The Wednesday Web Browser: Teaching, Learning, Workshopping

Building on the interest generated last week, The New Yorker is running an online poll for those with MFA degrees. Questions include: What do you think of your MFA in creative writing? Was it worth it? Have you pursued a career in writing (freelance counts)? If so, is it the same genre of writing you got your degree in? Go ahead and answer--the poll is anonymous.
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Erin O'Connor provides an excellent take on Rachel Toor's latest "Page Proof" column, the subject of which is "writing like a doctor" (think mainly "doctor of philosophy").
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And then, on the McSweeney's site, there's Tanya Rey's "Comments Written by Actual Students Extracted from Workshopped Manuscripts at a Major University." (Thanks to the One Story blog for the tip.)

Famous Last Words (or Lines)

Long ago, I shared with you my discovery of a set of great first lines from novels. I recently visited the online source of that list (the American Book Review site), and was thrilled to find a counterpart: "100 Best Last Lines from Novels." (Scroll down the home page to locate it.)

Anyone have any favorite "last lines" to add?

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

The editors of On the Clock (to be published by Bottom Dog Press) "want to anthologize some outstanding fiction about working in a post-industrial world or making the transition from manual labor to intellectual labor, or the conflict of living in both spheres. In short, we want modern stories about people and their work." Deadline is October 1, 2009; reading will begin July 1, 2009. Pays: $50 plus two copies. Will consider reprints. (via the NewPages blog)
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Just received a reminder e-mail from the Cup of Comfort folks: Submissions for A Cup of Comfort for Mothers are due June 15, 2009. And July 1, 2009 is the deadline for A Cup of Comfort for a Better World: Stories that Celebrate Generosity, Compassion, and Volunteerism. Visit the call for submissions page for details on these paying opportunities.
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Comment, a Canadian magazine "equipping and connecting the next generation of Christian leaders," invites poets "to submit contributions in the form of a rondeau suitable for publication in our September print issue. This will be our fourth annual 'Making the Most of College' issue, and the submitted poems should in some way be connected with that theme, or with the beginning of the school year." Winner will receive $50 (presumably in Canadian funds) and publication; two other winners will also receive publication. Deadline: June 15, 2009. No entry fee. (via ImageUpdate)
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The UCL Environment Institute (University College London) seeks a writer-in-residence for the 2009-2010 academic year. "The writer will be required to conduct a programme of work for academic staff and researchers linking creative writing with environmental issues centred on climate change and also pursue their own work on the subject. The specific content and structure of this programme will be your proposal and will form the basis of selection at the interview stage. We anticipate that it might include a combination of such activities as workshops, public readings and seminars." Deadline for application is June 19, 2009.
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The Guide to Literary Agents blog introduces us to Jennifer Weltz of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. "Jennifer accepts some juvenile work, thrillers, historical fiction, women's fiction and more."
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"Lebanon Valley College [Pennsylvania] invites applications for a one-year, full-time position as a visiting assistant professor of English beginning fall 2009. The successful candidate must have a firm commitment to undergraduate teaching and will teach freshman writing, literature, communications, and creative writing courses."

Friday Find: New Review of Forgetting English, by Midge Raymond

Longtime Practicing Writing readers know how much I admire Fiction Writers Review. At long last, I am delighted to announce that this practicing writer is now an official contributor to that terrific online publication!

Please read my review of Midge Raymond's prizewinning story collection, Forgetting English. (It turns out that Raymond's book happens to be a June selection from Andrew's Book Club, too--how nice is that?)

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

Writing About Writing Programs

I've been feeling pretty unwell this week (but my doctor says I do NOT have swine flu, and for that I am grateful). I nearly missed Louis Menand's review-essay in The New Yorker, which centers on that old question: Should creative writing be taught?. But my ever-thoughtful mother, knowing that I haven't been reading with my usual clarity, pointed it out to me. (Thanks, Mom!)

And online, there's more.

I can't help wishing Menand had said at least something about low-residency programs--I'll have to see if the new book he writes about in this piece (Mark McGurl's The Program Era) focuses on them at all.

In any case, it'll be interesting to see the letters to the editors on this one....

The Wednesday Web Browser: Getting Paid, Conference Recap, Poetry@Harvard

The Renegade Writer presents The Freelancer's Guide to Getting Paid.
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Missed the BEA/Writer's Digest Conference? Check out the link-rich roundup.
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My alma mater's been on my mind a lot lately, and I was perusing its Web site when I found this new beta offering: Poetry@Harvard, which offers "a vital nexus of poetry-related courses, library collections, events, organizations, publications and pedagogy at Harvard University."

News from the Nieman Narrative Journalism Program

Another recession casualty--I received the news via e-mail over the weekend:

Dear Friends of the Nieman Narrative Journalism Program,

I write to tell you of the Nieman Foundation’s decision to suspend the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism and the Nieman Seminar for Narrative Editors during the 2009-2010 academic year.

This will disappoint those who have participated in the conferences in the past and who anticipated attending another narrative gathering in the spring of 2010. This difficult step reflects the foundation’s need to make a major reduction in spending for the next fiscal year, beginning in July.

The annual conferences, which were attended by hundreds of journalists and writers, were part of our strategy to establish the Nieman Foundation as a leader in supporting the value of long-form storytelling.

Our commitment to narrative will continue through the narrative writing class offered to Nieman Fellows and our online Nieman Narrative Digest. The site is now updated bi-monthly and features notable narratives, interviews with authors, essays on craft, a narrative lexicon, useful links for writers and other resources.

I also encourage you to visit our Nieman Journalism Lab, Nieman Reports, and Nieman Watchdog Web sites for industry news, tips and inspiration.

Thank you for your wonderful support of our narrative endeavors.

Best regards,
Robert H. Giles
Nieman Foundation Curator

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

Poets & Writers, Inc., is looking for a managing director.
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Sarabande Books, an independent, nonprofit, literary press established in 1994, is seeking a Marketing Director/Development Assistant. They are looking for an individual with a strong commitment to contemporary poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as superior organizational and public relations skills. Minimum BA, MFA, and /or experience desirable. Candidates must be self-starters and highly attentive to details and deadlines. The position includes full-time salary, health, dental, and retirement benefits, private office equipped with a Mac, and ample marketing budget. Job responsibilities include:

* Marketing and publicity for each of ten annual titles
* Attendance at three annual book conferences
* Twice yearly visits to NYC book reviewers
* Some fundraising activity

Please send letter, resume, three phone references, and a list of your top fifteen favorite contemporary poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction titles by June 15 to Sarah Gorham at sgorham(at)sarabandebooks(dot)org. (via KFW Hot Flash)
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Attention, Maine writers! "The Individual Artist Fellowships reward artistic excellence, advance the careers of Maine artists, and promote public awareness regarding the eminence of the creative sector in Maine." Deadline: June 12, 2009. Award is $13,000. No application fee indicated.
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Get to know literary agent Christine ("Chris") Morehouse through this interview on the Guide to Literary Agents blog.
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Contributors are sought for The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Indian Issues Today. "Contributors receive a modest honorarium."