Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

Flag_of_FranceVive la France!

I have France on the brain again. During this past week, the Chief Rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, was visiting New York City, and I had the opportunity to see/hear him speak three times (once, at a session billed “for the French Jewish community in New York” that was held mostly in French; I gamely attended, although I did feel compelled to reassure my table-mates that “je comprends mieux que je parle”).

On the heels of the Patrick Modiano event I “attended” via livestream not long ago, that has me thinking again about France and French language and culture and how important they have been to me over the years…and thinking that MAYBE it’s time for me to re-join the French Institute/Alliance Française. In the meantime, though, I need to dig into the review copy of a book–also France-connected–that’s the focus of my latest freelance assignment.

Research-Related

Remember when I mentioned the essay on “third-generation” Holocaust narratives that I’ve promised to write? Well, here’s something I ran across this week that I’m filing away for possible use therein: an outtake from Annette Gendler’s interview with Sarah Wildman for Jewish Book World.

Newsletter Notes
I’m putting the finishing touches on the March issue of The Practicing Writer, which will go out over the weekend. As per usual, it will be filled with lots of info on no-fee contests, calls from paying litmags/publishers, and more.

This week I’ve also just completed the annual update of “From A(lgren) to W(illiams): The Practicing Writer’s Guide to Eponymous Contests and Competitions.” This is a freebie that is made available exclusively to Practicing Writer subscribers. (New subscribers receive it upon signing up.) Not yet subscribed? Here you go!

(Speaking of newsletters, within the past week I’ve also hit “send” for the latest newsletter from my employer, Fig Tree Books. It includes info on four current Goodreads giveaways, so if you haven’t seen it, do please check it out!)