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May. 16th, 2007 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jmward14In fact, if you aren't in the mood for a little cranky, you might want to leave right now.
A little cranky. I can't complain about life in general. Not when I'm wrestling with plot bunnies--or in this case, plot bonobos wearing baseball caps of invisibility--for My Big Fat Olympian Wedding From Hell. But all the ducks Denny Crain hasn't shot seem to be nibbling the parts not wrestling with over-sexed pygmy chimps.
First, I don't know whether to be worried about Duzell the Wonder Cat. In the way cats do, he's just missed the litter box twice in three days--almost like a guy who overshoots the rim. Since the litter box is downstairs, and he's still burying his solids, I'm hoping he's merely decided to get finicky about the litter. Even so, it's a nuisance, and I've called the vet, just in case. Duzie never ate any of the contaminated pet foods, so the problem should be, um, general pissy-ness on his part. But I'm a Virgo. Worrying is part of the job description.
Second, I'm really disappointed in the Compton Crook Award. I'd hoped to submit With Nine You Get Vanyr for consideration in the 2008 awards. I thought it met the qualifications. It was a first novel for bothqnotku and me. It should be just the ticket.
Just received word they don't accept collaborations. Wha? I can understand that if the collaboration is between an experienced author and a newbie. You wouldn't want to judge a book written with Anne McCaffrey or John Ringo as a first effort. But when the book was written by two newbies who planned to write as a unit indefinitely? That's just not fair.
I know, I probably should rejoice. My first solo novel will be infinitely better than my first effort. I know so much more than I did when qnotku and I wrote Vanyr--not only about writing but also about the peculiar prejudices of contest judges. (Yes, I include myself in the peculiar part of that number.) There is an art to contest submission, and the longer I work it, the better I'll design my books to win.
But the ban against all collaborations is flat-out unfair. It's unfair toqnotku who will never have a book to call entirely her own. With Nine You Get Vanyr and Highway from Hell were both written in collaboration. Even if hundakleptisis finishes They Shoot Fairy Godmothers Don't They for her, it will still be a collaboration, which won't qualify. Under this scenario, qnotku's freaking genius for comedy and dialogue will never, ever get the recognition it deserves.
It's also unfair to the other submitting writers. It's like the bad old days before the better micro presses were recognized by Romance Writers of America. For many years it was impossible for even the good small electronic and electronic-to-print publishers to meet RWA's sales requirements. That meant writers working for good small presses with professional editing were eligible to compete in the Golden Heart (RWA's big unpublished writers contest) against people just starting out.
With Nine You Get Vanyr has all the joy and love inherent in first novels, but I sincerely hope it's not the best novel I ever write.qnotku and I never planned it to be. It was merely the best book we could write at the time. It should be allowed to rise or fall against others of its tribe, not dismissed on a quirk which sets up a less than level playing field for future competition.
*insert grim laughter here* You know, the whole thing seems so very Red State--give the goods to them that has. And I'm just ornery enough to object to something that gives me a leg up...to someone else's detriment.
A little cranky. I can't complain about life in general. Not when I'm wrestling with plot bunnies--or in this case, plot bonobos wearing baseball caps of invisibility--for My Big Fat Olympian Wedding From Hell. But all the ducks Denny Crain hasn't shot seem to be nibbling the parts not wrestling with over-sexed pygmy chimps.
First, I don't know whether to be worried about Duzell the Wonder Cat. In the way cats do, he's just missed the litter box twice in three days--almost like a guy who overshoots the rim. Since the litter box is downstairs, and he's still burying his solids, I'm hoping he's merely decided to get finicky about the litter. Even so, it's a nuisance, and I've called the vet, just in case. Duzie never ate any of the contaminated pet foods, so the problem should be, um, general pissy-ness on his part. But I'm a Virgo. Worrying is part of the job description.
Second, I'm really disappointed in the Compton Crook Award. I'd hoped to submit With Nine You Get Vanyr for consideration in the 2008 awards. I thought it met the qualifications. It was a first novel for both
qnotku and me. It should be just the ticket.Just received word they don't accept collaborations. Wha? I can understand that if the collaboration is between an experienced author and a newbie. You wouldn't want to judge a book written with Anne McCaffrey or John Ringo as a first effort. But when the book was written by two newbies who planned to write as a unit indefinitely? That's just not fair.
I know, I probably should rejoice. My first solo novel will be infinitely better than my first effort. I know so much more than I did when qnotku and I wrote Vanyr--not only about writing but also about the peculiar prejudices of contest judges. (Yes, I include myself in the peculiar part of that number.) There is an art to contest submission, and the longer I work it, the better I'll design my books to win.
But the ban against all collaborations is flat-out unfair. It's unfair to
qnotku who will never have a book to call entirely her own. With Nine You Get Vanyr and Highway from Hell were both written in collaboration. Even if hundakleptisis finishes They Shoot Fairy Godmothers Don't They for her, it will still be a collaboration, which won't qualify. Under this scenario, qnotku's freaking genius for comedy and dialogue will never, ever get the recognition it deserves.It's also unfair to the other submitting writers. It's like the bad old days before the better micro presses were recognized by Romance Writers of America. For many years it was impossible for even the good small electronic and electronic-to-print publishers to meet RWA's sales requirements. That meant writers working for good small presses with professional editing were eligible to compete in the Golden Heart (RWA's big unpublished writers contest) against people just starting out.
With Nine You Get Vanyr has all the joy and love inherent in first novels, but I sincerely hope it's not the best novel I ever write.
qnotku and I never planned it to be. It was merely the best book we could write at the time. It should be allowed to rise or fall against others of its tribe, not dismissed on a quirk which sets up a less than level playing field for future competition.*insert grim laughter here* You know, the whole thing seems so very Red State--give the goods to them that has. And I'm just ornery enough to object to something that gives me a leg up...to someone else's detriment.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 08:10 pm (UTC)Why not suggest to the contest to have a collab category? there are plenty of collabs that use a pen name, and they might not be that careful on their screening and actually let them in.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 08:20 pm (UTC)Alas, the Compton Crook has only one category. But the rules and their application can be strange. One of the books that finaled this year is not, in fact, the author's first solo book. It's her fourth. But the others were self-published, so the Baltimore Science Fiction Society chose to declare No. 4, her first book issued by a small press, a first book for competition purposes. Go fig.
Hugs,
Jean Marie
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 08:22 pm (UTC)However, this reminds me...
I'm having a little bit of trouble getting the book through the little independent bookstore I work at...is it possible to send you paypal and just get it directly? Do you have any copies for sale? I really don't want to order it from Amazon, though it does appear to be available there...so I'll do that as my last resort. Let me know, when you have a sec...no rush, of course. Worry about it another day...you should be worrying about finding a nice dinner and dessert after what sounds like a blech day. :(
(p.s. I've had a helluva week and so I'm just commenting instead of tracking back and checking websites and stuff...sorry, forgive my laziness!).
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 08:42 pm (UTC)Sorry about the lousy week! Hope it improves soon.
There have been persistent problems related to VANYR's distribution to the Borders Group as well as interested indies. Quietselkie had major trouble ordering for her store, and my local Borders and Waldenbooks literally tied themselves in knots getting stock. (I don't live near an indie that stocks sf/fantasy, but the managers at both stores have been almost as good. So good, I literally have to thank them with chocolate. :-))
The distribution problems are the main reason I've been so aggressive about entering the book into contests. If the book doesn't make it to the shelves, all possibility of an impulse buy flies out the window. Finalling in a contest provides some promo--and some assurance to prospective readers the book is worth seeking out.
The distribution problems appear to be related to Samhain's status as a small press publisher. They moved into a different category on April 2, but by that time most of the stores gave up on ordering VANYR.
I can send the new ordering instructions if your bookstore wants to try that route. According to my local Borders, they work, and it's probably the cheapest way to get the book.
Alternately, we could do PayPal thing. My PayPal account is my jmward14 Yahoo addy. Just let me know.
Hugs,
Jean Marie
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 09:12 pm (UTC)Re Duzie, it may be nothing to worry about, but in our experience it might be wise to get him checked over.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 09:28 pm (UTC)The vet just called back. He wants to see Duzie on Monday if there aren't any more near misses, sooner if there are. Fingers crossed that the problem, whatever it is, is easily resolved. We love our little monster.
Hugs,
Jean Marie
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 10:28 pm (UTC)A couple of our cats occasionaly do what Duzie's been doing. It's probably nothing to worry about. And if there is a problem, I suspect it will be easily manageable.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-16 11:33 pm (UTC)I find it hard to believe the intent was to discriminate against newbies writing as a unit. I suspect the intent was to prevent pro/am partnerships from being treated as first novels--which is a legitimate concern. However, after twenty-five years, I doubt if anyone's around who can speak to the original intent.
I suspect you're right with respect to the cat. Even kids have accidents and colds. For all we know his kidneys could be reacting to Greg's latest adventures in grilling or the cream he's been mooching lately. I figure the important thing is he's making it downstairs to the litter box area.
Hopeful hugs,
Jean Marie
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 02:15 am (UTC)*sticks tongue out at stupid award people and give them a raspberry*
{{{{{{{{{{{JM}}}}}}}}}}}
And I hope Duzie is doing okay. My bet would be on getting finicky about the litter box.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 02:28 am (UTC)As I told hutch0, I suspect the original intention was to prevent first-time novelists from competing against pro/am combinations. But the way it's being interpreted is to disallow collaborations of two authors who would both qualify individually. The irony is my third published book will qualify as my first under the Baltimore Science Fiction Society's rules. Go fig.
Fingers crossed on Duzie. At least the doctor said he'd see Duz Thursday night if he "misses" tonight or tomorrow. If he hits the box we'll wait until Monday.
Hugs,
Jean Marie