Here's the link to visit Snake Bite Books. You can learn more about the monthly 100-word horror contest, other submission calls, or their books for sale.
I'm presenting four complete stories today rather than doing my usual Book Beginnings/First Line Friday plus Friday 56.
These stories are the winners of the July 100-word horror contest from Snake Bite Books. If you'd like to learn more about Snake Bite Books, including how to participate in their monthly contest, check out their website.
16th-22nd - What are your thoughts on book-to-book comparisons (for example, "It's the next Harry Potter")? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
I suppose such comparisons can help readers discover new authors. As an author, I would be flattered to have someone say, "She's the next Ambrose Bierce, Christina Rossetti, Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, Shirley Jackson, and Stephen King all rolled into one." Even if the person meant this as an insult, I'd take it as a compliment.
However, even though I was influenced by these people, I am not the next them. King was influenced by Lovecraft, Poe, and possibly Bierce, but his work is unique to him. Lovecraft was influenced by Bierce and Poe, but his work was unique to him. My work is unique to me, and to keep it that way, I have to say, "Fuck all these rules authors are supposed to stick to in order to be commercially viable."
I want to write what I love, not what some soulless algorithm or trend dictates. As Eddie Van Halen once said, "I'd rather fail with my own shit than succeed with someone else's."
Too right, Captain Eddie. This is a hill I will die on. Writing what others said I should write was killing me and my love for the craft that saved me more than once.
If you'd like to find out more about the shit I'm up to these days, visit me at:
Also, visit Snake Bite Books and the Instagrams of each of the above authors. To be honest, the others' Instagram accounts are probably more developed than mine. I don't really use Instagram, so my account is pretty half-assed.
