Carving The Possum

  Sunday and another trip to church. I got back here around 1:30.

I have been spending the time submitting stories and looking for places to submit and cleaning out my email.

When I ran out of cola, I walked down to Dollar General. I forgot my debit card, so I made a trip back here and then back to the store.

Back to the stories. “Their Bright Future” went to Virginia Review Quarterly and The Fiddlehead.

Well, I got my first rejection of  "Walls, Lines” – racism in a small Indiana city.

Thank you so much for your submission to the second issue of underscore_magazine. We appreciated the chance to read your work. Unfortunately, your work isn’t quite what we’re looking for at this time.

Thank you again for sharing your work with us, and best of luck to you in placing it.

Best,

Erica Leslie Weidner

underscore_magazine editor_in_chief

I read John O’Hara and Me from Thornfield Hall blog with more than usual wayward curiosity. I have read a couple of O'Hara's short stories, never read any of his novels, but what I read about the man falls into the line described in the original post:

So why do I love this novel so much when Julian is such a wreck ? Perhaps it is because I briefly was married to an alcoholic, so I understand the problems, and know exactly how Caroline feels. I don’t want the things Julian had or the things O’Hara wanted. O’Hara was obsessed with Yale and lobbied to get an honorary degree.  They wouldn’t give it to him. They were too snobbish. He also wanted the Nobel Prize. Did O’Hara set his sights too high? Hubris? No, I don’t think so. Clearly he was a great American writer. A pity he is underread.

“Dead and Dying” was also rejected:

Thank you for submitting a sample from your manuscript, The Dead and The Dying, for consideration. We’re grateful to be able to get to know your ideas. At JackLeg, we’re writers working with writers, so we take all submissions seriously. At this time, JackLeg cannot move forward with your work. Please know we are a very small team, so we cannot provide feedback on submissions. Thank you for thinking of us!

The Editorial Team

JackLeg Press 

Two months and 8 days since I sent out my query letter.  

After 10 years, I’m stepping down as the Observer’s film critic. Here are my top films from the decade

I checked into some of the magazines that have previously rejected my stories. First, was Abandon Journal. There I read THE PERFECT LOVE by Sarah Rose Cadorette - an effing brilliant story, touching and demented. I am wholly intimidated.

Another magazine was After Happy Hour. 

At Anmly, I read Jess Silfa's HIERRO. I am impressed sometimes by flash fiction, this is one of them.

I give up on that project. For now.

What's for dinner:

And now I say good-night.

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