Thursday, January 28, 2010

Some useful industry links for Spec Fic Writers

















Cover and blurb for the first book of my new fantasy series, King Rolen's Kin. Cover art by Clint Langley. Kudos to Clint for making the character look suitably brooding and menacing. Clint is working on book two right now. Can't wait to see the cover!

Meanwhile, I had an email today from a writer who has been mentored by the lovely Louise Cusack. Bernadette, (Hi there!), was asking about the Speculative Fiction writing scene in Australia. So I thought I'd post some useful links here, where it is easy for people to find them.


Aurealis Awards

It's a good idea to keep up with what is winning awards and being shortlisted.

Locus

This is full of professional industry news.

ASIF

Lots of info on Australian Speculative Fiction.

Australian Horror Writers Association

Amazingly, this is for writers of horror.

Australian Spec Fic News

Again, slanted towards Aussie genre writer. When anthologies open for submissions you can hear about it here.

World SF Convention, Melbourne 2010

Australia hasn't had a World SF Con since 1999, before that it was 1985, and 1975. Don't miss this one.

Australian Writers and Market Place

You can subscribe online to this and keep up with the markets, for short stories and books. Agents, manuscript appraisers, festivals and more.

Ralan

This site has info on all sorts of international markets with response times.

Predators and Editors

If you want to know if an agent, publisher, manuscript appraiser etc are legitimate, this is the site for you.


Who is going to the World SF Con in Melbourne in September? I've already paid my membership.


13 comments:

Thoraiya said...

I must have been to all those links cos they are black and I can't see them :D

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Gahhh!

The link is there, but the wording has gone black. I don't know what's going on, Thoraiya.

I'll go back into the edit page and see if I can fix it.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Fixed it, Thoraiya.

I had to write the post all over again!

Anonymous said...

Links for ASif and Australian Spec Fic News aren't working.

I'm undecided about going to the con. Have to weight up the pros and cons and so far, the cons are slightly heavier... :(

Cheers, Lisa.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

The links are working now. Thanks for pointing this out, Lisa.

Are you far from Melbourne?

Since it is a once every 10 year event for Australia, you could apply for a Professional Development Grant from one of the arts bodies.

Ask for a letter of support from a published writer to say how useful attending the Convention would be for your writing, eg.attending panels, hearing authors and editors talk, networking, workshops (if there are some) etc.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Love the cover art Rowena. Congratulations!

And thanks for the links.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thanks, Eleni.

KRK is 'straight' fantasy, in that it isn't romance, but there is a love story. Two love stories in fact!

One is about unrequited love and one is about a love that drives a character to action.

I find love is a great motivator.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Definitely agree with you Rowena in regards to love being a great motivator. Sounds great. Wishing you the best luck with it.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thanks Eleni,

It's always scary when your book is published. At least I find it is. It's like sending your baby out there for the world to see. And you wonder if anyone will buy a copy.

Thoraiya said...

I will be sending my baby out for the world to see...that is, she will have her chubby little arms wrapped around my legs as I attempt to navigate Worldcon, and she screams if she doesn't get to try on people's hats. Your baby looks quiet and rather relaxing in comparison ;)

So I'll see you in Melbourne, and do me a favour, don't bring any hats ;)

Thanks for fixing the links :)

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Thoraiya,

Here's hoping a publisher falls in love with your baby!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the links all in one place Rowena. Yes, I'm intending to go to NatCon.

Rowena Cory Daniells said...

Hi Rita,

Everyone on the VISION list who is going to World Con should make a time and place to meet up for drinks!

When I went to World Con in Glasgow I went alone and there were over 3000 people. There must have 15 Australians that I knew there. I just kept running into them in the main concourse, so I didn't feel lonely.