Tag Archives: Alt Hist

Reopening Alt Hist for business

alt hist issue 10 coverI took the decision last week to get Alt Hist back on the road. I paused publication back in 2017 because it was just stopping me doing anything else.

Alt Hist is a short story magazine I set-up to publish historical fiction, historical fantasy and alternate history fiction. I really enjoyed publishing it and had the pleasure of putting out some great stories over the 10 issues of its initial life.

But at the time I found that I just didn’t have the time to focus on my own writing. Reading and making decisions on submissions took a lot of time, as did actually editing the stories for publication,  I ended up doing little else in my spare time!

Now however, I have had another think. I am pretty sure I can be more efficient about the submission process and also editing.

So if you’re interested in historical fiction and alternate history I encourage you to take a look!

Naked Writer #9: Slow Start to the Week

Monday was a fairly slow start to the week yesterday – quite a bit to do at work and when I did take a break I didn’t feel that inclined to do any writing. My main session was 353 words on Chapter 1 of Dragon’s Above at lunchtime. The words flowed pretty well and I enjoyed what I was writing. I often feel more at ease writing the start of the novel as I don’t feel the same pressure to move the story along fast – instead I can show a scene at greater leisure.

Also I submitted one of my short stories, Bring on the Night, a medieval horror/fantasy to a new market. It’s been to four so far, so I keep bashing away with it and the other ones that are doing the rounds.

Reading

Back to Feast of Crows now that I’ve got through most of the backlog of Alt Hist submissions.

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Naked Writer #7: Getting Nearer to 1,000 words a day

I set myself a stretch goal of 1,000 words again yesterday (29th August) and nearly achieved it. Managed to get 738 words done. I definitely find the more words I do the better  I feel about a story and the easier it is to write more.

I’m not going to write a lot this morning as I want to get on with some stuff before heading off to work.

Just record that Trial by Dream is at 2,310 words total and that I again did quite a few submissions for Alt Hist yesterday as well!

The Naked Writer #1

Inspired by Dean Wesley Smith’s posts Writing in Public, I thought it would be cool (and possibly motivating for me) to write regular updates on my own daily writing, and general publishing and reading experiences. Really what a blog was about back in the day – an actual diary of what I have done each day and collection of my thoughts.

So here goes on Day 1!

I’m currently finishing off a short story called Time’s Arrow. It’s an alternate history piece set in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt. I’m planning to send it out to magazines when it’s finished to see if I can get it published in a pro market. If not I’ll self-publish it myself. I have been struggling with it a bit and had quite a long hiatus, but recently I have worked out a way to get back in the groove. One of my main writing problems is finding enough time. Usually the only realistic slot I get is first thing in the morning, but if I am too tired to get up at 6 am I have a problem. Writing in my lunch hour at work is problematic. I don’t feel comfortable sitting and writing fiction in an open plan office. There’s a park nearby, but sometimes difficult to get a bench to sit on and scribble.

The alternative that I came up with last Friday was to just use my iPhone. Specifically I’m using the Pages app and just adding to a Word document on that. Initially I thought this was madness, but it’s actually working quite well. I tend to go quite fast when I’m writing so can quite easily knock off 100 to 150 words or so in 5-10 minutes, which is about the time it takes for Outlook to load in the morning or while I’m waiting for a tea to brew. About 3-5 sessions of that a day and I’m easily at my daily goal of 500 words a day.

So that’s what I did today. 3 sessions and that took me to 562 words. I’m near the end of the story I think – just over 4,000 words so hopefully I will finish it this week – it’s been hanging around far too long!

Other things I have done today include:

Reviewing two submissions for Alt Hist – one got declined, the other went into the Maybe pile

Working out why Alt Hist 2 is listed at the price of $2.99 on Amazon and not $6.99. Turns out I mistakenly put it up on Google Play at $2.99 ages ago. I have now since rectified the mistake, but will probably take a few weeks for Amazon to change.

Followed a few people who followed me on Wattpad and sent them messages.

Posted in a Goodreads forum – Fantasy Fanatics

Reading

Started on Feast of Crows. Enjoyed the prologue and the first chapter – both with new characters which was a bit strange to start with. I haven’t read from this series for a while so I was looking forward to being reacquainted with old favourites. That will happen soon, I’m sure.

Aiming to finish reading Sweet Justice (a collection of Judge Dredd short stories) later this evening.

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Alt Hist Issue 2 Published

Readers of this blog might like to know that the serial that I edit, Alt Hist, has just published it’s second issue. Full details can be found at http://althistfiction.com/current-issue/, where you will find previews of each story. You can buy Alt Hist in eBook format and printed format.

Here are some more details:

Alt Hist is the new magazine of historical fiction and alternate history. The second issue features eight new stories and also three book reviews. From ancient Egypt to World War I, and the death of Abraham Lincoln, there is something for every fan of historical fiction in Alt Hist Issue 2.

Stories featured in Alt Hist Issue 2:

Long Nights in Languedoc’ by Andrew Knighton
The Apollo Mission’ by David X. Wiggin
Son of Flanders’ by William Knight
In Cappadocia’ by AshleyRose Sullivan
The Orchid Hunters’ by Priya Sharma
Death in Theatre’ by Jessica Wilson
The Scarab of Thutmose’ by Anna Sykora
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street’ by N. K. Pulley

And reviews of:

Historical Fiction Writing: a practical guide and tool-kit by Myfanwy Cook
Ruso and the River of Darkness by R. S. Downie
Rome Burning by Sophia McDougall

 

11th April – Editing Alt Hist and Looking for a market for Chivalry

Over half way through editing Alt Hist, which is coming together nicely at the moment. Had a two week hiatus because of work commitments that also affected work on Hell has its Demons, but should be back on track now.

I’m still looking for an outlet for my short story Chivalry, which I really think is one of my best yet. Wondering about Dark Horizons as a possible venue – no money, but I’ve heard its a really good publication, and it used to be edited by Stephen Theaker, who published my story Bird Talk in Theaker’s Quarterly Fiction. Worth a try I think!

New Year, New Blogging?

Happy New Year to you all and thanks for dropping by at my blog. I sincerely hope that you find something of interest here.

I’m wondering about the direction of this blog at the moment as I’m having trouble finding the time to update with concrete posts on the medieval world and fantasy and science fiction writing, as I have been doing in the past.

Luckily for me this is because I really am dedicated as much free time as I have to two important projects: firstly my novel Hell has its Demons, and secondly editing the Alt Hist magazine.

One thought I had was to use the blog for the moment more as a commentary on the first of these activities – my current writing and to perhaps make the blog more of a diary for the moment. So expect to see some more regular posts from me.