Author: Kerry Lipp

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: An Open Letter to Publishers

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As writer, aspiring, up-and-coming, amateur, terrible, whatever you want to call me is fine, but I write consistently, submit constantly and publish stories occasionally. I’ve been quite fortunate in my two years of taking writing seriously, but I’ve also worked my butt off.

Being one who submits, it seems like every market is just a little bit different, they all want things a specific way. And that’s fine, you’re the ones signing the checks, and compiling the books, so we’ll bend and if other writers are anything like me, they’ve probably got the same story saved at least five different ways depending on how many times it’s been rejected.

I can’t imagine the struggles you deal with editing, reading slush, etc. From people blatantly ignoring the guidelines to authors pulling stories at the last possible second because they got a better offer somewhere even though you clearly indicated NO SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS. To arguing about changes to stories and corresponding with 10-30 contributors for each anthology/magazine etc and everything in between.

So I totally understand wanting things a specific way from file format to Shunn’s manuscript format, to one space after periods (I’ll kill that bear someday, but damn that is hard!)

I like to think that writers do a decent job of following the guidelines, at least the one’s worth/are serious about publishing.

God knows I’ve laid a few eggs when submitting and still do occasionally but for the most part, I’ve got a good grip on the flow of things.

Now onto the business at hand.

First off, this is not targeted at any specific publisher. I’ve mostly had nothing but great experiences in my two years. Definitely had a few hiccups, but I’m resilient and I’ve moved on.

Having said that, I’d like to suggest a couple of things that some of you could do just a little bit better. I know that a lot of you work day jobs and moonlight as publishers and a lot of things I’m suggesting would save time on both ends. I know that most of you are writers as well and I’m sure publishing changes your perspective after spending some time at it, and maybe I’ll eat these words someday, and if I do, I’ll gladly admit, recant, rewrite this post, but for now, here’s a list of things that I think serious, competent writers deserve when either submitting or researching markets.

I’m well aware that I’m on record here http://youareentitledtomyopinioninterviews.blogspot.com/2014/02/interview-with-kerry-lipp.html saying that “no one owes you anything.” I still pretty much stand by that with these few exceptions.

Publishers don’t have to agree with me, but please consider:

1. Send out confirmation emails – I blogged about this for Horror Tree a few months ago. This is especially important if you don’t allow simultaneous submissions. Make it easy on yourself and the writer with a simple “thanks, got it.”

2. No contributor copy bait and switch – If you are offering a contributor copy as payment or part of payment, the writer deserves to know up front if it’s a digital copy or a print copy. Lately I’ve been seeing WAY TOO OFTEN the words “all contributors will receive a complimentary copy.” That’s it. That phrasing alone makes me wary, as if the press has something to hide. I’m not even asking for a paper copy, (though I avoid a lot of places that don’t offer them for contributing) I’m just asking to know up front, so I won’t be super excited about this amazing anthology and then feel ripped off when it’s clarified at contract stage what my contributor copy actually is.

3. Send out rejections – I see this one every now and then too. Rejection sucks, I totally get that, I wouldn’t want to send those out either, but let me say from experience, it feels a lot better to get that form rejection “thanks for submitting but we’re sorry you’re story wasn’t a good fit” as opposed to seeing a publisher post a picture of the book with a TOC attached to it. I’ve felt that steel-toed kick to the nuts a few times and that’s no good either. It’s unprofessional and unfair, especially if you’re holding a story a writer could resubmit elsewhere without telling him or her.

4. Indicate whether or not you’re accepting reprints – All too often I see this information left out of open calls. I’ve been at this two years and I don’t know if this means “hell no” or “bring ‘em on” and I don’t want to waste my time and a publisher’s time asking a question that should be answered when they post their submission guidelines.

5. Quit saying “no blood and sex and gore for shock value or for it’s own sake” – NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THIS MEANS OR WHERE THE LINE IS. South Park is the most bloody, sexual, fart, piss, shock show on tv and also one of the best written and dare I say “literary.” So is the stand up comedy of George Carlin or Louis CK. What you’re doing is scaring writers from submitting on the fear that they will be judged even more or more harshly than they already will be for submitting. Not cool, brah. Oh and that whole thing about horror as counterculture and shock is sort of… at its foundation? Right?

So there’s my current list. I’m sure there’s more, but this was off the top of my head. Like I said, I’m not (super)angry about this stuff, and I don’t see it too often, but I still do see it and I’m just asking for fairness (number 5 is a little more personal than the rest). I’m not really even demanding things to change. And I don’t expect them too, but you never know who might get a look at this. This isn’t a manifesto or something, I’d just like publishers to at least be aware of these things. I’m guessing a lot of writers and publishers too for that matter, would largely agree.

Maybe, maybe not. I am interested to hear your thoughts though. Agree? Disagree? What points am I missing? Anything I’m being too big of an annoyance about? Let me know. [email protected]

I’ve never once asked for this since I started writing for HT over a year ago, but I’d love to get plenty of eyes on this. Would love to see this get some posts and shares on facebook/twitter or wherever you do your most social media damage.

After all, I’m doing this for you as well as for me.

Thanks for listening!

Also, I’ll be back in a week or so with an update on the story a week challenge. So far I’m 4 for 4. I hope some of you are too!

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,
KGSL

CLOSED: Cranial Leakage – Tales From The Grinning Skull

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Payment: 1/4 cent/word (subject to an increase). Digital copy + print copy. Discount for additional copies.

CRANIAL LEAKAGE will be an annual publication from Grinning Skull Press. It is an unthemed horror anthology that will be published in both digital and print formats. Subject matter is open, but please NO sexual content involving children.

DEADLINE: As this is an annual collection, there is no deadline. Once the one volume is filled, we will start compiling for the next volume.

WORD COUNT: 1,000-7,000 words (query for longer/short submissions)

PAYMENT: 1/4 cent/word (subject to an increase). Digital copy + print copy. Discount for additional copies.

REPRINTS: No

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS: No

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: No

FORMAT: Left-justify only

FONT: 12 pt Times New Roman. If text is meant to be italic, please use italic. Do not use underscore to indicate italic.

SPACING: Double spaced, no extra spacing between paragraphs, and single space after periods.

TAB INDENT: Please do not set a tab. Instead, use Word’s paragraph formatting for first line, and set the first line indent to 0.3″

PAGE NUMBERING/HEADERS: None

First page should include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, word count, and pseudonym (if writing under one). Send submissions as a word attachment to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include CRANIAL LEAKAGE, your last name, and submission title in the subject line.

Via: Grinning Skull Press.

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: Story a Week

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Hi.
My name is Kerry and I’m an alcoholi…
I mean my name is Kerry G.S. Lipp and I occasionally now (it used to be weekly) write about writing for this fantastic, helpful website. But I got busier and blah blah blah, I don’t do it as often anymore. It’s cool though, Story Worms and Setting Self Doubt on Fire do a great job.
But here I am, back again. The OG. And I have a question for all of you reading this.
Are you happy with your writing output so far in 2014? Honestly. ARE YOU HAPPY? Have you done what you said you’d do? What exactly have you done?
I’ll go first.
I’m happy with what I’ve done, but I’m not happy enough. My output so far in 2014 has been like 5 completed short stories with several others started. I’ve finished the first draft of my first novel “Everybody Dies.” In addition to that, I’ve completely rewritten and old long story called “The Famous Tail of Rami Hard” and a brand new novelette (god I hate that word) called “The Illusion of Choice.” Both weigh in at around 13,000 words. Lastly, I’ve completed, edited and submitted a full-blown novella of about 26,000 words called “Attack of the Giant Penises.” It’s kind of an autobiography. (It’s not, but as you know by now, I can’t refuse a good dick joke)
That might sound like a lot, but let’s be honest here, 2014 is almost halfway over….already.
CHRIST.
But if you add all that up, it’s barely over 100,000 words. Maybe I’m too hard on myself, or maybe I’m just lazy, I don’t know, but what I do know is that focusing on these longer works has really made me miss writing the short stories. Not to mention when revising, I found it very easy to get down on myself for not creating anything new.
So what’s a giant squid to do? (there’s your clue on my middle initials)
I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, and I challenge you all to join me. I’m joining up with a writing challenge issued by a friend of mine named Jessica McHugh. She dared to several authors including my main man Brady Allen, to join her in writing a short story a week. This short story could be in addition to other writing obligations or you’re only writing obligation, but the overall goal is to write one short story per week. She lays it out here http://mcnito.blogspot.com. She says it doesn’t matter if it’s 60 words or 6,000 words. Edited and submission ready or puke and shit on a page, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you finish one story a week.
The idea comes from Ray Bradbury who said something like “write a short story a week. It’s impossible to write 52 shitty ones in a row.” And Jessica issued this challenge, I guess, I wasn’t there when it happened, but I’ve seen several writers on facebook talking about it.
Well, dissatisfied with my output so far in 2014, I asked if I could join up late. She waved the blood red flag. So I jumped. And I’m happy to join. I gain nothing from this other than having more stories and camaraderie. (Both invaluable for a writer)
This isn’t for publication or a prize or anything like that. Though I’d love to publish most of what I write. Instead, this is writers motivating writers to sit down and write, and I’m happy that she extended that offer to me.
I have a few ideas right now, but there are 20 some weeks left in the year. I have no idea what I’m going to do. And I don’t care, because I don’t like making plans. I like winging it and I also like committing to a goal.
So here’s the goal. Starting June 1, write a story a week. It’s perfect as June 1 is a Sunday. Maybe you live in Australia (Hi Marta. HONK!) or something, but where I come from, Sunday is the beginning of the week.
So I’m issuing the challenge to all of you reading this. One story a week, starting June 1 for the rest of 2014. Word count doesn’t matter. Editing doesn’t matter. Submission doesn’t matter. Genre doesn’t matter. Just write some stories. You never know what you’re going to end up with. If you don’t know what to write, search markets on HT or Google writing prompts. Hell ask me, I’ll give you something, but the point is that no matter how awesome or shitty an idea, you run with it and see it through to the end. This should be a challenge, but this should also be fun. I’m already chomping at the bit to get my first new short story words on paper, but I’ve got a few I need to tie up before June 1.
Just to be clear, I’m taking on this challenge on top of other writing and life obligations. “Everybody Dies” needs to be edited and submission ready by I think October for the market I want. I have already started collaborations with a few other writers. A story a week is my goal in addition to my other goals. I don’t know what it will be for you, but that’s what it is for me.
Come join me. This is a crazy task to handle, but I’m sick of not producing they way that I think I should. I KNOW I CAN DO BETTER. And I want to do better. Maybe you share my sentiments or maybe you don’t. And either way is cool, I won’t judge you for not joining me, not even a little bit, but if you want to get onboard and commit to something that WILL increase your output. I’m an email or a friend request away. [email protected] or Kerry GiantSquid Lipp on facebook.
Don’t just take the first step.
Take my hand and let’s jump off the cliff.

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,

KGSL

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: Horror Realm Con

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I just kicked the weekend’s teeth in. Let me tell you what happened. There will probably be even more typos than usual in one of my posts. I’m hungover and exhausted, but I’ve got to get this written now. Bear with me, it’s pretty awesome.

This weekend I drove about 4.5 hours from Dayton, Ohio to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania for a small horror convention called Horror Realm Con. I went to meet and make friends. I also went to sell books. Beforehand, I talked to some publishers and got some deals and took about 40 books. I didn’t sell a single one. Not even with my marketing gimmick of brining in a six-foot tall stuffed squid. Hell, that was a lot of fun anyway. Obviously I wanted to sell a few books, but I don’t care. The experience was worth it.

I’m home now and despite the exhaustion and the road trip (I totally had to pull over and take a car nap) and all that stuff, I can’t stop smiling. All kinds of cool stuff happened. I’m going to fire the bullet points at you shotgun style because my brain isn’t functioning on any kind of level that will lead to anything in the ball park of linear coherence.

wicked library crewA big attraction to Horror Realm Con for me was the abundance of people associated with the podcast that has been oh so good to me, The Wicked Library. Also, my initial contact with several of these people came from my gig writing for HorrorTree. That’s pretty cool too! I got to meet Nelson Pyles, the voice of TWL (too bad Maddie Von Stark lives on the other side of the country) a founder of TWL Johnny Axx, and several other writers who have had stories featured on The Wicked Library, including two of the most recent Jessica McHugh and Mae March.

I’ve known Mae for about a year now, but we’d never met. She heard my story “Smoke” on TWL and sent me a friend request on FB and we’ve chatted off and on ever since. I’m not sure how I got so serious about actually driving 4 hours (my old roommate often jokes that I never leave a 5 mile radius around my house) but I said I was thinking about it and she convinced me to pull the trigger.

Mae said that her and her friend, artist and Tarot reader Lee Bradford had a dealer table and I could share it with them if I wanted. I wanted. They were cool as hell. I’ve not met in person too many people I’ve only known online as this is only really my second convention, but I hope the way things worked out with those two sets the pace for the rest of my life. They were both awesome, generous, cool, fair, funny, you name it, those two were it and it made feel super comfortable in a room where I didn’t know a soul.

Right behind our vendor table was the vendor table for Post Mortem Press. If you don’t know them GET TO KNOW THEM. They are doing great things and though I’ve yet to publish with them (and have received a staggering number of rejections haha) they are probably my favorite small press. I liked them a lot before this con and after getting to meet and hang out with Mr. and Mrs. Beebe, the two that run the show, my affection for that press has only grown.

Also directly at my back was the legendary pair made of Nelson Pyles and Jessica McHugh. Coolness all around. Never a moment of awkwardness, just cool conversation whether it had to do with reading and writing or all kinds of other profane avenues of conversation. It was like after I shook their hands, I’d already known them and I can’t wait to hang out with that pair again. So much fun.

The two of them and Eric Beebe put on a great panel that was entertaining, casual and educational. I enjoyed listening to them talk about processes. Nelson wakes up before dawn and lightly touches the keys to not wake up the rest of his family. McHugh writes almost everything by hand and basically has pen and a notebook stapled to her palms. Then I got to grill them all with my own questions afterwards. It couldn’t have gone any better I don’t think.

Going in I had a vague idea of who these people were. I’ve seen them around facebook, read them, and interacted with them online to varying degrees. They were every bit as cool as I expected and more.

And most importantly, they were good to me and that means everything. Hopefully I returned their actions in equal measure.

Thank you guys. You’ve got a friend and fan for life over here.

HARD TRANSISTION.

Another group of people that I knew pretty much only in name also made a profound impact on me.

There’s an underground film making company based in Pittsburgh that goes by the name of Toe Tag.

Anyone ever heard of them?

They are lead by a married team of awesomness personified in Fred and Shelby Vogel.

They are (in)famous for a movie they did several years ago called “August Underground Mordum.” Watching this movie actually gave me the idea for the novel I’m currently working on. Weird how things works out. I don’t want to say too much but that was one of the earliest movies they made and it’s stuck with me and given me ideas of my own.

I saw about half of a more recent Toe Tag film simply titled “Murder Collection Volume 1” at a late night screening. Following that, I saw films by two other members of Toe Tag. The other films were fantastic. Keith Voigt’s short film “Lust” delivered a hardcore exploration of the title word and made me cringe. Jason Hoover’s “I Am No One” was one of the most unique takes on a serial killer I’ve seen recently, which really sticks out in a repetitive and saturated market. That one will make you squirm with almost zero blood and guts.

I don’t know. I might have gone to the screenings anyway. I was already thinking about it. But what really sold me was an afternoon panel with the guys from Toe Tag. Fred Vogel, Keith Voigt, and Jason Hoover.

I enjoyed listening to them talk about their movies and their backstories and their goals and experiences. Especially Fred Vogel. He struck me. Rarely do you encounter someone so passionate, so driven and so intelligent and crazy about their craft as Fred Vogel. I’m not taking anything away from the other two as I see them following in Fred’s footsteps and coming out the other side. They support each other. They believe in each other and it’s awesome to see that kind of chemistry.

I don’t know that any of you have seen any of Toe Tag’s movies and if you seek them out, be warned, they will mess you up. They aren’t like anything you’ve seen before. These are the epitome of underground hardcore. This stuff WILL mess with your head. But that’s where the power lies.

Having seen “August Underground Mordum,” I kind of knew what to expect when I sat in for the evening films and even though I KNEW going in that I was probably going to be rattled, I still got rattled. The last scene in Murder Collection really got under my skin.

Here’s the cool part.

Credits roll and Fred walks in.

He just says, “Thanks for watching my movie.” That’s pretty much it. He might have asked if anyone had any questions, I don’t remember since my brain was trying to digest what it had just seen. He also told us that the autopsy scene won an award and even though it was up against Hollywood competition.

Our faces had to have looked like we’d either just seen a murder, a ghost or we were going to be sick. Fred doesn’t apologize he doesn’t do anything but express genuine gratitude for us taking interest in his movie.

I’m think he was serious but I don’t know for sure when he said in the panel that he’s on some kind of FBI watch list based solely on the content he creates. But he owns it and I think that’s what I like about him the most. No hesitation, always pushing forward. In the panel he described his life and the pursuit of his craft as a chess game and that no matter what he never stops moving forward. I’m taking that, applying to my own life and I’ll always thank him for that idea put just that way.

Also he’s just a really cool guy. Smart, savvy, charismatic, he’s got it all. I got to talk to him for a bit at the after party. He plays a character in “August Underground Mordum.” Seeing him play that character and meeting him in real life will reveal the man’s talent. Night and day. I can’t put into words how surreal it was to see one of his movies and then an hour later seeing him rocking the dance floor with his wife to Def Leppard. Shelby wasn’t at the panel but I got to meet her at the after party. She’s awesome too. I like everything about Toe Tag even if they twist my stomach.

I don’t know about anyone else but with my crew, since it was daylight savings time, the time went from 1am to like 5am in the blink of an eye.

We slept for about 2 hours and then it was time to head back to the con.

I got to catch them the Toe Tag crew on my way out Sunday afternoon and bought a Toe Tag shirt. I will wear it loud and I will wear it proud. Since my books weren’t selling at all, I gave them a few. Hopefully they enjoy them.

There were a bunch of other highlights throughout the trip as well, but I’ll cap it here. I’m so happy I went even if I didn’t sell a single book. I think I’m gonna send a bunch of them to soldiers overseas instead. I’m cool with that.

This was my second major con experience and it served its purpose. I met people, had a blast and most importantly I LEARNED SOME THINGS.

Big thanks to Mae March and Lee Bradford, the whole Post Mortem Press Crew, Nelson, Jessica and the Toe Tag crew, Fred, Jason and Keith. I’m looking forward to crossing paths with them again and frequently and in pairs. I sure hope so.

To anyone associated with Horror Realm Con, here’s a heartfelt thank you. I’m a fan for life and would love to come back.

I’m tired and I’m hungover as hell. But I’m proud and I’m happy. And that always trumps a hangover.

Now I can get back to work on my own craft with some new experiences and some new ideas.

Time to get nasty.

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,
KGSL

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: Confirmation E-Mails, SEND ‘EM!

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I don’t even know where to start. I haven’t been writing for HT because I’ve been busy with a million other things. Great things are happening and I think I might (fingers crossed so tight they snap each other off) be on the cusp of selling my first stand-alone book.

It’s madness, it really is. As I was telling the HT boss in a Facebook conversation earlier, we need to work the weekends and take the week days off, and then maybe, just maybe we could put a dent in the commitments we have and the work we want to do.

Shit don’t work like that though, and I’m writing this fast because my laptop battery is going to die and I don’t have internet at my house. I always write at the bar anyways right?

At the boss’s prodding and after a Facebook post I made that I wish would’ve received a little more attention, I’m going to write about something that pisses me off. Are y’all surprised?

I didn’t think so.

I want to talk about confirmation emails for a minute. For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about, a confirmation email is an acknowledgement that you get from an editor or a publisher that lets you know that they do in fact HAVE your story. A lot of places send them out, but sadly a lot of places don’t. And the places that don’t are really frustrating.

For example, I’ve got about 5 stories subbed right now that I have no idea if I’m ever going to hear back from. There are some good looking markets right now, but without knowing my current status, it makes it real tough to make a decision. As a writer I shouldn’t have to contact a publisher to ask “hey did you get my story.” That is an absolute waste of time for both of us. Yeah, I know that back in the snail mail submission days this might not have been the case, but those days are dead and gone and we’ve both got better things to do…. You know like, um I don’t know, READ AND WRITE.

Submittable is great because it tracks everything, but a lot of publishers don’t use Submittable. If you have no idea what I’m talking about google it and set up an account. Though I think I’m currently cursed on Submittable. Haven’t sold a story that way yet. One day!

A lot of publishers use simple email like everybody else. And that’s cool. You can reject me; I have no problem with that. Just let me know that you got my story so I’m not waiting and wondering when there are tons of other places out there to send stuff.

Anyone ever had a rejection via TOC?

Anyone know what I’m talking about?

TOC means table of contents for those of you not in the know. Remember that term, you’ll see it and start using it a lot once you start publishing regularly. And you will start publishing regularly if you keep writing, editing and submitting.

Rejection via TOC means that the publication that you submitted to didn’t send out confirmations or rejections. You find out you didn’t make the cut when either they announce the TOC on their Facebook page or actually release the book. This is an absolute dickhead move. I know I’m being harsh, but don’t see a way to defend this other than outright laziness. And yes I mean laziness, it can’t take long to type “got it” and hit send. Hell, there’s probably a way to automate it anyways. If there’s something I’m missing, let me know, I’m curious and will happily recant my statement/post your defense in my next blog. Contact me at [email protected]

Us writers are taught to be patient and we are. At first the waiting seems ridiculous but then we start to understand the volume of submissions publishers receive and it becomes a lot easier. But don’t reject people this way. Don’t be a coward and don’t blame it on time. If you don’t have the time to reject writers you probably shouldn’t be running a press or a magazine or whatever.

Unless you put up a blog that says “I’m too lazy and a giant pussy and I won’t reject writers via email, even though I’ve been sitting on their story for months now. I’d rather just torture them and make them wait before I break their heart without even telling them. Maybe they won’t even notice since I didn’t send them a confirmation or a rejection email.”

Uncool.

We notice.

It’s happened to me more than once as I’m sure it’s happened to many other submitting writers. I could name names, but I’m not going to. All I’m asking is that publishers send out confirmations and rejections.

“Hey Chotch, thanks for the story, I doubt we take it, but we’ll let you know within the next 3 months.” BOOM. DONE. Publishers can even use this. You can have it. Please. Take it!

And for the love of god, if you’re going to put on your submission call that you don’t accept simultaneous submissions, you better make goddamn sure you send out confirmation emails.

Why in the holy name would I send you a story that I might not even know that you got and then wait for a few months so that you might, if you’re feeling magnanimous, tell me you rejected. And all the while actively NOT send it to a bunch of other markets that look promising?

Don’t get it twisted, I have no problem with publishers that don’t accept simultaneous submissions, I get that, and that’s fine, but if you’re gonna play by those rules YOU OWE the writer a confirmation email. I suppose the only exception to this is if you have a lightning fast turnaround time, say less than a week. Then I guess you’re forgiven.

I know most publishers and editors either are or once were writers, which is why this boggles my mind and pisses me off so much.

It’s not that hard.

Send out confirmation emails.

Send out rejections.

If you want to create a quality publication, build a solid reputation within the community. You’ll get more submissions, better submissions and people will want to read your publication and support you.

I’ve bought publications I’ve been rejected from, happily and often. I’m a big boy. I’ve even reviewed them. Go check out Jamais Vu on amazon.

BUT. I will never, EVER, buy a publication that I was TOC rejected from without a confirmation email.

So uncool.

And this probably sounds whiny and maybe it is, but it’s injustice and it’s bullshit.

It’s important because so many markets are springing up every day and I’m looking out for fellow writers. A lot of markets open up and then die before they even put out their first anthology, and you may never hear a word about it, instead you’ll just be patiently waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Be ready for this stuff.

Hopefully it’ll eventually fade away, but I’m not counting on it. Anyone out there reading this, I’d like to think I speak for all writers when I say our job is tough enough the way it is. Help us out a little bit!

On a side note:

I just remembered how much I enjoy writing stuff (ranting) like this that can hopefully help you other writers out there in the trenches. I’ll try and pop up here a little more often.

In the meantime…

Keep reading, keep writing and keep it real,
KGSL

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: It’s NaNoWriMo Time!

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Though I should be working on my novel, I wanted to take a quick break and write a little bit about writing because, well, that’s productive.  I’m a procrastinator at heart, but I’d like to get this out there.

 

For those of you that don’t know November is National Write a Novel in a Month Month or something.  Check it out www.nanowrimo.org.  Add me as a writer buddy if you like I think my username is kerrygslipp but I haven’t quite figured that part out yet.

 

Anyway, the goal is to write 50,000 words toward a novel in one month.  You can track your progress at the website.  It’s a pretty cool thing.  It equates to roughly 1,666 words per day.  (That’s a pretty number ain’t it?)

 

I took the challenge last year and got to about 44,000 words.  I quit at the end to rush a few short stories for publication.  One of those shorts is still rotting on my hard drive, the other, “The Guts of a Coward” turned out pretty good and landed me a spot in The Best of Cruentus Libri Press anthology.  Get it now, by the way, Cruentus is saying goodbye and pulling their books from Amazon in early 2014.  Get that now!!!

 

I never went back to that novel that I’d started.  I think I realized that though I was 44k words in, it would take another 44k to finish a first draft.  That’s a bit discouraging.  I would however, love to dig it out one of these days.  There’s some cool stuff in there if I remember right.  I thought about finishing it this year for nanowrimo but I didn’t.

 

I actually wasn’t planning on doing nanowrimo at all until I saw a bunch of my friends posting about it on Facebook.  I also got about 4 personal messages asking me what I was going to start.  I had a loose idea for a novel I wanted to write someday. So my snap decision to do nanowrimo started with the two words that usually accompany most of my decisions in life.

 

Screw it.

 

But I decided 3 things.

  1. that no matter what, I’d hit 50,000 words this time.  (I know you’ve heard this from me before blah blah blah)
  2. That before I even wrote my name on the paper, I’d blow my inner critic’s brains out.  That guy is an asshole.
  3. That I’d have fun with it

 

Number three bears elaborating on.  But Squidman, you always have fun when you write don’t you?  No.  I don’t.   I try to, but sometimes it’s impossible.  And let me tell you why.

 

Like most of you, I often write toward markets.  I skim HT or some other places or get invitations or whatever and even if it’s open themed, I’m always writing toward a market.  “2-4 thousand words with no religious satire or overtly sexual themes or violence used for shock value.”

 

Screw you.  I don’t even know what that means.

 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for everything, but I’ve just felt like some of the fun has gone out of it as my writing is now hinging on acceptance or rejection by the open calls.  I don’t like that I’ve fallen into that trap.

Sure I want to get published as much as the next guy, but I’m taking a break from that for November.

 

I’m going back to my roots.  I’m just going to play.

I know that there is about a negative zero percent change of this novel I’m working EVER getting published or being seen by anyone but me.  So to make sure that I actually complete my goal and finish a longer work, I’m just going to have the most fun I can possibly have without taboos.  (And yes that may or may not include: constant swearing, a conversational tone, tongue in cheek, rape, sexual violence, mutilations, cannibalism, religious fanatics, dick jokes, prostitution, drug use, underage sex, and maybe even video taping all of this for sale on ebay)

 

Christ, I used the C-word 27 times in one chapter, just because I could.  The cool thing is, once this is finished, I do think it will all or at least most of it WORK, because that’s the attitude I’m taking into writing it.

I don’t want to talk about my idea because I think it’s a good one and I’ve never seen it done before, and god forbid this actually turns out salvageable, I don’t want to get myself messed up, except maybe by one of my main characters, she’s a tigress.

 

But suffice it to say that I started with this title.  The title of my story is EVERYBODY DIES.  And guess what’s going to happen?  Yep, and in sick and twisted and horrible ways.  Hopefully some of them are funny, at least to the other sickies out there.

 

I’m about 12,000 words in as I write this, Saturday, November 9.  And I’ll tell you, I’m so glad I’m not censoring myself.  I don’t care.  This is definitely the most nasty, graphic stuff I’ve ever written, stuff that’s making be like “whoa dude, that’s messed up” good thing I kicked my inner critics ass and instead I’m like “yeah, and it’s awesome, write something worse!”

 

This has more in common with Ed Lee or Ryan Harding or A Serbian Film and August Underground Mordum than anything else I’ve ever done and I’m cool with that.  I’m actually really excited about that.  I like to try and stay diverse.  And part of diversity includes having to look up just to see hell.

 

Good thing I just don’t care anymore.

 

I wish you all the best of luck on your quest for 50,000 words in the month of November.  Take my advice; cut your inner critic’s tongue out.  Or at least tape him to a chair and gag and blindfold him.  You can’t kill him, but at least try and shut him/her up for a few weeks.

 

Time to go spill some ink and guts all over the page.

 

Just as a teaser to this novel you’re never going to read, the scene I’m about to write is about a guy blindfolding himself and hiring five of his favorite hookers.  Based on his other senses and prior experience with them, he’s going to try and decide who’s who.  Don’t even think about stealing my idea, dick.

 

What are you all working on?  Fire away at [email protected] or New World Horror – Kerry G.S. Lipp on facebook.

 

Get nasty and write without fear.

 

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,

KGSL

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: Happy Halloween! Part 1: The Idea

666bottles

 

Sooooooooo once again comes the question: Where have I been?  How was Killercon?  How was your reading?  Well, I’m going to try and lay it out for you in a hurry so that I can make way for a little Halloween treat that me and Stu cooked up.

 

A few people have asked me if I’m still writing for HT and what I’ve been up to.  Why I never posted about actually going to Killercon, etc.

 

First off, Killercon was awesome.  I would recommend it to everyone.  Life permitting, I’ll go every year until I’m dead. I met some awesome people and learned some great stuff.  Most importantly I had a lot of fun.  The reading was great.  I read my story “Cigarettes and Murder” in front of about 8 people.  I think one of them was Robert Devereaux.  That’s pretty cool.  I also got a nice compliment from Christine Morgan.  She’s awesome.  Remember her name.

 

Where have I been?

 

The short answer is that I’m insanely busy.  I know this is a cop out and this is what everyone says, but it’s true.  I’m having real trouble finishing stories, editing them and making deadlines.  I have even more trouble telling people no.  I’m getting to the point where people are asking me to read and critique their stories, collaborate, contribute, blog etc.  And I want help everyone and I want to get along with everyone and I have real trouble saying no.  And I’m glad. It’s led to some really cool shit.   But I’ve broken some promises too; blown some stories and opportunities, and I feel bad about that.

 

I’ve also been through some eye opening events in the last couple of months.  I lost my job for a while when the government shutdown.  Nothing like getting blindsided after five days of gambling, drinking, and partying in Vegas and not having a job to come home to.

 

Lesson learned.

 

I wasn’t scared about where my next meal would come from, but had it lasted a little longer, I may have been.  I got absolutely demolished in my bet with Kevin Bufton, penning about 10,000 words instead of the 50,000 we bet on.  I got dumped.  It hurt.  It wasn’t a good month.

 

I spent a lot of September and October recovering and dealing with a lot of this.  I did it through a break from writing.  I do believe writing is therapy, but I also think that some combination of all of these things brought me to a kind of crossroads.   I still don’t have it figured out, but I’m trying to be a little less hard on myself about deadlines, word counts, productivity etc.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving myself a license to be lazy, and no way I’m throwing in the towel, but I’m trying to be a little more realistic and I’m no longer going to feel so bad or get down on myself if I play a couple hours of Xbox or watch a movie to recharge myself.

 

This whole thing is a grind, a journey and I love it, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.  I learn something new at every turn.  I don’t have it figured out and once I do, my plans, perspective, the market, my opportunities, something will change.  It’s evolution, always has been, always will be, and I’m just now starting to realize that.

 

So what does this all mean for me and 666 Bottles of Blood on the Wall?  It means that I’m still going to be here, just not quite so often.  I think I’ve got it worked out with HT to be around monthly, or when I’ve got something to say (which could possibly be often haha) instead of weekly.  Several cool/weird/awkward/interesting things have happened that I’d love to comment on, I just can’t commit to doing it so often at this point.

 

A couple others have joined up with the team, so you’ll still be in good hands.

 

I ain’t going far, not at all, but I want to thank Stu, HT, and everyone who’s read 666BOBOTW.  I’ve met some fantastic people, landed some great gigs, and made some life long friends.  I hope to make many more from this in the future.

 

NOW.  Onto funner things.  Happy Halloween!!! To celebrate I’ve got something special.  Earlier I spoke of evolution in my life, writing process etc.  Well, to drive that point home, I did some digging and found the first “real” story I ever wrote.  I wrote it for Brady Allen’s introduction to short story writing way back in like 2006.  I was like 22, writing for the first time.  Brady actually said it reminded him of Richard Laymon.  I said “who?” and that led to my discovery of my all-time favorite writer.

 

To date this is the only straight up “slasher” story I’ve ever written.  It is also the only Halloween themed story I’ve ever written.  I also think out of everything I’ve written this one would still probably make the best movie.

 

It’s yours.  For free.  I’m not exactly sure what version this is, this is the only one I can find, so it’s not a first draft, but I haven’t touched it up since that class either, at least not that I can remember.

 

My newer stuff is all over the net, just Google me or Amazon me and you’ll find free stuff or stuff worth paying for (mostly due to the other contributors to the anthologies)  Kerry Lipp or Kerry G.S. Lipp.

 

The purpose of this is to show evolution.  Where I started and where I am now.  I’m writing all of this before I’ve even reread the story.  I remember a lot of it, but not everything.  This’ll be fun.  So here it is.  Uncut, unrevised, unedited.  I’m going to read it and I’ll provide some comments at the end.  Hey, maybe it’ll even me less embarrassing than I think… But I doubt it!

 

Let’s go to a haunted house called “The Bloodshed” and see what’s lurking there.

 

For the last time, let me reiterate that this was the FIRST story I EVER wrote in 2006, so give me a break.

 

Enjoy.

 

If you want to contact me, feel free, I’d love it.  Find me on Facebook New World Horror – Kerry G.S. Lipp, twitter @kerrylipp.  Email [email protected] and I’ve never posted this one publicly before, but it’s not that hard to find either, facebook Kerry GiansSquid Lipp.  That’s the GS for those of you late to the party.

Happy Halloween and I’ll see you all around.  Take care of your bad selves.  AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

 

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,

KGSL

Six Hundred Sixty Six Bottles of Blood on the Wall: The Road To Killercon Part 3

666bottles

It’s almost here, and I’m already losing sleep.  I don’t know that I’ve been more excited for anything in quite some time or probably ever.

But before I get to Killercon, I’ll give you an update on my challenge with Kevin Bufton.  To put it bluntly, I’m getting my butt kicked.  I’m writing this Friday afternoon, and I’m sitting on 9,000 words.  For those of you doing the math at home, I’m like 11,000 words behind.  I haven’t talked to Kevin at the time of writing this, but I talked to him a few days ago, and he was at like 14,000.  I’m guessing he’s over 20k now.

 

On top of that, I’ve got an invitation I desperately need to finish, and I just got edits back for my story BFF for the Attack of the B-Movie Monsters anthology from Grinning Skull.  And there’s a lot of blood on that manuscript, haha.  They might’ve broken MSWord’s track changes.

 

Good thing I’ve got a plan.  Some friends of mine on Facebook, Jay Wilburn, Max Booth III, and Jessica McHugh, have been doing 24 hours writing challenges lately.  The goal is to still live your life, but your primary focus for those 24 hours is writing.  I don’t know exactly how they all did, but I know they all hit well over 10,000 words, and I think Jay hit somewhere around 25,000.  That’s pretty insane.  Mad props to the three of them for doing it and getting such great results.  It’s inspiring.  So inspiring that I’m jealous and want to try it myself.

 

Then I leave for Killercon I’m stealing their idea and hoping to get at least 10,000 words to help me catch up.  I came into this novel writing challenge with nothing more than an idea. No outline, no nothing.  The first 9,000 words have been a struggle.  I even threw away my first start, which was over 2,000 words, and started over.  But now my story is starting to take shape, and I think from here on out, the writing will come a little easier.  I still have no idea what’s going to happen, but a lot of doors have opened up this week, and I think I’ve got at least a clue.

 

We’ll see what happens.

 

Now to the business at hand: KILLERCON 2013.

 

HOLY….

 

I’m so excited I’m going a day early.  Killercon starts on Thursday, but I’m getting into Vegas on Wednesday.  I’m planning on using that head start as part of my 24-hour writing challenge.  What better way to spend a day sitting in airports and airplanes and a night in Vegas… By yourself.  Maybe I’ll just throw the whole writing challenge out the window and get an escort. Or if I win a little at the tables, TWO ESCORTS.  I doubt it, but c’mon.  C’mon.

 

I don’t know if I’m going to post while I’m there or just write something up when I get back.  It looks like there’s pretty much constant programming, so I really don’t know how much free time I’m going to have.  And no, I won’t have free time at night, there’s an after-party sponsored by one of the presses there each night, and I get to schmooze and booze with the best of the best.

 

However, I’m sure I’ll find time to tweet it @kerrylipp and share it on Facebook, in a fun way ;).  Come find me.

 

Hopefully, I make a lot of friends quickly because though I know the names of several people going, I’ve met ZERO of them in the flesh.  But I’m always up for an adventure.

 

I’m going to try and enter the gross-out contest and the erotic horror contest if there’s room.  And I think the end of my story, Immaculate Conversion, would be perfect for a 3-minute erotic horror contest.  Regardless, I think that’d be fun to try.

 

I was going to sign up to pitch an idea, but instead, I think I’m just going to go and ask a lot of questions.  Especially since I don’t have anything long enough to pitch at the current moment.  But I’d love to sit down and bounce some ideas around with Blood Bound Books or Deadite Press.  Hell yeah, I would.  That would be bonkers.

 

As you know, I’ve also got my first reading, and I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to read.  I asked some friends on Facebook and got a smattering of different answers.  I don’t know how familiar any of you reading this are with my work, but if you’ve got a favorite or a story that you think would be good for me to read for my first-ever public reading, I’d be interested in some feedback.

 

The story I’m leaning toward is called Attention Wh*re and can be found for free in the Monster Issue here http://www.sirenscallpublications.com  If you get a minute check it out and let me know what you think?  I’d be forever in your debt or something.

 

I need to figure this out so I can practice just a little bit!

 

Outside of all that, I’m just ready to rock this and get a brand new reading, writing, and horror education.

 

If any of y’all reading this are heading to KC drop me a line at [email protected], and we can meet up.  I’ll be the ugly young guy with a beer in each hand, wearing a backward Cincinnati Reds baseball cap and a big grin on his face.

Keep reading, keep writing, and keep it real,

KGSL