The Graveyard of White Whales

Hello, my name is Aaron and I write short stories. Granted, the longest piece I've written was well over 100,000 words (my first "novel" and first piece of fiction I wrote), but after editing and trimming, it landed well within the 70K range. Yes, I cut 30,000 words.  Loathsome, Dark and Deep is only 67,000 words. Nothing else comes close.

I am a short story writer, and I'm not ashamed.

But things make me sad... like the white whale short story markets of yesteryear becoming the graveyard of today. After reinstating my account on Duotrope.com, I noted the following:

Of my reported acceptances (155 including poetry and reprints), 48 of those markets were dead (closed or defunct), including Everyday Weirdness, Necrotic Tissue, The Rose and Thorn Journal... some of my favorite stories had life there. Note those 48 markets represented more than 48 of my acceptances. Everyday Weirdness printed several stories and I was fortunate enough to place 3 with Necrotic Tissue. I loved those publications and did what I could to support them. Thanks to Nathan E. Lilly (Everyday Weirdness) and R. Scott McCoy (Necrotic Tissue) for everything they did to bring my stories and stories from other authors to readers' attention.

Short story venues die. It's the nature of the beast. My own brain child, 52 Stitches, is no more, but it had two years to run. It's time is done. But those which stick around? Wonderful. I'm proud to have a story in issue #118 of Space and Time. #118 people. The magazine has been around since before I was a zygote.

There are white whales I will chase and never capture before their deaths--this, too, is the nature of the beast. But I am a short story writer. I write short stories, and the submission/rejection process has made me a better writer. My stories are stronger because they've had to survive in a world of high casualty rates.

Here's a fear: writing is going to suffer in this do-it-yourself world. It already has. Why face rejections when I can easily publish myself via Smashwords, Kindle, Createspace and the like?* Why? Because, dear readers, without those white whales, even the dead ones, I would not have become the writer I am today. I wouldn't have sold a few stories to professional venues or found myself on any honorable mention lists. Writing short fiction is about the story, the art of words, and making life out of digital nothing. I want my stories to be like my flesh-and-bone children: resilient and beautiful.

Write on, chase those whales, and give some pause and respect when they leave us.

*Yes, I've published plenty of previously published material via these venues. But my first path--and it should always be a first path--was and remains the submissions trail and quest for those white whales.

A Little Weird

Head over to Everyday Weirdness to read "Bona Fide King of His Realm" today.

(And don't say I didn't warn you.)

Like Nature TV, Only Weirder

"Courtship", a flash fiction of the bizarre variety, is up at Everyday Weirdness today. Enjoy your weekend.

And lock your windows.

Friday Flash Two-fer

I could let my short-short, "The Long Contract" over at Everyday Weirdness stand in for Friday Flash, but, with the 4th of July tomorrow, I couldn't help offering this little ditty:


"The Bet"

Ben says the the fuse is waterproof.

I take the bet. He swallows sparks, and the color burns from his face.

After a dull thump, his mouth opens, blood sputters out, and he mutters, "You owe me," before collasping.


(remember kids, place on ground, light fuse, and get away)

Third Time is the Charm

I'm in Kansas City today, pacing a waiting room while Aimee has sinus surgery for the third time. She had the first operation five months before we were married, the second about a year before Max's birth, and now, the third. Different doctors each time; this one is supposed to be the best in the area. I hope the surgery helps because the poor woman has been suffering with chronic infections for most of the past year.

On a less important, but much weirder, note, Gary Sump makes another appearance at Everyday Weirdness today. This time, he tells his side of the story about the little people in his backyard. Hopefully he comes across as at least the slightest bit sympathetic (or just plain pathetic). The piece is aptly titled, "Gary Sump is an Angry God". Enjoy.

A Love Letter to January

Actually, I'm pretty glad January is over. It's been cold, so cold. The kids at school are about ready to explode with cabin fever. I'm tired of dry skin and cracked hands.

Bring on the sun! Bring on spring!

But first, let me pause to reflect:

I wrote three new short stories ("Tommy of the Flood", "Empty Vessels", and "The Distillery") plus one flash piece ("Fuzzy") inspired by one of Owen's books and another flash that will remain nameless for the time being. I edited a couple other bits and launched them in to the ether.

I placed a drabble with Drabblecast, a weird flash piece with Everyday Weirdness, and a magical realism short with A cappella Zoo.

A few things were published on the web, but my favorite appearances for January landed in Monstrous from Permuted Press and Northern Haunts from Shroud.

I tinkered with Rock Gods and Scary Monsters a bit and wrote about 3.5K on The House Eaters.

In support of the small press, I took out a subscription to Murky Depths and purchased the latest edition of Black Ink Horror (#5).

Whew.

January was a good month for personal reflection, too. Thanks for all the great discussions.

I'm going to go play with my kids.

The Contest at the End of this Post

Do you want a free copy of Zombie Haiku by Ryan Mercum? There is a contest to win just that at the end of the post.

Last night, Aimee and I went out with another couple (on a school night even!) and I had two martinis. TWO! Thanks to older, wiser heads, I also had a glass of water and some Advil before hitting the sack, so I'm doing okay. I can already hear the cries of "Lightweight!" and I will not shrug them off. I am a lightweight. Have been for the last few years. Funny how kids will do that to you...

"Gary Sump's Hidden City" is the story of the day at Everyday Weirdness today. I wrote this one on a lark while reading Secret Lives by Jeff VanderMeer. I highly recommend Secret Lives; I laughed and felt disturbed in equal measures.

So, for the contest: See that little dude in the title above? He's from a fairly famous painting. I'd like to give him a name. I'm going to let Owen, my five-year-old, pick from entries sent by my dear readers. The winner receives:

I've only read the book once, so it is in excellent condition. Also, there will be a little something for the first person to correctly identify the painting from which the little guy hails.

Happy name hunting.

Oh yeah...the contest entries must be in by Sunday (1/25/09) at noon (my time) CST.