Please Advise an Undergraduate Practicing Writer

by Erika Dreifus on
5

Today, I’d like to solicit your advice for an undergraduate who contacted me over the weekend. I have this individual’s permission to post the original message here:

I am currently heading into my 3rd year at … College, majoring in creative writing, American Literature and literary theory. I am going to be in NYC (Brooklyn, specifically) in July and August before returning to school, and was wondering if you knew of any possible internships (paid or unpaid, no preference) that would be available at this date in writing or publishing. I’m looking for something that might offer some good experience for a soon to graduate student with an interest in writing and publishing. If you knew of anything or could help out in any way, I would be so grateful.

And I’d be grateful, too, if you’d share any suggestions in comments. Thank you!

Friday Find: Nathan Bransford’s "Writing Advice Database"

by Erika Dreifus on
2

Literary agent Nathan Bransford recently posted a “Writing Advice Database” on his excellent blog. Categories cover “Before You Start,” “The Writing Process,” “Revising,” “Genres and Classification,” and “Staying sane during the writing/publishing process.” Bransford calls it “an FAQ-style compendium of all the writing advice on the blog”–which is considerable. Check it out. And have a great weekend.

Quick Housekeeping Note

by Erika Dreifus on
3

Hello, all. Just a quick note: I’ve been receiving more than the usual number of requests to post submission calls lately from editors whose publications do not pay writers (or pay only in copies). As you may have noticed over time, I promote only paying opportunities on this blog (and in my monthly newsletter). Moreover, I include only those opportunities that do not charge reading, entry, or any other fees.

While I sometimes mention nonpaying publications (or fee-charging contests) here, it’s generally in the context of pointing you to my own work or other work that I admire. There are plenty of other sites/lists where you can find (and advertise) nonpaying opportunities. This one is different. Thank you all so much for your interest!

The Wednesday Web Browser: Ask Allison, Tablet Magazine, and Woolf Conference Recap

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Author Allison Winn Scotch’s popular “Ask Allison” blog–replete with posts on freelancing and fiction-writing–has a new home online.
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Speaking of changes online: Fans of Nextbook.org (moi included) are settling into a site redesign–and a new name, Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life. One of the recently-launched features I’m most happy about: Josh Lambert‘s weekly column on new Jewish books. (Congrats, Josh. I look forward to all your updates!)
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Congrats also to my friend Anne, who recently ran a most successful conference focusing on Virginia Woolf. Do check out Sasha Graybosch’s account of the event on The Rumpus.

The Best Novel You Never Finished Reading

by Erika Dreifus on
4

I’ll admit that I am too embarrassed to reveal the title of the new, much-buzzed-about-novel that I’ve simply failed to keep reading after getting through the first 50 pages. Fortunately, The New Yorker’s Book Bench blog isn’t exactly depending on me for its new series, “Books, Interrupted,” which focuses on “failed” reading projects undertaken by the magazine’s contributors and editors. The debut post comes from author Yiyun Li, who confesses that she’s never made it through Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (but when you read the post, you’ll have to admit she’s had some decent excuses).

(Anyone who wants to share his or her own biggest “book, interrupted” is welcome to do so here in comments.)