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.

Howard's Game Part 4

*quick note: Happy birthday to me with an early present from Space and Time (my birthday being today and the acceptance came on Saturday). "Rats of the Roscinante", a nod to Lovecraft's "Rats in the Walls" set in space, will appear in a future issue. Huzzah!

Now on to "Howard's Game"...

To: gboling@usd166.org
From: mm_talbot@gmail.com
Date: 9.23.2009
Subject: Howard’s father

Mr. Boling,

I want to apologize for not being forthcoming on the telephone the other day. I was surprised by Howard’s behavior, and very disappointed. But I wasn’t totally surprised. Things have been tough at home since Howard’s father left I tried to keep things from Howard as long as I could, but he’s asking questions. Needless to say, his father isn’t on a business trip. I wanted to keep the family business private, but after being alone with Howard for the past couple of days, I’m a little worried about him. I’m worried about how he’s taking his father’s absence.

Would it be possible for him to speak with the counselor when he comes back to school tomorrow?

Thank you,

Lindsay Talbot



To: mm_talbot@gmail.com
From: gboling@usd166.org
Date: 9.23.2009
Subject: Re: Howard’s father

Mrs. Talbot,

I’ll make sure to let Cheryl Manlo, our guidance counselor, know about Howard. If there is anything else we can do at school to help your son, please contact us. Cheryl’s direct line is (811) 766-6120.

Mr. Gerard Boling, Principal
Suncrest Elementary



Transcript of conversation between Howard Talbot and Mrs. Cheryl Manlo, Counselor, September 24th, 2009

Cheryl Manlo: Hi Howard.

Howard Talbot: Hi.

CM: Do you know why I called you in here today, Howard?

HT: Um. My dad maybe.

CM: That’s right, Howard. I thought we could talk about your—

HT: I’m not gonna.

CM: (clears throat) Your mother sent a note Howard.

HT: Umm-huh.

CM: She’s worried.

HT: I’m not gonna talk about Dad.

CM: All right then. (pause) I also wanted to talk about what happened on the playground the other day. What happened with Mike.

HT: Okay.

CM: Can you tell me what happened?

HT: M-mike said m-mean stuff.

CM: Okay…

HT: He made fun of me. Laughed at me.

CM: What did he say?

HT: M-made fun of the way I talk. S-said I was poor and stupid and worthless and a dork.

CM: And then?

HT: I told him he’d be in t-trouble.

CM: What kind of trouble, Howard? Trouble with teachers?

HT: Trouble with shovel man.

(audible click on tape followed by a pause)

CM: Shovel man? Who is shovel man?

HT: My friend.

CM: Is he…is he a kid at school? Does he go to school here?

HT: No.

CM: Is he an adult, Howard?

HT: Sort of.

CM: Um-huh. Sort of. (pause) Where does shovel man live?

HT: (whispering) Someplace else.

CM: Where Howard? Why are you whispering?

HT: He doesn’t like me to t-talk. (mumbles, indistinct) He doesn’t want me to talk about him anymore.

CM: (pause) What happened next, after you warned Mike?

HT: He called me a liar.

CM: And then?

HT: I told him he would die. (mutters something indistinct) D-dust to dust. I grabbed some dirt, to show him what would happen.

CM: What happened next?

HT: Mike hit me.

CM: After you picked up the dirt.

HT: Yes.

CM: And then you bit him? (pause) Why’d you bite him, Howard?

HT: Had to taste his blood for shovel man.

CM: What?

HT: Shovel man needs the blood taste to find him. Shovel man doesn’t have eyes like you and me—

(tape hisses then clicks followed by silence)


Notes from Howard Talbot’s guidance file, recorded 9/24/09

I spoke with Howard today (Sept. 24, 2009). He didn’t want to talk about his father, and seemed a little agitated when I brought it up. When asked about the infraction on the playground, he mentioned someone called “shovel man”. In general, Howard seemed to be a bit cold and distant. He smiled a little, but only when talking about “shovel man”. Make sure to ask about this when calling his mom. I’m going to transcribe the session for the record.
- CM

Added 9/25/09

The tape stopped before the end of my conversation with Howard. I can’t seem to remember what else was said.