02-05-2023

Opening Statement

Welcome to DreamCasters, a DreamForge discussion group devoted to helping our members improve their writing and storytelling through discussion and sharing expertise.

DreamForge News –  5 min

Tentative Dates for 2023

Feb 5 | Mar 5 | Apr 2 | May 7 | June 4 | July 9 | Aug 6 | Sept TBD | Oct 8 | Nov 5 | Dec 3

Videos & Podcasts

Scot Noel was interviewed by John Goodwin for the Writers of the Future podcast.

• Teaser Video: https://youtu.be/3AA_33SSXXs
• Podcast: https://bit.ly/WoTFEpisode210-ScotNoel

DreamForge Channel; DreamForge at 5, Can We Break the Future? https://youtu.be/5d_uIIExMd8

Angelique Fawns has a story in the December issue of The Fifth Di, . called “Lycaon’s Last Request.” She’ll a story soon n Redwood Press’s Superstition Anthology – “The Knocked Up Nun and her Peculiar Hen.” Book Worms, a new pro paying horror zine bought her story “What Slays in Vegas,” out in mid Feb. She also sold a horror story “A Cold Slither Killing” to Heavy Metal Nightmares, out in March. “Maisie and the Missing Ticket” also comes out in March in “Cosmic Crime Stories.”

David Hankins won Critters 2022 Annual Readers Poll for Best Magical Realism Short Story for his DF story “A Properly Spiced Gingerbread,” which will be appearing in the 4LPH4NUM3R1C Podcast by Zoetic Press on February 8th as a reprint/audio production.

David is on the eligibility list for the 2023 Astounding Award for New Author (a part of the Hugos). This isn’t a nomination, but nominations open soon. Nevertheless, an honor to be eligible for a nomination. Brandon Case is also on the eligibility list. https://astoundingaward.info/

And this year David will have another story in DreamForge, “Another Day on the Orbital Ranch.”

Wulf Moon always has more news than we can keep up with, including recent Critter Award wins for Best Author, Best Nonfiction book: The Illustrated Super Secrets of Writing, Vol. 1, Best Writers’ Resource for Wulf Moon’s SUPER SECRETS, and Best Writers’ Workshop: Wulf Moon’s SUPER SECRETS.

Let’s Go Over Story Openings – 45+ minutes

Bring your stories or just story beginnings! We’ll do live readings and look for weaknesses and the point at which an editor (or readers) might stop reading or run into a speed bump that could lose their interest.

If you’ve started a story for PARSEC’s 20^th Anniversary Anthology – Triangulation: Seven Day Weekend. (deadline February 28^th), bring it along. Otherwise let’s see what other story you’re working on. http://parsecink.com/ 

Scot’s story opening begins like this:

No one mentioned not seeing Tom at the funeral. They withheld their condolences, and instead bought trinkets from the curio cabinets, asked the price of books they had borrowed a thousand times, and joined Tom at the bar for coffee and the finest of chocolate teas. That’s what it was like in Bookly Things, after the passing of the owner, Margaree Bellsworth.  Everyone wanted it to be as it had once been, and they wanted Tom not to worry.

The shop itself was windowless and deep, filled with bookshelves, reading nooks, glass displays, and lit by a few sparse Tiffany style hanging lamps. Together, the regulars and Tom stayed close to the elaborate 19th century sideboard bar which served as a checkout station and a space where customers could sit atop high-backed barstool chairs and read while enjoying their favorite hot beverage.

Today, an unusual number of out-of-towners and robots perused the stock.

While making a purchase, one stick figure machine with a glossy tan powder coat bowed to Tom and said “exceptional finds.” In the corner of his VAR glasses, Tom saw a series of sharp but tiny green numbers flicker as a thousand credits hit the account of Bookly Things.

“Is there a going out of business sale no one told me about?”

At the end of the bar, a woman named Burr with short black hair cradled a large antique cup brimming with mocha latte. With each sip she surreptitiously wiped away a tear.  “Tom, dear, do you want me to stop for some milk?”

“I… I can handle it, Norma,” Tom replied. “I’m sure I can.”

Giveaways This Month!

Two lucky attendees chosen at random will receive paperback copies of “Library of the Sapphire Wind” by Jane Lindskold, the first book in Jane’s Over Where series, where 3 elderly book club friends end up being transported to a magical realm where they become mentors to animal-headed humanoids seeking the answers to their own dark past.

In March

Our Next DreamCasters Meeting will be on March 5^th.  We’re currently working on lining up a guest.

Story Prompts

This month we’ll reveal our story prompts ahead of time, so that you can get a start on your Triangulation: Seven Day Weekend stories.

Science Fiction – Imagine a future where space exploration is all done by robots and AI, because space is too dangerous for humans. But all humans are not cool with this. Exploration is in our DNA. Write a story showing the tension between human “rebels” who just want to go out into the universe on their own and the AI explorer who want to stop them, to keep them safe.

Fantasy – In a near future where machines have taken over all labor, the machines make “busy work” for humans by teaching them their value is in improving the world through magic. For example, a crew of humans who chant a spell to prevent the flu, or mages who conjure new designs for microchips. It’s all fake just to keep humans from realizing they have no purpose – until one human begins to cast real magic. What can the magic user do and how do the machines react.

Disclaimer: These ideas may or may not be original, convergent ideas are common. DreamForge makes no copyright or monetary claim on these story prompts. Have fun.