Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: The Waiting Game (Redux)

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

waiting_roomAs I noted in a blog post last summer, 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.

In an essay, I’ve explained how rejection has become much easier with time and experience. But as I mentioned in that post last summer, 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. I’m aware that this is what my dad calls a “high-quality problem.” But that doesn’t necessarily make the waiting easier! Plus, in many cases, even while waiting for publication, I know that yet another wait lies ahead: a wait for the paycheck (which I’ll admit makes me appreciate the steady salary of my day job all the more).

Right now, I’m waiting for three accepted essays to be published and paid for (two memoir pieces, one op-ed). There’s also a book review waiting to make its appearance (part of the delay in this instance is due to a publisher delay in releasing the book in question). It’s possible that all four of these pieces will be out within the next month. But I’m not holding my breath!

Monday Markets for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

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

  • “The Christopher Doheny Award will recognize excellence in fiction or nonfiction on the topic of serious illness. The winner of the award must demonstrate high literary standards while exploring the impact of illness on the patient, family and friends, and others. With support from Audible, Inc., the award includes a $10,000 prize and publication and promotion of the book in print and audio editions. The award will be presented annually for either a manuscript that is still in process or a completed one.” Deadline: July 31, 2013. No entry fee indicated.
  • Writers from New York State: “Arts Services Initiative of Western New York, Inc. (ASI), on behalf of the New York State Council on the Arts in partnership with the Province of Quebec Council of Arts and Letters, is seeking proposals from qualified individuals from New York State to become artists in residence in the Province of Quebec in Fall or Winter, 2013.” Those chosen will each receive a stipend of $9,000. There is no application fee. Applications are due by noon (EST) on July 22, 2013.
  • By this time next week, subscribers will have received the July issue of The Practicing Writer. If you don’t yet subscribe to our free newsletter–which, like this blog, features ONLY no-fee competitions and ONLY paying opportunities for fictionists, poets, and writers of creative nonfiction–what are you waiting for?
  • “The Department of English at the College of the Holy Cross [Mass.] invites applications for a visiting part-time faculty position to teach one creative writing course in prose narrative (with an emphasis on both fiction and nonfiction) in fall 2013.”
  • The Loft Literary Center (Minneapolis) is looking for a Program Manager.
  • Grub Street (Boston) is also looking for a Program Manager.
  • From the Vermont Studio Center: “The VSC Writing Program Coordinator is responsible for the smooth operation of the day-to-day components of the writing program, offered as a part of the Studio Center’s artist residency program. This is a one-year, live-in, 30-hour per week staff artist position. Compensation includes room, board, studio, access to Visiting Writers, and a stipend of $150 per week. The Writing Coordinator reports to the Writing Program Director. Position available immediately.” (h/t Lene A. Gary)

    • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: My First Poetry Chapbook Manuscript!

    by Erika Dreifus on
    12

    A few print magazines where my poems have found homes.
    There came a moment this past weekend–late Saturday afternoon, to be more precise–when I saved a file on my computer and realized: I have a poetry chapbook manuscript here.

    It was a pretty nifty moment for me. After attempting to write a few poems as a teenager, I’d pretty much abandoned my poetry practice and become a prose-focused gal. But about five years ago, I decided to give poetry another go. I enrolled in a number of online classes (taught by Matthew Lippman and Sage Cohen), and began incorporating more poetry into my reading practice, too.

    Over these past few years, I’ve been encouraged by some positive feedback from poetry editors, and some deeply meaningful poetry publications. It’s been slow-going, however, and I wasn’t sure that I’d ever have a full chapbook (let alone a full collection) completed.

    I was motivated to evaluate where my poetry stood by the impending deadline for a chapbook contest. I know that my chances of winning are minuscule. Beyond the possible merit (or lack thereof) of my manuscript, there’s the fact that I’ve already shared the contest guidelines with all of The Practicing Writer‘s readers (and have linked to them again in this post!), thereby doing my part to increase the competition (self-sabotage, anyone?). But this is a rare fee-free chapbook contest, and simply preparing the submission has been a useful learning experience for me. (Next weekend’s project: actually submitting the thing! A bit more proofreading–along with agonizing over sequencing–has to happen first.)

    Sure, it’s likely that I’ll need to enter many more competitions before this manuscript becomes a published chapbook. But you know what they say about journeys–each one begins with a single step.

    Any of you have experience with preparing poetry chapbooks? Any tips to share?