My Boskone Schedule

Not much longer to wait for one of my favorite conventions ever. Boskone holds a special place in my heart because it was my first con, a con I’ve always shared with my husband and some of our extended family, and a con where I feel like I know so many people. Looking at my panels, I’m really excited to get to have conversations with these smart and talented SFF people, and I cannot wait to devour panels morning-to-night.

I’ll be bringing a copy of Shimmer 2017 (in which my story “The Moon, The Sun, and the Truth” appears, among many other superb works) to give away to one lucky reading attendee. Please come! I’ll be reading something new! (/suppresses a satisfied cackle)

Where and when you ask? Oh. Here.

 

AIs and the Female Image
Format: Panel
16 Feb 2018, Friday 14:00 – 15:00, Marina 3 (Westin)
When it comes to AIs wearing mechanical bodies, until recently, many “female” AIs were all about gorgeousness and sexuality. Now some portrayals emphasize strength and intelligence. Can you do both? How well do these creations represent women, metaphorically or realistically? How does the representation of “male” AIs differ?
Victoria Sandbrook (M), Catherine Asaro, Christine Taylor-Butler, Laurence Raphael Brothers, John P. Murphy
Angels in Speculative Fiction
Format: Panel
16 Feb 2018, Friday 15:00 – 16:00, Marina 4 (Westin)
Angels in fantasy, science fiction, and horror aren’t always what you might expect. There are the ones that behave, well, angelically, and the fallen angels — but also bad-tempered angels, angels from advanced civilizations, and more. What attracts writers (and readers) to this motif? What common themes, like redemption or the Fall, recur? Are there novel ways to write an angel?
Bob Kuhn (M), Alexander Jablokov, Victoria Sandbrook, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Walt Williams
Feminist Fairy Tales
Format: Panel
17 Feb 2018, Saturday 10:00 – 11:00, Burroughs (Westin)
Women frequently serve as the main characters of fairy tales. (Why, by the way?) It’s hard not to notice they’re often presented as victims, or the subjects of a lesson learned. Do any tales instead offer strong female role models? What can modern feminist perspectives contribute when considering stories from so long ago and/or far away?
Jane Yolen, Victoria Sandbrook, Andrea Corbin, Julia Rios, E.J. Stevens

Reading by Victoria Sandbrook
Format: Reading
17 Feb 2018, Saturday 11:00 – 11:30, Independence (Westin)

Women Who Write Science Fiction
Format: Panel
18 Feb 2018, Sunday 12:00 – 13:00, Marina 3 (Westin)
Mary Shelley, Leigh Brackett, Ursula K. Le Guin, Connie Willis, N. K. Jemisin —  women have been in the thick of writing science fiction for a very long time. Let’s discuss some of their landmark publications that captured our imagination. Why do we love these stories? What works should we look for the next time we’re browsing the shelves?
Victoria Sandbrook (M), LJ Cohen, Catherine Asaro, Erin Roberts, Marianna Martin PhD

My Arisia 2018 Schedule

It’s January and that means Arisia is here! It’s here! I’ve got panels on three of the four days and I hope you’ll consider stopping in for some great conversation.

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading
Adams Sat 10:00 AM

Morven Westfield, Victoria Sandbrook, LJ Cohen, Larissa Glasser, Julie C. Day, Dianna Sanchez, Randee Dawn, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Anna Erishkigal, Heather Albano

Description Come discover your new favorite writer as members of Broad Universe read short excerpts from their work. Each writer has just a few minutes to show you what she’s capable of! We offer chocolate and the chance to win prizes. Broad Universe is an international organization that supports women writers, editors, and publishers.

Mosaic – PoC & Ally Meet Up
Otis Sat 2:30 PM

Victoria Sandbrook, Benjamin Chicka, Diana Hsu

Come hang out with people of color and allies in a welcoming and inclusive space! Chat about the con and make new friends. Discuss ways fandom (including Arisia) can work to be more actively inclusive of fans of all backgrounds. If so inclined, talk about what can be done at Arisia to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.

Fantasy that Speculates
Marina 2 Sat 5:30 PM

James Hailer (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Ruthanna Emrys, Victoria “V.E.” Schwab, Debra Doyle

Fantasy lands such as Westeros or Stillness, with their dramatic variations in climate or seismic activity, provide a fertile ground for speculation within the story. The Stillness plans ahead and takes these factors into account; Westeros does not. Why? This panel will discuss speculation in fantasy, which stories are more speculative, and how fantasy can extrapolate from its premise.

You Got Your Science in My Magic
Marina 2 Sun 11:30am

Ken Gale (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Andrea Corbin, Roy Kilgard, Gwendolyn Clare

We often talk about science fiction, realism, and fantasy as separate things, but the genre borders are awfully fuzzy. In stories, what does magic look like in a modern setting? We’ll explore what happens when science collides with magic, especially when that magic isn’t rule-based, and books or movies where magic and non-handwavy science work together.

In Praise of Villainesses and Antiheroines
Marina 2 Sun 5:30 PM

Henry M. White (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Hillary Monahan, Tom Deady, Gwendolyn Clare

We love villains. We love compelling, break-out, has a point villains and badass antiheroes who look cool and say cool one liners. The problem is, the list of those compelling bad (and sort of bad) guys are all… guys. Those femme-of-center villains and antiheroes that do appear often find themselves in the love-to-hate, rather than the hate-to-love. Our panelists will be exploring compelling villainesses and why they deserve more appreciation than they often receive.

Disney’s Second Renaissance
Burroughs Mon 11:30 AM

Heather Urbanski (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Hilary L. Hertzoff, David Olsen, Hanna Lee Rubin Abramowitz

From 1989-1999, The Walt Disney Company experienced a period of creative resurgence known as the Disney Renaissance; *The Little Mermaid*, *Beauty and the Beast*, and *The Lion King* were artistic and financial wins for a studio coming out of a long slump. Recently, *Frozen*, *Moana* and others have led some to declare that the company is in the middle of a new success streak. We’ll discuss what we’ve seen in the past few years from this animation powerhouse, and look ahead to what’s to come.

2017 in Review; 2018 in Preview

If my writing life were corporate America, someone from HR would be sitting down with me and my boss and reviewing my metrics with a tense smile and platitudes about getting back on track.

Thank God my writing life isn’t corporate America.

Because honestly, does it really matter that I was about 36,000 words shy of the random number I thought I could hit? Am I less of a writer because I was two new works shy of what I wanted to write this year?

No.

Not one bit.

I’m not saying that goals don’t matter. I’m not saying that pushing myself doesn’t matter or that I have no room for improvement (excuse me while I vomit at that phrase) or that I’m going to write-off objective metrics for 2018.

But I am saying the sum of what I’ve one this year can’t be characterize by what I didn’t do. That 36k, those two short stories: writing crap just to hit them wouldn’t have done me any good. Not spending time with my loved ones during two painful family illnesses and subsequent funerals wouldn’t have made me a better writer. Letting my kid watch another 36 hours of TV instead of reading or playing together wouldn’t have been worth it just for a “HOORAY LOOK WHAT I DID” blog post and ephemeral back-pats.

So how would I characterize my successes this year? Let’s see.

I wrote when I was furious, grief-striken, exhausted, depressed, sick, migraine-ridden, afraid, and sad. And I did it because I had work to do, a story to tell, something of myself to give.

I wrote when I didn’t want to write, when I only wanted the reassurance of having written, when I didn’t know why I was writing. And I did it because some days you know you need to sit your butt in your chair and do the work even when it feels like work.

And sometimes I didn’t write. Because I sat down and there were no words to give. Because I was consumed by research. Because I didn’t want to. Because I had obligations away from my computer. Because I was lost or exhausted. And most of my zero-days were worth it in the end, because they gave me space, context, and fuel (be it a better idea or the angry energy to just pound out words).

I wrote happy things, sad things, scared things, scary things. I put parts of myself on the page that I wouldn’t talk about outside fiction. I tried new forms and pushed my craft with new elements of all sorts. I entered friendly contests. I sought out new readers and new sources of critique. I submitted to markets big and small. I got rejected everywhere, sometimes with the most wonderful and inspiring comments about my work to see me off. I cried about a rejection this year–THAT was new. And I survived it.

I think that’s one of the most important things any of us can say about this last year: that we survived.

But I did more than that, didn’t I? I worked. I wrote. I wrote more than I’ve ever written in one year. I wrote better than I’ve ever written. I took the risks I set out to take and then some. And that’s what makes a writer.

Here’s what I want my 2018 in words to look like. Sure: I want to wrap the year with at least one new novel drafted, revised, and out in the world. I want new stories in my stable. I want a whole host of other’s books in my have-been-read pile. But really, I want to wrap the year confident that I didn’t dither away my precious writing hours. I want to wrap the year confident that I’ve grown. And I know that’s doable.

So, for whatever it’s worth, here’s the breakdown by numbers and bullets. Do with it what you will. Just promise that you’ll think the same way about what you’ve accomplished this year. Because you’re worth way more than your numbers, too.

My Year in Words
PART 1: Personal Accomplishments

• Words written: 164,495
• New works completed:
  • 1 novel drafted
  • 1 novella (drafted, revised, submitted)
  • 6 short stories (drafted, revised submitted)
• Other works:
  • 1 novel critiqued, revised, and queried
  • 6 additional short stories started
• Submissions to Paying Markets: 76 (8 outstanding)
• Books Read: 30 (ok, I’m finishing one today; hold me to it)

PART 2: Extrinsic Accomplishments

• Sales and publications: 2 (Shimmer and Cast of Wonders)
• Non-paying reprint: 1 (inclusion in Event Horizon 2017, the anthology for Campbell Award-eligible writers)
• Rejections: 64 total; 45 forms, 19 personal & higher-tier
• PLUS
  • Moderated and participated on two panels at conventions
  • First reading!
  • First review of my work
  • First story podcasted
  • 50th lifetime rejection (current tally: 98)
  • First-place in my division of a Codex Contest (for the novella; still blown away  by this btw)

 

2018 in Preview
Because I like having metrics, even when I don’t/can’t meet them

• Words written: 200,000
• New works to complete: 12
• Books read: 30

November Writing Round-Up, plus Award Eligibility

Happy past and impending holidays! This year has been….Alright it’s only December 1, so I don’t have to write a year-end post yet, right? Good. This won’t be that.

This past month has been a challenge. I struggled with feels after rejections. I fought through more rounds of preschool grunge. I got just enough good news and found time with friends to keep me sane. I may not be on-track to sweep my goals for the year, but HOLY HECK I’ve accomplished a lot.

Two of the things I’ve accomplished include two lovely stories out in the real world. If you’re looking for works to nominate for any of the various writing awards, I’d be honored–of course–to have your consideration. “The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth” ran in Shimmer‘s July/August Issue 38. “Phalium arium ssp anams” aired as Cast of Wonders‘s episode 256, also in July. This is also my second year of eligibility for the Campbell Award.

With no further ado, here’s how this month stacked up for words.

• Words Written: 10,276  (YTD: 153,199 | 2017 Goal: 200,000+)
• Works Complete: 0 (YTD: 8 | 2017 Goal: 10)
• Submissions to Paying Markets: 3 (YTD: 79)
• Books Read: 2 (YTD: 26| 2017 Goal: 30)
• PLUS
  • Short Story Rejections: 2 (1 personal).
  • Two of my stories are officially in editors’ hold piles. Yay!
  • Querying agents is hard. There will eventually be a whole post about this.
  • I finished Part 1 of my new novel. I like it so far (that’s not always a given).
  • I wrote 15 reviews for Publishers Weekly this year and I’m really proud of them.
  • I’m on programming for both Arisia and Boskone! More on that soon!

On Small Failures and Getting Back Up Again: A Sept + Oct Writing Round-Up

WELL. After almost two years of yammering about my writing goals, I actually forgot to write up my progress against my goals for the year until it was a few days into October. Things have been understandably crazy: my kid started part-time daycare in September; we’ve survived a few rounds of requisite “grunge” and “spikey death” that comes with exposure to bipedal germ factories and fall weather; and I’ve been querying agents with The Botanizer.

Not posting last month’s round-up is a great example of the many, many little things that have gone, are going, and will go wrong in my life. The accumulation of these little failures eats away at me. Add forgetting something like this–that I actually enjoy–to the trickle of rejections for my novel and for my short fiction, to the uphill battle of my immune system, to the ridiculous lack of sleep I’m getting thanks to my FOMO kid, and I start feeling really lost. No wonder my word count has been so low, two months running. I can’t just pass it off to “drafting is hard after revising for so long!” I’ve been in a gross, confusing, frustrating place with myself for two months running. And it’s hard to admit that all of those things piles up and affects my work, but really it does.

But here’s the thing I see as I look back. I kept at it. I sat my butt in the chair and I tried. No, I didn’t draft an entire novel in two months. No I never got to the end of Part 1 much less the rest of it. But I am working. And I like what I’m working on. And I’ve kept my short fiction on submission and I’ve kept at the querying. This is what it takes to be a writer and a mom and a wife and a sane person of my own making.

There’s a lot to celebrate after two months in a mire of life’s making. I can’t say I’m really out of it yet, but I’m going to take my wins anyway.

While I’m not doing #NaNoWriMo–I started this new novel back in September so that technically DQs me–I am definitely going to take part in the cheering and will take heart in all of the encouragement and excitement flowing as part of it. I have numbers in mind, goals I’d like to hit, but what I’ll really be glad of is getting to December and knowing I did my best with the hand I got dealt.

For anyone interested here’s where I stand on my goals for the year.

• Words Written: YTD: 143,419 | 2017 Goal: 200,000+
• Works Complete: YTD: 8 | 2017 Goal: 10
• Short Fiction Submissions to Paying Markets: YTD: 72 | Lifetime: 94
  • I’ll probably hit my 100th submission this year; my 100th rejection will probably come through in the new year.
  • Note that this does not count querying stats, which I’ll only share after that process has wrapped, whatever the result.
• Books Read: YTD: 24 | 2017 Goal: 30

August Writing Round-Up

Hey, guess what. That book I’ve been writing for almost three years? Yeah that one? Yeah I finished it. (Somewhere in the peanut gallery, someone shouts, “Again?!” To which I reply: “ITSTHEFOURTHDRAFTTHISISWRITINGHUSH.”)

It has been a highly consistent month of writing–I was either revising or writing all but four days this month–and it shows. The novel revision is done. The novella revision is so close. I got a new story out this month. And though the wins never come quite often enough to beat the brain weasels back entirely, I’ve been reminded again and again that friends and family help beat back the rest. The successes this month, the ending on a high note: that’s because I put the work in and because when it didn’t make enough of a difference I had good people there to remind me that I put the work in. So if you were one of those people, thank you.

• Words Written: 4,281  (YTD: 116,508 | 2017 Goal: 200,000+) Concerned that this bullet has been low for months? Yeah, me too, but that’s only because I’ve been revising and bumbling about with flash. Just wait till I start the next novel.
• Works Complete: 1 (YTD: 8 | 2017 Goal: 10)
• Submissions to Paying Markets: 6 (YTD: 58)
• Books Read: 3 (YTD: 16 | 2017 Goal: 30)
• PLUS
  • My story “The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth” over at Shimmer has gotten some great reviews (links on my bibliography page!)
  • 7 rejections this month, with 2 gut-wrenching, celebrate-the-honorable-loss personals
  • This is big so I need to say it again: I FINISHED REVISING THE BOTANZIER!
  • I started revising my friendly-contest-among-pros-winning novella and it’s…really guys, it’s good. I can’t wait to share it.
  • Still fundraising read a bit more here.
  • Days I’ve written/revised this month: 27/31 (Does another victory lap)
  • Days written since the inauguration: 150/222
  • Longest streak: 31 days (SO CLOSE)

So what’s on the docket for next month? Botanizer-related stuff that I’ll share in one big post (or maybe a series) at some point; sending out the novella to a few sensitivity and beta readers; and starting the next big project. I’ll keep you posted!

“The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth”–on SHIMMER for Free!

I’ve announced many places, but wanted to make sure I’d updated my WordPress followers too: you can now read “The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth” on Shimmer‘s website for free!

I’m very lucky to have had some nice feedback from reviewers and am always open to conversations about my work here or on Facebook or on Twitter.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

July Writing Round-Up

Where did this month go?! I spend one weekend away and it all disappears out from underneath me.

I feel like I spent all month working on two chapters because, really, that’s what happened. But then I look a everything else I accomplished (*cough* skip to days written *cough*) and I feel a bit better.

• Words Written: 4,417  (YTD: 112,227 | 2017 Goal: 200,000+)
• Works Complete: 1 (YTD: 7 | 2017 Goal: 10)
• Submissions to Paying Markets: 10 (YTD: 52)
• Books Read: 1 (YTD: 13 | 2017 Goal: 30)
• PLUS
  • Two of my stories published this month: one in Shimmer and one on Cast of Wonders.
  • I have not submitted my new thing. I think it’s complete, but we’ll see; I want to sit on it some more. I started two other short stories but they’re definitely not ready to be submitted!
  • 9 rejections this month, all forms.
  • I applied for two grants!
  • Botanizer is more than half-revised. I’m working through the last 50k (or so). I think I’m going to get to the end of this and not know what to do with myself.
  • So that weekend away: I spent it running base camp for an amazing fundraising hike that I’ve participated in for 9 years now. You can read a bit more here.
  • Days I’ve written/revised this month: 27/31 (WOOT! I did my job this month and had my butt in my chair!)
  • Days written since the inauguration: 123/191
  • Longest streak: 31 days (SO CLOSE)

Story Published! “Phalium arium ssp. anams” on CAST OF WONDERS

How lucky am I that I get to write up two of these posts so close together?! 

My flash story, “Phalium arium ssp. anams,” went live on Cast of Wonders over the weekend. I love this production and I am so proud to be an officially podcasted writer thanks to the Escape Artists family.

Of course, it’s also brilliant that Cast of Wonders snagged Leigh Wallace‘s artwork for the episode cover. You’ll hear more of it if you listen and can read more about the back-story there on my sale post.

I hope you’ll consider giving this a listen!

Story Published! “The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth” in SHIMMER #38

Isn’t this beautiful? Weird, wonderful, strange, and awesome? Well it’s the cover for Shimmer Number 38, and my story–“The Moon, the Sun, and the Truth”–is one of four stories in its digital pages.

I am really proud of this particular story for many reasons. It gets at the heart of some of my political anxieties. It was one of the first flash pieces I’ve attempted–and then got longer upon revision. It appears in a magazine that I absolutely love and respect. And it’s just…well fun for me in many ways.

You can read the story now, today, this very minute by purchasing the issue or a subscription. If you do this, you’ll also get to read a short interview by each of the authors in the issue. Shimmer does release its stories online over the course of two months so you can read my story in August if you prefer to go that route. The choice is yours.

I’d also like to shout-out to TOC-mate Andrea Corbin, a fellow member of the Boston Speculative Writing Group (BSpec!) and an all around awesome person. I’m honored to share a cover with your name and our fellow 38ers 🙂

I can’t wait to hear what you guys think!