A Special Welcome

Just want to offer a special welcome to all the readers visiting us via
MyMomShops today. (I have a feeling that you'll especially appreciate this recent post, on encouraging the young ones in your life to start writing!)

Monday Morning Listings

Good morning, practicing writers. A tad fewer listings to report today than I typically offer on Monday mornings, but I hope what IS here proves helpful. Good luck!

First, I've been asked to post this announcement:

Doctoral Research Scholarships (x2)
National Institute For Excellence In The Creative Industries™

The National Institute for Excellence in the Creative Industries™ at the University of Wales, Bangor is seeking a doctoral scholar, in the area of Creative Writing.

This dynamic new Institute is leading the University's Creative Industries initiative as part of a substantial investment fostering international excellence.

Applicants must be aiming to achieve, and sustain, doctoral research output of international-level excellence.

The National Institute would be interested in receiving applications from persons with research interests in one or more of the following areas: creative writing and/or film and/or media studies.

The successful candidate will complement this exciting National Institute's existing strengths within a multidisciplinary Creative Industries environment.

The appointments will be made from August 2007 to August 2010. The Scholarships will be valued at £8,000 per annum, in the first instance.

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor Graeme Harper, Director, National Institute for Excellence in the Creative Industries™ on (01248) 383215 or graeme.harper(at)bangor.ac.uk

Applicants should submit a CV and covering letter to Dr Nathan Abrams, Director of Graduate Studies, National Institute for Excellence in the Creative Industries™, University of Wales, Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG; e-mail: n.abrams(at)bangor.ac.uk. Applicants should also state their subject interest (i.e. whether Film Studies or Creative Writing) and also set out, on a single page of A4 paper, their planned doctoral research.

==========

I mentioned the new Dzanc Prize in the newsletter that went out on Friday, but it's worth highlighting again here. This is a monetary award (total of $5,000) "to a writer with both a work in progress, and an interest in performing some form of literary service." Check out the details here.

==========

Word Forge Books invites submissions for an anthology tentatively titled Almost Perfect: Stories of Inspiration from Disabled Pets and the People Who Love Them. "We're looking for true tales of courage, ingenuity, perseverance and inspiration on the part of companion animals that have become disabled either through birth defects or injury." Pays: $200/story accepted, plus 10 free copies of the book and a discount on further purchases. Right now the site seems to offer two different submission deadlines (June 30 and August 31), so I'm not clear on that. For more information click here.

==========

Learning Through History has extended its submission deadline for its issue on the Industrial Revolution. The issue that follows will focus on The Dark Ages. See guidelines/payment information here (note that this publication buys all rights).

==========

Another great source for news on new magazines (that may be especially open to contributors) is Wooden Horse Publishing. I haven't tried any of its fee-based services, but I do appreciate the free tips on new markets (which I generally then research on my own).

Staying Above the Fray (Sort of)

Despite my ongoing book reviewing work, my frequent reading of and appreciation for book reviews in print and online, and my work teaching Lesley University MFA candidates about the practice of book reviewing, I've chosen to keep this blog somewhat au-dessus de la mêlée as far as the National Book Critics Circle's (NBCC) "Save the Book Review" campaign--and the flurry of press/postings it has engendered--may be concerned. That's for many reasons.

But I have mentioned it to my book-reviewers-in-training, and I've posted about the issue elsewhere. (Please see my lengthy post in the comments section of Scott McLemee's recent column on the subject, if you're interested. It doesn't cover all my concerns about that campaign, but it manages to deal with many of them.) And for a particularly thoughtful post reflecting on the campaign, check Dan Wickett's blog.

Faithful blog readers may remember that I parted ways with the NBCC last fall. It wasn't a happy situation. But I was reminded of the importance of my decision--and the difficulties one can face when speaking out against the misuse of (dues-charging) professional writers' organizations for controversial political purposes--when I read this new (and excellent) piece, titled "On Reporting for Duty with Britain's anti-Israel Mob," by British journalist Nathan Jeffay. I hope you'll read it, too.

Friday Find: Our May Newsletter

I'm taking a brief posting pause this morning while I send our (free) monthly newsletter out (subscribers, check your inboxes!). Have a great weekend, everyone.

The Next Generation of Practicing Writers

I like to consider myself someone who's helping to cultivate the next generation of practicing writers, particularly among the several precious preschoolers who call me "Aunt Erika." Recently, for example, I bought my niece (she's "three-and-a-half," as she'll tell you) a composition book at a drugstore around the corner from her apartment. It's now her special "story" book, in which Aunt Erika records, verbatim (or as close to verbatim as possible) stories we create together (I prompt with a line like "Once upon a time," or "and then the little girl said....", and my niece smiles and starts speaking). She loves watching me actually "write" her words on the page, and I love watching her become so engaged in the process of creating a story (as nonsensical as said story may be).

So I'm always looking out for online tips for helping children become avid readers and writers. Recently I found this great page at the National Writing Project. If you have prospective practicing writers in your life, you should check it out, too. It will lead you to some other excellent sites as well, such as this one from PBS.

Helpful Hints for Writers

Two helpful articles to point out to you today, courtesy of my Web wanderings:

First, for anyone who's ever wondered how to deconstruct a magazine masthead, Moira Allen's article (previously published in The Writer) is now online at AbsoluteWrite.com.

And then, if you're facing that question of what "previously published" means in this age of blogs and e-zines, you should read Jordan E. Rosenfeld's article over at WritersDigest.com. There's also a good discussion of this topic going on over at the Poets & Writers Speakeasy (free registration required).

And Further Reflections on the Role of Creative Writing in the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

In two previous posts (here and here) I've tried to reflect a bit on the place of creative writing in last week's terrible events at Virginia Tech. And I've tried to link to others' thoughts; in this post I'll refer you to some more of that writing:

In The New York Times, Marc Santora and Christine Hauser write that the "Anger of Killer Was on Exhibit in His Writings."

For a different take, see Stephen King's commentary for Entertainment Weekly.

There's also a conversation on this topic over on the After the MFA blog.

Then there's Diane Roberts's commentary on NPR's Weekend Edition (Sunday). You can hear it here.

Finally, there's this article in the Baltimore Sun and this one in New York Magazine.

Monday Morning Market Listings

Good morning, practicing writers. Here's this week's batch of listings. Subscribers to our free monthly newsletter will get a whole lot more in their inboxes at the end of this week, when our May issue goes out. It's never too late to sign up!


The Massachusetts Cultural Council (Boston) is looking for a research intern for the Massachusetts Poetry Outreach Project. Pays a $500 stipend. Details here.

==========

Saint Vincent College (Latrobe, PA) seeks applications for a full-time, one-year appointment as Assistant Professor or Instructor in English (creative fiction and non-fiction and introductory literature and composition). See full announcement at the Chronicle of Higher Education.

==========

Futuristic Motherhood: Alternative Visions of Mothering, is "an anthology of speculative fiction stories about the future of motherhood." Seeking submissions (deadline: September 15, 2007). Pays: $100 plus two copies. Details here. (via CRWROPPS)

==========

Elan, "a magazine of Muslim culture," is looking for writers. "We cover the cultural lifestyle of the jet setting young professional Muslim. Our stories discuss topics such as: fashion, music, travel, business, and other concerns that our audience may have. We absolutely do not speak about religion and politics, but instead we look at living life." Pays: $500-$800/story. See the announcement here.

==========

Attention, writers in Washington State! "Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship awards $6,500 to practicing professional artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability. The Fellowship is a merit-based, not a project-based award." This year's fellowship competition is open to those practicing "Music, Media, Literature and Crafts disciplines." Deadline: June 22, 2007. More information and application materials are available here.

==========

If you're a resident of Mississauga/Brampton, Ontario, you're eligible for this contest from Rogers Television, asking you to express in an essay (500 words or less) "why your mom is your hero" and deserves to win $2500 (presumably in Canadian dollars) of gifts. Deadline: May 2, 2007. (via placesforwriters.com)

==========

Find updated theme information for CommonTies.com submissions here. Pays: $100-$200 for personal stories and now considers previously published material.

==========

I've been meaning to mention this resource for quite awhile. You'll find news about (and reviews of) new magazines--that may well be open to freelance submissions--at Samir Husni's Mr. Magazine.com. In most cases, you'll need to do much more research on your own (you won't always find guidelines available when you click through the links provided, for example), but you still may locate some publishing possibilities here.

Friday Find: "Reading How You're Read"

Most serious writers encounter critiques at some point in their writing lives. If you're lucky, you'll get some solid training on how to write critiques for others' work. And if you're really lucky, you'll get some good advice on how to read the critiques you receive on your own work, too. That guidance might very well include Ann Pancake's article in the new (May/June 2007) Poets & Writers magazine. Check it out, (and click here for the issue's full Table of Contents, including other segments also reprinted online).

More Reflections on the Role of Creative Writing in the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Though yesterday's post on the relationship between creative writing and this week's terrible events at Virginia Tech hasn't yet gleaned any public comments here, I have received a number of private e-mails about it (and believe me, the site stats/referral pages show readers are coming to the blog specifically because that post is here). Since the topic is now attracting more attention elsewhere, today I'll provide some sources for further information/reflection:

At InsiderHigherEd.com you can find Elizabeth Redden's "When Creative Writing Provides a Clue" as well as a number of reader comments.

At Harriet, the Poetry Foundation's blog, you can find Emily Warn's "Responding to Violent Poems in the Classroom".

And it turns out that poet Nikki Giovanni (who provided the rousing closing moments for Tuesday's Convocation on the Virginia Tech campus) seems to have been the instructor who brought the future gunman's alarming behavior/writings to Lucinda Roy's attention (again, see yesterday's post for that background). Last night Giovanni appeared on CNN on both Paula Zahn's show and Larry King's. You'll need to scroll down each transcript for her comments, including this from the Paula Zahn appearance: "You'd be amazed at what we get in creative writing, not to mention across the campus. You get a lot of expression. Some of it would be troubling, and in Cho's case, some of it -- you know, some was a troubling youngster that, frankly speaking, I didn't think I could help. That didn't mean he was beyond help."

Reflections on the Role of Creative Writing in the Tragedy at Virginia Tech

We seem to learn more, almost hour by hour, about what happened at Virginia Tech on Monday. I'll spare you all my thoughts and associations, but for writers who teach, there's one aspect of this story that simply must be addressed.

I ran across the name "Lucinda Roy" twice yesterday. In the morning, I read Ms. Roy's eloquent op-ed in the New York Times. And later, I read news reports, like this one at CNN.com, detailing how alarming the gunman's creative writing had been.

After having the young man's work brought to her attention, says the CNN report, Roy, former English department chairwoman at Virginia Tech and co-director of its creative writing program, "went to the police and counselors 'and everywhere else, and they would say, but there's nothing explicit here. He's not actually saying he's going to kill someone.'"

Frankly, if selfishly, I wish the op-ed had addressed this piece of the story, too.

Why? Because those news reports about the student's writing brought back a memory. It's hazy now--I can't supply the details. But it involves my alerting my writing program supervisor about what I viewed as alarming elements of a student's fiction writing in a summer school workshop. Counselors were contacted. And the student raged at me, both semi-silently and gloweringly in class, and in words, when the time came for my end-of-course evaluations.

But I'm not sorry I signaled her work to my supervisor. I'd rather risk being "wrong"--and/or suffering a bad evaluation (which is actually pretty serious business within this particular writing program, but that's a subject for another post on another day)--than taking the risk of silence.

It's a difficult balance to try to maintain, especially when students are writing fictional plays, or short stories (or poems, which despite what some people may believe, are not always first-person "confessional"), and we must respect the forms. We must refrain some assuming that what's on the page is autobiographical.

But sometimes, as Lucinda Roy recognized, you just have to speak out. And then, you have to find people who can and will do more than simply listen to you. They have to act, too.

Any of you practicing-writers-who-teach have other thoughts on this?

Virginia Tech

I still can't quite believe what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday. At this point, I've spent about half my life in college, in graduate school(s), and/or working in college/university settings. Maybe that's why I feel so shaken. Or maybe it's just another realization (I have them from time to time even without the prompt of a tragedy like what occurred yesterday) about how unbelievably fragile and unpredictable our lives really are. And that's about all I think I can "blog" today. I'll try to be back "on message" tomorrow.

Monday Morning Market Listings

Hi, everyone. I want to take a moment to thank all of you who are kind enough to spread the word even further about the opportunities I post here (and through our monthly newsletter) while observing the courtesies/ethics of crediting this blog/the newsletter for your discoveries.

I'd also like to issue a polite request that those of you who aren't quite so clear with such acknowledgments (including those who routinely benefit from, say, citations in Writer's Digest or The Writer or praise on major discussion boards as excellent sources for information) do me (and the other sources you rely on) the similar ethical courtesy of routinely citing where you find the information you post/circulate. Thanks very much!

And now, the latest Monday Morning Listings:

News from Tin House: "We will read until May 31, 2007 (postmark date) for the Fall "Fantastic Women" issue AND the open Winter Issue. Fantastic Women--an issue celebrating the women writers working with an emphasis on the fantastical-- has a very limited number of slots open for poetry, fiction, and Lost and Found essays. Winter is open to any and all themes and ideas." For more information, see the Web site. (via Duotrope.com)

==========

Find tips for pitching the Wall Street Journal's op-ed page in this interview with the paper's Editorial Features editor, Robert Pollock.

==========

Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) is looking for an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Fiction). See the announcement at HigherEdJobs.com.

==========

Radio reporting on the arts sought (Bay Area). Pays: $400 for a 4-minute story. See the announcement at the J-Jobs Database.

==========

Toronto job opening: "The Lifestyle Group of St. Joseph Media is looking for a dynamic, experienced editor to work part-time on stories for Gardening Life magazine on a freelance basis." Details at Jeff Gaulin's Job Board.

==========

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is hiring temporary staff. "We expect hard work, commitment and a positive, enthusiastic attitude. In return, you get a fantastic learning experience that is loads of fun, and the opportunity to make valuable contacts. Additional perks include discounted books and access to some of the world's greatest author events." Click here for more information.

==========

As usual, the Job News published by Columbia University's School of Journalism has lots of interesting announcements. Check the latest updates here.

==========

My German is far too poor to analyze the usefulness of the new arts & culture funding database I found referenced here at the Res Artis site. Maybe one of our more fluent practicing writers can check it out and let us know?

Friday Find: AJPA

Once again I owe a find to the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism's excellent Web site. This time the discovery is a Web site I will most likely explore to place relevant essays and book reviews: the site for the American Jewish Press Association.

Describing itself as "a voluntary not-for-profit professional association for the English-language Jewish press in North America," the organization "represents almost 250 newspapers, magazines, individual journalists and affiliated organizations throughout the United States and Canada." If you write on Jewish themes and subjects, you may find its member directory especially helpful.

Strunk and White for the 21st Century?

Anyone who spends any significant time reading and sending e-mail (and most writers I know these days fall under that description) will appreciate Nick Paumgarten's "Elements of E-Style" Talk of the Town piece in the latest New Yorker. It certainly got me interested in Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home, the book at its center, co-authored by David Shipley and Will Schwalbe.

That's not to say you'll necessarily agree with all the precepts enumerated in the article. But given Paumgarten's excellent writing, chances are you'll enjoy it.

Kurt Vonnegut, 1922-2007

Kurt Vonnegut has passed away.

Writers, Beware

I think I considered pitching Mental Floss once upon a time. Boy, am I glad I didn't. Read why here.

Bon Appétit!

And now for a little fiction with your meal...courtesy of The Wall Street Journal (via Arts & Letters Daily).

Now in Print

Do you subscribe to The Writer magazine? Have your received your May issue yet? Mine arrived yesterday. I have two fun pieces in this issue, one in the front-of-the-book "Take Note" section, on literary magazine blogs, and the other in the "Write Stuff" department (it's a review of Ariel Gore's How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights). Hope you can catch (and enjoy) them!

Monday Morning Market Listings

Good morning, practicing writers. I've just returned from a weekend back in Massachusetts. I do miss that place! Anyway, I have some interesting opportunities to share with you this week. Enjoy!

Submission call from Seal Press: Editor Shari MacDonald Strong seeks "literary essays" for a forthcoming anthology, The Maternal Is Political, which will explore "the vital connection between motherhood and social change." Submission deadline: June 1, 2007. Pays: $100 plus two books. See the very detailed call here.

==========

Harvard University's Nieman Foundation seeks a Program Director for its Narrative Journalism Program. See the job announcement here.

==========

The University of Akron is looking for a Visiting Assistant Professor in Creative Writing (Fiction or Creative Nonfiction). See the announcement at HigherEdJobs.com.

==========

A paid internship is available at enRoute, Air Canada's inflight magazine. Applicants must be 16-30 years old and live outside Quebec. For additional information/criteria/application instructions, see the announcement at Jeff Gaulin's Journalism Job Board.

==========

The Crucible poetry and fiction competition offers prizes of $150 and $100 to the first- and second- prize winners in each category, respectively. Submission deadline is May 1, 2007; there appears to be no entry fee. Read the guidelines (and note the provision that "permission to publish the material is implied by submission") here. (via CRWROPPS)

==========

Also via CRWROPPS: There's a new first-mystery prize honoring author Tony Hillerman. From the award page: "The award will go to a first mystery novel set in the Southwest written by a previously unpublished mystery author." Prize includes $10,000 advance and publication by Thomas Dunne Books. Find out more here.

==========

AbsoluteWrite.com has upped its pay rates. If writing about writing is your thing, read the updated guidelines here.

==========

You'll find lots of great opportunities listed in the latest Theatre Funding News.

Friday Finds: National Poetry Month News

It's that time of year again: National Poetry Month. For resources, activities, and programming check the Academy of American Poets' National Poetry Month pages (U.S.A.) and corresponding information from the League of Canadian Poets.

From My Bookshelf: Current Reads

Because I've been thinking for quite awhile (years) about the portrayal of work in fiction (and even participated on an AWP panel on the subject several conferences back), I've been very interested in the attention being given (including this Guardian blog thread) to Joshua Ferris's new novel, Then We Came to the End. In fact, I'm so interested that I've gone ahead and ordered the book from amazon.com. I really do love the library, and just picked up another novel there on Tuesday (Michael Lavigne's Not Me, which is already captivating me just a few chapters in), but finding myself at #212 on the borrowers' waiting list in this case put even my Taurean patience to the test.

Have any of you read Ferris's novel yet? Please don't give anything away, but I'd love to hear general impressions.

In the Mail: That's Us!

What a treat it was to open my e-mail this morning and find The Practicing Writer included in Beth Morrissey's article on freelance writing newsletters in the latest Wow! Women on Writing e-zine. Thanks for the notice, Beth!

Five Years of One Story

One Story is another gem of a journal that I discovered, happily, when it was still in its infancy. Somewhere along the way I allowed my subscription to lapse, but I've recently rectified that situation. And I keep submitting my work, too, still hoping to see one of my stories published there someday (I've received some very encouraging rejection notes). This week One Story celebrates its fifth birthday, and editor Hannah Tinti has posted a lovely summary of its history on the journal's blog. Happy Birthday, One Story!

And Yet More AWP Reportage

Just in case all of my AWP reportage didn't satisfy you, the blog over at The Missouri Review contains still another "AWP Post Mortem." Offers a nice description of the event from an editor's perspective. Enjoy!

Monday Morning Market Listings

I hope you like the blog's new look. A big thank-you goes to my sister, who is much more web-savvy than I am and helped me transfer layouts here over the weekend.

As for the market listings, well, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there this week. On the other hand, you can also find plenty of opportunities listed in our April newsletter, which is free and archived for subscribers here.

And now, the weekly listings:

Weddingchickie.com is looking for wedding-related essays. Pays: $150 (see also the craigslist announcement).

==========

Check out this profile of a new Canadian parenting magazine.

==========

Northern Virginia Magazine seeks a freelance researcher "with a passion for gathering little-known facts and an abundance of resources with which to do it...to contribute monthly sidebars, information boxes and other editorial components as assigned." Announcement at JournalismJobs.com.

==========

SavvyMiss.com is seeking "savvy bloggers." See the announcement at JournalismJobs.com.

==========

WHY (Work.Home.You), a new e-zine "for the work-at-home set," seeks freelance contributors. Pays $25-$50. Check the Web site for guidelines.

==========

Want to write about The Daily Show (for pay)? Check this craigslist announcement.

==========

Chicken Soup for the Empty Nester's Soul seeks submissions (true essays, for which writers will be paid $200 on publication; poems, for which writers will receive $50; and cartoons, for which artists will receive $100). Previously published material welcome. Submission deadline: May 1, 2007. For more details/submission instructions, click here. (via CRWROPPS)