Short Story Published in the Antioch Review

While a few talented writers like Michael Chabon simply finish their MFA + then suddenly become famous, for most of us, we have to build up our weight, to use a boxing analogy.  And for that to happen, we need milestones.  I consider the publication of my short story, "The Blue Men inside My Head" in the Fall 2012 issue of the Antioch Review (which is another story in my collection, Atlas of Tiny Desires) to be my new milestone.  I may not change my writing trajectory with this new publication, but then again, maybe I will.  I can only hope that Bob Fogarty, the editor, is right when he says that lots of agents read this journal.  If anyone would know, it would be him.  Maybe, just maybe, this will finally be my time to find an agent + get my novels into the laps of readers.  But if not, I can at least appreciate this moment for what it is + know that I'm creating momentum for my emerging writing career + finding some more readers too.  And yo, when I read the contributor's notes of the other fiction writers (Ed Allen, author of two novels + the winner of the 2002 Flannery O'Connor Award, The Chilean-Argentine novelist, Ariel Dorfman, whose work has been published into 40 languages + Robin Romm, a finalist of the Pen/USA prize + also a NYT Notable Book of the Year + Editor's Choice for her memoir), I realize not only that I'm clearly the fluff here, but just as importantly, that I'm fucking honored to be in such impressive company with these fiction writers.  I dunno man.  To quote one of the best musicals of all time, I feel like something good is coming.  But for now, I'm fucking stoked about this publication.  Things are looking up.  The world's getting smaller, man.

Moving On Up

Until you've become the darling of the glossies, writing fiction is not a very profitable business.  In fact, most of the time, we're happy just to get a story accepted into a goddamn literary journal.  That's often--usually--the thing we care most about.  So getting paid is always an unexpected bonus for aspiring writers.  The truth is, F. Scott Fitzgerald wouldn't have lasted two years in the current biz before he said, "fuck this, there's no money here, Zelda" + of course, he'd be absolutely right.

You can understand, then, my giddiness for the check I got in the mail today for $180.00 for my short story, "The Blue Men inside My Head"!  This piece is slated for publication in the Fall issue of the Antioch Review + one of the stories in my collection, Atlas of Tiny Desires.  In the writing world, $180 is like a shitload of money! The most I'd received prior to today was fifty bucks from ZYZZYVA, the Kenyon Review + $45 from the Notre Dame Review, all of which I was very happy with.  Also, I was supposed to receive £22 for Stand Magazine, but sadly, the check never came from Leeds, England + I decided to stop fighting that fight eventually.  Anyway, I don't mean this entry in braggy kinda way, I'm just really fucking stoked that for the first time in my life, I received a check for triple digits for my writing.  I see this as a tiny but major victory in my writing trajectory.

Now that I'm practically $200 richer, it's time to spend this shit.  If you live in Chicago, I'll buy you tea sometime.  Just text me.