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Lorehaven: Christian Fantastic Fiction Webzine to Launch in Autumn 2017

Fans who love Jesus and fantastic fiction will have a new and free guide when Lorehaven releases its first free magazine later this year.

Publisher Ben Wolf, of Splickety Publishing Group, and editor-in-chief E. Stephen Burnett, of SpeculativeFaith.com, announced Lorehaven at the fifth annual Realm Makers conference for Christian fantasy novelists in Reno, Nevada. More than 260 guests welcomed the news.

Lorehaven will build on this audience, and those of Splickety and Speculative Faith, to reach thousands of new readers, sparking interest in book clubs for Christian fantastic novels.

“Nothing like this has ever been done before, but we all know dozens of churchgoing people who go watch Marvel, DC, and other related movies,” Wolf said. “Most Christians don’t realize the wealth of fantastic speculative fiction written by Christians that is out there. Lorehaven seeks to find those people and to provide them with easy access to those stories.”

[bctt tweet=”Most Christians don’t realize the wealth of fantastic speculative fiction written by Christians ” username=”@realmakers @splickety @lorehaven”]

Many people may associate Christian fiction with historical, romantic, or Amish genres. But as this traditional readership dwindles and Christian bookstores close, Lorehaven’s founders join creative professionals in anticipating Christian readers’ higher demand for fantastic fiction.

Younger Christian readers want both biblical truth and fantastic imagination, Burnett said.

“Our native language is the fantastic: crossing between natural and supernatural realities,” Burnett said. “The Bible shines with the epic gospel narrative of Jesus Christ, who defeats the dragon of sin and saves his enemies to become heroes under him. That’s why Christians love fantasy wherever they find it, such as in superhero films and television series.”

“Still, Christians as a unique interest group can worship God and connect with other believers by enjoying and sharing our own fantastic stories—not just the classics from C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, but newer novels from talented Christian creators,” Burnett said.

Lorehaven will help fantasy fans of all ages find these new authors through the magazine’s flash novel reviews, interviews, and news. Wolf said authors and fiction pros will share their stories, write about how to grow as a Christian “fanservant,” and support Lorehaven with paid ads.

“Our long-term goal for Lorehaven is to use it as a vehicle to get Christian people interested and talking about this growing genre of speculative fiction,” Wolf said. “In time, we’d like to be able to send print copies to churches and develop a network of book clubs nationwide that are dedicated to reading and discussing speculative fiction written by and for Christian readers.”

[bctt tweet=”Lorehaven will offer both original and paid content to readers.” username=””]

About Lorehaven: Lorehaven helps Christian fans find biblical truth in fantastic stories. Book clubs, free webzines, and a web-based community offer flash reviews, articles, and news about Christian fantasy, science fiction, and other speculative novels. Lorehaven launches autumn 2017. Visit Lorehaven.com.

About Splickety: Splickety Publishing Group publishes three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Havok, for speculative flash fiction, Spark, for romance flash fiction, and Splickety Magazine, for young adult flash fiction. They routinely feature stories from bestselling and award-winning authors. Visit Splickety.com.

About Speculative Faith: Since 2006, this community of fans and writers have raised awareness of Christian-made speculative novels, with reviews, a library of available titles, and articles from regular writers and guest voices from across the Christian fantastic-story community. Visit SpeculativeFaith.com.

 

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Flash Fiction-Splickety

The One-Inch Theory

 

In her national bestseller, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, author Anne Lamott divulges the secret weapon that motivates her when she doesn’t know what to write.

A one-inch picture frame.

“It reminds me that all I have to do is write down as much as I can see through a one-inch picture frame. ”

As much detail as possible, as much thought as possible, but as short as possible. Lamott admits she tells herself “to figure out a one-inch piece of my story to tell, one small scene, one memory, one exchange.”

This gets her going, and judging on pure numbers of books published and sold, for Lamott, it works.

One small scene might work for you, too. Especially if what you’re trying to craft is a piece of flash fiction.

At less than a thousand words, flash might be the shortest form of fiction, but it shouldn’t be short on character, plot, and impact. Composing flash fiction is like using the flash on your camera—it’s meant to illuminate one moment in time. One moment that could (if needed) be put in a one-inch picture frame.

Perhaps that moment is…

… a kiss (first, last, or most meaningful)

… a realization that changed lives

… a look that seared your character’s soul

… a savoring of the mundane

… a breath in the chaos

… an instance in battle (not the battle, not the war)

… a gut-splitting laugh

No matter the moment you choose to capture, flash fiction is still story telling and your moment needs…

… strong characters (aim for two or three at the most)

… conflict at the heart of the story (i.e. if your characters are lost, show that, but don’t waste words with lengthy backstory for how they got into this predicament.)

… resolution that doesn’t have to cinch the story closed but does leave your reader satisfied (i.e. do your lost ones need water? Find it.)

 

Focus on the aspects of just that one moment. Show your reader…

… emotions for that scene, that moment

… sensory details for action and dialogue

…setting details that give a sense of place and time but don’t weigh the story down

 

As you write—and edit!—your story, frame it in your mind. Place it inside that one-inch picture frame and fill to capacity.

One small moment. One big impact.

AUTHOR BIO: Award-winning writer, Lindsey P. Brackett just writes life — blogs, columns, articles, and stories — in the midst of motherhood. She’s the Web Content Editor for Splickety Publishing Group and her debut novel will release in 2017. Connect with her at lindseypbrackett.com on Facebook or Twitter.

 

 

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour- Ben Wolf

benw

Welcome, Ben.

Tell us about your latest book.  I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You
I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You follows the imaginary exploits of a father and son to adventurous locations. At each location, they encounter an alpha predator that attacks the son, but the father intervenes and saves him every time because the father loves his son.

Why do you write what you do?: I write action/adventure speculative fiction because it most resonates with who I am as a person. I love sci-fi and fantasy, and I’m developing a taste for horror as well. It’s the most fun set of genres there is.

What are you currently working on?: Currently, I’m working on a Christmas novella in which Santa has to save Christmas from Father Time. I can’t go into much more detail than that for the time being, I’m afraid.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?: My work differs from other work in its genre in a variety of ways:

1. I usually try to buck conventions of whatever genre I happen to be working in.

2. I write with a unique voice.

3. I routinely try to twist the reader’s expectations of what my work should be.

How does your writing process work?: Generally, I get an idea and write down the idea. I write as much of that idea down as I can. When the idea is written down, then I try to give it some structure. I typically write stories that adhere to the three-act structure, so I pinpoint the key moments in my story where they’d be with the three-act structure.
After that, I begin outlining in more detail, usually on a chapter-by-chapter level. Then I save the outline separately and create a new document with the outline in it, and I begin writing. As I write the content of the outline in story form, I delete the outline notes in the manuscript. By the time I’m done, there is no outline left, but I have a story.
From there, I begin the editing process. I start by whittling down the writing by cutting unnecessary words and tightening up the prose. Then I have someone else look at it to check my writing for areas in which I’m weak (usually character stuff). I perhaps do some additions and tweaks, and before long, I’ve got a solid manuscript ready for pitching or publication.

Ben Wolf founded Splickety Publishing Group (SPG) http://splickety.com/

The goal of SPG is to meet the needs of busy folks like him: people who appreciate great fiction but lack the time to read. SPG offers three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Splickety (multi-genre), Havok (speculative), and Splickety Love (romance).
Ben’s novel Blood for Blood won the 2015 Cascade Award and is characterized as “bold…with nonstop tension” and “hard to put down.” It asks, “What if a vampire got saved?”

His debut children’s book, I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You, is a 2016 Cascade Award finalist.

I'dpunch

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Punch-Lion-His-Eye-You-ebook/dp/B0185N6R3W/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1471548030&sr=1-5

Social Media and Blog:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=110400056

Twitter: http://twitter.com/1BenWolf

Instagram: @1benwolf

Website: www.benwolf.com

 

Categories
Flash Fiction-Splickety

Emotion in Flash Fiction: How to Pack a Punch in 1,000 Words or Less

TeddiDeppner
“Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

In astronomy, a singularity is a black hole. It’s a powerful gravitational well that sucks in everything around it — planets, moons, asteroids, dust clouds, stars, even light itself.

What does this concept have to do with flash fiction?

Emotion is the singularity that sucks your reader in and devours them whole. Emotion is also the singular focus of the short story writer: it is the only thing that leaves a mark and creates a lasting memory in a reader. Flash fiction is generally under 1,000 words in length. So how do you generate the sort of emotional gravity force that will grab hold of your reader in such a short time?

It doesn’t happen by accident. You do it with intention.

FIRST IDENTIFY

Ideas for short stories come to us in many forms. Sometimes a striking scene pops into your head. Sometimes a character stuck in a tough situation grabs your empathy. Sometimes a fascinating “what if?” scenario or scientific fact tugs at your imagination.

These are all good starting points, but before you jump on the keyboard and begin merrily typing away, do this one vital thing: identify the emotion your story is best suited to evoke in your reader.

THEN INTENSIFY

“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” – Edgar Allan Poe

Good flash fiction requires the same basic elements needed for any good story: setting, character, desire, an obstacle or conflict and a resolution — all working together to form a powerful emotional experience for the reader. Each element should be written towards that singular focus, and every word must pull its weight. In fact, as you gain experience with flash fiction, everything should pull double — or triple — duty.

The description of the setting should add to the mood, imply something about the character, and hint at the story’s climax. The dialogue should provoke an emotional reaction, as well as illustrating who the characters are and what they want.

Even if your story is under 1,000 words, you can still give the reader enough information to connect with the main character. Skip across the timeline of your character’s life, zooming in to show key moments that enhance the target emotion.

Be careful, though. If you are targeting the emotion of regret, that doesn’t mean every sentence will be sad or regretful. Not at all. The impact of the target emotion is a result of engaging the reader in a vicarious experience, so that they want to see the character get what they desire, so that they are disappointed when the character fails, they are hurt when the character is in pain, and ultimately, they feel the target emotion when the character’s story is finished. For example, the story might be full of wonder and delight, and the hope of a happy ending. The regret is then achieved at the end when something hinted at throughout the story comes to fruition and sabotages the hoped-for happiness.

THE READER IS PART OF THE EQUATION

Readers themselves bring memories and emotions to the table. Leverage those. It’s not always about describing your character’s pain in order for the reader to feel pain. Your character may feel something very different than the emotion you’re evoking in your reader.

When you write, imagine the age of your target audience, the things they may have experienced before, the movies and books already popular in your story’s genre. Make them think your story is headed one way, similar to other stories they’ve seen, and then give them a delightful surprise. Paint details from significant events that trigger memories of their own first love, first funeral, first pet, first fear.

Flash fiction is about packing a punch with just a few words. When you pick every detail of your story with a single powerful emotion in mind, your readers are more likely to be sucked into your story and have an experience they’ll remember for a long time.

EXAMPLES

DailyScienceFiction.com has an impressive collection of good quality short stories in the speculative genres. Here are a few stories that packed an emotional punch:

• Voidrunner – This story covers decades of a life in 823 words. It also uses setting and repeated imagery to enhance the emotional impact.
• The Circle of Life – This story contains the familiar emotions of a sibling helpless in the face of her sister’s selfishness and then turns it upside down in the last sentence.
• Sparg – I first read this story in 2013, and will never forget it. So sad!

 

[bctt tweet=”Generating emotional gravity in 1000 words or less doesn’t happen by accident.” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it. – Edgar Allan Poe

[bctt tweet=”Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story. – F. Scott Fitzgerald” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

AUTHOR BIO:
Teddi Deppner is an indie author, founder of the #SpecFicCollective and Associate Acquisitions Editor at Splickety Pub Group. She’s also a homeschool mom, artist and an avid toy and nature photographer. Hear more about her projects at http://www.teddideppner.com/ or connect on Twitter or Facebook.