Well, now I have my own “success story” to share. If you haven’t yet seen my account of writing for family history and genealogy magazines over at WritersWeekly.com, click here to read it.
(If you have a freelance success story to share, be sure to visit the WritersWeekly guidelines to see how you might go about submitting it.)
Last week I referred to Robert Pinsky’s review of David Rivard’s new book. This week I’m happy to point to Pinsky again. In Sunday’s Poet’s Choice column in the Washington Post, Pinsky presents a poem, “Urban Renewal,” from Major Jackson’s new book, Hoops. For Seamus Heaney fans, Pinsky connects Jackson’s poem with Heaney’s well-known “Digging.”
Major Jackson is another writer I admire not only for his poetry, but because he’s a genuinely nice person. It’s always nice to see good things happening to good people. I hope Pinsky’s article brings even more attention to Jackson’s already very well-regarded work.
If you’ve ever dreamed of spending summer days writing in Italy you may want to take a look at the Like Heaven Writing Holidays short story competition, which I recently saw posted over at placesforwriters.com.
Submit a short story (original, unpublished, 3,000 words maximum) no later than midnight, May 7, 2006. You may submit only one story, titled “Like Heaven.” (Frankly, I’m not sure if this means the story must reflect the subject/theme of “Like Heaven” or not–you may want to inquire about that.) The winning entry and honorable mentions will be posted on the Like Heaven Web site.
The winner also receives an invitation to participate in the “Like Heaven Writing Holiday,” free of charge. This includes accommodation, meals, and workshop participation. The prize does not include transportation costs. From what I’ve read on the Web site, this seems to be a prose-focused workshop.
There is NO ENTRY FEE.
To learn more, click here.
ADDED ON MAY 6, 2006:
Per an e-mail received today, submissions to this competition are now closed.
Remember the post about The Writer magazine’s Online Poetry Spotlight project? The first selected poem is now online, along with the professional critiques that comment on it.
Facts on File is looking for scholars to write books that will advise students on how to research/write essays on major authors. According to the announcement posted on the UPenn Literary Calls for Papers list, ideal applicants “will have an intimate knowledge of the major works of the subject author, experience in instructing students on how to write well, and a graceful, jargon-free writing style.” Available volumes include books on William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.D. Salinger, Emily Dickinson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Toni Morrison. Check the announcement for more information/application instructions.
Well, I’m back, and there’s plenty to post.
Let’s start with this opportunity for Boston area teachers who have ideas they’d like to develop into publications/presentations. The Calderwood Writing Initiative invites such teachers (K-14) to apply by April 28 for a two-week summer workshop at the Boston Athenaeum. The workshop will take place July 17-28. Accepted teachers will receive a $2,000 stipend for participating in the summer workshop and in monthly follow-up meetings during the school year. To find out more, consult the Calderwood Writing Initiative.