ONE OF THOSE MONTHS

Hello everyone

Ever had one of those months? You know the type. You start of with the best of intentions and then find things conspire against you for getting anything done.

Well, not as much done as I'd have liked to have done. Looking back over this month, I think I can say I've had one of them. Even more remarkable that I got anything finished at all with my computer crashing for two successive periods and doing a massive re-install.

At least, I knew how to fix it but still left with a perplexing problem of why it happened so it wouldn't happen again. That I'm still working on.

So much work, need more hours in a day. Maybe I can arrange it. Gimme a planet with a longer day and I'll show you an editor who would still want more.

Editorials are the writer's soapbox. They lie somewhere between an article and a promotional prop. Often as much these days, I've seen editors elsewhere just use them to say something about the content of their publications.

I've always seen that as being rather pointless, especially as the buyer has already picked up the magazine with the expectation of buying it. That and a two-page contents list doesn't exactly show the editor is firing on all barrels and doesn't want to say anything significant.

There's the argument that as a last minute thing before the masters go to the printers they haven't the time to use them for thought-provoking but judging by the size of editorials - a small box or large print springs to mind - these days, it gives the appearance of having nothing much to say.

Never sure if that's a good idea or they're punch-drunk from late hours. It's a big world and there's always something to say. I tend to write my editorials early morning just before sending up to the big bad publisher.

Apart from the material I contribute or edit, much of what is seen on the website is as much a surprise to me as it is to you.

SFCrowsnest is such a big site that there's plenty there for everyone to have something to cover their interests be it news, reading material or whathaveyou. It all depends on what you want to do.

Our hits and subscribers are continually increasing with less fanfare than elsewhere and we're making our own impact. To my mind that should speak for itself. I said 'promotional prop' a few paragraphs ago.

Haven't done one of these for a while, so let's shove a couple in to get the pot rolling in to have more sent in. I didn't want to have 5 hours sleep a night anyway. As we appear to be stirring the interest of film companies and book publishers these days, I'll endeavour to hit the points and websites of those who contact me on a monthly basis and within my deadline.

There's always the odd bonus like being sent site details about things that might be there to interest us. 20th Century Fox plugging their Planet Of The Apes clip for instance. Nice bit of action chaps but I'd have loved to have seen more of the apes there.

Saying that, visit their site and have a look for yourself but we warned, it takes a while to download so do so when the Net is quiet in your part of the world. It's supposed to be the biggest potato on the screens this year coming up.

Considering there isn't that many new SF films coming up, it's likely to be a no contest anyway. It's also neat that publishers like Paper Tiger are seeking us out to review their material.

If you're a publishers' review distributor, my address and e-mail is below and I review without prejudice. For the uninitiated that means I don't molly-colly. If the product is good or bad, then I say so.

It doesn't prejudice me against the next book I read from the same company. There are strong comparisons to how media celebrities view publicity. They don't really care if it's good or bad as long as they're noticed.

Believe it or not, even a bad review sells a product. There's always a percentage of the readers who don't believe the reviewer and will check it out for themselves. Criticism tends to be a personal thing at the best of times. It would be impossible to account for all tastes although I do endeavour to indicate who particular books might appeal to.

Things like this can't really be put in an article but need to be said occasionally. If anything, this is a carry-on from last month's editorial.

If SF is to be read then it has to have a percentage of promotion. We're in there swinging for you. Quite what I'll do when the floodgates open I don't know.

Clonings the in-thing these days. Thank you and good night. Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.com

PS Those of you waiting for your book samples and short story submissions (please post rather than e-mail them) to be read. I'm catching up slowly but surely. Your patience is appreciated.

Hologram Tales e-mail: gfwillmetts@REMOVE.FOR.SPAMhotmail.com
terrestrial address:
74 Gloucester Road,
BRIDGWATER, Somerset TA6 6EA, UK.
SAEs (International Rates: include at least 2 IRCs or enough to cover return of manuscripts if sending in material) will always get replies.

About the H&T (handsome and talented) Geoff Willmetts

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