Andrew Roe

Steven McDermott interviews The Collagist editor Matt Bell over at the Storyglossia blog.

It’s a lengthy, insightful interview.

The issue of stories and novels not selling for being “too quiet” came up a while back over at Literary Rejections on Display.

I’ve heard the same feedback about my story collection.

What does this mean? I’m assuming it means my stories:

• Are more character-driven

• Are more internal

• Do not (usually) feature topical, timely, flashy subjects

• Do not (again, usually) feature car chases and knife fights and/or bat fights

I suppose the preference for “loud” stories and novels (and films, too) is no doubt a sign of the times. Publishers want a book that will sell.

But where would we be without “quiet” stories and “quiet” writers? No Carver. No Grace Paley. No… who else?

In the bathtub tonight…

Me: “So you know how Daddy is a writer and writes stories?”

Ethan: “No.”

(Awkward pause #1.)

Me: “Oh. Well. It’s kind of what I do, sometimes. And pretty soon there’s going to be this reading, this, uh, event, where people — actors — are going to read my stories, in front of other people, in a big room. What do you think of that?”

Ethan: “Are they alien stories or singing stories?”

(Awkward pause #2.)

Me: “Uh, no. They’re not. No alien or singing stories, I’m afraid.”

Ethan: “They should be alien stories.”

Me: “Good point. I’ll rethink.”

The debut issue of The Collagist, the online literary journal from Dzanc Books, is now live.

Quite the lineup: Chris Bachelder, Gordon Lish, Kevin Wilson, Kim Chinqee and more.

I was lucky enough to attend the very first Tin House Summer Writers Workshop. I think it was five years ago. But I’m not sure.

I met some wonderful people, gained a lot of knowledge, and got the push I needed at the time. I came away thinking that I might be a writer after all.

The above video took me back. It features some amazing writers.

Tin House is also celebrating its tenth anniversary.