Less than two years ago I was a hopeful wannabe writer. I had been trying to sell a science fiction story since I was 14, and had seriously started up again when I was 22. Since then, I've done the following:
Been accepted to and attended the 1994 Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Workshop
Sold a short story, "TeleAbsence," to Analog, after two rewrite requests
Sold a second short story, "Sentimental Value," to Analog, a story about the events of my first sale
Seen both stories published (in the July 1995 and October 1995 issues, respectively, my first two published stories)
Won the Analog Analytical Laboratory Award for Best Short Story of 1995 (for "TeleAbsence")
Been nominated for a 1996 Hugo Award for Best Short Story (Again, for "TeleAbsence")
Been nominated for the 1996 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (the only person on the ballot who hasn't published a novel yet)
And, oh yes, most important of all: Gotten married.
It's pretty much a safe bet to say that most of you reading this have never heard of me before. By now, I've probably hooked half of you into reading this, hoping to find out how I had such fast success, in hopes of emulating it. I've also probably driven the other half of you away with my semi- obnoxious list of recent successes.
Well, for those of you who stuck around, I'm afraid I have no great secret to success. I just seem to be leading a charmed life. But if it's of any interest at all, I can tell you a little bit about the path I took which led me to where I am now.
BlackCyberC Hello everybody, and welcome to Cybling! Michael Burstein award winning Science Fiction author is joining us this evening to answer your questions. For the first hour this chat will be fully moderated. You can send any questions you have for Mr. Burstein to me, BlackCyberC, via private message. Your question will be added to a queue and asked in turn. Thanks! Michael Burstein is brought to us this evening by Analog Magazine. Please visit their site at www.analogsf.com before signing off tonight. Thanks! Lets begin the chat by having Michael introducing himself Michael_Burstein Hello, to one and all. I'm not sure what there is to say. I'm 28 years old, and my first story came out in 1995 and managed to get nominated for the Hugo Award. (It only lost by ten votes.) Then, last year, I won the Campbell, and this year, I had another Hugo nomination. My stories appear almost entirely in ANALOG, although I do have a few stories in anthologies. And I just sold a story to ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE. I'm also Secretary of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Vice-President of the New England Science Fiction Association. BlackCyberC a question from Bob2: Who was your favorite author growing up? Michael_Burstein My favorite author, without a doubt, was Isaac Asimov. He's the writer who has most influenced me. I can go into details if you like. BlackCyberC Sure, please do Michael_Burstein Details on Asimov. Well, it was like this. My friend Charles Ardai and I grew up in NYC, and Charles worked at ASIMOV'S and ANALOG for a while. We actually got to know the man. I would read Isaac's books all the time, I loved his stories, and I sued to see him at the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Society, once a month or so. Gardner Were you reading his stuff before you met him? Who did you sue? (grin) Michael_Burstein Gardner I meant "used to," not "sued" Like I said, I can't delete here. Gardner I know, Michael, just breaking your chops. (grin) Michael_Burstein I read his autobiographies and wanted to grow up to become someone like him. And in a way I did. I published (and wrote) his first story, "Cosmic Corkscrew," in ANALOG. (That's a joke.) Gardner What was it about his work that inspired/influenced you? Michael_Burstein You see, "Cosmic Corkscrew" was Asimov's first attempt to get into ASTOUNDING, and 60 years later, I wrote a story about that. By the way, Charles Ardai (whom I mentioned) and I went on to write "Nor Through Inaction," an Asimovian Three Laws story in the October ANALOG. For more on Asimov's influence on me, my web page has an article I wrote called "Asimov and Me." Sheila Michael, how did it feel to have your first published story win an Anlab award and be nominated for a Hugo. Michael_Burstein It felt...incredible. Great. It blew me out of the water. Gardner You came pretty close as it was! (grin) Michael_Burstein There's actually an interesting story behind this. I found out about the Hugo nomination before the AnLab win, but I couldn't say anything about it. Then they announce the AnLab win, and then I get to hear the Hugo nomination announced., So the world found out backwards from the way I did. Really cool. Gardner It was a pretty auspicious debut, all right. BlackCyberC Starlite would also like to know what started you in writing, especially SF Gardner After you answer Starlight's question, maybe you can tell us what your favorite Asimov works are. Sheila After getting a masters degree in physics, what led you to write SF rather than pursue a doctorate? Michael_Burstein In some ways, I'm not sure what inspired me from Asimov's work. I think it was his simple, straightforward style that made his stories a joy to read. I've tried to emulate that style, although I worry that my own work is more simplistic in its language. I also like the ideas Asimov would play around with. Oddly enough, I'm much more fond of his short stories than the Foundation series, and Nightfall didn't impress me as much as "The Last Question." One moment. I've always enjoyed reading, from when I was little, and for some reason I was also always interested in science. My father had been an SF reader for a long time, and he helped push me to the right works, as did my brother. I grew up watching Star Trek in syndication, which helped. By the time I was 13 or 14, I was reading ANALOG and ASIMOV'S and submitting stories. I got them all back with rejection notes because they all sucked. So I gave up on writing and decided to pursue a career in Physics instead. Then I entered graduate school and discovered that I hated research, and far preferred teaching. Grad school made me want to become a writer again, so at the age of 22 or so I started up again. Two years later, I managed to sell "TeleAbsence" to ANALOG. Gardner You got a degree in physics, but ended up a writer instead, just like Poul Anderson before you! Interesting. Michael_Burstein Sort of like Poul Anderson, I guess. Only he's more successful. Gardner Poul Anderson has also been writing for 60 years. Talk to me fifty some years from now (you'll have to dig me up to do so), Michael, and we'll see how you've done. (grin) BlackCyberC Atvar would like to know if you ever go back to those old stories, and try to rewrite them now Michael_Burstein Atvar, the old stories that sucked really did. They were two or three page attempts to get into the Probability Zero section of ANALOG. So no, I don't try to rewrite them. On occasion, I'll look at an old story for its themes and wonder if I can rewrite that better now. But those are stories from when I was 22, not when I was 14. BlackCyberC Interesting...Nice to know some authors will admit to failure :) Gardner I'll admit to having failed with stories at a lot older age than 14! (grin) Sheila Do you plan to write an novels? Michael_Burstein I have two novels I'm working on, actually. The first is a cyberspace-superhero story, about 100 pages long is the current proposal. The other is an attempt to turn "Broken Symmetry" into a novel. ANALOG published the first sequel, "Absent Friends," in the Sept issue, and another story in the series is on Stan Schmidt's desk. Gardner Writers are human, but don't forget I'm an EDITOR. (grin) BlackCyberC LOL, right...and a good one too! Sheila Is there a central theme that you find running through your work? Michael_Burstein As to a theme running through my works, well, I've only had about a dozen stories. Admittedly, I'm into hard science, but I've also tried to explore the way technology affects the characters involved. (Yeah, that's original.) I will note that I'm constantly trying to expand beyond what I'm doing. I'm working on a fantasy novelette right now where there is magic in dance. It's a love story, and I don't think ANALOG would take it because it's based on magic. Gardner You can sometimes get away with magic in ANALOG. Look at Randall Garrett's "Lord Darcy" stories. BlackCyberC How do you feel about collaborations Michael_Burstein Collaborations are great. So far, I've published two. Sheila How long have you known your collaborator, Charles Ardai. Where did you meet? Michael_Burstein The first was actually suggested by Stan Schmidt. He had an idea for a Gilbert & Sullivan parody story, but no idea of what the plot should be. When he described the idea, I instantly realized the plot, and we wrote it together. That story is in the Worldcon Guest of Honor Book, from this year, and I'm the only non-GoH in it. The other collab was with Charles Ardai, who was my high school friend. He is a Shamus-nominated writer, but always wanted to write SF. And nowadays, he's too busy being President of juno.com, if you've heard of them. So a year ago, at our high school reunion, he's bemoaning the fact that he has written anything in too long. I asked him if he had any unfinished stories. He gave me the first 12 pages of "Nor Through Inaction," and I added 12 pages. He rewrote, I rewrote.... And Stan bought it. Now Charles is reworking one of my stories that never worked. I hope he gets it to fly. Gardner It's enough if he gets it to SELL. (grin) Michael_Burstein I got away with magic in my second ANALOG story, "Sentimental Value." It's about a magic camera Stan keeps in his desk. Gardner I think you can get away with magic in ANALOG if you work out a rigorous underlying system for it. BlackCyberC Here is a 3 part question from Bob: Why would you write about magic instead of continuing with hard SF? Does the hard SF limit you? How? Michael_Burstein Bob, I wouldn't say hard SF limits me. It's a game I enjoy playing. The universe gives you a set of rules, and you figure out what stories you can write, using them. But sometimes, you want to set up your own rules. Also, being Jewish, I'm interested in writing stories of Jewish mysticism. I have a few that haven't sold yet, for whatever reasons. (Actually, at this stage, I get very good feedback from editors.) Gardner It's not necessarily an either/or proposition. Many of the greats, like De Camp and Anderson, have written both hard SF AND fantasy. Michael_Burstein Gardner, I'd suggest that any really good fantasy story always has some rules for its magic. Gardner In the genre tradition that has its roots in UNKNOWN magazine, usually, yeah. Michael_Burstein The magic dance story (title: "Danse Magique") actually came from an obsession with the tango. I love to watch a good tango, and I felt that there had to be magic in it. So I'm framing a love story around it. I've got a good first draft, but I'm putting in more about the characters. Gardner Stan might surprise you. Sheila It's interesting that our Analog chat is all about fantasy. Many of your characters leave their world to visit new ones, parallel ones or points in the past. Do you consider such travels a metaphor for something else? Michael_Burstein I wouldn't consider the travel a metaphor, as much as it is wish-fulfillment. "Broken Symmetry" is dedicated to all the scientists who would have worked on the SSC, had the collider been built. And "Cosmic Corkscrew" is my own wish that Asimov had lived to see me as a fellow SF writer. (I have this letter from Asimov, praising Charles Ardai, and hoping that Charles will keep his name alive. Isaac's brother Stan even quoted the letter in his book. I wish that I had been as precocious as Charles.) Gardner Well, ANALOG'S sister magazine in the old days was UNKNOWN, so the traditions are not as far apart as you'd think! BlackCyberC A question from Jan: In your original story "Broken Symmetry" you introduce Jack Levinson and Daniel Strock. Jack shows up again in "Absent Friends," where Paula Eisen is introduced. Will there be a 3rd story with Paula as the main character? Michael_Burstein Jan, the third story, "Reality Check" is in Stan's hands right now. Although it's not from Paula's Point of View, she is one of the main characters of the story. So if Stan buys the story without requiring me to rewrite it much, yes, you'll see her again. And by the way, she's a character I like a lot. She enjoys her life, has her act together, and can be impetuous. I wish I could be like that more often. BlackCyberC a question from dreamer, echoed by Bob! Have you seen the movie PI...what did you think of it if you did? RE: Jewish mysticism/numbers. Gardner It uses the kabbala extensively, I've heard. Michael_Burstein I went to see PI with high hopes. By an interesting coincidence, the writer and director, Darren Aronofsky, was in my graduating class in college. But I didn't enjoy the movie as much as I hoped. To me, it felt like half of a good movie mixed with half of a bad movie, but unseperatable. Still, I think I'll go see Aronofsky's next film. He's got some good ideas there. (And no, I don't know him personally.) BlackCyberC Which half was good? Michael_Burstein The half of PI that was good was the part that wasn't Max Cohen's hallucinations, for the most part. And actually, the best line came from his Indian neighbor. When he wants to borrow iodine for a slide prep, she says, "Ah, science! The pursuit of knowledge!" BTW, I want to just warn people that my connection is odd, so answering will take some time during open chat. BlackCyberC Thanks for letting us know, Mike Sheila Michael, I'm going to have to leave the chat in a few minutes, but I want to thank you for participating in it. BlackCyberC Now that everyone can talk, lets take a moment to thank Mike for stopping by tonight! Bob2 Thanks, Mike! Shane Yes indeed, many thanks. dreamer oh....that must be the hard SF part of you ...I liked the hallucinations part and the other parts of PI too. Gardner Thanks, Mike. Although how do we know it's REALLY you? It could be Isaac, typing from the past! (grin) Did you go to Clarion, Michael? I thought that I remembered that you had. Did it help? Michael_Burstein Clarion '94, yes indeed. Did I forget to mention that in the first five minutes? Before Clarion, Stan kept sending "TeleAbsence" back, saying it needed more work. At Clarion, I showed it to Howard Waldrop, and he told me what it needed to be fixed. The very next version sold. And won the Anlab. And got me a Hugo nomination, and a Campbell win, Gardner. Tam Thanks for coming, Mike Michael_Burstein Seriously, though, it took me a year to process a lot of what I learned at Clarion. And I got a lot more about story structure out of a course I took on comic book writing with Dennis O'Neil, the DC editor in charge of Batman. Gardner So, I guess you generally consider your Clarion experience to be positive, then? (grin) Michael_Burstein Gardner, overall, Clarion was a positive experience for me. Except for one day when a rotten story of mine got brutally trashed. But I lived. Gardner Interesting that Howard Waldrop, who's only ever been able to sell to ANALOG once in his entire life, could tell you what to do to fix the story so ANALOG would buy it! (grin) Michael_Burstein Gardner, Howard is a master story doctor. If he hasn't sold to ANALOG, my guess would be it's because the type of fiction that appears in ANALOG is just not the sort he's interested in writing. Gardner Probably true, Michael. The stuff Howard wants to write is very far away from ANALOG material. Michael_Burstein Everyone who came is quite welcome! But stick around if you want to ask more...ga dreamer Er...sorry for the ignorance...What's Clarion...what kind of school? rafandday Actually, I have not heard of it either... Gardner There are two long-established writing courses specializing in SF writing: Clarion, and Clarion West. Run every year, for six weeks in the summer. dreamer ah....where is this? Gardner Many professional SF writers have come out of them, over the decades. RIKnROLL Thanks Gardner Michael_Burstein Clarion is a SF writing workshop, a six week summer program where 20 students meet with a different writer/instructor each week. rafandday Hmm, Gardner...that sounds a bit bleak, are there many that don't come out of them? (grin) Gardner They cook and EAT the ones that don't come out of them, at the Big Clarion BBQ at the end of summer! (grin) rafandday Oh, darn...do they charge extra for the BBQ?? (grin) Gardner Saves us editors having to deal with them later! Techyo I think that was the workshop Steele mentioned Harlan doing a class he was at years ago. Tam Are any too tough? Gardner Yeah, Michael was too tough to cook, obviously. That's why he's here today! Actually, Michael, even that day when your story got trashed probably taught you something valuable. That you have to be tough to survive in this business, if nothing else. rafandday Hmm...nice incentive, methinks!! Michael_Burstein Gardner, that day taught me to avoid bad reviews. But it also taught me not to send out a story until its the very best I can make it at the time I write it. That doesn't mean that a few years later, I don't see ways to improve my stories. But at the time I wrote them, they were the best I could do then. Gardner And besides, some of them are damn tasty! rafandday Mike...I have attempted this 3 times, lol. I was wondering which you find is most successful for beginning authors; short stories, novellas, or full length novels? Michael_Burstein rafandday, I would suggest whatever a writer is most comfortable with. A few years ago, I found it extremely difficult to get my stories to go longer than a few pages. So I worked on my short stories, as staying at those lengths worked best for me. Now I'm trying to do the novel length. I know writers who naturally write at novel length, but can't do short stories. They started in novels, where their strengths lay. Gardner As an editor, I can tell you that it's easier for a brand-new writer to sell short stories than novelettes or novellas, and definitely than novels. BlackCyberC Good advice Techyo Anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger, eh? rafandday If I may ask, which does Analog cater to more; the hard SF fans? I noted a comment earlier on not submitting there due to using magic in a story. Gardner The really tough writers we marinate in wine for a few weeks first. If they survive the BBQ party, THAT'S valuable experience for the writing life, too! rafandday Which did you feel sold the best for you, Michael?? Michael_Burstein Rafnday, what do you mean, which one sold the best? RIKnROLL I'll leave the writing to those who can get past the first chapter rafandday Hmm...one more question on getting published. How do editors regard the usage of pen names?? Gardner Sometimes hard criticism is kinder in the long run. Not only helps you see things softened criticism might let you miss, but prepares you to deal with rejection in later life. Techyo Should an author only send his stories to mags he/she thinks the writing fits? Michael_Burstein Techyo, it's best to send stories to magazines that you think will buy them. One story I have now making the rounds will never go to Stan, because I know it's not is kind of story. But -- Gardner You should probably save the editing questions for my OWN chat, here next week. Let's ask Michael stuff now, while we've got the chance! Michael_Burstein if there is ever a doubt in your mind -- the thought that maybe this editor _might_ buy this story -- give it a shot. Techyo Thanks, Michael! RIKnROLL True Gardner but when the criticism comes from people who know the field it smarts more so IMO Gardner Stan would slap your wrist for that if he was here, Michael! He keeps saying--we all do--"send ME the story and let ME make up my own mind!" rafandday And your address is? Michael_Burstein Pen names - I like Pilot and Waterman. Great names. ga BlackCyberC LOL RIKnROLL lol Tam lol Shane Ouch. Gardner But only those who develop a tough enough hide survive in this business. The writing life isn't a series of gentle encouragement. It's more like a series of kicks in the teeth. Or the ego. dreamer If you were to change your name *Michael*...what would name would you take instead? Techyo Michael why do you write?(Grin) Michael_Burstein Gardner, I did have a talk with Stan about that. Mostly that's true, but he agreed that he would have no interest in my Malzbergian depression story. Gardner Isaac Asimov isn't being used at the moment...(grin) RIKnROLL lol Shane I think his estate would disagree. RIKnROLL Neither is Heinlein(grin) Techyo ROFL Gardner. Seems kind of familiar. rafandday LOL, Gardner... dreamer Isaac is better than Michael...is my point. Gardner Isaac Heinlein. Robert Asimov. dreamer so many Michaels...ach RIKnROLL lol rafandday LOL Techyo Isaac Robert H Asimov. That name could get by in Central Texas. Bob2 LOL BlackCyberC LOL RIKnROLL lol Tech dreamer two..B's eh..Tech Michael_Burstein I will admit to having fallen into a certain trip. I am sometimes more likely to send a story to Stan which I am positive he will buy, than risk it somewhere else where it may be rejected. Which is another reason why I have been trying to write some hard SF with a non-ANALOG feel; it gives me an excuse to send them elsewhere. Michael_Burstein (trip = trap) Gardner Isaac Alfred Bester Zelazny Heinlein. It has a ring to it! rafandday Thanks, Gardner...now I have a pen name...too cool... Gardner You've turned into a Billy Goat Gruff, Michael! Trip-trap, yourself! RIKnROLL Better than Jimmy Joe Bob Heinlein Asimov III :) Gardner Better than being stereotyped as a GALAXY writer, since the magazine has been out of business for decades! (grin) RIKnROLL As opposed to a DIGITAL writer? ;) BlackCyberC Folks, now's the time to ask your questions to Mike...Don't miss this rare opportunity to chat with this great author! Techyo I think a lot of people would love to have that problem. "Oh they write for ANALOG" Michael_Burstein I like my name, like Isaac liked his. But...Burstein gets mispronounced so often. And my middle initial gets dropped, too. rafandday Since most publications pay per word, do you find yourself, as a writer, adding in 'extra' phrases, filler, etc??? Michael_Burstein Perhaps a simple name, like Steve. Steve King. Yeah. I like that. dreamer hehe Gardner Stephen King? Nobody would ever buy anything from somebody with a name like THAT! Techyo Oh that's one for Gardner's chat. ROFL rafandday No, Tech...I meant him personally, as a writer....the lure is there to 'add things'... Gardner Yeah, everybody go to the ANALOG website after the chat and subscribe to ANALOG. And for good measure, when you're done, subscribe to ASIMOV'S, too! Shane Are you worried about being stereotyped as an ANALOG writer, Michael? What I mean is that some SF readers have a certain, well, disdain for ANALOG. Michael_Burstein Shane, I have no problems with being typed as an ANALOG writer. I'm *proud* of it. But yes, I'd love to publish in all the magazines, and appeal to broader tastes. rafandday Gee, Gardner...thanks for the idea... Shane Just to clarify, I meant no offense with my ANALOG question. I've just noticed the attitude here and there. Michael_Burstein Shane, the attitude exists, but there are also people who denigrate ASIMOV'S for publishing weird modern stuff with no discernible plot, and people who denigrate F&SF for being more concerned with stylist language than science. But I just don't listen to them. I get all the mags, and I read the stories I like. BlackCyberC Mike, what do you think of the Internet and stories on-line? Gardner Well, Mike, I'm going to leave you here to face the wolves by yourself! Let us know if you survive! (grin) Techyo Night Gardner! BlackCyberC Nite Gard! RIKnROLL Nite Gardner! rafandday LOL, nite Gardner... Gardner Y'all come by here next week for MY chat on the 23rd! dreamer oh...ok RIKnROLL OK Michael_Burstein Goodnight Gardner. Gardner Goodnight, Michael! Gardner Goodnight, everyone! BlackCyberC bye Gardner Bob2 See you next week! dreamer bye Gardner Gardner [I can't come back, I don't know how it works!] Shane Very sensible attitude, Michael. Thanks for clarifying. Okay, now that Gardner's gone ;-) ...
dreamer LOL...Wizard of Analog Techyo That was a quote from the Wizard of Oz there wasn't it? By Gardner I mean. rafandday Mike, did you by chance catch my question on the urge to add words to a manuscript?? Michael_Burstein Didn't see anything about adding words, no, Rafnday BlackCyberC do free stories on-line help or hurt an author? Michael_Burstein As it happens, I put "TeleAbsence" on the MIND'S EYE FICTION webpage, and some of my own stories are on my webpage. But at the moment, I use the web solely for reprinting stuff. When a story of mine is original, I want to see it in a _magazine_ or a book. After ANALOG published "TeleAbsence," I leased it to the DARK PLANET webpage. I have a feeling that the exposure helped get it a Hugo nomination. Today, of course, so much more is on the web that the impact may be less. Shane Do you ever see yourself editing? Actually, I'm not kidding. Although Gardner being gone helped. (grin) Michael_Burstein Shane, yes, I see myself editing. I've wanted to put together an anthology of my favorite stories for some time. And when I teach a writing class, I tend to think of myself as being an editor, rejecting and accepting student stories. BlackCyberC Mike, you gonna be in New York City soon? Michael_Burstein Black, I'll be in NYC in December, to visit my Mom. rafandday Michael; my question (which ya' missed twice, sniff, sniff) was on being paid by the word. Is it tempting to pad the story?? Michael_Burstein rafandday, I've rarely been tempted to pad a story. A story usually finds its own natural length. The only time I was tempted was with a novelette that hit the novella border, and I thought, "Gee, just a thousand more words..." but I didn't do it. Techyo So a story has it's own size then. I've always wondered about that. What is the point of having stories online? Exposure? Michael_Burstein Tech, exposure is about it. MIND'S EYE does pay, but every year my royalty check from them has been less than $10. Still, theoretically, I could make thousands of dollars from that one story if enough people downloaded it. I'm sorry...I'm afraid I have to leave now... but everyone...drop by my webpage, http://world.std.com/~mab. BlackCyberC OK, everyone...lets go to Mind's Eye (AFTER chat) and download like crazy!!! Techyo Thanks for the chat, Michael! BlackCyberC Thanks for stopping by, Mike! Shane Thanks again, Michael. dreamer Mike thanks for the chat Michael_Burstein Goodnight!
