Finds for Writers
I’m posting this week’s “Finds” in much the same spirit that I posted last week’s.
- “’You Don’t Want to Hedge It?’: Inside the New York Times Debate Over Its Gaza Hospital Bombing Coverage.” By Charlotte Klein for Vanity Fair.
- “Open Letter: A Call for Empathy for Innocent Israelis.” Published in the Chronicle of Higher Education. (I’m among the signatories.)
- Kathleen Schmidt’s “Whose Voices Get to Be Heard in Publishing?” is perhaps the most thoughtful set of reflections I’ve seen so far on the matters discussed within. One caveat I’d add is that there are cases when the voices in question actually traffic—in their own words or by lending their names to petitions and statements—in incendiary antisemitic rhetoric and tropes. It’s troubled me in the past to see some of those voices amplified, platformed, and enriched by prestigious institutions (including, due to their admirable commitments to pluralism, viewpoint diversity, and debate, Jewish institutions). But with antisemitic threats and hate crimes on the rise seemingly every day, some institutions appear to be reconsidering past practice. I don’t believe that Jewish institutions, in particular, should be expected to host and promote authors in ways other cultural groups would never be called upon to do in parallel circumstances.
- For a view from the United States: “Why Jews Can’t Stop Shaking Right Now.” Gift link to Dara Horn’s essay for The New York Times. And from Israel: Marcela Sulak’s “Letters from Missile Alert Area, Ramat-Gan West” (Scoundrel Time).
- And among this week’s Jewish Literary Links on My Machberet: a just-published anthology (profits to benefit an emergency campaign; again, I’m a contributor); a literary solidarity event in review; kidlit resources; more.
I wish everyone a good, safe weekend. Among my goals: finishing a draft of the November edition of The Practicing Writer 2.0, which should go out to subscribers Tuesday. In the meantime, please make sure you haven’t missed any of the still-open opportunities in the October newsletter or within the latest Markets & Jobs updates here on Practicing Writing.
