New Publication COMING SOON!

 Hopefully going live in the next couple of days is a charity anthology called, His Magical Pet:

The blurb goes like this:

Have a shot of concentrated joy, with nine stories of men in love... and their adorable magical pets!


All proceeds from the collection will be donated to OutRight Action International, which fights for the rights of LGBTQIA people worldwide.


In this enchanting collection, supervillain husbands apply to adopt a cat, a dog with wings helps old friends confess hidden desires, a tour guide for an island of magical New Zealand wildlife falls for a visiting naturalist, and much, much more!


Includes all-new stories from Tate Hallaway, Aster Glenn Gray, Liv Rider, and more of your favorite authors

It should be live in a matter of days (fingers crossed!) Will post a link when that happens. It would make a lovely holiday gift for any queer holiday (which, c'mon, you know is ALL of them.) Given how sweet and adorable my story is, it could also be the antidote for what has been a very miserable 2020 for many of us.

The Dreaded Middle

I briefly thought that my Loft class was cancelled, but four new students materialized out of nowhere last minute, so I'm back on. 

The course officially opened on Wednesday morning. One of the first things I always ask my students is: Is there any aspect of writing that you struggle with the most?  I ask this so that if a majority of people struggle with a similar thing, I can expand whatever lecture that falls into. 

This class is on-line and, as intimated in my opening, not hugely populated. I have about five students, though only four have actually checked into the course work so far.  The people who are on-line are fairly engaged, answering questions I posed and asking some of their own. 

Two people--so 50% of the active class--say they struggle with middles. They get lost, lose their way, and sometimes fizzle out of the story completely. 

I dug out my Writer's Digest Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress, because I've never tried to articulate my own process for getting through the middle beyond "I guess you just  put your nose to grindstone" or "I dunno, just keep writing to the end?" 

Which, at least I realize is not at all helpful.

In re-reading (though I'm not sure I ever made it all the way through to the end when I bought the book,) I realized that a lot of writers find their way into their stories and don't know some key things that would help make that middle bit less overwhelming.  One of them is:

• Whose story is it?

I had a novel, my fourth one as Lyda Morehouse, Apocalypse Array, where I thought that I knew who the story was about, who the main characters were. I had several points of view in that book, and it was only when the deadline was only about two weeks away when my wife read the manuscript I thought was finished and said, "But this character's story, it doesn't actually add to the plot does it? It doesn't fit and doesn't go anywhere." I was so furious! My wife isn't even a writer! How dare she.... be right.

Characters have to change, they have to grow in some way.  If you have multiple viewpoint characters, they have to have that moment when their stories all intersect--all reach for the same thing (even if it's not a similar plot point but instead a similar emotional or thematic 'thing.')  

I rewrote an entire fifth of the novel in two weeks. I ripped out the character who didn't belong and inserted one who did. I did it all in two weeks. 

That book won me the Special Citation for Excellence Philip K. Dick award.

And now we come to the real epiphany I had about middles. They are scary when you're married to your beginning, when you think that what you've written is somehow written in stone. Middles are surmountable when you realize beginnings can shift to accommodate where you went, where you suddenly realize you want to go, what your book or story is ABOUT. 

It's not middles that are so dreadful, it's the fear of revision. 

If you are willing to tear it all up and do it over, you realize there's nothing to fear.

The Promise of... Idea

One of the things that I'm doing as I continue to prep for class, is read through old (and I do mean OLD--it is really clear from the copyright pages, exactly WHEN I was trying to learn about writing science fiction/fantasy,) writing advice books.  

I have nearly the entire set of the Writer's Digest Books that have names like Plot and Character and the one I'm reading now Beginnings, Middles & Ends.

Just flipping through, I came across the idea of the promise the author makes to the reader. This Writers' Digest author, science fiction's own Nancy Kress, suggests there are two implicit promises made to the reader. One emotional and the other intellectual.

I've heard about the idea of the writer/read contract before, of course, but the thought that the emotional promise of a story or a novel is that you will be entertained by (or at least absorbed by) it is a new one to me. Specifically, Kress suggests that when a person picks up a romance novel, they come to it with the idea of what they think a romance novel is supposed to be: fun, sexy, titillating... something that, by the end, confirms the belief that 'love conquers all." 

I don't think she's wrong at all.

It's just an interesting question to consider. When I pick up a science fiction book, what am I automatically expecting as a reader?  

Interestingly, I think that when I pick up a science fiction book, I'm expecting to be intellectually challenged. Like, I want to experience something I've never thought of before. I want something new. I kind of don't have an idea of what that's shaped like. I just want to leave the book with a "mmmm, that was fascinating."

I don't think I'm alone, either.

I suspect a lot of science fiction readers just want to be wow-ed, but they have no real criteria for how that's meant to be done by the author. I think this is why you see a lot of experimentation in format of short stories, in plot, in character, in theme... the only promise science fiction readers expect is that you surprise us, keep us on our toes, be innovative in some fashion or another.... sometimes even in mundane ways, like a plot twist or clever maneuver in an otherwise standard military sf novel would be enough for me, you know?  We want a nifty idea, but the shape of it is wide, wide open.

Fantasy is a different animal, I think. I suspect that one of the reasons I read less of fantasy is because what it offers is kind of opaque to me. Do fantasy novels offer a sense of chivalry? Or, a sense of belonging to a special group? The hope that magic exists in some fashion in the world?  When I find a fantasy book that works for me, it's often one that still trips my sense of wonder and is clever or innovative. 

Thoughts?

Beginning at the End

 As mentioned previously, I'm gathering thoughts for my online class at the Loft. 

I should be thinking about world-building, since that's the subject I have open in the other tab, but I'd previously discussed beginnings--you know, how to hook a reader with a snazzy opening line or starting in the middle of the action. Now, I'm wondering if I should record some thoughts about beginnings, in particular, how critical it is to end as strongly as you start.

I'm not sure how much I actually know about that, since I'm weirdly terrible at endings--at least when I'm writing the first drafts of them.  By the time my ends are in books, they've been through several drafts, including an editorial one.  But, when I'm first finishing a book, I'm often just rushing towards the deadline at full speeds and then stop. My writers group will always tell me "the ending feels rushed."

They're always right.

There is at least one book of mine where I know that I dropped what was cool about the opening completely and kind of never touched on it again.  I don't want to name names, because it's also one of my more wildly successful books? But, if as my colleague Kelly McCullough says, you should start with a problem statement and then end the book with the solution to that problem, I kind of never did that with this book. So, clearly that's not critical to a book's success or failure.

*

I don't know if this blog post has any real thoughts to impart. I'm just trying to get back in the habit of thinking about writing and writing about writing. 

Nostalgia

 I've been returning to this blog a lot in the past few days because I'm prepping a class at the Loft.  

I'm not really here to sell the class to you, but it's asynchronous, so if you are not local to me, but would like to take a class from me, the link is here: https://loft.org/classes/over-transom-sff-intermediate-writers

The reason why I've been thinking about this blog (and its sister blog over at Wyrdsmiths) is that I actually wrote down a lot of my thinking about writing here over the years. I mean, a lot of it is VERY old. I'm finding odd gems from 2004 and thereabouts, but it's still kind of fascinating to see how much I recorded over the years.  

This class prep has been killing me a little bit because there is NO live aspect, no Zoom. So, I need to have everything I want to say about writing written down. That's not entirely fair. I do have the option on the program that they've given me (writer.ink) to embed video and audio tracks, which I do intend to do, but the course is intended to be a website--albeit a very complex and interactive one. 

Those of you who have met me know that I'm not actually very good at being straight-forward. I don't think in terms of A to B to C. I'm much more organic, flowing from A to B, but then going off on a tangent on Q, then riff on YELLOW, and then go back to... was I at D? Hopefully, it was entertaining live? When students could raise their hands and say, "Um, I think you skipped C?" I'm not sure how it is all translating into text. 

I did download an app that lets me record voice on my phone and save it as an .mp3.  So, now I can be one of those people you see going for walks talking loudly to themselves. I also bought a license for a pro-video recording software so I can edit any videos I record of lectures.  With luck, this will give the student a sense of who I am and how I think? 

I dunno. I may come back here, though, in the course of working on this class design and write out some of my thoughts about writing again. 

I don't think anyone still checks this blog, but it is still here so I might as well use it.

What Day is It in New Zealand?

Some time ago, I registered for CONZeland, the 78th World Science Fiction Convention.... which begins today in North America, because it is already tomorrow in New Zealand.

I spent a surprisingly large portion of the day yesterday trying to figure out WHEN things were happening and how to sync my Discord account to their Discord channel and get set up with their other concurrent systems.

I was hoping to be able to download my schedule into my Google calendar so everything would show up completely in CDT, (GMT-6,) but if that was possible, I never figured it out. In fact, I just wrote down everything, translated to my time, on a piece of PAPER. Because, while they *did* have a way to show your time on panel descriptions, the problem was that I could never get the full schedule to appear that way. If I wanted to see *my* time zone shown, I'd have to click through to each full panel description individually. I mean, I'm glad it was there AT ALL?

Still, this means the list under "my schedule" is pretty useless as something to quickly refer to. And the time slots, even translated to my time zone, all appear in military time, and, as someone whose dyslexia also effects numbers, I can not easily remember what time 1800 hours is, even if you're just saying,"D'uh, Tate, subtract 12!" That just doesn't happen easily in my head, I have to write it down to do the math, by hand, each time.

So now I have my scribbled notes.

That should work just fine.

This is only important because I have ONE thing that I absolutely MUST attend tomorrow (my Wednesday, New Zealand's Thursday) my UK publisher, Wizard Tower Press, is hosting a party for their authors, which includes me, and I am doing a reading for them at 2 pm (CDT.GMT-6). IF you are also attending WorldCON, please come?

My publisher's press release, regarding the event: https://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?p=28097

I will be reading from my newest release, Unjust Cause, which you can buy here: https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-tate-hallaway/unjust-cause/ or anywhere fine books are sold. This book can come to you as paper, hardcover, or e-book. /advertisement.

I have actually not yet checked to see how the party rooms operate. Are they Zoom? Are they Discord voice/video channels? This is going to matter because I'm going to have to figure out which computer to use, because not all of mine have the same processing power. If there is more than one "room" in a Zoom meeting, it has previously (at the Nebula parties I attended) not been possible to navigate independently from my iPad, whereas it is/was, when I use Mason's old computer (which, technically, is one of mine now.)

Ah, virtual cons.

I mean, I have really loved them? I really loved the way the Nebula parties were structured and WisCON was a blast. but, there is always this tech adjustment to be made at the start.

Hope to see you there!

Zoom Book Club (July 14)

If you've read Unjust Cause and want to talk about it with someone (including me!) the Twin Cities Chapter of Northcountry Gaylaxians will be reading it for their July book.

The book club will be held on July 14 at 7 pm CDT/GMT-6 (details of how to join the event are on their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/events/653999645190057/). You are all welcome! Read the book! Come joint us!

On the Radio

I was on the radio (an excerpt of my previous interview, but hey!) https://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?p=27181

Salon Futura Interview... with Me!

I did a lengthy interview with Cheryl Morgan at Salon Futura about Unjust Cause and my writing in general. If you are interested, you can go here to listen to the audio: https://www.salonfutura.net/2020/04/interview-lyda-morehouse-tate-hallaway/

A Very Short Teaser/Reading

Using that technology!  I have posted a very short teaser (the first two pages) of Unjust Cause for your entertainment.

Don't forget you can buy it here: https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-tate-hallaway/unjust-cause/

Now available for pre-order!

Unjust Cause is now available for pre-order: https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-tate-hallaway/unjust-cause/

Cover Reveal!

It's a book!  It's a book!  My publisher has a lovely blog about it here: https://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?p=26960

The book should be available for purchase very soon. If you read any part of it online, while I was posting it to Wattpad, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how much is different (improved!) this version is.

For one, it has an ending! 

As soon as it is available to buy, I will post that here as well.

Unjust Cause Reading (2/19/2020)

If you missed the show at Strike Theater last night, there's still a chance to hear me read. TONIGHT (2/19)! At Dreamhaven Books & Comics starting at 6 pm, I'll be reading as part of the Speculations Reading Series: http://dreamhavenbooks.com/event/speculations-event-lyda-morehouse/

Local Readings

TONIGHT (Tuesday, February 18) from 8pm to 10pm, I will be reading erotica at the Strike Theater (824 18th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, 55413) as part of the Not-So-Silent Planet reading series.

TOMORROW NIGHT (Wednesday, February 19) starting at 6:30 pm I will be reading from my upcoming novel at Dreamhaven Books and Comics (2301 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406) as part of the Speculation reading series.

Short notice, but please come?

Big News! Sequel to Precinct 13 coming in 2020!

The official press release from my publisher is here: http://wizardstowerpress.com/media/wizards-tower-acquires-unjust-cause-by-tate-hallaway/

I could not be more excited. This book is long over due, but hopefully readers will fall in love with these characters all over again.

WIP Quote

So, I'm in deadline hell for Unjust Cause, the sequel to Precinct 13, (which has been recently acquired by Wizard Tower Press and should be out in 2020), but I wanted to take a second to share a fun moment in which my dragon shifter hero, Valentine says this lovely line:

“Alex, you do remember that I’m an apex predator? Murder is called ‘dinner.’”

New Fiction!

  I have a short story in volume #7 of Boundary Shock Quarterly. This actually came out in July, but, as some of you may know, my wife ended up in the hospital in July and I lost track of.... well, pretty much everything. Good news, it's not too late for you to buy all the copies!

Tate Reads (Out Loud)

Tate will be at Kieran's Pub  (85 6th St N, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403) tomorrow night (Feb. 19) from 8 -10 pm.

"The country's only recurring open mic dedicated to speculative fiction returns Feb 19 with a star-studded show devoted to the themes of love, lust, romance and passion, with invited guests Lyda Morehouse, author of the Garnet Lacy series (as Tate Hallaway) and winner of the Philip K. Dick Award's Special Citation of Excellence, Catherine Lundoff, two-time Goldie Awards winner for erotica whose stories have appeared in over 80 publications, and Twin Cities writer/performers Laura Packer and Tom S Tea!

Got some romantic or erotic speculative fiction you want to perform or know someone who's a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural horror, or tales of alternate realities? Sign up starts at 7:15 pm in the Poet's Corner of Kieran's Irish Pub. Stories, stand-up comedy routines, poems, and musical pieces are all welcome, just as long as the material is speculative fiction and under seven minutes. Sticking to the evening's theme of Love & Lust is strongly encouraged.

$5-$10 suggested donation. Hosted by Ben San Del

This is an adults-only show. "

An Omnibus of Angels

My alter ego, Lyda Morehouse has a new omnibus edition of ALL 5 (only four pictured) AngeLINK books out from Wizard Tower Press. https://www.wizardstowerbooks.com/shop/the-angelink-series/

Podcast!

My story "Indigo Bunting" was read on FOB Rainbow Reading Hour (20-07-2018): http://www.accessradio.org/ProgrammePage.aspx?PID=6a71fe0e-aeab-4139-9fd2-b099ee68e7a5.


It's very weird to hear someone reading my work (I'm listening now.) But, it's very lovely to hear someone else read my work.