Author Archive

Home » Archives for Erika Dreifus » Page 683

Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
  • The latest Rockower Awards–for excellence in Jewish journalism–have been announced. Mazel tov to all of the honorees. Special kudos to some bylines/pubs/websites you’ve seen me reference here on My Machberet: Judy Bolton-Fasman, Andrew Silow-Caroll/New Jersey Jewish Week, The Jewish Week, Jewish Women’s Archive, & JTA.
  • Coming in 2015: a new Jewish arts festival.
  • Much sooner, the house in Brazil where refugee author Stefan Zweig and his wife committed suicide together in 1942–the Casa Stefan Zweig–will open as a museum. Benjamin Ivry revisits this author’s history for The Forward.
  • The Jewish Journal‘s Jonathan Kirsch offers some suggestions for summer reading.
  • Themed “Translation/Transformation,” the new Ilanot Review features work by Etgar Keret and Margot Singer and an interview with Evan Fallenberg, among other wonderful items. (I’m thrilled that “Lebensraum,” a story from Quiet Americans, is also part of this issue.)

    • Shabbat shalom!

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

  • For my fellow writers-who-have-day-jobs: tips on overcoming those challenges to writing after work, taken from Aine Greaney’s book Writer with a Day Job (which I have just–belatedly!–bought). (h/t: Life On the High Wire)
  • Janice Harayda’s suggestions on how to write good book reviews.
  • “Fun and inexpensive ideas for writing retreats”.
  • Nice account of the Richard Ford/Joyce Carol Oates event I was lucky enough to attend last week.
  • Much to ponder in Michael Nye’s “Open Letter to a Fellow Writer About Twitter.”

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

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: New Plans for This Blog

    by Erika Dreifus on
    11

    Huh? Isn’t Wednesday the day for the “Web Browser for Writers”? Isn’t Thursday the day for the “Work-in-Progress” post?

    Well, yes. That’s been the pattern But one of the things I did during my recent break from the day job/staycation/writing-and-reading-at-home-retreat was this: I thought about this blog (and blogging more generally), and I realized that it was time to make a couple of changes.

    Briefly, I want to maintain the blog’s quality and usefulness, and, at the same time, I need to free up some mental space ——and actual minutes of the day–for myself (and my writing). To meet these goals, I’m going to reconfigure the Practicing Writing schedule so you can reliably expect at least three posts per week:

    • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers
    • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress
    • Friday Finds for Writers (note the new plural, which will allow me to combine items that heretofore would have shown up in “Web Browser” posts)

    One bonus of the new schedule is that it will provide flexibility for the occasional “surprise” or breaking-news post on “off” days.

    As always, I thank all of you who read, comment on, and share this blog. I hope to keep you happy, engaged, and benefiting from what you find here for a long time to come!

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    3
  • The deadline is fast approaching (June 15) for the 2012 Fabri Literary Prize. From the Boaz Publishing website: “In 2006 Dr. Matthew McKay established the Fabri Literary Prize to honor the memory of Frances Fabri. A Holocaust survivor, Frances spearheaded efforts in the US to record survivor stories, creating the interviewing protocols that are used widely today. The Fabri Literary Prize recognizes the work of aspiring novelists by providing funds directly to authors, by publishing their novels in attractive trade editions, and by publicizing their work to literary reviewers, librarians, and booksellers. The 2012 prizewinner will receive a publishing contract with a $7,500 advance and a $5,000 marketing budget. The winning novel will be published in the Spring of 2013 in a hardcover or trade paperback edition by Counterpoint/Softskull Press and distributed to the book trade by Publishers Group West. The contest is open to American novelists. Submitted manuscripts must be unpublished and written for educated adults with broad interests. Excluded from consideration are books for children or young adults and books that are focused on the religious market.” No entry fee.
  • The 2012 Esquire and Aspen Writers Foundation Short Short Fiction Contest is now open for submissions! Stories should run no longer than 79 words. “Top ten finalists will receive reimbursement for up to $500 from Aspen Writer’s Foundation for a roundtrip economy plane ticket to New York City from anywhere in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, reimbursement for up to $500 for two nights lodging in New York City to be provided by Aspen Writer’s Foundation, two hour workshop with Colum McCann, and an invitation to a party with top literary luminaries hosted by Esquire and the Aspen Writers’ Foundation all at a total estimated value of $2,000/person. From the finalists, one finalist will be chosen as winner of a scholarship to 2013 Aspen Summer Words fiction workshop, 5 nights lodging in Aspen (booked by the Aspen Writers’ Foundation), and reimbursement for up to $500 from Aspen Writer’s Foundation for a roundtrip economy ticket to Aspen from anywhere in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, and will have his/her entry published by Esquire either in the magazine or online at esquire.com.” No entry fee. Deadline: September 1, 2012.
  • If you’re in the Boston area (or can get there easily), you may be interested in this opportunity from the Boston Book Festival: “Would you like a chance to curate a session at the Boston Book Festival on October 27, 2012? We are making two one-hour slots available to outside groups/individuals who can introduce fresh voices and new ideas to the BBF. Be creative! The session can involve a workshop, literary improv, dramatic readings, literary games, etc. You will be responsible for running your session, i.e., gathering your participants, beginning and ending on time, and covering any expenses (beyond room rental and basic A/V) for the session. We will publicize your session on our website and in our Program Guide, and we will ask you to publicize it as well.” No application fee. Deadline: July 15, 2012.
  • “The University of Baltimore’s School of Communications Design seeks a published creative writer for a half-time contractual position beginning in August 2012 (contingent on final budgetary approval). Responsibilities include teaching two courses per semester at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as participating in curriculum development. Applicants should possess an appropriate graduate degree, a substantive record of publications, and college-level teaching experience. The ability to teach literature, as well as writing, will be a plus. Teaching responsibilities will focus on helping students develop and improve their writing, and understand and seek publication opportunities.”
  • Community-Word Project (CWP) seeks Teaching Artists in New York City: “CWP is a community of artists dedicated to bringing high-quality arts programming to NYC public schools. We are accepting applications from creative writers, theater artists, dancers, musicians/drummers, photographers/filmmakers, and other visual and multi-media artists with at least 2+ years of teaching artist experience.” NB: “Poets and photographers are strongly encouraged to apply Applicants with an ability to teach in Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply.” Pays: $50-$75/hour.
  • Webster University (St. Louis) is looking for a Writer & Editor, American University seeks a Writer/Editor, and the NY Writers Coalition (Brooklyn) invites applications for a Program Manager position.