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 The FSFS Newsletter is written by FSFS members covering everything Fantasy and Sci-Fi |
The "Fantasy and Science Fiction Society" welcomes you to  Welcome to the June 2016 edition of the Newsletter. Written by members of the "Fantasy and Science Fiction Society" for all of Writing.Com. And, not to brag, but we are officially 3 times Quill Winners! Contents 1. Introduction 2. Why Write Flash Fiction? 3. Etiquette of Being a Vendor of a Con 4. Book Review: A Spell for Chameleon 5. Advertisements 6. Vote  The Quills were great fun this year. Not only were both the PreQuil Gala and the Quills Ceremony broadcast live, butt he Newsletter walked away with 3 awards. We won best Non-Fiction Collection, Best Newsletter Editing (for "July 2015" ) and Best Fantasy/Science Fiction. The FSFS also received an honourable mention in the Best Group category! Invalid Merit Badge #220955 Invalid Merit Badge #220667 Invalid Merit Badge #220605 May also saw the return of the FSFS daily flash fiction challenge, called the "May Flash Challenge" . I am still working through the daily entries to pick daily winners. After that is finished a group of judges will get the 31 daily winners to a top 5 and then a public vote will determine the overall winner. It has been great fun reading all the entries, and I am very proud of the members who completed all 31 days.  Matt asked for articles on flash fiction. Which brought me to ask myself why would I write flash fiction at all? As I thought about it some points popped into my mind about this challenging type of writing.  Writing PracticeWe do this kind of writing to practice our writing skills. First, you have to use what is given to create a story and write it. You have to do it in a twenty-four hour period. It must meet the same criteria as far as grammar and spelling goes for any contest. It becomes a challenge for anyone to do it in a short period of time. Use of CreativityWorking with a given prompt can be fun. But sometimes it causes you to think outside of the box. Especially if you don’t like the prompt at all. When that happens, I start out writing what I want to write. Now, I add a twist and put in the prompt. Using PromptsIt is all about how we use the prompt to challenge our writing. I like to add twists to the story. Sometimes what they give you for a prompt doesn’t work for a good story. So my muse wants to write about something different that with a twist can lead back into the prompt. Most of the time I envision what the other writers would write about that prompt, then I think of what others wouldn’t expect. An example of this is a prompt is given to tell about a restaurant and the new décor and how good was the food. I wrote about a roadkill restaurant. Not what you would expect from a normal restaurant. Meeting Word CountsNow that you have your story idea and your twist to it. It is time to put it all on paper or computer screen. I found out that I now overwrite a story and have issues meeting word counts. The trick is to stop being so descriptive. It is flash fiction, not a book or a long short story. Edit it down to the facts that make it interesting and since it is flash fiction you don’t need a lot of character development. Doing it in a Short Period of TimeIt is designed to be written in a short period of time that is why they always have a 300 to 1000 word count. I find the hardest part in writing flash fiction is I am used to writing my rough draft. Then I go away from it and after a day or more as a cool down period and editing it. This works great for novels and longer short stories. But not for flash fiction because you don’t have days to work on it. You only have somewhere around twelve hours if that. So I take a short break and go do something else for an hour and come back to finish my draft for the contest. Writing flash fiction can be very rewarding as well as challenging. It is the only kind of writing that literally causes you to think fast and write out your story as you develop it. I like the fact that it has a low word count and they have some really creative prompts to write about. In a way, it gives us writers an exercise to stretch our minds on prompt writing as well as what we could do with an open prompt. The point to all of this is flash fiction does teach you as a writer how to come up with stories with little or hardly any time. It teaches you how to meet deadlines. The last point is it teaches you how to write for short stories and come up with story ideas with little or nothing. "Invalid Item" by A Guest Visitor  As I write this I am at Balticon, the Baltimore science fiction and fantasy con, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. This guest of honor is George R.R. Martin, plus due to the anniversary the con invited past guests of honor like Larry Niven, Jody Lynne Nye, Harry Turtledove, John Varley, Connie Willis, and many more. I’ve been coming to Balticon for about five years and had a table in the Dealer’s Room last year, which I think helped grandfather my getting a table this year – at a time when the con was estimated to double in size and need to be held at a bigger venue. It looks like the con will hit that today – guests are staying at four surrounding hotels. So, something I want to share is based on living through the Dealer’s Room Saga this first day I arrived I thought I should share an issue of etiquette. Yes, etiquette – as strange as the topic may seem, it is very important. So, here’s what happened at Balticon and why good etiquette pays off. As I mentioned, Balticon at a new venue. I knew through conversations with other vendors that the Dealer’s Room would be smaller than last year. When I arrived to set up the organizer of the Dealer’s Room explained that all the other authors were being put in the atrium outside the Dealer’s Room; however, because I did not require access to power she had placed me in spot in the main room. Considering myself lucky, I set up. As soon as I finished the organizer returned and asked if I wouldn’t mind moving outside joining authors there. She had accidentally put a publisher there and that vendor was quite unhappy about it. I could have declined, but what good would it do the organizer, that publisher’s state of mind, and everyone else? I graciously packed up -- although the spot was not ideal and my table was on wheels and would need to be moved into to the Dealer’s Room at night to be secure. I was placed next to Broad Universe, a co-op of women sci fi and fantasy authors, a number of whom I knew. That fact actually helped me in a number of ways during the con. Those friends offered to watch my table when I needed a break or was on a panel – and it turned out they had two book rack displays which were too big to see over. Normally, those racks were placed behind the authors, not on tables in front of them. “Hey, D.H., would you like to use this one we won’t be using?” Let me say this, the rack display gave my table more height and visibility than I’ve ever had before. However, I was on a corner and, that gave me a similar problem to their original one, trying to see over it to engage those interested in my books. The other issue with the “author’s row” was it was really crowded with author tables. Our chairs backed up to each other, making standing at times challenging. I had a less than happy colleague on the other side. Broad Universe had another unhappy colleague on their other side… His issue may have been the Tardis, blocking the view of his table… As a Doctor Who fan that wouldn’t have bothered me at all… Before the last Dealer’s Room hours that first day, I had to leave the building to run an errand… So, I missed the fire alarm going off and clearing the hotel. Apparently the fog machine for the Masquerade rehearsal uses canola oil, which the alarms took to mean there was a fire… As I wasn’t there, the Broad Universe gang did what they could to make sure my table was secure. That was more than nice of them. When I arrive to set-up my table the next morning, there was a lot more room at “author’s alley.” My unhappy neighbor complained about his spot a lot -- and since another vendor did not show got their spot in the main room. The other unhappy author apparently left the con, don’t know why, but my space issue was cured as was my improved ability to talk to people about my books as I moved my table sideways creating more clearance. Now here’s the thing about being, well, good about things. The organizer now knows I’m a good guy – that’s a nice reputation to foster. The publisher who I traded spots with me appreciates my doing that for him; even though, he’s given me the impression he might have been happier with the original set-up. (Turns out the main room is really small and the aisles narrow, and apparently the room gets stuffy or too cold… at the same time.) Also, I’ve fostered collegiality, which, believe me, is probably more important than anything. It also doesn’t hurt that one of those author’s in authors alley is planning an anthology and told me to watch for the guidelines announcement, or that publisher may be someone I wish to learn more about. Those who complained about their spaces also rattled the organizer at a critical time, when she needed to focus on other issues, but they got what they wanted or thought would be better for them… while I ended up with a space that was not too hot, too cold, or stifling (which those in the main room complained about for days)… next to the Emergency Exit, restrooms, and opposite one of the main entrances to the Dealer’s Room. Oh, I’ve sold twice as many books as last year -- and more books at a con or book fair than I ever have before. Maybe that because the cons twice the size, but I’d like to think good karma comes back in spades. So, remember good etiquette pays off. D.H. Aire Author of the Highmage's Plight Series (Book 6 - available as of today!) www.dhr2believe.net "Etiquette of Being a Vendor of a Con" by Highmage - D.H. Aire   Book Name: A Spell for Chameleon Author: Piers Anthony First Published: 1977 August Derleth Award Winner 1978 Piers Anthony was a British immigrant who came to America with his parents at the tender age of six years. He was not a happy child, being bullied at school with parents that divorced. Anthony met his wife, Carol while both were attending Goddard College in Vermont. After several odd jobs, Anthony joined the army in order to support his pregnant wife. In the military, he became an editor and cartoonist for the battalion newspaper. During his time in the army, he became a naturalized US citizen. After a two-year tour of duty, he became a teacher at the Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida before he switched careers and became a full-time author. During his start as a writer, Anthony and his wife made a bargain. If he could sell a piece of writing in one year, she would continue in her efforts to support the family. If he could not, he would give up writing forever. At the end of his first year, he did manage to get a short story published and the rest, as they say, is history. Piers Anthony has gone on to write several series of books and has gained much success as a fantasy and science fiction author. His Xanth series, which spans 30 books, continues to be written with a new book added to the series almost every year. “Now it was done. He was free of Xanth forever. Free to make his own life, without being ridiculed or mothered or tempted. Free to be himself. Bink put his face in his hands and cried.” ― Piers Anthony, A Spell for Chameleon A Spell for Chameleon begins with the introduction of a young man named Bink. He has a problem. In a land where every human has a magical talent, he is one of the unfortunate few who does not. If a human of Xanth does not display a talent by their eighteenth birthday, they are thrown into exile into the non-magical realms, our world. Bink undertakes one last quest to discover if he has magic. To visit the Good Magician Humfrey, whose magical talent is that of information. If Humfrey can discover his talent, Bink can remain in Xanth and marry his sweetheart, Sabrina. The quest takes Bink into the heart of the magical realm. He faces many dangers, but always at the last minute a coincidence saves his life. He meets several people along the way. A pair of Centaurs, Crombie the Soldier, and three young women. The first woman is Wynne, a stupid but beautiful girl and the second is Dee, an average girl without an apparent magical talent just like Bink. The final woman is Iris the sorceress who power is that of illusion. Iris is powerful enough to rule Xanth in her own right, but because she is female she was denied the throne and instead the Storm King rules. Iris saves Bink from an illusion trap and makes him an offer. She will provide Bink with the illusion of powerful magic, allowing him to overthrow the Storm King and remain in Xanth. Then they would marry and Iris would rule as Queen. Bink turns her down and continues on his journey. He wants to marry Sabrina and does not trust the sorceress, fearing he would become her slave. At last, Bink arrives at Magician Humfrey’s castle. He is tested by three challenges to gain entry. Humfrey determines that Bink not only has magic, but it is of magician-caliber. However, some power prevents the magician from determining what that magic is. He sends Bink home with a note stating that Bink has magic and should not be placed in exile. Bink returns to North Village to show the note to the Storm King, but due to the King’s rivalry with Humfrey, the king ignores the note and orders Bink into exile. He crosses the magical shield that separates Xanth from Mundania (our world), leaving his parents and Sabrina behind forever. On the other side of the magical barrier, Bink is captured by the Evil Magician Trent, who had been exiled from Xanth twenty years previous for his attempt to overthrow the Storm King and rule in his place. Trent wishes to know where the source of magic is in Xanth so he can toss a magic nullifying potion on it and allow his troops through the magical barrier. Bink refuses to help Trent and is thrown into the pit with Fanchon, an ugly woman, but one with a superior intelligence. What Bink does not realize is that he has met Fanchon before. She is known as Chameleon, a woman who changes appearance and intelligence with the phases of the moon. Wynne and Dee were the other two phases of the three that Chameleon morphs into. Chameleon is in love with Bink and had followed him to Humfrey’s castle. The good magician advised her to go to Mundania where the lack of magic would allow her to settle into her middle phase of Dee. On learning that Bink was to be exiled, she thought that perhaps they could create a life together. For no man has ever wanted her due to her extreme shifts, but as average woman Dee in Mundania, she feels that she might have a last chance for happiness. Bink and Fanchon escape to sea, due to Fanchon’s incredible intelligence, but are pursued by Trent’s men. Eventually, Bink, Trent, and Fanchon are all swept back into Xanth via a whirlpool but Trent’s forces are left behind. The three get to know one another and Bink discovers that he likes Trent and finds that his time in Mundania has matured the young hothead that tried to take over the kingdom. They meet up with Sorceress Iris once more and this time, Iris offers herself to Trent, hoping that they would become the next King and Queen of Xanth. Bink tries to stop them by challenging Trent to a duel of magic. During the duel, Bink’s particular form of magic is revealed. In a final thrust of using physical force against Bink, Chameleon puts herself in front of the man she loves and saves his life. This stops the duel and the group bands together once more in order to save Chameleon’s life. Will Chameleon live and win Bink’s heart over that of his old flame Sabrina? Will Trent and Iris overthrow the Storm King and rule Xanth together? Will Trent find the source of magic and be able to destroy it to allow his troops into the magical realm? You will need to read the book to find out. ### I first read A Spell For Chameleon when I was very young and the book was first in print. I was delighted by the world building, a magical land where groan-worthy puns were alive in a fantastical natural environment. I loved the three main characters: Chameleon, Bink, and Trent. Each was quirky, intelligent and straightforward. I was fascinated by Chameleon and the concept of a woman who changed with the phase of the moon and by Bink, a young and handsome man with refreshing flaws that made him likable. Trent, while portrayed as “evil” also was relatable and in the end, I found myself rooting for both him and Iris. The novel is a first of a very long series of Xanth novels, of which Mr. Anthony seems to produce a new one once a year for the most part. I have not read the entire series because I feel the quality of the books begins to deteriorate after the fourth or fifth book. The first three are fun and worth the read if you enjoy fantasy novels. This one and its sequel, The Source of Magic, are my two favorites. I feel that both books are worth looking into, but I would not necessarily give them to children due to the sexual overtones of the stories and the sexism that is portrayed as “normal behavior”. The sexism does make the novel somewhat dated, but I would not necessarily skip the book for that issue. Xanth is a world that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Early Xanth Series: A Spell for Chameleon The Source of Magic Castle Roogna Centaur Aisle Ogre, Ogre
The June round of Three Prompts started late this month. The deadline will be extended to the 6 July
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The FSFS Review Board is open! All WdC members can view the list on the group homepage, "Fantasy and Science Fiction Society" . FSFS Members can view the list from the homepage, Review Board page and the Hub. To post on the board you need to review at least one other item on the list. Members of the FSFS should head over to the Hub if they want to sign up for the FSFS Game of Thrones Team this year.
If you are not already a member and are interested in fantasy and science fiction writing, please read through the group homepage and apply using the application form. The only pre-requisite is that you have a fantasy or science fiction item in your portfolio. If you want to advertise in the FSFS Newsletter please contact me, Matt Bird MSci (Hons) AMRSC   .Vote I am pleased to announce that A Lesson in Character by Superman won Best Submission for "May 2016" . Highmage - D.H. Aire has won an FSFS merit badge! Use the poll below to vote for your favourite submission from this month.Thank you to all the members who submitted articles to the Newsletter. If you submitted an article that wasn't included, don't be offended. I can only fit so much in the Newsletter. Please submit it again when I send the call out for articles. Please comment on this Newsletter if you enjoyed it, or if you have any suggestions for future editions. |
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