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What Does “Subject to the Jurisdiction” mean? Are you disturbed by recent fear-mongering and hyperbole over President Elect Trump’s plan to eliminate birthright citizenship? Take a breath and see what the constitution says. How does a newborn in any country become a citizen? Surely, after birth, they aren’t nationless, are they? There are two basic models of citizenship for newborns. Citizenship is granted based on birthplace (Jui Soli: on soil) or based on parents' citizenship (sanguinis: by descent) Most of Western Europe is by descent and most countries with birthplace citizenship are in the Western Hemisphere. Thorny moral and legal problems for birthright citizenship however remained for indigenous peoples and slaves. Slavery citizenship was intended to be dealt with by the 14th Amendment in 1868 as establishing birthright citizenship in the Constitution. What is the actual language of the relevant clause of the 14th Amendment? All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. Notice the critical four words they added as a condition. They could have left them out, but they didn’t. What does that mean? Subject to the jurisdiction thereof? It’s not completely clear and the most relevant Supreme Court interpretation is a very old case, US v. Wong Kim Ark, not long after the 14th Amendment came into effect. The opinion is nearly 75 pages and includes a complex summary of the legal history in England, Colonial America, and the United States. Fundamentally, the Supreme Court held that any child born in the United States is a citizen of the United States unless their parents are ambassadors or ministers of a foreign country or an alien enemy. It is clear under this precedent that children born in the US of immigrants are citizens. That cannot be changed by an executive order or a law. The Supreme Court precedent does not deal with the children of parents who have not legally immigrated. It would be helpful to bring greater clarity to birthright citizenship given modern circumstances. Preserve the historical right with predictable and equitable results with a compassionate process for transition. |
| Maybe this don't have much to do with this, but if we back it up few hundred years. Then none of us, or a very very few have birthrights here. At some point most of our family's were immigrants. |
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A WRITING STREAK THAT WILL END SOON (Regrettably) I posted on December 6 that I had gotten three short story acceptances in the previous three weeks. "Note: Persistence Pays Off in Publishing (Sometimes)...". If you submit stories to commercial anthologies and journals, you know that the competition is tough, one hundred to five hundred submissions, or even more, for ten to twenty slots. I didn’t get an acceptance in the next week, but this morning I did get another anthology acceptance email. Yeah, it feels great to get a stream of acceptances of nearly one a week for a month. But I know it is an anomaly. I have gotten more acceptances than rejections in the past month. I can’t let this blip color my expectations. My overall acceptance rate for the year for short stories looks like it is going to be around ten percent. I started 2024 focused on increasing the number of my short story submissions in an effort to embrace and learn from rejections. I have achieved that goal but have a lot more to learn. It’s also pleasing to feel like I’m not just a one-trick pony as a relatively new author who started late in life and a good close to the writing year. I also need to prime myself for a long streak of rejections, they will come. I'm also thankful for the WDC community that has helped me improve as a writer and provided a safe place to interact with those interested in writing. |
Too Old to Become a Published Author? A new story about someone who aspires to become a published author after decades of life and work. Give it a read and let me kinow what you think. Happy Holidays
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A Story Going Off The Rails If you watch television, I bet you have had this experience. A series that you really like, with engaging characters, good stories, and excellent acting. A popular show that stays fresh for several years and then it goes off the rails. Maybe a few key characters leave and the stories are ridiculous. Here is an example for me. Criminal Minds when it became Criminal Minds Evolution. Have you had this experience? What do you think the reasons are? Trying to sustain a concept for too long? Aging and changing actors? Writers taking things in the wrong direction? Something else? |
| Yes, Dexter was like that. Great and then horrible. I think they changed writers around the 5th (not sure about that) season. It was terrific, couldn't wait for it and then never had an interest in seeing another episode. It was just that bad. |
| I am endlessly disappointed with television these days. New series come along regularly, many with excellent and original ideas, but then fizzle into the usual preaching and unimaginative directions. They rush into my forgetory with monotonous regularity. Just occasionally something happens along with complete novelty and invention, like sudden serendipity from the Hollywood gods. All too often, series like these exist only for a season or two, prematurely rushed off the screen when the executives realise they've accidentally allowed something good and refreshing to creep through the filter. One example that I can think of immediately is Rubicon, a spy thriller that was genuinely gripping and fascinating. Two seasons and then poof, into the ether. Even rarer is the show that is good, runs for four seasons, and then has the sense to end before everything turns to mud. Two examples, probably because they're the sole instances in the last three decades, are the Canadian gem, Slings and Arrows, and the flawless Detectorists from the British actor and writer, Mackenzie Crook. |
| It's too chronic now days. I'm having a hard time finding new shows that are even worth watching so I've resorted to re-watching older shows again and then finding the same thing- anything that goes more than 5 seasons ends up going a bit "off" on at least one of them. Some, like Castle- we know- (costar hatred/issues working together), others- I think it's because either directors or main writers leave and those who take over don't have the same experience or guard rails that were in place before. I also think there's a lot to your "trying to sustain a concept too long". One of my favorite shows is Supernatural, which ran for 15 seasons, and many say that's 15 seasons too long. There was supposed to be an original story arc for 5 seasons according to its original creator. The first 5 seasons are absolutely awesome. After that- they are hit and miss. But I continued because I loved the characters and the humor. So much so that I've watched the entire 15 seasons 3 1/2 times now. The reverse is most definitely true- shows that were awesome and killed off way too soon, like Better Off Ted or FireFly. Those- I have no idea what was going through the minds of the arses that killed them. |
A Memory of What Felt Like A Near Miss For some reason, this horrible shooting of an executive in New York brought back a memory from October 2002. I had a series of meetings at a government agency starting early that morning and had spent the night in a hotel in Bethesda. I took the metro to the White Flint station in Rockville and walked to a twenty-four-hour restaurant a little after 7:30. The killings by a sniper in the DC metro area had been in the news for a few weeks, but to be honest it wasn’t on my mind. After the meetings, I raced to the airport just in time to catch my flight home later that day. I got home just after dinner that night to hear the news coverage. The snipers had killed four people in Montgomery County Maryland. I was stunned to hear that the first was at 7:40 in the morning in Rockville, one block from the restaurant that I had been at for coffee and breakfast. It preyed on my mind for a few days. Had I been a possible target as I crossed Rockville Pike that morning? Probably not. After the DC snipers were caught and put in jail, it became something that faded completely from my mind. The sadness of another horrible random killing reminded me for some reason. It seems to keep happening so often that it's no longer shocking. |
| I had the same sort of flashback to 2002 and that Sniper thing. A family member's wedding was in the evening mid October, outside in Maryland. We later learned that the snipers were in the area of the wedding that night and they were captured soon after that. But that guy in New York gave me that same creeping feeling I had that Fall. |
Persistence Pays Off in Publishing (Sometimes) I got an email this morning for acceptance for an anthology of short stories, third acceptance in about three weeks. Not a typical trend for me. Of course, there have been about the same number of rejections and a long dry streak for the previous few months. This is the second time it has been a story previously rejected more than once, as I posted about before. A science fiction story fused with a crime mystery. I thought the story was good, but I tweaked and polished it a bit before submitting again each time. So, persistence can pay off. It is also evidence that just because a story doesn’t work for one publisher doesn’t mean it will not be accepted by another. It is also evidence for me of the need for continuous improvement. Hopefully I will be updating you with some publishing launches in the next few months. Best wishes to all of you in your writing journeys. |
All Rejections Are Not Created Equal You understand the different categories of rejection as your skin thickens to publishers' rejections. A few days ago, I got a great one from an anthology publisher after making it to the shortlist. What made it so great? Balanced and detailed feedback of what they liked and where it came up short from what was clearly a careful review by multiple readers. No, I did not pay for a reading or review fee. I am opposed to doing that because of the potential for positive bias. What are the other main categories of rejections? From best to worst. The positive rejection that indicates they did give the story a close read and encourage you to submit to them in the future. The obvious form letter that encourages you to keep at it. The silent no response. A rejection with a plea that you no longer submit to the publisher. I have not experienced this last type but I have read that they exist. What are your experiences with Rejections? Did I miss a type? |
| 1) Getting through to second or third read, then being told it doesn't meet our requirements, but please sub again 2) They clearly read the story, rejected, but told you to try subbing again to them. 3) The form letter 4) The 'no response' 5) The letter that says they like the story, but you need to learn how to write 6) The "do not submit to us again letter" And a bonus A) The do not submit to us letter based on what they've heard or read of you, even though you've never submitted to them ever before. And, yes, I have received all of these. |
Santeven Quokklaus  - I didn't know whether to laugh or cry over the bonus category. On the positive side, you could say you have enough of a reputation to recieve an unsolicited rejection. Did you by chance, submit to them anway? |
Damon Nomad  - No... not yet.  Long story. A publisher was talking about a work I was working on at a con in the USA (he was selling one of my books), and another publisher overheard. He thought it was funny as, and if he published that sort of thing, he'd snatch it up. She managed to get my contact, and sent me an email telling me to never submit anything to her ever! It's weird, but there we are. |
Rule of Law? President Biden took a difficult but principled position several times over the last year. Repeatedly stating in no uncertain terms that he believed in the integrity of the justice system and would never pardon his son. It made for brave support of the principle of a nation of laws not of kings. It offered a stark comparison to the messaging from former President Trump and pardons for January 6 rioters. The US is a country where everyone is equal under the rule of law, so it is said. Given what happened with President-Elect Trump escaping criminal liability and now a blanket pardon for the son of President Joe Biden, what is the average person supposed to feel or believe? In a country with the highest incarceration rate of all industrialized western countries. It seems different from what I remember from decades past. Maybe I saw things through rose colored glasses as a younger adult. What do you think? |
| Let's say I didn't see it coming, mainly because I'd forgotten all about it. When I read about it this morning, I wasn't surprised. If we put ourselves in his shoes, would we do the same? Or would we stand by and let one of our children be placed in prison. Hard question, a very tough, hard, question. And wow, I had a long dissertation all typed here, and deleted it all.... Intentionally. Why? Because it's not my way, not my type of thing to do, or get involved in. So I'm not surprised. Disappointed? Yes. And Jim's done & out. |
Simultaneous Submissions Publishers make their own rules, that seems fair. From the recent trade press, most of them are swamped with AI submittals and other writers who submit half-finished work indiscriminately. The result is that they get swamped. If you are chasing traditional publishing then you have to play by each publishers rules. So, publishers give a lot of rules about submissions. Format rules, file format, genre requirements, and other rules. One example is limits for on multiple submissions. That seems reasonable, someone sends them a dozen or a hundred crappy stories that gum up their reviews. No simultaneous submissions though, that kind of aggravates me to be perfectly honest. They don;t want you to submit your story to another publisher. Let’s talk short stories for example. Most publishers take two to four months, or more to review a story submittal. Is it fair that you sit on the story for say four months, when more publishers have an opening would work for the story? I'm skeptical. I think it is quite fair when they ask you notify them if the story is accepted for another publication. That is fair and reasonable and you should out of common decency. One way around this is a few small tweaks and a change of title, but that might be a bit dicey from professional honesty. What do you think about publishers requirement against simultaneous submissions? |
| With novels, it's fine - there's a lot of reading involved. But with short stories, I'm with you - so long as you let them know if it's accepted elsewhere, then you should be right. I have to say, this is something that is becoming more frequent. In the 2010s, simultaneous submissions were rarely not allowed; now it seems every second call says "no". And it's not just AI and half-finished or poorly written works that are jamming the system - too many writers are sending their "masterpiece" (term used advisedly) to everyone, regardless of what genre they are asking for. I have a few publishers who seem to like me enough to publish more than one of my works, and you get to know them, and when they complain about getting historical romance stories when they publish horror (and, yes, that is what they are getting), you know it's getting beyond a joke. |
Holidays, Writing, and Loneliness Writing is by its nature an isolating sort of activity. It can lead to a sense of loneliness. The winter (northern hemisphere) holiday season can also be a time of isolation for many people. Maybe you are separated from family or unable to move or travel easily. All of these things apply to me. There is a recent posting from Authors Publish for writers to overcome loneliness. See the link below: Loneliness and Writing  Maybe find an online community for writers with supportive members. I’ve heard rumors of such a place, which goes by the moniker WDC.com.  Best Wishes for the Holiday Season and Writing |
Keep Submitting and Keep the Faith I posted earlier this year about increasing my number of submissions for short stories. I read an article about the one hundred rejection goal for a year. The idea of embracing rejections and keep going. I will not make it to a hundred short story submissions, but probably around seventy-five. It has sometimes been difficult to embrace the rejections, especially when a few months go by with no responses or only rejections. In the past two weeks, however, I had two stories accepted for publication. I just emailed the contract back on the second one. So, keep the faith if you are chasing traditional publishing and keep submitting. |
| 152 rejections for 2024! Of those, 97 are short stories. 8 acceptances of short stories and one poem, though... and one novel currently in 3rd round of viewing (fingers crossed!). The think about rejections is this: if you're being rejected, you're submitting, and if you're submitting, you're writing. At least you are putting yourself out there and trying. So many don't even bother to do that. So, well done on the acceptances, and the more you get, the more it will lead to. |
Case Dismissed! Remember My 2022 Essay-Story? The special prosecutor petitioned for dismissing two federal indictments against President-Elect Trump involving the Capitol Riots case and the Classified Documents case. Because of the Supreme Court Ruling on immunity. That is your first thought, right? Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! The prosecutor was able to craft revised indictments taking that ruling into effect. The request for dismissal without prejudice stated that it was not because the case lacked merit. But the dismissal cited a long-standing DOJ policy regarding sitting presidents. In short, this 1973 policy says that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. I posted about this policy early this year "Note: Supreme Court to Hear Immunity Claim in April ..." How far might a sitting president take this policy? Could he stay in office for life? Well, maybe . . . if he had the right attorney general and other devoted followers. Give my essay-story a read and feel happy. 
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| Ned - What if a president ignored the 22nd under the theory if he does it then it’s legal? The essay touches on that. |
Presidential Election Margin and Mandate There has been a lot of chatter in the media about the US election and a mandate for President Elect Trump. Every presidental winner claims a mandate. The strenghth of a mandate is ordinarily correlated to margin of victory. How does this election compare to modern era results, where a historically strong mandate was recognized for the incoming president? A comparison Trump in 2024, Reagan in 1984, and LB Johnson in 1964 Electoral College Votes Reagan 525 LBJ 486 Trump 312 Popular Vote Percent LBJ 61 Reagan 58 Trump 50 Those are the numbers, conclude as you choose. One problem with mandates, they are often cast in zero sum games of winners and losers. We can all hope for a shared future of success for President Elect Trump and everyone, regardless of party, race, gender, or any other classifer people get labeled with. |
| We need a revival of patriotism, working together, and helping each other thrive because when a house is divided it will not stand. When a nation is divided it will not stand. Standing together makes us strong. |
| And only 70% of the US population votes (on average). So LBJ got 42.7% Reagan got 40.6% Trump got 35% That hardly seems like a mandate... |
Reaction Time and A Serious Threat Early Thursday, the Russian government announced that a new US base in Poland was increasing the need for Russian nuclear deterrence. Thursday evening, Russia launched a variant of the Rubezh medium range ballistic missile at targets in the Ukraine. A missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Russia gave a brief warning call just before launch, claiming that it was not armed with nuclear warheads. How long did the U.S. have to decide whether they believed Russia before the warheads hit their targets in the Ukraine? Fifteen minutes and there is no way to intercept these hypersonic warheads. Will they be telling the truth next time? Would you believe them? See my novels on the threat of nuclear war and how it might be avoided. Buy A Dangerous Test (Nuclear Proliferation Trilogy) @ Amazon.Com! Dangerous Test Buy Phantom in the Desert (Nuclear Proliferation Trilogy) @ Amazon.Com! Phantom in the Desert Shameless Plug |
Publishing First For Me Just got word from an editor accepting one of my stories for publication. Attached the story with markups in their email. First time for me for a UK publisher. Feels a bit strange with some of the edits, mom to mum, and other peculiar spellings. A science fiction story, I really believed in. Rejected previously five times. I made some adjustments and edits each time. So, never give up on a story you believe in and keep improving it. Should be out in December, will give an update then. |
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