Finds for Writers
Most Fridays the Practicing Writing blog shares writing and publishing resources, news, and reflections to peruse over the weekend. But it’s been an excruciating week for so many of us. And frankly, I’ve paid next-to-no attention to garden-variety news from the writing and publishing spheres.
On Wednesday, however, I received an email from Facing History and Ourselves, a Boston-based global nonprofit organization that I’ve admired for many years. The email introduced a “mini-lesson” titled “Processing Attacks in Israel and the Outbreak of War in the Region.”
The resource isn’t perfect. (What resource is?) But one of its segments impressed me as something that, though intended for educators and students, could be clarifying for writers as well, in our work and in the rest of our lives. It’s a section titled “Avoiding Antisemitic and Islamophobic Tropes in Discussing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”
- “How to Avoid Submission Fees: Lessons Learned from 20+ Years of Sending Out My Work—and Curating Opportunities for Others.” By me, for Becky Tuch’s Lit Mag News.
- “6 Ways Clichés Can Help Your Writing.” By Kathryn Craft, for Writer Unboxed.
- “7 Steps to Landing the Perfect Blurb for Your Forthcoming Book.” By Aileen Weintraub, for Writer’s Digest. (I can’t help emphasizing this line: “If you haven’t taken the time to read an author’s book, chances are they are not going to want to read yours.”) On the subject of landing blurbs, check also this oldie-but-goodie from my archive.
- “Endings: How to Leave Readers Satisfied ~ and Wanting More.” By Lauren Kessler for Nieman Storyboard.
- And there’s another rich set of Jewish literary links over on the My Machberet blog, featuring some calls for submissions, plenty of (free! online!) event info, and more.
Have a wonderful weekend.