After Deadline is back with another grab bag of items on grammar, usage, and style. (I always learn/relearn something from After Deadline, although it hasn't managed to sway me on the serial comma yet, as you can see.)
The latest issue of The Atlantic contains an article about one of my guilty pleasures: soap operas. Which reminds me of a review (of a soap-focused book) that I wrote several years ago that you might enjoy.
Congrats to Chloe' Yelena Miller, whose poem, "Estate Sale," is the current Narrative poem of the week!
Anne Fernald tries to figure out what's wrong with that book?
I'll be on vacation next week (more about that in a day or two--you have no idea how much I need a vacation!), so I'll share this job lead with you now instead of waiting for the usual Monday post: Princeton University (N.J.) is seeking Lecturers. "The Creative Writing Program at the Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University is seeking distinguished writers for openings in fiction, poetry, and translation. These positions are one or two semester appointments. The positions begin September 2011 and/or February 2012."
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
Gotham Writers' Workshop is running a "Hint Fiction Contest": "For this contest, Gotham welcomes the expertise of Robert Swartwood, editor of Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories of 25 Words or Fewer (to be published in November by W.W. Norton). Mr. Swartwood will select the winner from the finalists in this competition." There's no entry fee, and your submission should run no longer than 25 words. Prizes: a 10-week writing workshop, $100, a one-year subscription to The Writer, publication on Gotham's 2011 course catalog, and, of course, "bragging rights." Deadline: October 11, 2010.
From the Matador Network ("both an online travel magazine and a thriving social network. Or, more simply put, it’s a community"): a Transparent Narrative Writing Contest. "Over the last few weeks we’ve been seeing some really interesting new travel narratives, and we decided to to run a contest. The winner gets $300 plus free enrollment to the travel writing program at MatadorU [worth $350]. The winning story, along with honorable mentions will be published here at the Traveler’s Notebook. Even if you’re a professional writer who doesn’t necessarily need classes, consider this about the U: you get lifetime access to our forums and Market Blog, with leads and writing opportunities researched and curated by Matador editors, along with all future Pro Modules we publish on new media strategies, branding, SEO, and other areas of continuing education." Note that "part of the focus of this contest is to encourage “transparent” writing. This is a prose style where the narrator narrates events / scenes as he or she perceived them at ground-level." For examples and additional information, visit the site. There's no entry fee, and you have until 5 p.m. (EST) on September 10, 2010, to submit.
Crab Orchard Review has announced its next special issue theme: "Crab Orchard Review is seeking work for our Summer/Fall 2011 issue focusing on writing exploring the people, places, history, and new directions that have shaped and are reshaping the American South. All submissions should be original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English or unpublished translations in English (we do run bilingual, facing-page translations whenever possible). Please query before submitting any interview. The submission period for this issue is August 10 through November 1, 2010. We will be reading submissions throughout this period and hope to complete the editorial work on the issue by the end of March 2011. Writers whose work is selected will receive $25 (US) per magazine page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) and two copies of the issue."
Franklin & Marshall College (Penn.) is looking for an Assistant Director for its Philadelphia Alumni Writers House: "Full-time, year-round position responsible for providing all programmatic, curricular, and some administrative coordination for all aspects of this literary performance space and writing collective at Franklin & Marshall College. The Assistant Director works in collaboration with the Director of the Writers House to identify, produce, and support all Writers House programs, co-sponsorships, and curricular, public relations, administrative, and advancement initiatives."
"Penn State Shenango invites applications for a faculty position in English, Assistant Professor, (tenure-track, 36 weeks) to begin August 2011, or as negotiated. Responsibilities: Teach three courses (9 credits) each semester using traditional and hybrid delivery modes. Teaching assignments will be based on the successful candidate's areas of expertise, but will include some combination of English composition, literature, creative writing, or poetry, and may require teaching day, evening and/or Saturday classes as needed. Publish in refereed journals. Participate in course, curriculum, and program development. Advise students and provide career guidance. Participate in campus, university, and community service activities and in professional organizations."
Goucher College (Md.) seeks an Assistant Editor, Northeastern University (Mass.) is looking for a Senior Writer/Communications Coordinator, and California State University-Stanislaus seeks a Public Affairs/Communications Specialist (Writer).
From the Matador Network ("both an online travel magazine and a thriving social network. Or, more simply put, it’s a community"): a Transparent Narrative Writing Contest. "Over the last few weeks we’ve been seeing some really interesting new travel narratives, and we decided to to run a contest. The winner gets $300 plus free enrollment to the travel writing program at MatadorU [worth $350]. The winning story, along with honorable mentions will be published here at the Traveler’s Notebook. Even if you’re a professional writer who doesn’t necessarily need classes, consider this about the U: you get lifetime access to our forums and Market Blog, with leads and writing opportunities researched and curated by Matador editors, along with all future Pro Modules we publish on new media strategies, branding, SEO, and other areas of continuing education." Note that "part of the focus of this contest is to encourage “transparent” writing. This is a prose style where the narrator narrates events / scenes as he or she perceived them at ground-level." For examples and additional information, visit the site. There's no entry fee, and you have until 5 p.m. (EST) on September 10, 2010, to submit.
Crab Orchard Review has announced its next special issue theme: "Crab Orchard Review is seeking work for our Summer/Fall 2011 issue focusing on writing exploring the people, places, history, and new directions that have shaped and are reshaping the American South. All submissions should be original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English or unpublished translations in English (we do run bilingual, facing-page translations whenever possible). Please query before submitting any interview. The submission period for this issue is August 10 through November 1, 2010. We will be reading submissions throughout this period and hope to complete the editorial work on the issue by the end of March 2011. Writers whose work is selected will receive $25 (US) per magazine page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) and two copies of the issue."
Franklin & Marshall College (Penn.) is looking for an Assistant Director for its Philadelphia Alumni Writers House: "Full-time, year-round position responsible for providing all programmatic, curricular, and some administrative coordination for all aspects of this literary performance space and writing collective at Franklin & Marshall College. The Assistant Director works in collaboration with the Director of the Writers House to identify, produce, and support all Writers House programs, co-sponsorships, and curricular, public relations, administrative, and advancement initiatives."
"Penn State Shenango invites applications for a faculty position in English, Assistant Professor, (tenure-track, 36 weeks) to begin August 2011, or as negotiated. Responsibilities: Teach three courses (9 credits) each semester using traditional and hybrid delivery modes. Teaching assignments will be based on the successful candidate's areas of expertise, but will include some combination of English composition, literature, creative writing, or poetry, and may require teaching day, evening and/or Saturday classes as needed. Publish in refereed journals. Participate in course, curriculum, and program development. Advise students and provide career guidance. Participate in campus, university, and community service activities and in professional organizations."
Goucher College (Md.) seeks an Assistant Editor, Northeastern University (Mass.) is looking for a Senior Writer/Communications Coordinator, and California State University-Stanislaus seeks a Public Affairs/Communications Specialist (Writer).
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Advice for freelancers from Linda Formichelli: "Diversifying is good to a point, but you shouldn’t just add new products and services willy-nilly."
Amusing (and, based on my admittedly limited and long-ago experience, true!) take from Writer Abroad on being "Ameropean."
Monday night I finished reading Allegra Goodman's aforementioned new novel, The Cookbook Collector. A wonderful read! As I wrote in a note to the author, it's such a smart book, while being unassuming. That is to say, it's about as far from "in-your-face" with its own smartness as it can possibly be. I highly recommend it!
Over on my other blog, last week's Shabbat link list of Jewish literary news was especially extensive. If you're interested, please do check it out.
Amusing (and, based on my admittedly limited and long-ago experience, true!) take from Writer Abroad on being "Ameropean."
Monday night I finished reading Allegra Goodman's aforementioned new novel, The Cookbook Collector. A wonderful read! As I wrote in a note to the author, it's such a smart book, while being unassuming. That is to say, it's about as far from "in-your-face" with its own smartness as it can possibly be. I highly recommend it!
Over on my other blog, last week's Shabbat link list of Jewish literary news was especially extensive. If you're interested, please do check it out.
Monday, August 09, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
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.
"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.
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."
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Quotation of the Week: Allegra Goodman
As I mentioned on my other blog awhile back, I've been looking forward to reading Allegra Goodman's new novel, The Cookbook Collector. I pre-ordered a copy and finally began reading on Sunday evening. So far, so great!Last week, my mom and I attended a terrific literary event here in New York that featured Allegra and novelist Cathleen Schine in conversation with Sandee Brawarsky, book critic for the New York Jewish Week. At one point, Allegra offered the following comment about something that she sees as a real plus of novel-writing:
"Your work can be intensely personal without being autobiographical."
So true! So important! So under-appreciated!
The degree of interest readers show in the autobiographical elements of fiction never fails to amaze me. Admittedly, I've been guilty of this interest as a reader, too. But I hope that my crimes are fewer and further between now that I have some experience as a fiction writer myself.
In truth, there are pieces of "me" in all of my fiction, even if I may be the only one who can pinpoint each of them. And the characters that might outwardly resemble "me"--one example comes to mind from a story workshopped long ago; several classmates told me they were convinced that one character in that story was, in fact, me, thinly disguised--can be the ones furthest from my own experience.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
I subscribe to several "poem-a-day" services, and a few days ago I received a poem from one of them (Poem-A-Day) that I found simply extraordinary: Charles Harper Webb's "Prayer for the Man Who Mugged My Father, 72."
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Over on Twitter, Janice Harayda is using a #bkrev hashtag to discuss book reviewing. Yesterday's focus: negative reviews.
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Here's a fun list: the 25 Greatest Fictional Lawyers (Who Are Not Atticus Finch). (via AboveTheLaw.com)
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The wonderful Sage Cohen has a new article out on "Top 10 Productivity Pitfalls for Writers to Avoid." (I've already pre-ordered Sage's forthcoming book, The Productive Writer.)
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Over on Twitter, Janice Harayda is using a #bkrev hashtag to discuss book reviewing. Yesterday's focus: negative reviews.
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Here's a fun list: the 25 Greatest Fictional Lawyers (Who Are Not Atticus Finch). (via AboveTheLaw.com)
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The wonderful Sage Cohen has a new article out on "Top 10 Productivity Pitfalls for Writers to Avoid." (I've already pre-ordered Sage's forthcoming book, The Productive Writer.)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Quotation of the Week: Adam Langer
In an interview occasioned by the recent publication of his latest book, The Thieves of Manhattan (on my tbr list), Adam Langer was asked the following:
"Did you meet with early success, in terms of getting your first novel accepted for publication, or was it a long, hard road for you?"
Langer's response offers this week's "Quotation of the Week":
(Hat tip to Josh Lambert for the interview link.)
"Did you meet with early success, in terms of getting your first novel accepted for publication, or was it a long, hard road for you?"
Langer's response offers this week's "Quotation of the Week":
"If I pretended that my first published novel, Crossing California, was actually the first novel I wrote, I'd say that it was easy. I'd say, yup, I finished the book, got an agent, got a contract, and started work on Book #2. But in saying that, I'd be ignoring the fact that my first novel, Making Tracks, a teen detective story written when I was in high school, is still in a drawer. And so is my second novel, It Takes All Kinds, a 300-page long screed about my first week at Vassar. Also, my third novel, A Rogue in the Limelight, a picaresque journey modeled on Huck Finn and The Confederacy of Dunces, never found the right agent, even though some people (well, my mother) have called it my best novel. One of my earliest agents said that my fourth novel, Indie Jones, a slacker comedy set in Chicago's independent film world, would easily find a home at Doubleday, but that didn't happen. And I stopped looking for an agent for my fifth novel, an existential thriller called American Soil, when I realized there was too much personal shit in it and I really didn't want to deal with having it published. But yeah, once I finished Book #6, it was smooth sailing."Source: The Huffington Post
(Hat tip to Josh Lambert for the interview link.)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
From Vagabondage Press: "We are currently open to submissions of novella length fiction for stand-alone publication in digital form, with possible consideration for print publication. Vagabondage Press accepts queries all year round for novella and novel length work and only accepts queries by email. We are currently seeking well-written literary fiction of 15,000 to 50,000 words that explores the human experience. We hope to provide a safe space for authors who've gone underappreciated because the industry has led them to believe that they don't fit a particular format. We hold no editorial bias in regards to stories for or about individuals of any race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or planet of origin." Pays: royalties.
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From Creative Nonfiction: "Creative Nonfiction is looking for new work by MFA students for publication in an upcoming issue. The winner and four finalists will be invited to read during the 2011 AWP Conference in Washington, DC (February 2-5, 2011)." CNF "typically" pays $10/printed page. Deadline: November 5, 2010.
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Guidelines for the annual Helen Schaible International Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest are now available. Prizes: $50/$35/$15. No entry fee. Deadline: September 1, 2010.
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Attention, freelancers: WritersWeekly.com ran an article on paying education markets last week. (Kind of reminded me of another article on the same topic that ran once upon a time.)
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From mediabistro.com (click here to access complete announcement):"mb LEARN is looking for a dynamic, spirited instructor to teach our Intro to Social Media class in New York starting in September. This class meets for 4 weeks and will teach students how to use social media tools to expand and improve their professional life. Topics include social media and web 2.0, blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, viral video, social bookmarking, social media news releases, and other emerging web technologies. By the end of class, students will have an established presence on one or more social networks, expanded exposure on existing networks, and a solid understanding of how to best use social media."
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Gettysburg College (Pa.) seeks an Assistant Director of Communications, Wesleyan University (Conn.) is looking for an Editor/New Media Writer, and Stanford University's Graduate School of Business (Calif.) is looking for a Philanthropy Case Writer (one-year appointment).
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From Creative Nonfiction: "Creative Nonfiction is looking for new work by MFA students for publication in an upcoming issue. The winner and four finalists will be invited to read during the 2011 AWP Conference in Washington, DC (February 2-5, 2011)." CNF "typically" pays $10/printed page. Deadline: November 5, 2010.
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Guidelines for the annual Helen Schaible International Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest are now available. Prizes: $50/$35/$15. No entry fee. Deadline: September 1, 2010.
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Attention, freelancers: WritersWeekly.com ran an article on paying education markets last week. (Kind of reminded me of another article on the same topic that ran once upon a time.)
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From mediabistro.com (click here to access complete announcement):"mb LEARN is looking for a dynamic, spirited instructor to teach our Intro to Social Media class in New York starting in September. This class meets for 4 weeks and will teach students how to use social media tools to expand and improve their professional life. Topics include social media and web 2.0, blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, viral video, social bookmarking, social media news releases, and other emerging web technologies. By the end of class, students will have an established presence on one or more social networks, expanded exposure on existing networks, and a solid understanding of how to best use social media."
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Gettysburg College (Pa.) seeks an Assistant Director of Communications, Wesleyan University (Conn.) is looking for an Editor/New Media Writer, and Stanford University's Graduate School of Business (Calif.) is looking for a Philanthropy Case Writer (one-year appointment).
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Quotation of the Week: Elizabeth Hardwick
Since I often sense that I'm plot-challenged (and I was a fan of certain nighttime "soaps" back in the day), I loved this quotation, which I found via Twitter last week.
"If I want a plot I'll watch 'Dallas.'"Source: The Paris Review
- Elizabeth Hardwick (interviewed in 1985)
Monday, July 05, 2010
Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities
The Birdsong Micropress Winter 2010 Poetry & Prose Contest will award prizes (one in each category) of $50, publication in Birdsong #14, 10 complimentary copies of the zine, and a featured spot in the organization's Brooklyn reading series in mid-December. Submit by October 10, 2010. No entry fee. (via Poets & Writers)
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New policies for unsolicited submissions to Tin House Books and Tin House magazine have been announced. I've posted the text of the press release here.
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NoTreeBooks invites submissions of dialogue-driven short stories for three themed e-anthologies: (1) vampires, ghosts, zombies, and other "creature stories"; (2) contemporary cowboy romance stories; and (3) "sleeping with exes," stories "about couples who break up but still have a relationship." There are lots of details available at the website. Submissions are open until all anthologies are filled. Pays: $50-$100 to each anthology contributor-author, on publication, plus possible royalties.
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Graphic fiction competition for those living in the U.K./Republic of Ireland: The Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize will award a first prize of £1,000 and publication in The Observer Review. The runner-up will receive £250, with publication on www.guardian.co.uk and the Vintage website. There is no entry fee. Deadline: October 6, 2010.
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Pilot Books Micro-Residencies (Summer 2010): "Introducing an experimental micro-residency program for writers who want to work and write chez Pilot Books. Each receives a stipend, access to brainfulls of reading material, and hours of writing time punctuated by light literary conversation and the occasional sales transaction. Pilot Books will then publish the author-resident’s new poetry, prose, fiction, or comics in a limited edition chapbook series, 'FINANCIALS.' One-day ($80) and two-day ($160) residencies are available: July 2, July 4, July 10-11, July 18, July 24-25, August 7-8, August 21-22, August 28, September 4-5." For more details/application info, visit HTMLGIANT. No application fee. Apply fast!
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Saint Louis University (Mo.) seeks a Writer, Columbia Business School (N.Y.) is looking for a Writer, and the Stanford School of Education seeks a Writer/PR Director (see job #38382).
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New policies for unsolicited submissions to Tin House Books and Tin House magazine have been announced. I've posted the text of the press release here.
==========
NoTreeBooks invites submissions of dialogue-driven short stories for three themed e-anthologies: (1) vampires, ghosts, zombies, and other "creature stories"; (2) contemporary cowboy romance stories; and (3) "sleeping with exes," stories "about couples who break up but still have a relationship." There are lots of details available at the website. Submissions are open until all anthologies are filled. Pays: $50-$100 to each anthology contributor-author, on publication, plus possible royalties.
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Graphic fiction competition for those living in the U.K./Republic of Ireland: The Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize will award a first prize of £1,000 and publication in The Observer Review. The runner-up will receive £250, with publication on www.guardian.co.uk and the Vintage website. There is no entry fee. Deadline: October 6, 2010.
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Pilot Books Micro-Residencies (Summer 2010): "Introducing an experimental micro-residency program for writers who want to work and write chez Pilot Books. Each receives a stipend, access to brainfulls of reading material, and hours of writing time punctuated by light literary conversation and the occasional sales transaction. Pilot Books will then publish the author-resident’s new poetry, prose, fiction, or comics in a limited edition chapbook series, 'FINANCIALS.' One-day ($80) and two-day ($160) residencies are available: July 2, July 4, July 10-11, July 18, July 24-25, August 7-8, August 21-22, August 28, September 4-5." For more details/application info, visit HTMLGIANT. No application fee. Apply fast!
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Saint Louis University (Mo.) seeks a Writer, Columbia Business School (N.Y.) is looking for a Writer, and the Stanford School of Education seeks a Writer/PR Director (see job #38382).
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!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: On Attending (and Arranging) Readings
Living in New York City, one could easily attend a literary reading (make that multiple readings) every day. The city presents a true embarrassment of riches in that respect.
If you have the time and energy, that is.
Alas, time and energy are precious commodities for this practicing writer. Between a full-time office job, family life and friends, a revitalized commitment to visiting the gym at least a few days each week, and, lest we forget, a bit of writing (and reading, and blogging) here and there, boarding a subway or bus to attend a reading too often falls off my to-do list. Especially when it's really hot outside. Or really cold.
This week, however, I persevered. After an especially intense workday and facing the oppressive heat and humidity that is also oh-so-characteristic of this lovely city (this time of year, anyway), I rallied. I was determined to attend what Ron Hogan had billed as "An Evening of All-American Fiction" midtown at the Center for Fiction, featuring the following authors and new books:
Well, how could anyone with a forthcoming story collection titled Quiet Americans resist?
I sure couldn't. And I'm very glad I went, not only because it is always good for me to get out and go to these events, see authors and hear new work read. But the event also got me thinking about readings in another respect.
Right now, I shouldn't simply be attending readings. I should be arranging them, too.
I've already explained that Last Light Books, the publisher of Quiet Americans, is a small, new press. There is no money for me to go "touring" around the country, although a virtual book tour is definitely on the agenda.
So here I am, trying to figure out how to arrange readings in the New York area, Boston, and D.C. (I expect to be in D.C. in early February for the 2011 AWP conference, and I'm planning to get to Boston a few months later.)
And here are some of the questions I have:
If you have the time and energy, that is.
Alas, time and energy are precious commodities for this practicing writer. Between a full-time office job, family life and friends, a revitalized commitment to visiting the gym at least a few days each week, and, lest we forget, a bit of writing (and reading, and blogging) here and there, boarding a subway or bus to attend a reading too often falls off my to-do list. Especially when it's really hot outside. Or really cold.
This week, however, I persevered. After an especially intense workday and facing the oppressive heat and humidity that is also oh-so-characteristic of this lovely city (this time of year, anyway), I rallied. I was determined to attend what Ron Hogan had billed as "An Evening of All-American Fiction" midtown at the Center for Fiction, featuring the following authors and new books:
- Pearl Abraham, American Taliban
- David Goodwillie, American Subversive
- Jane Mendelsohn, American Music
- Hilary Thayer Hamann, Anthropology of an American Girl
Well, how could anyone with a forthcoming story collection titled Quiet Americans resist?
I sure couldn't. And I'm very glad I went, not only because it is always good for me to get out and go to these events, see authors and hear new work read. But the event also got me thinking about readings in another respect.
Right now, I shouldn't simply be attending readings. I should be arranging them, too.
I've already explained that Last Light Books, the publisher of Quiet Americans, is a small, new press. There is no money for me to go "touring" around the country, although a virtual book tour is definitely on the agenda.
So here I am, trying to figure out how to arrange readings in the New York area, Boston, and D.C. (I expect to be in D.C. in early February for the 2011 AWP conference, and I'm planning to get to Boston a few months later.)
And here are some of the questions I have:
- Which reading series/venues do you go to? For my current purposes, the NYC-Washington corridor is most relevant, but why don't we hear recommendations for other locations, so everyone can benefit from the comments? If there are links available for your favorite venues/series, please share those, too!
- For those of you who have arranged your own readings (or for any publicists who have arranged readings for others), what's the magic formula? How far in advance do you try to arrange a reading? What are the basic how-tos to arrange a reading? It strikes me as something a bit like inviting yourself to someone else's house. Not exactly comfortable or intuitive. How does this whole thing work?
- What else should I be thinking about (readings-wise) at this time, a little more than six months before Quiet Americans: Stories meets the world?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Philip Graham shares writing lessons learned from his cab-driving days.
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Over on my other blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), Barbara Krasner provides a generous guest post/conference dispatch re: writing Jewish-themed children's books.
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Here's a peek into the archives of John Updike (made me nostalgic for doing research in Houghton Library).
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According to the editor whom Lisa Romeo cites, I must be an "old writer," indeed. What about you?
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Over on my other blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), Barbara Krasner provides a generous guest post/conference dispatch re: writing Jewish-themed children's books.
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Here's a peek into the archives of John Updike (made me nostalgic for doing research in Houghton Library).
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According to the editor whom Lisa Romeo cites, I must be an "old writer," indeed. What about you?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thursday's Pre-Publication Post: Come On Get Happy!
Earlier this week, the Fiction Writers Review blog spotlighted an essay by author Aryn Kyle. Titled "'This Book Made Me Want To Die' And Other Thoughts From Readers," the essay engages with comments/reviews Kyle has received with a decided point of view: that maybe, she should try to write something a little "happier":
"Mostly," Kyle writes, "what I learned about my book is that it’s depressing. Not just depressing, but 'pointlessly depressing'; 'brutal'; 'disturbing'; 'unrelentingly bleak'; and 'appalling'—just to touch on the tip of the critical iceberg. One reader claimed to be so disturbed by [Kyle's novel] The God of Animals that, upon finishing it, she had to medicate herself with sleeping pills."
But when people tell Kyle to write something "happy," she can't quite understand. "Happy like Anna Karenina? Happy like The Grapes of Wrath? Happy like Lolita or Catch-22 or Revolutionary Road? Happy like Hamlet?"
You get the idea.
Because the publication of my story collection, Quiet Americans, is still several months away, I don't yet have access to a comparable trove of reader reaction. But that doesn't mean that I can't already identify with the essay and the points Kyle has raised.
In fact, while I was reading, I couldn't help but recall one AWP conference, at which I finally met one of the TriQuarterly editors who had helped bring my story, "Matrilineal Descent," to the reading public. I'd gone over to the journal's Bookfair table to introduce myself. "Ah, yes," the editor said. "Your story. It was a laugh a minute." To which I responded—how else?—by laughing. (Attention, lucky readers! You, too, can enjoy the utter comedy that is "Matrilineal Descent" when the story reappears in Quiet Americans this winter.)
But Kyle's essay also sent me straight to the shelf where the Purple Binder (pictured) rests.
The Purple Binder, my friends, contains all the many rejection letters and e-mail messages that I received from agents and publishers who considered my collection, in one variant or another, over a five-year period. (It should not be confused with the far thicker Red Binder, which contains rejections received for individual short stories.)
I was certain that I'd find some echoes of the comments that have come Kyle's way within the Purple Binder's pages. And guess what? My memory was right.
Now, a few comments:
In truth, I'm trying not to think too much just yet about what people will say about Quiet Americans once it has been published (assuming that it receives any attention at all). But if the book is faulted for not being "happy" enough, at least I'll be prepared. And in good company.
"Mostly," Kyle writes, "what I learned about my book is that it’s depressing. Not just depressing, but 'pointlessly depressing'; 'brutal'; 'disturbing'; 'unrelentingly bleak'; and 'appalling'—just to touch on the tip of the critical iceberg. One reader claimed to be so disturbed by [Kyle's novel] The God of Animals that, upon finishing it, she had to medicate herself with sleeping pills."
But when people tell Kyle to write something "happy," she can't quite understand. "Happy like Anna Karenina? Happy like The Grapes of Wrath? Happy like Lolita or Catch-22 or Revolutionary Road? Happy like Hamlet?"
You get the idea.
Because the publication of my story collection, Quiet Americans, is still several months away, I don't yet have access to a comparable trove of reader reaction. But that doesn't mean that I can't already identify with the essay and the points Kyle has raised.
In fact, while I was reading, I couldn't help but recall one AWP conference, at which I finally met one of the TriQuarterly editors who had helped bring my story, "Matrilineal Descent," to the reading public. I'd gone over to the journal's Bookfair table to introduce myself. "Ah, yes," the editor said. "Your story. It was a laugh a minute." To which I responded—how else?—by laughing. (Attention, lucky readers! You, too, can enjoy the utter comedy that is "Matrilineal Descent" when the story reappears in Quiet Americans this winter.)
But Kyle's essay also sent me straight to the shelf where the Purple Binder (pictured) rests.
The Purple Binder, my friends, contains all the many rejection letters and e-mail messages that I received from agents and publishers who considered my collection, in one variant or another, over a five-year period. (It should not be confused with the far thicker Red Binder, which contains rejections received for individual short stories.)
I was certain that I'd find some echoes of the comments that have come Kyle's way within the Purple Binder's pages. And guess what? My memory was right.
Dear Erika Dreifus,
Thank you for giving us a look at four stories from your collection, Former Title, which [Big-Time Agent] asked me to review. I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you, and I wish I had better news. I very much admire your writing and found all four stories very strong, but I'm afraid that this collection would be difficult to sell. The cumulative effect of your stories, with themes ranging from the Holocaust, to fetal defects to racism, is too downbeat for the editors we deal with.
Nonetheless, I think you are a talented writer. If you are not too put off by these remarks and you begin a novel, we'd love to see the first 50 pages.
Regretfully,
Associate at Big-Time Agent's Agency
P.S. Let me know if you'd like me to return your pages.
Now, a few comments:
- I've worked on the collection so long that it's really not surprising that not all of the stories that went out to this agency--supposedly my "best" stories at the time--have ended up in the final book. Among the now-excluded stories is one that was, for a long time, intended to be the title story. Hence, the need for a new title. So if you're thinking that you'll actually find the Holocaust, fetal defects, and racism prominently displayed throughout the book, well, don't get too excited, because not every happy theme I've ever dealt with in fiction has made the cut into the final collection.
- Similarly, I've been working on these stories so long that this particular correspondence dates from George W. Bush's first term, an era when it was still very common to send work via postal mail. Hence, the offer to return my pages. I guess I hadn't included a SASE.
- Here's what may be most interesting. I hadn't approached Big-Time Agent. Rather, Big-Time Agent had contacted me, based on a story that had appeared in a literary journal. And frankly, that story didn't exactly present a thousand points of light. Admittedly, it did not feature fetal defects or racism. But, in a mere 2500 words, it did manage to encompass parental death, post-9/11 anthrax attacks, incapacitating depression, divorce, and—I know you're waiting for this one—the Holocaust. Hence, my surprise that "downbeat" might present a problem for this particular agency.
In truth, I'm trying not to think too much just yet about what people will say about Quiet Americans once it has been published (assuming that it receives any attention at all). But if the book is faulted for not being "happy" enough, at least I'll be prepared. And in good company.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday Find: The Library of America's Story of the Week
Want to download some free reading for the weekend? Consider "Business Deal," a fairly brief short story by Nathanael West (1903-40) set in a bygone era of screenwriting and movie-making, which the Library of America has made available from Nathanael West: Novels and Other Writings.
Or check out any of the other offerings in the Library of America's Story of the Week site/archive.
(For more background on the West story, check Carolyn Kellogg's Jacket Copy post, through which I discovered this find and the accompanying archive.)
Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday.
Or check out any of the other offerings in the Library of America's Story of the Week site/archive.
(For more background on the West story, check Carolyn Kellogg's Jacket Copy post, through which I discovered this find and the accompanying archive.)
Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
The Wednesday Web Browser
Join the Madame Bovary read-a-long that is being planned for the fall, using the new translation by Lydia Davis to ground discussion! (Thanks to The Boston Bibliophile for the tip!)
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Over on The Writer magazine's staff blog, one of the wonderful editors I've had the good fortune to work with pretty frequently, Sarah Lange, talks about freelancing with Kelly James-Enger. I've admired James-Enger's work for a long time, so even if her words here brought forth a pang or two for my own former freelance/self-employed life, I was able to focus on and enjoy the Q&A nonetheless. (You'll find James-Enger's new blog, Dollars and Deadlines, linked on our sidebar now, too.)
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Another newcomer to our sidebar list: author Allegra Goodman's blog. I had the privilege of meeting Allegra my first semester in college, when I had a small role in a play she'd written. Twenty-something years later, I'm enjoying the updates preceding the early July publication of her next novel, The Cookbook Collector, which is receiving stellar pre-pub reviews. (I've already pre-ordered my copy.)
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On my "other" blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), I seem to be settling into a habit of rounding up links relating to Jewish authors and books on Jewish themes each Friday (just in time for the Sabbath/Shabbat). Last week's collection featured two of my favorite authors (Ludwig Lewisohn and Patrick Modiano), The Forward's summer books section, the transcript from the most recent Jewish Book Council Twitter Book Club, and more.
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Over on The Writer magazine's staff blog, one of the wonderful editors I've had the good fortune to work with pretty frequently, Sarah Lange, talks about freelancing with Kelly James-Enger. I've admired James-Enger's work for a long time, so even if her words here brought forth a pang or two for my own former freelance/self-employed life, I was able to focus on and enjoy the Q&A nonetheless. (You'll find James-Enger's new blog, Dollars and Deadlines, linked on our sidebar now, too.)
==========
Another newcomer to our sidebar list: author Allegra Goodman's blog. I had the privilege of meeting Allegra my first semester in college, when I had a small role in a play she'd written. Twenty-something years later, I'm enjoying the updates preceding the early July publication of her next novel, The Cookbook Collector, which is receiving stellar pre-pub reviews. (I've already pre-ordered my copy.)
==========
On my "other" blog, My Machberet ("machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"), I seem to be settling into a habit of rounding up links relating to Jewish authors and books on Jewish themes each Friday (just in time for the Sabbath/Shabbat). Last week's collection featured two of my favorite authors (Ludwig Lewisohn and Patrick Modiano), The Forward's summer books section, the transcript from the most recent Jewish Book Council Twitter Book Club, and more.
Friday, June 04, 2010
Friday Find: YOUR Reading Recommendations
As part of our Short Story Month Collection Giveaway Project, many of you were kind enough to share, in the main giveaway post's comments, the titles of collections you've loved and/or are looking forward to reading. Now, following the sage example of the folks at the Fiction Writers Review site, I've decided to compile those recommendations so that we can all appreciate them one more time, in one lovely list. I hope I haven't missed anyone or make any mistakes (please correct me if I have).
Thanks again. You practicing writers are awesome! What a resource this list is (especially for anyone seeking summer reading suggestions).
Thanks again. You practicing writers are awesome! What a resource this list is (especially for anyone seeking summer reading suggestions).
Kathi Appelt, Kissing Tennessee
Poe Ballantine, Things I Like About America (Erika's note: I'm not entirely certain this is a book of fiction, but I've enjoyed Ballantine's work in The Sun, so, we'll keep it!)
Kevin Barry, There Are Little Kingdoms
Charles Baxter, Through the Safety Net
Jorge Luis Borges, Fictions
T.C. Boyle, Wild Child and Other Stories
Kevin Brockmeier, Things That Fall from the Sky
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
Raymond Carver, Cathedral
Julio Cortazar, All Fires the Fire
Phillip F. Deaver, Silent Retreats
Charles D'Ambrosio, The Point
Edwidge Danticat, Krik? Krak!
Anthony Doerr, The Shell Collector
Howard Goldowsky (ed.), Masters of Technique: The Mongoose Anthology of Chess Fiction
Richard Ford, A Multitude of Sins
Richard Ford, Rock Springs
Ben Fountain, Brief Encounters with Che Guevara
Petina Gappah, An Elegy for Easterly: Stories
Lisa Glatt, The Apple's Bruise
Allegra Goodman, The Family Markowitz
R.W. Gray, Crisp
Amy Hempel, Collected Stories
Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth
Kelly Link, Stranger Things Happen
Lydia Millet, Love in Infant Monkeys
Alice Munro, ("Anything")
Joyce Carol Oates, Faithless: Tales of Transgression
Flannery O'Connor, Everything That Rises Must Converge
Mary Otis, Yes, Yes, Cherries!
ZZ Packer, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Lydia Peelle, Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing
Benjamin Percy, Refresh, Refresh
Laura Pritchett, Hell's Bottom, Colorado
Annie Proulx, Fine Just the Way It Is
Eric Puchner, Music Through the Floor
J.D. Salinger, Nine Stories
George Saunders, Pastoralia
Lore Segal, Shakespeare's Kitchen
Sam Shepard, Day Out of Days
Lara Vapnyar, Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love
Patricia Volk, All It Takes
Hannah Tinti, Animal Crackers
Wells Tower, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned
David Foster Wallace, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
Eudora Welty, The Golden Apples
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.
==========
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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