Saturday, December 02, 2006

Call for Dark City 2 submissions in Star

And this is what appeared in the Star today.  So far I have got 3 confirmed stories I am taking - all 3 so far are from established famous writers. But it really doesn't matter. 

If you're a first time writer and you've got a twisty story to tell, do write in. Remember, this is one of the few anthologies that actually pays. Your twisty story can be from any genre - Trashcan Child itself would fall under the category of fantasy/science fiction. And if I think your story has promise, I will write back and ask you for edits.

But before you write in, read as many twisty short stories as you can and adhere to the rules of storytelling: Show, don't tell. Conversations must be in separate paragraphs. Build suspense until the very end. Always mystify the reader, don't reveal everything at one go. The ending must be a shocking punchline.

For twist in the tale kind of stories, I advise you to pen an outline beginning with the twist at the end, and then work backwards to start at the beginning.

More information in the sidebar.
 
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/12/3/lifebookshelf/16124764&sec=lifebookshelf

Chill and thrill them

AUTHOR Xeus is calling for short story submissions for the sequel to Dark City: Psychotic and Other Twisted Malaysian Tales (Venton Publishing), scheduled to be published next April.

Each story should be between 3,000 and 8,000 words and must have a totally unexpected twist at the end. Writers of stories selected for publication will be paid RM150 and will receive four free copies of Dark City 2.


The closing date for submissions is Feb 28, 2007.


E-mail stories and enquiries to dark.city.xeus@gmail.com. For more information about Dark City, go to darkcity-xeus.blogspot.com.
 

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, just got to surf blogs and my,my, that's a cool new look I see.

Saw the calling for submission in Star . Good luck.

BTW, thanks for the mention of my BM edition of The Sky is Crazy (Gila-gila di langit Biru)

But lots of work too. Well, more work in future months. Must start to look for my elephant suit, to don on before I go pleading, begging and coaxing.....

Anonymous said...

Hi, just got to surf blogs and my,my, that's a cool new look I see.

Saw the calling for submission in Star . Good luck.

BTW, thanks for the mention of my BM edition of The Sky is Crazy (Gila-gila di langit Biru)

But lots of work too. Well, more work in future months. Must start to look for my elephant suit, to don on before I go pleading, begging and coaxing.....

Argus Lou said...

As usual, you make things move very quickly for you and your projects, Xeus. Bravo!

Who is the third 'famous writer' whose work you've accepted?!

And thanks for being so generous as to pay each writer in cash and kind -- I hope it will nudge "publishers who get grants but don't pay writers at all other than two or three copies of the printed book" into being less tight-fisted.

Artemis Hunt said...

Gila-gila di langit biru! That's a riot!! Reminds me of that Malay magazine I used to read... I'm sure it will be a huge success. BTW, my publisher sold 2000 copies to the National Library. I'll go for 2nd edition end of the month to meet that demand.

Artemis Hunt said...

Hee hee, Argus...do you consider yourself famous? Cough, cough. Well, you have had plenty of bylines.

Argus Lou said...

Oh, garn! No lah, nobody knows me or my byline other than my sister's friends.

But, gee, thanks! The story I submitted is terrible - I would not want my real name attached to it. Probably I'll cough up another short story for DC2.

Yvonne, you go girl with 'Gila-Gila Di Langit Biru'! Great title, woman!

Maybe I should write 'The Newsroom Is Nuttier' and have it translated to 'Usik dan Bisik di Balai Berita', huh? ;-)

Artemis Hunt said...

No, Argus, I don't think it's terrible. I was pleasantly surprised at the ending. And I do need an ironic twist in some of the stories. If you like a 2nd opinion, I can always refer the story to Lydia (nudge, nudge).

"Gila-gila di Balai Berita di mana semua perempuan diusik" might cut it.

Lydia Teh said...

Yvonne, I thought it was Gila-Gila di Awan Biru?

Xeus, can read story to give 2nd opinion but I'm not good with twists. Very straight forward mind :)

Wah, 2nd edition already?! DC is moving as fast as you lah.

Argus, the goings-on in a newsroom will make for interesting reading. Writers like me want to know how nutty it can really get in a newsroom.

Argus Lou said...

Eee, Xeus. I don't think Lydia will like the story, or Eh Poh Nim might think I'm a nympho... heh heh. My sisters would probably faint from shame. Publish it with a pseudonym if you want.

Yes, Lydia, the characters in a newsroom are more neurotic, megalomaniacal and nuttier than any you see in fiction. Sex and the City? That's nothing compared to what goes on in newsrooms (or slightly outside it; two guys were spotted having some wham-bam in a parking lot! No kidding). But then again, I'd never be allowed to eat lunch in KL/PJ again... if I were to write the book.

Lydia Teh said...

Argus, write the book with a pseudonym lor and for press interviews, go round like Russell Lee in a mask.

Argus Lou said...

Cannot, lah, Lydia. These psycho newsroom types will rip off my mask and then rip out my guts.

And then will you mop up the mess?

Anonymous said...

Oh oh! See what I did? Habis lah macam ni!

Lydia Teh said...

argus, how many monikers you want to use ah?

I'll go get a gigantic mop ready, industrial strength one.

Anonymous said...

Hi Xeus, heard about you thro' Lydia.
I read both sequels of Trashcan child in the Star. Congrats for this and the upcoming one. You got me motivated to write...

Artemis Hunt said...

Argus, yes, yes! Submit yet another story. Then I can publish 2 under your name/moniker. Remember, one can submit as many as they like.

Lydia, I'll let Argus decide whether to send you her story or not :)

Julie, you are more than welcome to contribute. Just remember the twist in the tale. Read as many twisted stories as you can before writing. All of Dark City's stories are twisted with a shock ending.

Anonymous said...

Lydia, I'm beginning to morph into another T Hal. Help!

Xeus, OK, send the story to Lydia - what the hey - she can tell us whether it's 'too dirty'. Heh heh. (Xeus, our 'dirtiness' meter broke long ago, eh?) ^_^ And, yeah, I'll finish another story before the deadline. I'm back in Malaysia this weekend till mid-Jan. See y'all!

Don your most unwashed pyjamas before starting to read it, Poh Nim.

All the best in your writing, Julie Yee! (Your name sounds familiar... heh.)

Argie-bargie