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Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

by Erika Dreifus on
2

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Every Friday, My Machberet presents a set of Jewish Literary Links to close out the week.

  • First up: I’m currently reading Francesca Segal’s The Innocents, a novel that updates Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence and transplants it to Jewish London. You still have time to read a copy yourself before the Jewish Book Council’s Twitter chat with the author, which is slated for July 16.
  • Also looking just a bit ahead: If you’re in New York, you may want to catch “Four Jewish Guys: Poetry and Performance,” scheduled for July 19 and featuring Jake Marmer, Jay Michaelson, Yehoshua November, and Philip Terman.
  • Not easy to read, but noteworthy nonetheless: “The American Girl in the Bunker,” a first-person account of a volunteer from New York serving in an IDF paratrooper unit–and dealing with rockets from Gaza.
  • Very different material, but also worth your time: Deborah Eisenberg’s new short story, “Cross Off and Move On.”
  • And over on Bagels and Books, there’s a nice recap of this spring’s Writers’ Festival in Jerusalem.

    • Shabbat shalom!

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Habits of a (Slightly More) Productive Writer

    by Erika Dreifus on
    8

    I’ve discerned a couple of trends in my writing practice over the past couple of weeks.

    First, I’ve been getting up earlier each weekday, and sneaking in either a) more writing before I leave for the day job or b) a workout at the gym before the same. Both activities seem to be boosting my mood and energy level. I feel as though I’ve accomplished something important for myself before heading off to the land of 9 to 5. (Please remind me that I wrote this if and when I slip back into less-productive habits.)

    Slightly more interesting, or at least unexpected, is the extent to which I’ve been taking to heart from Midge Raymond’s Everyday Writing: Tips and Prompts to Fit Your Regularly Scheduled Life. (more…)

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    If it’s Monday, it’s time for me to share some opportunities with you. No application fees. Paying gigs.

  • Canadian journal Ryga (“a journal of provocations”) “welcomes submissions of previously unpublished poetry, prose and short plays that coincide with our editorial mission.” Pays: $100 (presumably in Canadian dollars). (via placesforwriters.com)
  • The Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize recognizes the “best poetry collection published by an Upstate [N.Y.] author” between January 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012. Confers a prize of $2,000. No entry fee. Deadline: August 31, 2012.
  • For writers in the Greater Hartford (Conn.) region: “The Wisdom House Writers Fellowship Program was created in June 2010 to support low-income writers residing in the 29-town Greater Hartford region* in developing their work. Consideration will be given to writers who cannot afford to attend the retreat facility on their own. The program was made possible through a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The fellowships provide local writers with an opportunity to focus on and develop their writing by providing a quiet environment at the Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, CT. The program covers accommodations and meals….Deadlines for receipt of applications will be the 1st of every other month (September 1, November 1, etc.).” No application fee. (via @femministas)
  • “The George Mason University, Department of English [Va.] invites applicants for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Poetry position to begin fall 2013. Substantial publications (at least one poetry book published and substantial work toward a second) are required, along with a proven teaching record. The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate courses and workshops (2-2 load) in a well-established MFA and new BFA program (pending approval), and also direct theses in the MFA. Academic and university service is required.”
  • The Peace Corps (Washington) is looking for a Writer/Editor, 826 Seattle seeks a Programs Coordinator, and 826 Boston is advertising for an In-School Project Coordinator.
  • Don’t forget that the July issue of The Practicing Writer is now available, and you can find plenty of additional contests & calls listed there.

    • Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    3
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen

    Happy to share some pre-Shabbat literary links.

  • If you’re in the NYC area and looking for a book group to join, you may want to consider this one, from the Center for Jewish History: a book club that’s free and open to the public. The club will kick off on July 16 with a discussion of Ellen Ullman’s By Blood. More info here.
  • MyJewishLearning.com is hiring an Editor. (This job is based in New York.)
  • You still have a few days to enter a giveaway and win a copy of Ann Koffsky’s book for children, Noah’s Swim-a-Thon.
  • The ever-instructive Adam Kirsch, on “John Updike’s Jewish Novels.”
  • Finally, even if you don’t click through and read anything else I’m pointing you to, please read Judy Bolton-Fasman’s simply superb–and beautifully written–“Letter to Alice Walker.”

    • Shabbat shalom.

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    It’s Friday, folks! Here are a few noteworthy links for you to explore at your leisure this weekend.

  • Planning to write about the London Summer Olympics? Check out this style guide from The Associated Press.
  • “Opportunities” to avoid.
  • Next up: “4 Ways to Land Travel Writing Assignments by Thinking Creatively”–great post, totally aligned with my own “think outside the box” philosophy for freelancing.
  • A few “black lit mags to watch.” (via The Review Review)
  • And if you’d like to know how an essay-review on The Millions has rekindled my interest in the fiction of Etgar Keret, please hop on over to my other blog.

    • Happy weekend, all. See you back here on Monday!