The Latest Bunch of Short Stories

The demands on a person can be many. From travelling for work to engaging with the children, finding time for other activities (like blogging) can seem practically impossible. That said, the past year has been pretty productive.

Since finishing the last draft of my latest novel manuscript, Another Blade of Grass, and setting it aside before query agents, I returned to short fiction. After spending two years working on a single work, it was a relief to turn to things with entirely different elements. The requirements of short fiction are fewer than the novel. It is easier to try different things, attempt different effects. And I wanted to purge myself of some of the ideas that had been floating around for some time.

I think the change was well worth the effort. I churned out six short stories that are already making the submission-rejection circuit. At least it feels like it's going full circle.

So, over the next few weeks, I'll present excerpts of each of the new stories. Just the first couple of paragraphs to give you a feeling for the direction of the new work. Any feedback you care to give will be appreciated.

Since this bout of short fiction, I've returned to the longer form, spurred on by an idea my wife provided. The notion stirred in my head for a few days, the story ever expanding, and I knew that I'd better get writing.

Barnes County Query Letter Sent

Three years after starting the novel, and a year after finishing it, I sent out the first query letter for Barnes County to an agent. As much as I know that writing is a business, and that the only way to get published is to submit, there is still so much anxiety tangled up in that process. It is not simply the business-end of an artistic process; it is the act of throwing the work out into the world for criticism and comment. Though that may be the point of writing, expression, there is always so much to worry about.

I've certainly sent my share of short story submissions (not enough, certainly), but this was my first query letter. I didn't realize just how hard it would be to distill 90,000 words into something short and coherent. Especially Barnes County with its many points of view and interwoven stories. Here, though are the central paragraphs of the query:

When Terry Stegman, a beloved female sheriff’s deputy of rural Barnes County, Missouri, is killed by a meth dealer, the men around her must find a way to go forward, to adjust, and set a new course.

Though Terry’s killer is injured and jailed, Sam Summers, a big-city transplant, friend, and fellow deputy whose feelings for Terry may have been something stronger than friendship, is on the hunt for why the killer murdered two others that day. Aging Barnes County Sheriff Bill Wallis is suffering through the break-up of his marriage, the changes taking place in the county, and the growing distance from his teenage son. Terry’s hired man and close companion after her husband’s death, Franklin Redbird quickly falls into drinking and trouble. Logan Wallis, the sheriff’s misfit son, outcast because of his public profile and rebellious appearance, meets a romantic interest, but when she winds up in trouble, he seeks a violent vengeance. A recent immigrant to the county, Harlan Lustig quickly falls in with a dangerous meth cook and, after learning the trade himself, seeks to usurp him. Their stories meet, mix, mingle, and collide among the back roads and abandoned farmhouses of the fictional Barnes County in Southern Missouri.

While there are elements in the novel of mystery and suspense, Barnes County, at 90,000 words, is a story of people in flux, how they struggle to find the right way, and how some fail at it.


While I don't know that this really gets to all of it, all of the conflict and tension, all of the psychological inquiry, I think this might get someone interested.


Dropping the envelope into the box was a relief. I'm happy to have done it and have it out there. Now comes the anxiety about how it will be received.

Short Story Excerpts Coming Your Way

I've been talking here about writing for some time, showing you the many rejection slips, but other than these quick blog posts, I've never really given you examples of my writing. So, I think it's time I did.

Over the next several weeks, I will be posting excerpts from my short stories. It'll just be the first couple hundred words. Enough to give you a taste and maybe leave you wanting a little more.

Submission Titles

The Virginia Quarterly Review » Blog » Titles We Have Known

VQR reveals:

The ten most common titles of submissions that we’ve received in the past year:
Remember
Smoke
Revelation
Work
Grace
Waiting
Insomnia
Voyeur
Butterfly
Reunion

Remember, there is no such thing as an original idea. But at least try for a more interesting title.

Rejection Collection - CutBank

This tasteful rejection from CutBank for my story "Those Afternoons" arrived in the mail yesterday (9 mos. after it was submitted) to remind me that it is time to send out another round of submissions. Most of the lit journals are back in action and accepting submissions again, so I'd better put some fiction in their hands. I came close last season, I felt, with some very positive rejections. Hopefully I will have some success this go around.

Rejection Collection - Kenyon Review

The one problem with electronic submissions is that all you get in the form
of rejection is an email. But here's the one I received this week from Kenyon Review:

-----Original Message-----
From: kenyonreview
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 1:23 PM
To: damon
Subject: Your submission

Dear Damon Garr:

Thank you for submitting your story. We regret that we are unable to use "Riverside."

Your work has received careful consideration, which sometimes means a response less prompt than we would wish. Unfortunately, the large number of submissions prevents us from commenting on many worthy manuscripts.

Okay, boilerplate so far. But now it gets interesting:

[Personal note: we apologize profusely for having kept your story for such a long time, and even more for deciding, in the end, not to take it. Your story was passed from editor to editor, all of whom admired some aspects of its craft and execution. In the end, however, we didn't quite find
enough to warrant keeping it. In my case, it seemed to me that the opening and closing were weaker than the rest, lacked the supple surprise and mordant dilation of the middle.

Again, sorry to keep this work so long. We'd be happy to see more from you in the fall--we'll try to be more prompt in getting back to you! Best wishes and good luck. ]

We do appreciate your interest in The Kenyon Review.

The Editors

Yes, the Kenyon Review almost took my story. Almost? Oh, that would have been nice. And now they're not reading again until the fall. So close.

Rejection Collection - Missouri Review (again)

Yes, I sent work to Missouri Review again ("The Auction" this time) and again I was rejected. They were courteous enough, though, to include the personal note apologizing for the "unusually long response time. I'm sure it was because they were really considering the work.

Rejection Collection - Prairie Schooner

Another rejection that came a couple weeks ago for my story "The Auction." Prairie Schooner wastes no words or paper on this one. Maybe I should have gone with a shorter, more succinct story to submit.

Rejection Collection: Denver Quarterly

They're relentless, these guys. The sad fact is that there are only a few stories still floating around out there. I'd better ready a new batch.

So, yes, no love from even a local journal, Denver Quarterly, who have rejected my story, "A White Farmhouse."

Rejection Collection - Hudson Review

Yes, another one arrived this week. The Hudson Review has rejected my story "Those Afternoons" with this excessively bland "form." It is almost refreshing that they don't feel it's necessary to offer any encouragement. They only regret the use of the "form." Then they go on to spend more words explaining the reading periods, with a special rule for subscribers. So kind.

Rejection Collection - Boulevard

They keep coming. This one also arrived this week from Boulevard for my story "Resting." It is getting a bit exhasting to keep receiving these. It would be okay if I was having in the smallest amount of success, but I'm not having any luck. Anyway, this rejection would win no awards for aesthetics or style.

Rejection Collection - Faultline

This one came this week from Faultline for my story "The Disguise." Maybe my submission was too wordy for them, because they don't waste a word in their rejection. "Thank you. We regret. Good luck." Alright then.

Rejection Collection - Shenandoah

This one came a couple weeks ago from Shenadoah. That is a handwritten note on there, but don't be fooled--it isn't personal. Otherwise, this one does gets some points for style for the long form, the logo and the use of white space. Just don't try to fool me with the personal note.

Rejection Collection - Northwest Review (again)

Ah, so much for encouragement actually getting me somewhere. The last time Northwest Review sent me a rejection a hand written note asked "Try again?" And I did, noting of course in the cover letter the extra attention paid to my submission. This time, though... nothing. No luck and no note. And still, somehow, I will try again.

Rejection Collection - Tin House

Can someone tell me how one of the most beautiful literary magazines in the world, with an obvious attention to aesthetics, can send out a rejection slip as plain and ugly as this? It came last week from Tin House for my story "This Is What He Does." I was hoping for something 4-color glossy, on a nice thick card stock.

Rejection Collection - Baltimore Review

A two-sider today from The Baltimore Review received today for my story "Riverside." There's not much to say about the slip of paper on it's surface--it's the b-side that makes this probably the best rejection I've received.

So, now it's time to review the journal's content and see if I don't have something that might suit them a little more.

See, all we need sometimes is a little encouragement.

Rejection Collection - Iowa Review

Here's a rejection I received from The Iowa Review back on 12/11/06 for my story "The Auction." While there's not much to be said about the aesthetics of this one, the language (including the use of "precludes") gives it a little more merit than others.

Rejection Collection - The Journal

I got this rejection early this week from The Journal for my story "This Is What He Does." The best part of this one is if you read the second sentence as "We have read it with care and regret." Sounds about right.

Rejection Collection - Greensboro Review

This one came yesterday from Greensboro Review for my story "The Disguise," originally sent to them in July. For such a large slip of paper, the actual rejection note is quite short and bland. This one needs some rethinking.

In addition, yesterday I received a letter from Shenandoah acknowledging receipt of my submission and pimping a subscription, including a card reprint of the journal cover. Seems like a long way to go to try and sell me a subscription. And the special writers' rate is $20--I think they could do a little better. I shouldn't complain, though, while they're reviewing my submission.

Rejection Collection - AGNI

Now, this has to be the quickest turn around I've ever seen out of a lit journal. I sent out my story "Resting" to them on the 14th of this month and on the 24th I received this kind rejection from AGNI. Now, what I appreciate about this one, besides the turnaround, is the enticement to purchase a subscription and discount rate for submitters. Good idea. What doesn't work is that they put the form on the back of the rejection. Don't they realize that I'm putting this in the fat file with all the others?