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Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: While I’m Away

by Erika Dreifus on
2

I’m heading out to the West Coast early this morning for a family event, so I’m going to “cheat” and give you the weekly “finds for writers” links, which usually show up here on Friday, today. And I’m taking Friday “off.” Have a great few days–see you back here on Monday! And Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!

  • It began as an innocent conversation between two riders on the D.C. Metro about Lauren Groff’s Arcadia. Here’s what happened next.
  • “8 Important Questions to Ask Before You Publish Your Book.” More wisdom from Carol Tice.
  • “My [paternal] grandparents had only one child, and the next generation is just me and my sister…so the story is mine to work out and tell.” Those could be my words, but they aren’t. They’re Rebecca Makkai’s, in a fascinating conversation organized around her amazing new Harper’s piece.
  • One writer tests his theory that “publishing in print literary journals is useless.”
  • Quite possibly, you’ve already heard the news that Alice Munro has declared her retirement from short-story writing. I’ll confess that I’m not looking forward to the all-too-likely wave of essays that will follow this announcement. Still, this New York Times article is worth a read, especially for the encouraging quote: “I think short stories are taken more seriously now than they were.”

    • Jewish Literary Links

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Okay, they’re a couple of days early–usually, I post these links on Friday morning, pre-Shabbat. But I’m traveling this week, so I thought I’d get these out to you ahead of time. Shabbat shalom in advance!

  • Check out these calls for artists/writers from Jewish Currents.
  • “The Israel Institute is offering research grants of up to $10,000 for scholars, academics, and independent researchers to conduct substantive research on issues related to modern Israel. Areas for research may include, but are not limited to, Israeli history, politics, economics, and law. The grants are aimed at facilitating the publication of a book or a number of scholarly articles that make a serious contribution to the field of Israel Studies or promotes a greater understanding of modern Israel.” Next deadline is August 1.
  • Over on Tablet, discover a new group of “baal teshuvahs—a small but influential movement of incoming Chabad artists who are reinventing the arts in the Hasidic community.”
  • Last weekend, I saw the beautiful new Israeli film, “Fill the Void,” which is being described as “Jane Austen for Jews.”
  • Also last weekend, I read Miriam Katin’s new graphic memoir, Letting It Go, the primary focus of which is, as noted in Tahneer Oksman’s review for the Jewish Book Council, “Miriam’s inability to accept her adult son’s decision to move to Berlin, a city that represents her dark past.” It is a stirring and visually beautiful book. Recommended.

    • Monday Markets for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee competitions/contests, paying submission calls, and jobs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • “Story|Houston, a new journal featuring narratives by emerging writers and illustrations by emerging artists,” is considering submissions for its summer issue. Considers fiction and nonfiction. Pays: $200. (via Ashland MFA News)
  • From Wordrunner eChapbooks: “Poetry, fiction and memoir by several authors will be considered for the fall 2013 e-chapbook anthology, to be published around September 25.” The theme of this e-chapbook is “jobs”: Work (or the lack of it) should be intrinsic to the narrative or poem. We are not interested in detailed job descriptions, but in how jobs impact lives and relationships.” Deadline: August 31, 2013. Pays: $10-$25 for accepted work.
  • The latest issue of The Practicing Writer (packed, as usual, with no-fee contests and paying calls) went out to subscribers this weekend. You can also find it here.
  • “The Department of English at the University of San Diego invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in Creative Writing, Poetry Emphasis.”
  • Oklahoma State University is advertising for an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. “Tenure-track position in Creative Writing-Fiction. 2-2 teaching load beginning August 2014. Appropriate terminal degree, appropriate credentials, significant national publication, and demonstrated teaching excellence required. Additional publication and teaching expertise in creative non-fiction desirable.”

    • Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday morning My Machberet presents an assortment of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • What is “Jewish fiction”? In this video from a recent event in Toronto, Dr. Nora Gold shares some thoughts and cites reflections from Allegra Goodman, A.B. Yehoshua, Marge Piercy, Ruth Wisse, and D.G. Myers.
  • Ruth Franklin reviews Holocaust Literature: A History and Guide, by David Roskies and Naomi Diamant.
  • An review of and an excerpt from Rutu Modan’s The Property (trans. Jessica Cohen).
  • “Zutot: Perspectives on Jewish Culture is delighted to announce the establishment of ‘The Amsterdam Prize’ – an annual short essay competition for young scholars.”
  • I meant to share this earlier: one cantor’s reflections on the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, complete with multiple audio clips.

    • Shabbat shalom.