Category: Writing

  • Three Rules for Surviving Rejection

    This week, at The Confabulator Cafe, we were asked how to survive negative critiques and rejections. Read my three rules to remember in dealing with criticism  in “Three Rules for Surviving Rejection” now available at The Confabulator Cafe website. http://www.confabulatorcafe.com/2013/03/three-rules-for-surviving-rejection/

  • Victor’s Indifference, now available at The Rusty Nail

    One of my oldest short stories is now posted at The Rusty Nail. I wrote it after reading an article about Hurricane Victor and thinking of how disconnected I was, being so far away, reading about it in a paper. Then, I sat down and wrote Victor’s Indifference. I saw it sitting on the computer…

  • The Art of the Critique

    This week, the Confabulator Cafe was all about critiquing. I shared some advice on what to do and what not to do when you are asked to critique someone’s writing. If you haven’t checked it out, please do. The Art of the Critique I hope everyone is hanging in there in the midwest and northeast.…

  • “Waking” Now Available in Epiphany Magazine Issue 18

    One of my oldest short stories is now available in Epiphany Magazine‘s online literary journal. The original version of this story was written in the summer following my first fiction writing class at Iowa State University. It’s been through a couple of versions since then. I think it was waiting for me to grow up.…

  • “Collectors” in Separate Worlds Magazine

    The January/February issue of Separate Worlds, a science fiction and fantasy magazine, is now available. Inside, you can find my short story “Collectors.” The end of the world is coming, and the fate of the universe will be decided in a Magic-esque card game between Heaven and Hell. “Collectors” is about the “other” demons, sent…

  • From the Shadows

    This week, The Confabulator Cafe asked what drew us to our particular genres or types of writing. Read about the draw of horror and dark fiction in “From the Shadows.” I’ve been working with an editor at a horror publication interested in another one of my stories. Hopefully, I will have news on that front…

  • A New Year’s Self-Evaluation

    It has been a big year, as I wrote about in my most recent blog here. With all of those changes in my personal and professional life, there were bound to be changes in my artistic life. Today, at The Confabulator Cafe, I look back on how I have changed as a writer in the…

  • 365 Days of Chasing Dreams

    2012 proved to be a year of transition. Over the last few years, my family has been in flux. After the divorce, my time with my son became much more uncertain. This year, after she moved halfway across the country, I found myself seeing him nearly all the time. It has been great, although I…

  • Looking back on a year of the Confabulator Cafe, and an upcoming story in Hungur Magazine

    In my weekly Confabulator Cafe blog, I was asked about my favorite assignment this year. See my answer in “Bring me another!” Also, Hungur Magazine, a horror magazine specializing in vampire fiction, has accepted my short story “Bloodline” for publication in their April 30, 2013 issue. It has been a good year for my writing career,…

  • Failure and other F-Words, plus an acceptance

    Failure and other F-Words, plus an acceptance My last Nanowrimo Confabulator Cafe blog is up at http://www.confabulatorcafe.com/2012/12/failure-and-other-f-words/. Read about my mixed mixed emotions regarding Nanowrimo this year. Also, Separate Worlds has accepted my flash fiction piece “Collectors” for publication in their January/February 2013 issue. I’ll post more information as I get it. Thanks for reading, Jack