Furry Writers' Guild

The FWG blog is now open to guest blog posts from members! We’re looking for posts on any aspect of the writing process or the writing life, aimed at any skill/experience level of writer. This can be anything from a straightforward how-to article on craft to something more like a personal/inspirational essay (maybe on an author or work who influenced you, or some meaningful experience you’ve had related to writing in general or writing furry fiction). Topics can be specific to furry writers’ concerns, but they don’t have to be.

We’re also open to posts from editors’ perspectives and to interviews of writers, publishers, and editors within the fandom.

The specifics:

• Submissions accepted from current FWG members (writers and associates) only.
• Length: Open, but 500-1000 words preferred.
• Also open to series of blog posts.
• Content should be appropriate for all audiences.
• Reprints fine; just provide the link to where they originally appeared.
• Send submissions in online format (blank line between paragraphs, no indents). One space after periods, please. You can send as .txt, .rtf, or .doc, or in the body of the email.
• Send to furwritersguild (at) gmail.com, subject line Blog Submission.
• Response time: Generally within 2 weeks. After a month, query.
• Your blog post will include a link to your page in the Member Directory, so you may want to make sure your bio there is up to date before submitting. (Email updated bios to furwritersguild (at) gmail.com.)

We’ll be posting at least one guest post per month, depending on the number of suitable submissions received. Any questions, comment here or email us at furwritersguild (at) gmail.com.

 

After a much longer than expected (or desired) hiatus, the Cóyotl Awards are back, and we’re hitting the ground running to get caught up. Voting for the 2013 awards and nominations for the 2014 awards are now officially open. Full  information here:

http://coyotlawards.org/2014/07/16/were-back/

In the forums, we also have a thread for recommendations for the 2014 awards — something members can use to jog their memories about what was published in 2013 and might deserve to be nominated.

All FWG members (writers and associates) may nominate and vote in the Cóyotls. Remember, though — both the 2013 voting and 2014 nominations end on Friday, August 8, so don’t wait too long to make your choices!

1. Tell us about your most recent project (written or published). What inspired it?

Currently, I’m working on a sequel to my novel Camp Mana. I love the main character, and I wanted to explore that world a bit more.

2. What’s your writing process like? Are you a “pantser,” an outliner, or something in between?

Hoo boy, my writing process. I start off with an idea and doodle outward from there. I don’t always have a clear idea for how things will turn out, but I usually have a general idea of where things will end up. Of course, once I get going, the story often has ideas of its own.

3. What’s your favorite kind of story to write?

Speculative fiction, things that deal with the Big Questions. The first story I ever got published (“And the Sea Full of Stars”) was one.

4. Which character from your work do you most identify with, and why?

Serra Sinclair, the protagonist from my novel Camp Mana. Despite living in a world where she’s significantly out-gunned, she manages to not only survive but thrive. She taught me that bravery isn’t so much about not being afraid as it is being terrified, but doing the right thing anyway.

5. Which authors or books have most influenced your work?

Wow, probably too many to list here. Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Charles de Lint, Scott Lynch, Kevin Hearne, Stephen King, H. P. Lovecraft, just to name a few. I loved the Harry Potter series (I grew up with it!) and The Lord of the Rings, and I read Jurassic Park over a dozen times before I reached High School. I have to give a nod to the Animorphs series as well.

6. What’s the last book you read that you really loved?

The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick. It’s a deconstruction of the whole “reclaiming your throne” trope set in a steampunk faerie realm. And it’s a wild, crass, and sublime ride from beginning to end.

7. Besides writing, how do you like to spend your free time?

Reading, mostly. Although I’ll probably vanish for a couple of months when the new Dragon Age game comes out.

8. Advice for other writers?

Read. Read. Read. And when you aren’t reading, write. There’s no trick, no gimmick to this art. Like every other art, it requires practice and an eye for detail. People talk about “show, don’t tell” and “kill your darlings,” but it’s all meaningless drivel unless you’ve got a feel for how a good story is supposed to flow. And the only way to get that feel is to practice. And once you’ve developed that feeling, you’ll know when you are showing instead of telling, and which darlings are due to be culled.

9. Where can readers find your work?

You’ll find me on FA here: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/searskagreyraven/
And my other work here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SearskaGreyRaven

10. What’s your favorite thing about the furry fandom?

This fandom is probably the most inclusive I’ve ever found. Gay, straight, white, black, rich, poor, transgendered-asexual-lupine-that-identifies-as-a-mocha-frappuccino, it doesn’t matter. Drama comes and goes. It doesn’t fester the way it does in other lifestyles/fandoms.

Check out Searska’s member bio here!

 

July’s Book of the Month is FurPlanet’s latest volume of the furry anthology ROAR:

Can you keep a secret?

Secrets are made to be broken they say, but what of the consequences? When secrets come to light who profits, who suffers, and who triumphs?

ROAR volume 5 has arrived with a thrilling new set of tales. Fourteen authors have crafted stories exploring and exploiting the secrets held by their characters. When the last page is turned, will there be anything left to reveal?

It won’t be a secret for long—

Contents:

Reynard and the Dragon by Searska GreyRaven
The Wharf Cat’s Mermaid by Mary E. Lowd
R & D by Ryan Campbell
Once Upon A Time… by Alms
The Painted and the Plain by Huskyteer
The Color of Mantis by C. Casey Gardiner
Eels for Heels by Sarina Dorie
Alter Child by H. A. Kirsch
Fear of the Dark by Ben Goodridge
Oakdale by W. F. Albone
The Harvest Moon Ceremony by NightEyes DaySpring
The Letter From Brundisium by Allen Vigilis
Should Have Known by Yannarra Cheena
Variables by Roland Joviak

Pre-order from FurPlanet.

 

I know a lot of our members — especially the editors and publishers — are busy gearing up for Anthrocon, so I’ll keep this as short as I can. Happy travels to all heading to Pittsburgh, and may you have awesome sales, a great time, and a lack of con crud!

New Members

Welcome to our newest members, Roland Jovaik and Gene Breshears!

Member News

Among the many releases from FurPlanet for AC is ROAR #5, which features stories by several FWG members, including Searska GreyRaven, Mary E. Lowd, Ryan Campbell, Huskyteer, Sarina Dorie, H. A. Kirsch, Ben Goodridge, NightEyes DaySpring, and Roland Joviak.

Check out Mary E. Lowd’s “Weremoose” in Untied Shoelaces of the Mind.

Huskyteer also has a poem in Apex and a story in Heat #11 (another issue that features some familiar names — you’ll also find stories there by members Tempe O’Kun, Whyte Yoté, Dark End, and Kyell Gold).

Bill “Hafoc” Rogers’ story “The Language of Emotions” has been featured on the Anthro Dreams podcast. Give it a listen!

Also new from FurPlanet for AC is James L. Steele’s novel Huvek, as well as the anthology Anthropomorphic Aliens (edited by associate member Fred Patten).

Besides the new issue of Heat, Sofawolf Press’ Anthrocon debuts include new novels from Kyell Gold (Uncovered) and M. C. A. Hogarth (The Godson’s Triumph).

Finally, Rabbit Valley brings us Alflor Aalto’s latest, Stories From Lakeforest U.

(Members: Apologies if I’ve missed anyone’s new stuff. Want to make sure your news gets included here? Start a thread in the Member News forum!)

Market News

The World Weaver Press anthology Corvidae opens to submissions today.

You’ve only got a few days left to send conbook submissions to Rocky Mountain Fur Con and (the very last) Condition. See our conbook page for details and links.

Guild News

Sean Rivercritic has this update on the first FWG anthology, Tales from the Guild, Volume 1: Music to Your Ears: “All finalized items are to the publisher. Just have to put it together and confirm release dates.” Watch this space for updates!

Members, now’s a great time to freshen up your bio pages. Just email new bios and/or pictures to furwritersguild (at) gmail.com.

We’re always open to guest blog posts from members! See the guidelines here.

Want to hang out and talk shop with other furry writers? Come join us for the Coffeehouse Chats, Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. Eastern in the forum shoutbox. It’s an informal way to check in with your weekly writing progress and goals. And if you’ve got something you need a beta for, we now have a critique board in our forum (you’ll need to be registered with the forum in order to view it).

That’s it for this month (and thank goodness — that was a lot of links). As always, email furwritersguild (at) gmail.com with news, suggestions, and other feedback, or just comment here.

One last question…

Which of the new releases are you most looking forward to reading?

 

Welcome to the new FWG site — and, by extension, the new FWG blog. There are still a few pages under construction, but those will be taken care of in the coming weeks, and beginning in July, each month this blog will feature guild news and updates, a Member Spotlight, and a guest blog post from one of our members. (If you’re a guild member and are interested in contributing a blog post, see the guidelines here.)

For now, have a look around, and as always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to comment here or send an email to furwritersguild (at) gmail.com.