When I was in graduate school, I heard Michael Chabon read a chapter from an abandoned novel that he had revisited and footnoted where it failed and which McSweeneys Quarterly Journal had published in their head-shaped issue.
When it comes to what I should know about in the literary world, I feel like I'm the blind person and you are my seeing-eye dog or something. Bad analogy. Better than the overused living under rock though, right? Yeah maybe not.
I'm honored! But I suspect my guiding powers will turn out to be less impressive than you imagine. I heard about the McSweeneys open submission window because I follow Aimee Bender on Twitter. Have you read Aimee Bender? You should, this isn't typical, usually she has some magic in her stories, but it was the first one of hers I read, in an anthology of contemporary fiction: https://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/tmp/bender.pdf
The first Michael Chabon story I ever read was Son of the Wolfman, you can find it in his short story collection Werewolves in their Youth. Note, the collection isn't horror or magical realism, most of it if I remember is literary fiction; and Son of the Wolfman is not about a werewolf, it's about a rape and a husband struggling with his wife's decision to keep the baby, but I liked the sentences in the story so much that when he visited Indiana University, I went to his reading. In the autograph line, I remember he had piercing eyes and looked at me like he was waiting for me to say something important, or like he knew me, but I didn't, and he didn't.
I'd also recommend Moonglow, Yiddish Policeman's Union, and his nonfiction. The other novels I haven't read yet, but I bet I would recommend them, too! But Adventures of Kavalier and Clay would be a good one to get a feel for his magical sentences. (also, cool story).
When it comes to what I should know about in the literary world, I feel like I'm the blind person and you are my seeing-eye dog or something. Bad analogy. Better than the overused living under rock though, right? Yeah maybe not.
I'm honored! But I suspect my guiding powers will turn out to be less impressive than you imagine. I heard about the McSweeneys open submission window because I follow Aimee Bender on Twitter. Have you read Aimee Bender? You should, this isn't typical, usually she has some magic in her stories, but it was the first one of hers I read, in an anthology of contemporary fiction: https://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/tmp/bender.pdf
So, for submission stuff, I try places that published authors I like.
https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com is also a cool resource to search for places accepting fiction.
Please, what Michael Chabon do you recommend?
The first Michael Chabon story I ever read was Son of the Wolfman, you can find it in his short story collection Werewolves in their Youth. Note, the collection isn't horror or magical realism, most of it if I remember is literary fiction; and Son of the Wolfman is not about a werewolf, it's about a rape and a husband struggling with his wife's decision to keep the baby, but I liked the sentences in the story so much that when he visited Indiana University, I went to his reading. In the autograph line, I remember he had piercing eyes and looked at me like he was waiting for me to say something important, or like he knew me, but I didn't, and he didn't.
The book I bought for him to autograph was his most famous and most recommended, The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. I highly recommend it.
I'd also recommend Moonglow, Yiddish Policeman's Union, and his nonfiction. The other novels I haven't read yet, but I bet I would recommend them, too! But Adventures of Kavalier and Clay would be a good one to get a feel for his magical sentences. (also, cool story).
Thanks for spoiling the plot!! j/k preoccupied with lots lately; be back soon.