Professional
Caleb has a degree in English with a minor in creative writing from Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. While attending ESU he won the Kay Alden Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Writing for his short story “Car Dodging.”
Based on his writing merit, ESU funded his attendance to the Tin House Writer’s Workshop in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2004 where he had the opportunity to study with novelist Peter Rock.
In 2007 he studied with Craig Clevenger, author of the novels The Contortionist’s Handbook and Dermaphoria, in a six week writing intensive called The Contortionist’s Hotseat.
He’s been to a couple Association of Writer’s and Writing Programs (AWP) conferences which have allowed him the opportunity to embarrass himself in front of many important people.
Caleb’s work has appeared in journals alongside Ron Carlson, H. Lee Barnes, Thomas Fox Averill, Noah Cicero, Tony O’Neill, Stephen Graham Jones, Steve Almond, Aimee Bender, David Barringer, Steven J. McDermott, and others.
Personal
Caleb began writing his sophomore year of undergrad study when, tired of the formal art education then being taught, he abandoned the pursuit in the middle of a compositional drawing class. Major-less and fearful of losing his financial aid, he signed up to seek a degree in English Literature for no other reason than his lengthy history with the language. Coincidentally, this decision not only introduced him to writing but to reading as well. Prior this transition he had read three books. One of which he understood.
The English Literature curriculum taught him many things. One of the most practical is the use of third person when writing a short personal bio.
CV
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature Areas of focus: Contemporary American literature, American short story
Minor: Creative Writing Areas of focus: Fiction, postmodernism, metafiction
Author Residency:Tin House Writers Workshop, Reed College, Portland, Oregon. (9 July – 18 July, 2004)
The Contortionist’s Hotseat A six-week writing intensive taught by Craig Clevenger, author of the novels The Contortionist’s Handbook and Dermaphoria. (2007)
Honors/Awards:
ABNA Semifinalist Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Semifinalist, top 100 out of 5,000 (2008)
Kay Alden Creative Writing Memorial Scholarship (2003)
Past Professional Service:
Editor/creator, AWP Blog (2009-present)
Editor/creator, Oprah Read This > Oprah, Read This online fiction anthology (2009-2010)
Reader/intern, MacAdam Cage Publishing (2009)
Co-editor, Outsider Writers Collective, webzine (2008-present), OW Press (2009-present)
Co-editor, Colored Chalk zine (2008-2009)
Contributor, Oxyfictation.net, book reviewer (2008-2009)
Contributor, Thirdeye magazine, book reviewer (2007)
Contributor, Depraved Press, book reviewer (2007-2008)
Editor, Flint Hills Review national literary journal (2004-2005)
Editor, Quivira student literary journal (2002-2005)
Judge, Kansas Writers Association Novel Competition
Reader, The Bluestem National Poetry Award
Community Participation:
OW Press The Velvet reading, Denver, CO, Leela European Cafe, “The Author Who Gets Free Drinks, a (Hopefully) True Story,” (09 April 2010) Listen to a live recording of the event via The Velvet Podcast
Attendee, AWP Conference, Denver, CO (07 April- 11 April, 2010)
Attendee, AWP Conference, Chicago, IL (11 February- 14 February, 2009)
Attendee, AWP Conference, New York, NY (28 January- 2 February, 2008)
Attendee, Flint Hills Review representative, AWP Conference, Austin, TX (8 March- 11 March, 2006)
Attendee, Association of Writers and Writing Projects (AWP) Conference, Chicago, IL (24 March- 24 March, 2004)
Online Families
Outsider Writers (Username: calebjross)
News, promotion, prose, poetry, interviews, reviews; all things termed Outsider Writer end up here.
The Cult (Username: thirstygerbil)
A thriving literary community spawned around the work of novelist Chuck Palahniuk. The Cult has grown to encompass not only similar styled authors, but acts now as a meeting grounds for heads interested in all things on the literary fringe.
Write Club (Username: Caleb)
Write Club is a year-long annual gathering of serious writers all working to complete a novel. Registration starts in November of each year.
The Velvet (Username: thirstygerbil)
The younger sibling of The Cult, The Velvet offers the same fringe interests as its older brother but tends to have more focus in respects to discussing novelists and their novels. The holy trinity here are Craig Clevenger, Stephen Graham Jones, and Will Christopher Baer.
Oxyfication (Username: Caleb)
A small community of writers and passionate readers with monthly book club discussions and in-depth features on up-and-coming artistic talents of all types.
