Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

Late last weekend I returned from the Virginia Festival of the Book, about which you’ll soon read more–assuming that you’re a subscriber to our free e-newsletter, The Practicing Writer. (The April issue will go out tomorrow or Saturday.)

Beyond writing thank-you notes and emails, and returning to my day job, and proofreading the newsletter, I’ve somehow managed to squeeze in a bit of writing (and pitching) these past few days. And here’s one especially bright spot: On Monday, I received some good news about a fun contest I entered recently (more about that soon, too).

Overall, I’d say I’m feeling a tad bit breathless–catching up, looking ahead, crossing some items off my to-do list and adding new ones every day.

How about you? What’s happening this week with all of your works-in-progress?

5 thoughts on “Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

  1. Mihku Paul says:

    Hi Erika,

    I have to say I am now devoted to this page. You spur me on. I’ve begun using some of the quotes you provide at my prompt writing class for new writers. I just print it up and mount it on a piece of foam core for display and put it on our big table for all to see. The quotes have prompted some lively discussions.
    As for my works-in-progress, I returned from AWP to an email that a press was interested in my poetry chapbook. This is a first book for me and I’m very excited and learning alot about the process of getting a book out.
    Thanks for all the excellent resources and encouragement you provide in so many ways. I am going to make this page part of my class introduction for all new course sections.

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Wow, Mihku. Thank you! I’m honored!

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        AND, I meant to say, congrats on the interest from the press. Please keep me posted.

  2. Shaun Hunter says:

    I know that breathless feeling: I’m just getting back to work this past week after attending AWP (my first one, hence the long recovery period). I’m easing my way back into the revision of a memoir, after receiving a detailed critique.

    I’ve been holding on to something Billy Collins said (quoting William Matthews): “Revision isn’t cleaning up after the party; revision is the party.” I’m hoping this holds true for me. Still a little too early to tell.

    Here’s to momentum! Thanks for the question.

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Oh, yes, Shaun. A first AWP certainly requires a recovery period. Especially, I suspect, when said first AWP includes 10,000 co-conferencegoers. The event was much smaller when I went for the first time (more than 10 years ago).

      Good luck with those memoir revisions. Hopefully, you’re finding the critique useful.

      Here’s to momentum, indeed!

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