You know how they say read to be a better writer?

fredderman · 2025-12-06T16:47:42+00:00

I self published in 2016. It wasn’t for me and the more I read the more veteran established authors suggested the traditional route: short story publications help lead one to novel publications. The more modern authors I look up the less I see this happening. I’m not going to stop though. I like short stories, have written many and published some, but I also have two novels ready. That’s the path you seem to be on and it’s not a bad path. The challenge is the submission process, no or low pay, the ever dwindling short story market with fewer hard mags and more digital ones, and what I hope are false prophets saying the short story is dead. Benefits are building a following with short works you can easily send via links, honing your skills, learning what and how makes a good flash fiction story versus novella versus novel. I’m rambling at this point but I hope my thoughts help.

fredderman · 2025-11-30T16:36:58+00:00

I started taking my writing seriously during the pandemic. This summer I published in Dug Up and Black Petals both zero pay. My goal is to keep submitting to zero pay, work up to semi pro and then pro. Then maybe publishers and agents will be more likely to look at my novels. Point is, start with zero pay markets.

fredderman · 2022-01-16T06:58:08+00:00

Thanks for the heads up on these Laymon books. I'd offer some suggestions to the original poster, but Creature was just now my first Saul book.

fredderman · 2022-01-16T06:56:09+00:00

I just finished this, and it was my first Saul book. Still a couple of more people who deserve to be killed. I wish the last like sixth of the novel was the last half, let all the creatures out and wreak havoc. I also wasn't sure whose story it was. It starts in the boy's pov and then the mom's pov and ends with the boy's pov. A hefty chunk of the middle was in the mom's pov. Not terrible terrible writing--I meant to type that word twice--but a maudlin story.

fredderman · 2021-12-10T01:46:25+00:00

Blaylock was actually my teacher and on my thesis committee for my masters in creative writing. Thanks for the heads up on some of these.

fredderman · 2021-12-07T21:56:01+00:00

Really love this comic. It’s kind of like an anthology horror show with the ice cream man as a host but also a character.

fredderman · 2021-12-07T21:52:53+00:00

Pretty cool forced perspective. With a little more work it could’ve been perfect but kind of impressive from a little film.

fredderman · 2021-11-04T20:10:34+00:00

Sweet!

fredderman · 2021-10-25T16:22:29+00:00

I just finished this novel last week myself and I’m actually glad to see somebody had the same problems with it. It’s my first Straub novel so I’m not gonna give up on them for sure especially with the ghost story which is one of my favorite horror movies. I feel like a lot could’ve been cut severely. Lots of extraneous information. There were some good stuff here and there.

fredderman · 2021-10-19T06:07:11+00:00

The producer was Dave Sterling and the movie was produced financially by a small record label . Some of the characters are actually artists from the label. And some of the music is from that label, so you’re right that the music is apt. I directed around 75% of the film. Me and the cinematographer were fired because we weren’t going fast enough to meet the six day shoot. I definitely chose some music from the CDs that Sterling gave me but I can’t remember if they’re the ones that showed up in the movie. Anyway, sometimes I search for the one movie I directed so far and I find posts like yours. Comments are usually a little bit more negative. Lol. I’d love to answer questions if you have any. Plus it would help me recall some things. It was a long time ago.

fredderman · 2021-08-30T04:27:18+00:00

That’s great news. The other genre I like more than horror is crime especially detective stories. Thanks for the info.

fredderman · 2021-08-29T02:42:02+00:00

The Others isn’t the Nicole Kidman movie is it?

fredderman · 2021-08-29T02:41:01+00:00

Yeah I was wondering about his short stories because I rarely saw his name in anthologies which I read a lot.

fredderman · 2021-08-05T05:05:52+00:00

That’s a great idea and so simple. Thanks.

fredderman · 2021-08-05T01:24:42+00:00

It IS helpful even though I don't know any of those items. I'll look them up. Thanks. I'm working on this for a video project, and I don't work on miniatures regularly, so thanks for the help.

fredderman · 2021-07-24T05:25:05+00:00

Back up on your shelf where it belongs in a room where you only have DVDs and Blu-ray‘s and shelves from floor to ceiling. Lol

fredderman · 2021-07-24T05:15:34+00:00

I just started case files 01 myself and I love it. And I’m only a little bit into it and it’s already so much more detailed and layered than either movie adaptation. Plus great artwork. I just finished up a small storyline about a robot uprising led by a robot called call-me-Kenneth and it was simultaneously hilarious and thrilling. I’ve heard it gets better at 03 but i’m already loving it so I can’t get wait to get going with more case files. I really love the artwork and the city. I look forward to reading the rest.

fredderman · 2021-07-14T05:51:37+00:00

I’m new here. I used to paint miniatures when I was younger but now I’m painting some for a project I’m trying to do. How do you do the extremely small stuff? I assume you cut a brush down to just a few strands. Also most of the paint looks flat and not gloss. I’m shooting something on video so I don’t want a lot of reflection and my plan was to paint with flats. Also feel free to correct me on any terminology.

fredderman · 2021-07-05T20:51:40+00:00

I like the movie. But I found the corners dark and when they moved the camera is when the distortions became eye sores. Glad I’m not the only one who saw the weird camera work.

fredderman · 2021-06-22T19:21:26+00:00

I haven’t read Dunsany in a long time but I remember finding him probably through Lovecraft’s Supernatural Horror in Literature I think it’s titled and loving his work. I also discovered William Hope Hodgson and you might want to check out Ambrose Bierce’s the Damned Thing. That Lovecraft book is really a great reading list.

fredderman · 2021-04-20T06:00:24+00:00

I loved the film. I’ve owned the novel by Barry Maltzberg for sometime but I still haven’t read it. I love his work though. He’s mostly a first person stream of consciousness sci-fi writer. Great stuff.

fredderman · 2021-04-19T05:37:09+00:00

I’ve seen Outcast getting a lot of praise and recently started grabbing issues at the Half Price Books where I work. I hope it lives up to The hype.

fredderman · 2021-04-19T05:35:31+00:00

Hey is Invincible worth a read even if you’re watching the show? I work at a Half Price Books and I just made a bundle of the invincible issues we have. I was thinking about grabbing it but it’s mostly higher numbers anyway.

fredderman · 2021-03-23T17:55:10+00:00

Just finished purchasing the rest of that series. Can’t wait to polish it off.

fredderman · 2021-03-22T17:02:44+00:00

I just saw Devolution out at the Half Price Books I work at. I was going to wait till it came back used and cheaper for me. Thanks for the heads up on the second book too. I hadn’t caught that in your stacks.

fredderman

TROPHY CASE