Nick Kyme

Unless you’ve been in a hole or outer space over the last few days, you surely noticed that Black Library (my publisher that is) is a hale and hearty 15 years old, and to celebrate they’re publishing 15 really short, short stories over the course of 15 days (see what they did there… nice).

Woot! Cake for everyone.

If you most over to the Black Library site now, you’ll be able to find the stories on the front page. Here’s a link to mine btw… it’s called Only Ash Remains.

Quicky then, it takes place after Nocturne and sort of (unofficially) kicks off the Circle of Fire sequence. It’s only 1,000 words long, so don’t expect massive swathes of story but I reckon there’ll be plenty of juicy little teases in there for fans of the series. Go check it out, and while you’re at it check out the other fantastic 1,000 word stories by my lovely colleagues and fellow writers.

You’ll also be able to find a bunch of stuff on the Black Library Facebook and Twitter feed (oh, and the website itself) where each writer comments on the process of writing a short, short story. Plus there’s some commentary from the other contributing writers on the other stories. Shazam!

Regardless of how long or short a story happens to be, there is definitely a different discipline and skill set required for varying length (oo-err, madam). I know some writers that baulk at having to write a short story and the idea of writing a 1,000 word piece would probably keel them over. Others grow pale at the thought of a novel or just can’t seem to get write that middling length, the novella.

I’ve had a go at pretty much everything. I like the short story format, especially audio (I think it’s the fact it forces me to be so immediate, have lots of dialogue and engage on a more cinematic level), but there’s something satisfying about writing a novella too. Novels tire me out, plain and simple. I am bloody shattered during and after writing a novel (especially a beast like The Great Betrayal which I’m working on now) but you can do so much more in terms of character and plot development. It’s also my bread and better, so I’m not stopping any time soon.

In running terms (as it’s an analogy I understand pretty well), a short, short (let’s say 1-5,000 words) is like a sprint, energised, rapid, urgent; a short story (about 10,000 words) is like a 5k run, you know you’re doing it and can’t fly off like a lunatic but it’s not so long that it takes much out of you; a novella (25-30,000 words) is a 10k race, you need to train a bit, figure out your route, keep a steady pace and push at the end; whereas (and, yes, you’ve guessed it…) a novel is a marathon (or even half marathon), it takes a long time, requires loads of work being put in beforehand and leaves you exhausted but satisfied at the end.

Good evening blog fans. So, here it is then, the first of the ‘request blogs’ – this one is on pitching instincts. Specifically mine and, I guess, in general.

Apparently, this question came about through something I once said during a seminar session at BL Live (don’t think I parted with any such dubious pearls of wisdom at this year’s event  – which was awesome by the way – but who knows…).

In response to a query about advice for pitching short stories, I supposedly said (and I only er on caution because I don’t remember saying this) something along the lines of: Cool. Space Marine. Story.

Hmm… a tad myopic perhaps, but it does illustrate a salient point. Pitch what sells. Yep, that’s right, think commercially people and try and divorce yourself from the petty or selfish urge to tell a particular story about the fish men of Aquapolis or that Fimir short, Ratling sniper novella (actually, that’d be pretty cool) or the weird Brothers of Obscurity Chapter you saw once in a box out in White Dwarf.

It’s highly like there’s only one person who wants to read that, and it’s the person pitching it. Or their mum. Or their mates (who are crap judges of your work and pitches, so don’t really on their feedback. For a tummy tickle and a feather plumping, sure, that’s nice but for good, honest to bejesus critique, get a stranger or a pro to do it). Tops.

I know, I’ve seen it time and again. Heard it time and again. It sounds harsh, but if you want to be a writer you need A) a bloody thick skin and B) the ability to see beyond the extent of your own navel.

Right, that’s the tough love out of the way.

Here comes the contradiction.

You should totally write and pitch what you’re passionate about.

‘Huh?’ you’re saying. ‘Didn’t he just tell me to scrap that kroot detective story?’

*sound of tearing paper and hair being pulled out*

Yeah, I did. What I am saying is, find yourself a commercial idea that you can be passionate about and pitch that. Hopefully, it’ll mean you won’t over egg the cake either. I have lost count of the number of over complicated, over detailed submissions I’ve read through. Man, it is hard work and I really don’t have time to read through a whole bunch of stuff because said pitcher thinks it’s essential to the plot.

It isn’t.

And if you still think it is, you’re waaay too close to your piece and should step away immediately or this’ll be the only thing you ever try, and fail, to write.

Don’t be precious, be clever and pitch something we will like.

Reinventing the wheel or trying to pitch outside the genre is a mistake too. Show us the archetype but give them something interesting in their character that makes me take notice. Oh, and this is pulp sf, not some existential treatise on the nature of war or any of that load of old bollocks. If that’s what you want to write then you’re barking up the wrong treehouse. That isn’t to say that what you write shouldn’t have depth but a spade is a spade, and ours usually have a mag of bullets locked and loaded into them.

Be clear. If you’re not and can’t describe your story concept in a line (two max!) then we probably won’t look at it or like it.

When you’re a bit more established as a writer it does get easier. You do develop an instinct for what works and what doesn’t. Even go was far to consider would your idea work as a series. Could this fledgling short story blossom into an all singing, all dancing mega trilogy with audio dramas, novellas and the lot. Think about scope, but rather potential scope and not the scope of the piece in its own right – you’re getting into over complication and unwieldy plotting again if you do that.

There was a supplementary question appended to the one about pitching instincts (and once again a lot of this boils down to having a good commercial head on your shoulders, and knowing just what it is that your prospective publisher publishes). It concerned whether I get any pitching black spots, where whatever I suggest gets shot down and I’m locked in a dirty funk.

The short answer is: no. At least not yet. Thing is, I know what ranges BL produces. So do you, by the way, it’s articulated in the books that come out every month. Let’s just say if you pitch a story that ties in to Space Marine Battles or Warhammer Heroes, there’s a good chance it’ll get some consideration (especially if you can write and have a decent idea that’s based on a popular part of the background – can’t help you if the first part is deficient but the second one is easy: just read lots and pay attention to the races that get most attention from your fellow hobbyists).

As a writer, I’m already thinking about the next Salamanders series. I can do this because I’ve already put in the hard yards with pitching what was a commercial trilogy that I shored up with lots of short stories and other projects. I’ve got some Space Marine Battles ideas too (one, admittedly, that I had to re-purpose slightly in the light of resistance from our sales and marketing guys).

Re-purposing your story ideas is an interesting concept, and something I might leave for another blog post. You might have a great idea but the setting and context makes it not viable because it isn’t very commercial. What if you take that idea and frame it differently, in a different context. Fireborn started life as a Warhammer short story idea, believe it or not.

I do have a slightly leftfield idea circling around my shell-like. It’s not as commercial as Salamanders, I don’t think, but it is a wicked concept and the context in which it is set is extremely commercial. Certainly, there’s enough there for my editor to take a punt.

I don’t know if this really answers the pitching question. I hope there’s something of interest in what I’ve said.

Okay then, so what’s next?

Hey fans! Yup, it’s three posts today. Making up for lost time.

Saturday it’s BL Live 2012 and here’s my line-up for the day:

1.45-2.45 Signing Desk (I’ll have The Primarchs, plus anything else you care to bring along)

3.00-4.00 Seminar Room 1 – Horus Heresy (this is a panel about the NYT bestselling series and will touch on future projects)

4.15-5.15 Seminar Room 1 – New Stuff Q&A (exactly what it says on the tin – I’ll have my editor’s hat on for this one)

See you there!

Like I said earlier, multiple posts – gadzooks!

Okies, so here’s what I’ve been working on/what’s out and coming out for my goodself at the moment.

Out now – Nocturne has been out since November and kicking celebrated ass as the finale to my Tome of Fire trilogy about the Salamanders. There are some cliffhangers and that’s because I am returning to the Chapter and some of the characters (plus new ones) in a new book around 2013.

Also… Dwarfs. If you can can’t wait for The Great Betrayal then you can always get hold of this omnibus edition by myself and fellow author Gav Thorpe. It contains three stand alone novels about the dwarfs (well, duh…), a short story by Gav and a cut down version of the old hard to find background book Grudgelore. Oh, and both authors have written an intro too.

Coming out soon – The Primarchs in which I have a novella ‘Feat of Iron’, which is about Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands and really delves into his psyche and how he sees himself ranked up against the other primarchs. It runs concurrently with the storyline of Promethean Sun but is in no way dependent on that story. There some pretty f*!king awesome revelations in it about Ferrus Manus and a hint about what’s to come in the next phase of the Heresy storyline too. It’s previewed at BLL and released ‘officially’ in June 2012.

Perfection is my fourth (ish) audio drama and it’s all about a warband of the Emperor’s Children called the Incarnadine Host. It’s a bit different as it’s kind of a battlefield mystery story but with lots of extremely visceral action, and a killer twist. The read through was done last week and now it’s off to be recorded. Expect it around October 2012.

And what I’m working on right now – The Great Betrayal. My first Time of Legends book set during the War of Vengeance has been a right bast to get into shape. With a six book series, my first experience of working in tandem with another author, and this being the first book has meant I’ve really had to find new levels of dedication and ingenuity to make this work. It’s now well on track, over 70,000 words down (out of a likely 120,000) and slated for a November 2012 release.

And soon to be on my writing desk – Tome of Fire. For all Salamander fans everywhere, this is an anthology of all my short stories for the Salamanders. It also includes the audio drama Fireborn and will contain a brand new novella (which is where the work comes from). Rare gems such as The Burning will also be in there (that was a chapbook story from BLL 2009 – I think) and I might see if Emperor’s Deliverance will fit in too (it’s more focused on Marines Malevolent but does have a rather cool cameo by Tu’Shan).

Scorched Earth is next up. This is a Horus Heresy novella that won’t be limited edition but will be a forerunner to a later novel I have in the works. It’s set in the aftermath of Isstvan V and features two Salamander characters searching for Vulkan’s body amongst the ruins and devastation. Expect a cameo from one of the Iron Hands in ‘Feat of Iron’ too… Oh, and the cover by Neil Roberts is absolutely stunning. Very moody and something rather different for the Horus Heresy, not really seen before.

That’s your lot. Further out is well… top secret at the moment. Updates will filter through BL’s site as usual.

Catch me at BLL2012 on Saturday to get my sig on The Primarchs or anything else you care to bring.

I’ll cut to the chase shall I? I have been phenomenally crap about blogging. Rubbish. Yes, I know. Part of the reason for this is that I’ve been working like an absolute beast on TGB (The Great Betrayal) and haven’t had the time to eat/sleep let alone blog.

In light of the fact that I now have a longer deadline (and thank God, basically, as I was losing my mind and in danger of going off the deep end I – writing whilst working a full time job is bloody hard. I don’t recommend it…) I have a solution.

Listen to this…

Tuesday nights I go bowling. It’s extremely cathartic and when I’m on form I’m actually pretty good at it too. It means I don’t usually get much/enough time to do much writing beyond the 500 words I get in at lunch. I figure then that I can use this time more productively to post a blog.

In fact, I want to open it out to you fair reader (assuming there are still a few of you out there that is? And I hope there are…). Give me a topic you’d like me to blog about, something you’re interested in knowing my take on that relates to what I do as a writer or writing in general. I’ll even field stuff on movies and computer games. If I have an opinion of it, I’ll voice it. Nothing rude or dodgy please – that’ll just get spammed and I won’t be your friend any more. 

Course, I’ll also blog about random stuff too, provide updates as to work progress (for the most part on that score, refer to Twitter or you can also get me on Facebook as my tweets go there too), signings, Shakespeare’s antics and general musings.

Oh, the other reason for the lack of bloggage is I’ve kind of been using Twitter as a blog substitute. It’s quicker, easier and I like the bite sized chunk style of the interface. Keep your ass over to Twitter, get an account and go follow me @NickKyme if you want to be get up to date with everything.

That said, weekly blog posts will be my aim (on a Tuesday evening, probably) from now on. I’ll also try and put art up on here too as BL let me.

This’ll be the place for extracts too, which I’m going to start posting up on a regular basis as well. If there’s anything else you want to see in my blogosphere then shout out and I’ll see about adding it. Oh, any questions or anything of that nature – I’ll get a bunch together and answer them all at once in a post so everyone gets the benefit.

If I’m feeling particularly frisky, I my even post more than one blog entry *gasp*. Yes! That’s right. Boosh!

So, my apologies for leaving you all hanging with nothing new to read. That’s gonna change from here on out. Keep checking the tweets because they’re the most prolific source of news but here’s where you get the meat for your potatoes.