In case you haven’t yet seen it (or if you haven’t yet subscribed–egads!), the May issue of The Practicing Writer is now online. The issue went out to subscribers late last week, so plenty of poets, fictionists, and writers of creative nonfiction have already had several days to pursue the no-cost contests and paying submission calls included within. But it’s never too late to join us. (The newsletter is free, and we won’t share your email address.)
Enjoy the weekend, and see you back here on Monday!
As I’ve mentioned, I spent last weekend (an extended weekend) in Massachusetts, where I used to live. On Sunday, one of my Cambridge friends generously hosted a “book brunch” to celebrate the publication of my story collection, Quiet Americans (thanks again, A!). It was a lovely gathering, and once again, I felt blessed to have so much support and friendship in my life.
The latest issue of CUNY Matters (my employer’s newsmagazine) was released just before I left for Massachusetts, and I was gratified to see Quiet Americans mentioned in the issue’s books section. (Download CUNY Mattershere and scroll to the side column on page 9 to see the shout-out.)
Meantime, the reviews continue to come in. I’m humbled whenever I see that someone has spent precious time writing about my book. Here is one recent review that is especially detailed and comprehensive.
I’m also honored to learn that Midge Raymond is providing a copy of Quiet Americans as one of her Collection Giveaway Project offerings (Midge is also spotlighting Becky Hagenston’s Strange Weather and Lori Ostlund’s The Bigness of the World).
So it has been a busy week for Quiet Americans! Who knows what next week may bring?
Between an extended weekend in Massachusetts, an especially busy week at the day job, and a conference presentation coming up (gulp!) tomorrow, this hasn’t been the best week for me so far as my keeping an eye on the Web goes. But I’ve done my best, and I’m happy to share these finds with you.
My trip to Massachusetts was prompted by the always-excellent Muse & the Marketplace conference that is organized by the fine folks at Grub Street, Inc. Click here to read an interview with Grub’s founder, Eve Bridburg, and then move on to Nina Badzin’s conference recap. (You can also scroll through all of the #Muse2011 posts on Twitter to get a sense of some of what went on and the inspiration and camaraderie that the conference engendered.)
I loved Ellen Meeropol’s recent blog post on moral ambiguity in fiction (and I’d have loved it even without its generous mention of my story, “For Services Rendered.”
Time to remind you that May is Short Story Month! I’m proud to be part of the team at Fiction Writers Review that is celebrating with a slew of projects and special posts. Author and editor Matt Bell has a nice collection of other participating sites/blogs/etc. over on his homepage. Please remember that there’s still plenty of time for you to enter the short-story collection giveaway right here on Practicing Writing (copies of Midge Raymond’s Forgetting English and my own Quiet Americans are up for the winning).
“Established in 1978, Loom Press publishes books by emerging writers and artists from the New England area. In addition to poetry, Loom Press titles range from documentary photography to cultural studies….Authors typically receive up to 30 copies of the finished book and standard royalties for trade paperback books.”
Attention, practicing writers in Maine: “The Individual Artist Fellowships reward artistic excellence, advance the careers of Maine artists and promote public awareness regarding the eminence of the creative sector in Maine.” Application deadline for Literary Arts fellowships is May 13, 2011. No application fee indicated. Fellowships confer $13,000.
Dixie State College (Utah) is advertising a faculty position in English-Creative Writing. “Responsibilities: Develop and teach courses in area of creative writing. Supervise students in the creation of department publications as assigned. Teach composition courses and literature courses as needed. Serve on college and departmental committees as assigned. Attend department, division, and faculty meetings; work with other faculty in program management; and adhere to college policies. Should be technology literate and/or willing to become certified and teach online or blended courses.”
The Djerassi Resident Artists Program (Calif.) seeks an Executive Director, Gettysburg College (Pa.) is looking for an Assistant Director of Annual Giving Communications, and Harvard University Press (Mass.) is advertising for a part-time Writer/Editor who will “produce descriptive copy for approximately 200 frontlist books that HUP publishes each year.” Note that for the HUP job: “The Press prefers an in-house copywriter but will consider highly qualified candidates who wish to work remotely, with multiple visits to the Press as required in the critical months of July-August and January-February.”
I’m still away today (long weekend in my much-missed Massachusetts). So please accept my apologies for the relative brevity of today’s market/job/opportunity listings. If you haven’t yet seen the May Practicing Writer newsletter, which went out to subscribers late last week, you’ll find plenty more (paying) calls for submission and no-fee competitions listed within.
