Will a writer’s stories be noticed, or on the off chance, will one or two be published? In a literary journal? Or maybe a magazine? What magazines? By last count the only ones left running short fiction are The New Yorker and The Atlantic. And The Atlantic doesn’t even run a piece of fiction in…
Author: REM
On traditional publishing
I can’t think of a more archaic, hidebound, antiquated, tradition-strapped, smarmy, pompous, self-aggrandizing, purblind, self-inflated, arrogant, self-immolating excuse for an enterprise than traditional—religion. Resting on its laurels while the evangelical branch stacks the deck to steal the heart of the opportunity. Folks, it’s a free for all out there. And don’t you think Jeff Bezos…
On receiving a rejection notice
We wish you the best in finding a suitable publisher. Although your story doesn’t currently fit our needs, we look forward to reading more of your work in the near future. As a reminder, The Wicked Press only accepts works of short fiction in its annual open reading period, the first five business days of…
On writing “A Work of Fiction”
Is it A Work of Fiction, or nonfiction? Are my stories made up or did they really happen? Or is it a memoir? God tell us it’s not a memoir. Or an autobiography. Hang me if it’s autofiction. Stupid word, autofiction. Isn’t that the height of pretension, writing about yourself thinking anybody gives a damn?…
Qualifications? Pshaw.
Q. Do you have credentials that qualify you as a writer?A. No. As far as being a master of anything, I hold an MBA degree, not an MFA degree. However, I have heard, spoken, read, and written English for nearly sixty years now. I guess you’d say I am a native speaker and there’s no…
I like Nick and Elvis. Flannery too.
In 1974, English songwriter Nick Lowe wrote and performed it. Soon Elvis Costello covered the song like he owned it. And I like both versions of Peace, Love and Understanding. Acoustic and electric. As I walk throughThis wicked worldSearchin’ for light in the darkness of insanityI ask myselfIs all hope lost?Is there only pain and…
Why do readers read? The three “E’s.”
Why? In three words – entertainment, erudition, and escape. Those are the publishing silos as I see them. The reader interested in entertainment is the “general” or “mainstream” reader. Erudition is the aim of the literary reader. Finally, there are some readers who want to escape. They pick up fantasy, romance, or Sci-Fi. Sure, readers,…
Story or vignette?
Jerome the fourth century historian captured a scene featuring John the gospel writer, who along with James, was one of the fiery-tempered sons of Zebedee, the Sons of Thunder. I found this in William Barclay’s “Introduction to the Fourth Gospel” in his book, The Gospel of John–Volume 1 , (The Westminster Press, 1956) and the…
Euthanasia
Somewhere I have an old yellowed copy of The Razor’s Edge, the 1944 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. When I first read it nearly four decades ago I remember it absorbed me and I need to read it again. Maugham, who apparently was never well received by the British critics famously said, “Death ends all…
“Honey, you don’t know my mind…”
When Bluegrass pioneer, Jimmy Martin sang this song (written by Jimmy Skinner), it’s almost like he had the unpublished writer in mind. Honey you don’t know my mind, I’m lonesome all the timeBorn to lose, a drifter that’s meYou can travel for so long, then a rambler’s heart goes wrongBaby you don’t know my mind…
What kind of mind?
Somewhere along the way I heard something that made a deep impression on me. “People with small minds talk about other people. People with mediocre minds talk about things. But people with great minds talk about ideas.” Who wants to have a small mind? So I formed a lifelong habit. I turn to the editorial…
What’s with the three names?
People who self identify using three names aren’t so rare. Not as rare as those who answer to a single name. Bono comes first to my mind. Yes, I’m a U2 fan. Been to Dublin to check out those four croakers. Croke Park Stadium to be exact. Along with about 80,000 other folks swaying and…