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This is a fun warning from Steven York if you are in market for an agent. His blog here.
And BTW, I don't mind if an agent writes a book about writing . . . the important point here is not to be desperate for an agent, and even if you are, don't let this blind you to the fact that some agents are just really bad, not to mention useless!
Kay's Website
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 Pleased to report that A World Too Near, Book Two of The Entire and The Rose has been nominated for the Endeavour Award. The other finalists are: Anathem by Neal Stephenson, Ill Met in the Arena by Dave Duncan, Long Walks, Last Flights and Other Stories by Ken Scholes, and Space Magic by David Levine.
Kay's Website
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Hey, wanna come to Minneapolis at end of July? Because that's Diversicon, the biggest little con in the midwest celebrating diversity in culture, race, gender, and the imagination. July 31 - Aug 2. The con is small and prides itself on acceptance, broad-mindedness, cool discussions and friendliness. There are also, like, parties.
I'm going because Minnesota is my home state, and I'm the Guest of Honor. Besides con activities, I'll also be doing the following:
- A reading & autographing at DreamHaven Books Thursday, July 30,
6:30-7:30 p.m. - An autographing at the venerable Uncle Hugo's bookstore Friday, July 31,
noon-1:00 p.m.
There's also a nifty 250-word flash fiction contest that you get to enter if you go to the con, and I'll be judging it, so I'll have to put on my egg-head look, like the picture above.
So, if you're anywhere in the vicinity, I might see you there!
Kay's Website
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Great to get over to Seattle on a beautiful evening for the Clarion/Locus party. I don't get over the mountains from Wenatchee as often as I want to, what with a six hour round trip and . . . well, no excuses.
Happy to reconnect in person with Greg and Astrid Bear, Connie Willis, Amelia Beamer, who interviewed me for the June Locus issue,, Patrick Swenson, Ted Chiang, John Pitts, Ken Scholes, Paolo Bacigalupi, Vlad Verano, Gordon Van Gelder, Gary Clark, Leslie Howle, Neile Graham, Nisi Shawl, Cat Rambo, Eileen Gunn and others, including a few Clarion students. Got a chance to meet Michael Whelan, Gary Wolfe and Shelley Rae Clift. A fun time. Missed seeing a few of you. Geez, don't you get out anymore?!
Kay's Website
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I'm the guest this week at the LongRidge bulletin board, discussing:
- Building the Story
- Revision
- Surviving in the Trenches
Mary Rosenblum, moderating.
You can sign in here, then Mary will approve you probably within a few hours. She won't spam you, so just do a user name and password, you know the drill!
Kay's Website
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| » The Fire in Fiction |
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 Just finished this outstanding book by Donald Maass on the novel.
The Fire in Fiction is Maass's clearest enunciation yet of what separates the competent but disappointing novel from those that "effortlessly lift off." It is a hard-hitting and also quite funny account of the types of manuscripts that come across his desk (and also, unfortunately, that get published and sink.) He gets even more specific than in "Writing the Breakout Novel" about the type of characters we empathize with as well as those who surprise us.
He debunks (or at least downplays) the usual writing advice claiming it's ok as far as it goes, but does not go far enough. Things like good premise, tight writing, quick pace, showing not telling. He shows how authors at the top of their game dispense with these formulaic rules and yet hold our attention. Each chapter ends with Practical Tools and a summary of the lesson, both in bullet points and a helpful paragraph.
I loved the book and wholeheartedly recommend it. One of the best things about it is how specific it is, showing the way out of low tension traps and over-reliance on plot conflict to carry scenes. This was the most outstanding lesson of the book for someone like me. (I think I've read 'em all.) Attention those with manuscripts in progress: Chapter Eight!!
I must say I cringed through parts of the book. *gulp* am I guilty of doing THAT? But then he leaves you at the end with a passionate discourse on the fire in you, in me, in everyone.
Buy this book.
Kay's Website
Jun. 19th, 2009 @ 03:20 pm
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| » Wanna be entranced? |
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Sffworld.com on City Without End:"Lush, captivating and entrancing – City Without End is both a solid novel on its own and a great furthering of the story Kenyon is telling in this saga. There was a strong sense of closure upon the conclusion of the volume, but the unresolved plot elements still linger enough that the concluding volume Prince of Storms will be most welcome upon its publication." -- Rob H. Bedford Full review.
Signed copies.
Audible.
Amazon.
Kay's Website
Jun. 9th, 2009 @ 06:45 pm
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| » Daydreaming for Type As |
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I just read an article about daydreaming that claims it's good for you. Wow. Is this like being told that dark chocolate will firm your abs? I love this.
Daydreaming, the article says, isn't a waste of time or self-indulgence. Seems that using MRI scans, neuroscientists saw that when daydreaming a part of the brain "lights up" -- a region of the brain dedicated to high-level thought and problem-solving. We may not be paying direct attention but the mind is at work on big stuff.
I'm particularly intrigued by this right now because I'm working on a writing assignment that just isn't coming together. The more I attack it, the more discouraged I become. It's strange, because I've often given writing advice about avoiding ticking off the muse by riding herd on it. And yet, the more my deadline approaches, the harder I herd. *sigh.* Take your own advice, Kenyon! I know (as I explained in my recent e-newsletter) that solutions to problems often come through what scientists call the three "Bs." Bus, bed, bath. That is, let yourself drift and the answer may come suddenly then. So I know, at some level, that the "magic happens." You wake up, and you have your plot problem fixed, etc.
I also believe that this process works most reliably the more experience you have writing. Think of all the time a novelist spends working on stories. After thousands of hours of this, imagine the proportion of neurons that are grooved in, dedicated to, fiction. These are the neurons (perhaps unfortunately) that, as George R.R. Martin once said on a panel, "that most people use for real life."
Even so, if you're at the beginning of your writing career, the process of daydreaming is still good for you! Because, like, the scientists were not testing artists, experts, or other scientists. Just non-obsessed people. So no matter what stage of writing you're at, perhaps one of your must-do activities this week is staring at a wall. Watching your cat sleep. Contemplating your pedicure.
True, you will definitely look unproductive. Have a notebook nearby so that when spouse wanders in, you can snatch it up and look like you're working.
But secretly, your work is already done.
You daydreamed.
Kay's Website
Jun. 6th, 2009 @ 04:09 pm
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| » Kay in Locus |
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Nice interview in this month's Locus where I hold forth on how my upbringing drove me into modeling and science fiction and other weird conjectures.
They're offering to send people the issue postage free. Order here.
 
Kay's Website
Jun. 1st, 2009 @ 08:58 am
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| » Report on Conference |
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Photos by Mike Irwin
Write on the River (the Columbia, you know) was a huge hit this weekend. Some impressions: - We sold out - 172 people attending.
- Jess Walter is the best keynote speaker in the universe.
- People were excited about writing, meeting authors, and brownies at breaks.
- We fixed all problems from Last year, and then five Different things blew up.
- We brought in two agents (right here in Wenatchee!) Hugely popular.
- No one passed out in the parking lot. (I *told* you we fixed some problems)
- Brian McDonald now has a vast Wenatchee fan base (That ought to boost his nat'l profile!)
- We learned how to write memoirs, put fire in fiction, position our books, use "armiture" to focus story and be gracious when the brownies ran out.
 Keynote Jess Walter is a hugely engaging speaker. He talked about the joy of writing amid the distractions of the marketplace, his early hero worship of Kurt Vonnegut, and being a kid on laundry duty when mom's underwear shows up. We were in stitches. He's one of those speakers who change your day . . . and maybe your life.
I urge you to read Walter's The Zero (finalist for National Book Award) and Citizen Vince--so good you can't believe it isn't famous.
Go to our website to read our award-winning essays: Radio Girl Says What Matters (Patrick McGann) and Bosom Buddies (Kathy Rivers Shannon).
Join us next year!
Kay's website
May. 20th, 2009 @ 09:32 am
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| » "City" is Vicious |
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Fantasy Magazine (Joe Sherry) reviewed City Without End, calling aspects of it "vicious and beautiful" and urging folks "not to miss a single word." Very generous review. Also gave the opinion that City Without End is better than A World Too Near which was in turn better than Bright of the Sky, and Bright of the Sky was "a strong opening volume." Now I'm *really* nervous about volume four!
Kay's Website
May. 13th, 2009 @ 09:49 am
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| » Brevity. |
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OK, folks, you didn't take me seriously about Ken Rand's The 10% Solution. I have my ways of knowing. Listen, though: this is an editing tool not to miss. It's only 60 pages. Talk about brevity. And brevity is one of Rand's cardinal principles (along with clarity and accuracy.)
Using one of Rand's exercises, I quickly went through part of my novel manuscript with the Search function seeking one of my bad habits, the overuse of the word "was." I'm reluctant to show my clunky writing, but here are a few examples of how searching for "was" allowed me to snip away the passive voice and craft a better sentence. Often less wordy, too.
These examples are from book four of The Entire and The Rose, Prince of Storms, due in a little while to my publisher. First sentence is the original, second gets rid of "was."
Avva ceb didn’t know what it was to ride across the steps with an Inyx in your mind.
Avva ceb had never ridden across the steps with an Inyx in her mind.
It was heartening to think someone had come by to see her
Her spirits lifted to think someone had come by to see her.
When Anzi found her, the old woman was surrounded by juveniles.
When Anzi found her, juveniles surrounded the old woman.
Each branch was talking
Each branch spoke.
Soon there was a distant drum of hooves.
Soon she heard a distant drum of hooves.
His sleeveless long tunic was belted tightly around his emaciated form.
A belt cinched his sleeveless tunic around his emaciated form.
Entering the residential hall, she noted that Emar Vod was not at his usual sentry duty.
Entering the residential hall, she noted Emar Vod’s absence from sentry duty.
At the prefect’s feet was an abandoned sword.
At the prefect’s feet lay an abandoned sword.
Manifest was full of voices.
Voices filled Manifest.
Sometimes "was" is a good choice. Sometimes passive voice is really just fine. As here, IMHO:
Avva ceb was dried-up, without guts or passion.
So, as with most writing advice, the choices must still be yours. you must still make the choices.
Kay's Website
May. 8th, 2009 @ 08:53 am
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| » Rape and Sex in SF/F |
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Good discussions going around based on Fantasy Magazine Managing Editor Tempest K. Bradford's post on Jeff Vandermeer's Ecstatic Days. I recommend the post and the ensuing discussion of whether fictional depiction of rape is a justifiable reflection of reality or just lazy, or worse. So, read Bradford's excellent "Dear Genre Ficiton Writers: Quit This Sh*t" and the side bar discussion, also worthwhile.
Then, for more on this topic, I also like the expanded discussion from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) raebryant.
Kay's Website
Apr. 30th, 2009 @ 01:30 pm
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| » Final Edits and Ken Rand |
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I note with sadness the passing of Ken Rand, author of Tales of the Lucky Nickle Saloon, Golems of Laramie County, many short stories and humor columns and those great interviews for Talebones magazine. Also from Fairwood Press, the superb The 10% Solution: self-editing for the modern writer. I will miss Ken, the writing community will miss him.
I very much like The 10% Solution, and considering it and my current novel (now going into final edits), has me thinking about when to stop revising. I used to faithfully print out the penultimate draft and do a line edit with mechanical pencil. This has proven too time-consuming (because I then have to type in the changes) and it also doesn't help the tendonitus that's been creeping up on me. (Yeah, I've tried all the fixes, and some of them have been extremely helpful. Except when I'm Really crunching.)
What was strange for me lately was a series of scenes that were very tricky. I had revised them heavily on-screen a couple of times. Then, even though I was really happy with how they had turned out, down to the smallest detail, I broke my habit and printed out the pages. Yipes. I found a bunch of prose that needed smoothing out. I wondered: does that mean hard copy is better? After some thinking, I decided that what was important was the Change. If you've been working on hard copy, switch to electronic, or vice versa. Similarly, I've found that single spacing reveals needed edits to me. My conclusion: Anything that makes the material fresh to you is helpful on the revision.
And then try The 10% Solution. Thanks, Ken.
Kay's Website
Apr. 27th, 2009 @ 10:16 am
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| » Bk 4 Cover: Prince of Storms |
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Book Four and conclusion of The Entire and The Rose.
Coming January 2010 from Pyr
Cover Illustration by Stephan Martiniere
Jacket design by Jacqueline Cooke
Kay's website
Apr. 22nd, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
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| » Writing friends, beaches, alligators |
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If there isn't a conference, con, or retreat in sight--or one you feel attracted to--create your own. That's what Louise Marley, Sharon Shinn and I did last week, when we met up at a So. Carolina beach house to write for week, read out loud, talk about the biz and much else--and hit the beach. Also, we saw an alligator. No, not on the beach, but it Was in the wild.
I've found that having writing friends is probably the single most important thing I've done in the writing life--besides write. Good friends provide support, information, connections, fun, and a perspective on the sometimes maddening field we for some reason find ourselves in. Glad I went: here's some pix:
Louise Marley, Sharon Shinn
Endless beach.
Sharon and me.
Louise and me.
Kay's Website
Apr. 21st, 2009 @ 05:00 pm
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| » David Anthony Durham on Bright of the Sky |
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World Fantasy banquet would have been a bit flat without David Anthony Durham sitting next to me. Guess I must have twisted his arm to read Bright of the Sky. Again with the Peter F. Hamilton comparison! (What do people know about me that I'm missing?) And where did he get the picture that makes me look like I have PhD?
Corrected: David's blog post
Kay's Website
Apr. 17th, 2009 @ 11:31 am
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| » Can't Get This Song Out of My Mind |
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I am doomed.
Someone (the husband of a famous sf/f writer) played this song in my presence, and now I can't get rid of it!!
White Bird.
Crank it up, pass it along. (Evil smile.)
Kay's Website
Apr. 16th, 2009 @ 05:08 pm
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| » "City Without End" Earns Applause |
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SFRevu posted a stellar review for City Without End.
"Kay Kenyon's epic series, The Entire and the Rose, grows stronger with each new volume. This may well be the most ambitious epic science fiction series of the current decade. . . . Very highly recommended."
Kay's Website
Apr. 8th, 2009 @ 02:58 pm
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| » Writing From the Heart |
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Yours truly expounds on Living and Writing From the Heart along with Elizabeth Bear and Catherynne M. Valente
Interviewed by Amy Axt Hanson on Broad Universe's Broadsheet.
Kay's Website
Apr. 1st, 2009 @ 02:59 pm
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