Now THAT was promising
Over the weekend I was in Lincoln City for a short story workshop with Dean Wesley Smith, Kris Kathryn Rusch, and Asimov's editor Shelia Williams. Highlights:
- Dean and Kris are currently NOT editing anything, so in this workshop forum Dean played editor as if he were still editing for Pulphouse and Kris played editor as if she were still editing for F&SF. The workshop writers focused on craft and tried to write stories that begged the editors to read them all the way through.
- I came through with flying colors in regards to the editors. No sales, but my stories were well received. Suddenly I'm able to ground the reader and compel them to read.
- My overnight story came to sixteen hundred words. It was easy once I settled on what I was going to do. Friday afternoon I couldn't get my fingers moving on a story. That evening I slept and woke at 4am Saturday to write my story before breakfast at 9am. I like this story more than I thought I would--first hating the idea is probably why I had a slow start.
- If Pulphouse were still around, my story "The Forgiving Execution" would have a home. "The Forgiving Execution" is too creepy for Asimov's.
- Far Future science-fiction stories scare me because there's so many possiblities. I need to finish my far future story just to be rid of that fear. Kris Rusch said at Clarion her fellow workshoppers were telling her she wasn't a science-fiction writer. Look at her now. She told us writing science-fiction isn't hard at all. This was good to hear.
- I feel unscathed by the workshop experience. And a little bit guilty. Why? Because other writers had gotten rejections and red lines on their manuscript where editors would stop. The editors were tough. Usually I'm getting rejected. Usually my stories are getting ripped apart. Not this time. And if feels weird. As if I had just climbed over a mountain. What next?
- The next mountain, of course. I don't believe I'm perfect. I know I sometimes don't ground the reader, sometimes my writing lacks the right sensory detail, sometimes I don't have conflict in my stories. There's always craft to work on.
- Met jeffsoesbe for the first time. He wore some great tie-dye on Sunday. Wish I had brought mine. There were a lot unfamiliar faces at this workshop so I found myself being quiet and watchful in most social interactions. I manged to get to know some of them, though, like Melissa Yuan-Innes. Other familiar LJ faces would be erdnase2000 and maryrobinette. Plus, kenscholes and jens_fire stopped by to say hello. bjcooper did great job drawing me out at breakfast on Sunday--I like her and I've seen her numerous times at conventions and workshops, yet sometimes I'm still too quiet.
- The Anchor Inn in Lincoln City is a great place for writing workshops and Kip, the owner, cooked us some great meals.