NASFiC 2020 virtual convention schedule

The North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) starts Friday, August 21 and runs through Sunday, August 23. Originally slated to be held in Columbus, Ohio, this year’s NASFiC is now totally virtual. And best of all, it’s free for people to attend and take part!

I’ll be taking part in the three sessions below during the convention. For more information and to take part, go to columbus2020nasfic.org.

Office Hours with Jason Sanford
Friday August 21 , 5:00-7:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
I will answer questions about getting published, places to get published and so on. This is your chance to ask me any questions about the many topics I cover in my Genre Grapevine column.

The Future of Anthologies
Saturday August 22, 11:00 am (Eastern Daylight Time)
Moderator: Jason Sanford
Panelists: Dominik Parisien, Lucy A. Snyder, and Neil Clarke
Our highly-regarded panel of editors discuss current trends in and future of anthologies.

Weathering the Storm: Creating in Times of Trouble
Saturday August 22 , 8:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
Moderator: Jason Sanford
Panelists: Ace Ratcliff, Amanda Makepeace, John Medaille, John Wiswell, Raven Oak
Description: A mixed panel of writers and artists discuss the challenges of making art and stories during a pandemic, as well as strategies for managing health and being active creators.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

The literary scams my grandfather faced nearly a century ago

Time for a reminder that scams against writers and other artists and creatives have been around for a long time. As always, money should flow to the writer, not from the writer to an agent or publisher. But scammers have always tried to pervert that relationship.

My grandfather Ray Childress was a professional musician in the American South. He played the piano and organ in a number of orchestras and swing bands and was a member of the American Federation of Musicians. Not a famous musician by any means. Closest he came to fame was being at a party with Hank Williams a few hours before Williams died.

But in the 1930s and early ‘40s, my grandfather was an aspiring song writer. He regularly submitted his songs to sheet music publishers and agencies. Some were legit. Others were scammers.

My grandfather kept many of these letters and I’ve scanned them to share. Here’s a rejection he received in 1938 from a legit music agency, Song Mart. Note this publisher doesn’t ask for money and gives actual feedback to help my grandfather.

However, my grandfather was also the victim of scammers. Note this 1930s letter from Larry Conley in New York. The letter praises my grandfather’s songwriting but is actually a generic letter likely sent to tons of writers. Messages like this still go out today.

Many questionable agents and publishers have generic letters they send to new writers, praising their work even though they likely haven’t read a word of it. These letters and emails are to sucker you in. The content of these scam messages hasn’t changed in a hundred years.

Here’s a more personalized scam letter my grandfather received from a Burrell Van Buren in 1935. If you look closely, the letter is mass-produced with my grandfather’s name typed in at the top — note slightly different font size and style of grandfather's name.

Unfortunately, my grandfather must have fallen for this scam because in his file is a letter asking for the price to order 1000 copies of his song. This is similar to the scam publishers of today who make authors pay to publish their own books.

My grandfather must have realized Burrell Van Buren was a scammer because it appears he didn’t mail in any money. Instead, I found a note where he wrote to the Chamber of Commerce in Chicago asking about the guy. Remember, no Google back then.

But my grandfather was taken in by one scammer, Mildred Seeley of US Music in New York. In 1941 he sent a money order for $34 to US Music for copies of his song “Blue Clouds.” This was a ton of money back then.

Ironically, one of those letters was dated Dec. 7 1941, the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. Even though my grandfather was too old to be drafted, he joined the Army Air Corps. He also threatened to involve the Postal Authorities if US Music didn’t return his money & song.

These scammers took his money, didn’t send him the contract, and when he threatened to involve the authorities they suddenly mailed a letter saying there’d been a delay in publishing his songs. Typical of scammers even today.

Moral of the story is to beware of scams when you’re a writer, artist or creative. You should not pay agents or publishers to consider or publish your work.

Research agents and publishers through places like Writer Beware. Also ask other writers, including their clients, about them. Because scammers have a long history in the literary world and they’re always going to be around.


COVID-19 resources, info, and assistance for the science fiction, fantasy, & horror communities

Updated 3/6/2021

Note: This resource was published in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such some of the information below may be dated.

This is a listing of resources and information which can help people in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror communities deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of these resources focus on genre writers and artists, but my ultimate goal is to include information which can help anyone in the greater SF/F/H fandom.

If you know of resources or info you’d like added to this listing, email it to me at jasonsanfordsf@gmail.com.

General Resources

Conventions

Free Online Classes

Freelancing Opportunities

Note: I’m not listing sites like Toptal or Gigster here, although obviously those and many other freelancing sites have their pros and cons. Instead, I’m trying to focus on freelance opportunities specific to the SF/F/H genres.

Grants and Emergency Assistance

Note: Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in the US stimulus bill, freelancers and 1099 creatives are now eligible for unemployment pay plus an extra payment through 7/31. Essentially, freelancers are eligible to receive half the average unemployment benefit in their state and an extra $600 per week. Contact your local unemployment office to apply.

Also, I’m hearing that many of the granting organizations listed below are struggling to meet the needs of so many applicants. So its possible for the grants below to no longer have available funds. If you discover this let me know and I’ll update this list.

Libraries

  • Libraries around the world are offering special lending assistance, expanded e-book lending, and other services. Check your local library to learn more.

Publisher and Bookseller Info

Note: Amazon is currently delaying the shipping of items they consider non-essential, including books. Here are alternative ways to order books and support authors.

Virtual Readings

  • Short Story Club is a virtual book club for short stories. Every two weeks they feature a different live discussion with an author on Zoom. All proceeds donated to COVI-19 relief efforsts.

A Summary of Our Neighborhood's Salvation After the Storm

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My new short story "A Summary of Our Neighborhood's Salvation After the Storm" is currently out in the March/April 2020 editions of Asimov's Science Fiction, available now in bookstores and also in various digital editions. With the digital editions you can either subscribe or buy the current issue.

The story is also available on the Asimov's podcast, narrated by me. Which depending on your love of my strong accent, is either good or bad.

And no, this isn't self-hating, me ripping on my accent. It's how I talk and I'm good with it.

I hope people enjoy the story. I really enjoyed writing this one.

Eligible for Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer

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A quick note that I'm eligible for nomination for the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. I write a regular column called Genre Grapevine on my Patreon, along with publishing other original essays and commentary on both Patreon and my website.

In 2019 my original reporting on genre issues covered topics as diverse as my special report on genre magazines, in-depth coverage about major problems at ChiZine Publications, an exclusive interview with Fritz Foy of Tom Doherty Associates which was the first press coverage about Macmillan’s plans to limit e-book buying by libraries, and a look at the science fiction market in China.

The following are samples of my fan-related writings from 2019. All of these examples were released free to the public, making them eligible for Best Fan Writer consideration.

Thanks for considering me for a nomination. And if you like the samples of my Genre Grapevine column linked to below, consider backing my Patreon.

#SFF2020: The State of Genre Magazines

My report #SFF2020: The State of Genre Magazines provided a detailed look at science fiction and fantasy magazine publishing in this day and age, including interviews with the publishers, editors and staff at nine genre magazines. This report is available online and in the following formats:

Essays and Special Reports

Samples of Genre Grapevine Columns