Bikes in SPACE!

If you’re looking for a fun writing prompt, check out the call for submissions for “Bikes in Space!” They’re looking for flash science fiction with a bike theme–two of my favorite things! I’ve already gotten my story mostly written, which means I’m good for January’s story. Plus speaking of bikes, I’ve gotten 5 miles down for the year so far. I know, I know, but I expect to pick up more when the weather is nicer…HA! That’s clearly an excuse, because it’s been in the mid-seventies all week, such beautiful weather. Makes putting up with the Texas summers worth it.

Also, I got to visit the Luminarium that was touring through Austin recently, and it was the coolest thing ever. It’s like half bouncy castle, half stain-glassed cathedral. The colors were so vibrant, and the structure was organic and welcoming, like being inside of a space station, or being a microscopic being in the human body…both great Sci-fi tropes, so it was doubly great. Seriously, I want to live there. I highly recommend it if it comes your way!

Keeping Up With The Creative Joneses

Photo by Pedro Lozano, Creative Commons

The New Year Challenges are settling in nicely. So far I’ve dusted off my bike and aired up my tires, I’ve signed up for an online Japanese class, I got a sitar tutorial DVD for Christmas, I’ve run another chapter of Matter-Groove through my critique group, and I’ve even started to contemplate which novel I would like to read this year…no pressure, but it’s got to be a good one. (Suggestions are welcome!) I’ve tentatively got my eye on WorldCon, and since it’s in San Antonio this year, really it’s too close not to go, plus I’ve got a story in Rick Klaw’s Rayguns Over Texas anthology, which will be released at the Con. Go ahead, click the link and see the great company I’m keeping these days.

Speaking of great company, the husband of a friend and crit group partner of mine is doing a film on Jay Lake entitled Lakeside. Of the writers that I admire, Jake Lake is up at the top of the list. Dude is prolific. And because of his openness, approachability and desire to pay it forward, he’s also at the top of an even shorter list of the people I admire for being good people. There’s a kickstarter project to help fund the unexpected costs of the film, and it looks like they’re well on their way, so drop by and kick in and join in a more than worthy cause.

Another friend of mine, Sylvia Spruck Wrigley, is also doing a crowd-funding project to help writers track their online submissions. It’s called Submitomancy, and in addition to housing information about great fiction markets, it’s also promising some social features which sounds exciting. I have no doubt that Sylvia is capable of pulling this off, because on top of being brilliant, she’s also dedicated to her writing, enough so that she went on a tour of the sewer system as research for her novel. Now that’s dedication!

Did someone mention great fiction markets? The Drabblecast, of which yours truly is the managing editor, has upped its pay rate to three cents a word and has extended its story length upper limit to 4000 words. Reprints or originals, so spread the word and send us your weird!

And last but not least, Alex Shvartsman (yet another writer friend of mine…they must be replicating themselves while I’m not looking) has released Unidentified Funny Objects, a collection of humorous science fiction and fantasy, featuring writers like Mike Resnick, Ken Liu, Jennifer Pelland, and K.G. Jewell. Good for more than a few laughs, I’m sure.

So basically it sounds like everyone is knee-deep in their creative endeavors, and the new year has just begun!

The Year of Semi-Insane, Moderately Ridiculous, and Somewhat Nonsensical Challenges

Photo by woodleywonderworks, Creative Commons

There comes a time in every young writer’s life when she must bear down and spew forth copious amounts of figurative fruit from her literary loins. She must hurdle the boundaries of sanity, embrace the ridiculous, and flirt with the nonsensical–all for the sake of her craft. She must rip rawness and truth from the rich, black earth and devour it hand over fist until her bowels are filled to the brim with Art!

Unfortunately (or fortunately), now is not that time for me. Life has got me in a serious time crunch, so I’ve had to scale down my challenges for the upcoming year quite a bit. They’re manageable, but I still hope that they’ll be enough to keep life interesting. Anyway, without further ado, my challenges for the year 2013!

1. Finish the two partial novels I have in progress

2. Write one short story per month

3. Eat a vegetable I have grown with my own hands

4. Learn to play a decent raga on my sitar

5. Ride my bike 1000 miles (stationary bike counts)

6. Learn to speak Japanese

7. Finish reading a novel (for fun)

8. Attend two Cons

9. Try to grow my hair out

10. Strive to live a minimalist lifestyle

Uhg, yes. No Nanowrimo and no trying to write a bazillion short stories in a month. And finishing reading one measly novel will be cause for celebration. I feel like I’m on the slippery slope to sanity as I write this. I really hope this doesn’t mean I’m turning into a Normal.