Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

Three quick things:

1. It’s not that I really expected my poetry manuscript to be plucked from the pile of submissions that one press received during its most recent open/general submissions period. But I was still disappointed when I received the rejection yesterday.

Oh, well.

2. In brighter news, I had a lovely time Monday evening at an installment of the “Scribblers on the Roof” Jewish-lit reading series on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both readers—Laura Esther Wolfson and Hilary Zaid—did a wonderful job. (Fun fact: I included both of their new books in some freelance preview coverage in recent months, but I hadn’t yet managed to read either one. Monday’s presentations confirmed that I was right to spotlight them ahead of time, and I’m so eager to dive in to my new copies.)

New books (these are signed!) by Laura Esther Wolfson and Hilary Zaid.

Bonus: a pre-reading dinner at a nearby diner with the readers and others. (Table for 10, please!?)

3. And the August issue of The Practicing Writer went out to subscribers yesterday. As always, it will remain online until the next issue takes its place. And, as always, the newsletter features an array of timely opportunity listings—all of which are fee-free and paying. Plus, in this issue, you’ll find some (more) reflections on Alexander Chee’s How to Write an Autobiographical Novel.

So that’s the latest from HQ. What’s new with you?

7 thoughts on “Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

  1. Clive Collins says:

    Sorry to hear about the poetry ms disappointment – and it is always a disappointment, isn’t it? But I know you’ll send it out again, as I know that eventually it will find a home, and a good one at that.

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thank you for the encouragement, Clive!

  2. Linda Simone says:

    A temporary disappointment, Erika. Did you send your ms. to Kelsay Books? My book is underway and they have been wonderful and responsive. Good luck!

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thanks, Linda. I’ll have to go check them out. And congrats on your book!

  3. Hi Erika,
    Sorry to hear about the rejection. I hope you treat yourself to something nice this week–it always helps me after the sting of a rejection.
    Cheering you on for the next round of submissions!

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thanks so much, Michele!

Comments are closed.