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Friday Find: Building Your Book-Reviewing Practice: Six Tips for Finding Titles to Pitch

by Erika Dreifus on
3

As some of you may know, WritersWeekly.com was kind enough to publish an article of mine this week. Unfortunately, some of the links included in the original article I submitted didn’t make the transition to the WritersWeekly website. I have informed the editors of the problem. Until the original links have been restored, please (re)read the article here, complete with the original (and more direct/helpful) links.

BUILDING YOUR BOOK-REVIEWING PRACTICE: SIX TIPS FOR FINDING TITLES TO PITCH

by Erika Dreifus

As a frequent (and frequently paid) book reviewer, and a former teacher of courses in how to establish a book-reviewing practice, I was pleased to see a recent WritersWeekly.com article spotlighting this work. But I’d like to expand the discussion. For instance, I believe that a really good book reviewer—the kind of reviewer that editors trust and turn to—needs to display certain skills. I’m not talking only about subject matter expertise and writing chops. I’m talking about solid knowledge about books—including books that haven’t yet been published.

Think about it. Most of the book reviews you find in the better-paying mainstream magazines and newspapers and on popular websites focus on new books. Those reviews don’t appear magically. They’re the product of a match between editor and reviewer that takes place weeks, if not months, before the book is available for purchase. Which means that one way to increase your chances of winning a paying assignment—not to mention establishing yourself as a savvy source for information—is to pitch reviews of not-yet-published titles.

Once you become an established reviewer, complimentary advance reading copies (ARCs) are likely to come your way. Editors will begin suggesting titles for you to review and supply you with the ARCs they receive from publishers and publicists. But it isn’t easy to reach that point. And it takes time. Here are six ways for the emerging book reviewer to locate review possibilities on his or her own: (more…)

Friday Find: Five Ways to Write a Poem (and Maybe a Few More)

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

How do I write thee? Let me count the ways….

Or maybe not.

Still, there are plenty of ways to write a poem, and this week, Robert Lee Brewer shared five techniques that have helped when he’s “been stuck in a rut.” Check the comments thread, too.

Since I’m a fan of prompts, I’ll also point you to poet Diane Lockward’s recent post featuring sites that provide poetry prompts.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday!

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
1
  • ‘Tis the season to be preparing those financial aid applications for the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference: “Thanks to the generous support of Middlebury College and to an endowment fund established by past Bread Loafers and other donors, we are able to offer financial aid in three categories: fellowships, tuition scholarships, and work-study scholarships. Financial aid is awarded in recognition of published work or literary promise; financial need has no bearing on our decisions. Awards must be used in the year they are granted.” Deadline: March 1; early application is “strongly encouraged.” No application fees.
  • In case you missed it, last week’s Friday Find was a resource list for writers of flash nonfiction/micro-essays.
  • Over on The Writer magazine’s website, they’ve posted an online version of my article on “niche contests” and awards. A slew of no-fee competitions in poetry and prose for you over there.
  • “Booktrust and the BBC’s annual showcase of outstanding short fiction [has launched] with an expanded worldwide quest to find the best international short story of 2012 to mark the Olympic year. The judging panel for the one-off BBC International Short Story Award will be chaired by broadcaster and comedy writer Clive Anderson and the winner announced on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row. For the first time since it launched in 2006, the BBC Short Story Award will see stories from home and abroad going head-to-head for the £15,000 cheque for first place. For one year only authors from across the globe will be eligible to enter alongside UK practitioners.” There will be a runner-up award of £2,500 and eight awards of £250 for the other shortlisted stories. Note that all entering authors “must have a record of prior publication in creative writing in the United Kingdom.” Be sure to read the detailed guidelines for further specifications. No entry fee. Deadline: February 27, 2012. (via @SarahSalway)
  • “Adelphi University’s (N.Y.) English Department is seeking applicants for a Visiting Assistant Professor position to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in literature and creative writing during academic year 2012-13, replacing a fiction writer on leave. 3/3 teaching load with thesis advising duties. Published fiction writer with publications in additional genre preferred.”
  • “Mercy College’s (N.Y.) School of Liberal Arts is seeking faculty in Creative Writing, tenure track or multiple year track, rank open. This position involves teaching at all levels of the composition sequence. It includes teaching prose fiction and non-fiction as well as poetry.
  • The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (Washington) is looking for a Senior Officer, Executive and Internal Communications; the Duke University Development Office (N.C.) seeks a Senior Writer; and Milwaukee Magazine (Wisc.) invites applications for a position as Assistant Editor.

    • Where to Publish Flash Nonfiction & Micro-Essays

    by Erika Dreifus on
    58

    LATEST LIST UPDATE: JULY 2023

    As promised, I’ve compiled what I am calling here a guide to journals and magazines that publish flash nonfiction/micro-essays.

    Before I present the list, I need to issue a few clarifications and caveats.

    First, this list by no means includes *every* journal or magazine that might publish your piece of flash nonfiction. For the most part, I’ve omitted publications that specify only that submitted essays should run “no longer than” or “up to” 5,000 or 8,000 words. It’s entirely possible that the editors of these publications will welcome something more along the lines of 500 or 800 words. But unless I’ve discerned a *specific* editorial interest in shorter-form nonfiction–whether through my own research into guidelines and past issues or through sources listed at the end of the post–I haven’t included them here.

    I’ve also had to break my usual blog-and-newsletter-rule about limiting listings to paying journals only (and only publications that don’t require reading fees). But I’ve done my best to signal to you which journals state outright on their sites that they’ll pay for your work–look for the $–and which ones are equally upfront about charging fees. As of 2022, I’ve removed listings for journals that appear to charge fees but don’t pay contributors.

    Important note: Not every publication is open to submissions year-round, but I’m not tracking that information here.

    Worth a mention: Just because a journal is listed here doesn’t mean that it’s an ideal home for your work. Check out these tried-and-true tips for deciding whether you wish to send your work to any particular venue.

    Finally: If you know of a journal or magazine that’s specifically interested in flash nonfiction and micro-essays that should be added to the list, please share your knowledge (bonus points for links, too) in comments. Thank you!

    Without further ado…

    (more…)

    Friday Find: Free Photos for Your Blog

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    When I began reading this recent post on Robert Lee Brewer’s “My Name Is Not Bob” blog, I thought I was reading my own words: “I’m often slow about adopting new things. As such, I realize many bloggers already employ images in their blog posts on a regular basis.” But then Robert continued: “In fact, I even started using them more regularly in the final months of 2011 (and my traffic increased).”

    Um. Well. Yes, I’ve known for awhile that I should include more photos on my blog posts. But I just haven’t been very good about doing so.

    Robert’s post provided another needed push. If you’re interested in adding some imagistic life to your blog, I recommend that you read it, too. (See also the useful comments section.)

    I’ve also been  encouraged–if only slightly overwhelmed–by an excellent resource that was kindly recommended to me via Twitter. My thanks to @franmerlie for sending me to “15 Best Places for Designers to Get Free Stock Photos Online.” That, my friends, is the chief Friday Find of this post.

    Enjoy the weekend, and I’ll look forward to seeing you back here on Monday.