it,"  principle.  The basic idea of story telling works.  Don't mess with it, just use it.  Later, when you're a big success, you can try screwing around with things and being "artsy." Good luck with that one!

2.  Much of the so-called "talent" of the writer hinges in the basic mechanics of their writing skills and ability to tell a story.  Literally, they need to know how to write something clear, concise, and interesting, without loading it down with such things as too many adverbs, adjectives, and flowery statements.  Writing skills, then, include a good command of basic English, a decent knowledge of sentence construction, an avoidance of the flowery, or wording that confuses or degrades the material.  Keep it simple!  Keep it clear.  Let the reader use their imagination to some degree.

3.  Pacing and timing.  These are very important!  A writer must make the pace of his work move along.  Too many adverbs, too many side excursions into the philosophical or impractical (info dumps), and the pace of the story slows, the reader yawns, and sets the book aside, intending no doubt, to one day get back to it but never does.  Ho-Hum!   With regard to writing talent, I'm not talking about authors' abilities to create a special style so much as just to write a good, well-paced tale. 

4.  Identifying with a sympathetic main character.  That's all important.  You may have the mechanics of the story down, you may have the writing ability down, but if the reader can't identify with your main character, you've lost them!  That doesn't mean the character has to be a saint, but there has to be something that keeps the reader willing to care, willing to wonder what will become of them.  Nobody wants a total rat as the main character, unless somehow he/she undergoes a redeeming social change, a personal epiphany of some sort.  Write about a total loser all the way through and you will lose your audience if that loser doesn't change and change soon!  Like it or not!  We may be losers, but really don't want to read about them, unless, in the end, they somehow win through.  Otherwise, what's the point?

 5.  An ending that pleases.  This does not have to be a happy ending, but again, nobody likes a loser!  Somehow, the ending must be relevant to the circumstances.  Does a jerk get his comeuppance?  Does good triumph?  Is something important said that was worth the sacrifice?  Is a point made that people can identify with?  Remember, even in such movies as the Terminator and Alien etc., etc.,  the heroes, if they died, did so valiantly and for a good and greater cause.  Keep that in mind when writing your endings.

6.  Be willing to market yourself.  Get those resumes together, get a list of published items.  Do a bio.  Add to them, update them, and don't be afraid to promote yourself everyway from Sunday, on big and little things.  Editors and publishers don't mind "googling" nowadays, so make darn sure when someone types your name in, something comes up!  Is it crass, difficult, and annoying to have to do this?  Of course, but authors have always done something of the sort.  What do you think book signings and lecture circuits area all about?  Haven't authors appeared on talk shows for decades now, touting their new books?  Don't actors do the same thing?  So deal with it and just do it!  It gets easier with time, you know.  Well, not actually, but it is necessary!  Just think of it as a new take on the old "publish or perish" idea.  Now, it's market it or don't make it!  Trust me on this one.  You are a saleable commodity -- so sell yourself!

Conclusion

And there you have my take on Writing.  And yes, to reiterate, times are tough for authors, markets are crowded and shrinking, and publishers seem to only want what the public wants, and they limit their choices to those few authors who consistently deliver it successfully.  DUH!  As I've said, some things never change.  Get used to it.  Deal with it, and move on!  Bewailing your fate as an author, your limited choices as to what you are "allowed" to write, and the fact that the public has "crass" tastes is worse than pointless. 

Rant and rave on your own time about the inequities of life.  Nobody wants to listen to a whiner, okay, so do it in private.  Now, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and learn the tools of your trade.  Then write!  And above all, and I can't stress this enough, be persistent.  Hammer at the door of the market.  Make yourself known.  If an editor consistently turns you down, get published through enough other editors to make him regret he/she ever denied you access, and then comes begging to your door for you work.  (Revenge is mine, sayeth the author.)  And when he/she (editor) does do that, don't turn them down!  Never burn your publishing bridges if you can help it.  Remember, times change, and so do fortunes.  Nowhere else is that any more true, than in the publishing business.  We, as authors, do depend on the kindness of editors.  Remember that!  They are the stuff of our lives, even if they aren't quite human...