While working on the Clarity of Night ebook I had informed Jason Evans that I would forego the "Uncovered" Contest. Soon entries started rolling in and I started reading them. Next I was making comments and thinking about some of my favorites. I think you know what's next ...
I submitted a story called Stratagems: Polonium-210. I'm not sure whether it can be categorized as Science Fiction but I sure did have fun writing it. As usual, I tried to pack as much into the story as I could. Who says a complicated plot can't fit into a 250-word story? I know, I know ... that's not part of the scoring system. Of course the biggest reason I entered is so I could vote!
Good luck to my fellow writers. There's nothing better than using a photograph as a writing prompt to spark the imagination.
On a different note, check out Mona's review of Mark C. Durfee's book, Stink: Poetry and Prose of Detroit . And if you haven't read it yet, there's a review of my chapbook "Adopted Behaviors" at decomP.
13 comments:
Thank you for that Jim. I appreciate all that you do for this community.
I would enjoy entering some more of these contests, but I'm already doing so much blog reading and posting during the day that I just couldn't add the extra work.
Well done. I have been tempted to try my hand, but haven't written much fiction - mostly just manuals and research reports. Might have to give it a go though...
Hey Dan, with your technical background you could do a Tom-Clancy-Like flash fiction story.
JR-I could not enter such a contest to save my soul but I admire you and others who do! Keep up the good work!
Congratulations on the book and review, JR. "Adopted Behaviors" is awesome and worthy of applause. I also enjoyed your contest story.
I am dewy-eyed over my lack of skill as a reviewer when I read the incomparable Spencer Dew.You did a good job. He did a good job.
Ivan, I'm starting to wonder whether the "bravado" is too much, whether it has become an adopted behavior in my writing. As for Mr. Dew, he did a great job because his review has generated a self-assessment on my part.
I have read somewhere that when you're a freelance writer, you never, ever doubt yourself. Certainly your writing ability.
As for a moral stance, well, that's something else. Take William Burroughs.
There are days when I think he'd make it with a chicken....But the writing, brilliant.
Oh, but I am not a freelancer, I'm a convict teacher who happens to write now and then. Maybe I should try a different genre; how about romance?
As I've said, I really liked The Triggerman and hkis Accomplice in your chapbook, ADOPTED BEHAVIORS.
Write about childhood?
Over here, I've had a really bad one, thank God.
My Black Icon was partially about childhood. Itwas, by Canadian standerds, somehing of a best seller.... and it looks like now, forty years later, there is still a demand for the book, even though it is long out of print.
Gotta get to a print shop, as my old publishers have all but abandened me.
But for me, when it come to childhood stories, I found Dylan Thomas' radio play, Under Milk Wood to be boss of this kind of reminiscence.
Ivan, maybe you should do a "reprint" the ebook way. Or have you already done that?
Loved the stratagems story, hon. Short & evilly sweet. ;)
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