A few things have happened when I wasn't really paying attention! Nearly a month has flown by since my last post. Big no no in the world of cultivating an audience and so-called “brand.” I'm not cut out for this self-promotion.
I wrote two new short stories and have sent them out to literary journals. Each has already taken a rejection/hit, but I like these works and hope they’ll find a home. My Creative Non-Fiction piece, Secret Agent Man, was accepted for Fall publication over at The Writing Disorder (I’ll surely link it when it goes live). I’m a big fan of the work in that journal, as it exemplifies a certain west coast vibe which I feel is distinctive and warrants notice. Check out some works there, particularly Sophie Monatte's heartbreaking Thanatophobia.
There is a thriving world of FREE creative literary journals out there. You want a quick fix of a story or essay or poem? Google Literary Journals and see which names beckon to you. I like Drunk Monkeys, Monkey Bicycle (not sure what it is with monkeys and literature), The Writing Disorder Post Road, Bluestem, Tin House, Glimmer Train and Boulevard--oh, and The Story Shack off the top of my head.
I wrote two new short stories and have sent them out to literary journals. Each has already taken a rejection/hit, but I like these works and hope they’ll find a home. My Creative Non-Fiction piece, Secret Agent Man, was accepted for Fall publication over at The Writing Disorder (I’ll surely link it when it goes live). I’m a big fan of the work in that journal, as it exemplifies a certain west coast vibe which I feel is distinctive and warrants notice. Check out some works there, particularly Sophie Monatte's heartbreaking Thanatophobia.
There is a thriving world of FREE creative literary journals out there. You want a quick fix of a story or essay or poem? Google Literary Journals and see which names beckon to you. I like Drunk Monkeys, Monkey Bicycle (not sure what it is with monkeys and literature), The Writing Disorder Post Road, Bluestem, Tin House, Glimmer Train and Boulevard--oh, and The Story Shack off the top of my head.
Another exciting development was being asked by Matthew Guerrecky of Drunk Monkeys (home to two of my flash fiction pieces) to act as Fiction Editor for the journal. As with most jobs in the arts, this one is all for the love of the project at the moment. But I am not only learning the capabilities of the Submittable program, but reading interesting work and honing my editing skills. And I enjoy working with Matt, however virtually and sporadically.
I’ve always felt my editing sword just might be more finely tuned than my crafting sword—happily they are both being honed this summer.
My virtual friend James Claffey, an outrageously talented writer, has published a collection of his stories, Blood a Cold Blue—always unique, always imagery-laden, always with an echo of his Irish sensibilities. You can pre-order it here (I can almost guarantee you will be floored by his writing).
I know there are easier ways to be entertained than reading--but what else allows you to be so interactive in process of escape? In a sense all entertainment stems from the notion of story, right? A song, a visual representation, dance, even reality TV ... all these moments of illusion and existential flight only gain purchase in our minds when they exist in the continuum of story (even if the story is merely suggested).
I’ve always felt my editing sword just might be more finely tuned than my crafting sword—happily they are both being honed this summer.
My virtual friend James Claffey, an outrageously talented writer, has published a collection of his stories, Blood a Cold Blue—always unique, always imagery-laden, always with an echo of his Irish sensibilities. You can pre-order it here (I can almost guarantee you will be floored by his writing).
I know there are easier ways to be entertained than reading--but what else allows you to be so interactive in process of escape? In a sense all entertainment stems from the notion of story, right? A song, a visual representation, dance, even reality TV ... all these moments of illusion and existential flight only gain purchase in our minds when they exist in the continuum of story (even if the story is merely suggested).
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