Jac as Rejector

I am happy to announce that I will be a fiction reader for Our Stories starting in January. That's right: I will be the one rejecting people for a change (as I'm pretty sure I will not have the power to accept work, but rather just recommend that the editors accept something). I couldn't be happier with where I'll be taking this position though, because, as you may know, Our Stories prides themselves on their personal and thoughtful feedback with your rejection or acceptance. So if you'd like a chance to be rejected by yours truly, I'm up for it. I start in January.

In the meantime check out the awesome work at their site including my own personal fave: "The Power of Water" by Nick Ostdick.

Idiotic Amnesia Strikes Again

Hello, I'm the douche bag who forgot to promote the reading I did tonight.  I sent out a very limited email, but I forgot to post an announcement here, which would have been smart.  Anyways.  I read in the Reconstruction Room Series and the theme was "Bondage: Only the Microphone Was Ashamed," and everyone had to read their poems with constraints assigned by the lovely lady who put everything together, Nicolette Bond:

Here are the people who read and the crazy things they had to do while reading their poems:

Nicolette Bond: read a poem while a corset was being tightened on her.

Jason Bredle: read one poem in a Jamaican accent and another with a napkin stuffed in his mouth while slapping his ass.

Mary Hamilton: read one poem into a microphone ace-bandaged around her stomach and one while dancing ( really well, I might add).

Michael Kisner: read one poem placed inside a Playboy so we could look at the nudie lady on the cover and another backwards.

Carl Marcum: sang one poem and read the other to an audience member pretending to be an infant in his lap (and at one point called the infant a 'fucking white boy,' I do believe).

Erin Teegarden: read one poem while lighting it on fire and played telephone with the other funneling it through two other people's ears and mouths.

Dave Snyder: read one poem from atop a table in a military voice, 'Oh, Captain, My Captain'-style and one poem from the bottom of a human pyramid.

Another lady, who I think was named Barb and with whom I shared my fish and chips, sang her poem.

I got to read one poem into a microphone suspended from a light fixture, and also, in what was hands-down the most terrifying reading of my life, I read my poem, aptly titled, "Expansion as Relief," while the whole audience slowly surrounded me.

It was great and in lieu of not promoting this evening I urge all of you to go to their next reading Tuesday, January 20th, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, as the perform in the Literary Gangs of Chicago performance.  It's sure to be even better (though even I can't imagine that at this moment in time).

Residency Rejection

This time from Hedgebrook.  I think I might need to start applying to some of the ones that make you pay just a little bit.  I'm apparently not worthy of being paid to take writing vacation. Yet.

Rejection 114

Today I got another form rejection from Word Riot.  This makes two for those of you keeping track, but too lazy to go back through old posts because I am too lazy to make categories.

New Batch of Flash Up at Dogzplot

Dogzplot has new flash up from Ted Powers, J.A. Tyler, Stefanie Freelie, Josh Olsen, Bill Barr, and Peter Cavanaugh. Also up is my story, "Let Me Be Your Tugboat King."  Check it.

Story & Interview Up on In the Nick of Time

I am excited and honored to be a part of the newest edition of Nick Ostdick's "50 Word Story Segment." He posted my 50 word story, "Bipartisan," as well as my answers to his hard-hitting batch of questions.  In the Nick of Time  is a spectacularly generous blog which will lead you to the most current and innovative work of many a fantastic writer.  Want to put your finger on the pulse?  Head here.

Rejection After Withdrawal

The Broome Review graced me with a rejection even after I withdrew my piece because it was accepted elsewhere.  I refuse to give this rejection a number.

Pause Screen Posted at Mourning Silence

The online magazine, Mourning Silence, is taking a year-long break while the editor attends to some other business.  In the meantime, a spectacular "pause page" has been posted featuring a free chapbook by Jay Larckom; stories and audio readings by xTx, as well as an interview; noise art by Tantra Bensko; and fiction by Donna Vitucci. It also features what I can describe as nothing less than a Jac Jemc Bonanza: story, reading, weird craft illustration of the story, done by moi, and an interview making varying amounts of sense.

This "pause screen" is only a preview of the force to be reckoned with Mourning Silence will become once back from its hiatus.  Check it out.

Rejection 113

but also we sort of like you

The Kenyon Review sent a form email apologizing that the volume of their submissions prevented them from making comment on each manuscript and then proceeded with a personal note in brackets.  Though the manuscript had made it far into the process, they decided it was not right for them.  Beware: they do send comments sometimes apparently.

Residency Rejection

This is another sort of rejection, like being rejected by an agent, that I don't think should be counted with the rest because it's a rejection of a different color. Today I was sad to discover the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center in New York Mills, Minnesota, was not offering me a retreat. The odds were significantly less than I thought though - 3 people out of 23 receive fellowships and 51% of those have to be New York or Minnesota residents, so the fact that they told me my application was ranked very high and that they encouraged me to apply again in April (when there is no application fee), was quite encouraging. If you're not familiar this is a terrific program which pays a stipend and provides housing, and asks only a minimal amount of community outreach. I still have warm feelings for them. You should check it out.