Follow this blog long enough, and you learn that I’m a fan of writing exercises. And during September’s focus on the teaching of writing, the folks at Fiction Writers Review added a slew of “Get Writing” posts to their archive. Go take a look and get writing!
Have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday.
Shabbat shalom, and an easy fast to you all as well.
Interesting opportunity for a writer/blogger from the American Council for World Jewry:
This position requires a high-energy, self-directed, deadline-oriented individual who has exceptional written and oral communication skills. The successful applicant will be required to produce blog posts on behalf of the American Council for World Jewry and its principles. Ghost writing may be required. The successful candidate will research and write editorial blog posts in a conversational, engaging style. Each blog entry will reinforce the organization’s editorial perspective. The blogger will be tasked with creating a sense of community, providing the organization a connection to the online community, and create an opportunity for reader engagement on topics related to the mission of the ACWJ.
NB: “We will entertain those interested in both part time employment as well as part time contract work.”
Check out the full announcement and application instructions here.
Received from Jewish Currents (“a progressive, secular voice”) via email: “The theme of the next ‘Concealed/Revealed’ column in Jewish Currents magazine is ‘God.’ Please share your personal, anecdotal essays (up to 300 words) on the subject — interpreted as broadly as you like — with our readers by sending them to lawrencebush(at) earthlink(dot)net by November 10th. ‘Concealed/Revealed’ features stories about experiences that have been transformative, provocative, or just plain unforgettable. The featured topic after ‘God’ is ‘Shpilkes (Jitters)’ — with a deadline in January.”
Good news on a few fronts. Mainly, I’m cautiously pleased with the status of the commissioned short story that I’ve been working on. And I’ve completed a draft of my next article assignment for The Writer magazine. Two big items on my to-do list, nearly ready to check off.
I’ve also started preparing my presentation for a November 13 appearance with the Jewish Historical Society of New York, and I’m steeling myself to plunge into the one I need to write for a visit to my home congregation in New Jersey on November 18–it will be a friendly crowd there, but a big one! And I’ve set myself an ambitious topic: “Why Is This Jewish-American Writer Different from (Some) Other Jewish-American Writers?” (Fortunately, I was greeted with so many “I loved your book!” comments when I was at the temple for Rosh Hashanah that my confidence is up. Plus, my mom’s friends have committed themselves to a home-baked cookie brigade for an extra-special Oneg Shabbat that evening!)
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. Several more rejections have (already) come my way this week, including my second rejection from a “top-tier” residency program. I know–such is life, and such is a writer’s life, in particular.
In other news, assuming that my doctor gives her okay when I see her today, I’ll be returning to my “day job” next week. I have been incredibly lucky with my recovery from last month’s surgery, and, as I’ve been reminded as the bills have begun coming in, incredibly lucky to have a job with pretty excellent insurance benefits. (I am also incredibly lucky to have amazing colleagues and coworkers who have not only showered me with get-well wishes and gifts, but also have pitched in to take over my responsibilities during my medical leave.)
I am looking forward to getting back to my “away from home” office. Still, I know that I will also be returning to that eternal challenge of sustaining and nurturing a writing practice with so much of my time and energy going elsewhere (as I know many of you understand quite well!). Wish me luck!