Friday Finds for Writers

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

  • Some notes on post-election submission trends at Cincinnati Review from Assistant Editor James Ellenberger: “It’s a difficult time. But even so, our writing, the stuff that we’re showing others and trying to publish, doesn’t have to become dismissive, petty, and aggressive….We ought to use our writing as an opportunity to embrace complexity rather than reification of the binaries that got us here in the first place.”
  • “Eight Reasons That Even a Good Book Is Rejected By Publishers.” Some interesting thoughts from literary agent Kanishka Gupta.
  • “For the better part of a decade, I’d been encouraging people to persevere in this unpredictable, subjective, sometimes nonsensical but often wonderful world of publishing. To keep at it, to have the courage to keep trying, to have the stomach to put a tired project aside and start something new, to practice even when they didn’t feel like it—sometimes especially when they didn’t feel like it. When it was hardest to take my own advice, I took a deep breath and did it anyway. And what do you know? It really does work.” Writer’s Digest‘s Jessica Strawser revisits what it was like for her to work as an editor (and of a writing magazine!) in the time before she became a published novelist herself.
  • I was unable to attend poet Yehoshua November’s reading in Manhattan Monday night (I was busy live-tweeting another event for Fig Tree Books). But I enjoyed and recommend the Facebook Live recording of November’s reading and the subsequent Q&A.
  • And on a not-unrelated note: Don’t forget that every Friday you’ll find a fresh batch of Jewish literary links over on My Machberet.
  • Have a great weekend, everyone!

    6 thoughts on “Friday Finds for Writers

    1. Beth Browne says:

      Main Street Rag (the company I work for) published Yehoshua November’s first book and I interviewed him for our journal. It was incredibly inspiring. He’s one of my favorite modern poets. An amazing talent.

      I always enjoy your posts. Keep up the good work!

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        Thanks, Beth. I really love his work, too!

    2. Reba Carmel says:

      I first saw Yehoshua November at a liturgy conference in Manhattan in 2016 – He was on a panel with Alicia Ostriker, Merle Feld, and Marcia Falk. I have relied upon his poetry when teaching about divine presence. His second book is wonderful as well. So gratified for the gifts he offers.

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        Lovely comment. Thank you for sharing!

    3. Thank you, and thanks for the newsletter. It’s always so great.

      1. Erika Dreifus says:

        Thank you, Petrea!

    Comments are closed.