[Writer Stuff] I suck

I have been told this by friends, family, and professionals I paid good money to to tell me I suck.

A small handful tell me I am good.  Though my raw writing is regarded with the praise of raw sewage.  Indeed, in some cases, they might want to swim in raw sewage rather than read my writing.

I am someone who draws their creative energy from others and from joy.  An extrovert and someone who is inspired when happy is a terrible combination for either prolificness or quality of writing.  I've had a lot of abuse heaped on me which lends some gravitas to my work sometimes, and the weirdness that makes it unique is also fun.

But I appreciate my artistic friends to kind to say I suck but who nevertheless recognize my need to express myself creatively just like anyone else; because it is a need.  I might suck, but you know what sucks more?

Being a Muggle.

I've seen what happens when someone lets their creativity die.  They become not just a Muggle but Small.  And I am many things, but I will never be Small.

But there is little joy in my life at the moment and I am feeling rather existentially lonely.

The writing will return in time.

The script can die in a fire though.

https://theintercept.com/2016/06/25/brexit-is-only-the-latest-proof-of-the-insularity-and-failure-of-western-establishment-institutions/

[Poem] The Man in the Glass Mask

by Emmit Other

There is therein the words do lie
Of conscience streaming in the wick
The locks we guard our hearts with
Masked shadows flames tongue lick
One place we find refuge is the place of great effervescence
Where the well runs deep
and we refine it in quicksilver steel
Mirrors run cool that tells therein there are
We learn to wield the blade of sapience precisions
The light of a thousands suns behind the visor
The authentic bucket of well water made still
And poured upon the reach of our expectations glass
So much word salad tossed until Caesar is rendered unto Caesar
And Christ as And On Toast whispers amenities of the soul
In the sense that you practically haven't got one
But do when you where your heart on your sleeve
But show now not thy scars young buck
For the ides of march will stab at thee
This then the mask of glaziered ice does burn close to the skins touch
Advice heeded is wisdoms watch word.
Know silence's queue when it comes.

[Script] The Trial of Captain America - Page 3

Scene: Almost identical to the first, but it looks on Steve Rogers with the Angry Cow and the Judge and Sosori, only now it is Nick Spencer and Sosori looking at again.

Nick Spencer: So...what are we looking at again?

Sosori: For light's sake, this is the THIRD time I have explained it to you.

Nick Spencer: Humor me.

Sosori: I'm not particularly inclined to.  You tell me.

Nick Spencer: What if I don't want to?

Sosori: Not my problem.

Nick Spencer: Aren't you supposed to be my defense attorney?

Sosori: Something like that.

Nick Spencer: So isn't it like...your job to explain things to me?

Sosori: No.  I don't actually get paid to help you, its more of a calling.

Nick Spencer: Wait, what? So what makes sure you are working in my interest?

Sosori: Why, nothing Mr Spencer.

Nick Spencer: Then why the hell should I trust you?

Sosori: I never said you should.

Space Goats 2 Electric Boogaloo

Check out this episode!

No Culture Today

When Britannia turns to Filthy Island, I can't think of much.

[Writer Stuff] How to Find Where to Sell Your Stuff

I am hesitant to write about this because I suck at it, but I am still of a mind that even as a hobby, writing to a professional standard improves what you do.  Thus, finding places to sell your work can be a good idea.  Some schools of thought say write whatever you want, and there is nothing wrong with that per se.  But I prefer to write to my market, while still making sure that I write things that I enjoy writing and reading.  As you can from this blog, I tend to like the fantastic; either as Fantasy or Science Fiction.

The first thing that I would recommend for anyone writing in such a genre would be to check Science Fiction Writer's association.  Now its true in a workshop, their 'expert' writers treated me like shit, but they do a lot of good including ensure that the prices and pay for a number of venues stays relatively high.  You just need to be able to write a novel or three short stories, which is easier than it sounds but you can do it if you have the talent or the tenacity.  I have little talent beyond raw creativity; and as I explained last week, that does little good by itself.

But I also have tenacity.

You can just google writing venues or also check out (or buy) a recent copy of writer's digest.  All fine things.  What I can tell you is that especially with short stories, if they don't take electronic submissions, they probably arent worth submitting to.   Why pay postage to be able to just get a form letter as rejection? In the old days, of course, this was not an option, but this is 2016, and if they arent with the program, find somewhere else for your stuff.

Two other options are contests and anthologies.  There are number of sites that collect lists of these; but if you are considering which ones you can trust, I would go with someone who has done it before.