Weekly Posts from The Horror Tree for 1/14/22
Jan 14, 2022 10:31 pm
Hi there,
Word of the week: transmogrify – to change thoroughly, as into a different shape or form
I hope you’ve all had a great week, readers. 2022 is in full swing, and I can’t help thinking that I’m living in the future. One of the articles we’re featuring this week discusses writer’s groups. Over the years, I have been in a handful of these groups, and some I’ve found more useful than others. I thought I might take a moment here to reflect, and mention some of the things to look for, and to look out for, when joining a writing group.
Look for: People who will be honest about your writing. This one is important. We all love being told that what we’ve written is great, but that doesn’t exactly help one grow as a writer. Getting feedback from others on what is working and what isn’t, in a respectful way, can help you level up your writing.
Look out for: People who are extremely positive. There are some people who may be over complimentary because they are afraid to offer critique, or are afraid if they offer criticism, they will receive it in turn. The point of most writer’s groups is to get useful critiques; things that help you improve your writing craft. The other end of the spectrum can be just as bad, though. Someone who only has negative feedback, and offers harsh criticism and critique can be disheartening, especially for new and inexperienced writers. I was once in a writing group that had one member who always insulted the writing and style of others. She is a great writer; I’ve read several of her stories published in top venues, but she wasn’t interested in passing on her wisdom, and that was unfortunate. I eventually left that group because of her harshness.
Whether you decide to find or form a writing group or not, it’s always a good idea to try and find one or more readers that you trust who are willing to look over things before you submit them for publication. The key word here being trust.
As always, you can find me (Holley Cornetto) lurking on Twitter @HLCornetto. Now, onto the latest articles on writing from around the web.
Horror Tree / Trembling With Fear Update (This section updated by your fearless editor and chief, Stuart C.!):
Not much to report this week. There has been progress in a few areas but nothing that can be shown off quite yet!
I'll likely remove the following next week but, just as a heads up, we lost a couple of Patreons since the year has started with one new one jumping in. If becoming a Patreon of Horror Tree has been on your radar, now would be a great time! We'll also have a new perk coming here soon!:)
This week's newsletter sponsor:
Generation X-Ed is coming out this month and is inspired by the lives of those who are known only as... Generation X...
Articles:
Today’s craft article is on writing characters, and more specifically, character actions. It can be difficult when writing to decide what actions to include or exclude, and this article is a well-informed guide. The next article I’ve included goes along with goal setting, which I wrote about in last week’s newsletter. This article goes further, and discusses not only goal setting, but making habits that support where you want to go. From Catapult, I’ve included an article about writing groups. If you’ve never been involved with a writing group before, it can be a valuable experience to work with and hear from other writers regarding their writing and your own. Lastly, in the business section, is an article about knowing who your readers are, and why it’s important.
Craft:
Jane Friedman: Don’t Let Your Characters Fall Into the Daily Routine Trap
General:
LitReactor: Revolutionize Your Writer’s Resolutions With Habits That’ll Manifest Your Best Life
Catapult: How Do You Find a Writer’s Group? Try Making Your Own.
Business:
Writers in the Storm: Who Are Your Readers and Why Does it Matter?
Free Fiction Roundup:
This week, I have a great collection of stories to share. The first “Shattered Petals of Celadon” by M. K. Hutchins appeared in my inbox this week courtesy of Daily Science Fiction. I fell in love with the voice and vulnerability in this piece. It was so meaningful. The next piece is Alis Bristow’s “Tides” which appeared in Metaphorosis. This story unfolds in a masterful way, and Bristow’s prose is a pleasure to read. The next is a slightly older piece, but only came to my attention recently. “The Dog Who Buried the Sea” by Andy Oldfield appeared in Flash Fiction Online back in November, 2021. This story is a masterclass in the use of voice and tone. Read it, you won’t regret it. The last story for this week is a reprint at Metastellar by Warren Benedetto called “Unarmed.” Benedetto’s story is set in a dystopian future which is all the more frightening due to the plausibility of the story. Enjoy!
Now, on to the fiction:
“Shattered Petals of Celadon” by M. K. Hutchins. Daily Science Fiction.
“Tides” by Alis Bristow. Metaphorosis.
“The Dog Who Buried the Sea” by Andy Oldfield. Flash Fiction Online.
“Unarmed” by Warren Benedetto. Metastellar.
If you post any writing content during the week and think it would be a good fit for us to feature, do reach out and let us know at contact@horrortree.com
Thank you Patreons! As always, the site's lifeblood is in your hands and we truly appreciate your support.
Looking To Help Horror Tree?
Here are the main things we're looking for:
- Advertising and either Site or Contest sponsorships!
- Someone to help create videos for social media (we have tools, but not time!)
- Article writers (articles, interviews, reviews, crowdsource compilations, etc.)
- Sharing guest posts with us or reaching out for us to be a blog tour host.
- The obvious one here is also to become one of our Patreons!
If you're interested in contributing and think you have something that would help out PLEASE don't shy away from contacting us! (contact@horrortree.com)
🗒️ Taking Submissions: The Sacrament
Deadline: July 1st, 2022 Payment: $0.01 per word for new stories and/or $25 for reprints.
Theme: Religious Horror Note: Reprints Welcome From the editors that brought you, Welcome to the Funhouse via Blood Rites Horror, Kelly Brocklehurst and Jamie Stewart, comes a new collection of religious horror stories that will chill you to your core.
ARE YOU READY TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT?
Please read carefully.
Submissions that don’t meet the guidelines may be rejected.
Submissions will be accepted until July 1st, 2022....
🗒️ Taking Submissions: Carnival Macabre
Deadline: March 13th, 2022 Payment: US: $40 + author copy/non-US: $45 + ebook author copy Theme: Short horror stories that explore the “dark carnival” concept.
Quill & Crow Publishing House is opening submissions for our second anthology for 2022, Carnival Macabre: An Anthology of Gothic Horror, due to be released in May.
For this collection, we are looking for short horror stories (5,000 – 8,000 words) that explore the “dark carnival” concept.
Think H.
H.
Holmes during Chicago’s World Fair (Columbian Exposition), horror at a 1920s Boardwalk, or even an eerie Victorian tale.
This anthology will be more open to horror themes, but we’re looking for substance over gore....
🗒️ Taking Submissions: Valravn Anthology 2022 Spring Window
Deadline: March 31st, 2022 Payment: $0.10 USD per word Theme: Fantasy Horror, Espionage/Thriller, Science Fiction WHAT WE WANT We love fiction from diverse, under-represented perspectives and cultures, well-researched and written by fresh and exciting voices.
Speculative fiction in the following genres Fantasy Horror Espionage/Thriller Science Fiction Up to 80,000 words, minimum of 15,000 words (novellas) Submitted to our submission email (submissions AT ravencanticlepress DOT com) Only one submission per quarter, no simultaneous submissions, no submissions of previously rejected material without prior approval.
Please wait until the next quarter (January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, October 1st) before submitting anything again.
Please only send RTF, DOC or DOCX files, and must adhere best practices in manuscript formats: https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/ We’re open to previously published fiction in short story collections or other formats.Please provide a detailed list of previous publication (if necessary)....
🗒️ Taking Submissions: Fit For The Gods Anthology
Payment: $1500 Deadline: February 1st, 2022 Theme: Greek Gods, any genre An Open Call for New and Established Writers Greek mythology has proven itself to be of perennial interest.
From reprints of classics like the D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths to retellings of the Iliad, Odyssey, and the Aeneid by everyone from Ursula K.
Le Guin to Madeline Miller, writers are continually fascinated and readers are continually compelled by these stories.
But while we know today that the Greco-Roman world was international and diverse in racial, ethnic, and sexual identities, this is hardly reflected in the retellings we have.
Readers of all backgrounds are actively looking for inclusive, broad-ranging, cross-genre retellings; it’s time to give them their favorite myths with a new twist....
🗒️ Taking Submissions: Sovereign: An Anthology of Black Fantasy Fiction
Deadline: July 16th, 2022 Payment: Original Fiction: $0.08/word up to 1,000 words, and $0.01/word after, Reprints: $0.01/word Theme: Authors from Africa and the African Diaspora exploring any of the following: Heroic, Mythic, Flintlock, Gaslamp, Medieval, Religious, Weird West, Arcanepunk, High/Epic Fantasy, Sword and Soul/Planet, Noblebright/Nobledark, Fables/Fairytale Retellings Note: Reprints Welcome AURELIA LEO presents Sovereign: An Anthology of Black Fantasy Fiction seeking authors from Africa and the African Diaspora exploring certain aspects of the genre.
More specifically, we want fantasy in the following sub-genres/themes: Heroic Mythic Flintlock Gaslamp Medieval Religious Weird West Arcanepunk High/Epic Fantasy Sword and Soul/Planet Noblebright/Nobledark Fables/Fairytale Retellings The cover illustration will feature “Knight Duties” by the wonderful Nigerian-based artist LA Draws/Ajayi Olajide.
GUIDELINES Form?
https://forms.gle/trPS6GCZaaY3bU6RA (Flexible) Deadline: July 16, 2022 Publication Date: TBA 2023 (post-Kickstarter campaign) Payment: Original Fiction: $0.08/word up to 1,000 words, and $0.01/word after Reprints: $0.01/word Payment will be rendered within 30 days of the finalization of the TOC.If a Kickstarter campaign is successfully funded, original fiction will be raised to $0.08/word for their full word count.Demographic? Only Black authors Length? Flash (1,000 words) up to novella length (39,999 words) (NOT FLEXIBLE) Format? Shunn Modern Manuscript Format Track submissions using Duotrope and The Submission Grinder....
🗒️ January 2022 Horoscopes: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
(Disclaimer: Please note that these mock horoscopes are meant for entertainment only, and are not meant to be taken as actual advice, past/present/future predictions, or in any factual, accurate, or truthful context.
These horoscopes are completely fictional as a piece of creative writing, and are based on fictional scenarios, and are not meant to be accurate representations of actual people and their life situations, and/or representative of people who consider themselves to be under the guidance of these astrological signs.
These horoscopes are also not meant to be considered in any astrological, actual, and/or verified scientific or psychological capacity.
Meaning I made them all up out of my imagination, so please don’t make any major—or even minor—life decisions based on these horoscopes.
Human zombies don’t exist....
Enjoy,
Horror Tree
