Cryptofiction
Having a long-standing interest in cryptofiction (emphasizing historical material and short stories in general), I've wanted to publish anthologies of historical and modern stories. (Cryptofiction, for the uninitiated, is fiction that focuses on or has major elements of cryptozoology, usually involving new or rediscovered species.) You can read a number of historical short stories I've collected at StrangeArk.com.
As fiction is a hard sell with print-on-demand (or small press in any format), I'm leery about spending money on something with so many obstacles for sales. I've been discussing the possibility of a cryptofiction short story contest with Craig Heinselman, and we will probably announce this sometime in January. I'd like to open it up to short story writers everywhere, but need to do some research into contest expectations (e.g., prizes), while figuring out a way to publish the top stories in paperback format. We may look at Lulu.com, or I may go ahead and just publish it as I would any other Coachwhip Publications title.
There's a great deal about cryptozoology that could be explored in art and literature. I was disappointed to see a recent cryptozoology art exhibition completely sidestep cryptozoology in many artist's cases, rendering bland interpretations of fabulous animals, hybrids, or imaginative fantasies, as if a rendering only needed fur and an unrecognizable shape to be "cryptozoological." We'll be a little more selective in this venture (and have the parameters more firmly set), I think.
As fiction is a hard sell with print-on-demand (or small press in any format), I'm leery about spending money on something with so many obstacles for sales. I've been discussing the possibility of a cryptofiction short story contest with Craig Heinselman, and we will probably announce this sometime in January. I'd like to open it up to short story writers everywhere, but need to do some research into contest expectations (e.g., prizes), while figuring out a way to publish the top stories in paperback format. We may look at Lulu.com, or I may go ahead and just publish it as I would any other Coachwhip Publications title.
There's a great deal about cryptozoology that could be explored in art and literature. I was disappointed to see a recent cryptozoology art exhibition completely sidestep cryptozoology in many artist's cases, rendering bland interpretations of fabulous animals, hybrids, or imaginative fantasies, as if a rendering only needed fur and an unrecognizable shape to be "cryptozoological." We'll be a little more selective in this venture (and have the parameters more firmly set), I think.
posted by Chad Arment at 6:31 PM
1 Comments:
Art, literature, and cryptofiction are, indeed, in the eyes of the beholders. I look forward to your contributions and those you stimulate in this direction. Much success in this venture. Your insights and point of view are needed with this approach, and I sincerely applaud it.
Post a Comment
<< Home