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Inklings Issue 5.21
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i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
http://www.inkspot.com
Issue 5.21 * Over 45,000 subscribers! * Oct.27, 1999
*****************************************************************
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0521.html>
This issue features tips on putting together a proposal for a
non-fiction children's book by Lee Wardlaw (ASK THE CHILDREN'S
BOOK AUTHOR) and an article by Paula Guran about vampire fiction.
This issue sponsored by:
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FREE SUBSCRIPTION to T-Zero Xpandizine: The Writers' E-Zine.
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and find out how you can become a part of the world's friendliest
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ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright 1995-1999 Debbie Ridpath Ohi. See end
of issue for copyright/contact info. http://www.inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
CONTENTS THIS ISSUE:
From The Editor's Desk
Fresh Ink and Market Information
Ask The Children's Book Author
It's Not Horror. It's About Vampires
Writers' Classifieds
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
-----------------------
I was at the Surrey Writers' Conference (Surrey, B.C) this past
weekend, where I gave two workshops: "Promoting Yourself Online"
and "Writing For Online Markets". Lots of workshops, networking
opportunities, chances to meet editors, agents, and published
authors one-on-one. The atmosphere is such that even a beginning
writer or conference "newbie" feels welcome, and everyone is
encouraged to meet new people.
The conference also had musical entertainment...Charley Snellings
delighted attendees with his writing-related songs. "Slush Pile
Blues" and two others aimed at writers are included on the
artist's CD, "Charley Snellings & 4 Past Midnight: Street Jazz &
Texas Blues". I bought an extra one as a prize giveaway...to
enter the draw, send a blank e-mail to giveaway@inkspot.com with
"cd" in the subject header (deadline: Nov.7). Winner's name will
be announced in the next issue of Inklings. If you want to buy
your own copy, please contact charlessnellings@hotmail.com.
For me, the highlight of the conference was meeting subscribers
and writers face-to-face. Many thanks to those of you who came up
and introduced yourselves! :-) I also got to meet Judith Bowen
(ASK THE ROMANCE WRITER) in person for the first time, as well as
several others I'd been hoping to connect with such as Ed
Griffin, Lisa Mason, Jack Remick and Robert Ray (authors of THE
WEEKEND NOVELIST, http://www.wkndnovel.com/), Laurel Hickey
(Webmaster extraordinaire), and Diana Gabaldon (OUTLANDER author).
I highly recommend the Surrey Writers' Conference as one that
will inspire and inform, as well as being a great place to network
with writers, agents, and editors. More info at:
http://www.vcn.bc.ca/swc/
Daily publishing industry news
------------------------------
The main Inkspot page (http://www.inkspot.com) now contains
publishing news and updates of interest to writers every
weekday. See http://www.inkspot.com.
Upcoming author chats
---------------------
Thur.Oct.28: CHERYL S. SMITH, prolific cross-genre writer and
former M*A*S*H scripter.
Wed.Nov.3: SUSAN K. PERRY, author of WRITING IN FLOW.
For more info, see Community Update near the end of this issue.
Global Writers' Ink
-------------------
Coming in the next Global Writer's Ink: Author Lawrence Schimel
discusses how to sell author and celebrity interviews abroad, and
Moira Allen presents an overview of international rights. For
articles and links related to marketing your writing
internationally plus info on how to subscribe, please see
http://www.inkspot.com/global/.
Inkspot changes
---------------
As I mentioned last week, I am moving into new office space. I
will post details about the upcoming Virtual Officewarming Party
very soon.
I'm also pleased to announce that my husband, Jeff Ridpath, is
now an official Inkspot employee (!). Jeff left his position as
IT Manager at Canada's largest PR firm to help me with Inkspot
and we'll be working in the new office together. You can find out
more about Jeff at his personal homepage at
http://www.interlog.com/~jwr/. We're both excited about the
future of Inkspot; we have so many ideas...it's just a matter of
finding enough time and resources. Some of our friends think the
idea of a couple working together is great; others are skeptical.
I'd be interested in hearing from any of you who have had
experiences in this area. :-) Please post your comments at:
http://writers-bbs.com/inkspot/?forum=couples
For those who missed it, our new office address is: Inkspot, 67
Mowat Ave., Suite 239, Toronto, ON Canada M6K 3E3.
- Debbie
*****************************************************************
FRESH INK
---------
PRIZE GIVEAWAYS: WRITING MAGAZINE & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES,
CANADIAN WRITER'S CALENDAR
-------------------------------------------------------
WRITING MAGAZINE & NEWSPAPER ARTICLES by Barbara Braidwood,
Richard Cropp, and Susan M. Boyce (Self-Counsel Writing Series,
1999). Packed with useful tips on how to get published in
magazines and newspapers, and interviews with experienced editors
and writers.
THE CANADIAN WRITER'S CALENDAR 2000. From the publishers of
Storyteller magazine. Monthly calendar for Canadian writers.
Includes contest deadlines, conferences, conventions, literary
events, quotes, websites for writers, tips.
Deadline: Nov.7, 1999. For more info about these prizes and how
to enter, see: http://www.inkspot.com/admin/giveaway.html
RECENT PRIZEWINNERS:
Randy Moore - WRITING FOR THE WEB by Crawford Kilian
Inkspot's new travel writing section
------------------------------------
I've added a separate page for travel writing resources.
Also be sure to check out travel writing discussion forum,
maintained by Fran Severn. (DO)
http://www.inkspot.com/ss/genres/travel.html
Forum: http://writers-bbs.com/inkspot/threads.cgi?forum=travel
The Writer's Daily Quote
------------------------
Available on the web or by e-mail. (DO)
http://michael_tombs.tripod.com/WritersQuotes.html
Humor writing links
-------------------
Maintained by Margie Culbertson-McCaskey. See rest of
site for other humor resources, including a humor
mailing list. (JE)
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/4111/wrlinks.html
Travel Writing (Suite101.com)
-----------------------------
This travel writing site is maintained by Kim Applegate. Lots of
great resources here! (DO)
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/travel_writing
Cassell Network of Writers
--------------------------
Links editors and writers. Fee for membership, but site also
contains useful free links, industry news and tips for
freelancers. (JE)
http://writers-editors.com/index.html
WISDOM: Knowledge and Literature Search
---------------------------------------
Links to writing and literature sites. (DO)
http://thinkers.net/
Interview with Lisa Williamson
------------------------------
Currently a contributing editor at _Murderous Intent Mystery
Magazine_, Lisa has interviewed many mystery authors. Interview
includes a special section with Lisa's list of interviewing tips.
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/wright.html
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/wrightsidebar.html
Poll: What is your favorite writing convention?
-----------------------------------------------
Do you attend writing conventions? If not, why not? If you do,
then which is your favorite and why? Results posted in a future
issue of Inklings. (DO)
http://writers-bbs.com/inkspot/index.cgi?forum=conventions
DO: Debbie Ridpath Ohi. MT: Michael Tombs. JE: Jan Edwards.
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
GOTHAM WRITERS' WORKSHOP: Creative writing classes in Fiction,
Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Poetry, Children's Books, more.10-wk &
1-day classes in NYC and online for adults and teens. For free
catalog, call 212-WRITERS or visit http://www.WritingClasses.com
*****************************************************************
Advertise here! Send e-mail to sales@inkspot.com for details.
*****************************************************************
MARKET INFORMATION
------------------
Please get current, detailed guidelines before submitting to
publications if possible. Don't submit to email addresses unless
specifically stated. Include a SASE for surface mail replies.
More market info at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/.
**-----------------------------------------------------**
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights, "SASE":
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "simsubs": simultaneous
submissions, "mss": manuscript, "RT": response time, "GL":
guidelines.
Markets Editor: Sal Towse (ST). Research assistants: Shane Stacks
(SS), Margaret Shauers (MS), Kathie Meyer (KM), Jan Edwards (JE).
DOLLAR STRETCHER
----------------
[Note: This paying market is for the print version only. Material
used on the web site is not compensated.] Dollar Stretcher.
Editor, Gary Foreman, PO Box 23785, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307.
Phone: 954.772.1696 FAX: 954.772.4951 CIRC: 3,000 print version;
20pp. RT: 60 days. "The Dollar Stretcher is a group of
publications dedicated to Living Better...for Less. The goal is
to provide readers with ways to help them save time and money."
FREQ: monthly. AUDIENCE: One-income families, tightwads,
simplified living folk and others interested in saving a buck.
Sample issues may be obtained by sending a request to the above
address. NEEDS: How-to articles based on personal or professional
experience; profiles of people who are successfully living the
frugal lifestyle; time and space saving techniques; creative ways
to save on food, housing, auto and clothing. Articles on
stage-of-life material for babies, children, teens, college
students, singles, couples, the divorced, single parents, empty
nesters and retirees and pieces dealing with a non-frugal
partner, children or significant other. Book reviews and
interviews with people who have creatively found ways to live
frugally. Column ideas (two or more articles on a theme) are also
accepted (send a proposal first). "We are looking for articles
for the newcomer as well as the experienced tightwad." It should
go without saying, but the article should possess an irresistible
"hook" for readers who dont like to waste time. RIGHTS: First
time rights including reprint rights for distribution to
non-profit organizations. Other reprint sales will be negotiated
with the author. PAYS: .05 per word on publication. SUBMISSIONS:
Submit articles via e-mail as an attachment to gary@stretcher.com
or on 3.5-inch diskette in ASCII text file format via surface
mail. Include a hard copy if submitting a diskette via surface
mail. Diskettes will not be returned. Include your e-mail and
postal addresses, as well as your daytime phone number, in the
e-mail or on the disk label. A brief bio statement and title
suggestion is also requested. If your article includes resources,
please make sure the contact information is correct. Reprints and
simsubs are okay; please mark them as such. IMPORTANT: Indicate
"print version submission" in the e-mail subject heading or on
the hardcopy surface mail in order to separate yourself from the
online, non-paying market. (KM)
URL: http://www.stretcher.com/
GL: http://www.stretcher.com/menu/writers.htm
E-mail: gary@stretcher.com
BACKHOME MAGAZINE
-----------------
BackHome Magazine. P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, NC, 28793. Phone:
(828) 696-3838. FAX: (828) 696-0700. Editor: Lorna K. Loveless.
Down-to-earth, how-to publication whose primary purpose is to
help people gain more control over their own lives by doing more
for themselves. FREQ: Bi-monthly. CIRC: 24K. NEEDS: Non-fiction
concerning gardening, home construction and repair, workshop
projects, cooking, crafts, outdoor recreation, family activities
and vacations, livestock, home business, home-based and other
education, and community/neighborhood action. Articles should be
written from an interesting, lively, and (where possible)
first-person viewpoint. LENGTH: 750-5K wds. GL: Queries preferred
to submissions. Queries acceptable by postal or email,
submissions acceptable by postal mail only. For submissions,
include SASE, and note whether piece is available on disk or via
email (but do *not* initially send on disk or via email).
Previously published material possibly accepted if first printing
was not in a major publication (include photocopies of original
publication and relevant information). Multiple submissions okay
(limit to 3), simsubs okay if other markets are not competitive
(as determined by BackHome staff). If available, please send
photos with article, ensuring all subjects are identified.
RIGHTS: FNASR. PAYS: $35/printed page; $20-$25/photo used. Pays
on publication. RT: 2 months. TIP: "In general, we'll consider
any article that will help our readers improve the quality of
life-for themselves, their families, their community, and their
environment. With few exceptions, we seldom publish essays or
basically philosophical contemplations." (SS)
URL: http://backhomemagazine.com/
GL: http://backhomemagazine.com/Write_for_us/write_for_us.html
E-Mail: backhome@ioa.com
BALLOON LIFE
------------
Balloon Life. 2336 47th Ave SW, Seattle, WA, 98116. PHONE: (206)
935-3649, FAX: (206) 935-3326. Editor-In-Chief: Tom Hamilton. The
magazine for the sport of hot air ballooning. NEEDS: Articles on
balloon events/rallies, safety seminars, balloon
clubs/organizations, and general interest stories. Also, "Those
individuals who are interested in writing on a specific,
technical topic may contact the editor to discuss subject areas,
deadlines, and needs of the magazine." LENGTH: 1K- 1.5K wds,
300-500 wds for shorter articles. Longer articles possibly
accepted, but generally reserved for specific subjects.
Additional information also accepted per article for sidebars.
GL: Submit in proper ms format, include SASE. Submissions/queries
also accepted via email, either pasted into the body, or attached
in MS Word (.doc) or text (.txt) format. Include photos with
captions, and any other material (charts, maps, etc.) which would
help convey the story to the reader. No previously published
material. Multiple submissions okay, simsubs also accepted
(please advise when doing so). RIGHTS: FNASR. PAYS: $50/article,
$20/short article, $100-200/article on specific subject (worked
out case-by-case with editor). Photos pay $15, or $50 for cover
photo. RT: 2 weeks. TIP: "Please, no 'first time going for a
balloon ride' stories." (SS)
URL: http://www.balloonlife.com/
GL: http://www.balloonlife.com/rateguide/edguide.htm
E-Mail: tom@balloonlife.com
KIDS' HIGHWAY
---------------
Kids' Highway, P. O. Box 6275, Bryan TX 77805-6275. (409)
778-7372. ESTAB. 7/99. CIRC. 50. Editors: Hector Cole Garza or
Miranda J. Garza. FREQ.: 5 times a year; this may increase in the
future. AUDIENCE: Children under age 17 and their parents.
NEEDS: children's fiction, poetry, jokes, fillers, timely
articles. "Material should be entertaining and have a satisfying
ending. Our goal is to entertain not depress. In view of this,
we do not accept writings related to politics, ghosts, or
horror." Adult fiction also is accepted for "THE GROWN-UPS'
TEAR-OUT PAGES." These stories should be written with the
realization that children also see the magazine. Currently
nonfiction by adults will be considered, also for a series of
articles entitled "CAREER WATCH." The article should inform kids
about a particular profession: requirements and how they can
begin preparing for it. Adults should be experienced in the field
they write about. LENGTH: stories for adults to 2200 words;
children's stories to 1500 words. Nonfiction from 250 to 550
words, although they will "consider" other word lengths. Poetry
of no more than 20 lines. RTS: one-time, with rights reverting
to authors after publication. PAY: $5 per story or article, $2
per poem, and a complimentary issue. Payment for fillers is in
copies only. They give bylines. Submissions accepted from other
countries, but pay is in U.S. dollars. RESPONSE TIME; usually
within 2 weeks (please allow more since this new publisher will
get more responses from this listing than usual). SUBMISSIONS:
Please put your name and address on everything you submit. If
you're a student, put your age on each item. Enclose SASE. If
this is not included, material will be discarded, unread. They
accept e-mail submissions if writer provides correct email
address. Include name and (if student) age with email
submissions. Include a brief bio with all submissions. SAMPLE
COPIES: $3.00 and 9x12 SAE. U.S. check or money order only.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Anyone may submit, but they especially
feature writers under the age of 17. TIPS FROM THE EDITOR: "We
think that fiction should be entertaining, not a way of telling
kids how hard life can be. There is enough nonfiction and real
life to do that. So when writing, think fun and entertainment.
We don't like cliches. Take an idea or plot and do something
different with it. Be original and fun. Buck the odds and
submit a lot." (MS)
URL: http://home.att.net/~kidshighway/index.html
GL: http://home.att.net/~kidshighway/submissionsheet.html
Email: kidshighway@ att.net
MARKETS UPDATE:
HARVEY, THE MAGAZINE FOR KIDS, 1999 Avenue of the Stars #2050,
Los Angeles CA 90067-4611 (formerly at 59 E. Mill Rd., Suite
4-202, Long Valley NJ 07853) has ceased publication. [MS]
Please send market news to Sal Towse, towse@inkspot.com.
*****************************************************************
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) JudithBowen@poboxes.com
David Breeden (POET) dbreeden@schreiner.edu
Charles Deemer (SCREENWRITER) charlesd@inkspot.com
Ken Jenks (ELECTRONIC PUBLISHER) MindsEye@tale.com
Ginger Knowlton (AGENT) agent@inkspot.com
Michelle Sagara (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) lee@inkspot.com
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) yudkin@inkspot.com
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
Please keep your question BRIEF and send it to *one* columnist.
*****************************************************************
ASK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Lee Wardlaw <lee@inkspot.com>
Proposal for non-fiction children's book?
-----------------------------------------
Q: In your last column, you discussed the best subject areas and
topics for non-fiction books for young readers. I've picked my
topic, my audience, and the publishing houses that I plan to
contact. Do you have any tips for putting together a proposal?
A: A good proposal should accomplish four things:
1. describe or summarize your book and what you hope to
accomplish;
2. target your reading audience and the reader's motivation
for buying it;
3. illustrate why you are the person to write the book;
4. give the editor a sample of the finished product.
Most non-fiction books are sold on the strength of an author's
proposal, so it's vital that you make yours as complete and
professional as you can. Here is what you should include in your
proposal package:
TITLE PAGE:
This is a cover sheet listing your name, address, and phone
number in the upper left-hand corner. Drop to the middle of the
page and center the working title (and subtitle, if any) of the
book. Beneath that, in parentheses, write "A Proposal." Skip
down two lines, then type your name or pseudonym.
OVERVIEW:
This page will describe the purpose of the book (Saturday
afternoon leisure reading? A good book for researching and
writing school reports?); its scope (complete history of your
subject? A Day in the Life of a particular person?); your writing
style (Light and humorous? Serious and literary?); and, of
course, your topic. Describe what sets your book apart from
others that have already been published on the same subject.
Remember: you're trying to establish a need for this book, so
make sure you detail how and why your book is special.
Use an easy-to-read style with lots of editor-appeal. And don't
forget to use a hook: a lead sentence or paragraph that grabs
the editor and pulls her in. A short quote from one of your
chapters or some amazing bits of trivia about your subject might
work well. Here's the opening hook I used in the proposal for my
upcoming book WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!:
"Four thousand years ago, Chinese noblemen made it from yak milk
and spiced rice. In 17th century England, Charles I decreed that
it be served only at the royal table - - and threatened his chef
with a beheading if the secret recipe were revealed. And Dolley
Madison, wife of America's fourth president, James, "set astir an
Air of Expectancy among her Guests" when she served "a large,
shining [pink] dome" of it at her husband's second inaugural
ball. What is it? Ice cream!"
The key here is to whet the editor's appetite (no pun intended)
for your subject, then move on to talk about . . .
THE MARKET:
Give your editor a sketch of the audience you're targeting. The
age group (Y.A.? Middle grade? The picture book set?) is
important, but you also need to identify the population of your
readers - - and with statistics, if possible.
For example, while researching COWABUNGA! THE COMPLETE BOOK OF
SURFING for the middle grade and Y.A. audience, I obtained from
several surfing magazines information about their readership:
How many were children and how many were teens? At what age did
they start surfing? Where in America do these kids live? How
much do they spend annually on surfing paraphernalia?
COWABUNGA obviously appealed to a specialized audience. Will
your book do the same? Or can it be enjoyed by the general
public? When I proposed WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM, I obtained
statistics from the International Ice Cream Association as to who
eats the most ice cream each year. I learned that kids ages 2-12
and adults over 45 eat the most per person - - emphasizing my
point in the proposal that children AND adults might enjoy a book
on the history of America's favorite dessert.
Check the recent edition of CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN PRINT to see if
there are other books available on your topic. Find and study
these books, then mention them in your proposal, including
titles, dates and publishers. What you're trying to do is
convince your editor that there's already a market out there for
your book - - but that YOUR book will fill a gap. "Unlike these
books, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM will be the first book to . .
. "
One word of caution: try not to overwhelm editors with too many
facts and figures. Simply give them enough information to show
you've done your homework and have studied the market.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
On this page, you'll need to list all the working titles of your
chapters. If you intend to include an index, glossary and
bibliography, state this as well.
CHAPTER OUTLINE:
Write approximately one paragraph to one whole page of prose,
briefly describing the highlights or essentials of your chapter
topics. (If you plan to write a non-fiction easy-reader or
picture book, you'll write a short synopsis of the book.)
SAMPLE CHAPTERS:
Include two chapters (if you are published) or three to five
chapters (if you are not). The first two should be sequential
chapters; others can be picked at random. Choose your best!
CREDENTIALS PAGE:
Include a brief resume, which contains a credit list (published
books/articles) and special degrees or positions you've held (if
they pertain to the book topic.) Also, list your technical
advisors or contacts, and the availability of photos &
illustrations/graphs.
**----------------------------------------**
Lee Wardlaw is the award-winning author of 20 books for young
readers, including BUBBLEMANIA: THE CHEWY HISTORY OF BUBBLE GUM
(Aladdin/Simon & Schuster) and WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!, to
be published by Avon in the spring of 2000.
Copyright (c) 1999 Lee Wardlaw.
*****************************************************************
IT'S NOT HORROR. IT'S ABOUT VAMPIRES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Paula Guran <DarkEcho@aol.com>
There's now a market for vampire fiction -- virtually a genre
unto itself. Even the mother of modern vampires, Anne Rice, has
lately returned with new tales of her bloodsucking brood. Can
*you* turn the children of the night into book contracts? Perhaps
-- but pitching yourself solely as a horror writer may not be the
only way to go about it.
The 21st century mass market-vampire's most potent preternatural
power seems to be its ability to straddle genres in a single
stretch. These vamps are more likely to be romantic adventurous
figures than gory bloodsuckers. Sometimes they are more intent on
seeking revenge on others of their own kind than searching for
innocent victims. They can be found solving noir-ish mysteries or
illuminating the pages of history. They also tend to -- with
sales success -- turn into series. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's
long-running popular saga of saintly vampire Ragoczy, the Count
Saint-Germain, is dramatic historical fiction as well as
supernatural intrigue and romance. Laurell K. Hamilton's _Anita
Blake, Vampire Hunter_ series mixes humor, action, vampire sex,
and fantasy in a world where vampires are protected by law. P. N.
Elrod's (_The Vampire Files_) Jack Fleming, a
former-newsman-turned-vampire/hard boiled detective in
Depression-era Chicago, is a do-gooder who never drinks human
blood. There are also epic science fictional vampires -- perhaps
the most popular example being Brian Lumley's
multi-million-copy-selling _Necroscope_ series. Kim Newman mixes
alternative history, historical characters, and humor with
vampires in his outstanding _Anno Dracula_ series.
Although not as well known as the examples above, Karen Taylor's
_Vampire Legacy_ series -- mixing mystery, noir, suspense,
romance and horror -- still demonstrates the publishing power of
the undead. When Zebra decided to no longer publish horror, the
first three books -- BLOOD SECRETS, BITTER BLOOD and BLOOD TIES
-- went out of print and plans for more books were cancelled.
Zebra then rethought and brought the three back into print last
fall. Now the books will be going into yet another printing and
Taylor has contracted for two more novels. The latest, BLOOD OF
MY BLOOD comes out in October 2000.
And yes, some new titles are being bought. Debuting this month
(October) from Ace, THE HUNT is the first of the "Laws of the
Blood" series by Susan Sizemore. The author, a veteran romance
writer who also did a vampiric FOREVER KNIGHT TV tie-in novel,
establishes a modern-day mythos (complete with glossary) of a
charismatic vampire-elite who must enforce certain laws for the
good of all vampiredom then embellishes it with action, romance
and mystery.
Billie Sue Mosiman, whose previous novels are in the mystery/
thriller/ suspense vein, recently sold a two-book contract to DAW
that could be the beginning of a vampire fiction series. The
first book, out next year, is titled RED MOON RISING. But, as she
points out, "Vampire fiction has always been sort of a separate
commodity, and truly a subgenre of its own -- though, of course,
it IS supernatural horror. But saying all vampire fiction recent
sales indicates a trend would possibly be just as incorrect as to
say King's continued horror novel sales indicate horror as a
genre is alive and well, which it wasn't for some time and might
not be now, except in Hollywood movies."
Vampires are also alive and well in the young adult/teen market,
although stand-out titles (like THIRSTY by M. T. Anderson, BLOOD
AND CHOCOLATE by Annette Curtis Klause and LOOK FOR ME BY
MOONLIGHT by Mary Downing Hahn), media series (like Buffy the
Vampire Slayer) and other series (like _The Vampire Diaries_ by
L. J. Smith) fulfill younger readers' bloodlust in an already
difficult-to-break-into niche.
Vampires these days may be more popular than ever, but be aware
our fanged friends wind up in romance, dark fantasy, fantasy,
mystery, suspense, historical fiction, science fiction, and other
categories as well as horror before making your pitch, or maybe
even deciding what you want to write. And make sure your vampire
is unique.
The key to the modern-day vampire is not to write a story "just
like..." those any of the aforementioned authors have written --
or anyone else's from Bram Stoker's _Dracula_ to Nancy Collin's
_Sonia Blue_. The vampire is a proven and powerful archetype, but
that does not mean it should be a stereotype. The author must
take the essence of the archetype and refine it into a fresh,
original character that will attract or repel, arouse or disgust
the reader.
As a vampire writer you must also create a believable fictional
world in which these supernatural creatures exist, well,
naturally. The characters you create to people that world must
exist and react according to your fictional world's logic. Part
of making the reader believe the unbelievable means having your
characters behave consistently throughout your story. Define the
limits of your unreality and stay within those bounds. Fantasy
only works when the writer makes the reader accept that mice can
talk, or dragons fly or vampires bite.
To become aware of the vast vampiric variety, try anthologies
for concise examples. THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRES, edited by
Stephen Jones, is packed with modern-day (and a few classic)
interpretations. THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF DRACULA, also edited by
Jones, takes Stoker's count and interprets him in three dozen
highly original ways. Poppy Z. Brite's two anthologies, LOVE IN
VEIN and LOVE IN VEIN II, also offer a wide range of mildly
erotic fangsters.
As for novels, try Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's COMMUNION BLOOD, Nancy
Collin's SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK, Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH A
VAMPIRE, Brian Lumley's NECROSCOPE, Poppy Z. Brite's LOST SOULS,
Kim Newman's books (ANNO DRACULA, THE BLOODY RED BARON, JUDGEMENT
OF TEARS) or Nancy Kilpatrick's Power of the Blood trilogy --
CHILD OF THE NIGHT, NEAR DEATH, REBORN -- to find out just how
diverse vampires and their worlds can be.
You just can't confine a good vampire to either its crypt or a
single genre.
**----------------------------------**
Paula Guran's free weekly email newsletter for horror writers and
others, "DarkEcho," recently received a Bram Stoker Award for
Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction Horror. (Email
darkecho@aol.com with SUBSCRIBE as the subject or check
http://www.darkecho.com.) She is also the literature editor for
Universal Studio's HorrorOnline.Com, does a free monthly
newsletter for Writers on the Net (subscribe at
http://www.writers.com) and writes and reviews for other
publications online and off.
Copyright (c)1999 Paula Guran.
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