Still awake...

....but going to bed soon. I spent some quality time transferring files from the iMac to the iBook, including at least one completed short story (very short, 2281 words short) from several years ago (written for a class, frighteningly enough) that I think might be salable. Which is pretty shocking. So I also spent quality time researching markets. (Getting published in Weird Tales? How cool would that be????) The problem is almost no one really does electronic submissions so I have to print the thing out. And my printer is still basically busted. Which means it's time to return to Kinkos! I need to print at least one copy; no one allows simultaneous submissions (as well they should not!), so I only really need one copy at a time, but it's always good to have another one on tap for when I get the inevitable rejection letters. (Not that I don't think the story is good; I'm just realistic.)

In all these years, I've only actually submitted something for a non-specific slush pile (the Marvel Epic debacle). This would be my first "real" submission. Wow. That's pretty cool. Hmm. Gotta get to Kinkos sometime soon....

But now, to bed. And, I hope, to sleep!

Actually kind of a big day.

Admittedly, I seem to have been at my most productive before 11AM, but still. By then, I had written two job cover letters and a very short cover letter going to Gordon Van Gelder, editor of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. (I'd been told to make that last one short and sweet, letting your story do the talking for you. But I'm still really nervous about it.) For one reason or another, I didn't manage to get out of the house until nearly 2pm. Made my way to Kinkos where I printed out the story and two of the cover letters (the third had been electronically sent on its little way) and then faxed a letter and resumé out. Then I got the package for F&SF together (story, letter, SASE), almost shaking with nervousness.

You see, in all my years, I've never actually submitted a story to a professional magazine. Most of what I write tends to either remain unfinished or isn't good enough for publication. (And that's not modesty, trust me.) This is a really big thing for me. I mean, I fully expect to get a rejection slip, but it'll be my first rejection slip! And, best-case scenario, Van Gelder might give me a few notes/suggestions for the story! And, of course, once F&SF potentially rejects it, it can go out to other magazines as well.... My next move, insofar as the freelance thing goes, is possibly getting the submission guidelines for British Heritage magazine, to which I can send some (edited) papers I've written during college. Ha!

Anyway, I was so excited that I decided to walk the package over to the post office right away! And boy, was it hotter than I thought it was. I mailed it out and just felt a little thrill go through me. It was out of my hands....and the 8-10 week wait to hear something begins.

After that, I made my way back to my car (with some detours to get some air conditioning relief), then headed to a local stationary story to drop off my second retail application. At least this one was for a full time job!

So. Even though I've done nothing since, oh, 4pm or so, today I
1. Applied for 3 jobs, all of which I qualify for, one of which (at least) I feel sure I'll get a call about soon. (and all of which are on the Eastside!)
2. Sent out my first ever submission as a freelance writer.
3. Didn't actually give myself heatstroke.

All in all, relatively successful day, huh? Now I just have to, like, write something as a followup....

I remember Cheech Wizard

30 years ago today, Vaughn Bode died. I just wanted to share the link so those of you who were unfamiliar with this amazing artist's work could take a look. I would say it is not work safe. If you've seen Bakshi's movie Wizards, you've seen art and concepts ripped off from that were an homage to Bode, especially Cobolt 60 and Cheech Wizard.

His son, Mark, is an amazing artist in his own right. I knew Mark fairly loosely (and not tremendously well) back in my Pioneer Valley days through the whole comics/Words and Pics amorphous group-thing. We attended a few of the same parties, though I in no way partied the way he did, even after his kids were born! (There is absolutely no way his site is work safe either. Just FYI.)

Anyway, go look when you can. And, if you you like the style, Mark has made sure a lot of his dad's work has come back into print. :-)