Two Years Gone and the Future Beckons

The Update celebrates its two year anniversary today and, as it has become my custom, I went back and read my original post and my one year anniversary letter. I certainly write longer Weekly Updates since the original and I like to believe my writing has improved. The "Important Events in Alternate History" has now evolved into my Today in #althist tweets (which I also do on Facebook now if you haven't notice). There are  plenty of other changes, but the one that really stands out is just the look of the blog. Check out the screen shot I took for our Amazon page:

What a difference a couple years and the help of an amazing graphic artist can do for a blog. It was a very simple design since I did not want to drive people away with odd colors or formatting. Meanwhile, I still used the Blogger poll feature (what a piece of garbage that turned out to be) and had zero images. Looking back on how The Update looked, I really like the way the blog looks today.

As a person I feel I have more control over my life since I started blogging. I have a network of writing friends, an awesome gig at Amazing Stories and I am finally a published author (with another story on the way). More importantly, I'm finally starting to feel that what I do on this blog is starting to make a difference. During my interview with Jordan Harbour on his podcast, Twilight Histories, he admitted that I inspired him to take his excellent audio drama toward an alternate history direction. Also I have seen a lot more personal alternate history sites come into existence in the past few months and while they may not have expressly said so, I like to think that maybe The Update encouraged them to carve out their own space in the multiverse.

Nevertheless, I don't want to get too big of a head. This blog isn't going to write or edit itself. There is a long road of work ahead of me if I want to keep this going. That begs the question: what is the future of The Update? Well it really depends on my mood. When I'm in a bad mood I start to resent the blog. I imagine selling it to someone and yes, I do mean for cash. I wouldn't just give it to someone because I want to make sure they give the time and energy I give it, even when I am trying to get rid of it. In my mind, the person likely to pay for it is the person to give it the attention it deserves.

Furthermore, I feel I deserve something for two years of hard work.

When I am in a good mood, however, I begin to imagine what it would be like to create the ultimate alternate history fan site, much like AH.com was before it became just a discussion board. I envision it some like the Rooster Teeth site where you can create your own profile and chat with other fans, create groups and hold events across the world. There would be a place to read articles, watch videos, listen to podcasts, learn about upcoming works and even a publishing arm where you can submit your stories. We would hold an annual convention every year where the best and brightest alternate historians would gather to warp the past. Everyone would be invited, from the counter-factual loving college professor to the most hardcore steampunk fan.

Such a future would take a lot of work and while it would be awesome, I'm not sure if I have the time (or money) to commit to such an endeavor. The blog and my own fiction writing taking up a lot of time as is. Plus I am going to need the help of a lot of talented and hard-working people to get such a project off the ground and it is easy to tell someone about your vision, but harder to get them to sign up for it. Still, a guy can dream.

Anywho, thank you for everything guys. This place wouldn't exist without you. I hope you have all been enjoying the DBWI writing contest and have entered your name for a copy of The Place of Dead Kings by Geoffrey Wilson. It has been fun ride and I have no desire to end it anytime soon. Sorry, but you are stuck with me for the foreseeable future.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new story "The Enchanted Bean" can be found in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale from Echelon Press. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.

Double-Blind What If Writing Contest

We are only a little more than a month away from The Update's 2 year anniversary. Yay!!! To celebrate I am finally announcing the contest many have been bugging me about. Yes, that's right, it is the DOUBLE-BLIND WHAT IF WRITING CONTEST.

Simply put, double-blind what ifs (DBWIs) are alternate histories within an alternate history. You can get a more detailed description over at the AH.com Wiki or check out my article on them at Amazing Stories. So what do I want from you? Be creative. Write an essay about how alternate history might develop in a world where the Confederacy won the Civil War. Write a story about two historians debating what ifs in a universe where the Persian Empire conquered ancient Greece. Review an OTL historical fiction novel, but as a reviewer from a completely different timeline altogether. All of those ideas and more are acceptable. Use your imagination!

Here are the rules:

• Submissions should be between 500 to 7000 words. We are open to accepting submissions over 7000, but they may be split into separate parts if possible.
• We are accepting submissions for three categories: fiction (original stories written by you), non-fiction (counterfactual essays) and reviews (books, film, television, etc.) based on the theme.
• Multiple submissions are acceptable, but only one per category.
• Submission period begins today and posting begins June 5. The submission period ends on June 28th.
• All submissions must be sent by email with "DBWI Writing Contest" in the subject line.
• All submissions must meet the theme for the contest but we will not stop accepting articles for the month of June outside the theme, but publication may be postponed for contest submissions.
• All other rules regarding contributing to The Update remain in effect.

There will be a winner selected from each category based on the name of page views each submission generates. The winner from each category will receive a $10 prize. Yes you read that right. The Update is finally paying for submissions, as promised.

WARNING: Any suspected cheating will immediately disqualify the contributor and there will be no appeals.  You are still encouraged to promote your work through your own blogs, websites and social media.

If you any questions email me at ahwupdate at gmail dot com. Please also feel free to share this announcement across Facebook and Twitter. Good luck everyone.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update, a blogger on Amazing Stories and a volunteer editor for Alt Hist magazine. His fiction can be found at Echelon Press, Jake's Monthly and The Were-Traveler. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.