tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post2262226864991453903..comments2024-03-29T07:25:04.687-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: One More Time, From the TopLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-72523491536773018932017-10-23T08:19:35.277-04:002017-10-23T08:19:35.277-04:00Thanks for sharing your journey, Michael. I enjoy ...Thanks for sharing your journey, Michael. I enjoy articles where successful authors divulge facts and numbers.Catherine Diltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772088568954159017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-72743939651313578562017-10-23T05:31:54.969-04:002017-10-23T05:31:54.969-04:00That's a really interesting piece for me in pa...That's a really interesting piece for me in particular, because I only started submitting stories 18 month ago, when I was heading for 60. Conscious of the time factor, I went single-mindedly for 'market-first, and have sold thirty plus stories since. But I'm now looking at 'write-first', because these days there are a limited number of high paying markets in any single genre. My one advantage was that I subverted - I sold a number of stories which had direct or peripheral connections, even though they were fine as standalones. So I managed to get a linked collection out this Autumn, which effectively paid twice. Cheating, perhaps. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.John Linwood Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11163230653466419847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89461032703224238572017-10-22T15:49:49.285-04:002017-10-22T15:49:49.285-04:00Yes, Andrew, that's me. Fanzines (and being a ...Yes, Andrew, that's me. Fanzines (and being a fanzine publisher) played a big role in my becoming a professional writer, just as it did for many writers of my generation and the generations before me. I'm not certain how large a role fanzines play in the careers of newer writers, or if things like blogs and group blogs (like SleuthSayers) have supplanted that role.<br /><br />Bryce and Alison: I have done a small amount of self-publishing, making previously published work and a few pieces of never-before-publshed work available for Kindle, but most of my work is traditionally published. You can find much of it on Amazon by visiting my Amazon page:<br />https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Bracken/e/B004L867YU/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1508701597&sr=1-2-ent<br /><br />And you can find even more under the Amazon page for my pseudonym Rolinda Hay:<br />https://www.amazon.com/Rolinda-Hay/e/B0058A83LA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1508701623&sr=1-2-ent<br /><br /><br /><br />Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-1629439501764025562017-10-22T14:27:46.598-04:002017-10-22T14:27:46.598-04:00Gosh, I remember him from an earlier incarnation a...Gosh, I remember him from an earlier incarnation as an SF fan. Did a darned good fanzine last century:<br /><br />http://fancyclopedia.org/mike-brackenAndrew Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09303874382474271502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-56072215791781591102017-10-22T14:06:44.710-04:002017-10-22T14:06:44.710-04:00We need a book of your collected stories, Michael!...We need a book of your collected stories, Michael!<br />Alison McMahanhttp://www.alisonmcmahan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-9311892134380311452017-10-22T13:35:32.146-04:002017-10-22T13:35:32.146-04:00Do you think part of your newly-restarted career w...Do you think part of your newly-restarted career will be any kind focus on self-publishing works to which you have gotten back the rights? Or collections of such works?Brycehttp://storyhack.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10073365733074008352017-10-22T13:13:48.171-04:002017-10-22T13:13:48.171-04:00Michael, what an amazing ride you've had publi...Michael, what an amazing ride you've had publishing your short stories. I wish things had remained the same for you, but they never do, do they? It looks as if you will find new ways to stay in the game. All the best of luck to you.Jan Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027877440748580764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-14543755180124214432017-10-22T12:13:07.782-04:002017-10-22T12:13:07.782-04:00Barry: Your comments were a wonderful and pleasant...Barry: Your comments were a wonderful and pleasant surprise. Many years ago, when I was only dreaming of becoming a professional writer, I edited a science fiction fanzine to which you contributed a couple of letters of comment. Though science fiction wasn't the genre in which I ultimately found success, you and many other SF/F writers had a great influence on me directly and indirectly through my contact with you via my fanzine.<br /><br />Jacqueline: At Bouchercon's short story panel, one of the panelists--or it may have been the moderator--noted that Linda Landrigan likes stories that appear to be about one thing but actually turn out to be about something else. My three sales seem to confirm this assessment. All three stories are, on the surface, crime stories. Ultimately, though, all three are variations on love stories: what it's like to lose your lover when you're gay and closeted in small town Texas, how one man copes when he loses the love of his life, and how two people find love (or something like it) in the midst of a crisis. I can't say this can be applied universally, but I know I'm paying more attention to the non-crime elements of my stories than I was previously.<br /><br />Again, thank you to everyone for your comments. I'm hard a t work on my first official post, scheduled for next month.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-56808339256532342412017-10-22T07:33:12.770-04:002017-10-22T07:33:12.770-04:00Michael,
I've been familiar with your work si...Michael,<br /><br />I've been familiar with your work since we were both published in one of the Dreamspell anthologies some years ago and know you are an excellent professional writer. I believe it's gotten more difficult to be published than ever before. Publications come and go more quickly. With the ease of internet submission, more people are submitting work than ever before as well. Love to read your analysis of what AHMM accepts and rejects.Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81474468138121905822017-10-22T00:13:25.828-04:002017-10-22T00:13:25.828-04:00Great stuff, Michael. You've proven what we...Great stuff, Michael. You've proven what we've all known for a long time -- you're the consummate professional. When your world changed, you didn't cry in your beer. You opened a fresh bottle and kept the party going. A tip of the Stetson to you, my friend.Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46903083943750296142017-10-21T22:28:37.479-04:002017-10-21T22:28:37.479-04:00Great words about today's marketplace and your...Great words about today's marketplace and your adaptation. Thanks, Michael, for this guideline.Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-41867062057058601012017-10-21T22:14:00.295-04:002017-10-21T22:14:00.295-04:00The rules of the game aren't what change. It&...The rules of the game aren't what change. It's the game itself that changes, sometimes so quickly, so quietly (you never see an announcement) that you don't even realize.<br /><br />David Mamet's A LIFE IN THE THEATER kind of gets at that. So does Ionesco's BALD SOPRANO.<br /><br />I've sold a few short stories myself over 52 years, enough to have once been considered prolific but your own humility, energy and persistence are an admonition.<br /><br />Barry N. MalzbergBarry N. Malzberghttps://www.baen.com/Interviews/intbmalzbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-20025000237081642112017-10-21T21:31:27.192-04:002017-10-21T21:31:27.192-04:00Your persistence continues to amaze me. I keep hop...Your persistence continues to amaze me. I keep hoping a couple of those "lost" markets will resurface, but not holding my breath. You could always start your own magazine. Just a thought. Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04337958837908666504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-71335099974209997392017-10-21T20:22:43.287-04:002017-10-21T20:22:43.287-04:00Inspirational post, Michael. I totally understand ...Inspirational post, Michael. I totally understand about the career that bites the dust. My non-fiction writing career did that around the year I turned 50. The resource books I had written for years almost became obsolete overnight when people started posting the same information online--for free.<br /><br />I stepped out on a limb that year and published my first mystery novel, and have been writing predominantly fiction ever since. But after eleven years, I'm still struggling and wonder if I made the right decision. But writing fiction is a lot more fun than the NF ever was, so there's that, if nothing else. :-)Bobbi A. Chukran, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678371925926783260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22502180729067045662017-10-21T18:54:03.466-04:002017-10-21T18:54:03.466-04:00Great piece, Michael. As you know, I am an admire...Great piece, Michael. As you know, I am an admirer of "Chase Your Dreams" and the story in SALAD BAR. GLad to have you on board at SS, a pleasure to meet you at Bouchercon! Welcome abouard!<br /><br />Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-25555589904418957452017-10-21T18:12:29.033-04:002017-10-21T18:12:29.033-04:00I apologize for not responding sooner, but I'v...I apologize for not responding sooner, but I've spent my day flying home from a marketing conference in New York City that followed right on the heels of Bouchercon.<br /><br />Thank all y'all for all the kind comments about my post and for the welcomes to SleuthSayers. Temple and I enjoyed meeting many of my fellow SleuthSayers--and so many other writers--in Toronto, and didn't spend near as much time with all of you as I would have liked.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-28449238959175388292017-10-21T12:59:24.289-04:002017-10-21T12:59:24.289-04:00I ditto everything already said here, especially t...I ditto everything already said here, especially the welcomes to the blog, Michael. It was great to meet you and your wife in Toronto. Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-6305136931900380452017-10-21T12:14:30.190-04:002017-10-21T12:14:30.190-04:00Michael, welcome to the SleuthSayers family as a r...Michael, welcome to the SleuthSayers family as a regular. See you again at the Dallas Bouchercon. In the meantime, keep on writin'.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29831249806739408932017-10-21T11:14:33.884-04:002017-10-21T11:14:33.884-04:00This is so much my own experience, Michael. I won...This is so much my own experience, Michael. I won my first crime fiction short story award in 1991. Soon after, I had a contract to write stories monthly for a magazine in the States, at $700 a pop. That magazine has disappeared, and the market has changed such that I don't recognize it. Absolutely, they keep changing the rules!<br />Great to meet you at Bouchercon - and welcome again to our humble gang here.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-23283945612617804932017-10-21T10:58:06.102-04:002017-10-21T10:58:06.102-04:00First of all, it was great to finally meet you in ...First of all, it was great to finally meet you in Toronto. There's a reason you are an Ed Hoch Award recipient, my friend. A lot of us find inspiration in your persistence, your pub rate, and your writing itself. Keep plugging. This is a crazy Calvinball kind of business, the rules seemingly always changing. Sounds like you're adapting nicely.Rick Helmshttp://www.richardhelms.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-79987989344591279392017-10-21T09:47:47.878-04:002017-10-21T09:47:47.878-04:00Good stuff, and I suspect you'll have success ...Good stuff, and I suspect you'll have success with your new approach and plan. In fact, you're already having enviable success!mybillcriderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02350478005243505108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39744744378263485642017-10-21T09:27:03.652-04:002017-10-21T09:27:03.652-04:00Great post, Michael, and welcome to SleuthSayers. ...Great post, Michael, and welcome to SleuthSayers. And your post is both disheartening and encouraging at the same time. I think we're all trying to figure it out as we go and you make a lot of good points to help light the way.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87252847421311127462017-10-21T09:22:15.399-04:002017-10-21T09:22:15.399-04:00Wise words from the master. Glad to have you aboa...Wise words from the master. Glad to have you aboard, Michael.O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10309674800010937052017-10-21T09:05:39.821-04:002017-10-21T09:05:39.821-04:00Fascinating and helpful post, Michael. And I'm...Fascinating and helpful post, Michael. And I'm looking forward to learning more from you now that you'll be joining the line-up regularly.<br /><br />Your comments on repurposing and re-finishing a story are especially intriguing. But it's scary to realize that you sell more stories in an average year than I've even written in my misspent life.<br /><br />Welcome to the club.<br />Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40230326513181741642017-10-21T09:01:21.398-04:002017-10-21T09:01:21.398-04:00Great post, Michael--and an interesting and helpfu...Great post, Michael--and an interesting and helpful followup to your previous column on this subject.<br /><br />Once again, welcome to SleuthSayers!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.com