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Oy! Only Six? Why Not More? Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life

by on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 (5) Comments

If I were in Washington this evening, I’d try to get over to Sixth & I Historic Synagogue for a program featuring a few of the contributors to Oy! Only Six? Why Not More? Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life. This new book contains “360 stories of faith and family, duty and identity, celebration and tsuris that will inform, delight and inspire—six words at a time.”

And I’ve recently learned that my own six-word memoir is among them.

For some background on the project, check out editor Larry Smith’s explanation. And then go ahead and peruse the free preview.

I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of my contributor’s copy!

UPDATE: It arrived! And I love it! And I’ve learned even more about the book from its coverage on The Forward‘s Arty Semite blog.

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Quotation of the Week: Philip Pullman

by on Tuesday, April 03, 2012 (0) Comments


“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

― Philip Pullman

Source: Goodreads

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Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by on Monday, April 02, 2012 (0) Comments

  • From Mslexia: “We’re looking for guest bloggers for the Mslexia blog. Are you working on an interesting short-term writing project or in a key role in publishing? Perhaps you’re researching your novel or finalising your first poetry collection; freelancing as a journalist or reading submissions at a literary agency? We’re opening out our blog to a limited number of women writers with something interesting to say about the writing process, writing projects they’re involved in, the publishing industry, their particularly inspiring journey on the rocky road to publication or anything writing-related that other authors, published or not, will be inspired by.” Deadline to be considered as a blogger for a three-month “residency” starting April-June 2012 is April 16. Pays: “£100 for a three-month guest blog.”
  • Short-story contest from The Abstract Quill. Cash prizes ($100 and $25) plus publication to the first- and second-prize winners. Payments will be made via Paypal. No entry fees indicated. Deadline: May 15, 2012. (via NewPages.com)
  • “2012 is the 200th anniversary of the uprising by Luddite machine breakers, which inspired great poetry by Byron, Shelley and others. The defeat of the Luddites by thousands of soldiers led to two centuries of industrialism. Its ugliness and beauty, its wealth and its poverty have all been inspiration for truly brilliant pieces. Now we live in a world dominated by science and technology, but on the brink of environmental disaster. What do the Luddites and their mythical leader, General Ned Ludd mean to you?/Luddites 200 is launching a poetry competition, with prizes to be awarded by Andy Croft at our festival in Huddersfield on April 28th/29th. Poems can be in any style, with a maximum length of 40 lines.” First-prize poems in both categories (under 16 and over 16) will be awarded £40 each. “There will be second and third prizes of books and/or merchandise, to be confirmed on the day. There is no entry fee, but we would appreciate donations to cover the costs of running our festival.” Deadline: April 14, 2012.
  • Have you seen the latest issue of The Practicing Writer yet? It’s filled with additional no-fee competitions and paying submission calls.
  • “Babble.com is seeking an experienced Wikipedia writer/editor to help create and edit Wikipedia entries related to our company and writers. If you have a demonstrated track record of creating approved Wikipedia pages, please contact us. Much of the text for the entries will be provided, so we’re especially looking for someone who intimately understands Wikipedia formatting, requirements, and process. The person will be paid hourly, and there is the possibility for either a short-term or a more involved set of assignments.” (free site registration required to view full ad)
  • “Holy Family University, a comprehensive Catholic institution in Philadelphia, PA., invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Writing, beginning August 2012.The position requires teaching in the university’s first-year, undergraduate writing program, as well as courses in composition and, contingent upon availability, creative writing. The ideal candidate will have specialization and teaching experience in these areas, along with a track record of related research and publication. Candidates should have a commitment to support the mission of Holy Family University and possess excellent teaching skills, an active scholarly agenda and a willingness to participate in student advising and campus service. A Ph.D. in English or Composition/Rhetoric is required. Candidates with an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) will also be considered.
  • Stillman College (Ala.) is looking for an Assistant Professor of English: “Minimum Requirements: Ph.D. in English. Academic experience in composition and/or technical writing is highly desirable. Applicants who have background and interest in composition and rhetoric, technical and professional communication, and/or African American literature are encouraged to apply. Instructional Duties: Teach English composition courses as well as upper level courses of English such as technical writing, creative writing, and/or special topics literature (i.e., Chaucer, Shakespeare, modern Black fiction, 20th century literature, African literature, and Caribbean literature).”
  • The Sun (Chapel Hill, N.C.) is looking for a Managing Editor, Chicago magazine seeks a Senior Editor to handle culture coverage, and National Geographic Society (Washington) invites applications for an Assistant Editor position (looks as though this job focuses on NG Kids and NG Little Kids magazines).

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    Friday Find for Writers: Robert Lee Brewer’s April Platform Challenge

    by on Friday, March 30, 2012 (2) Comments

    “One of the most important tools for a writer trying to find success in today’s media environment is a strong platform. That’s part of the reason I devote so much time to the topic on MNINB. However, I’ve been thinking about how to get even more hands on with helping writers build their online platforms, and I think I know the solution: A month-long platform building challenge.”

    April begins this weekend! So go on over to Robert’s blog and see what he had in mind for this challenge. I’ll be following along, that’s for sure.

    And if a platform challenge isn’t your thing, maybe a poetry challenge is!

    Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.

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    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by on Friday, March 30, 2012 (0) Comments

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen

  • This upcoming (April 17) free session at the New York Public Library may assist your research: “This lecture will describe the wealth of resources available at institutions throughout the New York area for doing Jewish family history research. The talk will be geared to beginners and intermediate researchers, and will focus on those families whose ancestors who came to the U.S. starting with the great migration which began in the late 1880s.”
  • Historian Sarah Maza takes a closer look at Irene Nemirovsky’s Suite Francaise: “Némirovsky’s vivid fiction-in-real-time – not to mention the author’s life story – has a great deal to offer to undergraduates studying the period, although some caveats apply.”
  • Two weeks from Sunday I’ll be speaking at NYC’s City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism. My topic: “MY GERMAN-JEWISH GRANDPARENTS AND THIRD-GENERATION PREOCCUPATIONS: History, Healing, and Happily Ever After?”
  • “The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is calling artists to submit works inspired by the deeds of Raoul Wallenberg and their legacy. Selected works will be published in an e-book compilation created in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s birthday. This call is open for artists working within the fields of creative writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and mixed media. The application deadline is Monday, May 16, 2012.” No application fee; payment info not indicated.
  • Inspired by Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, Rabbi Karen Perolman shares some initial titles that she considers to be “great Jewish books.”
  • Tablet situates Etgar Keret’s latest story collection in the history of Israeli literature–and the history of Keret’s.

    • Shabbat shalom!

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