Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Remember a few weeks ago when I outlined some of the assignments and projects that were on my to-do list? Remember how several of them had May 1 deadlines?

Well, this week, I’m happy to report that every deadline was met.

This week has also brought the publication of my latest micro-essay, “Comprehension,” which found a lovely home with Hippocampus Magazine. (If you haven’t already checked out the anniversary celebration on the Hippocampus site–replete with daily giveaways–go take a look.)

And over on Fiction Writers Review (FWR), Short Story Month is in full swing. I’m proud to have led this month’s “Stories We Love” posts with some thoughts about Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.”

Finally–and in case you missed it–this week I’ve also announced which title(s) I’ll be giving away as part of my participation in the FWR Collection Giveaway Project. I’m happy to see so much early interest.

P.S. This week also brought my birthday. Check out the delightful illustration my niece included with the card she gave me.

The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
2

Another midweek medley of writing-related finds culled from the Web.

  • Let’s begin with some application advice (mainly for academe, but with crossover appeal for writers-who-don’t-teach but are applying for grants/fellowships/awards/etc.). (via Wordamour)
  • Five Ways to Celebrate Short Stories is a post I wrote for Fiction Writers Review last year, but the beginning of Short Story Month 2012 seems to be a perfect time to “recycle” it.
  • Speaking of Fiction Writers Review: My “reviewlet” of Anne Korkeakivi’s The Unexpected Guest posted last week. One of the things I discuss in that piece is the author’s use of French words and phrases, so I was of course interested to discover Korkeakivi’s thoughts on handling languages other than English in fiction (thanks for the link, Writer Abroad!). (By the way, you can read some relevant thoughts of my own archived on the Brave New Words blog, too.)
  • May is apparently prime giveaway season. Don’t forget about this practicing writer’s participation in the Collection Giveaway Project. And over on Hippocampus Magazine, there will be one giveaway every day of this month to celebrate the publication’s anniversary. You need to delve into the current issue to participate–may I humbly suggest that you check out my own micro-essay in that issue, “Comprehension”?
  • For those who ask am I a writer, Cathy Day has some answers.

    • Announcing the Yugntruf Zhurnal Writing Contest

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    From Yugntruf (Youth for Yiddish): the Yugntruf Zhurnal Writing Contest:

    Are you the next Sholem Aleichem or Avrom Sutzkever?
    We’re looking for young emerging Yiddish writers and poets who need a modern literary platform suited to their unique voices.

    That’s because Yugntruf – Youth for Yiddish is reviving its Zhurnal – its Yiddish-language literary journal of poetry, short stories, editorials and articles.

    Debuting this August 2012, our new Zhurnal, co-edited by Jordan Kutzik and Leyzer Burko, will be available to Yugntruf members and to subscribers worldwide in both full-color hard copy and online download.

    So, if you’re 35 years of age or younger, you’re invited to submit your original, unpublished Yiddish poetry or fiction to our ZHURNAL YIDDISH LITERATURE COMPETITION to win cash awards — and publication in our new Zhurnal! (more…)

    Collection Giveaway Project 2012: What You Can Win Here

    by Erika Dreifus on
    15

    Because the stories in Binocular Vision are set in Massachusetts. And Europe. And Israel.

    Because the characters in Binocular Vision are Jews. And non-Jews.

    Because Binocular Vision spins stories about war. About families. About history. About things that are timeless.

    And because its author does this all so beautifully. And–dare I say–so quietly?

    For all of these reasons, I am proud to offer a free copy of Edith Pearlman’s superb story collection, Binocular Vision (Lookout Books, 2011), as my selected Collection Giveaway Project title.

    The Collection Giveaway Project (CGP) is one way that the team at Fiction Writers Review will be celebrating Short Story Month through the month of May. And you have all month to comment on this post, right here, to be eligible to win a copy of Binocular Vision.

    Comment as you wish–perhaps tell us about another collection we might enjoy, and if you’re participating in the CGP by offering up a collection (or two), please tell us where we can find *your* post. On May 31st, I’ll use a random number generator to select a winner who will receive a copy of Binocular Vision. A “runner-up” will receive a copy of my own story collection, Quiet Americans. (Winners may choose to gift their copies to another recipient if they already own the books.)

    Sound good? Let the giveaway begin!

    UPDATE (5/31): Thank you all for taking part! And congratulations to Anca (who has won a copy of Binocular Vision) and Kizzy (who has won a copy of Quiet Americans). I will be in touch with you shortly via email. Thank you once again.