Philippine Genre Stories Calls for Christmas-Themed Fiction
I'm afraid I'm running a bit late on updating the blogroll, but I hope next weekend will leave me more time for that...
I'm a few days late spreading the word about this too - an event like this is best announced as early as possible!
Philippine Genre Stories is planning a Christmas theme for its December 2007 issue, and is looking for contributors. Excerpted from their official announcement:
Send us a Christmas-themed genre story for the 2007 Yuletide season. Consider it a challenge to write a horror, crime, suspense, humor, fantasy, alternate-history, sci-fi, speculative, ghost, romance, or mystery tale around the Yuletide season. Just to put some additional seed to thought: how would you weave the usual traditions we see, hear, and experience around Christmas into a genre story? You can use the holiday setting and place a crime in a department store at the height of Christmas rush for a detective story, for example, or you can even turn this on its head and place the crime in Santa's workshop ("Ho Ho...Hey! Who stole all the toys?") where the Detective who has to solve it is some diminutive, smart-aleck elf, or perhaps some sentient P.I. doll. Or how about: what would zombies eat for noche buena?Time to start thinking Christmas, and start working on your submission/s for this special issue! PS: Added a favicon: the Philippine flag, in honor of Philippine Independence Day. My younger sister, the artist, said the scrolling text is tacky. But I'm kind of getting used to it, so unless I find a compelling number of objections, I'm keeping it :P So... does the favicon scrolling text disturb you? Does it make your day? Is it just "okay"? Speak your mind!
Submit to Clarkesworld Magazine
Filipino and/or Philippines-based spec fic writers should feel free to submit their stories in electronic format to international publications. The Internet is a wonderful tool - and I kind of wish local publications would use it more.
I posted about Strange Horizons a few months earlier... now here's another US-based magazine to add to the list.
Clarkesworld Magazine is an online venue and chapbook series for short works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Each month, Clarkesworld will publish two pieces of fiction, one solicited from an author with one or more books published, and one chosen from the rolling open call for submissions below. CFS: Call For Submissions, Clarkesworld Magazine Clarkesworld Magazine pays 10¢ a word for works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. We have a firm word limit of 4000 words. Please do not query about word lengths. We will not consider stories longer than 4000 words. We claim first world electronic rights, first print rights for the production of signed/numbered limited edition chapbooks (author must be willing to sign 100+ chapbooks), and non-exclusive anthology rights. Stories must be:For more information, see the submission guidelines at the Clarkesworld Magazine official website. A very talented friend is looking forward to having one of her stories printed there very soon! I'm just not sure I'm authorized to say who it is, as she is rather shy :P Not to worry, all will be revealed come the time. She does, however, encourage other Filipino spec fic writers to submit!Science fiction need not be "hard" SF, but rigor is appreciated. Fantasy can be folkloric, medieval, contemporary, surreal, etc. Horror can be supernatural or psychological, so long as it is frightening. There are no barriers as to levels of profanity, gore, or sexuality allowed, but high amounts of profanity, gore, and sexuality are generally used poorly. Be sure to use them well if you do use them.
- Well-written. Language is important. If your story is only a story because you didn't have the funds to produce and direct a short film or a sufficiently large live audience for the telling of a fanciful anecdote, then I don't want to see it. There is no distinction between "style" and "substance" or "story" and "writing" — stories are made out of words. If your story isn't worth reading as a collection of words, sentences, and paragraphs, it isn't worth experiencing in story form.
- Convenient for on-screen reading. Very long paragraphs or typographical trickery may work against you.
About the LitCritters
Discussions on Philippine speculative literature are by no means confined to Metro Manila. If you're interested in participating in a workshop on writing held outside of Manila, take a look at the workshops offered by the LitCritters.
The LitCritters is a small reading and writing group based in Manila, as well as in Dumaguete. Every week, we read and discuss several pieces of short fiction from various genres from different writers with the goal of expanding our reading horizons, improving our ability to critique, and learning how to write from the good texts. In addition to speculative fiction, we read Philippine literature in English, as well as world literature. Once in a blue moon, we are requested to conduct writing workshops (such as our recent 3-weekend stint at A Different Bookstore), and are planning to hold a more formal one, maybe next summer, as schedules and realities of life permit. For those who'd like to join us, we recommend participating in one of the workshops, or signing up for the LitCritter mailing list (which is basically me sending the readings once a week). We also accept the occasional sit-in (when we conduct sessions in restos or cafes). If you'd like to be on the mailing list or want to sit in on one of our sessions, email me at deanalfar(at)gmail(dot)com.check out this post by Dean Alfar for more details.
Submit to Philippine Genre Stories
It's always great to see more entrants to the local fiction market. Spec fic writers who are interested in getting published may wish to check out Philippine Genre Stories.
The following introductory info was taken from their submission guidelines.
We are looking for a few good stories. Ones that catch a reader's attention and captivate them so much that they lose sense of time and place in the real world because you, the writer, have drawn them to other times and places, ones of your own creation. We are a small publishing firm based in Manila, Philippines, and we hope to receive well-written, quality stories. Set them anywhere: in the Philippines, in another country (real or imagined), on the moon, under the sea, in outer space, anywhere. Populate them with characters of your own creation. And tell the story you want to tell! This does not mean we will only accept contributions from Filipino writers, by the by. We are looking for good stories. Well-written ones, in fact. As far as we know, good stories can be told by anyone no matter who you are. Another thing. We are looking for genre stories. Fantasy, science-fiction, speculative, crime, mystery, detective, horror, suspense. You can write and submit a very commercial, action-packed, plot-driven story, or a light, funny, and humorous one, or a very moody, artsy tale packed with lyrical prose and a lot of characterization, symbolism, irony, and what have you. Just make sure your story will fall into any of the above genres. And make them good and well-written. We can’t say that enough.Read more here. They already have two issues out, and they're still accepting contributions! As soon as I finish something that's somehow worth reading, I might try submitting :P
Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah the Musical
A post reviewing this landmark fantasy work is long overdue. In the meantime, here's a heads up on the hit musical based on the comic book, for those who haven't seen it yet.
Via missingpoints:
Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal (based on the award winning graphic novel by Carlo Vergara) has performed to sold out houses at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and garnered rave reviews from both critics and the public alike. Now for its third (and reportedly final) run, Zsa Zsa will once again battle giant frogs, rampaging zombies and power-tripping extra-terrestrial Amazons, this time at the heart of the Makati CBD. KEY DETAILS: Show Date: June 15 to July 1, 2007 Venue: Carlos P. Auditorium (RCBC Plaza), Makati City Cast: ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH: Eula Valdes / K Brosas ADA: Tuxqs Rutaquio / Vincent de Jesus DIDI: Nar Cabico DODONG: Arnold Reyes / Lauren Novero / Janvier Daily QUEEN FEMINA SUARESTELLAR BAROUX: Kalila Aguilos AMAZONISTAS: Wilma Doesnt, Deeda Barreto, Mayen Estañero, Skyzx Labastilla / Wenah Nagales (Swing) ALING BRITNEY: Mia Bolaños ITAY ZOMBIE: Jerald Napoles TAUMBAYAN/ZOMBIES: Wenah Nagales, Catherine Racsag, Joann Co, Mia Bolaños, Tamara Cabaero Bong Cabrera, Carlon Matobato, Red Nuestro, Paolo Rodriguez, Leo Ponseca, Amihan Ruiz I've choice seats for opening night, June 15 (Friday) and June 22 (Friday). Text 0926-702-8495 for reservation or more details. Ticket prices: Orchestra Center: P800 Loge: P800 Orchestra Side: P700 Balcony: P500 Please feel free to pass the word to people who might be interested. =)
Celebrating the 11th Philippine Book Development Month
plugging, one post at a time!
the first announcement is from Tin Mandigma of the Manila-based Read or Die Book Club:
The National Book Development Board in cooperation with the Filipinas Heritage Library and Bookmark Inc. are celebrating the 11th Philippine Book Development Month with the theme "Love Your Books." Focal activities include "Portrait of the City Exhibit and Tour: The Literary Imagination and The City We Live In" along with a special series of discussion panels and storytelling sessions. A tentative schedule of activities can be found here. Love your books! Show your support for the 11th Philippine Book Development Month by putting this logo in your blog or website.Or something more compact:
Round Robins on My Mind
I've been thinking about round robins for a while now... not really so much how to start one as who might be interested in participating and what kind of market might exist for it.
It strikes me as an excellent idea for an anthology - start up a world, invite people to contribute stories about that world, edit meticulously, then publish. Continuity is a must, and constant collaboration is a given.
But what are the odds that an idea like this could take off?
This rant was brought to you by a stray advertisement in a certain Filipino message board about a forum-based roleplay. The roleplay is based on a popular MMORPG, the name of which i forget right now (it's not Ragnarok, I'm sure of that), and to all intents and purposes it's just a fun thing to do.
It resembles a round robin at least in that it follows a moderator-imposed storyline, but the installments are done from different points of view. There's no final output to be compiled, no "project" to be accomplished - people with similar interests just get together and have fun.
But what if you could put it together into something. What if you could create a round robin that could be patched together into something publishable, much like Robert Lynn Asprin's Thieves' World, and the Myth and Phule series? Say you could assign authors to specific delivery dates, and they could come up with stories based on a world you all could build together? Wouldn't it be both fun and challenging for all concerned?
Well, more challenging than fun, I suppose, but I still think it's worth looking into. A couple of questions go with this... (more…)
Meme: 11 things I will strive my best never to put in a fantasy novel
Note: So sorry for the lack of responses... time has not been my friend. Will get back to everyone as soon as I can!
I found this meme while trolling around Livejournal. Limyaael is the Net handle of an expert fantasy book reviewer and writer extraordinaire, and she made a rather interesting list herself, which is here.
After Limyaael made the list, someone suggested that she make a story out of it just for fun, which she did, and it turned out to be absolutely brilliant. I just have to link it here: The Gates of the Moon
I thought about my own answers, and did this meme myself. I don't have it in me to write a story with these elements yet, but it would certainly be great if other people made a story out of their lists too, just for the laughs.
It would also be a great way to find out if there's a pattern to the things Filipinos have grown tired of in the spec fic that they read.
...However, truth be told i'm not conscious about the things i want to write, so i definitely see myself betraying this list from time to time.
Eleven things I will strive my best never to put in a fantasy novel unless I am trying to undermine them, and in fact could do without entirely from now on, thanks.
- Side characters who'll have enormous significance in the first part of the story (i.e. recruiting the protagonist, getting the protagonist pregnant, etc) then not having a suitable resolution made out for them. For the rest of the story they're just... hanging around.
- Magic schools that suspiciously resemble Hogwarts.
- GLBTQ characters suffering a needlessly gruesome death. Because seriously, Orson Scott Card.
- Extraordinarily powerful yet weak-willed and whiny protagonists who cycle between being bitchslapped, adored, and rescued.
- (in science fiction) Serums that instantaneously change the members of ONE species into ANOTHER species, with an entirely different biological makeup and mode of social consciousness. And the best part is, the effect is reversible! *coughretroviruscough*
- Reluctant child/teen heroes. Especially those who angst liberally about having to save the world while so young.
- Instant fixes to worlds/cities that have experienced massive destruction. Wave your hand and it's aaaall back to normal!
- Plain and simple lack of cultural and ideological diversity.
- Characters gifted with such "otherworldly beauty" that everyone, including the protagonist/s, ends up having a crush on them. Then they have a doomed relationship with one of the side characters and die.
- Unlimited but destructible power sources. Such as a big rock that is supposed to be the source of all evil in the universe.
- "...and then she woke up."
Dungeons, Dragons, Kapres and Tikbalangs: Local Folklore as Launchpad for Speculative Fiction
Recently, I had a brief conversation with an online friend in Russia about spec fic. The conversation was sparked by her mentioning that in Russia, fiction that involves vampires, werewolves and other creatures from foreign mythology, is still considered somewhat inferior to realist fiction - one of the reasons being, readers are expected to have trouble relating to supernatural characters.
This revived my interest in Russian speculative fiction, as I've never really thought that Russia's literary evolution could run parallel to ours in some aspects. Since I was little I've encountered Russian fantasy and science fiction translated into English in various SFF anthologies; obviously Russia entered the global literary market much earlier than we did, started with the SFF awards earlier, and has had a much more competitive publishing industry.
(Speaking of awards, I also learned from Dean Alfar today that the future fiction category of the Palanca awards will be gone next year! Naku next year pa naman ako unang sasali, paano na ako hihirit? Heheh. But that's a whole new rant for another day.) (more…)
Update on Tropics of Love, Feedback on Unmasked Winners, and Some Blog Resolutions
For those interested in participating in Quatre Gats Press' Tropics of Love anthology - yes, LBGTQ fiction is welcome :)Set your imaginations loose!
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Congratulations to the winners of the 1st Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards!
Some interesting reviews have been made about the winners, among which are Dean Alfar's, Banzai Cat's [ 1 ] [ 2 ] and Charles Tan's. Not having read all the winning entries myself, I'm loath to give out my personal opinion. But I believe everyone should be free to impart his/her opinions, and civilized discussion should always be welcome.
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Have added a bunch of links to the sidebar, specifically to the Philippines-based SFF Fandom Groups section. All links should be active. Do check them out! And if anyone has any new links, please give me a holler.
Have also decided to post at least one essay a week on this blog. Starting tomorrow, which is a Friday by my timezone. No really, I promise!
Also, should really be updating the design of this blog soon...