This week, I wanted to figure out how I might try to organize my stories in a way that is easy to navigate. My first thought was a drop-down menu, so I went about implementing that on my website. I went digging around W3schools for a way to do what I wanted to, and I found a tutorial for a dropdown menu. I created a testing page so I could figure out how to incorporate the drop-down menu without breaking everything on my website. I have found it to be an incredibly helpful tool when figuring out how to format my website without affecting the polished product.

I figured out how to edit the colors of the menu to make it fit the rest of my site, as well as how to insert it into my navigation bar without affecting the rest of the links there. I initially tried inserting it between the “Resume” and “About” links, but for some reason, that opened the dropdown menu when I hovered over the “Resume” link. I ended up putting it after all of the links, and it appeared where I wanted it to and didn’t open when I hovered over other links. Putting the dropdown menu into the Portfolio section was probably the easiest out of everything. 

Putting the dropdown menu into my About page was significantly more challenging. When I added the dropdown menu, it turned the entire background the same red as my header. To resolve that issue, I borrowed some code from the Portfolio to create more dividers, and I was able to create a nice grey background for the text instead of it being dark red. I also added my “Memento Mori” footer to my About page. The dropdown menu won’t turn darker when I hover over it on the About page, and I haven’t figured out why yet. 

I am not going to put the dropdown menu on my Resume page because, after this class is over, I will be deleting it. I don’t find it particularly helpful to what I aim to do with my creative writing career, so I want to leave it up for this class, but that’s it. 

Next week, I plan on creating pages for my stories, adding those links to the dropdown menu, and attempting to figure out why the button won’t change color when I hover over it on the About page.

My links in the body of the page also break for some reason with the dropdown menu. I removed those links, and I will try to figure out a solution to that in the upcoming weeks.

I want to preface my blog post this week with the acknowledgment that I dislike AI, or at least the way it’s being used to impact artists and spread misinformation. With that being said, I think the assignment for this week is fair and cautions students against taking the information given to us at face value.

Starting Research Prompts

To start my delve into the world of AI, I clicked through each of the links just to get a sense of what each model was going to be like. As soon I opened the link to Bing, I was immediately overwhelmed and closed it immediately. I did, however, explore further with each of the others. I gave each model the same set of questions, only modified slightly to fit the flow of conversation. If they asked me what I wanted or needed help with, I said “I don’t know,” and I referred to each model by name. The prompts I gave to explore are as follows:

1. Hello!
2. (I don’t know,) do you have any conversation starters?
3. (Model name,) what’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now?
4. How do you avoid giving users false information?

I was hoping that these prompts would give me both a sense of what (if any) personality the model was given and how transparent it was meant to be with users. I found that Bard was the most friendly model out of the bunch. The only two that were all business were Perplexity and Claude. Bard also seemed to be the most transparent when I asked about the challenges of AI models and how they avoid giving users false information. Perplexity didn’t seem to understand the question and functioned more like a search engine than a model I was having a conversation with, despite the questions being in the same thread. Copilot had a somewhat disturbing response to my final question: “My mistake, I can’t give a response to that right now. Let’s try a different topic.” I didn’t dislike using ChatGPT or Claude, but neither model gave me particularly in-depth responses. Moving forward, I will be using Bard, with some extra input from Claude and ChatGPT.

Career Specific Prompts

My starting prompt for the career-related part of my research was: “I am about to graduate college with a degree in English with concentration in fiction writing. I want to find speculative fiction publications that accept submissions from new and inexperienced writers. What skills do I need to demonstrate? What kinds of artifacts should I have to demonstrate those skills? What are some resources I can pursue to help me learn about how I can get published?” I am well aware of the typo I made, but to keep it consistent, I left the typo in each time I gave it to an AI. I’m not perfect, and I’d rather have consistency in my prompts than fix a typo and risk that being a factor.

I also asked some follow-up questions:

• How can I gain real world experience as a speculative fiction writer?
• What national organizations are there for speculative fiction writers?
• What networking opportunities are there as a speculative fiction writer?
• What are some free resources I can use to improve my craft as a speculative fiction writer?

Below are the synthesized and edited responses (edited first by Bard, then again by me).

Initial Prompt

Skills to demonstrate:

• Strong storytelling fundamentals: Strengthened storytelling, clear and concise prose, and building engaging plots with high stakes.
• Genre awareness: Understand the conventions and expectations of your chosen subgenre(s) within speculative fiction. Show how your work both embraces and subverts these expectations.
• Polish and professionalism: Ensure your writing is well-edited, free from typos and grammatical errors, and formatted according to the publication’s submission guidelines.
• Attention to detail and internal logic: Showcase your ability to create rich world-building and believable narratives even within fantastical settings.
• Editing and revision: Demonstrate your ability to revise and improve your work after receiving feedback.
• Research and realism: Incorporating reality into your story can enhance the speculative elements.

Artifacts to demonstrate your skills:

• Completed manuscripts: Your best and most polished piece(s) in your chosen genre. Aim for a novel or novella, or a collection of short stories showcasing your range.
• Short fiction publications (if any): Any previously published short stories in literary magazines or genre-specific publications add weight to your portfolio.
• Awards or achievements: Recognition in writing competitions or workshops can also be helpful.
• Writing samples: If you don’t have published work, consider including well-edited excerpts from longer works or standout short stories.

Resources to learn and improve:

• Submission guidelines: Research the specific publications you’re targeting and read their submission guidelines carefully. These often detail acceptable word counts, preferred themes, and formatting requirements.
• Manuscript critiques: Consider professional editors or critique groups to polish your work and receive valuable feedback.
• Writer’s organizations, workshops, and conferences: Organizations like the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) can provide resources, advice, and potential networking. Workshops on speculative fiction and genre writing can offer valuable advice and connect you with established authors and editors.
• Online communities: Join online forums and groups dedicated to your chosen genre(s) to connect with other writers, exchange feedback, and learn from their experiences.
• Websites and blogs: Resources like Writer’s Digest, Duotrope, and speculative fiction magazines often offer resources and articles specifically for new writers.

Publications for new writers:

• Literary and genre-specific magazines: Many literary magazines publish speculative fiction alongside other genres. Consider submitting short stories to places like Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine, and Clarkesworld. Publications like Uncanny Magazine, Podcastle, and Fireside Magazine focus on science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and often welcome submissions from new writers.
• Online zines and anthologies: Look for online zines and anthologies with open submission calls, especially those aimed at emerging writers. Participating in these can broaden your reach and build your publishing credits.
• Amazon Kindle: Self-publishing on platforms like Amazon Kindle can help build publishing credits.

How can I gain real world experience as a speculative fiction writer?

Gaining exposure and experience through publishing:

• Online publications and themed anthologies: Many accept submissions from new writers, offering publishing credits and exposure. Look for themed anthologies related to your subgenre to increase your chances. Platforms like Wattpad and Radish Fiction let you share your work and build a readership, even earning potential through reader engagement.
• Self-publishing: While challenging, self-publishing can give you complete creative control over your work and valuable experience in marketing and production.
• Create a blog or website: Start a blog or website where you share your thoughts on speculative fiction, writing tips, and even snippets of your work. This can help you build an online presence and connect with readers.

Community engagement:

• Attend events and join online communities: Attend genre-specific events to network with other writers, editors, and agents. Participate in panels and workshops to learn from established professionals. Many online communities cater to specific subgenres. Participate in discussions, share your work, and connect with fellow writers for encouragement and learning.
• Critique groups: Joining a critique group specific to your genre allows you to exchange feedback and improve your writing in a supportive environment.
• Participate in writing challenges: Join writing challenges or contests within the speculative fiction community. These events provide deadlines and themes, pushing you to create new work and potentially gain recognition.
• Stay informed about publishing trends: Stay aware of trends and changes in the publishing industry, especially within the speculative fiction genre. Understanding market demands can guide your writing and submission strategies.

Creative collaborations:

• Fanfiction: Writing fanfiction in your chosen genre can hone your narrative skills and world-building while engaging with a pre-existing fanbase.
• Roleplaying games: Participating in tabletop or online roleplaying games can spark creative ideas, develop character interactions, and explore fantastical settings interactively.
• Collaborative writing projects: Joining online or local writing challenges or group writing projects can push you outside your comfort zone and teach you to adapt to different styles and voices.

Non-writing activities:

• Fuel writing with real-world experiences: Immerse yourself in the real-world aspects relevant to your chosen subgenre. Visit historical sites, attend scientific talks, or research cultural practices to add depth and authenticity to your world-building. Engaging in activities related to themes explored in your fiction, like environmental conservation or social justice advocacy, can provide firsthand experience and emotional depth to your writing.
• Creative hobbies: Taking up photography, painting, or music can inspire your world-building and enhance your understanding of visual and emotional storytelling.
• Read widely: Expand your knowledge of speculative fiction by reading a variety of works within the genre. Analyze different styles, themes, and approaches to storytelling. This allows you to identify successful tropes and techniques.

Other tips:

• Write regularly: Dedicate consistent time to writing. Regular practice helps you improve your skills and develop your unique voice.
• Explore multi-media platforms: Consider writing for podcasts, online magazines, or interactive fiction platforms. This diversifies your experience and allows you to experiment with different storytelling formats.

What national organizations are there for speculative fiction writers?

General Speculative Fiction:

• Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA): This prestigious organization serves as a hub for established and aspiring authors in science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. They offer awards, scholarships, educational resources, and networking opportunities. Membership requires professional publication credits.
• Speculative Literature Foundation (SLF): This non-profit organization focuses on promoting literary quality in speculative fiction. They offer grants and awards for writers, support small presses and genre magazines, and host educational programs. You don’t need to be a member to benefit from their resources.
• The Imaginarium: The Imaginarium is dedicated to supporting up-and-coming speculative fiction writers with classes, peer groups, conference opportunities, and an annual writing retreat.
• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): SCBWI has helpful resources on writing children’s fantasy/sci-fi books. Local chapters and annual conferences.

Specific subgenres:

• Mystery Writers of America (MWA): While generally focused on mystery and crime fiction, MWA has a “Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal” chapter catering to writers in those subgenres. They offer workshops, contests, and networking opportunities specific to their members.
• Broad Universe: This organization promotes science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. They offer awards, grants, workshops, and mentorship programs to support female writers in speculative fiction.

Regional Organizations:

Many states and local communities have vibrant organizations catering to speculative fiction writers. These groups offer workshops, critique groups, and social events, providing valuable support and networking opportunities.

Online Resources:

• Duotrope: This website provides comprehensive submission guidelines for thousands of literary magazines and genre publications, including many focused on speculative fiction.
• Writer’s Digest: This online resource offers articles, tips, and interviews on all aspects of writing, including specific sections dedicated to speculative fiction.
• Critique Circle: This online platform connects writers with other writers and professional editors for critique and feedback on their work.
• Fantasy-Faction: This is a large online community of fantasy writers and fans featuring forums, articles, writing challenges, virtual conventions, and more.

What networking opportunities are there as a speculative fiction writer?

In-person events:

• Gather with other like-minded individuals: Major genre conventions like WorldCon, DragonCon, and ComicCon offer unparalleled opportunities to meet established authors, attend panels, and connect with other writers and fans. Many smaller genre-specific conventions exist as well, focusing on subgenres like horror, steampunk, or fantasy. Check local bookstores, libraries, and writing centers for workshops and readings related to speculative fiction. These events offer smaller crowds and more intimate settings for interacting with fellow writers and gaining insights from established authors.
• Critique groups: Joining a critique group dedicated to your chosen subgenre is a fantastic way to receive constructive feedback on your work, learn from others, and build lasting connections. Look for local groups or online communities focused on speculative fiction.
• Book Release Parties: Attending release parties for speculative fiction, especially in your city, lets you celebrate and chat with the author and their connections.
• Book Signings: When authors have local book tour events, signings are small, intimate ways to exchange a few words and potentially follow up later.
• Writing Retreats/Residences: Selective residencies and retreats like Clarion or Writers & Illustrators of the Future bring together speculative writers for intensive weeks of connection.
• Literary Festivals: Attend literary festivals and book fairs, especially those that feature speculative fiction authors. These events can provide opportunities to meet and connect with established writers and industry professionals.

Online platforms:

• Engage online: Many online forums and communities cater specifically to speculative fiction writers. Participate in discussions, share your work, and connect with like-minded individuals for support and encouragement. Popular platforms include Reddit’s r/fantasywriters and r/scifiwriting, as well as genre-specific forums like CritSpace and Scribophile. Contribute guest posts to blogs or podcasts that focus on speculative fiction. This allows you to showcase your expertise, connect with other writers, and potentially reach a wider audience.
• Social media: Utilize platforms like Twitter and Facebook to follow established authors, genre news sources, and writing resources. Engage in conversations, participate in writing challenges, and build your online presence to connect with other writers and readers.
• Mentorship programs: Several organizations offer mentorship programs connecting aspiring writers with established authors in their niche. Look for opportunities from SFWA, Broad Universe, or local writing groups.

Creative collaborations:

• Participate in online writing challenges: Joining online challenges themed around speculative fiction can be a fun way to stretch your creative muscles, network with other writers, and gain feedback on your work. Look for platforms like NaNoWriMo or genre-specific challenges on forums.
• Collaborate on writing projects: Consider engaging in collaborative writing projects, like co-writing short stories or participating in online roleplaying games focused on your chosen genre. This can be a rewarding way to explore new ideas and learn from others.

Building relationships:

• Connect with authors: While it’s important to be respectful of their time, sending polite and well-researched emails to authors you admire can lead to valuable advice, mentorship opportunities, or simply a boost of encouragement. Book events are excellent opportunities to meet authors in person, ask questions, and network with other fans and writers. Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself and share your passion for speculative fiction.
• Be helpful and supportive: Contribute positively to online communities and writing groups. Offer constructive feedback, share resources, and celebrate the successes of others. Building a reputation for generosity and collaboration will attract others and expand your network.

What are some free resources I can use to improve my craft as a speculative fiction writer?

Writing Prompts and Inspiration:

• r/WritingPrompts subreddit: This subreddit offers a daily dose of fresh writing prompts for all genres, including plenty of mind-bending sci-fi and fantastical scenarios.
• Daily Science Fiction: Get your daily dose of short sci-fi stories and prompts to jumpstart your imagination.
• Fantasy Flight Games: This game company’s website offers themed generators for everything from character names to alien planets, perfect for sparking inspiration.
• NaNoWriMo Writing Camp: Join the thousands taking part in this annual novel-writing challenge for a month of dedicated writing and a supportive community.

Craft and Skill Development:

• Writer’s Digest: This website is a comprehensive resource for writers, offering numerous articles and ebooks on world-building, character development, plotting, and genre-specific writing tips.
• Clarkesworld Magazine: This award-winning sci-fi and fantasy magazine offers free monthly “Craft Talks” by established authors on various writing topics.
• K.M. Weiland’s Helping Writers Become Authors: This author’s website is a goldmine of free blog posts and resources on plot, character arcs, and building suspense, with specific sections dedicated to fantasy and sci-fi.
• YouTube Channels: Many channels like Writer’s Digest, Holly Lisle, Chuck Wendig, and Jessica Brody offer insightful and entertaining videos on writing techniques, genre-specific advice, and author journeys.
• MIT OpenCourseWare – Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing: Access free course materials from MIT’s undergraduate writing course focused on speculative fiction.

Feedback and Community:

• Critique Circle: This online platform allows you to share your work with fellow writers and professional editors for free feedback and critique.
• Wattpad: This community-driven platform allows you to share your writing and receive feedback from readers, especially helpful for exploring genre trends and audience engagement.
• Discord Servers: Join genre-specific Discord servers like the Speculative Fiction Writers’ Guild or CritSpace for discussions, workshops, and critique opportunities amongst aspiring and established writers.
• Local Writing Groups: Check your library, bookstore, or community center for free writing groups where you can share your work and receive feedback in a supportive setting.

Podcasts and Audiobooks:

• Writing Excuses: This fun and informative podcast hosted by several professional authors tackles writing and publishing challenges in a lighthearted way.
• Levar Burton Reads: Relive your childhood fantasies by listening to audiobooks narrated by the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation actor, featuring classics like The Hobbit and Ender’s Game.
• Escape Pod and Cast of Wonders: These science fiction and fantasy audiobook podcasts offer a curated selection of free short stories to immerse yourself in different writing styles and subgenres.

Further Suggestions

After synthesizing the suggestions Bard, Claude, and ChatGPT gave me, I asked Bard for some suggestions we hadn’t explored yet. While it did give me some information we’ve previously reviewed (like mentorships), it also suggested playing with interactivity and media for speculative fiction as a genre. I found it interesting that it gave me suggestions for art rather than for career advancement. After changing “suggestions” to “tips” and clarifying that I wanted advice for writers starting their careers, it didn’t give any new information, just things we have already explored. I would like to think that the lists generated above provide a comprehensive guide for starting my writing career. 

Concluding Thoughts

I opted to keep the responses from the AIs in the list format because it’s easier for me to navigate and refer back to whenever I want to revisit the information. It may not be the most strictly neat or organized format, but it’s what is helpful to me, and therefore it’s going to stay that way.

Unfortunately, the AIs told me a lot of information I already knew. I am already very familiar with what skills and documents I need to get published in my field. I was also familiar with several tips, especially on writing more and finding inspiration. 

The AIs did, however, provide me with a lot of valuable information on how to build a community in writing. Being a writer is often very solitary, and I’ve been lost when it comes to finding a group of people to engage with, especially for free. Genuine feedback is something I crave and something I know will help me improve my craft, but it’s difficult to find without knowing how to reach out and get sugar-coated feedback from friends and family who don’t want to hurt your feelings.

The next step I want to take is to start building an online presence and find the community I need to share my work and make it the best it can be. I have already created an email address for writing purposes only that uses my pen name, so I can use that to continue building an online presence. Twitter and Discord are probably good starting places for me, as well as a Tumblr site. I know Tumblr isn’t as popular as it used to be, but it has a thriving writing community and I want to delve into that further.

I’m feeling better about my chances of coming into this community. I’m not so far gone that I think I’m going to get wildly famous and successful, but I do think that I’ll be able to at least get some level of exposure for my writing. 

I still don’t like AI, but I’m willing to acknowledge it as a pretty good search engine.

Despite the atypical nature of my chosen career path, I have never once received career advice from one of my creative writing professors. We’ve never had a dedicated class or two where we would just sit down and talk about what it would be like to be a writer trying to make a living off of the art we so desperately want to make. This past week was the first time we’ve ever broached the topic; my professor had assigned a foreword from the latest edition of the Best American Short Stories where the guest editor, Min Jin Lee, relates her experiences and shares numbers on what it’s like to be a writer. As I mentioned last week, I am fully prepared for the reality that I am not going to be able to support myself with my writing alone. This worrying tendency to avoid talking about the logistics of making money off of our art has left me groping in the dark. 

To begin researching my writing opportunities, I first had to come to two conclusions:

1. The type of job I’m looking for isn’t going to be available to me on a website like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or any other website hosting job listings. As amazing as it would be, writing is not a career that would pay me hourly.
2. I need to do my searching based on what genres I write for. I can’t go to a magazine meant for horror and hand them my random AO3, enemies-to-lovers coffeeshop AU fanfic with the serial number filed off. I need to find genre-appropriate places to get paid.

Keeping these things in mind, I, unfortunately, went to Google to start plugging in search terms. I ended up getting fruitful results from ‘speculative fiction magazines,’ getting back several websites that compiled lists of publishers that accept speculative fiction (which is a rather broad genre and encapsulates everything I enjoy writing). The two best lists I found were from the International Writer’s Collective and Freedom With Writing. While I was initially drawn to both websites from looking at their speculative fiction listings, I found much more to these resources. Both websites provide extensive lists of publications across several different genres. IWC tends to be good at providing information about how long each publication wants pieces to be, how long the response time is after submissions close, and if there are any submission fees to be aware of. FWW also includes length requirements and is better at providing information about the pay rate for each publication. There are probably hundreds of opportunities packed into these two websites, although not every opportunity is going to be where I submit my work.

The biggest qualification for any publication is that I know how to write, and how to do it well. This means that I must be able to create and that I must be able to both edit my work and take feedback on issues my writing has without it feeling like a personal attack. Another skill I need to learn is how to format my work using the Shunn Manuscript Format. While manuscript formatting may vary between publishers, the Shunn formatting generally seems to be the standard. I also need to have a basic understanding of how to submit my work to whatever submission portal each publisher uses. This can vary as well, with different publishers opting for email submissions instead. This isn’t a skill I can necessarily sit down and learn, but rather I must try to adapt and learn each portal as I come across it. Thankfully, growing up in the digital age has been a great way to prepare me to learn new programs quickly. 

Thankfully, I have been published before. One of my pieces of fiction was published in the Underground, GSU’s undergraduate literary magazine. Rights reverted to me immediately after the issue’s publication, so I can post the work in a digital portfolio and acknowledge the prior publication. I believe the fact that I’ve been published once demonstrates the ability to do so again, as well as demonstrates my ability to do what it takes to get published again. 

Before I graduate, I have to write more and polish what I already have. I want to select some pieces that I enjoy but don’t necessarily think are publication-worthy and polish those to go up as reading samples. I also want to create a way for casual readers to pay me for my writing. Hopefully, this manifests itself as a Patreon or a Kofi (probably Kofi, since it’s more tip-oriented and not bonus content). I also need to just write, write, and write some more. I hope to submit work to at least two different publications before graduation, and hopefully, one of those two will be paid if my work is accepted. 

This exercise has broadened the scope of what opportunities are out there. I had no idea just how many publications were out there, and I had no idea how many of them would pay me for my work. I still have pretty conservative expectations about how much I can get. This is a tough way to earn money and can be rather competitive. I largely want to get serious about the amount of time I put into writing my stories. I want to pursue ideas without a grade being attached. If a piece gets rejected from one publication, it could still get published somewhere else. I’m confident that I can get a “yes” from someone before I graduate, even if it is on a small scale and even if I get a dozen or so “no”s.

Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Not only a writer but a fiction writer. The idea of being an author had me captivated, and no matter how much I considered other options, nothing else had the same appeal that writing did. 

This desire to create still hasn’t left me. It has, however, morphed into something I hold fear about. In the current digital age, I see artists’ work constantly devalued and treated the same way we treat fast fashion (although let’s not forget that fashion itself is an art form). Art, especially pieces that are published or released on digital platforms, gets reduced to be called merely “content.” The artists themselves? Content creators. How can I write, let alone make anything resembling a living off of it, without forcing myself to become part of the cycle of being viewed simply as content to consume?

After graduation, I fully intend on attempting to pursue a career in fiction writing, even if it means that it may not pay the bills. While it would be phenomenal if I ever got a book deal or made it famous, that isn’t the point of everything for me. I am well aware that most writers don’t get rich or famous off of their art, and I’m okay with that. What I do to pay the bills isn’t what concerns me, whether that’s a desk job or a food service job. (I’m a server currently, and I genuinely enjoy my job despite all the ways that serving tables in a restaurant is looked down on.) I’m way more focused on what I can do to share my writing with others, as well as figuring out how to be compensated for the pieces that I create. I hope that the portfolio I make in this class can serve as a showcase of the pieces that I’m most proud of and as a way for others to glimpse into how I experience the world.

At this point, I know how to write, and, despite what my internal critic is telling me, my writing is pretty good. I also know of at least a small handful of journals that will pay me for my writing at rates that are considered semi-professional or professional for the genre. I also have an abundance of writing that I can edit and polish up for submission to various journals. 

There are still several steps that I need to reach some of my writing goals. While the prompt for this blog post says “career-related job,” I’m going to treat it more as a “first-time getting paid professionally for writing” situation since you typically already have to be established as a writer for any sort of book deal. One of the first things I need to do is start to work on editing and revising pieces that I’d like to submit, as well as generate some sort of portfolio to publish works I want to have available for free (such as pieces I have the right to publish again and pieces that are unavailable to being submitted to other literary journals for whatever reason). I would also like to work out a consistent writing schedule, as well as set up some way for me to get paid by readers if they’d like to give a tip.

I know that my ambitions here are small-scale, but admittedly, I’m not looking to make it big right away. I’ve grown to temper my expectations for this field, and that has been extremely beneficial. I simply want to share my art with the world and hopefully get paid for it.