Speculations #10, August 1996
For Writers Who Want To Be Read
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Issue 10 of Speculations sits open before me, as did the previous nine and a similar quantity of the magazine's unique "interim" editions. My views on this magazine are pretty simple: I love it. Why? Because it makes one basic promise--to be the magazine "For Writers Who Want To Be Read"--and damn-near everything they print is geared to keeping that promise.

The digest-sized magazine has an unusual publication schedule. Full-sized, 60-page issues appear in even-numbered months. These are interspersed with "interim" issues focused solely on time-critical market information. The interim issues are available for the asking to anyone interested in test driving Speculations.

What follows is a brief recap of each article in the August '96 issue.

Editorial Musings: "Howling at the Dog Star," by Sasha Miller. In a publication which rarely strays from its initial promise, Sasha Miller's editorials are puzzling. As "musings" they are aptly named. As items of vital interest to writers, they are of little use.

Miller can easily be forgiven the urge to wax poetic, especially after attending to the editorial chores of the magazine. Still, one wonders why she doesn't share something of substance rather than observations about her garden or other trivia.

What she does touch on, however briefly, and which is likely to be immensely more interesting to new writers, is the status of her latest novel, "Ladylord," from TOR. Ms. Miller is a consummate pro, so she's unlikely to use her editorial position as a vehicle for self-promotion, but those of us who wish to emulate her success would welcome more of her insights on the writing business, and the writing life.

Ask Bwana: "What's wrong with self-publication?" by Mike Resnick.

As he does in each regular issue, Mike Resnick answers questions about the business of writing. The questions are culled from his day-to-day contacts with writers in a variety of venues including CompuServe, Genie, and various conferences around the world.

The acerbic Mr. Resnick responds to each question with the same no-nonsense style of answer that endears him to many, yet leaves some wondering who routed the Silver Crescent through the souffle.

It's far better to get the truth, and get it from someone who knows, than to wonder why one's career seems to have stalled.

Inverse Thoughts/Thoughts In Verse: "How does a poet find the shape of a poem?" by Lawrence Schimel.

One of the few regular features anywhere dedicated to the poetry of the genre, Schimel's observations and advice appear sound. He also seems to have made a valuable assumption about his readership--we aren't all poets. The result is an article which addresses specific issues of the craft in a manner which neither condescends nor avoids subject depth. Poets interested in selling to speculative fiction markets would be well-advised to read what Schimel has to say.

Amusing the Muse: "How to get her to sit down beside you and tell stories you can pass off as your own," by Rebecca Lyons.

Not every article in Speculations is by a regular contributor. Such is the case with this down-to-earth advice for writers of other-worldly fiction. Rebecca Lyons focuses on helping writers to create the right atmosphere in which to work. Cultivating good work habits may sound like the least exciting aspect of the craft, yet Lyons does an excellent job of supplying a highly readable "why" for each essentially mundane "how."

Staying Alive: "Common, Ordinary Success," by Bruce Holland Rogers.

Another regular contributor, Bruce Holland Rogers takes an in-depth look at the writing life. This installment, subtitled "Want what you have, trust what you get, and know your heart-sufficient goals," provides a nice philosophical balance to the daily routines suggested in the piece by Rebecca Lyons. It must be noted that the material is no less readable for its philosophic content, nor is it any less pragmatic. Writing demands a variety of disciplines; this side of the issue is all too rarely addressed.

The Market Maven: "A heaping helping of Caveat Scrivener," by Cynthia Ward.

Just as Mike Resnick does, Cynthia Ward culls material from a variety of sources, and her column appears monthly. This one, and Randy Dannenfelser's Market Reports, are included in both the regular and interim editions. Ward's column is an invaluable resource for timely information on emerging markets, editorial changes, new addresses, and perhaps most important of all: things to be wary of. The material covers all market levels.

Market Reports and Response Times: "Prozines, semiprozines, e-zines, anthologies, and major book publishers," compiled by Randy Dannenfelser.

This report, which has been a staple of the Science Fiction and Fantasy forum on CompuServe for years, is an excellent resource for markets across the size and pay rate spectrum. Organized in a logical and highly readable format, the Market Report includes a range of response times as reported by writers from around the country. This data is updated monthly and is included in both the regular and interim editions.

The Writer's Spellbook: "Who's got the power," by Lillian Csernica.

Another regular contributor, Lillian Csernica takes a look at one of the mainstays of fantasy writing--magic. Since plausible systems are also a major cause for failure among those new to fantasy writing, Csernica's approach to what works, and why, is a valuable read.

Feature Fiction: "Where You're Coming From," by Thomas Deja. Possibly the most unusual feature in Speculations is the inclusion of a short story by a new writer, and a pair of critiques on it from writing professionals. This month's critiques were contributed by Cynthia Ward and Kent Brewster. While fiction-writing workshops have long been popular, opportunities for participating can be limited. The Speculations approach gives everyone the chance to join in, at least vicariously. Potential contributors please note: the editors are looking for fiction which is close to making it, not first drafts or trunk stories.

Moral Conflict: "Answer the hard questions. And then question the answers." by David Bollinger.

One of the more ambitious features in the August issue is David Bollinger's examination of Kohlberg's theories of moral development. But wait! Even though the topic may sound like Rip Van Winkle's night cap, Bollinger's treatment of it is not only readable, it makes the topic understandable--a neat trick for such a complex subject and such a short article. What makes characters real? This article offers some unusual methods for finding out.

"Is It Submittable Yet?" by Ashley Grayson.

The title question is one realistically posed by writers every day. Ashley Grayson, a literary agent since 1976, offers valuable insights into what his agency looks for. Grayson identifies about a half dozen problems, which commonly occur in the first dozen pages, and generally spell disaster. What may surprise many new writers, is that none of these things has anything to do with characters, story, or plot.

Nuts and Bolts: "Good news from the ego shelf," by Kent Brewster. Speculations publisher, Kent Brewster, closes each issue with a potpourri of market news, attaboys, and insider commentary. The August issue is no exception. How does Brewster determine whether or not his publication is meeting the promise in the masthead? Easy. Read the success stories he takes down from the ego shelf every issue. Better yet, subscribe, and then send him your own.

Copyright © 1996 by Josh Langston. All Rights Reserved.