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Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Packing My Bags & Polishing My Prose

by on Thursday, March 15, 2012 (4) Comments


One week from today, I’ll be heading to Charlottesville, Va., for a few jam-packed days. As I’ve mentioned here before, I’ll be teaching a freelancing seminar at WriterHouse, participating on a short-story panel for the Virginia Festival of the Book, and speaking at a local Jewish congregation.

My seminar handout has been emailed to WriterHouse, and I know what I’ll be reading from Quiet Americans for the panel. This weekend, I’ll finish polishing my presentation for the congregants. In my “things-to-take-with-me” pile I’m carefully placing the ARC I need to read en route so I can write a review that’s due one week after my return.

I’m so looking forward to this trip–and immensely grateful to everyone who is welcoming me in Charlottesville.

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Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Preparing for Literary Travel

by on Thursday, February 23, 2012 (4) Comments

Four weeks from today, I’ll be heading to Charlottesville, Va., for an event-packed few days. Everything is being organized around the Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual shindig I’ve known about for years, but will be attending for the first time.

I’m looking forward to this trip with great anticipation. I have three “official” events on my schedule: a seminar on freelancing that I’ll be teaching at WriterHouse, the local literary center; a festival panel on “the art of short fiction”; and an event at the local synagogue. While I await instructions from the panel moderator, I’m working hard to prepare the seminar materials and to polish the remarks that I’ll be offering at the synagogue.

Everyone in Charlottesville–the festival staff, my WriterHouse contact, and the congregation’s rabbi–has been amazingly receptive, generous, and helpful. And then there’s all of the “extra” stuff: the events where I won’t necessarily have to be “on,” but rather where I will be able to sit back, listen, and learn (I really can’t wait for a panel featuring Thomas Mallon on Saturday afternoon).

I can already tell this is going to be a great trip. Any chance that I may meet some of you in Charlottesville?

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Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Five Years In, Five Things to Appreciate About Being a #Writerwithadayjob

by on Thursday, February 09, 2012 (18) Comments

This week marks a small milestone in my working life: Five years ago, I left my full-time freelancing/adjuncting practice, which had itself followed a period in which I combined an academic appointment with freelancing and adjuncting. Five years ago, I returned to a desk job in an away-from-home office, Mondays through Fridays, 9 to 5.

In other words, five years ago this week, I became what I sometimes append to my tweets: a #writerwithadayjob.

And I’ve been really lucky. I landed in an environment where I work with smart, generous people, and I tend to agree with the policies and philosophies of the organization’s leadership. As I know from previous experiences, it’s not at all nice when you aren’t in that kind of congenial environment.

But as a writer with a day job, I’m also grateful for some aspects of my job that have particularly enriched and improved the quality of my writing life. Here are five of them. Continue reading ›

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The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 (1) Comments

  • Looking for a way to to develop your characters? Check out Sarah Salway’s 100-question character interview.
  • Yesterday was Edith Wharton’s birthday, and David Abrams wrote a post rendering homage.
  • Literary tourism, through Daniel Nester’s eyes.
  • Great advice from Diane Lockward on “the right time” to submit your poetry. (Not sure why the link keeps taking me to comments; please scroll up to read the full post.)
  • Some tips on deciding your story’s destiny: memoir or fiction.
  • Lots of Publishers Weekly‘s content is hidden behind a paywall, but if you’re looking for forthcoming titles to consider for your reviewing practice, you may want to look through these online announcements for the spring 2012 season.
  • The 2012 Virginia Festival of the Book schedule has been posted. (I’ll be there–will you?)
  • And in case you haven’t heard: My story collection, Quiet Americans, was just named a 2012 Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title. Details here.

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    QUIET AMERICANS Is a Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title

    by on Monday, January 23, 2012 (4) Comments

    I learned some amazing news last night via Google Alert: Quiet Americans has been named a 2012 Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title. The Sophie Brody recognition is deeply meaningful, because it “is given to encourage, recognize and commend outstanding achievement in Jewish literature.”

    I may have more to say once the news sinks in. For now, I’ll just quote from the announcement. And say “THANK YOU!” to the judges.

    “‘Quiet Americans: Stories’ by Erika Dreifus (Last Light Studio Books): This little book of short stories is a gem that anyone can read and enjoy. Its straightforward writing and understandable stories about German Jews and their descendants bring us into the everyday lives of Jewish Americans. Some stories are interrelated, but they stand alone in their own right.”

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