Okay, thanks to signing an NDA» with a games company I cannot tell you too much about this, but I’ve just submitted a short story to said games company and the initial feedback is excellent.  Fingers crossed, and (when I can) I will let you know how this all pans out.

Is there blood and guts and thrilling action and chilling horror?  Well, you’ll just have to wait to find out

Via Wil Wheaton:-

The truth, of course, is that writers are always working. When you ask a writer a direct question, and he smiles and nods and then says “Well!” and turns and walks away without saying goodbye, he is actually working.

If a writer is giving you a ride to the bus station and pulls up in front of the supermarket and turns to you and says, “Enjoy your trip!,” she is actually working.

Halloween

The air has just turned cold and crisp and all too soon it’s time for Halloween again. Your children make their plans through whispered conversations and instant messages encrypted beyond prying, adult eyes. Who will it be this year? You could try and keep your youngest son indoors, but the rest would come for him, and that would just make it worse. He’s too young to carry the bucket of stones, you say to your wife, and she nods with tears in her eyes, but there’s nothing you can do. Your friends grow quiet as the day approaches. Stay indoors, they remind one another. Let the children have their fun. It’s just one night. But whatever you do, don’t go outside. As if; remember old Mr Allen. And on Hallow’s Eve you cannot watch as your children file out to gather, wearing jeans and jackets against the chill. It’s not long before you can hear them, shouting and whooping. The streets belong to them tonight. You’re left silent, sitting, waiting, with the windows boarded up, the car safe in the garage and wearing the demonic costume that all grown-ups must wear. You glance at your wife. Is your fearful face perhaps glad of its mask? Is hers? Who will they turn on this year? You gave your children extra helpings, let them stay up late, let them watch what they wanted, but they knew what you were doing. Did they get what they wanted for Christmas? Were they happy with the holiday to Florida this year? Did you give them any reason to be upset? God, please let it be someone else. Children, remember your bucket of stones on Halloween, when you go outside to play.

Maybe it’s just because he’s Neil Gaiman and can write better than birds can fly, but this post on his blog really struck a chord with me. Go read it, I’ll be here when you get back.

…

…

You spent the last half-an-hour reading his blog, didn’t you? It’s okay, I watched an episode of Heroes while you were away. Anyway. I feel exactly like he does at the moment. I have a story idea, and I think it is my first proper novel idea. If you want to know what it is, take a look at Losing The Plot – it’s at the top of the page.

I want to turn this into a story so much I find myself grinning in delight as I walk to the train station, possibilities playing out in my head. I’m also afraid I’m not good enough, and that it’s the best idea I’ll ever have, and that I might screw it up because I am just beginning as a writer.

So I am keeping it for now, just letting it ferment in the dark places of my mind, seeing what changes it goes through, turning the bottle now and then to see if the genie is still in there (don’t mix your metaphors on an empty stomach, kids). I’m not going to write it now but, like NG, I know I will and I’m really, really looking forward to it.

Happiness.

Sent my story off to Interzone yesterday. Time to start the Clock 'o Doom ticking once again.

Got a standard rejection letter from Fantasy & Science Fiction. I'm impressed at the turnaround time, which at least lets me get the story back out again quickly (not so impressed with their request for additional postage to return the manuscript – the same one with the word "DISPOSABLE" in 24-point letters on the first page and that came with a covering letter saying "the manuscript is disposable"!)

Hey – I've got to be able to feel superior about something, right?

Yeah – no updates for over a month, and then two in one day. Consistency? – I have about as much as a trifle.

As the heading says, I today joined the ranks of the 'published for money'. It's only a 300-word short, but it will appear in a national magazine in Scotland with a readership of over 300,000! And I get paid 

Not a lot, but per word it's pretty damn high.

I feel all floaty.