Reader Meet Author: Caleb J. Ross

Every story begins somewhere and writing career begins with an idea and a humble, yet hopeful, submission. Caleb Ross has an honest approach to submitting his work and it has paid off. Through a sincere love for writing and publishing has found a way to contribute to literature as a whole through his work with Outsider Writers, Colored Chalk, and through finding homes for his invented pieces around the internet and in print.

Recently, Caleb was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): I can't decide which is more difficult writing a story or novel or actually submitting your work to be published. How do you approach submitting and what do you look for in a press or journal?
Caleb Ross (CR): Submitting is difficult on the ego…at first. At least for me, one more rejection might as well be 100. Luckily, though, because I submit to places I really respect, any rejection comes with my own further affirmation of the solid work those markets produce. My logic goes that if they are rejecting me, they are likely rejecting many people. And in a world of free blogs, where anyone can post a story, rejection just proves that people are still looking for quality over quantity.

I primarily only submit my work to places that rarely disappoint as far as my own aesthetics go. After I’ve fallen in love with a site or journal, I’ll follow them on Twitter, subscribe to their site’s RSS feed, generally become a stalker. Once I fall in love, I’ll do anything I can to be a part of their legacy. I’m a bit of a groupie in
that sense.

OA: I really respect and enjoy all that Outsider Writers is and does. How did you get involved with them and what does your role as editor entail?
CR: Thank you so much. I got involved on a whim, actually. I had a profile at the OW Community site (www.outsiderwriters.ning.com) for a while. Then, late last year I did an interview with author Jeremy C. Shipp and posted it as a blog to my profile page. One of the editors contacted me shortly after and asked if I would be interested in contributing to the OW main site. From there, my involvement grew organically, from doing other interviews to managing the website to designing the cover of our first chapbook, David Blaine’s Antisocial.

Currently, my role centers primarily on keeping the website going. I do interviews, book reviews, and even post prose from other writers on occasion. But for that latter job, we have Pat King, who is great at finding fresh content. Much of what he pulls comes from the talent at the OW Community site. I am a testament to that.

OA: You are also involved with Colored Chalk. What I like about Colored Chalk is the element of humor that seems to be prevalent over there. What do you look for in a Colored Chalk piece?
CR: Thanks you so much, again. Colored Chalk is a unique publication in that a group of editors each take sole charge of an issue, literally building the issue from theme, to content, to design. We have a small group of editors to cycle the responsibility. This gives the publication an aesthetic mix, but because the editors know each other so well, the legacy of the publication maintains necessary continuity.

This is all to say that each editor, with their own unique tastes and sensibilities, will want different things from a story. Me, I want something short and potent. While every story has to adhere to a specific theme, if a writer can approach that theme concisely and with a focus on the language (perhaps even ignoring plot) I will be putty.

OA: You have also written book reviews from time to time. Do you look at books differently now that you are close to publishing your own novel? How do you approach a book review?
CR: Great question. I don’t think the publication status of any of my own novels influences how I look at books or how I review books. At least
not consciously. Of all my interests, writing for some reason, offers the least amount of jealously. I am genuinely happy to see good books and great authors elevate within the food chain. When I was in a band in high school, I hated all other bands. Writing is such a close-knit community, from what I’ve experienced.

I believe in reviewing only good books. My logic is that bad books will die their own deaths. Good books need promoting. I might change my approach in the future though; the more I think about the role conflict plays in publicity, the more I suspect some malicious debate may be good for books. Maybe a column over at Outsider Writers called “Book vs. Book” where I present a few arguments for my preference of one book versus another and let blog commenting run amuck. That could be fun.

OA: You recently posted an article on metafiction on your blog. Metafiction is such a fascinating genre. Have you tried your hand at metafiction and what it do you find so interesting?
CR: Damn, I love metafiction. Since being introduced to Jorge Louis
Borges’s work in college, I’ve been obsessed, though still I’m never able to read as much as I would like. Something about the self-referential nature of metafiction adds layers of depth with seemingly little effort. Call it poor man’s philosophy.

I’ve definitely incorporated metafiction elements into my own writing, from something as simple as a character’s reference to his own words appearing on paper, to something much more involved, a novella I recently completed that integrates the reader in a character’s literal metamorphosis in interesting ways.

I emphasized metafiction in college as part of my English Lit curriculum, which allowed me to explore the concept with like-minded people. That academic circumstance really boosted my interest. Academia is good for that, fostering a community.

OA: What's next for Caleb Ross?
CR: I’ve got an open Grolsch in the refrigerator that’s calling to me.
That seems like a healthy next step.

I hope to wrap up a revision of my current novel project by year’s end. That won’t happen. In April I’ll be attending the Association of Writers and Writing Projects Conference in Denver (www.awpwriter.org/conference/). For anyone interested in the real-time happenings, I’ve set up a blog that myself and a few other
writers are going to update during the week of the conference (www.calebjross.com/awpblog/).

Bonus Questions:
OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
CR: Alive.

Sorry.

For the sake of interesting conversation, I’d love to sit with Jorge Louis Borges. I’ve seen a few interviews with him and he comes across as very passionate. Also, he doesn’t seem like he would be terribly guarded with his words. That guarded factor would eliminate so many actors and politicians from the running.

OA: What type of music do you enjoy and who are a few of your favorites?
CR: I am a Tom Waits fanatic. To an unhealthy degree, likely. I can
Mad-Lib most important experiences of my life with Tom Waits songs. His album, Small Change, is one of the best recordings ever made. His song “Hoist That Rag” as brought me to tears of a number of occasions; a reaction my wife absolutely doesn’t understand.

Types, I listen to just about everything. It’s harder for me to swallow contemporary country or club rap, but I respect music enough that I can still bob my head a 50 Cent song or two. I’ve lately been heavy into female vocalists and piano. Mirah, Cat Power, Anousheh Khalili, Viva Voce, and Joan Osbourne’s album, “Relish,” is always playing.

After a list like that I feel compelled to state that two of my favorite bands are Deftones and System of a Down.

For more information on Caleb Ross please visit his website.