Friday Finds for Writers

Treasure ChestWriting-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • Making the rounds this week: how The New Yorker ended up rejecting one of its own stories.
  • On literary shindigs, author photos, and Yaddo rejections – a post by Jami Attenberg.
  • One writer shares “5 Unexpected Lessons from Inside the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.”
  • Marisa Silver, on being a “California Writer.”
  • Behind the scenes at Girl Talk, a wonderful poetry reading organized each year by Diane Lockward.
  • Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • Tempting conference coming up at Princeton University on Sunday, April 7: “American Jewish Culture: ‘Fresh Vitality in Every Direction.'” Including literary directions.
  • If you aspire to write Jewish-themed children’s books, you may want to look into this workshop, scheduled for June at the Highlights Foundation in Honesdale, Penn.
  • The Ilanot Review seeks “hybrid literary texts” for its next issue. Deadline: April 30.
  • New to me this week: TheTower.org, which “features reporting and analysis of geopolitical, security, economic, social and other events and trends affecting the Middle East and America’s interests in the region.” (h/t @dg_myers)
  • Thanks to David Remnick, you may feel as though you, too, were able to attend Philip Roth’s 80th birthday party.
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Behind that Brevity Byline

    Last week, the online journal Brevity launched its latest issue. I’m proud that my essay, “Before Sunrise,” is part of it.brevitylogo435

    As mentioned in the bio note that follows the piece, “Before Sunrise” is one in a series of linked essays that I’ve been working on. At the moment, there are four essays in the sequence. Each essay treats an element of an assault that took place four years ago. The opening piece, “Sunday in the City,” was published in carte blanche last fall. Another essay, essentially “about” the medical/surgical treatment that followed the attack, is the one that, as I’ve mentioned here on the blog, was recently accepted for publication later this year.

    Meantime, the fourth essay, which centers around the ensuing police investigation, has begun circulating in search of a home. All of you practicing writers will surely appreciate this fun fact: Within barely an hour of the Brevity essay going live, I received an initial rejection (via email) for that fourth essay. Ah, technology! (At least, though, it was a personalized and encouraging rejection.)

    Another practice-related note: This is my first byline in Brevity after many, MANY submissions that I’ve sent in over several years. All of that advice that you hear is true: You can’t let one or two (or more) rejections stop you from submitting your work.

    One last thing: I’ve been moved (and overwhelmed) by the response to “Before Sunrise.” Thank you all for your kind messages and comments.

    Monday Markets for Writers

    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).

  • “Open City, an online magazine published by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, documents the pulse of metropolitan Asian America as it’s being lived on the streets of New York right now. Covered by the Wall Street Journal and NPR, a collaborative partner with the New Museum and the Museum of Chinese in America, Open City grants a $5,000 fellowship, career guidance, and publishing opportunities to five Creative Nonfiction Fellows to write and produce both short-form and long-form editorial content on the vibrant immigrant communities of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. If you’re an emerging creative nonfiction writer looking for financial support, a place to publish and career mentorship, apply to become a Creative Nonfiction Fellow.” Apply by March 25. No application fee.
  • “Issue 10 of Workers Write! will be More Tales from the Cubicle and will contain stories and poems from the office worker’s point of view. Drop us a line if you have a question. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 31, 2013 (or the issue is full). Submit your stories via e-mail to: cubicle@workerswritejournal.com, or send a hard copy to: Blue Cubicle Press, P.O. Box 250382, Plano, TX 75025-0382. Word count: 50 to 5,000 words. Payment: Between $5 and $50 (depending on length and rights requested). We will consider previously published material.” (via NewPages.com)
  • Two Dollar Radio, which publishes “books too loud to ignore,” has reopened for submissions. (via @Duotrope)
  • “Kepler’s Arts & Lectures is looking to expand its Events Team by hiring an Events Director. This is a leadership position that offers an opportunity to make a major positive impact on the cultural life of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area overall. The position will require hands-on engagement. It is ideal for an experienced literary events producer who has significant relationships and experience and is ready to move to the next stage of his or her career.
  • “Waldorf College [Iowa] is seeking a permanent, full-time Assistant Professor of Creative Writing to direct the Creative Writing major; teach techniques and workshop courses in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction; and mentor thesis writers.”
  • “The Department of English at Kansas State University invites applications for a visiting assistant professor serving as a one-year replacement in poetry beginning August 18, 2013.”