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Notes behind the cut. People are attributed by initials; aud -> indicates an audience comment or question. As always, transcribed fast and edited only vaguely, misattributions and errors are my own. Assume everything outside of quote marks is a paraphrase. (?) indicates something that I missed.
Short Stories & Novellas: Where's the Love?
Panelists: Stephanie Bedwell-Grime (mod), Leah Bobet (Ideomancer), Michael Swanwick, Hayden Trenholm
Description: Sure, we say we love reading shorter works, but it's the novels that sell, and awards for shorter fiction tend to go to successful novelists. Why don't short stories and novellas get more respect?
Definitions:
novellette = 7500 to 17500
novella = 17500 to 40k
novel = 60k +
Where's the love? well...
MS - no $ in shorts
- was writing short every 3 ks -> gives validation
- was happy until he did taxes
HT - short story writers get respect, least $$
- screenwriters get least respect, most $$
LB - markets work in parallel
- E. Bear quote "short fiction is the club scene"
- use to learn craft, connect with people
MS - disagrees somewhat
- short is its own art form
- chance to create something new
- ex. of Gibson - Burning Chrome was NEW; Neuromancer got more attention, but was rehash of BC
LB - shorts as stepping stone is fallacy
HT - different skill set
SGB - use shorts to experiment when changing genres
HT - renaissance of market -> pay for individual shorts
LB - Anthology Builder web site, podcasts
SBG - has novellas that have done well as ebooks
aud -> Fictionwise
MS - old school print -> distribution problem
people still talking about the Big 3 SF/F print publishers: Asimov, F&SF, Analog
lack of juried awards for short fiction?
HT - fragmentation of market -> print gives "core"
- model that might work: "Journey"
- 'zines sub 2 best stories from year
LB - award as tool, not end
- for Ideomancer: buys most stories on rewrites
- advice: intern as slusher
MS - watch an editor work
- first and last paragraphs
novella mkts?
- Subterranean Press
- CZP
- the Big 3
MS - disadvantage -> has to be really good; advantage -> not much competition
aud -> where is idea of lack of respect for form from?
MS - lack of reviews, lack of $$
LB - movie reviews vs. film criticism (as commentary on lack of reviews)
Short Stories & Novellas: Where's the Love?
Panelists: Stephanie Bedwell-Grime (mod), Leah Bobet (Ideomancer), Michael Swanwick, Hayden Trenholm
Description: Sure, we say we love reading shorter works, but it's the novels that sell, and awards for shorter fiction tend to go to successful novelists. Why don't short stories and novellas get more respect?
Definitions:
novellette = 7500 to 17500
novella = 17500 to 40k
novel = 60k +
Where's the love? well...
MS - no $ in shorts
- was writing short every 3 ks -> gives validation
- was happy until he did taxes
HT - short story writers get respect, least $$
- screenwriters get least respect, most $$
LB - markets work in parallel
- E. Bear quote "short fiction is the club scene"
- use to learn craft, connect with people
MS - disagrees somewhat
- short is its own art form
- chance to create something new
- ex. of Gibson - Burning Chrome was NEW; Neuromancer got more attention, but was rehash of BC
LB - shorts as stepping stone is fallacy
HT - different skill set
SGB - use shorts to experiment when changing genres
HT - renaissance of market -> pay for individual shorts
LB - Anthology Builder web site, podcasts
SBG - has novellas that have done well as ebooks
aud -> Fictionwise
MS - old school print -> distribution problem
people still talking about the Big 3 SF/F print publishers: Asimov, F&SF, Analog
lack of juried awards for short fiction?
HT - fragmentation of market -> print gives "core"
- model that might work: "Journey"
- 'zines sub 2 best stories from year
LB - award as tool, not end
- for Ideomancer: buys most stories on rewrites
- advice: intern as slusher
MS - watch an editor work
- first and last paragraphs
novella mkts?
- Subterranean Press
- CZP
- the Big 3
MS - disadvantage -> has to be really good; advantage -> not much competition
aud -> where is idea of lack of respect for form from?
MS - lack of reviews, lack of $$
LB - movie reviews vs. film criticism (as commentary on lack of reviews)
