Montreal-based Matrix is looking for "Zen-inspired poems in forms that are related or have been shaped by it such as haiku, tanka, haibun, and the collaborative renku." (One of the issue editors confirmed via e-mail that contributors will be paid.) Deadline: October 31, 2010.
"Call for Submissions! AWP [JobList] is looking for articles on professional advancement for writers & teachers, as well as articles about academia & job opportunities for MFA graduates. Approx. 2,000-3,000 wds. Payment rates are the same as those of the Writer’s Chronicle. For questions, or to submit an article, please e-mail joblist(at)awpwriter(dot)org."
Another announcement from Robert Lee Brewer: "I'm putting out the official call for submissions on the 2012 Poet's Market. I'm interested in many different poetic topics, but especially those that will help poets find success in publishing and marketing their poetry. Take a look at the most recent editions of Poet's Market to find a topic that hasn't been covered or that could be covered in a new way. Since I conduct interviews on the Poetic Asides blog, I'm not as interested in those, but if you have access to a super big name or a great slant, I'm always willing to consider your pitch." Pitch deadline is September 7, 2010.
Kansas poets and fiction writers, it's your turn to apply for the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Awards from Poets & Writers. The winning writers will be brought to New York City for an all-expenses-paid visit in October 2011, during which they'll meet with editors/agents/publishers (they'll also each receive a $500 honorarium and an optional one-month residency at Jentel [Wyo.]). There is no application fee. Deadline: December 1, 2010.
Lifting Voices (D.C.) seeks a writing workshop leader to "teach small groups in under-served neighborhoods that the written word is fun and meaningful. Typical workshop activities include writing letters, reading and performing raps, and making movies. The students are generally in the third to sixth grade range, although some students are younger or older." This is a part-time job, and pays $1,440/month from September 1 to June 30. Apply by August 15, 2010.
Stanford University (Calif.) seeks a Senior Development Writer, Stonehill College (Mass.) is looking for a Senior Copywriter, and Saint Xavier University (Ill.) seeks a University Relations Senior Editor.
Showing posts with label Writing on Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing on Writing. Show all posts
Monday, August 09, 2010
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) has posted its list of accepted panel proposals for the 2011 conference in Washington, D.C. I am so excited that both of my proposed teams will be participating! One session is in the "career advancement" category, and will focus on finding, creating, and succeeding in online teaching jobs. The other, within "the craft of fiction," will discuss issues in 21st-century Jewish-American fiction.
If I needed another reason to want to read Anthony Doerr's new story collection, this interview on The Forward's Sisterhood blog, "Anthony Doerr's Fictional Journey Inside a Jewish Girls' Orphanage," gave it to me. (Historical-fiction writers will particularly appreciate/relate.)
"Operation Thriller" is bringing thriller writers to entertain members of the military.
You should certainly read Dwight Garner's review of Tom Grimes's new book, Mentor, which "is ostensibly about Frank Conroy, the gifted memoirist (“Stop-Time”) and novelist (“Body and Soul”) who was the longtime director of the Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa." But as Garner writes, reading the actual book "might make [an aspiring writer] climb a tall tree and leap from it."
If you're a blogger, or want to be one, you may appreciate this ProBlogger post: "Crazy Stuff I've Done as a Blogger, and What I've Learned from It All."
If I needed another reason to want to read Anthony Doerr's new story collection, this interview on The Forward's Sisterhood blog, "Anthony Doerr's Fictional Journey Inside a Jewish Girls' Orphanage," gave it to me. (Historical-fiction writers will particularly appreciate/relate.)
"Operation Thriller" is bringing thriller writers to entertain members of the military.
You should certainly read Dwight Garner's review of Tom Grimes's new book, Mentor, which "is ostensibly about Frank Conroy, the gifted memoirist (“Stop-Time”) and novelist (“Body and Soul”) who was the longtime director of the Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa." But as Garner writes, reading the actual book "might make [an aspiring writer] climb a tall tree and leap from it."
If you're a blogger, or want to be one, you may appreciate this ProBlogger post: "Crazy Stuff I've Done as a Blogger, and What I've Learned from It All."
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: "Real-Life" Characters in Fiction
One of my favorite themes in writing-about-writing resurfaced this week: real-life characters in fiction. A big thank you goes to the Hayden's Ferry Review blog for leading me to Meg Rosoff's blog post for the Guardian's Books Blog, "Tackling real-life characters in fiction is fine - as long as you do it well."
Most of the writing on creating fictional characters from real-life personages focuses on recognizable people: historical figures, celebrities, and so on. (The tour guide who appears in my story "The Quiet American, Or How to Be a Good Guest," may well be based on an actual tour guide, but I did not give too much thought to the implications of creating a fictional döppelganger in that case.) And it's this traditional emphasis that continues in the Guardian post as well.
If that focus isn't necessarily relevant in the context of the tour guide character, it's much more applicable when viewed in the context of some other stories in Quiet Americans. "For Services Rendered," which opens the book, includes as key characters Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and his second wife, Emmy. (For some background on what inspired this story, and the research that went into it, you can read the essay I wrote for the Scribblers on the Roof website awhile back.)
"Real-life characters" (not to mention events) appear elsewhere in Quiet Americans. For instance, Golda Meir makes a cameo in a story titled "Homecomings." (Admittedly, one of the MFA classmates who critiqued an early version thought I'd invented Mrs. Meir. But the first female prime minister of Israel was, in fact, a "real-life" person.)
And anyone who reads "Floating" and recalls the brouhaha concerning a certain state poet laureate and a 9/11 poem will be able to identify the real-life inspiration behind a certain sub-plot, even without the use of the poet's name. I'm still not certain why I chose not to name the poet in that story. One may be this major difference between the other characters and the poet: The poet is still alive.
As I continued to think about my stories this week in the context of the Guardian article, I realized something else: In a way that's quite different from the situation with "For Services Rendered," where everything that Hermann and Emmy Göring say and do has major repercussions on the rest of the story, the real-life characters within "Homecomings" and "Floating" are minor players, presences that help illuminate aspects other, major characters and events in each piece.
Or at least, that's what I think. Come January, we'll see if you agree.
Most of the writing on creating fictional characters from real-life personages focuses on recognizable people: historical figures, celebrities, and so on. (The tour guide who appears in my story "The Quiet American, Or How to Be a Good Guest," may well be based on an actual tour guide, but I did not give too much thought to the implications of creating a fictional döppelganger in that case.) And it's this traditional emphasis that continues in the Guardian post as well.
If that focus isn't necessarily relevant in the context of the tour guide character, it's much more applicable when viewed in the context of some other stories in Quiet Americans. "For Services Rendered," which opens the book, includes as key characters Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring and his second wife, Emmy. (For some background on what inspired this story, and the research that went into it, you can read the essay I wrote for the Scribblers on the Roof website awhile back.)"Real-life characters" (not to mention events) appear elsewhere in Quiet Americans. For instance, Golda Meir makes a cameo in a story titled "Homecomings." (Admittedly, one of the MFA classmates who critiqued an early version thought I'd invented Mrs. Meir. But the first female prime minister of Israel was, in fact, a "real-life" person.)
And anyone who reads "Floating" and recalls the brouhaha concerning a certain state poet laureate and a 9/11 poem will be able to identify the real-life inspiration behind a certain sub-plot, even without the use of the poet's name. I'm still not certain why I chose not to name the poet in that story. One may be this major difference between the other characters and the poet: The poet is still alive.
As I continued to think about my stories this week in the context of the Guardian article, I realized something else: In a way that's quite different from the situation with "For Services Rendered," where everything that Hermann and Emmy Göring say and do has major repercussions on the rest of the story, the real-life characters within "Homecomings" and "Floating" are minor players, presences that help illuminate aspects other, major characters and events in each piece.
Or at least, that's what I think. Come January, we'll see if you agree.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
For my fellow Francophiles: a lovely essay by Anthony Daniels on Flaubert's most famous conte, which is translated as A Simple Heart. "Of course, no summary can do justice to the subtlety, acuity, or beauty of Flaubert's story. The only real way of doing it justice would be to repeat it word for word. Let me, however, point to just a few instances, not by any means exhaustive."
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In The New York Times, Abigail Zuger wonders: "Should memoirs of illness be held to the same standards as other writing?"
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Just in case you didn't catch this essay about author Tim O'Brien's visit to a community college when I posted it (twice) on Twitter last week, I'm sharing it again.
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Tuesday is Poetry Day on Twitter. Follow poetry-oriented tweets at #poettues.
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Debbie Ridpath Ohi took the words right out of my mouth (or head). I was asked to promote the same writing contest here on Practicing Writing, and I declined the request for the very same reasons that made her wary. Be careful, my friends!
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In The New York Times, Abigail Zuger wonders: "Should memoirs of illness be held to the same standards as other writing?"
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Just in case you didn't catch this essay about author Tim O'Brien's visit to a community college when I posted it (twice) on Twitter last week, I'm sharing it again.
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Tuesday is Poetry Day on Twitter. Follow poetry-oriented tweets at #poettues.
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Debbie Ridpath Ohi took the words right out of my mouth (or head). I was asked to promote the same writing contest here on Practicing Writing, and I declined the request for the very same reasons that made her wary. Be careful, my friends!
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Congratulations to our friend John Griswold on all of the accolades he and his novel, A Democracy of Ghosts, have been accruing. Find out more about the author and his book by revisiting our September 2009 interview.
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Sometimes, it really doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy. Seeing online appreciations in recent days for two admired authors--Patrick Modiano, whose work I discovered my junior year in college, and Ludwig Lewisohn, whose 1928 novel The Island Within I've written about before--has really helped lift my spirits this week.
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It's that time of year again: The New York Writers Coalition (NYWC) is holding its annual Write-a-Thon on Saturday, June 12, in NYC. This year, the fundraising effort to benefit the NYWC's free writing programs for the formerly homeless, at-risk youth, seniors, and others, will offer a complementary (and complimentary) online component for people who wish to participate from afar. (I've participated in and written about the Write-a-Thon in the past.)
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Sometimes, it really doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy. Seeing online appreciations in recent days for two admired authors--Patrick Modiano, whose work I discovered my junior year in college, and Ludwig Lewisohn, whose 1928 novel The Island Within I've written about before--has really helped lift my spirits this week.
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It's that time of year again: The New York Writers Coalition (NYWC) is holding its annual Write-a-Thon on Saturday, June 12, in NYC. This year, the fundraising effort to benefit the NYWC's free writing programs for the formerly homeless, at-risk youth, seniors, and others, will offer a complementary (and complimentary) online component for people who wish to participate from afar. (I've participated in and written about the Write-a-Thon in the past.)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
A Review of Carol Sklenicka's "Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life"
WHAT WE WRITE ABOUT WHEN WE WRITE ABOUT RAYMOND CARVER
Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life by Carol Sklenicka. Scribner, 592 pages. Hardcover or digital, $35.00 (paperback to be released in November).
By Erika Dreifus
For me (and, I suspect, for many of you), delving into a biography of a famous author must resemble what non-writers experience when they sit down with a celebrity profile. What an incredible opportunity to know the person behind the reputation. What a way to gain an intimate and comprehensive view into a life we may have perceived mainly through the individual’s professional output and public persona (perhaps mixed with some apocryphal stories and gossipy hearsay). And for writers—especially short story writers who came of artistic age in the last quarter of the 20th century, few contemporary authors have proved more influential than Raymond Carver.
Carol Sklenicka’s recent biography, Raymond Carver: A Writer’s Life, possesses an exceedingly apt subtitle. The book provides an absorbing and meticulously documented account of how Carver, born in 1938 in Clatskanie, Ore., to a millworker and his wife, developed into a world-famous author.
As Sklenicka notes in the Introduction, by the time of Carver’s early death (from lung cancer, in 1988), “Where I’m Calling From, a selection of his short stories that the New York Times named a favorite book of the late twentieth century, had just been published; he had just completed his third collection of poetry in five years. His work appeared in twenty-two languages and the Times of London called him ‘the American Chekhov.’ He was a full-time writer, acclaimed by the press and supported by royalties from his books and a generous five-year grant from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.”
But this road to literary success was far from smooth. Sklenicka not only demonstrates the struggles, sacrifices and sufferings that Carver’s achievements demanded —particularly from his first wife, Maryann Burk Carver—but she also reveals the extent of Carver’s own single-minded dedication to his writing and the incremental steps, decisions, encounters and experiences that combined to shape the history of his career.
The biography thus recounts well-known staples of Carver’s life story, such as his undergraduate creative writing studies with a then-unknown John Gardner at Chico State College (now California State University, Chico); the dynamics of his relationship with editor Gordon Lish; the alcohol-soaked times he shared with John Cheever when both were visiting professors at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop; the reputation he earned (and disliked) for literary “minimalism”; and the second marriage, to poet Tess Gallagher. But readers are guaranteed to glean new insights and discoveries in this book, too.
For example, there’s the correspondence course that introduced to the 15-year-old Carver the “Essential Elements of a Short Story and How To Develop Them.” The first short story publications, in the spring of 1961: “Furious Seasons,” which appeared in Selection, a Chico State literary magazine for which Carver served as an editor, and “The Father,” which was published in the Humboldt State College (now University) student magazine, Toyon. The first book publication: Near Klamath, a poetry collection published by the English Club of Sacramento State College in 1967. The promises and efforts to produce a novel that was never completed. The reactions of his two children when they saw their lives rendered on the page. The genuine friendships with a staggering array of writers familiar to us all. The messiness and disputes surrounding his estate and the rights to his work after his death.
If you are put off initially by the sheer size of this book—the quintessential “doorstop” tome—I have two words of advice: Don’t be. I guarantee that you will find Sklenicka a talented writer in her own right, and, again, there is something simply captivating about reading such a detailed account of an admired author’s life and literary career.
Beyond that, you will discover that nearly 90 of the book’s pages are devoted to extra-narrative material: acknowledgments and sources, an inventory of Carver’s works, endnotes and an index. You will leave this book with an infinitely expanded understanding of Carver as a gifted author - and, just like the rest of us, an imperfect human being.
(A version of this interview appeared in The Writer magazine.)
Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life by Carol Sklenicka. Scribner, 592 pages. Hardcover or digital, $35.00 (paperback to be released in November).
By Erika Dreifus
For me (and, I suspect, for many of you), delving into a biography of a famous author must resemble what non-writers experience when they sit down with a celebrity profile. What an incredible opportunity to know the person behind the reputation. What a way to gain an intimate and comprehensive view into a life we may have perceived mainly through the individual’s professional output and public persona (perhaps mixed with some apocryphal stories and gossipy hearsay). And for writers—especially short story writers who came of artistic age in the last quarter of the 20th century, few contemporary authors have proved more influential than Raymond Carver.
Carol Sklenicka’s recent biography, Raymond Carver: A Writer’s Life, possesses an exceedingly apt subtitle. The book provides an absorbing and meticulously documented account of how Carver, born in 1938 in Clatskanie, Ore., to a millworker and his wife, developed into a world-famous author.
As Sklenicka notes in the Introduction, by the time of Carver’s early death (from lung cancer, in 1988), “Where I’m Calling From, a selection of his short stories that the New York Times named a favorite book of the late twentieth century, had just been published; he had just completed his third collection of poetry in five years. His work appeared in twenty-two languages and the Times of London called him ‘the American Chekhov.’ He was a full-time writer, acclaimed by the press and supported by royalties from his books and a generous five-year grant from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.”
But this road to literary success was far from smooth. Sklenicka not only demonstrates the struggles, sacrifices and sufferings that Carver’s achievements demanded —particularly from his first wife, Maryann Burk Carver—but she also reveals the extent of Carver’s own single-minded dedication to his writing and the incremental steps, decisions, encounters and experiences that combined to shape the history of his career.
The biography thus recounts well-known staples of Carver’s life story, such as his undergraduate creative writing studies with a then-unknown John Gardner at Chico State College (now California State University, Chico); the dynamics of his relationship with editor Gordon Lish; the alcohol-soaked times he shared with John Cheever when both were visiting professors at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop; the reputation he earned (and disliked) for literary “minimalism”; and the second marriage, to poet Tess Gallagher. But readers are guaranteed to glean new insights and discoveries in this book, too.
For example, there’s the correspondence course that introduced to the 15-year-old Carver the “Essential Elements of a Short Story and How To Develop Them.” The first short story publications, in the spring of 1961: “Furious Seasons,” which appeared in Selection, a Chico State literary magazine for which Carver served as an editor, and “The Father,” which was published in the Humboldt State College (now University) student magazine, Toyon. The first book publication: Near Klamath, a poetry collection published by the English Club of Sacramento State College in 1967. The promises and efforts to produce a novel that was never completed. The reactions of his two children when they saw their lives rendered on the page. The genuine friendships with a staggering array of writers familiar to us all. The messiness and disputes surrounding his estate and the rights to his work after his death.
If you are put off initially by the sheer size of this book—the quintessential “doorstop” tome—I have two words of advice: Don’t be. I guarantee that you will find Sklenicka a talented writer in her own right, and, again, there is something simply captivating about reading such a detailed account of an admired author’s life and literary career.
Beyond that, you will discover that nearly 90 of the book’s pages are devoted to extra-narrative material: acknowledgments and sources, an inventory of Carver’s works, endnotes and an index. You will leave this book with an infinitely expanded understanding of Carver as a gifted author - and, just like the rest of us, an imperfect human being.
(A version of this interview appeared in The Writer magazine.)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
HTMLGIANT brings us an interview with poet/translator/publisher Lawrence Schimel, whose Fairy Tales for Writers we mentioned here way back in 2007.
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Next, the Huffington Post presents the provocatively-titled "Iowa Writers' Workshop Graduate Spills It All: Interview with John McNally, Author of 'After the Workshop.'" (via the Poetry Foundation)
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Then, The Days of Yore website, which "interviews artists about the years before they had money, fame, or road maps to success, and inspires you to find your own," turns its attention to author Gary Shteyngart. (via the Jewish Book Council).
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In other-than-interview news, big congrats to Jane Roper, who has just signed a book deal with St. Martin's Press for a memoir loosely based on her Babble.com blog about mothering young twins. This will be Jane's second book--her first, a novel titled Eden Lake, will be published by Last Light Studio next spring (shortly after the release of Quiet Americans, by yours truly!). I'm so happy for Jane, and I know that both of her books will be well worth your attention.
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Next, the Huffington Post presents the provocatively-titled "Iowa Writers' Workshop Graduate Spills It All: Interview with John McNally, Author of 'After the Workshop.'" (via the Poetry Foundation)
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Then, The Days of Yore website, which "interviews artists about the years before they had money, fame, or road maps to success, and inspires you to find your own," turns its attention to author Gary Shteyngart. (via the Jewish Book Council).
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In other-than-interview news, big congrats to Jane Roper, who has just signed a book deal with St. Martin's Press for a memoir loosely based on her Babble.com blog about mothering young twins. This will be Jane's second book--her first, a novel titled Eden Lake, will be published by Last Light Studio next spring (shortly after the release of Quiet Americans, by yours truly!). I'm so happy for Jane, and I know that both of her books will be well worth your attention.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
For you practicing writers who are based in New York State outside the five boroughs of New York City: New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Strategic Opportunity Stipends "are designed to help individual artists of all disciplines take advantage of unique opportunities that will significantly benefit their work or career development. Literary, media, visual, music and performing artists may request support ranging from $100 to $600 for specific, forthcoming opportunities that are distinct from work in progress." Deadline: May 25, 2010. No application fee.
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Maine writers, hurry up if you want to apply for a Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship ($13,000). Deadline is May 14. No application fee indicated.
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From Robert Lee Brewer, in the Writer's Market newsletter: "I will be editing the 2011 Songwriter's Market, which means I have another hat to put on my head. It also means I need to assign some articles for the book. This is where you come in. Please forward this newsletter to anyone who may be interested in pitching an article for the 2011 Songwriter's Market. Also, please tweet or post on online forums, Facebook, etc. You have my permission. Here's what I need: Articles on the business of songwriting and/or interviews with those in the business. If you're unsure, please use a previous edition of Songwriter's Market as a guide. Please send pitches (without attachments) to me at robert(dot)brewer(at)fwmedia(dot)com with the subject line: 2011 Songwriter's Market Pitch. Deadline for pitches: May 31. Good luck!"
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From the AbsoluteWrite.com discussion boards: "Hazard Cat can now pay more to our contributors. We are looking for cat fiction, poetry, art, essays, and personal cat stories. We pay 1/2 cent per word for fiction, essays, and personal stories, and $5 for art and poetry. Here is a link to our submission guidelines: http://hazardcat.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html. We look forward to hearing from you."
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StoryCorps (N.Y.) seeks a Manager for Marketing & Communications, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland is looking for a Writer/Editor, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (Mass.) seeks a Writer.
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Maine writers, hurry up if you want to apply for a Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship ($13,000). Deadline is May 14. No application fee indicated.
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From Robert Lee Brewer, in the Writer's Market newsletter: "I will be editing the 2011 Songwriter's Market, which means I have another hat to put on my head. It also means I need to assign some articles for the book. This is where you come in. Please forward this newsletter to anyone who may be interested in pitching an article for the 2011 Songwriter's Market. Also, please tweet or post on online forums, Facebook, etc. You have my permission. Here's what I need: Articles on the business of songwriting and/or interviews with those in the business. If you're unsure, please use a previous edition of Songwriter's Market as a guide. Please send pitches (without attachments) to me at robert(dot)brewer(at)fwmedia(dot)com with the subject line: 2011 Songwriter's Market Pitch. Deadline for pitches: May 31. Good luck!"
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From the AbsoluteWrite.com discussion boards: "Hazard Cat can now pay more to our contributors. We are looking for cat fiction, poetry, art, essays, and personal cat stories. We pay 1/2 cent per word for fiction, essays, and personal stories, and $5 for art and poetry. Here is a link to our submission guidelines: http://hazardcat.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html. We look forward to hearing from you."
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StoryCorps (N.Y.) seeks a Manager for Marketing & Communications, the College of Notre Dame of Maryland is looking for a Writer/Editor, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (Mass.) seeks a Writer.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Zachary Watterson's excellent interview with Charles Johnson focuses on literary mentors and friends. (And don't miss the link to Johnson's take on writing workshops at the end.)
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Want some tips on how to write a good profile? Check out this advice from Linda Formichelli.
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I was happy to see that Creating Van Gogh (a.k.a. John Vanderslice) took me up on the recommendation to read Kathryn Stockett's The Help, and even more pleased to read his own thoughtful response to the book. Another recent post reminded and convinced me to get my hands on William Styron's posthumously-published The Suicide Run.
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Gina Barreca and Steve Almond may have written two entirely different pieces about the recent Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Denver, but I found one interesting convergence in their posts. (Do you see what I see?)
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I really liked Robert Lee Brewer's Monday poetry prompt: "Pick a city, make that the title of your poem, and write a poem." And then I realized/remembered why I might appreciate this particular prompt.
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Want some tips on how to write a good profile? Check out this advice from Linda Formichelli.
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I was happy to see that Creating Van Gogh (a.k.a. John Vanderslice) took me up on the recommendation to read Kathryn Stockett's The Help, and even more pleased to read his own thoughtful response to the book. Another recent post reminded and convinced me to get my hands on William Styron's posthumously-published The Suicide Run.
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Gina Barreca and Steve Almond may have written two entirely different pieces about the recent Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Denver, but I found one interesting convergence in their posts. (Do you see what I see?)
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I really liked Robert Lee Brewer's Monday poetry prompt: "Pick a city, make that the title of your poem, and write a poem." And then I realized/remembered why I might appreciate this particular prompt.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Two posts I read a day apart but which seem to me an interesting pair: Sage Cohen on "The Life Poetic: Shifting Our Lens from Poverty to Prosperity" and Allison Winn Scotch's response to a reader's question on "Saying Sayonara to Your Day Job."
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On InsiderHigherEd.com, Serena Golden interviews Robert Burns Stepto on his forthcoming book, A Home Elsewhere: Reading African American Classics in the Age of Obama.
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Especially for my fellow Francophiles/Francophones: "De 1980 à 2009, les livres qui ont marqué la vie littéraire française." (via The Literary Saloon, which offers the astute observation that "in quite a few cases...there's a case to be made for other titles by the selected authors.")
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Links to some of Jewish Woman magazine's recent content on Jewish women's writing.
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Follow me on Twitter!
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On InsiderHigherEd.com, Serena Golden interviews Robert Burns Stepto on his forthcoming book, A Home Elsewhere: Reading African American Classics in the Age of Obama.
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Especially for my fellow Francophiles/Francophones: "De 1980 à 2009, les livres qui ont marqué la vie littéraire française." (via The Literary Saloon, which offers the astute observation that "in quite a few cases...there's a case to be made for other titles by the selected authors.")
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Links to some of Jewish Woman magazine's recent content on Jewish women's writing.
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Follow me on Twitter!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday Find: Writermag.com's Open House
I know I mentioned this on Monday, but today (the 26th) is the very last day of The Writer magazine's online open house. If you haven't stopped by yet, do so today! This is the last day that everything on the Web site will be open for anyone to view, including market listings and subscriber-only articles. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.
Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Book Promotion Offers To "Tear Down The Walls" of the Publishing Industry
A few days ago, I turned in my latest review assignment for The Writer: a piece on Stephen Markley's Publish This Book: The Unbelievable True Story of How I Wrote, Sold, and Published This Very Book (Sourcebooks, 2010). You'll have to wait a bit for the review to appear in the magazine, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share with you an interesting promotion I discovered on the Sourcebooks site when I was double-checking some information:
So you work on your manuscript for months, carefully craft a proposal and pitch letter, and send out your heart and soul to agents and publishers. And what do you get in return? A form letter saying “Thank you for your submission, but it does not meet our needs at this time.” Really?I know--you still have to buy the book, which contradicts the no-fee opportunity policy I normally follow here and in the newsletter. And in an ideal world, you'd get to read my review before deciding to buy the book. But it's something to look into. And it's a clever promotional idea that might inspire some others.
We at Sourcebooks and Julie A. Hill and Associates know how you feel. Well, now we know, thanks to Stephen Markley and his hilarious, innovative, and amazing new memoir Publish This Book. You see, sick of getting rejections that say nothing, Stephen decided to cut to the chase and write a memoir about how hard it is to get a book published. And then try to get that book published—a book about its own creation.
Crazy, right? Well, he convinced us, getting agent representation from Julie Hill of Julie A. Hill and Associates and finally publication by Sourcebooks. And after reading his whole manuscript, we see how hard it is for you out there. So in honor of Stephen’s achievement, and all aspiring writers, we’ve decided to tear down the walls that keep writers from honest and helpful feedback about their work from the publishing industry. That means: no more form letters, but an actual critique of your submission from an agent or publishing company
How Does It Work?
1. Purchase a copy of Publish This Book.
2. Between March 9, 2010 and May 9, 2010 submit your proposal along with a proof of purchase (receipt, order confirmation, etc.) via the form below or by email.
3. Wait 2-6 months (While you’re waiting, why not read your new copy of Publish This Book? It’s amazing.)
4. Receive a 2-4 paragraph critique of your submission.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
We've seen a lot online about Lucille Clifton since the poet's recent passing, but these reflections from Honorée Fanonne Jeffers stand out.
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The 2010 Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference hasn't yet taken place, but guidelines have been posted for 2011 event proposals (submission deadline is May 15, 2010).
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"Learning to Write the MFA Poem," by Nin Andrews (via the MFA Weblog).
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Dan Wickett declares March to be Chapbook Month over on the Emerging Writers Network.
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The 2010 Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference hasn't yet taken place, but guidelines have been posted for 2011 event proposals (submission deadline is May 15, 2010).
==========
"Learning to Write the MFA Poem," by Nin Andrews (via the MFA Weblog).
==========
Dan Wickett declares March to be Chapbook Month over on the Emerging Writers Network.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Kim Wright shares some authorial anxiety as the pub date nears for her first novel (check out a book excerpt, too). Look forward to an interview with Kim later this spring in The Practicing Writer.
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Coming soon: London's Jewish Book Week. Andrew Sanger offers a preview.
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Writer Tia Nevitt reveals "7 Things I've Learned So Far."
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Chris Wilson wonders, "Can New Yorker Poets Write About Anything Besides Poetry?" (via The Elegant Variation)
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Considering teaching (or, for that matter, studying) writing online? Spend some time with Todd Gilman's article on "Combating Myths About Distance Education."
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Congratulations to Kevin Haworth on his latest literary award.
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Something for my fellow Francophiles (and Ile-de-France-based blog readers): Laurel Zuckerman's Paris Writers News (via Writer Abroad).
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Coming soon: London's Jewish Book Week. Andrew Sanger offers a preview.
==========
Writer Tia Nevitt reveals "7 Things I've Learned So Far."
==========
Chris Wilson wonders, "Can New Yorker Poets Write About Anything Besides Poetry?" (via The Elegant Variation)
==========
Considering teaching (or, for that matter, studying) writing online? Spend some time with Todd Gilman's article on "Combating Myths About Distance Education."
==========
Congratulations to Kevin Haworth on his latest literary award.
==========
Something for my fellow Francophiles (and Ile-de-France-based blog readers): Laurel Zuckerman's Paris Writers News (via Writer Abroad).
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
In her latest Chronicle essay, Rachel Toor writes about the habit of writing. Warning: Prepare to feel chastised if you aren't a)writing and b)exercising as much as you should/want to be.
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I've been out of college almost 20 years, but I still enjoy reading the main campus newspaper (and thanks to the Internet, it's easy for me to do so!). Here's a story--about a "budding freshman author" named Noni D. Carter--that makes such visits to the newspaper's site even more meaningful.
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Midge Raymond reports on her recent trip to the Southern California Writers' Conference and what she heard there.
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Another useful nuts-and-bolts column from "After Deadline."
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I've been out of college almost 20 years, but I still enjoy reading the main campus newspaper (and thanks to the Internet, it's easy for me to do so!). Here's a story--about a "budding freshman author" named Noni D. Carter--that makes such visits to the newspaper's site even more meaningful.
==========
Midge Raymond reports on her recent trip to the Southern California Writers' Conference and what she heard there.
==========
Another useful nuts-and-bolts column from "After Deadline."
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
From the Arvon Foundation (U.K.): "An anonymous writer, who has benefitted from several Arvon courses, would like to enable others to have the same experience. The donor will provide a yearly amount which will enable one person working in the voluntary sector to attend an Arvon writing course for a greatly reduced fee. To apply you must currently volunteer either full or part time within a charity or voluntary organisation." There is no application fee, and applications are due by March 1, 2010.
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"The American Prospect's Writing Fellows Program offers journalists at the beginning of their career the opportunity to spend two full years at the magazine in Washington, D.C., actively developing their journalistic skills. Each fellow will write a minimum of three to four full-length feature articles. Fellows will also regularly write shorter, online pieces and blog daily....We are seeking candidates who are opinionated and comfortable generating article ideas rather than relying on assignments. A passion for blogging is appreciated." No application fee. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
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Latest call for submissions from WOW! Women on Writing:
"WOW! is seeking submissions for their upcoming themes:
May '10 Book to Film: (Deadline for queries/subs: March 15, 2010).
The majority of films are made from books these days, so using this as a basic premise, we are dedicating May's issue to all things related to words and pictures.
Here are some topic ideas for articles/interviews:
- Interviews with authors of books that were made into films.
- Interviews with screenwriters who crafted a screenplay from a book.
- How to write a screenplay--I know, big topic, but we can start with the basic structural differences of novel writing vs. screenwriting and share some tips for screenwriting.
- Basics of writing a TV pilot.
- How a book gets optioned for a film: how does it happen, what steps are involved, including quotes from experts.
- The YouTube phenomena: how to effectively use YouTube as an author or freelance writer, how to make money from YouTube, etc.
Fiction Mechanics/Novelist's Tool Kit: (Deadline for queries/subs: April 15, 2010)
Last month, when I was putting together the links at the bottom of Beth Cato's fabulous article Beginning After NaNoWriMo, I noticed that we were short on articles that covered the mechanics of fiction. I'd love to see comprehensive articles on all the tools novelists need to have in their toolbox for working on their novels. Here are some basic topics: (Note: this is an all "how to" issue, no interviews.)
- Plot & Structure
- Scenes
- Description & Setting
- Pacing
- Voice
(Note: we already have articles on: dialogue tags, self-editing for fiction writers, and beginnings/middles/ends.)"
General submission guidelines/pay rates here.
==========
Goddard College (Vt.) seeks part-time, temporary faculty for its BFA in Creative Writing program. "We seek faculty who are published writers committed to excellence in their craft and the development of individual voice. Our students work closely with their faculty advisors during each residency to plan the work of the semester. Our faculty continue this supportive and sustaining mentorship throughout the semester, and the students benefit from the experience, insights, and critical feedback of their advisors. BFA faculty members are cross-listed in the Individualized BA program at Goddard; applicants must, therefore, be prepared to respond to student work in at least two areas of liberal arts study in addition to creative writing. Interested applicants are urged to explore the Goddard BFA-CW and IBA programs on the Goddard web site before applying."
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Ploughshares is looking for a managing editor. And the Edinburgh International Book Festival seeks temporary staff.
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"The American Prospect's Writing Fellows Program offers journalists at the beginning of their career the opportunity to spend two full years at the magazine in Washington, D.C., actively developing their journalistic skills. Each fellow will write a minimum of three to four full-length feature articles. Fellows will also regularly write shorter, online pieces and blog daily....We are seeking candidates who are opinionated and comfortable generating article ideas rather than relying on assignments. A passion for blogging is appreciated." No application fee. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
==========
Latest call for submissions from WOW! Women on Writing:
"WOW! is seeking submissions for their upcoming themes:
May '10 Book to Film: (Deadline for queries/subs: March 15, 2010).
The majority of films are made from books these days, so using this as a basic premise, we are dedicating May's issue to all things related to words and pictures.
Here are some topic ideas for articles/interviews:
- Interviews with authors of books that were made into films.
- Interviews with screenwriters who crafted a screenplay from a book.
- How to write a screenplay--I know, big topic, but we can start with the basic structural differences of novel writing vs. screenwriting and share some tips for screenwriting.
- Basics of writing a TV pilot.
- How a book gets optioned for a film: how does it happen, what steps are involved, including quotes from experts.
- The YouTube phenomena: how to effectively use YouTube as an author or freelance writer, how to make money from YouTube, etc.
Fiction Mechanics/Novelist's Tool Kit: (Deadline for queries/subs: April 15, 2010)
Last month, when I was putting together the links at the bottom of Beth Cato's fabulous article Beginning After NaNoWriMo, I noticed that we were short on articles that covered the mechanics of fiction. I'd love to see comprehensive articles on all the tools novelists need to have in their toolbox for working on their novels. Here are some basic topics: (Note: this is an all "how to" issue, no interviews.)
- Plot & Structure
- Scenes
- Description & Setting
- Pacing
- Voice
(Note: we already have articles on: dialogue tags, self-editing for fiction writers, and beginnings/middles/ends.)"
General submission guidelines/pay rates here.
==========
Goddard College (Vt.) seeks part-time, temporary faculty for its BFA in Creative Writing program. "We seek faculty who are published writers committed to excellence in their craft and the development of individual voice. Our students work closely with their faculty advisors during each residency to plan the work of the semester. Our faculty continue this supportive and sustaining mentorship throughout the semester, and the students benefit from the experience, insights, and critical feedback of their advisors. BFA faculty members are cross-listed in the Individualized BA program at Goddard; applicants must, therefore, be prepared to respond to student work in at least two areas of liberal arts study in addition to creative writing. Interested applicants are urged to explore the Goddard BFA-CW and IBA programs on the Goddard web site before applying."
==========
Ploughshares is looking for a managing editor. And the Edinburgh International Book Festival seeks temporary staff.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
The New York Times, or more specifically, Elisabeth Bumiller, takes note of the war literature emanating from Iraq and Afghanistan. (Not much fiction. What might that signify?)
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Mark Sarvas recently served as a judge for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize, and is ready to share some of what he learned from the experience.
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Dani Shapiro reflects on "the new bottom line" for (would-be) writers: "The emphasis is on publishing, not on creating. On being a writer, not on writing itself." (via One Story)
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Mark Sarvas recently served as a judge for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize, and is ready to share some of what he learned from the experience.
==========
Dani Shapiro reflects on "the new bottom line" for (would-be) writers: "The emphasis is on publishing, not on creating. On being a writer, not on writing itself." (via One Story)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
I knew I was truly starting to recover from my flu bug this weekend when I was able to read a full article in the New York Times Sunday magazine: "James Patterson Inc.", a COVER story on the author and his writing/publishing empire.
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Something that unfortunately got past me in the days before the Tamiflu worked its magic was a new "Indy Press Friday" initiative on Twitter. The point is to promote titles by small/indy presses via tweets with an #ipf hashtag. See Galleycat for more. (This week, I'll be prepared! How about you?)
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On the Poet Hound blog: useful tips on requesting a review of your book. (Many thanks to Diane Lockward for highlighting this in her recent roundup post titled "Some Cool Stuff," in which yours truly is also mentioned!)
==========
Something that unfortunately got past me in the days before the Tamiflu worked its magic was a new "Indy Press Friday" initiative on Twitter. The point is to promote titles by small/indy presses via tweets with an #ipf hashtag. See Galleycat for more. (This week, I'll be prepared! How about you?)
==========
On the Poet Hound blog: useful tips on requesting a review of your book. (Many thanks to Diane Lockward for highlighting this in her recent roundup post titled "Some Cool Stuff," in which yours truly is also mentioned!)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is taking submissions until January 31, 2010. This biennial competition for short personal essays accepts submissions in two categories: humor and human interest. Entries in English are welcome from authors worldwide. Four first-place winners (one global and one local [from the Dayton, Ohio, area], for each category) will receive $100 prizes, free admission to the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, and publication. There is no entry fee. Visit the site for rules and instructions.
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"In June 2010, the Stadler Center [at Bucknell University, Penn.] will conduct the twenty-sixth annual Seminar for Younger Poets. Held for three weeks in June, the Seminar provides an extended opportunity for undergraduate poets to write and to be guided by established poets. Staff and visiting poets conduct writing workshops and offer lecture/discussions, present readings of their own work, and are available for individual conferences.... Numerous readings provide the participants with the opportunity to hear and be heard by their peers. Applicants compete for ten places in the Seminar, all of which come with fellowships. Fellowships include tuition, housing in campus apartments, and meals. Accepted students are responsible only for their travel to Bucknell and a modest library deposit. A limited number of travel scholarships are available on the basis of need." Deadline: February 1, 2010. There is no application fee.
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Last week's WritersWeekly.com newsletter included this note: "We're out of features! Want to write for WritersWeekly? We pay $60 on acceptance for around 600 words - non-exclusive electronic rights only." Check the guidelines for more info.
==========
Bay Area freelancers: "The Castro Courier, a neighborhood newspaper that serves San Francisco's Castro and Upper Market neighborhoods, is seeking Bay Area-based freelancers to write news and feature stories on a monthly basis. We are principally looking for writers with news backgrounds to write about issues facing the neighborhood, be it development, public safety, transportation, etc. Writers MUST be based in the Bay Area and be willing to travel out to the neighborhood to write their stories. This is a great way to get good experience writing about important and timely urban issues while learning to write for a hyper-local audience." Pays: $40/story.
==========
From Emerson College (Mass.): "The Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor, or Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, in the area of Fiction writing. The initial appointment is for the 2010-11 academic year beginning September 1, 2010."
==========
Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) seeks an Admissions Writer/Administrative Assistant, Elon University (N.C.) is looking for an Assistant Director of University Relations for Alumni Communications, and Boston College (Mass.) invites applications for a Senior Associate Director for Student Affairs Marketing & Communications.
==========
"In June 2010, the Stadler Center [at Bucknell University, Penn.] will conduct the twenty-sixth annual Seminar for Younger Poets. Held for three weeks in June, the Seminar provides an extended opportunity for undergraduate poets to write and to be guided by established poets. Staff and visiting poets conduct writing workshops and offer lecture/discussions, present readings of their own work, and are available for individual conferences.... Numerous readings provide the participants with the opportunity to hear and be heard by their peers. Applicants compete for ten places in the Seminar, all of which come with fellowships. Fellowships include tuition, housing in campus apartments, and meals. Accepted students are responsible only for their travel to Bucknell and a modest library deposit. A limited number of travel scholarships are available on the basis of need." Deadline: February 1, 2010. There is no application fee.
==========
Last week's WritersWeekly.com newsletter included this note: "We're out of features! Want to write for WritersWeekly? We pay $60 on acceptance for around 600 words - non-exclusive electronic rights only." Check the guidelines for more info.
==========
Bay Area freelancers: "The Castro Courier, a neighborhood newspaper that serves San Francisco's Castro and Upper Market neighborhoods, is seeking Bay Area-based freelancers to write news and feature stories on a monthly basis. We are principally looking for writers with news backgrounds to write about issues facing the neighborhood, be it development, public safety, transportation, etc. Writers MUST be based in the Bay Area and be willing to travel out to the neighborhood to write their stories. This is a great way to get good experience writing about important and timely urban issues while learning to write for a hyper-local audience." Pays: $40/story.
==========
From Emerson College (Mass.): "The Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor, or Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, in the area of Fiction writing. The initial appointment is for the 2010-11 academic year beginning September 1, 2010."
==========
Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) seeks an Admissions Writer/Administrative Assistant, Elon University (N.C.) is looking for an Assistant Director of University Relations for Alumni Communications, and Boston College (Mass.) invites applications for a Senior Associate Director for Student Affairs Marketing & Communications.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Quotation of the Week: James Baldwin
"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world....The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way...people look at reality, then you can change it.Source: Epigraph (quoted at the opening) to Mary Pipher's excellent 2006 book, Writing to Change the World.
--James Baldwin
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