tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post3561609694169788316..comments2021-11-17T13:20:03.206-07:00Comments on Suzenyms: ON SPEC'S CANADA COUNCIL FUNDING HAS BEEN CUTSuzenymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-72778544584142509982014-08-29T12:14:14.718-06:002014-08-29T12:14:14.718-06:00Thanks, Leslie. We very much appreciate your suppo...Thanks, Leslie. We very much appreciate your support, and thanks for being one of our contributing writers who also maintains a subscription. That helps us a great deal. Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-22563821629567702722014-08-29T09:49:32.159-06:002014-08-29T09:49:32.159-06:00I had my first short story published by On Spec an...I had my first short story published by On Spec and have had a number of others in your magazine since then. And yes, I had some rejected too. I always have a subscription to say thank you. Perhaps authors who have stories appearing in future issues could have the option of waiving their payment as a donation to the cause.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10301481947674450810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-18191919231026105242014-08-07T22:47:34.400-06:002014-08-07T22:47:34.400-06:00I very much appreciate your comments, Dale. Just t...I very much appreciate your comments, Dale. Just to let you know, I don't always agree with our editorial choices either, but as we are a collective of editors, we must strive for consensus. Thank you for your support. I, for one, would love to see more strong and clear voices arising in Canadian SF, no matter what the CC decides.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-22993736945325614972014-08-07T16:38:05.269-06:002014-08-07T16:38:05.269-06:00So sorry to hear this Susan. When Sally and I laun...So sorry to hear this Susan. When Sally and I launched TransVersions in the 90's, it was the standard set by On Spec were were shooting for. Your production values have always been first rate. The illustrations among the best in the field - in the world. And while I don't always agree with your editorial choices and have probably even got as miffed as Mr or Ms Anonymous at some rejections, I have always respected your taste, applauded your presence and influence in the Canadian SF community and valued your contribution to the literature of the fantastic. BTW - If Anonymous had ever ventured into publishing they'd know that losing money on every issue only (sooner or later) leads every editor and publisher to disillusionment and insolvency - and not paying for stories deprives you of credibility - which ultimately cuts into the bottom line. If they genuinely had no respect for you they would have tried so long and hard to sell you something. On Spec deserves to survive and thrive and carry on as one of the strongest, clearest voices of sf in Canada.Psychedelia Gothique - Dale L. Sproulehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00221857064520306287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-47334122609273202802014-08-06T22:56:29.905-06:002014-08-06T22:56:29.905-06:00That's a good suggestion, Jen. Thank you.That's a good suggestion, Jen. Thank you.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-72472330019448967932014-08-06T14:23:52.014-06:002014-08-06T14:23:52.014-06:00As pointed out, it is matter of opinion and taste....As pointed out, it is matter of opinion and taste. On Spec may just not have the type of fiction the grant reviewer(s) prefer. So...it might be worth bringing the story to the newspapers or arts magazines closer to the known readership to see if a different source of support can be found.Jen Rahnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-40292234213437708292014-08-06T11:05:27.948-06:002014-08-06T11:05:27.948-06:00Excellent question. Perhaps they need reminding of...Excellent question. Perhaps they need reminding of their own mandate.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-11172944173016263542014-08-06T11:02:55.185-06:002014-08-06T11:02:55.185-06:00Thank you for taking the time to share this inform...Thank you for taking the time to share this information. On behalf of On Spec and myself, we appreciate it.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-65540561833158790552014-08-06T10:42:06.830-06:002014-08-06T10:42:06.830-06:00Thanks for your comments. I don't intend on ge...Thanks for your comments. I don't intend on getting into a back and forth, let's trade insults with you, but I will say two things. If you are as excellent a writer as you claim, I'm surprised that you sent this note anonymously. As for your comment about a 'star chamber of editors who determine what is good and what isn't', that's what editors do.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-55228737164494084112014-08-05T23:55:44.054-06:002014-08-05T23:55:44.054-06:00Everyone who is unhappy with this decision and who...Everyone who is unhappy with this decision and who is Canadian needs to write their Member of Parliament and write the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Shelly Glover.<br /><br />Contact information for the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages:<br /><br />http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1373904107712/1373904290248<br /><br />And how to find and contact your Member of Parliament:<br /><br />http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseofCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOCDrakkenfyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02758141805935022514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-27749311816047808752014-08-05T15:27:30.571-06:002014-08-05T15:27:30.571-06:00I'm a published slipstream author whose work h...I'm a published slipstream author whose work has appeared in magazines in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. I've even been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. But I never have appeared in OnSpec. I read this plea and have to say ... boo-freaking-hoo. <br /><br />First of all, OnSpec wouldn't know good writing if you threw it against a barn, and I know based on the countless rejection letters I've received from this magazine. It's like there's this star chamber of editors who determine what is good and what isn't. OnSpec is as elitist as the grant giving organization they're complaining about. I know I'm good. I have the publication credits to back it up.<br /><br />Also, I've come to highly suspect any outlet that relies on grants to survive. If your publication was so high quality, readers would be clamouring to read it and buy subscriptions. There are plenty of publications I deal with that don't rely on grants, and are publishing for all the right reasons. Granted, a lot of them don't pay, but I feel that if you're trying to get paid as a fiction writer, and aren't doing it for the love of a good story, especially in this day and age when people just aren't reading like they used to, then your motivations are suspect. <br /><br />So cry me a river, OnSpec. Get real, wake up and smell the coffee, and start working on a business model that actually allows you to support yourself, rather than going cap in hand to the Canada Council. Step One: start publishing great stories that will allow you to sustain yourself, maybe gain an appreciation for writers who are doing different things with the SF genre, and quit bitching about grant money. No love lost here, I'm sorry to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-49134799514186872192014-08-05T10:40:22.233-06:002014-08-05T10:40:22.233-06:00Will be very interested to see who was on the jury...Will be very interested to see who was on the jury. From the CCA website, under "Values":<br />"As an Organization, we...<br />...believe in the value of a national perspective of the arts, to enrich knowledge within the Council and the arts community, foster attitudes inclusive of all art forms and artistic traditions, and provide national and international leadership."<br /><br />If the CCA truly respects all artistic traditions and art forms, why is it always an uphill battle for the SF&F community to receive the same recognition and respect that all other genres and art forms enjoy in this country?TheCanerdianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12684960748870013858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-52750124499222162752014-08-05T08:53:53.418-06:002014-08-05T08:53:53.418-06:00Thanks, Graeme.Thanks, Graeme.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-65768213230738032512014-08-05T08:38:59.588-06:002014-08-05T08:38:59.588-06:00Oh no! I came to the website to tell you how much...Oh no! I came to the website to tell you how much I enjoyed issue 96 and saw the announcement.Graemehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04637060412776677044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-8748241372532487422014-08-04T21:20:48.641-06:002014-08-04T21:20:48.641-06:00Thank you. We do our best. Apparently, our best wa...Thank you. We do our best. Apparently, our best was not good enough. As genre writers, we see this bias from non-genre writers more often than we like. I am hoping the CC jury for 2016 will be less affected by their own snobbery.Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-88639824687814748522014-08-04T18:33:36.301-06:002014-08-04T18:33:36.301-06:00Ugh. This is terrible. How can they deem On Spec l...Ugh. This is terrible. How can they deem On Spec low quality? I'm always very impressed with the writing and the presentation. :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778210706856864761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-38493499436118982082014-08-04T17:15:57.604-06:002014-08-04T17:15:57.604-06:00Good question. I suspect fostering new talent is n...Good question. I suspect fostering new talent is not in their mandate. It should be. Thanks for your comment.<br />Suzenymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16780822574353097907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17746046.post-26516333193042624692014-08-04T16:22:01.839-06:002014-08-04T16:22:01.839-06:00Very sorry to read this. How does the Canada Counc...Very sorry to read this. How does the Canada Council propose to foster new talent if it only wants to see the work of established writers published? What exactly is the role of the Council after all?scribblinginTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15087793508480127030noreply@blogger.com