Yesterday, I had some time between an afternoon day job-related meeting at the CUNY Graduate Center and an evening panel at the same location (not for the day job!), so I decided to mosey on over to the New York Public Library to visit a new exhibition, "Between Collaboration and Resistance: French Literary Life Under Nazi Occupation."
The subject of French literary life under (and immediately following) Nazi occupation is something I studied as an undergraduate and have remained fascinated by for years. It's not a simple matter (for one thing, the divisions between "collaboration" and "resistance" aren't always clear). The exhibition does an excellent job presenting a complicated topic. Lots of books, journals, letters, etc. incorporated in the process. Video/newsreel footage, too.
If you'll be around 5th Avenue/42nd Street before the end of July (the exhibition runs through July 25), do stop in and take a look. It's free!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Wednesday Web Browser: Colson Whitehead Edition
One regret I have about my college years is that I didn't get to know as many of the writers and future writers in my class as I might have. One of these college classmates is Colson Whitehead (who probably has no idea who I am).
But I was thrilled to hear him speak at a literary event last year, and I'm following the press on his new book with great interest. That novel, Sag Harbor, has gone to the top of my tbr list.
For more on Colson Whitehead and Sag Harbor, please check the following:
--Radhika Jones's "Dag!"
--Janet Maslin's "Black Teenage Memories, Under the Hamptons Sun"
--Charles McGrath's "Coming of Age in Sag Harbor Amid Privilege and Paradox"
--And for those who love YouTube, you can see/hear Colson Whitehead himself talk about Sag Harbor, the place and the book, right here.
But I was thrilled to hear him speak at a literary event last year, and I'm following the press on his new book with great interest. That novel, Sag Harbor, has gone to the top of my tbr list.
For more on Colson Whitehead and Sag Harbor, please check the following:
--Radhika Jones's "Dag!"
--Janet Maslin's "Black Teenage Memories, Under the Hamptons Sun"
--Charles McGrath's "Coming of Age in Sag Harbor Amid Privilege and Paradox"
--And for those who love YouTube, you can see/hear Colson Whitehead himself talk about Sag Harbor, the place and the book, right here.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Jewish Book World
Over the weekend, I completed my first review for Jewish Book World. I can't yet share the review with you, but I'll tell you this much: I reviewed a (very good) forthcoming novel, and the review is scheduled for publication in the fall issue.
If you're not familiar with Jewish Book World, and you're interested in books on Jewish themes and subjects, you really owe it to yourself to get to know this quarterly magazine. It's a publication of the always-impressive Jewish Book Council, and you can find learn much more about it (and read sample reviews) here (click "Jewish Book World").
And if you subscribe, you'll get to read my review in due course! (Note to potential reviewers: The magazine welcomes new reviewers, but unfortunately does not pay cash for reviews. I'm considering my [relatively short] review dual community service, for the Jewish and literary communities.)
If you're not familiar with Jewish Book World, and you're interested in books on Jewish themes and subjects, you really owe it to yourself to get to know this quarterly magazine. It's a publication of the always-impressive Jewish Book Council, and you can find learn much more about it (and read sample reviews) here (click "Jewish Book World").
And if you subscribe, you'll get to read my review in due course! (Note to potential reviewers: The magazine welcomes new reviewers, but unfortunately does not pay cash for reviews. I'm considering my [relatively short] review dual community service, for the Jewish and literary communities.)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
This is the week: Our May Practicing Writer newsletter will be going out to subscribers midweek. And I am very excited about the feature article/interview! It's never too late to subscribe. Our newsletter is FREE and we keep your e-mail address confidential. Join us!
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Attention, writers in Washington State! "The Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship awards $7,500 to practicing professional artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability. The Fellowship is a merit-based, not a project-based award. Fellowship recipients must present a Meet the Artist Event to a community that has little or no access to the artist and their work." Applications are currently open to literary artists. Deadline: June 12, 2009. No application fee indicated. More information here.
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"The CQ Global Researcher, a monthly issues-backgrounder published by CQ Press (a division of SAGE Publications) is seeking freelancers to write in-depth reports on global issues. At least five years experience covering international affairs preferred. Recent 10,000-word reports have focused on Darfur, Separatist Movements, Crisis in Pakistan and Child Soldiers. Reporters can be U.S.-based or overseas." Pay is "not specified." For more information, click here.
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Chuck Sambuchino provides a "new agency alert" and introduces The McVeigh Agency. To learn more about the agency's areas of interest, click here.
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And, as always, I'm glad to point out a few jobs for writers!
Assistant Director, Furious Flower Poetry Center, James Madison University (Virginia)
Assistant Curator, Poetry Collection, University at Buffalo (New York)
Communications and College Relations Manager, Baruch College/City University of New York
Admission Writer/Editor, Ithaca College (New York)
Director of Communications, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Development Communications Writer, Haverford College (Pennsylvania)
Writer/Editor, Loyola Marymount University (California) and Writer/Editor, Loyola Marymount University (California)
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Attention, writers in Washington State! "The Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship awards $7,500 to practicing professional artists of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability. The Fellowship is a merit-based, not a project-based award. Fellowship recipients must present a Meet the Artist Event to a community that has little or no access to the artist and their work." Applications are currently open to literary artists. Deadline: June 12, 2009. No application fee indicated. More information here.
==========
"The CQ Global Researcher, a monthly issues-backgrounder published by CQ Press (a division of SAGE Publications) is seeking freelancers to write in-depth reports on global issues. At least five years experience covering international affairs preferred. Recent 10,000-word reports have focused on Darfur, Separatist Movements, Crisis in Pakistan and Child Soldiers. Reporters can be U.S.-based or overseas." Pay is "not specified." For more information, click here.
==========
Chuck Sambuchino provides a "new agency alert" and introduces The McVeigh Agency. To learn more about the agency's areas of interest, click here.
==========
And, as always, I'm glad to point out a few jobs for writers!
Assistant Director, Furious Flower Poetry Center, James Madison University (Virginia)
Assistant Curator, Poetry Collection, University at Buffalo (New York)
Communications and College Relations Manager, Baruch College/City University of New York
Admission Writer/Editor, Ithaca College (New York)
Director of Communications, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Development Communications Writer, Haverford College (Pennsylvania)
Writer/Editor, Loyola Marymount University (California) and Writer/Editor, Loyola Marymount University (California)
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday Find: Best Tweets for Writers
I'll come clean for you, my dear readers: I haven't jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet. I have no Twitter account. I don't always use the word "tweet" correctly.
Given my lack of Twitter savvy, I'm grateful to Jane Friedman for posting "Best Tweets for Writers" summaries on her blog, There Are No Rules. She's turning these summary posts into a weekly feature. Check out what she has discovered so far, and share my gratitude that she "watch[es] Twitter, so you don't have to."
(By the way, if anyone wants to share views about Twitter for writers, pro or con, please feel free to do so in comments.)
Have a happy weekend, everyone!
Given my lack of Twitter savvy, I'm grateful to Jane Friedman for posting "Best Tweets for Writers" summaries on her blog, There Are No Rules. She's turning these summary posts into a weekly feature. Check out what she has discovered so far, and share my gratitude that she "watch[es] Twitter, so you don't have to."
(By the way, if anyone wants to share views about Twitter for writers, pro or con, please feel free to do so in comments.)
Have a happy weekend, everyone!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Letter from the London Book Fair
I am proud to present a guest post written by Brett Jocelyn (BJ) Epstein, who very recently attended the London Book Fair. Among BJ's latest literary accomplishments is Northern Lights: Translation in the Nordic Countries, a volume she edited containing essays from a conference she organized. To learn more about this wonderful writer-editor-translator, please visit BJ's blog and Web site.
The London Book Fair 2009
by BJ Epstein
Ah, books, books, books. Rows of books, books for sale, authors signing books. Books and more books. That's what the typical bibliophile would excitedly imagine when thinking of a book fair. In fact, although events such as The London Book Fair (LBF) and the Frankfurt Book Fair seem to be about books, they are really about the bottom line.
The LBF is a place where publishers come to show their wares to other publishers, hoping to make foreign sales. People rush around holding notebooks, looking for books they might want to purchase the rights to and then have translated to their own tongue. The major publishers have big stands with lots of small tables where their agents can meet with other agents. An observer can stand at a distance and watch as figures are discussed and hands are shaken. It's all very serious and pragmatic and it doesn't seem to be predicated on a love of books. Writers and translators may feel unwelcome amidst all this deal-making.
Nevertheless, for a visitor willing both to accept that and to do a lot of walking, there is plenty to see and enjoy at the LBF. The fair takes place at Earl's Court, a large convention center in London, and it is very well organized. The huge main room is where publishers from all over the world have their stands. One area has children's books, another travel books and maps, the religious (primarily Christian) books are in one (fairly small) spot, textbooks are in their own section, and so on. If you go past this room, after, of course, having browsed it to see what is being published these days (gift books seem to be a growing trend), and on into the next, smaller one, the atmosphere is different. This room is where the printers and binders have their stands, where people sell little book lights and other items for the book-lover, and where the various cultural agencies are located.
As a translator from the Scandinavian languages, I spent most of my time flitting between the Swedish Arts Council, the Danish Arts Agency's Literature Centre, Norwegian Literature Abroad, Finnish Literature Exchange, the Iceland booth (this was the first year the Icelandic publishers and agencies had their own stand). On Monday, April 20, there was a joint Nordic reception, and events like that are excellent for networking, especially for writers, translators, and people from smaller publishing companies.
I also made sure to visit the stands from other countries. Several of them publish an annual or biannual magazine with biographical information and short translated excerpts from their nation's top writers. This magazine, such as Sweden's Swedish Book Review or Portugal's Voices from the South, is meant to tempt publishers, but it is also a wonderful way for curious readers to learn about the kind of literature being published in other places. Because so few works are translated to English, unless you happen to read a particular tongue, you will never know what writers are doing in other parts of the world. I picked up as many of these magazines as I could carry. India was this year's special focus at the Book Fair, and I had no idea there were so many publishers in that country. It was very interesting to see the way these publishers manage to differentiate themselves; I was slightly surprised by how many seemed to have a distinct niche in spiritual books.
PEN is also at the fair every year, offering readings. And one of my very favourite parts is the Gourmand area, which showcases top cookbooks from every culture imaginable. Even if you can't read the books, you can salivate over the pictures. A number of chefs give demonstrations of their craft and they always make enough of the dish for the audience to try a bite as well.
In short, then, the LBF can be an enjoyable event, but only if you are prepared for what it can and can not give you. It is not a place to buy books or to connect with other writers. But it is a place to get a deeper understanding of the publishing world and to feel inspired (or overwhelmed) by the sheer number of books published each year.
The London Book Fair 2009
by BJ Epstein
Ah, books, books, books. Rows of books, books for sale, authors signing books. Books and more books. That's what the typical bibliophile would excitedly imagine when thinking of a book fair. In fact, although events such as The London Book Fair (LBF) and the Frankfurt Book Fair seem to be about books, they are really about the bottom line.
The LBF is a place where publishers come to show their wares to other publishers, hoping to make foreign sales. People rush around holding notebooks, looking for books they might want to purchase the rights to and then have translated to their own tongue. The major publishers have big stands with lots of small tables where their agents can meet with other agents. An observer can stand at a distance and watch as figures are discussed and hands are shaken. It's all very serious and pragmatic and it doesn't seem to be predicated on a love of books. Writers and translators may feel unwelcome amidst all this deal-making.
Nevertheless, for a visitor willing both to accept that and to do a lot of walking, there is plenty to see and enjoy at the LBF. The fair takes place at Earl's Court, a large convention center in London, and it is very well organized. The huge main room is where publishers from all over the world have their stands. One area has children's books, another travel books and maps, the religious (primarily Christian) books are in one (fairly small) spot, textbooks are in their own section, and so on. If you go past this room, after, of course, having browsed it to see what is being published these days (gift books seem to be a growing trend), and on into the next, smaller one, the atmosphere is different. This room is where the printers and binders have their stands, where people sell little book lights and other items for the book-lover, and where the various cultural agencies are located.
As a translator from the Scandinavian languages, I spent most of my time flitting between the Swedish Arts Council, the Danish Arts Agency's Literature Centre, Norwegian Literature Abroad, Finnish Literature Exchange, the Iceland booth (this was the first year the Icelandic publishers and agencies had their own stand). On Monday, April 20, there was a joint Nordic reception, and events like that are excellent for networking, especially for writers, translators, and people from smaller publishing companies.
I also made sure to visit the stands from other countries. Several of them publish an annual or biannual magazine with biographical information and short translated excerpts from their nation's top writers. This magazine, such as Sweden's Swedish Book Review or Portugal's Voices from the South, is meant to tempt publishers, but it is also a wonderful way for curious readers to learn about the kind of literature being published in other places. Because so few works are translated to English, unless you happen to read a particular tongue, you will never know what writers are doing in other parts of the world. I picked up as many of these magazines as I could carry. India was this year's special focus at the Book Fair, and I had no idea there were so many publishers in that country. It was very interesting to see the way these publishers manage to differentiate themselves; I was slightly surprised by how many seemed to have a distinct niche in spiritual books.
PEN is also at the fair every year, offering readings. And one of my very favourite parts is the Gourmand area, which showcases top cookbooks from every culture imaginable. Even if you can't read the books, you can salivate over the pictures. A number of chefs give demonstrations of their craft and they always make enough of the dish for the audience to try a bite as well.
In short, then, the LBF can be an enjoyable event, but only if you are prepared for what it can and can not give you. It is not a place to buy books or to connect with other writers. But it is a place to get a deeper understanding of the publishing world and to feel inspired (or overwhelmed) by the sheer number of books published each year.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Wednesday Web Browser: Poets & Writers Edition
A couple of days ago I pointed you to the classifieds in the May/June issue of Poets & Writers magazine. Today, I'm going to spotlight some articles the magazine has made available online.
--In a special section on literary journals, Sandra Beasley writes about the evolution of online journals.
--The super "Agents and Editors" series continues, this time with Jofie Ferrari-Adler speaking with agents Maria Massie, Jim Rutman, Anna Stein, and Peter Steinberg.
--Kevin Larimer updates us on small presses and lit mags.
There's plenty of great content in the print issue, too, including Mary Gannon's profile of Jay McInerney. Since I encountered resistance from some fiction workshop-mates when I wrote stories (in 2002) with connections to the attacks of September 11, 2001, I particularly appreciated this snippet: "And, as he did by using the second person in his debut, in The Good Life McInerney took a risk by writing about New York City in the immediate aftermath of September 11, despite advice from the late Norman Mailer to hold off ten years. 'I was writing about the emotional texture of those three months afterwards,' he says. 'If I had waited, that would have faded for me.'"
--In a special section on literary journals, Sandra Beasley writes about the evolution of online journals.
--The super "Agents and Editors" series continues, this time with Jofie Ferrari-Adler speaking with agents Maria Massie, Jim Rutman, Anna Stein, and Peter Steinberg.
--Kevin Larimer updates us on small presses and lit mags.
There's plenty of great content in the print issue, too, including Mary Gannon's profile of Jay McInerney. Since I encountered resistance from some fiction workshop-mates when I wrote stories (in 2002) with connections to the attacks of September 11, 2001, I particularly appreciated this snippet: "And, as he did by using the second person in his debut, in The Good Life McInerney took a risk by writing about New York City in the immediate aftermath of September 11, despite advice from the late Norman Mailer to hold off ten years. 'I was writing about the emotional texture of those three months afterwards,' he says. 'If I had waited, that would have faded for me.'"
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
This Practicing Writer's YouTube Debut
As you may have heard, last week marked the 50th birthday of Strunk & White's famous Elements of Style. To celebrate the occasion, my friend Anne and I (and Anne's husband) attended a panel discussion focusing on the book at the Museum of the City of New York.
Ron Hogan, of Galleycat (and Beatrice) fame, was also present, and he was gracious enough to invite Anne and me to share a few thoughts about the book. On camera.
To my knowledge, this marks my YouTube debut. Fortunately, I didn't have to speak first--that's Anne in the opening shot.
P.S.--Ron has posted a few more tidbits about the panel here.
Ron Hogan, of Galleycat (and Beatrice) fame, was also present, and he was gracious enough to invite Anne and me to share a few thoughts about the book. On camera.
To my knowledge, this marks my YouTube debut. Fortunately, I didn't have to speak first--that's Anne in the opening shot.
P.S.--Ron has posted a few more tidbits about the panel here.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
Attention, Kentucky women writers: You've still got a few days to apply for a Hopscotch House Summer Residency (and for the stipends that complement them). I see no application fees. The deadline is April 24, 2009, so hurry! All info here.
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Penn State-Altoona seeks a Resident Writer specializing in creative nonfiction for the fall 2009 semester. No application fee. There is no application fee; application review will be begin May 18, 2009. "The residence, designed to offer an emerging writer substantial time to write, offers a $5,000 stipend and an additional $5,000 allowance to cover room and board in return for teaching one sophomore-level creative non-fiction writing workshop during the Fall 2009 semester (August 24-December 17). The resident writer will also give two readings and work informally with our English majors. Benefits are not included." For more information, please consult the Web listing.
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May 1 is the deadline for several scholarships providing support (tuition remission and/or paid lodging) to attend the Taos Summer Writers Conference (which will take place July 12-19): the Native Writer Award in Poetry or Fiction, the Hispanic Writer Award in Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry, and the Taos Resident Award in Poetry or Fiction. Unlike some other Conference scholarships, these do not require paying an initial conference registration fee. You'll find all the information you need here.
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The May/June issue of Poets & Writers magazine is out, which means that a new batch of Classifieds have been posted online. Now, on this blog, I post only opportunities that a) pay writers cash and b) don't charge no entry/application/reading fees. The Classifieds have no such rules/guarantees. So check them out knowing that. But do check them out.
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And, as always, here are some jobs for you to peruse:
Anticipated Adjunct Position in Creative Writing, Hofstra University (New York)
Director of Communications and Marketing, Bronx Community College-The City University of New York
Staff Writer, University at Buffalo (New York)
Senior Writer/Editor, Suffolk University (Massachusetts)
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Penn State-Altoona seeks a Resident Writer specializing in creative nonfiction for the fall 2009 semester. No application fee. There is no application fee; application review will be begin May 18, 2009. "The residence, designed to offer an emerging writer substantial time to write, offers a $5,000 stipend and an additional $5,000 allowance to cover room and board in return for teaching one sophomore-level creative non-fiction writing workshop during the Fall 2009 semester (August 24-December 17). The resident writer will also give two readings and work informally with our English majors. Benefits are not included." For more information, please consult the Web listing.
==========
May 1 is the deadline for several scholarships providing support (tuition remission and/or paid lodging) to attend the Taos Summer Writers Conference (which will take place July 12-19): the Native Writer Award in Poetry or Fiction, the Hispanic Writer Award in Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry, and the Taos Resident Award in Poetry or Fiction. Unlike some other Conference scholarships, these do not require paying an initial conference registration fee. You'll find all the information you need here.
==========
The May/June issue of Poets & Writers magazine is out, which means that a new batch of Classifieds have been posted online. Now, on this blog, I post only opportunities that a) pay writers cash and b) don't charge no entry/application/reading fees. The Classifieds have no such rules/guarantees. So check them out knowing that. But do check them out.
==========
And, as always, here are some jobs for you to peruse:
Anticipated Adjunct Position in Creative Writing, Hofstra University (New York)
Director of Communications and Marketing, Bronx Community College-The City University of New York
Staff Writer, University at Buffalo (New York)
Senior Writer/Editor, Suffolk University (Massachusetts)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday Find: Critical Mass Spotlighted Blogs
Given my not-so-harmonious history with the National Book Critics Circle blog, I was wary yesterday morning when Practicing Writing's site statistics revealed a surge of readers coming right from precisely that source. But what I found when I checked the NBCC blog was a very pleasant surprise.
You see, the post that was driving traffic to Practicing Writing was Rigoberto González's "Spotlight on Blogs." From the post:
We're in some great company (including a couple of blogs new to me). Be sure to check them out at the post.
So here's a big thank you to Rigoberto González (we met briefly at a CUNY event two years ago, but I'm not sure he'll remember that), a warm welcome to all our new readers, and happy weekend wishes to the regulars!
You see, the post that was driving traffic to Practicing Writing was Rigoberto González's "Spotlight on Blogs." From the post:
I attended a forum recently in which MFA graduate students impressed upon the audience the importance of reading blogs as a way to stay in the loop and keep abreast of the goings-on in the literary world. And when I wholeheartedly agreed, I was duly asked which blogs I would personally recommend. I had to think for a moment and I gave an on-the-spot reply, but I promised to relay a more substantial response once I went home and thought about it more carefully.And that response (the post) included a full list of recommendations. Including--you guessed it--Practicing Writing.
We're in some great company (including a couple of blogs new to me). Be sure to check them out at the post.
So here's a big thank you to Rigoberto González (we met briefly at a CUNY event two years ago, but I'm not sure he'll remember that), a warm welcome to all our new readers, and happy weekend wishes to the regulars!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
From My Bookshelf: No Right to Remain Silent, by Lucinda Roy
Perhaps today is the most appropriate day to share my current reading. I've just started No Right to Remain Silent, poet-novelist-professor Lucinda Roy's account of/response to the tragic events that took place at her university two years ago today. So far, I've read only two chapters. But whether I get to read more today or not, I'll definitely be thinking of the events of April 16, 2007.To learn more about Roy's new book, click here.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Wednesday Web Browser: New York Times Edition
Today's "browser" brings you a number of recent items from The New York Times:
In last Sunday's magazine, Wyatt Mason profiled poet Frederick Seidel.
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Also in the magazine: this q & a with Joyce Carol Oates.
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And from the book review: a column on book advances.
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And from the daily editions this week: an Amos Oz profile.
In last Sunday's magazine, Wyatt Mason profiled poet Frederick Seidel.
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Also in the magazine: this q & a with Joyce Carol Oates.
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And from the book review: a column on book advances.
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And from the daily editions this week: an Amos Oz profile.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tales from the Couch
In case you missed my short story, "Consultation," when Bellevue Literary Review published it a few years back, you can find it again in the just-released anthology, Tales from the Couch, a collection of stories and poems from the mental healthcare worker's point of view. (Check out the full table of contents here.) I'm told that my contributor copy is on its way, and I am eager to see it!(Note, too, that the volume's publisher, Blue Cubicle Press, is currently seeking submissions for the next book, Tales from the Capitol, which will contain stories from the government worker's point of view. Click here for guidelines and pay rates. Submission deadline: August 1, 2009.)
I went through a phase when I read any and all fiction I could find that focused on psychotherapy/psychoanalysis. Maybe we can use this post to share some titles and build a bibliography for those readers--and I know they're out there--experiencing similar reading interests right now. I'll get us started:
August, by Judith Rossner
The Treatment, by Daniel Menaker
Liliane, by Ntozake Shange
Your turn! Please add relevant titles, and their authors, in comments.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
The Antioch Writers' Workshop, which will take place July 11-17, 2009, offers three conference scholarships. Applications for each must be received by May 1, 2009. The Betty Crumrine Scholarship is for "a single parent who is committed to writing and who could not otherwise attend the workshop." The Judson Jerome Scholarship is for a poet. The Bill Baker Scholarship is for "a writer who is nominated by someone who can testify to his or her qualifications both as writer and community member." Click here for details.
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The Georgia Review invites submissions for a planned special feature, a 21st-century update of Ambrose Bierce's satirical Devil's Dictionary, published about 100 years ago. "Taking Bierce as a model, all writers are invited to send one or two original dictionary entries - maximum length, 200 words each - for publication consideration; those writers who include with their submission a paid order for a new, renewed, or gift subscription to The Georgia Review ($30) may send up to six dictionary entries. All entries will be considered for publication in our pages and/or on our Web site. All accepted authors will receive an honorarium and also will be eligible to receive 'The Devil's Due' in the amount of $500 for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third." Check here for more information. Deadline: June 30, 2009. (via NewPages.com)
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One Story wants everyone to know that it supports new writers. From a recent e-mail: "At One Story, we are committed to discovering new talent and showcasing original voices. For this reason, One Story will never publish an author more than once. We are proud to say that 10% of our writers are published for the first time in our pages." Further, its current issue "marks the launch of our 'Introducing New Writers' series. 'Hurt People'[the latest story] will arrive in a custom envelope, marking it as a fiction debut and inviting subscribers to congratulate the author on our blog. We will host a reading in Lawrence, Kansas--where Cote Smith [the story's author] is finishing his MFA in fiction writing--in May. As part of this series, we will be hosting hometown readings for writers who publish for the first time in One Story in 2009. This is made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts." One Story is a paying journal; submissions close for the season May 31.
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The Great Northern Canadian Writing Contest seeks prose (fiction or nonfiction), up to 1,000 words, "about life in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, or Northern Labrador." First prize is $500 and publication in above&beyond magazine; a special emerging writer prize of $250 and publication will also be awarded (for a writer who has never been published for payment). Deadline: April 30, 2009. No entry fee indicated. Check here for guidelines.
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And a couple of jobs....
Editorial Director, Office of Marketing and Communications, Hamline University (Minnesota)
Part-time Grant Writer, Michigan State University
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The Georgia Review invites submissions for a planned special feature, a 21st-century update of Ambrose Bierce's satirical Devil's Dictionary, published about 100 years ago. "Taking Bierce as a model, all writers are invited to send one or two original dictionary entries - maximum length, 200 words each - for publication consideration; those writers who include with their submission a paid order for a new, renewed, or gift subscription to The Georgia Review ($30) may send up to six dictionary entries. All entries will be considered for publication in our pages and/or on our Web site. All accepted authors will receive an honorarium and also will be eligible to receive 'The Devil's Due' in the amount of $500 for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third." Check here for more information. Deadline: June 30, 2009. (via NewPages.com)
==========
One Story wants everyone to know that it supports new writers. From a recent e-mail: "At One Story, we are committed to discovering new talent and showcasing original voices. For this reason, One Story will never publish an author more than once. We are proud to say that 10% of our writers are published for the first time in our pages." Further, its current issue "marks the launch of our 'Introducing New Writers' series. 'Hurt People'[the latest story] will arrive in a custom envelope, marking it as a fiction debut and inviting subscribers to congratulate the author on our blog. We will host a reading in Lawrence, Kansas--where Cote Smith [the story's author] is finishing his MFA in fiction writing--in May. As part of this series, we will be hosting hometown readings for writers who publish for the first time in One Story in 2009. This is made possible by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts." One Story is a paying journal; submissions close for the season May 31.
==========
The Great Northern Canadian Writing Contest seeks prose (fiction or nonfiction), up to 1,000 words, "about life in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, or Northern Labrador." First prize is $500 and publication in above&beyond magazine; a special emerging writer prize of $250 and publication will also be awarded (for a writer who has never been published for payment). Deadline: April 30, 2009. No entry fee indicated. Check here for guidelines.
==========
And a couple of jobs....
Editorial Director, Office of Marketing and Communications, Hamline University (Minnesota)
Part-time Grant Writer, Michigan State University
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
A Celebration of the Chapbook
Well, folks, I'm going to take a few days off for Passover, which begins this evening. But I'll leave you with some excellent reading material: the program for the upcoming Celebration of the Chapbook, taking place right here in New York City, April 23-25, 2009. Most of the festival events are FREE, and I can tell you that a lot of work has gone into planning them. I'll hope to see many of you there--and happy holidays to all who are celebrating in the next several days.
A CELEBRATION OF THE CHAPBOOK
Thursday April 23rd, 2009 - Saturday April 25th, 2009
A Celebration of the Chapbook festival calls attention to the rich history of the chapbook and highlights its essential place in poetry publishing today as a vehicle for alternative poetry projects and for emerging authors and editors to gain entry into the literary marketplace. The festival will forge a new platform for the study of the chapbook inside and outside the academy and celebrate the importance of chapbooks to America’s cultural heritage and future.
Thursday, April 23
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue & 34th St
Chapbook Fair
10:00am-6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall Lobby
Brief History of Chapbooks
3:00-4:30pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
With Isaac Gewirtz, Curator of the New York Public Library’s Berg Collection; Eric Lorberer, Editor of Rain Taxi; and Michael Ryan, Director of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at Columbia University. Moderated by Richard Kaye, Hunter College, CUNY
Chapbooks in the 20th and 21st Centuries
4:30-6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
With Michael Basinski, Assistant Curator of the Poetry/Rare Books Collection of the University Libraries, SUNY at Buffalo; Anne Waldman, Chair and Artistic Director of Naropa University’s Summer Writing Program; and Kevin Young, Emory University. Moderated by Ammiel Alcalay, Queens College, CUNY.
Keynote Reading
6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
Readings by Lytton Smith, Gerald Stern, Judith Vollmer, Kevin Young and others, with an introduction by Kimiko Hahn.
Friday, April 24
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue & 34th St
Chapbook Fair
10:00am-4:00pm, Rooms 8301/8304
Chapbook Now: Producing Chapbooks
A Workshop for Poets
10:00-11:30am, Room 8400
With Rachel Levitsky (Belladonna*); Sharon Dolin (The Center for Book Arts); and Ryan Murphy (North Beach Yacht Club). Moderated by Alice Quinn (Poetry Society of America.
Chapbook Now: Producing Chapbooks
A Workshop for Publishers
11:30am-1:00pm, Room 8402
With Jen Benka (Booklyn); Matvei Yankelevich (Ugly Duckling Presse); and Brenda Iijima (Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs). Moderated by Rob Casper (Poetry Society of America).
To register for these workshops, call (212) 817-2005 or e-mail abozicevic@gc.cuny.edu – registration is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Friday, April 24
at The Center for Book Arts, 28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor
Bookmaking for Writers: A Studio Workshop
With Susan Mills and Karen Randall
2:00-5:00pm
Bookmaking for Publishers: A Studio Workshop
With Susan Mills and Karen Randall
2:00-5:00pm
To register, call (212) 481-0295 or e-mail info@centerforbookarts.org – registration is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. There's a $20 materials fee for each workshop.
RECEPTION
at The Center for Book Arts, 28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor
6:00 pm
All are welcome! Visit the exhibitions at The Center for Book Arts: \’fl \:art, text, new media; Roni Gross: Zitouna at 20, and Spotlight: 2008 Artists-in-Residence.
Saturday, April 25
at The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, 16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A
Collector’s Show-and-Tell:
The Secret History of Asian American Literature
Patricia Wakida
2:00-3:00pm
Publishing from the Margins
4:30-6:00pm
With Tan Lin; Dawn Lundy Martin (Third Wave Foundation, Black Took Collective); and Bushra Rehman. Moderated by Ken Chen (The Asian American Writers’ Workshop). Followed by a brief reading from the Workshop's Postcard Poetry Project.
RECEPTION
at The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, 16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A
6:00 pm
Participating Publishers
Achiote Press, Belladonna*, Booklyn, Book Thug, Cuneiform Press, Dancing Girl Press, Diagram/New Michigan Press, Flying Guillotine Press, Noemi Press, North Beach Yacht Club, Octopus Books, Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs, Rain Taxi, Sarabande Books, Slapering Hol, Small Fires Press, TinFish Press, Toadlily Press, Ubu Editions, Ugly Duckling Presse, X-ing Press, and others.
Co-sponsored by The Office of Academic Affairs, The Graduate Center and MFA Programs in Creative Writing of the City University of New York, The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, The Center for Book Arts and Poetry Society of America.
For more information, please visit http://centerforthehumaniites.org, call 212-817-2005, or e-mail abozicevic@gc.cuny.edu (Ana Bozicevic).
A CELEBRATION OF THE CHAPBOOK
Thursday April 23rd, 2009 - Saturday April 25th, 2009
A Celebration of the Chapbook festival calls attention to the rich history of the chapbook and highlights its essential place in poetry publishing today as a vehicle for alternative poetry projects and for emerging authors and editors to gain entry into the literary marketplace. The festival will forge a new platform for the study of the chapbook inside and outside the academy and celebrate the importance of chapbooks to America’s cultural heritage and future.
Thursday, April 23
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue & 34th St
Chapbook Fair
10:00am-6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall Lobby
Brief History of Chapbooks
3:00-4:30pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
With Isaac Gewirtz, Curator of the New York Public Library’s Berg Collection; Eric Lorberer, Editor of Rain Taxi; and Michael Ryan, Director of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library at Columbia University. Moderated by Richard Kaye, Hunter College, CUNY
Chapbooks in the 20th and 21st Centuries
4:30-6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
With Michael Basinski, Assistant Curator of the Poetry/Rare Books Collection of the University Libraries, SUNY at Buffalo; Anne Waldman, Chair and Artistic Director of Naropa University’s Summer Writing Program; and Kevin Young, Emory University. Moderated by Ammiel Alcalay, Queens College, CUNY.
Keynote Reading
6:00pm, The Elebash Recital Hall
Readings by Lytton Smith, Gerald Stern, Judith Vollmer, Kevin Young and others, with an introduction by Kimiko Hahn.
Friday, April 24
at The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue & 34th St
Chapbook Fair
10:00am-4:00pm, Rooms 8301/8304
Chapbook Now: Producing Chapbooks
A Workshop for Poets
10:00-11:30am, Room 8400
With Rachel Levitsky (Belladonna*); Sharon Dolin (The Center for Book Arts); and Ryan Murphy (North Beach Yacht Club). Moderated by Alice Quinn (Poetry Society of America.
Chapbook Now: Producing Chapbooks
A Workshop for Publishers
11:30am-1:00pm, Room 8402
With Jen Benka (Booklyn); Matvei Yankelevich (Ugly Duckling Presse); and Brenda Iijima (Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs). Moderated by Rob Casper (Poetry Society of America).
To register for these workshops, call (212) 817-2005 or e-mail abozicevic@gc.cuny.edu – registration is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Friday, April 24
at The Center for Book Arts, 28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor
Bookmaking for Writers: A Studio Workshop
With Susan Mills and Karen Randall
2:00-5:00pm
Bookmaking for Publishers: A Studio Workshop
With Susan Mills and Karen Randall
2:00-5:00pm
To register, call (212) 481-0295 or e-mail info@centerforbookarts.org – registration is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. There's a $20 materials fee for each workshop.
RECEPTION
at The Center for Book Arts, 28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor
6:00 pm
All are welcome! Visit the exhibitions at The Center for Book Arts: \’fl \:art, text, new media; Roni Gross: Zitouna at 20, and Spotlight: 2008 Artists-in-Residence.
Saturday, April 25
at The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, 16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A
Collector’s Show-and-Tell:
The Secret History of Asian American Literature
Patricia Wakida
2:00-3:00pm
Publishing from the Margins
4:30-6:00pm
With Tan Lin; Dawn Lundy Martin (Third Wave Foundation, Black Took Collective); and Bushra Rehman. Moderated by Ken Chen (The Asian American Writers’ Workshop). Followed by a brief reading from the Workshop's Postcard Poetry Project.
RECEPTION
at The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, 16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A
6:00 pm
Participating Publishers
Achiote Press, Belladonna*, Booklyn, Book Thug, Cuneiform Press, Dancing Girl Press, Diagram/New Michigan Press, Flying Guillotine Press, Noemi Press, North Beach Yacht Club, Octopus Books, Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs, Rain Taxi, Sarabande Books, Slapering Hol, Small Fires Press, TinFish Press, Toadlily Press, Ubu Editions, Ugly Duckling Presse, X-ing Press, and others.
Co-sponsored by The Office of Academic Affairs, The Graduate Center and MFA Programs in Creative Writing of the City University of New York, The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, The Center for Book Arts and Poetry Society of America.
For more information, please visit http://centerforthehumaniites.org, call 212-817-2005, or e-mail abozicevic@gc.cuny.edu (Ana Bozicevic).
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
What I Will Be Reading
When, exactly, I'll be reading this, I don't know. I am near the end of a novel, with two books waiting to be read and reviewed, two more sitting on my nightstand, and a host of other titles noted to be bought or borrowed. But I was blown away by the poems by John Updike that were published in the March 16 New Yorker, and you can bet that I'll be reading the collection Endpoint and Other Poems. Hopefully, sometime very soon.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
Room magazine, a Canadian literary journal, is planning a "Competition" issue for release in December 2010 (timed for the Winter Olympics). "Room is committed to publishing the best in contemporary women's writing, so please send us your very best pieces on sports, relationship and workplace dynamics, personal electronics, potato sack races, and any other topic that reflects this competitive theme. We are also looking for suitable artwork and illustrations too." Deadline: June 1, 2009. Details here. Pays: $50 (CDN) for 1-5 published pages, $75 for 6+ pages, and $100 for cover art. (via placesforwriters.com)
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The New York Times Education Life section is looking for essays: "College is a series of transformative experiences - moments that change the way you view the world. And yourself. Current students are invited to submit an essay or photographs that illustrate their metamorphosis, for a chance to be published in the special back-to-school issue of Education Life." NB: "Students whose work appears in the July 26, 2009, issue of Education Life...will be compensated. Additional select submissions will be shown at nytimes.com. For more information/guidelines, click here. Deadline: May 15, 2009.
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The Guide to Literary Agents blog introduces us to agents Christine Witthohn and Meredith Kaffel.
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And a few jobs:
Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing (fiction), Hollins University (Virginia)
Part-time temporary faculty (fantasy and science fiction), Central Michigan University (Michigan and online)
Assistant Director of Publications and Creative Services, Nazareth College (New York)
Communications Manager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Part-time Professional Writer, Lone Star College System (Texas)
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The New York Times Education Life section is looking for essays: "College is a series of transformative experiences - moments that change the way you view the world. And yourself. Current students are invited to submit an essay or photographs that illustrate their metamorphosis, for a chance to be published in the special back-to-school issue of Education Life." NB: "Students whose work appears in the July 26, 2009, issue of Education Life...will be compensated. Additional select submissions will be shown at nytimes.com. For more information/guidelines, click here. Deadline: May 15, 2009.
==========
The Guide to Literary Agents blog introduces us to agents Christine Witthohn and Meredith Kaffel.
==========
And a few jobs:
Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing (fiction), Hollins University (Virginia)
Part-time temporary faculty (fantasy and science fiction), Central Michigan University (Michigan and online)
Assistant Director of Publications and Creative Services, Nazareth College (New York)
Communications Manager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Part-time Professional Writer, Lone Star College System (Texas)
Friday Find: Agent Blogs (The Best of the Best)
Over on the Guide to Literary Agents blog, Chuck Sambuchino has compiled a list of five top agent blogs. These are great places to learn about the agents who run them, and they're also extremely useful for tips on query letters, synopses, and all that scary stuff! Check out Chuck's winners here. And have a great weekend!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
TBR: First We Read, Then We Write
I smiled immediately when I saw the title of one of NewPages.com's latest book reviews: First We Read, Then We Write. You see, quite a few years ago, my sister and I played "school" quite often. I, of course, played the role of the teacher. Since our childhood predated video cameras or cell phones-with-cameras, all we have now to replay these scenes, in addition to our memories, is an audio tape recording of one of these "sessions." This tape was made when I was seven, and my sister was half that age. And if you listen to that recording, as we still do from time to time, you'll hear my bossy self admonishing my "student": "First we read, then we write." (I'm sorry to admit that that line is a lot kinder that some of my other utterances to my preschooler sibling: "That is scribble-scrabble! You get a C-plus on [writing] your name!" and "Don't do that, dodo-bird!" As if anticipating parental scolding once the tape was played back, I quickly corrected myself: "I mean, not dodo-bird. Sweetie-pie.")
So I'll simply have to take a look at this new book, written by Robert D. Richardson and reviewed, in this instance, by John Madera. Alas, the book is not about me and my early teaching "philosophy." Rather, it is subtitled: "Emerson and the Creative Process." According to the review, the book "fill[s] a gap in Emerson’s oeuvre by compiling the famed essayist’s reflections, asides, margin jottings on the art and craft of writing." Given my positive experiences with similar books inspired by Anton Chekhov and Virginia Woolf, that sure sounds good to me!
P.S. Fortunately, I didn't destroy my sister's academic self-esteem all those years ago. She did learn to write, after all! No more scribble-scrabble! Check out her blog, MyMomShops, where she shares stylish and often discounted online finds (and giveaways) for moms, tots, and those who love them!
So I'll simply have to take a look at this new book, written by Robert D. Richardson and reviewed, in this instance, by John Madera. Alas, the book is not about me and my early teaching "philosophy." Rather, it is subtitled: "Emerson and the Creative Process." According to the review, the book "fill[s] a gap in Emerson’s oeuvre by compiling the famed essayist’s reflections, asides, margin jottings on the art and craft of writing." Given my positive experiences with similar books inspired by Anton Chekhov and Virginia Woolf, that sure sounds good to me!
P.S. Fortunately, I didn't destroy my sister's academic self-esteem all those years ago. She did learn to write, after all! No more scribble-scrabble! Check out her blog, MyMomShops, where she shares stylish and often discounted online finds (and giveaways) for moms, tots, and those who love them!
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The Wednesday Web Browser: Literary Terms, Inclusivity, and Berlin's Lit Scene
The Oxford University Press blog defines "10 Literary Terms You Might Not Know." (I sure didn't know them all!)
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Thank you, BJ Epstein, for introducing me to In the Picture, a UK-based campaign that is "about encouraging publishers, illustrators and writers to embrace diversity - so that disabled children, who have been virtually invisible until recently, are included alongside others in illustrations and story lines in books for young readers."
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From The New York Times: a glimpse into literary Berlin.
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Thank you, BJ Epstein, for introducing me to In the Picture, a UK-based campaign that is "about encouraging publishers, illustrators and writers to embrace diversity - so that disabled children, who have been virtually invisible until recently, are included alongside others in illustrations and story lines in books for young readers."
==========
From The New York Times: a glimpse into literary Berlin.
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