Short fiction author Joel McKay chats with me about his new horror collection, It Came From the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations.
Bio:
Joel McKay is an award-winning writer based in Northern B.C. His fiction includes the horror-comedy novella Wolf at the Door, the short anthology It Came From the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations and a handful of short stories.
What do you enjoy most about writing short stories/children’s books/novellas?
It’s the challenge of it. In some ways, long fiction gives you the false impression that it’s easier, that you have the time and space to work things out. Of course, that’s not strictly true, but short stories definitely don’t have that – you have to nail it right off the bat. That, for me, is a real challenge. It forces me to think far more comprehensively about the story I want to tell before I start telling it, mapping it out and then diving in. I enjoy that challenge immensely, even when I don’t pull it off (which is frequent). And, frankly, I think development of that skill makes a person a better long fiction writer as well.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?
In It Came From the Trees, my favourite story is The Warrior’s Task. It’s a grimdark fantasy, a story about brief found-love, tragedy and honour. It’s the kind of thing I love to read. Another one of my favourites remains my first piece of published fiction Number Hunnerd, a comedic supernatural fish tale set in Northern British Columbia. You can find it in Tyche Books’ anthology Water: Selkies, Sirens and Sea Monsters.
What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
Horror, but it’s not a conscious choice. It’s not as if I wake up every day and think to myself, “Today, my genre is horror. I like horror. I shall be a writer of horror.” It’s just … horror. Those are the types of stories I like to read and write. I think most people would guess that’s because I like a good scare, but that’s not really it (though I do). I enjoy horror literature because it seems to capture all the other genres in one place – there’ll be scares, for sure, but also fantasy, maybe some science fiction, romance, mystery, thriller. It’s a chameleon genre, a catch-all that I think, from a writer’s perspective, makes it a really fun place to play. And you don’t have to worry about killing people off—it’s expected.
What exciting story are you working on next?
Right now I’m starting edits on a full-length horror novel I finished earlier this year. I won’t say much about it except that it’s set in Northern B.C., small town-stuff, industry, cosmic. I’m pretty excited about it and hope to find a home for it after I’m done first-round edits.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 12. I started writing fiction because it didn’t seem so cool to play with my action figures anymore but I loved the stories, worlds and characters I’d created and wanted to keep doing that. I don’t remember ever wondering whether I was a writer or if I’d make it as a writer, I’ve just always identified myself that way since that age and nothing has changed. I’m a writer.
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
I started paying attention to where other writers with similar work were being published, and also researching publications online – webzines, print magazines, presses. I paid attention to who and what they were publishing, read some of the work, followed the submission guidelines and submitted where it made sense. Like everyone else, lots of rejections – and still lots of rejections – but that’s the name of the game. The most important part is to keep on creating, keep on getting better, believe in your work.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I typically don’t plan things out ahead of time (short stories excepting), and, even when I do, I rarely write the plan out. It lives in my head – the structure, narrative, characters, plot, etc. I have this fear that if I write it down I’ll get bored of it and then not bother to write it, so I try to avoid comprehensive layouts and plans and just let the work take me where it’s going to take me.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, first, a veterinarian. Then an astronomer. I discovered both required heavy education in the sciences, which, although interesting, just doesn’t make me want to get out of bed in the morning. Then I started writing and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I hope you enjoy my work!