Author Archive

Home » Archives for Erika Dreifus » Page 673

Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
2

For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.

  • One of the highlights of my college education was a creative nonfiction workshop taught by Verlyn Klinkenborg. You can get a sense of Verlyn-as-teacher in this lovely new essay, ““Where Do Sentences Come From?”.
  • Next: Are you ever discouraged by conference/fellowship/residency applications that require letters of recommendation? Cathy Day shares some solid advice.
  • This week brought my latest “First Looks” column for Fiction Writers Review. Go take a peek at the two forthcoming debut novels I’ve spotlighted this month.
  • John Warner reflects on his new “visiting instructor” title (complete with full-time status, benefits, and other pleasures).
  • Those of us interested in freelancing have likely heard about the service known as HARO (Help a Reporter Out). But do we understand how it works?

    • Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.

    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 literary news from around the Web.

  • First up: this month’s Jewish Book Carnival, hosted by Needle in the Bookstacks, a blog from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) librarians.
  • Many short-story treats this week, starting with this gem from The New Yorker: a 1970 story by Isaac Bashevis Singer (“Job”), plus notes about the translation.
  • A brand-new issue of JewishFiction.net is now available for our reading pleasure.
  • I read it first in the print magazine, but it looks as though Moment has made Edith Pearlman’s short story, “The Kargman Affliction,” available online, too.
  • Adam Kirsch writes about Amoz Oz’s reissued story collection, Where the Jackals Howl (trans. Nicholas De Lange).

    • Shabbat shalom.

    “We Are Still Here,” A Documentary Film by Evan Kleinman

    by Erika Dreifus on
    11


    It’s no secret that I have a special interest in how members of the so-called “third generation” have responded to their family Holocaust histories. And that interest motivated me to attend an event here in New York City last week: a screening of Evan Kleinman’s documentary, “We Are Still Here.” Held at the Museum of Tolerance (which I was visiting for the first time), the screening was co-sponsored by the Museum and The Blue Card Fund‘s Young Leadership Division.

    The film introduces us to Evan’s family, including his Polish-born paternal grandparents. It documents a journey to Poland undertaken by Evan, his parents, and his sister. The audience at our screening was especially privileged to have all of these Kleinmans (and others!) in attendance last week.

    I was reminded, yet again, that every time you may think you’ve heard all of the “Holocaust stories” there are to tell, you’re proven wrong. And there’s something truly remarkable when it’s those who “are still here” who do the storytelling.

    The next screening of “We Are Still Here” will take place in Boston on August 23rd. If you have the opportunity to attend, seize it.

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: The Waiting Game

    by Erika Dreifus on
    11

    In an essay I wrote several years ago, I mentioned how in some ways, I’ve been drawn to a life–the writing-and-publishing life–for which I am temperamentally unsuited. And that’s because two of the things I have always found most challenging are these: rejection and waiting.

    As the essay notes, rejection has become much easier with time and experience. But I’m afraid that the patience project is still something more of a work-in-progress. It’s not merely a matter of waiting for the acceptance/rejection decisions. I’m also filled with anticipation (and, sometimes, anxiety) when I know that a new piece has found a home and–yes, after another wait–will be meeting readers.

    At the moment, I have a lot that I’m looking forward to sharing:

  • two book reviews filed, one of which represents my first assignment for the publication;
  • a flash nonfiction piece in the new issue of the lovely Manor House Quarterly. The issue’s theme is “She,” and I expect my contributor copy to arrive soon;
  • a short story (technically, a stand-alone excerpt from my unpublished novel manuscript), to be published in December (online) with another journal I’m a fan of;
  • two guest posts–accepted but awaiting scheduling–for two terrific blogs; and
  • my newest “First Looks” column for Fiction Writers Review, which should, in fact, be posted sometime today.

    • On the anxiety side (mixing in a dash of that good old fear-of-rejection), there’s the AWP proposal I’m waiting to hear about. The Grub Street seminar I’m hoping to fill. And some other things I’ll tell you about as soon as I can.

    I just have to keep working on that patience thing, right?

    What’s notable on your writing-and-publishing horizons? Please share with us, in comments.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

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

  • You’ll have to act pretty fast to take advantage of this U.K.-based residency opportunity: “ArtFunkl is delighted to offer the new Scribus series of Residencies for writers or digital media artists. This is part of a long term plan to expand the scope and number of residencies taking place at ArtFunkl, in order to create a more diverse community of connections, both within the ArtFunkl network, and within the environment of the city of Manchester.” The next deadline is August 20. NB: Although there’s no application fee, there IS a studio/room fee of £109 per week.
  • And you’ll need to hurry (deadline is August 15) if you want to apply for one of Salon.com’s assistant editor positions. “These are full-time entry level positions offering benefits and based in New York City. Applicants should… specify an interest in politics, the arts, general news and/or pop culture.”
  • For our Canadian friends: “Hagios Press is now welcoming submission of proposals for manuscripts of literary non-fiction. Hagios Press is asking for samples from book-length of literary nonfiction which could include personal essays, and memoirs. Hagios Press is interested literary non-fiction manuscripts covering a broad range of issues and themes.” Deadline is August 31.
  • In case you missed it, the August issue of The Practicing Writer, which went out to subscribers almost two weeks ago, contains the usual generous helpings of no-fee contest info and paying calls for submissions.
  • “Brooklyn College Community Partnership (BCCP) partners with public high schools and middle schools in the Brooklyn community to offer academic support, college access, social justice, health and wellness and arts-based programs to work with Brooklyn youth. The main hub for BCCP is the Brooklyn College Art Lab (BCAL) located on the Brooklyn College campus. We currently offer workshops in video and new media, visual arts, music, dance, theater and performance, writing, culinary arts, and meditation. Our youth development philosophy and practice is student-centered and dialogue and experience-based. BCCP is offering an open call to hire interdisciplinary teaching artists who have the capacity to facilitate workshops in at least two artistic disciplines. It’s an advantage if one is in media (digital video, photo, web and social media design, or graphic design), but not absolutely necessary.”
  • “Street Poets Inc. is looking for poets/teachers with a deep personal understanding of the transformational healing power of the creative process and a passion for mentoring youth (middle and high school age). The Teaching Artist is responsible for facilitating poetry writing workshops in South Los Angeles area schools on a part-time hourly basis – using the Street Poets curriculum and their own poetry. In addition, the Teaching Artist will be responsible for providing a link from the classroom to the larger Street Poets community.”
  • Salisbury University (Md.) is looking for an Assistant Professor in English (creative writing-fiction) and for an Assistant Professor in English (creative writing-poetry).
  • “The MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco invites applications for a tenure-track position in creative nonfiction at the Assistant Professor level to begin Fall 2013.”
  • From Montclair State University (N.J.): “Opening for a one-year creative writing instructor/assistant professor position in poetry and either creative non-fiction or fiction; secondary interest in contemporary literature or other area appropriate to an English department.”
  • Victoria University (New Zealand) seeks a Lecturer in Creative Writing.