aubrey

Fixed Form Narratives

Reposting this piece on Fixed Form Narratives from my monthly column over at Flash Fiction Chronicles. I have a new column there on the first Monday of every month. Here’s April’s! In my English classes in high school, I was never one for sonnets or villanelles. I found them to be a bit too restrictiveContinue reading “Fixed Form Narratives”

New Story: “The Nine Innings of Morrie Rath”

I am Hobart-ing it up this month with stories in both the web and print versions of the magazine. The story in Hobart Web, “The Nine Innings of Morrie Rath,” is part of their annual baseball issue to kick off the start of the season. Morrie Rath was the Reds’ player that was hit withContinue reading “New Story: “The Nine Innings of Morrie Rath””

Crushing On Science

I just got back from a 10-day stay in Italy (don’t worry, this isn’t THAT kind of blog post), and one of the benefits of all the planes, trains, and horseless carriages that transported me around the big boot was the opportunity to read Brian Greene’s newest book, The Hidden Reality. And holy shit. ThatContinue reading “Crushing On Science”

What to Do With This Novella…

I’m currently writing a thousand things at once (it works for me; don’t judge) and, among them, I’m polishing up a novella-in-stories and getting ready to…what? It’s a tough sentence to finish for many reasons. First, I’m not even sure a novella-in-stories is a thing. (Anyone ever write one of these? What did you doContinue reading “What to Do With This Novella…”

New Story: “Winter in Al Shuwaikh”

Today I have a new story, “Winter in Al Shuwaikh,” up at Used Furniture Review. My micro fiction is high on the list of things I’m working hard to improve. At just over 300 words, this is far and away the shortest story I’ve ever published. Next, I’m challenging myself to write something that feelsContinue reading “New Story: “Winter in Al Shuwaikh””

New Story: “The Borovsky Circus Goes to Littlefield”

I have a short story in Issue 12 of Hobart, which is available for pre-order now. I’m delighted to be in the same table of contents as some of my favorite writers (and people) like Roxane Gay and Brian Oliu. My piece, “The Borovsky Circus Goes to Littlefield,” is about a traveling Russian circus whoseContinue reading “New Story: “The Borovsky Circus Goes to Littlefield””

New Story: “Pinocchio”

Today I have a new story up at Bluestem Magazine. This one’s called “Pinocchio” and (you guessed it) it’s about Pinocchio. I’m currently working a series of flash fictions I’m calling “unauthorized fictional biographies” or maybe “counter-factual biographies.” This piece is part of that series. I’m hoping it will make an interesting chapbook somewhere downContinue reading “New Story: “Pinocchio””

Dating Advice for Writers

Today I had a nice long chat with a friend and fellow writer. He was feeling a little down about this business of ours and I gave him a completely unsolicited pep talk. Halfway through my speech about sending work to editors, I realized it sounded like I was giving him dating advice. So IContinue reading “Dating Advice for Writers”

Writing Awards Make Me Crazy.

Much has been written about writing awards: if they matter, why they matter, why they’re helping writers, why they’re hurting writers, who wins them, who doesn’t deserve them, and why no one should give a crap about any of it. This is not one of these articles. I’ve read all the arguments, all the carefulContinue reading “Writing Awards Make Me Crazy.”

The Saddest Stories Are Always True

I’m going to try my best to avoid getting sued here, but I want to say something about literary scams in general and Publish America in particular (not that I’m saying Publish America is a scam, as I would NEVER do that, especially not in writing!). Writing is an odd art form in that aContinue reading “The Saddest Stories Are Always True”