Practicing Writing - Erika Dreifus

Wednesday’s WIP: Happy News from Fellow Writers

by Erika Dreifus on July 23, 2014

I don’t know–maybe my online universe is expanding–but within the past week or so there’s been a wave of happy news shared by *several* people in my writing community. These are genuinely nice people as well as genuinely gifted writers, so I’m moved to give them all a public shout-out right here.

David Ebenbach–he of multiple genre gifts–will see his first full-length poetry book, We Were the People Who Moved, published by Tebot Bach, as the winning title for the latest Patricia Bibby First Book Award.

From Michelle Brafman: “I’m very happy to announce that Washing the Dead, my first novel, will be published by Prospect Park Books in June of 2015.” Just a few weeks ago, Michelle shared that Shebooks will be releasing an e-book of hers, We Named Them All, later this summer.

Karen E. Bender’s story collection, Refund, will be published by Counterpoint in January 2015. (Here’s my take on Bender’s most recent novel, A Town of Empty Rooms.)

Many hearty congratulations to all.

Want to let us in on good news about any of the writers in your circle? Why not do so here, in comments?

Monday Markets for Writers: No Fees, Paying Gigs

by Erika Dreifus on July 21, 2014

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Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee competitions/contests, paying submission calls, and jobs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction). (more…)

Sunday Sentence

by Erika Dreifus on July 20, 2014

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In which I participate in David Abrams’s “Sunday Sentence” project, sharing the best sentence I’ve read during the past week, “out of context and without commentary.”

“That’s what you want to hear when someone is photographing your heart: beautiful shot.”

Source: Robin Rinaldi, “The Mystery in the Machine”

Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on July 18, 2014

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Writing-related resources, news, and reflections to enjoy over the weekend.

I’m sorry that I missed Monday’s online chat with Karen Joy Fowler about We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, but grateful for the report and archived discussion. (I *loved* the book.)

Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer passed away this week. The Literary Saloon rounds up some obituaries and a link to Gordimer’s “Art of Fiction” interview in The Paris Review.

“It’s fair to say that there is precisely zero anticipation in the larger world for the book, with the possible exception of my mother, who is my biggest booster….” So writes John Warner about his forthcoming story collection Tough Day for the Army. Frankly, after reading this essay, I’m with Warner mère–I’m anticipating the book eagerly.

From the department of social media: Becky Gaylord’s “12 Most Basic Ways for Beginners to Rock Twitter.” (h/t @TweetSmarter)

I bookmarked this piece listing memorable quotations from Maya Angelou several weeks ago–I keep thinking, especially, about this line.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress

by Erika Dreifus on July 16, 2014

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Well, I finally finished and submitted that review-essay assignment I’ve been talking about. I’ve also begun sending out the new poem I mentioned here not long ago. And I’m still hopeful about that literary humor piece–waiting for news back from some editors on that.

Meantime, I’ve just returned from a few lovely days visiting family. We made multiple visits to a local bookshop, where I snapped the photo to the left. Thought that you’d all appreciate it.

More next week!