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

by Erika Dreifus on
4

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?

The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • On Lisa Romeo’s blog, Stephanie Vanderslice introduces her new book, Rethinking Creative Writing: Programs and Practices that Work. (We’ve got an interview with Stephanie about this book right here, too.)
  • A voice from the adjunct trenches.
  • This story of how one author found her agent on the subway (technically, the agent found her) has been making the Internet rounds.
  • A lovely account of how Sage Cohen’s young son reminded her of writing advice from Galway Kinnell (which happens to echo advice I recall from Arnost Lustig, who passed away one year ago this week).
  • I really like this interview with my fellow Last Light Studio author, Ericka Lutz, in which Ericka talks about her new novel, the experience of publishing with our small press, and her “nontraditional” routes in both writing and promotion.
  • I was amused (but not at all surprised) to learn that Stephen Colbert has landed a deal for his children’s book (but can we please do away with the verb “ink”?). Check this GalleyCat report for details, plus links to the two-part interview with Maurice Sendak that started it all!

    • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • The Poetry Matters 2012 poetry award “is open to anyone, anywhere who is in Middle School or older.” There is no entry fee. “Cash Prizes are given to 1st ($100), 2nd ($75), 3rd ($50) and 4th ($35) place winners. To receive the cash prize winners must have their poem read (in person or via video) at the poetry reading event.” Deadline: March 23, 2012. (via @femministas)
  • “The United States Forest Service offers residencies of seven to nine days from June through August to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, to take part in a field project in the wilderness of the Alaskan National Forest. Residents will be paired with a wilderness ranger, with whom they will camp, kayak, hike, and explore the coastal terrain of the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, while assisting with research, fieldwork, and other light ranger duties. Residents are provided with camping equipment, food, and travel to an from the field, but are responsible for their own transportation to Alaska. Residents are expected to donate one piece of creative work to the Forest Service, and to give one public presentation, such as a reading or a workshop, within six months of their residency that in some way connects a community to its public lands (the presentation does not have to take place in the community of the residency). Submit six pages of poetry or prose and a statement of purpose by April 20. There is no application fee. Visit the website for an application form complete guidelines.”
  • The Sustainable Arts Foundation provides Writing Awards ($6,000) and smaller “Promise Awards” to writers (of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) who have at least one child under the age of 18. “We welcome applicants from anywhere, but will give some preference to residents of the San Francisco bay area.” The next application deadline is March 1; no application fees are indicated.
  • Drew University (N.J.) is looking for an MFA Program Director: “The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies is seeking a director of our low-residency MFA program in Poetry and Poetry Translation. The program is in its fourth year, has a nationally renowned faculty and graduates with a strong record of publication already. The director is responsible for the direction of the program: will teach two students per semester; lecture at the residencies and give a reading; work with admissions to recruit students; supervise program budget; provide orientation for new faculty and students; oversee faculty and students during the correspondence semesters; oversee course/faculty/student evaluations; identify guest writers/poets for readings; work with the dean’s office to set the schedule for the January. June residencies; organise the lectures/panels; oversee the senior panels; track students’ progress; work with the dean’s office to promote the program; assign faculty mentors for students and serve as a liaison with the larger university community. Curriculum development is another important part of the job. For example, our program is distinguishing itself by offering a translation component. The Director is expected to explore options for opening additional such ‘tracks’ in the program, in keeping with the strengths and resources of Drew and the program.”
  • Georgia College & State University seeks an Assistant Professor of English (Fiction): “Undergraduate and graduate teaching, thesis advising, and editing for graduate and undergraduate literary journals. Candidate will be expected to design and offer graduate and upper division courses in literary fiction and creative nonfiction as well as other undergraduate liberal arts courses.”
  • California College of the Arts is advertising for an nontenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor in Creative Nonfiction Writing. “Course load is negotiable and not to exceed four courses per academic year. Candidate will teach regularly in the undergraduate Writing and Literature Program and MFA Program in Writing. Candidate will also participate in program and college-wide service, including curricular development and assessment.”
  • St. Louis College of Pharmacy is looking for a Writer/Editor, Texas State University-San Marcos seeks a Publications Writer, and The New School (New York) plans to hire a Publicity Writer.

    • Words of the Week: Rabbi David Wolpe

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    “My children do not patrol the borders. They do not dismantle unexploded rockets. They do not walk gingerly into cafes, always wondering, always fearful, even in quiet times. There aren’t too many bomb shelters in Westwood. When I express my opinions about Israel’s conduct, which I do, this reality is foremost in my mind. There is a penalty for choosing not to live in Israel: A certain diffidence, a willingness to listen and appreciate the result of a democratic process, even when one disagrees with the result. A corresponding reluctance, at least, to demonize the elected leaders of the Jewish state.”

    –Rabbi David Wolpe, “Wolpe vs. Beinart,” JewishJournal.com