Vigorously Lazy

Issue Eight: Creation got a very thoughtful review by writer/designer Nancy Smith on The Rumpus today. I keep The Rumpus open in a browser tab pretty much all the time and periodically refresh it throughout the day, so, naturally, this pumps me up to a degree that I’m having a hard time expressing in words.

In the review, Smith focuses on the essays, including Blake Butler‘s piece on RPGs, Jen O’Malley‘s personal history of bridal gowns, and Gina Ishibasi’s essay on the importance of knowing how to work with your hands. Smith also includes some of her personal history and relationship to exercise of making things. I thought this part was especially beautiful:

My grandfather was a clockmaker, and for my fifteenth birthday I received a lovely grandfather clock, which remains one of my most beloved possessions. Why is this more important to me, than say, a clock I bought at Target? Because someone close to me made it, with me in mind. And because there are no others in the world like it. My grandfather made clocks for all five grandchildren, and each one is completely unique, and specific to each of us. He died several years ago, and though I received many presents from him over the years, this is the only thing that I will keep for the rest of my life.

Also, not only is Smith a great writer, but she’s an equally great designer/illustrator. Check out this rad Dear Sugar poster she made (which is available for sale for all you big time Sugar fans):

Thanks Rumpus. I love you and I don’t care who knows it.

Bluesquare Press has been offering some new jams in the past few weeks, most recently is this book with a filthy title and an even filthier cover. I don’t know much about Sean Kilpatrick, but I do know a bit about the dudes behind Bluesquare and they have very good (albeit odd and, at times, unsettling) taste, so I trust it will be good. I just pre-ordered this book and, according to the site, I’ll be getting something called Stab Pyramid, a chapbook co-written by Kilpatrick and Issue Eight contributor Blake Butler.

I also ordered the new novel from Issue Six contributor Jack Boettcher called Theater State. Jack is an incredible writer, tons of voice behind that young mind of his. I’m very excited to read it. You should be too. Go buy some stuff from them. I have it on good authority Bluesquare is going to be the best new weird/boutique publisher in the next couple years.

Matt Bell came in town last weekend and we worked on a secret project together.

It’s only a secret because we can’t tell you about it until next year.

That’s when this project will be finished and it will coincide with a very cool event. You can probably figure out what the secret is by these photos. Sorry for being secretive. Anticipation is always the best part though, right?

{Japan}

Barry Grass’s essay “Phantasmagoria”, appearing in Annalemma Issue Eight: Creation, profiles brewer Dany Prignon of the Fantome brewery in Belgium. Prignon is an unconventional man with an unconventional style of brewing beer, adding impromptu and bizarre ingredients to his recipes like red moss growing on wooden crates stacked up in his barn. The essay focuses on the importance of following the biorhythms of nature and working with the materials you have close at hand to make your creation a unique reflection of who you are and where you come from. It’s a great read, you should check it out.

In the essay, Barry name-checks The Omnivore’s Dillemma by Michael Pollan as an inspiration for the resurgence of the pastoral idyll that’s been gaining momentum in the collective consciousness of Americans in the past few years. I picked up the book, it opened my eyes to the dysfunction of the industrialized food supply chain and how those dysfunctions have a negative ripple effect for the environment, the economy and the health and well-being of people who subsist on those foods.

Then I came upon this photo project of portraits of families posing with a weekly representation of what they eat, excerpted by from the book Hungry Planet: What the World Eats. The most interesting thing I noticed was how much people in the West eat stuff out of a box and the further South and the further East you go, the more people use fresh, local ingredients to prepare meals.

{Italy}

{Chad}

{USA, North Carolina}

{China}

{Egypt}

{Ecuador}

{USA, California}

{Mongolia}

{Bhutan}

Hat tip to Michelle Rider.

You may have noticed it’s been more than a hot minute since some stories or essay have been posted on the site. Like I said earlier in the week, I got a new job and it’s gobbling up my time. I could use a hand. Want to help out? Want a free subscription as payment? Help me tackle some of these submissions that have been piling up in the last months.

Email me here: chris {at} annalemma {dot} net. Tell me a little about yourself, what you like to read, if you’ve read submissions before, what was that experience like for you, what sort of time you have to devote to this and how many submissions you’re willing to read in a given week. If it sounds like a good fit then I’ll get your mailing address from you and sign you up for a free subscription starting with Annalemma Issue Eight: Creation. Thanks!

{image by Anastasia Mouyis, excerpted from the essay “I Tried Really Hard to Play” appearing in Annalemma Issue Eight: Creation}

Chances are you know who Blake Butler is. He’s published fiction in nearly every lit magazine online and in print, he’s editor at HTMLGiant, and in April he released a new novel, There is No Year, on Harper Perennial. This interview doesn’t have much to do with those things.

Blake’s mainly known for his fiction but I’d been enjoying the nonfiction essays he posted on HTMLG, a lot of them having to do with art and life. I saw them as much more tempered, quiet and reflective than the intricate and mind-bending language he used in his fiction writing. The essays were like messages written in the dark, to be found by people also in the dark. So I asked Blake to write some nonfiction for Issue Eight: Creation and he came back with a piece about making up a role playing game while on a beach vacation with his family as a child.

We talked on Gmail chat about a lot of the ideas he brings up in his essay: role playing games (RPGs), meticulous obsession, solitude, art, writing, publishing, the purpose of playing games and, of course, creation.

Blake Butler: Hey Chris, I’m here whenever.

Annalemma: Hey man, you cool to do this now?

BB:  Totally.

A: Righteous. I’m totally unprepared, but I think that’s okay, let’s just start with RPGs. I don’t really know anything about RPGs, how would you describe them?

BB: I think my experience with RPGs is totally different than people who would actually talk about them, since I never had anyone to play with. I just kind of was tagging along in my brain with the idea but ostensibly they are games based on rules and numbers and you fill in the blanks but with nerd shit only.

A: Haha. So would Magic: The Gathering or Dungeons and Dragons be the main examples of what an RPG is?

BB: I guess the more traditional idea of an RPG is the D&D style, before computers could do interesting things with the format. Magic is more of an actual game game, cuz you are much more governed by the pre-established rules. Like in Magic, the innovation comes from finessing what is already set up as defined, because there are only so many cards and you can’t make up your own (unless you rule and play with people who make up their own, though that probably almost never happens). Whereas D&D kind of gives you a structure, how to define the world yourself, and lets you explore that world based on how you set it up, if still with certain concrete format ideas. I never really played real ‘d&d’ I just read the manuals and wished I could and pretended like I was playing with people and then I played like PC games like Might and Magic II and stuff that were more like video games, Final Fantasy style.

A: I’m familiar with Final Fantasy, I had a buddy who became obsessed with it. I could never get behind it though. It took too long to tell your character what to do and then have him execute a move. I guess I never understood the appeal.

BB: Yeah, I wasn’t really into those kind of games either. The path you had to execute to complete the game was too linear. I liked PC games where there were things you had to do to move forward, like goals that gave you certain rewards, but really you could just spend all day wandering around killing shit and exploring and never get anywhere real and still have fun and the game could go on forever until you died.

A: I think I saw something on facebook where you were talking about playing Magic online. I also know nothing about the Magic games except that I see people in the coffee shop playing it all the time. Is that a game you play alone? Or can you go online and play with other folks?

BB: In the flesh you can really only play with at least one other person, though I think I remember when I was a kid someone invented a solitaire version, though that seemed a stretch. And you could be so lame as to have two decks and play yourself, which would be about as effective as playing yourself in chess. Though I can’t say I didn’t do that a few times. And yeah you can play online. It’s super addictive there since you don’t have to find other freaks willing to play a child’s game as an adult

A: Haha.

BB: I quit playing online though because I was spending money to buy the same cards I had in real life and that seemed really idiotic. So now just hang with these three dudes and we drink beer and make fun of each other and play it, so it’s not so serious. Though we did make a trip to a local comic store a few months ago and that was fucking weird… I beat the owner of the store in my first match and he was literally talking to me in third person and also as if I wasn’t actually there while his weirdly hot asian wife stood watching him rubbing his shoulders until she realized he was losing and then she went in the back of the store to go to sleep.

A: Oh my god, you went to the nerd kingdom and slayed the nerd king. Well done, dude.

BB: Haha, yeah, makin’ nerds sweat.

A: I think I read an interview with you where you talked about all the lit mags you submitted to when you first started out and you equated it to a sort of game. What is it with writers and games? I think it has something to do with our brains being wired for obsessive and compulsive behavior, what do you think?

BB: Yeah it’s definitely compulsive to me. Makes it more of a palpable goal-oriented thing, which can be good for someone who is competitive in general because the whole writing thing is so abstract and aimless when it comes to the supposed ‘business’ side need(ing) a target or something. Like, I want to slay Black Warrior Review with my two handed broadsword.

A: Haha.

BB: So I will fashion a broadsword, then I get this little jewel to stick in my Inventory screen when I do slay it. ‘Sweet jewel, bro.’

A: Haha. I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea lately, and I think it’s the root of a lot of frustrations for writers and artists, in general: Creating art is such a subjective thing that there’s no one’s ever going to be able to say “This is a definitively good story.” Or “This is how you write a good story” cause different people like different things. It’s not like business or sports or video games where you meet certain requirements and with a little bit of luck you are successful. It’s just this shapeless blob that you keep trying to throw things at hoping they stick. What do you think about that?

BB: Right, I think ultimately continuing to throw things at things is the key, and if pretending you are fighting wizards while doing so helps you do that, that’s cool. I think if you start to take that whole side of the process too seriously it will eat you alive and make you question yourself to death, and really it’s all just tiny items in the first place. The point is to keep moving and having fun and making shit that you feel is getting somewhere as a creation, and some things fail and some work and that’s all good process.

Hopefully you get to a point where you make something that you feel proud of and that you remember in a way that feels warmish if even ultimately whatever. Like the way I think about my time spent playing Might and Magic 2.

Because I think no matter what sticks on the outside, wherever you publish it, it’s all going to feel like shit if you haven’t spent that kind of time inside it where it feels like a place you were, rather than this weird object. But then sometimes it’s fun to just have some weird little objects you fuck with too. It comes together weirdly.

A: I think I know what you mean, like it would truly be wasted time if you beat a piece of writing out (that) you didn’t give a shit about or it wasn’t a part of you, but it fit perfect with this mag or that mag. More quality time would have been (spent) with something that’s more of a reflection of who you are as a person.

BB: Right, or that messes you up or makes you feel excited in some way at least. As a publisher it’s probably pretty easy to tell when someone is just dialing it in I think, yeah?

A: Oh hell yes. And 90% of the people are dialing it in. Or they just don’t know how to get in touch with that core of themselves yet. They’re still working through shit.

BB: Right, they might not even realize they are dialing it in.

A: Which is not a big deal, you have to start somewhere. But I really wish people would have some sort of idea of what’s publishable and what’s not. Exercise a little filtering, you know?

BB: Right, the rush to publish is definitely not the best. I mean, I understand it, I was hungry the instant I started writing too. But the more you throw away, the better you get, and the better it is when you start to put shit out there.

A: Right, I mean, I can’t really relate to that impulse to submit to 1000 different places, maybe because I’ve been editing longer than I’ve been submitting so I know the other side of it. But I’m very aware that most of the stuff I write should never be read by anyone but me.

BB: I definitely had the itch early on, because anything I do I tend to do compulsively. But I was lucky in that I pretty much came out of the gate trying to write novels, and you can’t really half-assedly publish a novel, or it’s much harder to anyway. So my first 4 or 5 things I wrote were novels that all got ultimately canned, and I learned from them without anyone really seeing what I was doing besides the agent I lucked into early on, poor guy.

A: Haha, I think that’s the beauty of writing as opposed to, like, stand-up comedy, no one has to see you bomb if you don’t want them to. But, I really like the idea of finding a (publication) you like and making something specifically for them. I try to do that and I like when people do it for me.

BB: Totally. You have to know who you are sending to, especially when it comes to short things. And the more in tune to that you are, the better it works for both sides

A: Right, to me that’s much more productive. So I once played video games for 36 hours straight, what’s your longest go?

BB: Ha damn, what were you playing? I really have no idea what my longest would be. Probably not very long, though I would sometimes play whole seasons of Baseball Simulator 3000 for Nintendo, which would take a long time. I doubt anywhere near 36 hours though. I tend to get bored with most games and want to turn it off.

A: I’m the kind of gamer where I buy one game a year and I don’t stop playing until I beat everything. I think it was something stupid like Crash Bandicoot or Ratchet and Clank for PS2.

BB: Do you drink mountain dew or something or would you lose track of time?

A: It’s just like, “I have to do this thing and I’m not going to be okay until I do this thing.” Same thing with all addiction. I’ve really had to temper down the game playing in the last few years, I keep it cool with some Wii sports when friends come over. Do you think playing games is a waste of time?

BB: I mean, fucking off is good. And I think you learn some kind of weird skill set or understanding maybe from games that let you dig into worlds. I feel like my understanding of how things work is furthered by having pushed Mario down tunnels into other rooms and eaten coins and shit. It’s good to interact with fantasies that have maps and secrets. The sports crap is probably just a waste maybe, but stats have secrets too, and so do memorizing weird button arrangements. So it’s probably got some push to it, though I have a hard time playing as an adult since I mostly feel I’ve gone through all that and now I’m just like squirting. But squirting’s i-ight.

A: Haha, I hear you. It’s like if you come out the other side and you get something out of it then it’s never wasted time. I think that’s a good place to call it, unless you got anything else on your mind.

BB: I think we did good.

A: Yeah man, this was fun. I’ll let you know when it goes up.

BB: Definitely. thanks man, was good to chat.

A: For sure, I’ll be in touch. Did you get that mag yet btw?

BB: I dont think so? No.

A: Okay, I put it in the mail last week should be there soon. Lemme know if it doesn’t show.

BB: Yeah my mailperson sucks. I’m sure it will. Excited to check it.

A: Yeah, I think it turned out good. Aight man, I’ll be in touch.

Click here to check out Blake’s essay in Issue Eight: Creation.

And we’re back. Apologies for the radio silence. I got a new job that’s gobbling up my time. The job has very little to do with literature, but has much to do with living life in the world. So in a round-about way, it has everything to do with literature.

Despite the silence between us (please don’t take it as a symbol of something negative), things have been happening. There have been some problems with the shipping software over the last couple weeks but they’ve since been resolved and Issue Eight is now shipping to subscribers and pre-order-ers. Here’s some info on our latest issue:

Anne Elizabeth Moore interview

Issue Eight release party

Other things have been happening as well: Richard Morcarski squeezed the juices from my mind grapes about Annalemma stuff for the newest issue of The Reprint. I wrote a kind of a messed up story taking place in the greater Orlando area for the 15 Views project over at Burrow Press. Matt Bell came in town last weekend and we worked on a secret video project, details and pics coming soon. What else? My internet is running really slow today, probably Karmic justice for not updating in forever. What else, else? Keep an eye out for a Blake Butler interview where we talk about RPGs coming in the next week or so. Keep an eye out for physical locations where you can check out Issue Eight. And keep an eye out for the announcement of the next print issue theme. So soon? Yes, so soon.

Actually, on second thought? Keep both your eyes in your head. They’ve really got no business being out.

Dear readers,

Apologies to those of you who have subscribed or pre-ordered Issue Eight: Creation. I was delayed in paying the bill to the printer, which pushed the shipping back a couple weeks. We should be getting the shipment late this week or early next week, at which point your order will be shipped faster than a rabbit riding a light particle.

To say sorry we’ll throw in some post cards and a few extra goodies to your shipment. Also, we’re keeping the pre-order cost to $5 off the cover price until this item ships.

Thanks for your continued support of Annalemma Magazine.

Sincerely,

Chris Heavener, editor/publisher

Hey, here’s something: We’re trying out an internet radio show and Matt Bell is the first guest. The idea is simple, we’re going to talk about everything under the umbrella of books and writing. If you’re a book nerd like we are then you’re going to love it.

Topics discussed:

– Cormac McCarthy

– Denis Johnson

– Chuck Palahniuk

– The meaning of life itself

Let me know what you think in the comments. If you’re into it we’ll make some more.

Click here to listen.

{Music credit: “Life Swap” by Hays Holiday.}

{photos: Tim Schreier}

We (us, Avery Anthology and La Petite Zine) had a big old time at BookCourt here in Brooklyn a couple weeks back.

A lot of friends came out and showed their friendship publicly. It feels good when this happens. If you’re somebody’s friend you should make it public.

Shooting the breeze with BC manager, Zack Zook. That dude is the dude.

Avery Anthology editor and all-around good human, Adam Koehler.

The great thing about BookCourt is they do a lot of fantastic events, which brings folks in the door and then they gravitate to the beautiful shelves. Hopefully this gets them to buy books cause this place is incredible and it needs to be around for a long time.

The Avery folks brought some original art produced for their seventh issue by Abi Daniel.

The lit mag crew.

Melissa Broder and Dan Lichtenberg from La Petite Zine, they read some fantastic poems from LPZ’s new issue, The Broom.

It’s a bold move to hold a release party for a online mag, all alone up there without a book to hide behind. Mel and Dan are brave.

Avery editor, Issue Seven: Creation contributor, and razor sharp talent =  Nicolette Kittenger.

Avery #7 contributor Jason M. Jones.

Avery editor, Stephanie Fiorelli champions Abi Daniel’s artwork.

Avery #7 contributor Robert Yune.

Adam Koehler pumps up Avery #7. You should check it out, it looks damn good.

Avery #7 contributor Kurt Scott, also finalist for Avery’s Small Spaces Fiction Contest, judged by Junot Diaz (I cannot get over that). Kurt read a great piece about picking up girls in a club, or keeping away from skeezy dudes, whichever way you want to look at it.

Annalemma Issue Seven: Enduarance contributor and indie lit powerhouse Sal Pane represented Anna that night.

I read this piece from Issue Eight: Creation.

Sal read this piece about Alexey Pajitnov, creator of Tetris.

Thanks everyone for coming out!