Do you write science fiction stories?
The BSFA (British Science Fiction Association) was set up in 1958 when a group of leading authors, publishers, booksellers and fans decided that Britain needed an international organisation to encourage science fiction in every form.
Now, 50 years later they are marking their success with a short story competition for writers. strong>
Entrants must be from the UK & Ireland and there is a first prize of ??500 up for grabs.The shortlisted runners up will receive ??50, and the winning and shortlisted entries will be published in a special issue of FOCUS the BSFA???s magazine for writers.
The BSFA website says: "The maximum length of stories is 8,000 words. The stories must be science fiction, but we???re willing to take a broad definition of what that means."
Stephen Baxter will judge the best entries
All entries must be accompanied by a ??10 entry fee (you can use paypal) and the shortlisted stories will be judges by British science fiction authors Justina Robson, Stephen Baxter & Alastair Reynolds. Authors may enter as many times as they wish, but all stories must be accompanied by a separate entry form and the ??10 entry fee. Entries can be posted or emailed and there are rules on how to present the manuscript.
The closing date for entries is Friday September 5th 2008 and the winner will be announced at the BSFA 50th Anniversary birthday party on November 26th 2008.
For more details go to www.bsfa.co.uk
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By: Susan Humphrey,
on 6/27/2008
Blog: Writer's Block (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/25/2008
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By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/21/2008
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By: Eric Orchard,
on 2/2/2008
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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It's been a stressful week. I don't seem to get stressed by work, but I do get stressed from thinking about things. This past week has been all about talking to and thinking about agencies. It's a hard decision. Something that's really great about talking to agencies is the advice that they give. I'm amazed how generous people are with thier time, and very grateful. One bit of criticism is that I need to daw more kids. That's true, I'm attempting to create a world of children and for children and I've been populating it with people who are a bit too old.
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The other day on the bus, two little girls performed a marionette show for the passengers. I love these moments. They were sitting at the front and the sun was streaming in. I think it's so important to be open to these moments and to be able to appreciate unexpected magic that peeks through the mundane day. I get so stressed and busy that these moments could slip by unnoticed. For this reason I think we should keep things for fairly simple. I think if it's the job of the fine artist to show what they see in the world, it's the job of the illustrator to show the wonder they see in the world.
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Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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It's been a stressful week. I don't seem to get stressed by work, but I do get stressed from thinking about things. This past week has been all about talking to and thinking about agencies. It's a hard decision. Something that's really great about talking to agencies is the advice that they give. I'm amazed how generous people are with thier time, and very grateful. One bit of criticism is that I need to daw more kids. That's true, I'm attempting to create a world of children and for children and I've been populating it with people who are a bit too old.
I've also learned other things about my work that I knew but needed someone to tell me and I'll get into that another time. The top image is the new Fabriano sketch book I bought. Sometimes when I've had a big realization about my work I like to get a new sketch book and feel as though I'm satarting fresh.
0 Comments on Sketches as of 2/2/2008 7:46:00 AM
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More great sketches Eric.
I think they had a monster like that in the basement of our school too. Actualy, it reminds me of one of my teachers. Hmm, do they disguise themselves as teachers during the day?
My favorites are 1 and 3.
Thanks Frank! It's really nice that people have different favorites, usually everyone likes the same picture. It would explain a lot if some of my teachers were monsters in disguise, my grade 4 french teacer in particular. I always thought her name sounded fake......
Hello Eric. What a joy to find your wonderful illustrations. Hope you don't mind but I have 'tagged' you. You can come to my blog for the rules if you need them. And also, I would very much like to put a link to your blog on mine.
Cheers!
Krissy
Thanks Krissy!
I just did this recently so I'll pass on this one... I hope that's OK.
I love your stuff, particularly "Tangle bones" brilliant.
Bookmarked!
Thanks,Kevin! That means a lot coming from you, I love your work.
Eric... your sketches are great... you manage to get a lovely fresh quality to them. Bravo :)
Thanks Rima!
Arrh how lovely they are!!
Buses are good for that actually, my bus sketches are MUCH more wobbly than that though. You must have inbuilt wobble compensators.
Not at all, I was drunk.
I'm joking, I finished them up when I got to stable ground.
Enjoying UnLudun, almost too many ideas though. And it has a more organic structure than many fantasy books, which is good but makes it feel less like fantasy.
Having said that, I do find I can be pretty critical of fantasy, even though it's my favorite kind of book.
True about UnLunDun... although I found somehow that at first I was cross with it for being overstuffed and a bit pointless, and then it sort of unfolded just when I was getting fed up. - It also helps I read some bad reviews before!
Haaa that explains it, finishing the drawing on solid ground... clever!
It's over stffed-ness and it's self aware cleverness really bugged me, I felt at times that I was reading a Piers Anthony book.
I was a bit annoyed by the pointless onslaught of ideas until chapter 62, the forest in the house part. I thought that was worth the whole price of the book.
Exactly! That's when I was just starting to think: hmmm, maybe this is quite good... and then the house happened and I was really happy!
I was very cross with it at the beginning when people were lobsters for no reason and dressed in books et cetera. But somehow the thing seemed to come alive later.
I agree!
I was very disapointed that cats can't get into Unlundun though. I love cats.
I was really suprised to see him thank Neil Gaiman and mention Neverwhere at the end because half the time I was thinking" this a rip off of Neverwhere,"
Only to find out it was more or less intentional.
C.M.'s adult stuff is super dark and I found it hard to get through.
You must read Mouse Guard by David Paterson. It's an American comic about mice. It's the coolest thing ever. I'll post about it on the weekend.
Mm, my designer who has a fab taste in fantasy books told me he read the adult stories and found them a bit not so good...
Yes do post! Want more fantasy! And comics!
I'm reading BONE in the evenings at the moment, I never read past part three before...
Hah, I remember reading Neverwhere... so much running around, that would have annoyed me if it hadn't been very much like actually being in London.
I'd like to post sort of reviews for books I really like. They'd be more "this is so cool," rather than any critical look at the work.
Do you think that would bore people?
I'd like that!
They can always scroll down if they get bored anyhow. I think it's nice posting different sorts of things - every time I do I get some unexpected nice mail or comment. It's good for the soul.
That's true... I feel like I should always post a painting or a drawing but I should probably expand that a little bit.
super great sketches!!!!
Thanks Claudine!
i love your sketshes, for some reason, there is all this life in them and whimsy.
i just love them!
Thanks!
I'm thiking of doing a book all in pencil.
you should definately! that sounds so cool! i also really like that greytone one on the same post.
its really neat.
Thanks! My latest post is of some drawings for my "pencil book"
It's a picture book called Josephine Pebbles. I'd like to have it done over the next few months. Hopefully 3 months....