Writing Advice (From an Agent!)

Nathan Bransford is one of the many agents who blog, and he's one of the better ones out there. I follow a lot of blogs and long before I started following his I was reading his work. That's because what he writes gets picked up and redistributed throughout the 'Blogosphere'.

And now it's my turn to push his stuff.
Today he has put up a pretty complete index» of his advice articles on writing.
Go now, check it out, bookmark it and follow his blog.
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Market Mondays: Industry Future?

So even as the industry is in trouble agents are actually experiencing an upswing in queries. Perhaps it's the current recession driving people to write, losing your job gives you time to pursue your dream of getting published. I tend to think that is a simplistic look at what's happening. It may explain some of the bump in submissions, but that can only be a short term impact. Eventually those who lost their jobs will get new ones. Starving writers are romantic in fiction, but it's a less attractive life if you actually are starving. So what do I think may make up the rest of the rise in queries? Well let's look at the reality of the situation and the future.

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First of all, there is no money in books. J.K. Rawling aside, most authors make a pittance for much of their career. Now show me 20 published books later and we're talking, but how many make it that far? I understand that there will always be dreamers who expect writing to pay their way. But when a mortgage payment is due: How many are going to choose writing over any other form of employment with an hourly wage? Even sitting on a street corner begging can bring in more (though 300$/month isn't that great).

Today the industry is facing the largest changes to the publishing model since the Printing Press. The Internet? Ebooks? Kindle? Print on Demand? Where the technological changes are taking us is a subject of much debate. Can the business change in such a way as to ensure survival? Is it just a matter of improved marketing and lower pricing? Not everyone agrees it's that simple. Readers are driven by a number of factors in making a purchasing decision beyond price. Corey Doctorow perhaps has the best take on this. He believes the industry will survive, but with massive changes. There will be more niche markets for authors, and less of a role for large publishing houses to play. Something that is being witnessed in the music and film industries today.

However people are still writing, and querying in increasing numbers. So why do I think it's happening? Hope, not hope for a better income, but hope for recognition, for discussion, for change and a better world even. These people don't care that the industry is struggling and collapsing around them. They create because they can, and they want to share their messages and ideas. I have no idea what Paramount Pictures, or Producer Jerry Bruckheimer think of the average Youtube video, but they'd be fools not to acknowledge the impact on their industry by the content producers on Youtube. People who could not get a voice in the mainstream market and industry, found and created their own niches and markets. While major studios struggle, 1000's of individuals have found their voice. Whatever future comes for the publishing industry, it will be driven by the content producers, the Writers creating and submitting today, and their Readers. Anyone who tries to control or constrict the channel between them will eventually find themselves shunted to the side as an impediment to progress.

As dark as the world may seem, people are realizing that we are at the beginning of a new century that will probably see more change than the previous 10 combined. New ideas on government, or social interactions are being developed right now by people young and old. The impossible is made reality on a daily basis, be it medical miracles or new technological marvels. While the world struggles with global warming, the prize of free (or near zero cost) energy comes closer and closer to fruition. With all of that going on around us: Who can't help but dream a little?




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Market Mondays: Who's Looking?

So LAST WEEK I mentioned that the Writing World is facing Market Troubles. In other words everybody is going out of business. Well, before you panic and give up writing entirely, I've got good news.

There's a new Magazine starting up this year, honestly I hope more than one starts this year, but I'll take what I can get. Warren Lapine, of DNA Infamy is back, and hoping to make good with a new Magazine: Fantastic Stories of the Imagination. Follow the link to see what they are looking for.
Here are some others also looking for new Speculative Fiction:
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* 3 Lobed Burning Eye
Online Speculative Fiction Magazine - "Stories that Monsters like to Read"

* Analog SF
Widely considered the magazine where "Science Fiction Grew Up"

* Asimov's Science Fiction
Stories from Asimov's have won 44 Hugos and 24 Nebula Awards, and their editors have received 18 Hugo Awards for Best Editor.

* Electric Spec
An e-zine featuring science fiction, fantasy, and macabre short stories

* Escape Velocity
Hard science fiction stories with a slant toward the future human condition

* Interzone
This speculative fiction magazine often publishes issues based on different themes.

* On Spec This Quarterly Magazine showcases quality works by predominantly Canadian writers and artists, in the genre they call "Fantastic" literature

* Quantum Kiss
A journal of Romantic Speculative fiction (equal weight to both)

* Shiny Magazine
A Young Adult magazine mostly interested in stories with speculative elements - science fiction, fantasy and horror

I wish the list was bigger, but many magazines are still closed to submissions, in the next quarter some more should open up. As always, check Ralan's Market Listings for information.



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