Just a few rambling thoughts on whats coming up for 2012. Below I've made up a 'wish list' of publications I plan on submitting to. It's up to the gods of the writing world to decide if the stories and poems make it.
Shards of the Minds Eye…….Best Served Cold Vol 2.……June 15, 2012. Can be finished last but looks like it might end up finishing first. I wrote this story 15 years ago but was vastly different in concept. Originally the story was written with a three part novella premise in mind. I had finished two of the novellas and almost a third but the story went nowhere but in rambling mode. Another idea was to publish the trio via Kindle but I went ahead and decided against it and shelved the concept before the idea of adding zombies had a better appeal to strengthen the storyline. The concept of zombies is an interesting one but with all the B level movies and vast numbers of novels and short stories flooding the market on the subject I had to add other realistic elements which will be discussed later. Also the title might change but have to find a better suited one. Also I like Rune Wright and its one reason I'm going to submit this story here. Its a small press but it's an incredible publication and one of my personal favorites.
Borders…..Shotgun Honey….November, 2011 or 2012. Need to take my time with this one to assure publication. I’ve been shot down in flames multiple times with this publication and rightfully so. Believe me writing a 700 word complete story from start to ending is about as difficult as writing a novel. There are times I should just write a novel, it would be a hellava lot easier. This one deals with a pair of German Shepards and a home invasion and how quickly the tables turn.
Steam Punk storyline…………Penny Dreads Vol 2.…January 15. Have to submit this story sometime before the end of December and hopefully it gets accepted. I’ve been slowly writing this one since May/June and most of it is written but I’ve yet to come up with any proper title. Also I'm rewriting the geographical location of the story itself. Originally had the setting in New Mexico but decided to place it in Africa. I think this will keep in time with the pulps of old.
Border Noir Story…………Vao Publishing….Feb 1, 2012. Least in priority. I would want to write a story for this one but time is short and I have no real plausible ideas. I’ve gone through all the slush piles in my drawers and boxes and found a few stories that could be salvaged but would need a serious rework for any chance. The story idea is of revenge and a couple of DEA agents on a drug bust.
Jornada del Muerto (Dead Man's Journey)…..Dead Rush Anthology/Wicked East…..Feb 28
th, 2012. Found this anthology online and just had to submit to it. Its got a cool cover and represents what goes on in a writers mind. I’ve got a working draft in progress and several pages already written. This story looks to flow pretty good so we’ll see where it goes.
Hero’s Bullet………Fresh Ground Coffee anthology………Aug 2012. This one is for a flash fiction anthology. Flash fiction is normally about 500 words to 1500 words. Hero’s Bullet was originally submitted to Shotgun Honey but was rejected. I found plausible merit to salvage it and rewrite it in third person instead of first with added material to make it coherent. Getting rejected is nothing new and is an acceptable way to better ones writing skill and story making. There are stories that constantly get rejected but eventually find homes. When I wrote “Cold Hearts” it was rejected by Dirty Noir. I believed it would’ve made it there at first but after reviewing the story I saw why. It had too much to fit in under a thousand words. I rewrote and expanded it and Rune Wright took it for their Best Served Cold Anthology Vol 1.
Diesel Punk………Twit publishing…….April, 30 2012. An interesting idea formed about a couple years ago and I started some notes on ideas and directions for a short story involving the Battle of Stalingrad and a serial killer.
Sci-Fi Storyline............Tales of the Talisman..........July 1, 2012. Not sure on what to submit here. I do have several rough drafts of storys but would need serious rework. The idea is there and I would like to submit here but we will see what happens.
Humanity's End........Spectacle 2012 End of the World Anthology. Due on or by Decedmber 1st 2011. I hammered out a 3000 word short story for this project and currently in the rewrite stages. I estimate the story will average about 2500 words. The idea of writing an end of the world themed story is fun. This one is about nuclear war and the last thirty minutes or so of humanity's exsistance and what they will be doing if the end was near.
Science Fiction Trails............2012. I was not going to submit anything here again for lack of ideas but, as always, an idea hit me and I decided to write a follow up story to 'End of Trails' with the main character Bill Benslow hired to save a scientists nephew from the hands of wanted outlaws. The outlaws are holding the nephew for ransom and the price?....we'll have to wait and see how the story shapes up. Right now about 3000 words written.
Dead Run......Static Movement Press........Undead Space Anthology. I have to quit looking around but ran across this anthology and it fits perfectly with one of my rough drafts about zombies in space. I wrote the original with a Philip K Dick style of twist at the end.
Finally...well we'll see what happens. I got the opening for a short story/novella and an outline handed over to me after I asked for it. I can't say who or what the story is about at this time but it might be something or amount to nothing but a writing exercise. I pounded out six pages of rough draft already upon receiving it but I have to research a few things. Stay tuned...
Poetry…….
The Raleigh Review and the Atlantic……2012. I’ve been wanting to get my foot in the door with these magazines. With the Atlantic I was rejected eight times and have the rejection slips somewhere around here. I’ve been working on a handful of pieces which I believe out weigh all the other materials I sent in to them years ago. I believe I have a real shot at getting in.
Novels.......
Curently reworking the hardboiled detective stories set in Albuquerque from first person to third. I beleive this will give the story a greater depth.
