My Short Story "Stolen, Jarred, and Tossed" in Black Fox Literary Magazine

A few months ago one of my short stories entitled "Stolen, Jarred, and Tossed" was published in Black Fox Literary Magazine. The magazine (which you can get online or in print) publishes each month and works to feature all types of writing -- everything from flash to short stories to poetry. The mag is run by some really wonderful ladies, and I encourage you to check it out. 

Here's an excerpt from my story:

On October 31st, Lily Florence stole the name of the boy who’d refused to kiss her on the lips. She stored it in a jam jar; she screwed the lid shut tight. It was such a fancy name--one she thought might sparkle and glow, perhaps even sing--but as she stared into the glass jar, the blandness of the thing inside left her eyeballs uninterested and her curious mind desiring. Lily Florence was simply unimpressed with the entire situation. Where is the boy? Why isn’t he coming for his name? She observed it, that shapeless thing pretending to be better than air, for a moment longer. And quicker than a bee decides to sting, Lily shoved the jar into her pink Cinderella lunch box, smoothed the wrinkles out of her skirt, and stormed home. The birds took great care not to fly too close to her path. Squirrels stopped munching on their acorns. Even the ants ceased their work, in fear that they might, somehow, interfere.

If you want to read the full story plus check out all the other stories, you can use the ISSUU below.

Also, don't forget to check out the latest issue of Black Fox Literary Magazine! 

We Have Dreams; Dreams Have Us

It's so hard to wait. Waiting for things is no fun whatsoever--especially for a writer who, more than anything else, wants to see his words out in the world (and, even before that, loved by an agent and, sometime after that, loved by an editor).

I'm querying one of my projects right now and, at times, it can be discouraging. Am I good enough? Will they like the story well enough to take a chance with me? All these questions rumble through a writer's head . . . .

However, I'm reminded of something a professor at my university recently said to me:

"We all have dreams but dreams also have us."

As long as we have our dreams, there to guide us, lift us, push us, always there to make sure we see the possibilities and the magic in the world, then they will one day--one can only hope--embrace us just as we have embraced them.

Image: "The Dream" by Franz Marc

My Short Story Mentioned In An Article By SMALL PRESS REVIEWS!

One of my short stories, "Nogoodfornothing," which was published in the first issue of The Conium Review, was mentioned in a review done by Small Press Reviews!

CLICK HERE to read the full article, written by Marc Schuster. If you're out there somewhere, Marc, thanks for reviewing The Conium Review!

"Admittedly, some of the works are  odd, albeit in an endearing way. In one piece of flash fiction, for example, a young man dreams of eating glass despite the protestations of his girlfriend. In another, a sterile woman stirs up a baby in a pot of leftovers. In both cases, a distinct sense of loneliness permeates the narratives. Yes, we’re bearing witness to the bizarre, but it’s not just bizarre for the sake of bizarre. It’s a brand of bizarre that offers insight into the human condition."

Remember, everyone: Appreciate the bizarre and always look for the magic in life.

Characters Succeed When...

People [and Characters] Succeed When They're Given Equal Parts Of CHALLENGE and SUPPORT

Immediately after a teacher at my university said this amazeballs quote, I scribbled it down in my journal quicker than a Snooki on the hunt for an 18 oz. can of spray-on bronzer. *Fist pump, fist pump, fist pump* If you've never watched an episode of Jersey Shore . . . well, then you're missing out on life. Big time.

I got to thinkin' afterwards how wonderfully that statement applies to the life of a writer, and even more specifically the characters we write about. Besides hard work, determination, and the ability to craft intelligible prose, there really are two essential ingredients needed when attempting to cook up an awesome story: CHALLENGE and SUPPORT, the holy duo that makes characters of all shapes and sizes truly dynamic individuals.

None of us like the word "challenge." We don't like to be challenged, and most of us don't find joy in dishing out challenge to our characters, those fantastic creatures frolicking in our head that seem to do no wrong (even when they do). Many of us grow so attached to our characters that when it does come time to take them to that dangerous point in their lives -- or, heaven forbid, kill them off -- we start pulling out our hair and feel chunks of our soul begin to disintegrate. Rather than pushing a character into an uncomfortable situation, we'd rather be hogtied, thrown in a dark corner, and punished with a Backstreet Boys CD on endless loop.

But the truth of the matter is . . . at the end of the day, our characters NEED challenges in order to succeed with their mission, whatever that might be. They'll always have our support, we're their number one cheering section, but unless we give them something to fight for -- something to struggle against or with -- they'll never be able to grow. And if our characters don't do any growing, like The Situation's muscles after being deprived of their Muscle Milk, then our stories won't be nearly as interesting.

In what other ways might this quote apply to our lives as writers? Take those words, put them in your mouth, swish 'em around a bit, and see how they might relate to your personal writing journey.

~Cheers! 

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"Literature high five!"

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On Insanity (The Writerly Kind)

Currently, as I type this, my fingernails are about 4 microns too short and I seriously think my hair is starting to fall out (it's littering the keyboard as I speak). What's even more unsettling is that very rarely do I see a grown up male-ginger with a full head of hair, so I'm starting to think that maybe -- just maybe -- I'll be bald by the time I (if it ever does happen) land an agent. 

Life as a writer is stressful, and while we strive ever so hard to practice patience, sometimes -- most times! -- it just ain't easy. Not even a little. Whether you're trying to finish that damn novel, whether you're struggling to get through a series of tough edits, whether your bitchy characters are punching you in the face, whether you're waiting on a batch of query responses, whether you're at a loss for words . . . the right dosage of patience and the proper attitude to handle the situation can be tough to locate. Chances are you might go a little insane in the process. But that's okay, right? A little insanity never hurts anyone, especially a writer. 

(Just think about how many voices we have circulating around in our heads. If that's not constant insanity, then IDK what is!)

What I'm trying to say is that we're all going to experience road bumps, potholes, or hella awful magical spells that cripple us as we attempt to navigate our way through this crazy I-Freakin'-Need-An-Agent-Now-Or-I'll-Spontaneously-Combust Literary World. There are ups, and there are most certainly downs. So when you find yourself in that low spot, the very bottom of your world, don't panic. Take a minute and just think there. Walk around a little. Explore. You never know what new ideas you might be able to find, or the new characters you might stumble upon, or the new voices you might discover there.

Ursala K. Le Guin, one of my favorite fantasy authors, once said: "To light a candle is to cast a shadow."

Whenever we embark upon a new story, it's like we're lighting a candle. That glowing new idea bursts to life, casting an unbelievable light over our world that keeps us going and keeps us excited. But soon, the shadows become apparent. Eventually, the flame might start to die. You start to notice the plot holes in your story, the deficiencies in your characters, the lack of world building, and a whole crapload of other things that make you want to scream. When that happens, don't give up. Don't snuff out the candle completely. 

Sit down at your computer. Take a few deep breaths. Get out those matches (or prepare to utter your flame-producing incantation of choice). . .

And reignite that flame!

When the going gets tough, don't stop. In the words of Kanye West, get going "harder, better, faster, stronger." 

Cheers!

A Neglected Blog!

Wow, when people say to keep a blog, they probably mean to keep one that is updated more than once a month. So, it's my July resolution to increase the frequency of my posts!

I've been editing my manuscript lately and I think it's reached a point I'm borderline happy with -- though I continue to alter little things that I suddenly realize need changing.

These minor epiphanies usually arise just as I'm about to drift off to sleep. . .

Are their periods in your day that prompt sudden realizations regarding your work more than others?

Bye for now. Happy writing.