-All the hopefulness posting about the Space Shuttle program in January 1981 makes me sad. These 1981 people had no idea what kind of disappointments lay ahead for the Space Shuttle program. "space filling foam" and "picking up shuttle tiles" SFL comments aged particularly badly.
-Lots of 1960's/1970's/1980 era computer hardware failure stories/urban myths have been the exclusive topic of discussion for the past week or so. 4 parts urban myth stories to 3 parts "seen by a friend/me stories" to 1 part "destroying hardware is cool, here is how I *wink* would *wink* theoretically* wink* do so *wink*". That 1 part being so enthusiastic is another chapter in seeing Robert Tappan Morris's hijinks in a more sympathetic light.
(2020 sidenote: For people who never saw or dealt with 1960's/1970's/1980's computer hardware, in your head picture the following:
the TONKA school of design but everything built is extremely heavy, very fragile, and poorly welded in a era where OSHA compliance was people making you put money in the office swear-jar after you said "OH SHi--" during a nasty hardware failure event.)
-Jerry Pournelle posted a Press Release teaser for OATH OF FEALTY, his 1981 co-written with Larry Niven book about :sigh: hardcore libertarian's solving all of society's problems. (either genuinely never heard of this book before or I blocked all memories of it after reading because of it's terribleness. it's probably the 2nd thing, I hunted down Niven stories growing up)
-STAR WARS fan-fiction legality and gay characters appearing/not appearing in official Star Wars products.
-filksongs continue to appear and continue to annoy me (filksongs are/were SFF fan lyics karaoked over popular songs) enough to finally mention them in a "Let's read the SFL archives" post.
-The first appearance of "do my <college mathematics course> homework/research for me" appeared in the SFL archives around mid January 1981.
- The 1981 LastCon in Albany NY cosplay contest winner was a lady wearing "a costume of Luke riding a Taun-Taun", and then "all people in costume should go down to the disco and truly freak out the mundanes."...which happened, but the disco's bouncer bounced the Luke-on-Taun-Taun cosplayer.
(2020 sidenote: to read the full story of Lastcon 1981, search SFL Vol 03 for [[ DP@MIT-ML 01/28/81 00:25:49 Re: Lastcon report ]].)
-LS.MELTSNER made a series of posts about why they find hard-core libertarianism books so unrealistic, which kicked off a debate about libertarism in fiction featuring the heinlein defense squad.
-Robert Forward and a SFL troll in rare non-troll mode both posted "advice for new writers circa 1981". reposting both messages as historical data for the authors/aspiring authors reading this thread.
------------------------------
Date: 18 JAN 1981 1102-PST
From: FORWARD at USC-ECL
Subject: Amateur Author Query
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine has a few sheets of
advice and instructions to new writers that you should get, read,
and follow. Send a self-addressed stamped long business-size
envelope and a note requesting "Advice to Authors" to: IASFM,
Box 13116, Philadelphia, PA 19101.
After you have written your short story (following George
Scither's advice), then just mail it to one of the science fiction
magazines, where it will be read BY THE EDITOR. Most people don't
believe it, but ALL manuscripts to Analog, IASFM, and Omni are at
least glanced at by the respective editors. The only winnowing
that is done by the editorial assistants is to 1) make sure that
your name and address is on the manuscript, 2) the return envelope
has postage on it, 3) it is double-spaced, single-sided, and in
english, 4) is a story, not a letter. The assistant then makes
two piles, one of stories from authors that have published before,
and another of those that are not so familiar sounding. The first
stack gets the editors attention right away, but that only takes
a few hours, the editor then devotes the rest of his time, and
his commuting time on train or plane searching through the "slush"
pile for that great gem, a new author. George Scithers has been
averaging one new author an issue.
You do get paid for stories by the professional magazines.
5-7 cents per word by the digest size ones, up to $500-1500 by
Omni. You will also receive a contract outlining the rights
they are buying. You should only sell "first world English
language serial rights" to your copyright.
As for copyrights, you are protected under the new law when
you type "Copyright (c) 1980 by Ima Newauthor" on the front page.
When the story is published by the magazine, and IF they send in
the two copies and the filing fee to the Register of Copyrights,
then your copyright is automatically registered.
Any other questions?
Bob Forward
------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 18 JAN 1981 2203-EST
From: HITCHCOCK at CCA (Chip Hitchcock)
Subject: first stories
SALES are easy. You just keep sending out everything you write
to every conceivable market, and sooner or later something will
catch on. This can take a \long/ time, but it works for most
people who have the persistence. Obvious markets: the editorial
offices (listed on the contents pages) of ANALOG, ASIMOV'S, F&SF,
AMAZING/FANTASTIC if you have little pride and no expectation of
being paid, OMNI for the thrill. Note that Asimov's will send a
style sheet (in fact, they request that you send for it before
sending them anything) on format for a submitted manuscript;
it's very helpful.
COPYRIGHT: state on the title page "Copyright [c-in-a-circle]
[year] by [your name]"; under the revised law this is sufificient
until the manuscript is actually published, at which point other
factors are managed by the publisher. \Always/ keep a carbon for
evidence, reference, and the perversity of the Post Offal.
MONEY: Usually a zine has a fixed rate per word, sliding downward
for longer material. None of the above are entitled to publish the
story for free, although there are magazines of legend which paid
authors only on threat of lawsuit. Others pay on acceptance or
publication.
REVIEWING: This is the hardest part. Asking friends is a good way
to get sweetened criticism and/or drive them away. Frequently an
editor who sees some promise in a work will take some time to point
outflaws, although a commentless bounce doesn't mean it's hopeless;
editors vary and I don't know what current personal policies are.
The National Fantasy Fan Federation has a story contest which may
get you some useful comments; the one with 12/1/80 deadline was
managed by Donald Franson, 6543 Babcock Ave., North Hollywood CA
91606; he should know about next year's contest. If you're \really/
serious about this, there are some good beginning writers' workshops,
and a lot of terrible ones.
ADVICE: Magazines are frequently in need of good short material,
although such will often take longer to appear once sold. First
novels without a published background and/or a sponsor are difficult
to sell, although you could always try Manor Books if you can think
of a good pseudonym. Once you sell something, you are eligible to
join SF Writers of America, an organization with many flaws but
some overriding virtues; do so.
GOOD LUCK! And let us all know when you sell something.
------------------------------
originally posted between June 29th - June 30th in the SomethingAwful forums Science Fiction Fantasy Megathread 3
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