Follower Obsession

When did this whole blog following thing become an obsession? As of late, I've seen dozens of people holding contests to celebrate their following numbers. The obsession is like contagious. I don't recall bloggers getting overly excited about their counter stats. But ever since this following feature was implemented, it's non stop. What happened to the bloggers who didn't care how many people were reading posts?

This isn't to say I don't appreciate 21 people signing up to see what my next ramblings will be. But I'm not getting my panties in a bunch because the number isn't in the 600 range. I am curious how the whole idea came about; to turn blogs in to like mini-cults. Counter stats and RSS feeds aren't enough. We need a feature to display the cult-like following some blogs have with readers soaking in their every word as gospel.

If you want to celebrate your reader status, by all means, do so, but I just think it isn't anything to whine about if your follower numbers aren't in the thousands after a few short months. The obsession is kind of scary. You don't think there is some virtual zombie bug going around, do you?

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WIP Wednesday - Coming Out of Hibernation

Still haven't dove in to writing but I may not be for a little while. I've yanked out my trusty notebook and jotted down several ideas. Anyone of them are capable of growing big and strong in to a gruesome piece of art. However, upon trying to get organized for the umpteenth time, I noticed the twenty other stories chilling in their hyperbaric chambers; the ones I haven't touched in a couple of years. So, I'm trying to put my concentration on them.

I'm starting with "Sealed with Anguish" since that was the first project I committed to. Then, I'm switching to "The Boy in the Book". I wrote this story for a contest. Participants had to pick a fairytale and put their own spin to it. So, I chose "Spirit in the Bottle". I changed the bottle to a book and the woods to a bookstore. It didn't win and now that I've re-read it, I see why. There's very little of the story I still like. It's going in for some major word surgery. Then, it'll be "Blackbird Paranormal Society"; a Nano story that will also be receiving quite a bit of word surgery.

Somewhere in between all the cutting and sewing, I have to fit in reading. I finished one review (you can read it here) and began reading the next book. I also received another request for a book review. I'm happy some people are putting their trust in me to give my honest opinion about their work but I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed; especially since I'm also falling behind on Ghost Stories posts. One bloody stumpy step at a time...

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Dances With Doubt

Ever feel like you're always a mile behind everyone else? After eight years, I thought I would be at a certain place by now. Hobnobbing with fangs and fur in majestic balls. That kind of thing. Every time I read a book or article on writing, it seems I shouldn't be getting more rejections than acceptances; Instead, a healthy dose of both. One Brian Keene article and a serious Robin Williams movie and I'm left wondering what the hell did I get myself in to. Okay....maybe not so much. But you get what I'm saying right?

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Setting It Aside

Dear Andrea,

Thank you for the opportunity to read "Sealed With Anguish". Unfortunately, your story isn't quite what we're looking for right now. Each month, we receive hundreds of submissions and while I may like many of them, I can only publish twelve of them per year.

In the past, we've provided detailed feedback on our rejections, but I'm afraid that due to time considerations, we're no longer able to offer that service. I appreciate your interest in Clarkesworld Magazine and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Take care,

Neil Clarke
Publisher/Editor
Clarkesworld Magazine
www.clarkesworldmagazine.com


For those keeping count, this makes rejection number five for this story. I'm going to tweak it a bit before sending it out to anyone else. After another quick look over, I realized it comes off a little too contemporary and not enough horror. So, will see...

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Constant Contest

Simon C. Larter over at Constant Revision is hosting "The Most Epic Contest in the History of the Blogosphere" for reaching 250 followers. He is offering a plethora of ways to enter: comment, tweet, blog, ransom note. You can also write either a poem or flash fiction 1,000 words or less, using two or all of the prompts provided. Each ups your chances to win one of a variety of prizes including being immortalized in fiction or sonnet, a bottle of vodka, books or gift certificate.

Deadline is May 8th. For more guidelines visit his blog at http://constantrevisions.blogspot.com.

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Make the Novels go Away

I've written short stories most of my so called writing career. Why...because novels scare the hell out of me. I read constantly. I don't know how some writers manage to plant the Easter eggs throughout an entire book to keep the plot fresh. Unfold everything at the right time so the reader stays interested in finding what happens next.

I attempted to write a novel once. Managed to get to chapter three and became bored with it. I think that's one of my main problems. I'm afraid I'll get bored with the story before even finishing it. I've heard of writers who start writing a novel and it takes them the span of decades to complete it. I don't want to be one of those writers. I've thought about trying my hand at a short story collection, but I want to be at a place where I'm getting more acceptance letters in my inbox instead of rejections. Or perhaps an even amount of both. Just a better paradise than I'm in right now.

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Whimsical Rejection

Dear Andrea Allison

Thank you for sending us "Sealed With Anguish". I've reviewed the story and decided not to purchase it. It's well written but, I feel, a little too whimsical in its conception of a monster community (if not in it's actual "deal with the devil" type plot). You may want to consider submitting it to our sister podcast, Podcastle, which deals with fantasy stories (we do not share submissions).

Thanks for submitting, and I hope my comments have been at least a tiny bit helpful.

Sincerely,
Shawn Garrett
PSEUDOPOD - The Horror Podcast Magazine
http://pseudopod.org


Whimsical? Really? Hmm....okay, I guess.

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Finding the Right Market

I started this year with the ambition to improve on the previous. Every writer has their individual process; one I’m still trying to develop. The number of submissions I sent out in 2009 equals five. Not entirely impressive by some standards. Four months in to 2010, I’ve doubled that number. But I’ve had one problem: finding the right market for one of my short stories.

With some short stories, you have the market in mind while in the process of writing it. Others you develop the idea with hope you’ll find it a good home or two. In 2008, I finished a course with Long Ridge Writers Group. My final assignment was to write a short story. I wrote it in a supernatural setting with a satirical overtone. I figured the supernatural elements made it horror automatically. A year, two or three revisions and four submissions later, I’m still trying to find the right market.

The last rejection, and the only personal one for this story, suggested it was more drama than horror. I understand this is the opinion of one person versus the several who critiqued it prior to any submissions. Truth is I wasn’t quite sure where to submit this story. Thus, leaving me with a dilemma: continue to find the right market for it or consider changing some elements of the plot. A decision I will make after receiving a response from the last market I sent it to.

Finding the right magazine/anthology for your short stories may not always be easy. Knowing the market including what they have published in the past will help to find your story a home. Sometimes the opportunity has to be created by you where none can be found.

Courtesy of Write Anything. Check out my posts every Thursday and for this month [Fiction] Friday.

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WIP Wednesday – Read Read Read

I admit I haven’t been writing as much as I should (deserve a few finger slaps for that). But my valuable time has not been wasted. Been slacking off on writing but keeping up with my reading duties. I’m almost halfway through the first ebook on my agenda, taking notes along the way. Not to give too much away prior to my review, the plot isn’t so boring I want to delete it from my computer, but whoever edited this thing (if it ever made it into an editors hands) did not do a thorough job. I can deal with a few mistakes. We’re all human and can’t find them all. However, some of what I’ve come across are not-so-hard-to-find slip ups. I know I’m not highly experienced in the writing field as my publishing credits reflect, but if I see them then an average reader will too.

I also finished the second print issue of Necrotic Tissue. A lot of fine stories printed in it. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a clown the same way again much less a dentist. And having sex with zombies doesn’t sound all that appealing. All of which makes for a good read. Definitely will be buying a subscription whenever I can scrape up some money. Will be moving on to Shock Totem next.

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Inheriting the Old

I hate inheriting someone's hand-me-downs. During my absence last week, my computer decided it was time to visit electronic heaven. The new used power supply my step-dad put in it a few weeks ago gave out. So, instead of replacing it yet again, he slaved my old hard drive into a new used computer (look at me speaking all techie!).

Then comes the tedious work of sorting through all the files on the original hard drive. If you're going to switch computers, couldn't you at least....I don't know.....go through all the files on your old computer and delete any you have saved on disk or don't need anymore. It saves time from someone else having to do it. This is what I spent my weekend doing along with a little laundry. Isn't my life grand....

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Didn't Get It

So after three days of coughing, sneezing, and other gross elements I will not discuss here, I come back to this lovely jewel waiting in my inbox:

We at Necrotic Tissue received your submission: "Sealed With Anguish". After considered review by our editorial staff we have decided not to publish your story.

You're a strong writer, and I really enjoyed the story, but there was one problem I had with it. Keep in mind I'm one editor, and another editor may love this piece.

While there were horrific elements in the story, it is not the type of horror we look for at Necrotic Tissue. Deadly amounts of silver were placed in some samples, but it's not clear if this was intentional or an accident. For that reason, I would consider this to be a drama piece instead of horror.

Please also take a few minutes and log our response time at www.duotrope.com. We work hard to respond to writers in a timely manner, which allows them to submit again to another market if not selected for publication. Reporting response times helps us attract writers and helps writers make good decisions about where they want to submit.

Please come join us at:

The Haunt, Horror Mall's very own forum (http://www.horror-mall.com/haunt/NecroticTissue)

MySpace (www.myspace.com/necrotictissuemag)

First of all, I thank the editorial staff at Necrotic Tissue Magazine for sending me feedback with my rejection. It's quite refreshing after the numerous form rejects. However, I don't think they got what the story was about. It was implied how the deadly amounts of silver got to the kid. Everyone who crit this piece seemed to get it. I don't know. This is the fourth rejection for this story. Maybe I'm not submitting it to the right markets. Will see what Pseudopod has to say.

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What Can I Say About Today?

cough...cough....ugh....ahem...grr.....cough....s**t.....ahem....sneeze...

I think that says it all. One thing I hate about Spring is the allergies. They're silent intruders sent out to make everyone's life miserable. In my case, it's dragging down my will to do.....anything. I wrote out this nice pretty schedule to prioritize all the things I need to do this week and don't feel like doing any of it.

The eBook I'm reading is called Reads Like Murder in Honolulu By G Donovan. It's fairly good so far which makes reading it on a computer screen less painful. No eye gauging going here yet. A few months ago, I purchased quite a few copies of different magazines. I'm just now getting to them, starting with the second issue of Necrotic Tissue. Really liked "Tenure" by: Eric R. Lowther. Nothing like a zombie demanding civil rights.

In the spirit of being productive, I finally picked up one of my Nano short stories from 2008 and began the editing phase. So far, I don't like anything about it and often wonder why I wrote it in the first place. It read like a bad episode of Ghost Hunters. Also starting a news story, "Mr. Blythewart's Human Extravaganza (working title).

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A Blast From Easter Past

This was taken Easter 86'. I was about three years old. Wasn't I cute? Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Easter!

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Sweet Rejection

Dear Andrea,

Thank you for your recent submission to CUTTING BLOCK PRESS for our upcoming anthology "Horror Library Vol 4". By the end of our submission period we will have read well over a thousand stories this time around...final decisions did not come easy.

We have received and read your submission, and it has made it through our editing staff. Unfortunately, at this time we're going to have to pass on your story. While well written and interesting, we felt it just didn't fit what we were looking for at this time for the collection.

Thank you again for your interest, and we wish you all the best with your writing. We'll be reading again in a few months for Vol 5. Keep an eye on Ralan's and our website for updates and guidelines for submissions.

R.J. Cavender
CuttingBlock.Net

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WIP Wednesday - Fun Time

I am by far not a fan of the ebook. It hurts my eyes to read page after page on a computer screen. Doesn't even feel like reading. Too mechanical for my taste. However, I now have three ebooks to read and review for Ghost Stories. How fun that will be. If that's not enough, I also have a CD to review as well. Will be doing it all while I should be writing and editing. I don't handle stress well. If anyone finds me passed out in my Cheerios, just shove a ton of caffeine down and my throat, will ya?

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Story Retirement

"Blood Diary" has been retired to my website for all to enjoy: http://andreaallison.webs.com/freestories.htm

Now moving on to other endeavors...

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Rejection - Niteblade

Dear Ms. Allison,

Thank you for submitting to Niteblade. I'm sorry to tell you I will be passing on "Blood Diary" but I wish you the best of luck placing it with another market.

Sincerely,
Rhonda Parrish
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Writer: http://www.rhondaparrish.com
Editor: http://www.niteblade.com


One of these days I'll actually have good news to share. In the meantime, I'm thinking about retiring Blood Diary to my website. It's been published a few times. I don't think it'll make another appearance. I guess its just time. At least I have some SAMOAS to drown my sorrows with.

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Any Silence Will Do

This is a lot coming from me but I would thoroughly enjoy a nanosecond of silence. I can't write without some kind of entertaining noise in the background, but the constant visits from the "intruders" is starting to be stressful. They supposedly got a new place to live. Yet they aren't living in it. How can they be? They're over here all the time. I'm at the stressing point where hair is about to be pulled out.

If you haven't already noticed, my mood is partying in purgatory. I think I'm on the verge of having one of those crisis that writers talk about. The kind you feel like you've worked so hard for so many years but will virtually have nothing to show for it. Technically, I have Ghost Stories to show for my hard work, but a successful blog is not enough. It's not the only thing I want to accomplish. I'm glad a couple hundred people enjoy reading it every day. Don't plan to shut it down any time soon. But it feels like a One-Hit-Wonder Blogger Style, you know? It's not like any of my other writing aspirations are mounting to anything.

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WIP Wednesday - Hell Week

I have one long list of why I chose not to write this week. However, I think I'll let you guys decide which one fits best.

For all of those who have expressed well wishes and sympathy concerning our little dog Roscoe, I thank you. And for those of you who are unaware of the outcome of the situation, our little guy is in doggy heaven now. He got worse over night and the vet strongly felt he wasn't going to recover. So, he was put to sleep. RIP Roscoe.

If having one dog ill wasn't bad enough, one of our other dogs, Buddy, is also not feeling 100%. Shortly after Roscoe, we noticed his ear was a bit swollen. We called the vet and she believed it was just an ear infection. We had some kind of creme she told us to keep using on it. However, today he is going to make an appearance in her office. She's going to sedate him and lance his ear. I'm sure he'll just enjoy that. $600 worth of vet bills in less than a week. I guess it could be worse.

Last week, I needed the use of my brand new printer. Pushed the power button and guess what happened? Nothing. Pushed it a couple of times. Nothing. I unplugged and plugged cords back in. Restarted my computer. Troubleshooted the hell out of the situation. The results.....absolutely nothing. I was forced to turn the situation over to my techie step-father. He was going to open it up and see what the problem was but realized it was still under warranty. Thus, a call was made to the lovely people at HP. They deduced the problem was mostly likely with the power supply. A new one is in route and should be here by today or tomorrow. I have a process. A process which works well with my wonky inspiration. A working printer is part of that process. When a link is broken in this chain, the diva side of me tends to surface. It's not pretty.

I saved the best for last. First day of Spring we get snow. Why did Mother Nature flip the wrong switch? Two days with nothing but snow. The high blizzard winds even knocked over one of our little cedar trees. The second tree to fall over since I moved to Oklahoma. I'm not having high hopes for the rather large pine sitting directly behind my section of the house. It mocks me. Keeps giving me the death waves. I don't like it.

This concludes my overview of Hell week. Pick a bad day and enjoy....

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Prayer for Puppy

We've had Roscoe for a few years now. My brother bought him from a breeder and we ended up taking care of him. We've lived through the days of him peeing and pooping on the floor, barking at anyone who walked through door, and the constant nagging to play all the time. Now is the moment of truth.

Last few days, Roscoe hasn't been feeling too good. We weren't sure what was wrong, but he wasn't moving around much and not eating a whole lot. We took him to the veterinarian today and the verdict is in. Somehow he managed to crush his vertebrae. No clue how he did it, but I guess it doesn't really matter. His condition is serious. The Vet pinched one of his back toes to see how much feeling he had. Pretty much none. Didn't move an inch.

She told my mom any other time she would refer us to the nearby animal hospital. So, he can have $2,000 worth of surgery. Even with that there are no guarantees his quality of life will improve and we don't have the money to pay for it. Right now, Roscoe is still at the vet's. They are putting him on steroids. We'll find out tomorrow if feeling returns to his back legs and make a decision from there.

In all seriousness, this dog is a momma's dog. He follows my mother around everywhere. He loves her more than anyone in this house despite the fact my step-dad and myself played with him more. My mom is trying to be brave but I'm sure she will be upset if she has to put him down. Pray for him to whatever God(s) you worship. Please and thank you.

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