Help with a question please ?

Lady_of_the_Lake · Oct 23, 2006

Hi to everyone,

I have a question .. I'm a newbie ( yes I've checked in at the newbie desk

).

This writing process is very new to me and I am learning the ropes and trade .. so assume I don't know anything because I don't!

I have been chattin in the Romance thread to discover with some fine help there that I really needed to be over in Fantasy ...

My question ... In romance the RWA is what many join .. is there a specific group for Fantasy writers who has a list of recognized traditional
publishers for Fantasy writers ?? What is the advantage of joining this kind
of group ?? I have read that the RITA is an award that romance writers covet .. what of Fantasy writers ... ??

Would appreciate any feedback .. thanks
Lady_of_the_Lake
Melody

HorrorWriter · Oct 23, 2006

Melody,
Hi and welcome. You may want to check out sfwa.com. It will give you information about the group and such. You have to make bona fide sales before you can join. Good luck. Just my 2 cents: Concentrate on the writing before you consider any groups.

waylander · Oct 23, 2006

HorrorWriter said:
Melody,
Hi and welcome. You may want to check out sfwa.com. It will give you information about the group and such. You have to make bona fide sales before you can join. Good luck. Just my 2 cents: Concentrate on the writing before you consider any groups.

Bona fide sales at a high level - which is pretty challenging

Lady_of_the_Lake · Oct 23, 2006

Hi

Hi there,

Thanks for the hello ...

Yes I have to agree .. concentrate on the writing first ...

Finding this forum was truly a boon .. there is so much wonderful
information here and great people too.

I'm not so concerned about joining a group yet as I am about
learning the ropes and getting the basics of writing ...

your both horror writers ??
Whats the parameters for a horror novel ?? just curious ...

Anyways its great to meet you .. thanks for the advice ...
Melody

waylander · Oct 23, 2006

I'm mainly a fantasy writer, at novel length at least.
The main parameter for a horror novel is that it is desperately hard to sell one. Call it dark fantasy, psychological thriller, whatever but don't call it horror.

BardSkye · Oct 24, 2006

Hi, Lady of the Lake!

Lots of newbies on the boards here and lots of us who were newbies not so long ago, so you'll fit right in. Perhaps try reading through the "Writing with Uncle Jim" thread in the novel writing section. You'll never find another source that will teach you so much so pleasantly.

And the grand people on the boards all over the site will help you make the best of anything you write if you're willing to listen to them.

Misty_Blue · Oct 24, 2006

Hi Melody!

That's a good question and one I wouldn't even have thought of asking! I'm also delving into a fantasy project for my first 'novel' attempt, so if you need to throw any questions, ideas around i'll be willing help! Good luck!

Lady_of_the_Lake · Oct 25, 2006

Hi to everyone

Thanks so much for replying ....

Horrorwriter wrote : concentrate on writing before you consider any groups. ( sorry I don't have the hang of quoting yet

).
~ I won't call it horror waylander - thanks

This is very valid .. as I had said in another thread over in Paranormal Romance .. it had just seemed the more I read here .. the more it seemed as if writing something was more tailored towards a specific genre, then audience, then publisher in order to successfully write ...

Though I think this is a big part of it .. I don't think now that that is the case and like you all have wonderfully said here .. JUST WRITE!

I will definately read through 'writing with Uncle Jim' thank you for pointing me in that direction Bardskye .. there is just so much on this board a girl could easily get completely lost !

Forgive me if I sometimes ask a question ( which I will do often

) that seems obvious or redundant ...

In real time I am a mother of 3 boys ( one who is Autistic ) and my focus gets caught up with
the overworked mini-van super mom syndrome ....

Misty_Blue ..

I am so glad to meet you and I too would love to bounce ideas and things ... don't hesitate to pop off a question or idea too or to just chat .. just don't ask me to critique anything .. I am the last person you want to critique anything because I am so new at this it would be an injustice to you

....

Thank you all for taking the time to discuss this with me ...

I have another question ... what books do you think ... in your genre's are the best ' written ' books .. not just story lines but sentence structure, pace, ect.... ??

Just curious ..

thats me ...

Have a wonderful day all
Lady_of_the_Lake
Melody

yanallefish · Oct 25, 2006

advice?

Hi Lady (wow, I never got the chance to say that before

)

Let me see if I have this straight: you were in the Romance link and decided you should be in here... Ok, but you could combine the genres (haha, not like it's never been done before)!

I too would suggest reading "Uncle Jim's" (because he knows a lot about writing). And checking out sfwa - though what you might want to do even more is go to The Black Hole site. (http://critters.critique.org/critters/blackholes/) It appears to be down for the moment, but it's a market listing for sf/fantasy/horror writers. Has links to the various places - and if you follow the links in there, you can see how varied the requests/demands/needs of editors are (which is useful information, especially if you're just starting out).

Otherwise, start scribbling. See what comes into your head/out on paper. We're here for ya if you have questions. For what it's worth (not much*g*) I write sf/fantasy AND horror (ok bad horror most of the time). Parameters are slightly different among/between those genres, but there are a lot of magazines out there that will accept all or a combination of these.

Ask questions. Lots of questions.

Oh yeah, and did I already say sit down and write?

Good luck!

Lady_of_the_Lake · Oct 26, 2006

Hi Yannallefish

( I can honestly say I've never gotten to say that before too

LOL )

Thanks so much for the info and advice .. !! Will do .. most assuredly.
By all means I will ask LOTS of questions ..

Wish you also the best of luck in all you do ...

Lady_of_the_Lake
Melody

dragonjax · Oct 26, 2006

Definitely aspire to SFWA. Good connections, at the very least.

One of the best things to do, in my humble opinion, is start getting some short fiction published -- even if it's only for exposure -- to start building your writing resume.

HorrorWriter · Oct 26, 2006

Lady,
I write mostly horror but I write in other genres as well. I place the label on myself as sort of a joke because that's what the industry does. I am writer...period. A true writer can write anything. I have written an action/drama screenplay, short stories, poems, and a children's picture book. I write the stories I like and then other folks can slap me into one of their categories. I am currently querying my dark urban fantasy series. As far as horror goes, it's what scares you at your core. It's not the gory stuff, it's the stuff that makes you leave the light on then check your closets and under the bed!

LeeFlower · Oct 26, 2006

Just a note-- it's actually http://sfwa.org . The .com site is unrelated (something about boats).

Help with a question please ?

Lady_of_the_Lake

HorrorWriter

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Lady_of_the_Lake

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

BardSkye

Barbershoppin' Harmony Whore

Misty_Blue

Lady_of_the_Lake

yanallefish

Lady_of_the_Lake

dragonjax

I write stuff and break boards.

HorrorWriter

It's a new dawn. It's a new day.

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire