04-02-2023

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

Tentative Dates for 2023

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

Check our Pete Lead’s AirTable database for DreamCasters to list their story publications. Great Kudos to Pete, who has contributed a wonderful tool to the group!

Catherine Weaver  – Little Blue Marble  is publishing the SolarPunk flash story Catherine wrote for DreamForge, her first paid publishing contract.

Ryland Lee – Sold his DreamCaster challenge story to Triangulation: The Seven Day Weekend.

Candice Lisle got her first orange tag! #1 in New Releases in 30-Minute Teen & Young Adult Short Reads for Bloodlines, a short story which received an Honorable Mention from Writers of the Future.

Angelique Fawns has 3 things coming out in March

• “Maisie and the Missing Ticket” in Cosmic Crime Stories
• “The Knocked-Up Nun and her Peculiar Hen” in Superstition: Tales of Fear and Doom.
• “A Cold Slither Killing” in Heavy Metal Nightmares

David Hankins is thrilled to announce his story “The Grim Reaper’s Game” will appear in the anthology GAME ON! by Zombies Need Brains!

Wulf Moon signed a contract this week for a pro anthology tale, not yet announced.

The first episode of Crystal Crawford’s interview with Scot on the Kindle Vella program, is online now at The DreamForge Channel on YouTube.

Check out DreamForge Anvil 11, online now at https://bit.ly/anvil11

Let’s Talk Story

In today’s special session, we’ve invited some of our First Line Readers and our former copy editor to talk with us about what they look for in DreamForge stories, as well as what stops them in their tracks and makes them move on to the next story.

This is a great opportunity to meet for writers to meet “slush” readers and learn how to better engage the first line of defense between you and the editor.  Joining us are:

• Catherine Weaver (DreamCaster and First Line Reader)
• Alecia Flores (First Line Reader)
• Storm Blakley  (First Line Reader)
• Mackenzie Autumn (First Line Reader)
• Lloyd Penney (former Copy Editor for DreamForge and currently Editor in Chief for Amazing Stories)

Giveaway This Month!

One lucky attendee chosen at random will receive a copy of Orson Scott Card’s “How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy.”

You’ll learn to:

• utilize story elements that define the science fiction and fantasy genres
• build, populate, and dramatize a credible, inviting world your readers will want to explore
• develop the “rules” of time, space and magic that affect your world and its inhabitants
• construct a compelling story by developing ideas, characters, and events that keep readers turning pages

In May

In May, we’ll play The Plotting Game and introduce a new writing challenge for DreamForge and beyond.