Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • You’ll have to hurry to apply for a residency (including accommodation, travel bursary, and stipend) at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris. “Applicants must be either: 1. Irish citizens or normally resident in Ireland, with full-time professional involvement in creative practice. 2. French professional artists whose work demonstrates an Irish dimension, who are resident in Ireland or have another clear link. 3. Artists with a body of work with a distinct Irish element, and who would benefit from a connection with France and Paris.” There’s no application fee, but the deadline is the end of the day (5 p.m. or 17h) on Friday, January 28.
  • “Spirit First is pleased to announce its second annual meditation poetry contest. Poetry submissions may be of any length and any style but must have a theme of meditation, mindfulness, stillness, or silence. Poems may reflect any discipline, any faith, or none. Poems must be previously unpublished.” No entry fee. Cash prizes ($175/$125/$75), plus $75 for a Spoken Poem Prize. Deadline: “Submissions must be received no later than January 31, 2011.” (via Beltway Poetry Quarterly/Poetry News)
  • Attention, Alaska writers! “Today [January 7, 2011] Rasmuson Foundation announced that Alaska artists are invited to apply for Individual Artist Awards to support the activities and experiences necessary to nurture and foster their creative work. Artists who are currently producing or performing work, are at least 18, and who have lived in Alaska for at least two years are eligible to apply.” The Foundation offers three grant programs. No application fees indicated.
  • Our February Practicing Writer newsletter will go out to subscribers next weekend. Just so you know to expect it (or sign up to receive it).
  • “Outdoorzy.com seeks bloggers personally involved in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, backpacking, trail running, climbing, or playing in dirt or snow. To write for Outdoorzy.com, you should be able write about these topics with the tone of someone who loves doing what you do. A broad range of skill levels in each of subject categories are accepted, so applicants don’t need to be ‘experts.’ All topics are ‘outdoorzy.’ New bloggers receive $20 per article to start, with the opportunity for pay advancement in the future. Email information about yourself, topic(s) to cover, and three published writing samples (preferably covering the same topics or topics you are applying for), and put “OUTDOORZY BLOGGING APPLICATION” in the subject line. Email to Jason Heflin, jason(dot)heflin(at)gmail(dot)com. For more information, visit www.outdoorzy.com.” (via NH Writers’ Project)
  • An assistant professorship is available at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown: “Responsibilities include: teaching four courses per semester, including composition, introductory professional writing, and intermediate/advanced coursework in creative nonfiction, literary journalism and new media.”
  • Philadelphia University seeks a Public Relations Associate/Writer, the Center for Media and Democracy (Wisc.) is looking for a part-time Writer/Reporter, and ASPCA (N.Y.) is advertising for a Senior Director, Executive Communications.

    • Friday Find: Friday Reads

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    It’s a little scary to me, the extent to which Twitter seems to have taken a hold on my life. But one element of the Twitterverse that isn’t scary at all–nay, it’s inspiring!–is the #FridayReads hashtag.

    As the energetic Bethanne Patrick (@thebookmaven) phrases it: “Basically, if it’s Friday where you are, we want to know what you’re reading.” And in 140 characters or less, people are sharing those titles every Friday. All genres (no judgments!). And if you’re reading the same book for two (or more) Fridays, that’s OK. You can say so.

    Yes, @thebookmaven offers some giveaways, but that’s not what’s motivating thousands of people around the world to reveal what they’re reading each week. There’s something else at work, and I am just one of many, many readers happy to be a part of it.

    So follow #FridayReads to enjoy the sense of being in good reading company and glean some titles to add to your own TBR list. Share what you’re reading, too, and don’t forget the hashtag. (NB: In the past, you had to have an active Twitter account for at least a few days for your hashtag posts to show up, so if you’re just activating your account now, you should be able to participate fully no later than next Friday.)

    And if you’re an author, you may just find that your book is someone else’s #FridayReads. That’s quite a find, indeed.

    Happy reading, happy weekend, and see you back here on Monday!

    Thursday’s Post-Publication Post

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    Yesterday was a great day, and I thank all of you who posted congratulations here, on Twitter, and/or on Facebook for helping to make it a very special pub date, indeed, for my short-story collection, Quiet Americans.

    Another highlight: Quiet Americans received a sage and sensitive review from Jonathan Kirsch, Books Editor for The Jewish Journal (of Greater Los Angeles).

    Here’s a snippet—one of my favorites—from the review:

    Dreifus does not confine herself to the kind of character studies and slice-of-life sketches that are the stock-in-trade of so many short-story writers. Rather, she cares deeply about history — her own family history and the larger history that we all inhabit — and that’s what makes her stories both engaging and consequential.

    “Engaging” and “consequential.” Two adjectives any writer would be delighted to see applied to her work.

    You can read the entire review here.

    The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers: Pub Day Edition!

    by Erika Dreifus on
    3

    Please excuse the self-indulgence/self-referential links today, but…today is the official publication day for my short-story collection, Quiet Americans. To that end:

  • Free books! Join our new Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win one of three signed copies of the book. (Speaking of Goodreads: Any of you have experience with the Q&A groups, as an author and/or reader? I’m trying to decide if I should set one up, and if so, if there are any good how-to tips I should follow to make it worth everyone’s while.)
  • Not on Goodreads? Two more signed copies will be awarded to (randomly selected) fans of our Facebook page.
  • Don’t want to wait a month for the giveaways to close? Eager to get your copy, and get it soon? Totally understandable! Purchasing options abound!
  • Our Winter Blog Tour has started. Check out the initial posts for the Jewish Book Council/MyJewishLearning Author Blog Series. Then, on Friday, literary host extraordinaire Ron Hogan will introduce a guest post on Beatrice.com.