Friday Find: Candid Tips from Editors on Book Reviewing

by Erika Dreifus on
2

One of the problems with living in New York City–and trying to do decent work at your bills-paying day job to allow you to continue living there–is that you can’t possibly attend all of the wonderful literary events that take place in this city and also maintain your health/sanity/family relationships. But this week, I did make it to an evening event at the Writers’ Institute at the Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY). On the other hand, I failed to get myself to the Grad Center last month, when, organized by the same institute, an amazing group of editors–Henry Finder, Radhika Jones, Robert Messenger, and Sam Tanenhaus–addressed one of my favorite topics: book reviewing.

Luckily for me, when I went to the institute’s website to check the details for this week’s event, I noticed that a podcast of the book-reviewing session is now available. I listened to it yesterday (before adding it to the list of podcasts at cuny.edu/creativewriting, the website I get to maintain as part of the aforementioned day job). And it’s great. If you have some time this weekend, take the opportunity to listen.

Enjoy, and see you back here on Monday.

Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: Update on Reviews, Giveaways, Events & The Blue Card

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

It’s been busy lately, and here’s some of what’s been happening with my story collection, Quiet Americans, in recent days.

  • Reviews and ratings continue to accrue (thank you!) on the book’s Amazon and Goodreads pages. Yesterday, I discovered an especially lovely Amazon review that was posted on April 5. (And no, I do not know the reviewer personally!)
  • The giveaway that I announced last week to mark the release of the Kindle version (which, by the way, can be read even without a Kindle device) ended yesterday. Congratulations to the winners (you can see who they are in the giveaway post’s comments section), and thanks to everyone who entered for the helpful feedback.
  • I’ve been practicing the portion of Quiet Americans that I plan to read this weekend in the Sunday Salon series. If you’re thinking of attending, I promise you that I will stick to my time limit! (I may even have a minute-and-a-half to spare.)
  • And I’m really looking forward to next Tuesday’s online chat with participants in the Jewish Book Council’s Twitter Book Club. (Will I “see” you there?)
  • Most important, now that we’ve entered the second quarter of 2011, I’ve sent The Blue Card its first “cut” of the book sale profits/royalties. It’s a not-insignificant, three-figure sum, and I hope that I’ll be able to do even more next quarter. Thank you all for making the contribution possible. (Extra thanks to the friends and family who have made contributions independently, in honor of the book’s publication. You are exceptionally classy–and generous–people!)

    • The Wednesday Web Browser

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • As you probably know, we’re now in National Poetry Month. I haven’t been doing a very good job keeping you totally up-to-date, but I’ll hope to remedy my shortcomings somewhat by pointing you to Kelli Russell Agodon’s Big Poetry Giveaway; a special series of poetry-book discussions; celebratory ideas from Sage Cohen, author of Writing the Life Poetic; and plenty of poetry from The Forward‘s “Arty Semite” blog.
  • And speaking of poetry, here’s a lovely (and short) video that Diane Lockward has put together to acknowledge all of the poets who took place in the recent Girl Talk reading in West Caldwell, N.J. (Yes, yours truly is included.) Thanks, Diane!
  • Any time Rebecca Makkai has a new story out, it’s a noteworthy event. Her latest, serialized this week on Five Chapters, is titled “The Disappearance of Miranda Željko.
  • Big congrats to Kelley Coyner, who has just landed a gig writing about nonfiction for The Writer’s Center’s First Person Plural blog. Take a look at the inaugural post–Kelley wants to hear from commenters! (And I’m personally grateful to Kelley for letting me know that a tip on this blog led her to this opportunity.)
  • And while we’re on nonfiction, do read “Notes for an Essay on Race and Class in a Uni Town,” by our friend, “Oronte Churm.”

    • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • As of April 1, Arc Poetry Magazine has replaced its submissions procedures with an online manager.
  • “Announcing a call for non-fiction/memoir/personal stories by American Muslim women on the search for love. These stories will be published in a book, Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, by Soft Skull Press in February 2012.” Pays: “a small stipend (TBD) upon publication,” plus two copies. Submit by April 15, 2011. (hat tip: Literary Mama blog)
  • News from the British Library: “Applications are invited for the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence Award. The award of £20,000, sponsored by the David and Mary Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library, is open to writers resident in the United Kingdom. Writers should be working on a non-fiction or fiction full-length book, written in the English language, the research for which requires that they make substantial use of the British Library’s collections relating to North America (the USA and/or Canada). The award holder will be the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence for a period of one year from 1st January 2012. The award will help the Writer in Residence to spend part of that time on site at the British Library, making direct use of the collections relating to North America (the USA and/or Canada).” No application fee. Deadline: August 31, 2011.
  • Reminder: Quiet Americans is now available via Kindle (and Kindle apps are available for all kinds of devices). Enter our giveaway (entries close Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.), or go ahead and buy your “copy” now.
  • “The Penn State Altoona English Program is taking applications for a one-semester teaching residency in fiction and creative non-fiction writing. The residence, designed to offer an emerging writer substantial time to write, offers a salary of $10,000 in return for teaching one general education level introduction to creative writing workshop during the Fall 2011 semester (August 22-December 15). The resident writer will also give two readings and work informally with our English majors. Benefits are not included.” Application review begins May 16.
  • “The Department of English at the University New Mexico invites applications for a Russo Endowed Professor or Creative Writing in Creative Nonfiction for the academic year 2011-2012, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years. We seek an outstanding writer with significant publications and demonstrated excellence as a teacher to work with students at the graduate and undergraduate level in the UNM creative writing program. A secondary expertise in poetry is also welcome, but not required.”
  • “Bethany College [W. Va.] invites applications for a One-Year Visiting Position in American Literature/Poetry Writing. The successful candidate will teach courses in American literature, Freshman Honors English (on a topic of the candidate’s choice), introductory creative writing, a poetry writing workshop, and composition. Ph.D. in hand by Spring 2011 preferred. ABD would be considered with appropriate adjustment in rank. The successful candidate will be committed to excellence in teaching. The college anticipates a search for a permanent replacement to be conducted in the coming academic year.”
  • “The English Department at Rhodes College [Tenn.] seeks a Poet for a visiting position starting August 2011. Successful candidates should have an M.F.A. as well as a clear record of teaching excellence. Initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second. Secondary expertise in teaching fiction writing, screenwriting, or dramatic writing is desirable.”
  • “The Writing & Publishing Department at Walnut Hill School for the Arts [Mass.], which offers talented high school students intensive, craft-based, studio instruction in writing (prose, poetry, and playwriting) alongside real-world training in literary editing and publishing, seeks a full-time Assistant Director to lead instruction in Poetry and production of Department publications.”
  • Boston Colleges seeks a Senior Editor, the African Wildlife Foundation (D.C.) is looking for a Senior Writer and Publications Manager, and Brown University (R.I.) invites applications for a Director, Communications and Stewardship (job #D00842).