Part Two of Path To Publication Series:
Category: Writing and Poetry

Part Two of my Path to Publication Series, Batteries Not Included, Patience Required, is up at The Relief Journal.
While you're at it, check out Part One.

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Reviews And Blog Series
Category: Writing and Poetry

This week's Press & Sun Bulletin reviews: "Winter Haven", by Athol Dickson and "Brother Odd", by Dean Koontz.



.. ..

Also, please come by The Relief Journal for Part One of my first series with them as a staff blogger, Path to Publication. It's going to be a nice mix of hints and tips that I've found helpful in this thing called "writing", and things I've gleaned, borrowed, and downright ripped off from from other folks!

Kevin Lucia

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Check out this event: The Path to Publication Series
Current mood: artistic
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hosted By: The Relief Journal
When: May 5, 2008 7:00 PM
Where: Anywhere/at your computer
www.reliefjournal.com
Chicago, Illinois|14 13787
United States
Description:
The Relief Journal

Click Here To View Event

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Reviews, and debut blog this Friday at The Relief Journal
Category: Writing and Poetry

This week's Press & Sun Bulletin reviews: "Meat", by Joseph D'lacey and "The Hollower", by Mary SanGiovanni.




Also a heads up, please come by The Relief Journal this Friday for Part One of my first series with them as a staff blogger, Path to Publication.
It's going to be a nice mix of hints and tips that I've found helpful in this thing called "writing", and things I've gleaned, borrowed, and downright ripped off from from other folks!

Kevin Lucia

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I have one fan, and I learned something yesterday...
Category: Writing and Poetry

It was pretty much an ordinary evening last night; I'd just finished tutoring one of my former junior high students, (which is suprisingly turning out to be very enjoyable. I'm thinking of expanding into a small tutoring side gig), and I was picking up a few things for my wife at the grocery store when I ran into the high school classmate who showed up at my Barnes & Noble booksigning a couple weeks ago (which blew me away, BTW).

In any case, a small chat turned into a fourty-five minute conversation about my work, how no one had ever known I was writer in high school, (I was one of those closet writers), but it fit because everyone had known what a reader I was, but how it was also so odd that a former jock, (imagine that; me a jock), was now a writer, and how did I get started, when is your next story coming out, how can I get it, are you going to do a collection/novel...all that. We talked about the best way to get into the writing gig, knowing the market, seeking out workshops and getting that much needed, (but very painful), honest, close critiques, and much more besides.

As I left and went to my car, I realized with a bit of suprise...I'd just talked to a fan. Of me. And my writing.

Cool.

It hit me then what one of my biggest desires for this writing thing I do is. I'm pretty pragmatic about the money side of it; though there is money to be made in writing, few live off it totally, and even those that do, it takes a really long time to get there. (Unless your initials are JK or SK). I want to be market-savvy and have a solid business mind when it comes to that end of it, but in the end, if I only ever draw enough cash every now and then to say it actually impacts the budget - say, it helps pay for groceries, gas, or day care - I'd be pretty satisfied.

However, what I really want - what all writers want - is to be read. We want to have chat forums where all our fans log on religiously, open fan email, read reviews of our work on Amazon, or bump into someone at the supermarket and have them ask, "When and where is your next story coming out, and how can I get it?"  We want readers hanging on our every blog and and email newsletter, and just...well... fans. No rabid fan club like Stephen King or J.K. Rowlings, just a collection of well-read folks themselves who say, "I can't wait to read what you write next."

Now, I've run into a few folks on the street who've said that about my column. This, really, was the first time someone said it about my WORK.

So there. Small Press, Large Press, ABA, CBA....a little bit o' money, a lot o'money, (although, honestly - who's going to say 'no' to a lot 'o money, right?), in the end, I just want a few things:

1. something to show for my work
2. respectability and credibility as a writer, and in my publisher from a literary standpoint, (and yes, mainstream....because again, who cares otherwise?)
3. most of all....fans.

'Nuff said.

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My Creative Writing MA Thesis, Part I
Category: Writing and Poetry

Part I

As part of my Masters in Creative Writing at Binghamton University, I'm required to submit and present a thesis that's either a publishable novel manuscript, collection of short stories, or poetry. My last semester of school, I'll register with a professor of my choice, and we'll work on the thing all semester - a lot like working with an editor from a publishing house.

Because my "novel" was going nowhere, and I felt I needed to concentrate on short stories simply because I had problems actually "ending" stories, I opted for the short story collection.  I wanted to divorce myself from dreams of making it big as a novelist, and just concentrate on the craft itself.

After my first year and half of grad school, I've essentially got my "collection" complete, in draft form, at least. This is a real plus, because many of my fellow grad students, (who are honestly still twenty-something and undecided about their futures), are right in the MIDDLE of their thesis semesters, and aren't even DONE with a draft  version. My hope is to have this thing drafted several times (and no doubt changed) by the time I register for my Thesis semester (probably Fall 2009).

Here's the thing: short story collections are funny animals, and in some ways I'm divided about what I should do. I'd love to say that by 2009, I'll have popped the cork on either of my two novel ideas, I'll have a modicum of fame, (maybe recognition is a better word), so that a collection of my shorts might actually be something someone would want. 

If all continues to go well at the Press & Sun, (our local city paper, whom I write for), by Fall 2009 I'll have 2-3 years continual exposure, and I imagine even if I do just publish a collection of shorts through a small press, (should any want it), I'll do decently locally - probably better than my recent signing, because this time ALL the stories will be mine, and of more interest to folks.

Still, I'm concerned. On one hand, I'm just looking at the whole thing as the coolest thesis project ever; how many grad students can say their thesis consisted of drafting a collection of short stories? On the other hand, lately I've become more and more "concerned", I guess, about how I brand myself - not so much genre-wise, I'm actually seeking no brand at all in that area - in regards to whom I submit to and work with. 

End of Part I

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Short Story Collection and my MA Thesis, Part II
Category: Writing and Poetry

Part Two:

I've reached the point where I've decided to target much better/higher paying/more visiable anthologies and magazines, simply because it will raise my game a little. I'm not ashamed of the places I've submitted previously, I just want it very apparent that I'm charting some sort of path, and that this path continually leads - or at least points - upward and onward, and not in the same, static direction.

So I feel the same way about publishing a collection of shorts through a small press, when no one really knows me. Maybe it's my ultimate destiny to only ever publish through small press houses; and really: teaching college English at the local community college, writing for the Press & Sun Bulletin, and publishing a few things through a small press would be a very fine life.

However, I don't want to sell myself short. I want to aim for the big boys; the top level publishers, the big dogs. I plan on sending my novel manuscripts to the big boys only, until I'm either buried in rejection slips, or a dove descends upon my shoulder and a loud voice proclaims from the heavens, "Thou Shalt Publish in Small Press Only, and Thou Shalt Be Happy."

Qualifier:  by Small Press, I mean REAL small press - like the kinds found in the Writer's Market, and are Preditor & Editor Approved - not POD outfits claiming to be so.

I'd love to say my collection will be marketable to the big boys, and I AM trying for that - instead of just a collection, I'm aiming for a "Novel-in-stories" about a small, haunted town in the Adirondacks; ergo, Sunnydale and the Hellmouth of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame, without the slayer. However, the novel-in-stories thing is GOING to be tough for a newbie like me to pull off.

My languishing novel projects, tentively titled "The Autumn People", "All The Pretty Girls, Lined Up in A Row", and my sorta-thought-out teen novel, "Of Fairie Tales and Shadow", are all going to the big boys, at least initially, or I'll shop them to agents (And yes - I expect to get rejected 1000's of times. Comes with the gig).

Will publishing a short story collection just once through a small press hurt their chances, because it'd be charting a path that might dominate my future forever, (Once you start down the small press path, forever will it dominate your destiny!), or if I do it just once, would it be considered just another rung along the way...especially if I'm VERY careful about whom I work with?

I'd love your thoughts, thanks!

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Short Story in Shroud Magazine’s "Abominations"
Category: Writing and Poetry

Yes. Color me happy; very happy.
My short story, "The Water God of Clarke Street", has been accepted into Shroud Magazine’s Abominations anthology.


In many ways, this came on the perfect day.
This is a nice one; probably the best since Coach’s Midnight Diner last year - exactly one year ago this month.


eerie. spooky.


Anyway, Shroud Magazine recently featured a story by Michael Laimo and an interview with Brian Keene, so I figure that’s pretty cool company!

Kevin Lucia
www. kevinlucia. net

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Reviews, and I’m Interviewed by University Newspaper
Category: Writing and Poetry

First of all, this week’s reviews:

This week’s Press & Sun Bulletin reviews: "The Cracked Throne" and "The Vacant Throne", by Joshua Palmatier
. Visit his myspace and add him: http://www. myspace. com/joshuapalmatier.


Secondly, I was really blown away when the Binghamton University Newspaper, Pipe Dream, sent someone to cover my signing at Barnes & Noble.In some ways, that’s just as cool as getting into the Press & Sun - that reaches a lot of people.

The only quibble I had was his mistaken description of Coach’s Midnight Diner as being "inspirational"; that was the Tyndale anthology, Life Savors....but no biggie.

Here’s the interview.

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Revisions for Short Story Requested
Category: Writing and Poetry

Abberant Dreams has requested revisions of my contemporary fairy tale, "Brianna May and the Wonderful, Horrible Water Sprite". They pay three cents a word, and an acceptance here would be awesome, because as we all know....

getting paid for writing = happiness!

So, your warm fuzzy thoughts are appreciated.


Kevin Lucia
www. kevinlucia. net

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