Karma
Finally got my letter back from the Sails and Sorcery anthology, which I'd subbed EMPIRES AND GLASS to:
"An exciting, yet painful tale - it's just not quite a fit for this book."
They're not saying it's a bad story, in fact their reaction (the fact they had one, even, rather than just saying "it doesn't fit") suggests that it's a good story, only that it's not a story they want for the anthology. Which is bloody annoying, though it could be worse.
Not sure where to send it next. I'm thinking the Writers of the Future Contest again, to see if I can do even better this time with a story that, I think, is much tighter and stronger than STATUES, but I've not entirely made up my mind. I suppose my problem with the WotF Contest is that I wouldn't hear back about the story til June, and I'd hate to have it tied up for so long. But at the same time, the gain I could get from doing well in the contest would far outstrip the happy feeling I'd get from having the story appear in a much lesser place much sooner. And really, I do have to be a bit pragmatic about this.
In happier news, I get to read Gilgamesh for my dissertation. Dude. I've wanted to read it for a while, and now I have to read it. Okay, so I don't have to, but as part of my dissertation I'll be considering how Alexander's foray into India fits into a greater ancient tradition of conquest/adventure narratives, and my supervisor mentioned reading Gilgamesh as one of the things in the tradition to compare it to.
So today:
Writerly World = 1, Alex = 0
Rest of the World = 0, Alex = 1
Karma, people. She breathes...
Comments
I owe you comments on some other entries, but for now - may I add you on MSN or AIM?
Oh man am I glad that I'm in Australia (and doing a classics degree).
And I can see your other comment. *returns voodoo gestures*
Yes, we poor undergrads are tortured. Tortured, I say!! Still, the thing's looking interesting at this stage. By the end of March, when it's due, I'll probably hate it and want to tear it into little pieces, but that's how these things go.
That being said, I got the impression that one will be required for my master's program. Though how that's supposed to work, I have no idea. *blinks...*
I think that E&G would make a good fit to WotF (or as I fondly think of it, WTF. lol) Tying up the story from a potential sale is what you'll just have to write off as an opportunity cost... and the possible outcome of winning the contest makes it justifiable. (See, when you think about it in logical, rational business terms, it all makes perfect sense! *pfft*)
SHUT UP LA LA LA LA LA LA NOT LISTENING!!!!
Stupid foreigners and their stupid easy BAs. :P
10,000 words isn't that bad, especially if you stretch it over a semester and you do some good research/planning beforehand. I never had to do anything like that for my undergrad degree, but if I got to choose what I did my disseration on, I think it would be kinda fun--but maybe I'm crazy like that.
Gilgamesh is a pretty cool story. I've read bits and pieces of it for a world lit class, and it seemed pretty interesting. I hope everything works out for you and you have a blast with it. Good luck!
*pouts* I'm not stupid. ;)