Finds for Writers
Each week (typically Fridays), the Practicing Writing blog offers writing and publishing resources, news, and reflections to peruse over the weekend.
- By Jennie Liu: “Writing the Author’s Note for a Novel.”
- Thank you, Katie Hale, for these “5 ways to get back to writing when you feel like the ideas well has dried up.”
- As much as I admired Becky Tuch’s Thanksgiving message for Lit Mag News, I’ll confess that it made me sad, too—because over time, and especially over the past 14 months, I’ve felt increasingly disillusioned by the broader “literary community,” and decreasingly motivated to sustain my own contributions thereto (chief among them: the free monthly newsletter I’ve been publishing for fictionists, poets, and writers of creative nonfiction since early 2004; in fact, the newsletter’s December issue will be going out to subscribers today).
- On the other hand, I’ve found myself even more present and rooted in—and appreciated by—my Jewish literary environments. On that note: You’ll find the latest Jewish lit links, including a reminder about #JewishBookMonth, over on My Machberet.
- Start with Daniel Nester’s “I Miss My Students Already”; then read this piece, which he links to within the first one: “Here’s Where the Story Ends: Scenes from the End of a Teaching Career.”
Wishing everyone a good weekend.
For what it’s worth, I’m a longtime admirer of all you do for the writing community, Erika, and I stand with you at this moment.
Best wishes, more power to your pen and thank you for everything,
Clive
That’s worth a lot, Clive. Thank you.
Adding my long-standing admiration here as well! Yours is the first blog and newsletter I direct fellow writers to for both markets and sage advice!!
My number one way to’ get back to writing’ is to open your blog, browse the articles and dig into your listings. I’ve often wondered what inspires you to be so generous. I have lots of reason to be grateful that you are.
I’ve just read your book, Quiet Americans. It is really lovely, and compelling – I had to make myself set it aside so I didn’t read it all in one day. These are stories to read and let settle in before moving to the next one. I managed to stretch it over three days . . . and will have these characters and their experiences in my head for a long time.
Your characters got me thinking about my own heritage – which I’m sharing with you to offer a sample of the audience your words and themes resonate so strongly with -I come from two Irish grandmothers whose families were taxed off their property because they wouldn’t convert to the Church of England, a paternal grandfather who emigrated from Scotland when he was 16 for reasons that were never explained to me, and a maternal grandfather whose lineage was English, Dutch, and who knows what else. From that mix comes someone who loves your book and looks forward to reading the next one.
My goodness–thank you so much!
Thank you for the work you put in and the ideas you share, Erika. I am a longtime reader of your blog and newsletter too. I get discouragement. I remind myself that connection and community will get us through, even if those both seem distant and even unlikley at the moment.
I appreciate receiving your newsletter, too. It’s a weekly reminder that I’m part of a wider community.
Hi Erika, I think the disenchantment that you’re feeling with the “progressive” element of the writing community, and their knee-jerk anti-Israel comments is shared by most Jewish writers. What is most disturbing is the lack of historical/political knowledge of these anti-Israel posters and their quick descent into sharing antisemitic memes and chants. It is both scary and sad and I mourn both the “colleague/friends” that have made it clear that I’m an “oppressor” as well as those that I now consider antisemites. I ask them when Jerusalem first became a majority Jewish city (1830s-40s) and if they know the century that Arabs colonized the land now called Israel (6th). There rarely is a correct answer. In a way it’s back to the days of my grandparents who fled Russia because of pogroms, and who believed you couldn’t trust anyone who wasn’t Jewish because it literally was true. So sad. Fortunately, the majority of my colleagues/friends haven’t drunk the anti-Israel Koolaid, but they’re not exactly activists either. Sad times.
My goodness, everyone–thank you so much for all of these comments.
Ah, Erika, I have long, long admired your newsletter; it’s the highlight of my first day of each month. Thank you for all that you do to keep us connected to one another. It’s very much appreciated!
Melissa