fiction | Eric Taveren

Another year in the books, another year of successes and setbacks. Highlights!

Publications

This year I had two pieces that went the distance. The first was a dream pub in F(r)iction Magazine. Echoes from the Abyss was based on a character from a novel idea I had, and when I saw they had an oceans themed issue I had to submit. And it’s a good thing I did.

The other piece I had published was my first ever poem. By that I mean the first one I ever wrote with the intent to send out. Usually poetry and I don’t get along well, but inspiration strikes whenever it wants. Unanimous was about Ichiro Suzuki and how he should have been unanimously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I actually heard from one of Under Review’s editors the other day with feedback he’d recently received. He said that someone reached out to him unsolicited just to say how much they liked the poem. Noice. 🙂

Milestones

Aside from F(r)iction, which I consider a milestone as it was my first professional pay publication, I also finished my MFA in Creative Writing this year. I defended my thesis—the first third of a fantasy/mystery novel—and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. One of the comments was that it read like an edited, published novel. I’ll take that any day.

Setbacks

So this is more of a writing inconvenience than a setback, but in the fall I went back to work. The prior year I’d been a stay at home dad with the baby, and I’d been able to write during nap time or if the grandparents wanted a turn with the baby.

Now I’m a middle school special ed math teacher. I’d been hopeful that I could write during prep periods, but those ended up being mostly non-existent. And working at a low-income school… let’s just say that the kids can be draining. By the end of the day, after a full day of school and an evening of my own kids, believe me when I say I’m in no condition to write. What started as 200 pages written over 6 months before work became 6 pages written over 4 months once I started.

I won’t blame everything on the job though. I get distracted with new ideas often. Sometimes it’s a good thing. Just today I finished the first draft of a middle grade novel I’m tentatively calling The Fart Heist. This summer I wrote a two short stories that I really need to get back to as well as an essay that I’m almost ready to go back to.

The essay was about my dad. He died in August and it still is strange whenever I remember he’s gone. It was especially in my mind around the holidays since he used to host Thanksgiving every year and just now at Christmas too. Eventually I’ll get back to it. I don’t know that I’ll ever try and publish it, but it’s something for me at the very least.

Looking Forward

I’m no longer hopeful I can get any real writing done during the school year. Breaks will be nice (most of that middle grade novel was written during winter break), but to finish the novel that was my thesis, I’ll probably have to wait until summer. The toddler will be in day care and the soon-to-be third grader will be able to mostly occupy himself when I need writing time.

I haven’t sent anything short out for a while, so I don’t expect any more lit mag publications anytime soon. Unless something crazy convenient comes up, of course. But I think over the next few days I’ll work on The Fart Heist, hopefully have it ready to send out by the end of spring break, and then I can get back to the novel once school’s out.

Thank to all who visit this site. The numbers aren’t spectacular, but they’re consistent. I appreciate it. I hope you all have a wonderful 2026.

Until next time,

Eric

My lifelong writing goal has always been simple: walk into a Barnes and Noble and see my name on a book. Well, I’m almost there 🙂

Instead of seeing my name on a book, I can see my name in one. F(r)iction’s newest issue, Oceans, is out, and unlike every other print magazine I’ve been published in—which were only available online—F(r)iction is stocked in Barnes and Nobles stores across the country! They already sent me my contributor copies, but I still had to go see my name in person.

As you can see, F(r)iction is not your ordinary literary magazine. Each issue is themed, and each piece has custom art created for it. I got a behind the scenes peek at their whole process and it is crazy cool.

I first saw F(r)iction three years ago at AWP in Seattle, and I knew immediately that if there was any magazine that I wanted a piece in, it was F(r)iction. I didn’t realize the issues were themed initially, and the first piece I sent in got rejected. But when I saw the Oceans theme coming I knew exactly what story I wanted to tell. It was mere days after submitting that they responded and wanted to work with me.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the story is based on a character from a novel I’ve outlined. I changed him a little so it made sense for a short story, but the novel’s character is a marine geologist who makes a world changing discovery near some thermal vents. For the short story I took the implications of his discovery, shaped them into a character, seasoned them with relationship drama, then let it simmer until the story was fully cooked.

I do have to thank Nate and Helen over at F(r)iction. Especially Nate. Without their input this story wouldn’t have the same oomph. We writers always have blind spots and they did an amazing job shining a light on what I was overlooking.

So head to your local Barnes and Noble and find it in their newsstand section (You may want to call first to see if they have it, the only location in my area that did was the Mall of America location). Or order it online if that’s easier. My story isn’t the only fun read in the issue either. You’ll find my story alongside work by Charlie Jane Anders, James Bradley, Dr. Ocean, and other brilliant contributors. It’s a gorgeous issue—go check it out.