Have you ever had one of those moments in the middle of winter when you think, I need to get out of here?
Have you ever had one of those moments when you’ve read a story about someone just picking up a bag, grabbing their ID, and heading to an airport because they’re ready for an adventure, and who cares if they planned ahead and thought, me next, please?
Wonder why I’m bringing this up?
I’ll let you know in a week or so how it went. When this post goes live, husband and I will be in an airplane.
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks
I’m on track, and had a couple of breakthroughs with the minor characters this week. One of the things about having a teen character in a queer YA these days is it’s possible for them to begin the story already out, and it’s possible for them to have a group of out queer friends, and a support network in their school.
That’s the route I’ve taken with Exit Plans, and I’m happy about that.
So the cast of characters around Cole include two queer teen girls (one bi, one lesbian), a teen genderqueer, a gay teen boy, Cole (my narrator and also a gay teen boy), and Cole’s best friend, who is ace. I’m still waffling over whether he’s ace/aro, or ace, and I’ve been reading like mad about the experiences ace folk have in common (or unique stories of ace individuals), as well as a tonne of “I hate it when non-Ace people do this,” posts, and I’ve already lined up a beta reader, and I’ve got my ace friends in the loop and…and…and…
Well, you get it. Doesn’t make me less nervous, but I want these characters—even if they’re “just” supporting characters—to be solid.
After all, it pisses me off when queer guys are written inauthentically, so the last thing I want to do is punch down.
Of Echoes Born / Short Pieces
Had another idea for another short fiction piece, which is good. I may try writing on the plane (we’ll see—often that makes me feel woogy and ill), but depending on how many hours on a plane this is, I’m likely to go bonkers if I don’t write, so.
Open Calls for Submission
On Writing Wednesday I try to include my list off all the various open calls for submission I’ve found and/or am trying to write for. If you know of any others, by all means do drop them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list. If this is helpful for people other than myself, it’s even better.
Totals: I have stalled out a bit this month. While in January I did well: 6 submissions (4 reprints, 2 new), 1 acceptance; in February I’m still only at: 1 submission (1 new).
- Chicken Soup for the Soul – Various titles, various themes, various deadlines, 1,200 word count limit.
- Clarkesworld – Currently open for art, non-fiction, and short story submissions.
- Cast of Wonders – Young adult short fiction market, open to story submissions up to 6,000 words.
- MM Superpowers anthology – This isn’t the only thing open at Totally Bound (you can click through for the full list), but this is the one I’m eyeing; deadline February 28th, 2017; 10k-15k word count limit, with erotic content.
- Wet Summer Nights – White collar/blue collar, cross-town, wrong side of the tracks lovers theme; Mischief Corner Books; 10k-18k word count; deadline March 31st, 2017.
- A Fool For You -Tales of Tricksters; Less than Three Press; 10k-20k word count; deadline March 31st, 2017.
- Alice Unbound – Think Alice in Wonderland, only speculative and may embrace fabulist, weird, myth, SF, fantasy, steampunk, horror, etc. Exile Editions; Submission window: February 1st – May 31st, 2017; 2k – 5k word count limit; Canadians and ex-pat Canadians only.
'Nathan Burgoine 