Blogging All About It

[Draven Ames]

If you want, you can check out the phone interview I did with Michael Marano, author of Stories from the Plague Years - published by Cemetery Dance.

http://dravenames.blogspot.com/2011/...el-marano.html

[JJ Holden]

If you want, you can check out the phone interview I did with Michael Marano, author of Stories from the Plague Years - published by Cemetery Dance.

http://dravenames.blogspot.com/2011/...el-marano.html

Draven, very cool interview, you asked some good questions. A beautiful book, too. The artwork is amazing.

[Draven Ames]

Thanks for stopping by to read it, JJ. I'm sure Michael will appreciate the read as well. Keeping it up for a week so people can check it out and hopefully check out his book. He is very intelligent. It was moderately intimidating.

[Nik Houser]

I'm no writer, but with my few experiences in the field. The biggest key to making a living at writing, is learning to write what sells. Sadly what sells is not always what everyone wants to write. Also, what sells can be very hard in the horror field, especially if you are trying to sell your stuff to the New York publishers. They are harsh critics, that don't buy a lot of horror.

My feeling is that most horror writers' style is too idiosyncratic to genre fiction to penetrate the mainstream market. I'm not saying their writing isn't good. Far from it. It's GREAT. But it's not typically told with the kind of voice that appeals to non-horror fans. I think it takes a very specific combination of idea, tone, and most especially voice to make that leap from the horror fans to the larger markets. I think the same is true for sci-fi, as well. Take two of my favorite sci-fi writers: someone like Scalzi almost has it. He's got NYTimes bestsellers, but that's still mostly because enough sci-fi fans pick up his stuff, not because it really crosses over to the mainstream. Now take Paolo Bacigalupi, who's brilliant and has won a zillion awards is a very early career. He's in a class of his own, I think, and yet he doesn't write with that mainstream voice. So yeah, he sells and makes a living from his writing, but he doesn't SELL. This is NOT a criticism in any regard. Merely an opinion based on my own observations. Personally, I love idiosyncratic writing. And I love horror. And I thank the small presses of the world for championing both!

[Draven Ames]

I believe you have something there, Nik. I think voice is very important.

[Draven Ames]

Just posted an interview with Simon Wood. I'm reading his book, Paying the Piper, now. I read his book, Fall Guy, earlier and liked it a lot. He used to race cars before writing and doing PI work. Interesting guy.

[ozmosis7]

Just posted an interview with Simon Wood. I'm reading his book, Paying the Piper, now. I read his book, Fall Guy, earlier and liked it a lot. He used to race cars before writing and doing PI work. Interesting guy.

Is he the guy that the TV was based on?

[JJ Holden]

Just posted an interview with Simon Wood. I'm reading his book, Paying the Piper, now. I read his book, Fall Guy, earlier and liked it a lot. He used to race cars before writing and doing PI work. Interesting guy.

Dang it, Draven, I'm going to have to put your blog on my regular go-to list.

[hamount]

I started a blog, where I review novels, the first one I posted was last Monday about The Husband by Dean Koontz. If you want to check it out the URl is in my signature. If you have any suggestions about books you'd like to see reviewed in my blog leave a comment on my blog and I'll look into it. Hope you enjoy my opinions, it seems I've suddenly taken an interest in journalism, and no better way than a blog to get started. Opinions about my blog, and suggestions are welcomed.

[ozmosis7]

Up to 30k words on "The Dead Civil War" project. Its only a rough draft, but its up there to read if anyone is interested. Still a lot of story to go though.

[Mac Campbell]

As for me, I put up my short fiction on my blog. I think it's a good way to get the word out: I take my inspiration from Peter Watts, David Moody, and that other David who wrote those other online zombie novels. I've a got a number of novels saved up(boy, do those things need work!), but I think readily available short fiction is a good way for people to get to know you. I have five stories up right now, and there are several more coming. Yes, I'm a complete unknown, I know.

But I've got some good responses from some people whose opinions I respect. And my first compliments were from a girl from Manchester and a scientist from New Zealand - that's the internets for you!

[Mac Campbell]

As for me, I have a blog and I put my short fiction on it. I think it's a fine way to introduce people to one's work. I take my inspiration from Peter Watts and Davids Moody and Wellington. I've got several novels on the back burner, but they all need work. The on-line stuff keeps people interested and hopefully it will lead to something down the road.

I have five stories up now, with a lot more to come. My goal is to show that I have a kick-ass story collection, and that it must follow that my novels would be equally as good.

[Mac Campbell]

Shit - I wrote that post twice. I didn't see it first so I wrote another version. Sorry about that. It's been a very long day.

[Kealan Patrick Burke]

I've just posted my review of Stephen King's latest offering, MILE 81.

[Ben Staad]

I've just posted my review of Stephen King's latest offering, MILE 81.

Thanks for the review. I've read a couple of reviews on this so far and they all share similar points. I think I will put my 300 pennies back in the jar and (like you said)wait for this in SK's next collection.