Running my mouth off

jsgbits has sensible things to say about the latest kerfluffle over at ccfinlay's.

She hits on the important thing--it's all a matter of taste. I don't believe that there's any real bias at F&SF, or that Gordon is sexist or an oppressive tool of the Patriarchy (but who knows, he could secretly be the Man keeping us all down). If he likes stories that would be traditionally considered masculine, fine. That's his taste. That doesn't mean women can't or don't write stories he'll buy.

I don't actually believe F&SF will be buying a story from me any time soon, because our styles don't match up. That's okay. I'll still sub to them, because they're a pro market with excellent turnaround times, and I can afford the dollar and change in postage. And when I met JJA at WFC last year, he recognized my name from slush and was polite and friendly. It doesn't hurt to be recognized. (Assuming you're not being recognized as a jerk or a simul-subbing schmuck.)

I will join in the slush-bomb because it's fun, and I enjoy group activies that are not going to the bathroom in a flock. Having fun and encouraging people to write and submit are more important to me than how many stories by women a market publishes.

Perhaps one day, through the miracles of science, people born without senses of humor or context will be able to have them spliced in, and enjoy richer, fuller lives on teh intarweb.

And I thought I didn't have anything to say on the appropriation debate, but then I realized how much it gets up my nose when people exoticize or stereotype or plain-old-badly-write goths or other subculture types. I've read stories that made me want to bludgeon people with a copy of the Black Bible. :P So if you're going to write about cultures you have no personal knowledge of, research, research, and don't be a thoughtless twit.

Right... I think I have wolves to be kicking, or something.

(no subject)

I'm in the mood to print out some stories and burn them. Who wants smores?

In happier news, I get to see FLA tomorrow. And, if we're feeling spritely, we could go to Austin on Saturday and see Echo & the Bunnymen. And then there's Ministry/RevCo next month. Time to polish the stompy boots.

I need a stompy-boot icon.

Virtupitude

I've kicked all the flash out of the house again, bringing me back up to 5 outstanding subs.

I need conflict to add to the Wolves. The obvious answer is the harpy choice, but that would make it Wrack II: the Wolfy Version. (If Jess had thought to sew himself a coat of fish scales, that story might have ended differently.)

And the beginning of one of the ten million artist-challenge pieces I have in progress for elisem presented itself.

"Before the Throne, Behind the Throne"

The throne gleams, chatoyant. Lustrous with myriad tiny fissures, rippling blue and green and silver in the unceasing brilliance of the chamber. Its the flaws that give it beauty.