Good Writing Vs. Good Ideas.

I've always felt true writers are more into quality writing than ideas. That isn't to say ideas aren't equally important, but which one can stand on its own? Turn a wonderful phrase, paint a picture or a series of pictures with words and people will be spellbound. Describe a great idea and people will usually say, "Now what?"

If there's a finer wordsmith in the field than Michael Chabon, I haven't encountered them. His sentences flow with a beauty and an immediacy that is at once delicate and rooted in concrete reality. That's why I read "Manhood for Amateurs," his non-fiction collection of essays, so quickly.

Still in the mood for quality writing in lieu of genre, I jumped over to Tamas Dobozy's "Last Notes and Other Stories," a short story collection from yet another author whose elecric prose leaps off the page.

These are the types of  authors whose work informs mine. Their talent, their observations and, yes, their unwavering honesty are what I shoot for when I write. If my story contains a five-headed monster, it shouldn't feel like something I'm drawing attention to.

Sadly, too many genre authors do just that these days in an apparent fruitless attempt to recapture the Joss Whedon pop culture reference lightning in a bottle.

I'm not finished reading Dobozy's book, but I can already recommend the first two stories. The one about the married couple that pummel each other in the boxing ring as a form of therapy is definitely worth reading! A perfect example of an idea not overshadowing the writing.

I can definitely recommend Chabon's book, especially for males and females who don't quite get males. In fact, pretty much anything of Chabon's is worth your time.

A Wonderful Rejection Letter.

Few writers ever reach the point where they don't still receive the occasional rejection, and I'm certainly nowhere near that level. But when an editor takes the god time and effort to provide not only a detailed by positive rejection based not on the story so much as its incompatability with a particular themed short story collection, it's worth sharing:

Dear Christopher,



I thank you for your consideration of "After Death…," however I have decided not to select your submission.




I appreciate the amount of time and work that you must have invested in this story, but I feel it does not quite fit the overall character of the book I'm compiling.


Christopher, technically you've written a nice story and I enjoyed reading it. It's thoughtful, interesting, and you really cover a lot of ground in your writing.


However, your story doesn't fit the theme of this anthology. I am looking for stories exploring what occurs to us after we die. Your character, Franklin, is alive and searches for meaning in the death of his daughter. His exploits are all in the realm of "the living," though he seems to transition or attempt to access other realms through use of meditation, drugs, etc. Though I understand where you're going with this, it seems to skirt the question I ask in this anthology... what happens to the soul/ spirit/ essence AFTER the human body dies.


Consider a first-hand perspective from a dead character's point of view.


What happens to your character after they die? Where do they go? What do they see? Heaven or Hell? Another universe? Reincarnation? Other spirits? Wild adventures? Etc. For example, if the Demon had killed Franklin at the beginning of the story - what would have then happened to him?


Also, just a quick thought - be conscientious of your usage of "all caps" or bold font or extra tabs (ex. "And something strange happened.") - generally emphasis should made be via italics, though more importantly by the strength of your prose, rather than the choice of formatting.






Keep writing! I am certain you will be able to find a publisher for this elsewhere.






I also read, "Always Say Treat," in the Feast of Frights - great story. I look forward to reading more material from you in the future.




Warm regards,








Eric J. Guignard

A Question for the Sages.

Believe it or go to hell, but I am not the snobbiest snob that ever snobbed when it comes to grammar, except where writers are concerned. Or, more accurately, people who refer to themselves as writers. When someone does that, it's impossible to take them seriously when they send me a note, even one that's positive, containing an error so egregious, my innards rupture and fill my digestive tract with many fluids.

Case in point: I received the following well-meaning note from someone on a certain social networking who self-identifies as an Independent Writer and Management Consultant:

"Christopher,

I just seen your updates congrats, keep up the hard work."

I repeat: Independent Writer and Management Consultant!!!

Sigh~

Am I being an elitist here?

Funeral for a Matriarch.

Tomorrow, after one-hundred years on this planet, my grandmother will be "laid to rest" following a funeral service at the very church she helped to establish more than three decades ago. I've chosen not to write anything. I did that for my mother's funeral and very nearly lost it. If I do speak, I will do it from the heart and stop when I feel I've said enough.

Author Q&A

Feel free to join the discussion by clicking here regarding the Zippered Flesh anthology, feauturing the authors of our individual short stories. Ask us anything...except that! Never that!

A Feast of Frights, My Official Press Release.

Michigan writer contributes to international horror anthology






Southfield, MI – April 10, 2012 – Southfield writer and Greak Lakes Association of Horror Writers member Christopher Nadeau's “Always Say Teat” will appears in the horror anthology, A Feast of Frights from the Horror Zine, available in print and digital formats from The Horror Zine Books. A Feast of Frights, edited by Jeani Rector, features a roster of acclaimed writers, comprising a who’s-who of the genre for the past half century.





The mission of The Horror Zine is to support and promote emerging writers, poets, and artists by featuring their work alongside masters of the macabre A Feast of Frights from The Horror Zine will also include short fiction from Simon Clark (The Night of the Triffids), Graham Masterton (Showtime’s The Hunger), Joe R. Lansdale (Showtime’s Masters of Horror), Susie Moloney (A Dry Spell), Tom Piccirilli (The Coldest Mile), and Ed Gorman (Gun Truth) with a forward from Ramsey Campbell (Grin of the Dark) and essays from Earl Hamner, Jr. (The Twilight Zone) and many others.





Two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Bentley Little says of The Horror Zine: “I have seen the future of horror—and so has Jeani Rector. In fact, she’s publishing it. The Horror Zine books are not only fantastic reads, but they provide a valuable public service, exposing the world to up-and-coming talent in fiction, poetry, and art. Amazing stuff.”



Apex Magazine Submissions Editor DeAnna Knippling says the following of “Clawed Sod” by Christian A. Larsen: “I really liked the setup and the humor in what [he] had the main character try to solve his problem,” and “the story's funny and matter-of-fact disturbing.”





A Feast of Frights (The Horror Zine Books) edited by Jeani Rector

478 pages, $16.99 (trade paperback), $4.99 (Kindle)





About the Author





Christopher Nadeau is the author of 'Dreamers at Infinity's Core' through COM Publishing as well as over two dozen published short stories in such august publications as The Horror Zine, Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine, Ghostlight Magazine and more anthologies than one could take out with the toss of a single hand grenade. He was interviewed as part of Suspense Radio’s up and coming authors program and collaborated on two “machinima” films with UK animator Celestial Elf called “The Gift,” and 'The Deerhunter's Tale,” both of which can be viewed on YouTube. His novel “Echoes of Infinity's Core” is slated for a 2012 release.



An active member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers, Chris Resides in Southeastern Michigan with his wife Lorie and two petulant long-hair Chihuahuas.



For more information, please visit thehorrorzine.com or contact Christopher Nadeau at christophernadeau71@yahoo.com or http://christopher-nadeau.blogspot.com/.

The Wait Is Over.

As I wrote a while ago, the Static Movement "Shadows Within Shadows 2" anthology is one I've been looking forward to since my "un-gettable" short story was accepted for publication in its pages. The story, "Hawk Vs. Dove at a Coffee Shop," is the tale of divisive politics taken to a murderous extreme and told from the perspectives of two represenatives of both sides of the so-called "aisle" with escalating tensions and eventual tragedy.

It also features a story by me called "Bringing Down the Curtain," which is about one man's chance to end all warfare...but it the final result worth the means to reach it?

Amazon Author Page Now Up.

It's frustrating, though, because since the editors of the various anthologies featuring my work didn't list me as one of their contributing authors, I have to send individual emails to Amazon to try and get myself authorized to link them. So, the few books you'll currently see there are the only ones I can post at this time.

Click here for the page.

*Note*
Amazon claims it can take up to three days to get this issue resolved, but they'd already resolved the first one by the time I posted this.

A Welcome Invitation.

I've been invited to submit a story prior to the official submission period to the next Smart Rhino Publications anthology being edited by writer/editor/unfortunate Libertarian Weldon Burge called "Uncommon Assassins." My short story "You With Me" appeared in the previous one pictured below:

As it so happens, I have a story already written. I just need to find the damn thing and polish it up.

The Dumbest Facebook comment yet.

I'll preserve the person's annonymity despite my desire to post her name everywhere, but here's what she wrote on the "Atlas Shrugged 2" page:

"While on a business trip, during two separate dinners, drinks were omitted from my bill. When I told the waiters of the errors, they both shook their heads and said "Oh, that's ok. Its on the house. My error." But I insisted. "No. I am a follower of Ayn Rand. We believe in paying for things fairly negotiated. Please correct my bill."

Nothing wrong with paying what one owes, but "Follower?" Apparently, they admit to be Randroids. Good to know. My arsenal just grew by leaps and bounds!

Praise from Wordcraft Wednesdays.

Two days ago, I journeyed out to Macomb Community College, where I read two stories before a small but attentive audience. I knew my second story fared very well, considering the laughs it ellicited (it was a satirical piece, I swear.) Still, only a couple people approached me afterwards, although plenty asked me questions when I was finished reading, unlike the other guest writer of the day.

But you never really know what impact you had on people until someone else confirms it for you. That happened last night when Nicole Castle sent me the following email:

Chris,

Wow, it was so awesome having you at WW. Both of your stories were fantastic.

I had several of my students talk about you and your work. They were quite impressed.

I hope "Dusk" gets published soon! I will definitely have you back another time!

Please email me info. about your Author Page and your blog address so I can put it on WW facebook page.

Also, info. about the Green Pen conference.

Thanks again!

-Nicole

'Nuff said?