Friday Find: Nathan Bransford's "Writing Advice Database"

Literary agent Nathan Bransford recently posted a "Writing Advice Database" on his excellent blog. Categories cover "Before You Start," "The Writing Process," "Revising," "Genres and Classification," and "Staying sane during the writing/publishing process." Bransford calls it "an FAQ-style compendium of all the writing advice on the blog"--which is considerable. Check it out. And have a great weekend.

Quick Housekeeping Note

Hello, all. Just a quick note: I've been receiving more than the usual number of requests to post submission calls lately from editors whose publications do not pay writers (or pay only in copies). As you may have noticed over time, I promote only paying opportunities on this blog (and in my monthly newsletter). Moreover, I include only those opportunities that do not charge reading, entry, or any other fees.

While I sometimes mention nonpaying publications (or fee-charging contests) here, it's generally in the context of pointing you to my own work or other work that I admire. There are plenty of other sites/lists where you can find (and advertise) nonpaying opportunities. This one is different. Thank you all so much for your interest!

From My Bookshelf: Recent Reads

I'm pleased to report that my most recent reading includes books from each genre I try to deal with on this blog (and incorporate into my own writing practice): fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

As far as fiction goes, I am currently about halfway through John Updike's last story collection, My Father's Tears. I've been happy to discover stories "new" to me (like the one that opens the book, "Morocco") and I've been equally pleased to revisit ones that caught my attention back when they appeared in The Atlantic ("Varieties of Religious Experience") or The New Yorker ("Delicate Wives").

And I'm still thinking about Jessica Handler's memoir, Invisible Sisters, which I finished several days ago. It's a very sad book (the publisher's Web site sums it up as "a compelling, lyrical memoir of a girl who must navigate the loss of her two sisters before she can discover herself").

Finally, I'm making my way through The Book of Questions, by Pablo Neruda (translated by William O'Daly), and published in a wonderful bilingual edition by Copper Canyon Press, which I was lucky enough to receive as a recent gift. I am enjoying this slim volume so much. And while I'm trying to extract some poetry-writing lessons from it, I can't help being caught up in all the vivid phrases with another thought. And that is--wouldn't this make a great title? Or, at the very least, a prompt? Examples: "Imprisoned in One of Petrarch's Sonnets," "The Pale Tears of the Sky," or "The Hospital Garden."

What are you reading right now?

The Wednesday Web Browser: Ask Allison, Tablet Magazine, and Woolf Conference Recap

Author Allison Winn Scotch's popular "Ask Allison" blog--replete with posts on freelancing and fiction-writing--has a new home online.
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Speaking of changes online: Fans of Nextbook.org (moi included) are settling into a site redesign--and a new name, Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life. One of the recently-launched features I'm most happy about: Josh Lambert's weekly column on new Jewish books. (Congrats, Josh. I look forward to all your updates!)
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Congrats also to my friend Anne, who recently ran a most successful conference focusing on Virginia Woolf. Do check out Sasha Graybosch's account of the event on The Rumpus.

The Best Novel You Never Finished Reading

I'll admit that I am too embarrassed to reveal the title of the new, much-buzzed-about-novel that I've simply failed to keep reading after getting through the first 50 pages. Fortunately, The New Yorker's Book Bench blog isn't exactly depending on me for its new series, "Books, Interrupted," which focuses on "failed" reading projects undertaken by the magazine's contributors and editors. The debut post comes from author Yiyun Li, who confesses that she's never made it through Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse (but when you read the post, you'll have to admit she's had some decent excuses).

(Anyone who wants to share his or her own biggest "book, interrupted" is welcome to do so here in comments.)

Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

"Seton Hill University seeks published novelist of popular fiction (preferably mystery/suspense), to teach and to mentor novel-length theses in the graduate low-residency Writing Popular Fiction program (half-load), and to teach undergraduate courses in creative writing and first-year composition. This position will start January 2010. Background in journalism, publishing, and/or editing a plus. Teaching experience at graduate level desirable. MFA required (Ph.D preferred). 4/4 course load."
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"The University of Minnesota Duluth seeks applicants for two part-time, temporary term positions to teach literature and creative writing courses for the 2009-2010 academic year (beginning August 31, 2009)."
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Teaching jobs in the UK (via B.J. Epstein) include: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, University of Plymouth; Lecturer in Creative Writing, Brunel University; Lecturer in English and Creative Writing, Nottingham Trent University.
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Attention, Seattle-area writers: Writers in the Schools (WITS) "is looking for creative writers who are passionate about teaching the power and pleasure of writing to young people and who are excited to collaborate with public school teachers. Employment is part-time. Writers-in-residence typically teach one day a week from September through June for a total of 84 direct teaching hours. A yearlong commitment is required." Deadline: July 20, 2009.
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Some nonteaching jobs for writers: staff writer, Franklin and Marshall College (Pennsylvania); public relations specialist, Murray State University (Kentucky); director of development communications, Harvard Medical School (Massachusetts).
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Update from HOBART: "OK, we are at least semi-caught up, so we are again open to submissions. Send away! (Though keep in mind that we are still only reading our next theme issue: The Great Outdoors!)" Pays: $50-$150/story.
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Bitch magazine plans a winter 2010 theme on "Old," and supplies the following keywords: "aging, history, marginalization, nostalgia, witches." Pitch deadline is July 1."Payment is $100 for features, $50 for front-of-book pieces and back-page pieces, and $10-$20 for Love/Shoves."
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"World Hum updates daily and is dedicated to publishing travel stories, videos and slideshows of the highest quality." Check the site for descriptions of the different feature types (interviews, reviews, first-person narratives, etc.)."Payment varies."

Friday Find: List of PhD in Creative Writing Programs

Anyone contemplating a PhD in Creative Writing may wish to consult Seth Abramson's latest research product: a list of nearly 100 programs leading to just such a degree, within and outside the United States. Note that the program sites aren't linked within Seth's post, so that part of the investigating remains the reader's job. (Thank goodness for Google!)

Hope everyone has a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.

UPDATE (12/09): Seth Abramson has discontinued his blog, and this post is no longer available. The next-best resources may be the Poets & Writers program database and AWP's online directory to creative writing programs (in each case, you can limit the search to PhD programs).

Yesterday's News: Reflections on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

I am preparing this post on Wednesday night for posting early on Thursday. I have to be honest with you: I'm having a hard time focusing on anything but the terrible events that unfolded today at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

As some of you know, much of my writing--in every genre--has been influenced by my identity as the elder granddaughter of German Jews who fled to the United States in the late 1930s. I visited the USHMM shortly after it opened. At the time, I was especially moved by "Remember the Children: Daniel's Story," an exhibit that was designed with children in mind. (The fact that in the exhibit, Daniel's fictional sister is named "Erika" only added to the emotion of the visit.)

Although my sister's two children are still too young to understand this part of our family history, someday we will need to explain to them why the great-grandparents for whom they are named left Germany. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I've thought of bringing my niece and nephew to see the USHMM exhibit in Washington one day to help with that difficult task.

I am praying for the family of Stephen Tyrone Johns, the brave guard who stopped the shooter--and paid for that bravery with his life.

And I thank you all for indulging me with a post that I'd more typically leave on my "other" blog.