The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • You have until tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. (ET) to win a free copy of Linda Formichelli’s e-book Get Unstuck! For Freelancers: A 6-Week Course to Boost Your Motivation, Organization, and Productivity—So You Can Do More Work in Less Time, Make More Money, and Enjoy the Freelance Lifestyle. All you have to do is come up with a winning “opposite idea” that could work as an article pitch. Check out the details and examples of “opposite ideas” over on The Renegade Writer.
  • A New York Times article titled “Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal,” is making the online rounds.
  • Also in the news: a “regrettable incident” involving the National Book Awards.
  • There are so many worthwhile items within another blogger’s roundup post that I’m just going to send you right over to The Quivering Pen to read them. See especially Leslie Pietrzyk on rejection and Josh Rolnick on “My Life in Stories.”
  • Tania Hershman shares thoughts on short fiction, and what makes flash fiction distinctive, including this nugget: “I do think that flash fiction lends itself to more surreal and experimental writing, that a reader will willingly suspend more disbelief if they see that the story is a page long – and that is a part of flash fiction, being able to see the end as you begin reading, that I believe affects the reading experience.”
  • And finally, I’m grateful to the wonderful YourDailyPoem.com for giving new life to my poem “Meteorology.”

    • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • “Hazard Community and Technical College [Ky.] is hosting the annual ‘Spooky Story Contest’….Stories should be spooky, thrilling, and macabre.” The contest is open to any writer; stories must run no longer than 4 pages or 1000 words. No simultaneous submissions. There is no entry fee, and the deadline is coming up fast: October 22. First-prize winner will receive $75; second-prize winner will receive $50. The winners and an honorable mention will be published in Kudzu. (via Kentucky Literary Newsletter)
  • “Gothamist is interested in adding more long-form non-fiction features to our websites….For this round, we’re looking for a feature that will be relevant to our complete network audience of over four million readers in large American cities. We believe pitches that involve crime or other mysteries work especially well. However, we will review pitches on any subject you care to send.” Pays: initial payment of $3,500; 50/50 profit split. Pitch deadline: October 31. (via @longreads & @cnfonline)
  • Write it Sideways, a site that provides “writing advice from a fresh perspective,” is looking for two paid contributors. Extensive information available here. Applications are due November 1, 2011 (9 a.m. EST). Pays: $15/article, for 2 articles/month from January-June 2012. (via @NinaBadzin)
  • The Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway (Galloway, N.J.) offers scholarships for first-time attendees. Check the detailed guidelines for eligibility and deadlines (which vary by scholarship). No application fees indicated. (via CRWROPPS-B)
  • “Gemini Ink, the only literary arts center in South Central Texas, seeks an ardent Executive | Artistic Director who can actively build on its mission to nurture writers and readers through literature and the related arts….” Application review will begin January 16, 2012.
  • The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington is looking for a researcher to gather information and write entries for an encyclopedia project. Details on my other blog.
  • Hyde Park Art Center seeks a Marketing and Communications Manager and F+W Media, Inc. (Cincinnati) invites applications for a Content Strategy Manger — Writing Community.
  • From Emerson College (Mass.): “The Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Magazine Writing and Publishing to teach a range of magazine publishing courses. The initial appointment is for the 2012-13 academic year beginning September 1, 2012.”
  • The University of Maryland-College Park is looking for an Assistant Professor in Fiction Writing (tenure-track).
  • “The English Department of Stonehill College (Mass.) seeks candidates for a three-year renewable position in creative writing with a specialization in fiction, to begin fall semester 2012. The position may be renewed for another three-year term upon satisfactory review.”
  • “The Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, Loyola University Chicago (LUC) seeks qualified candidates for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Creative Writing (Poetry), beginning August 15, 2012.” (Look for Job #8500704.)

    • Friday Find: Woodberry Poetry Room Website

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Thanks to the Poetry Foundation, I’ve just learned that the wonderful Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard University has launched a new website. And it’s particularly rich in recordings. Do check it out. (Of course, if you’re in the Boston area, you should know about the WPR’s ongoing calendar of events, also detailed on the site.)

    Have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday.

    Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    What work-in-progress? Between the Yom Kippur holiday and my hit-the-ground-running return to my 9-5 office job this week (following a month-long medical leave), I’ve had neither the time nor the energy to do much writing.

    However, I have been enjoying at least reading through the daily emails that I’m receiving from The Southeast Review. I’ve subscribed to the latest SER Writing Regimen, which means that I am currently collecting a series of inspirational prompts/exercises, quotes, podcasts, and riff words that I can use. Someday.