This certainly is a busy time of the year, and I’m dropping by here between points of departure. Here’s some quick updates:
+ I’ll be attending World Horror Convention in Toronto this weekend (3/29-4/1). If you’re also there, here’s where you can catch me:
Thurs, 11pm: PANEL: “What Exactly is Horror?” (Simcoe Room)
Fri, 11 am: Book Signing at HWA table
Fri, 8pm: Book Signing at Mass Autograph Session
Sat, 11:30am: READING (Simcoe Room)
Sat, 3pm: SCREENING: EXQUISITE CORPSE (King Room)
Sat, 8pm: Bram Stoker Award Banquet
Sun, 11am: PANEL: New Writers to Look Out For (Ballroom C)
+ As the Horror Guest of Honor at the Context literary convention this coming September in Columbus, Ohio, I’ll be running a special genre poetry writing workshop. Here’s a description of what’s planned:
Michael A. Arnzen: Writing SF/F/H Poetry
(Friday, September 28th, 7-10 pm)
Join award-winning poet and writing professor Mike Arnzen as he leads a 3-hour workshop on crafting poetry for science fiction, fantasy, and horror markets (which, unlike literary journals, actually do pay and don’t charge annoying reading fees!). SF/F/H poetry, in Arnzen’s view, is not simply a playful exercise in rhyme or an expression of emotion, but a “thought experiment” in the genre. “Free verse” (or open form) poetry will be emphasized in this workshop, but writers of all forms and all levels of experience — from novice to published — are warmly welcome to participate, as we explore the elements of good poetry through discussion of provided examples and fun, creative, in-class exercises.However, you have an (easy!) assignment: bring a ROUGH draft of a short poem (any style, fifteen lines or less) to the workshop, inspired by the following phrase, which must be the title of your poem: “Blood is not Red on the Moon”.
Participants are encouraged to share their work at the open poetry reading, which will be held Saturday night of the convention. $15
I’m posting about this now because you must sign up early to reserve a seat. For more details visit the Context workshop page.
If fiction is your bag instead of poetry, then don’t forget about the Odyssey Fiction Workshops; the deadline for applications is in about two weeks.
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In other news:
+ The ICFA last weekend was a wonderful experience, and the panel discussion on Exquisite Corpse was a true highlight. (You can read Gina Wisker’s sharp essay on my short-shorts, called “Domestic Dissection” online). Next year’s conference will be on “the sublime” in fantasy/horror and I’m tentatively hopeful I’ll attend.
+ This site was given a Blog of the Day award while I was away last week. Neat.
+ I’ve turned in the bonus materials for the upcoming re-release of 100 Jolts: Shockingly Short Stories in hardcover later this Spring. The book will include “Aftershocks” (a batch of new stories), a new afterword that looks at short-shorts and their relationship to “snack media culture”, and a bundle of creative writing prompts based on the stories in the collection, in the vein of The Goreletter’s Instigation.
+ Progress is being made on my upcoming new collection, Proverbs for Monsters, to be published by Dark Regions Press this Summer. Proverbs is a career-long retrospective, featuring the short stories, flash fiction, humor, and poetry that readers have said are their favorites, along with a few new items. This book should be available in limited hardcover and trade paperback editions. Keep your eyes on the new Gorelets bibliography for news.