Erika Dreifus

Each week (typically Fridays), the Practicing Writing blog offers writing and publishing resources, news, and reflections to peruse over the weekend.

• In which The Rialto’s editor “take[s] the risk of asking that poets tick through this checklist before pressing Send.”
• “Is It a Book? 5 Ways to Test Your Nonfiction Book Idea”—by Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser for Jane Friedman’s site.
• From Sara Nović: “Just like books and their authors, I don’t think a critic’s identity needs to align with the object of their criticism to be worthwhile—that’s a limited view of what both fiction and criticism can do. But I do think failing to consider that we deaf folks might ever have anything to say about portrayals ourselves in art and literature, even as we continue to prove that our art and literature has something to say, is an oversight. Who knows, we may even be able to add something to the discourse not even seasoned critics can.” Nović follows up with some detailed observations about James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, a book to which I (like many) have given a lot of enthusiasm.
• On My Machberet: award news, tbr titles, and more from the world of Jewish books and writing.
• And a quick reminder that mid-August is a good time to check that you haven’t missed any fee-free-and-paying opportunities in the latest newsletter or supplementary posts.

Have a good weekend.