Is there any interest in forming a small workshop group to work on horror writing in particular? Specifically commercial horror writing (that is, for the purpose of getting published, not as writing exercises etc).
I like participating in the general workshop, but I find that having a small standard group of like-minded writers works out well for really polishing ideas/work.
PM me if you're interested, or respond here.
She looks familiar Grig.
I'd be interested, like in an email back and forth type deal, but keep in mind that my previous commitments are huge with another Writing group that I'm not supposed to talk about. It would have to be a long deadline commitment for me. If you're needing feedback on something fast, then I'm not the guy.
If that works for you, now we have two. Need about two or three more writers to make this work.
I write at least fifty percent horror, so consider me in. Especially since I'm enrolled in Jack Ketchum's Talking Scars intensive beginning Monday, I'll be writing plenty of horror in the coming months -- preferably the novel I've had percolating in my head for six months. Anybody else taking the class? I'd be glad to exchange chapters or finished manuscripts whenever I finish mine.
You can create a subgroup in the regular workshop like how Thunderdome says Thunderdome before each story. You could write Surreal Grotesque for instance and we would know its horror. like when I did the Psychosis anthology, people put Psychosis anthology before each sub so I knew it was for that. I propose a workshop within the workshop so you are still a part of litreactor but also genre specific.
I just started the horror zine, Surreal Grotesque so I propose this, if you get enough people involved, each month we can vote on the stories and the winner will get published in my mag and Ill buy you an Amazon book. But there have to be at least five entries a month. Deal?
It's not the speed of the feedback that's important (I'm usually working on several pieces at any time, so I can revise one, sit on the revision, submit, and so one) - more the quality of the feedback, genre-centricity, and the ability to have an on-going cycle to improve in a group setting. Even one correct observation can help so much - and knowing the other participants gets rid of all the style vs. error questions.
It's true, I mostly write horror. However, I've gotten decent feedback here. Especially since I list "horror" as the genre and, I'd assume, that deters anyone that isn't a fan. If you search through the workshop subs here you can limit it to horror subs only and try to build relationships with other people here that at least write horror on occasion. And then, overtime, if you've got something bigger, you can probably reach out to a few people that you've workshopped with to take a look at something you want some more serious notes in.
That said, I usually back off from the workshop now and again and try to work on my own, and come back when I feel like I need someone to show me why my shit can stink. Or to reassure me that it doesn't. So... right now I'm not really reviewing or submitting much, but I'll probably start working more in a couple of weeks, and will def. take a lot of whatever you've got up.
All things considered, this workshop gets the job done just fine as far as what a workshop can do.
And yeah, what Danny said. Start a month contest. Maybe have some prompts. Or challenges. Like, write a vampire story wherein A happens (but make it a challenge to the convention). Etc. A vampire tries to go to church, but can't cause of all the crosses there- GO.
Or whatever. The more ghoulish people here can chime in and toss around some ideas. I'm sure when WAR ends Avery might be interested in helping with some other kind of contest that isn't as crazy as WAR was.
I don't have any interest in the 'theme' or 'prompt' story type contests right now. I have a large body of work that I've been working on for a couple of years, and it's time to get feedback. I'd like it if everyone in the group would have the same goals - that is, polishing late-stage drafts with the intent to submit for publication.
Right now, I'm about 8 chapters into a novel about Killer Babies that' I've been working on, but right now it's sort of on the back burner with upcoming summer events (my wedding in June.)
That being said, I'd like to form a bond with some other horror writers once I can get back on a roll. I'd prefer something that's formatted so there's not strict guidelines....say we have a month to comment on a particular piece....especially if they're longer chapters. I've been in writers workshops before where I've had good intentions, but for me, trying to evaluate 3 other people's work, plus work on your own stuff in a month plus all the other stuff in life was way too overwhelming for me...just being honest. If I just have one piece to focus on, or maybe a novel chapter and a short story... something manageable...i think it could be a bitchin critique group.
Not sure how to keep it so it's a balance between quality and manageability though.
Any thoughts..comments...this sounds like a great idea!
You had me at Killer Babies.
I agree that keeping it scheduled is a good idea. A week for a short story/a few chapters per person works out well, in my experience. The idea is to polish a part at a time, not to cram as much of your stuff into other people's eyeholes as you can.
The format of adding your piece to the general workshop and then tagging for the group sounds good. You may get a few other drive-by critiques from other writers as well, all for the better.
So, I would like to open up the group - who wants to be first? First one to volunteer gets the first week in the barrel. Bring the work you think is almost ready for submission, and we'll rip it up.
And I'll second what Typo said. My first story in the workshop was horror, and the feedback I got on it was for horror. Nobody tried to turn it into transgressive or noir or literary. They just addressed where it was weak and strong and let me deal with the packaging.
Please be clear on this point: my intent is not to subvert the main workshop. I'm not concerned with people trying to turn my stories into anything else. Rather, I'd like to have a 'preferred' list of writers who share the same goals as I; writing horror fiction for publication. I will still comment/crit lit/transgresive/etc pieces - and I would still welcome reviews from non-horror writers.
That being said - would you want your metal record reviewed by a bunch of critics who only review Ke$ha albums? Like it or not, context exists. Especially when it comes to commercial endeavors. Brian Keene or Maberry fans are not Will Christopher Baer or Bukowski fans.
I would amend this to say 'horror-fans'. Anyone can write horror; only some people are fans.
I am working on a horror piece right now. I'm not so much into monsters and supernatural though. I like terror horror, like Jack Ketchum's stuff, human monsters.
I usually write dark literary fiction so it might be a huge failure. But it might be cool with the mix of the literary style.
I'm down to do an email group. I sent a note to Bob and a couple other folks, so they should have my email. There are Google Groups, which I believe you can make private, I'm not sure Google+ is the way to go. Whatever we use, I'd like to get this started. Hit me up.