Archive for Featured Writing

Home » Practicing Writing » Featured Writing » Page 365

Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Eduardo Halfon’s “The Polish Boxer,” a Giveaway, and the Return of the “Is-It-Really-a-Novel?” Question

by Erika Dreifus on
12

If you’ve made it past the ridiculously long post title, maybe you’ll bear with me a moment longer.

Remember back in July, when we were talking about the categories of novels and (linked) short-story collections? Remember that I described some difficulties that I had encountered reading Shani Boianjiu’s novel, simply because it was being presented and marketed as a novel–and I saw it more as a story collection?

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Or somewhat the same thing. My latest book review, published last week in The Jewish Journal, discusses Eduardo Halfon’s The Polish Boxer (translated, as I note in the review, by a group of translators: Daniel Hahn, Ollie Brock, Lisa Dillman, Thomas Bunstead and Anne McLean).

The review begins: (more…)

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee competitions/contests, paying submission calls, and jobs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • “The Random House Publishing Group is excited to launch three new digital imprints, alongside the existing digital imprint LOVESWEPT, that will feed today’s savvy readers by bringing the best, the boldest, and the newest voices directly to them. To the already-existing LOVESWEPT imprint for romance and women’s fiction, RHPG will add the following digital-only imprints: ALIBI, for mystery/suspense readers; HYDRA, for sci-fi/fantasy enthusiasts; and FLIRT, for the rapidly-growing college-age New Adult audiences.” Submission guidelines & FAQ available here.
  • The 21st Annual ‘Austin Chronicle’ Short Story Contest welcomes submissions postmarked by December 10, 2012. $1,500 to be divided among the five winners. Manuscript to be published in early winter in The Austin Chronicle. “Contest is open to Texans and non-Texans alike.” No entry fee indicated. (via CRWROPPS-B)
  • Attention, writers-who-teach: “Each year, NEH offers tuition-free opportunities for school, college, and university educators to study a variety of humanities topics.” Next summer’s offerings include a lot of literary-flavored options, such as “Voices from the Misty Mountains: Appalachian Writers and Mountain Culture,” “The Centrality of Translation to the Humanities: New Interdisciplinary Scholarship,” and “Don’t Deny My Voice: Reading and Teaching African-American Poetry.” Most application deadlines appear to be March 4, 2013, and I’m not aware of any application fees (although I haven’t check each seminar’s requirements).
  • For those who live and work in Minnesota/western Wisconsin: “The Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of Minnesota is launching the Resident Artist Research Project (RARP), an expansion of its museum artist in residence program, and is seeking to fill two artist residencies for exceptionally inventive, purposeful, and stimulating work.” Application deadline is December 21, 2012. No application fee. “Schedule: Average 8 hours per week, flexible depending on individual projects. Term: 12 weeks total, from 01/28/13 through 04/21/13. Compensation: $4,000 term stipend plus $500 materials budget and up to $2000 in exhibit installation or special performance support per residency.” (via WomenArts Theatre Funding News)
  • And speaking of Minnesota: The Loft Literary Center (Minneapolis) invites proposals for 2013 summer adult in-person and online classes. Deadline: December 14, 2012.
  • The Gilman School’s (Baltimore) Tickner Writing Fellowship application deadline is approaching (December 11). At this time, they are seeking an emerging poet or playwright. “Responsibilities include teaching one senior elective in creative writing each semester, organizing a series of readings, advising the literary magazine, and working one-to-one with students in the Tickner Writing Center. The Tickner Fellow only teaches every other day, allowing ample time for independent writing projects.” No application fee.
  • Subscribers to The Practicing Writer had all weekend to peruse the submission calls and no-fee contest opportunities in the December issue newsletter. If you’re not among them, you can find the issue here.

    • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Being a Virtual Writer-in-Residence

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6


    The official announcement came on Monday: I’m going to serve as a “Facebook Writer-in-Residence” for the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) during the month of December.

    Here’s the text of the full announcement:

    Erika Dreifus is our Facebook Writer-in-Residence during the month of December. Erika is the author of QUIET AMERICANS: STORIES, which is a 2012 ALA Sophie Brody Medal Honor Title. The stories in QUIET AMERICANS are based largely on the histories and experiences of Erika’s paternal grandparents, German Jews who immigrated to the United States in the late 1930s; Erika is donating portions of book-sale proceeds to The Blue Card, which supports U.S.-based survivors of Nazi persecution. Additionally, Erika—whose first paying job was serving as a library assistant at her middle school—is a prolific book reviewer and blogger and a passionate advocate for Jewish literature. A regular participant in AJL’s Jewish Book Carnival, Erika will also host the Carnival in December on My Machberet, her blog on matters of Jewish literary and cultural interest. She anticipates an exciting month in discussion with AJL’s Facebook community and welcomes any early questions or suggestions you may have. Please visit her online at www.erikadreifus.com.

    More than visiting me online, though, I hope that those of you who want to talk about Jewish books, libraries, and writing will “like” the AJL Facebook page (and be sure to hover over that “Liked” link to ensure that the posts show up in your news feed). That way, you’ll receive my writer-in-residence posts and be able to participate in the discussions throughout the month.

    Speaking of–any topics you want to be sure that we cover? Please tell me!

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee competitions/contests, paying submission calls, and jobs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • Cha: An Asian Literary Journal has announced a contest for unpublished poems about “Betrayal.” Cash prizes for top three and up to five “high commended” poems. All winning poems will be published in the journal’s March issue. No entry fee. Deadline: January 15, 2013.
  • “The editor of The Buenos Aires Reader is “wide-open to submissions from writers writing in English, whether they are expats or natives, as long as they are describing life in Latin America. Yes, that’s right — you don’t have to just write from, in or about Argentina.” Will consider fiction, non-fiction, poetry, opinion, profiles and interviews. Pays: “USD $25 via PayPal, or ARS $100 in person. Payment is made within a month of publication.” No simultaneous submissions. (via Duotrope.com)
  • From Grub Street, Inc., (Boston): “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, each quarter we offer $200 scholarships to at least five writers. Recipients may use their scholarship at any time in the year. To apply for a Winter 2013 scholarship, please email the following to rowan@grubstreet.org by December 5th at 12pm: a 5-10 page sample of your work, and a one-page letter detailing your financial need and desire to take a Grub Street class. Applicants will hear from the selection committee within one week after the deadline.”
  • Paid, part-time internship opportunity with the Jewish Book Council in New York. Apply by December 17.
  • Coming soon: the December issue of The Practicing Writer. Featuring end-of-year book recommendations and, as usual, a slew of no-cost contests and paying submission calls. Don’t miss it!
  • Guidelines are now available for the NYFA Emergency Relief Fund that I mentioned here last week. Plus, PEN American Center has simplified its Writers Fund application for victims of Hurricane Sandy (grants up to $500).
  • “The Coe College [Iowa] English Department invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in Creative Writing and literature with an emphasis on poetry to begin in August 2013.”
  • Syracuse University (N.Y.) is looking for part-time faculty to teach AAS 338: Creative Writing Workshop. “The course AAS 338: Creative Writing Workshop exposes students to techniques of craftsmanship and use of meditation to expand the visionary experience, and aesthetic sensibilities that involve African American Culture. Students gain their experience through a workshop of poetry and prose.”

    • Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    The weekly collection of writing-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • Many congratulations to Stephanie Vanderslice on being named Arkansas Professor of the Year. (If you didn’t catch our Q&A with Stephanie regarding her recent book, Rethinking Creative Writing in Higher Education: Programs and Practices that Work, it’s archived here.)
  • A big thank-you to The Kenyon Review for posting audio of Elie Wiesel’s acceptance speech on November 8, when he received the 2012 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement.
  • Agree with the idea that the Internet has become a realm of (too much) niceness? Roxane Gay suggests that you think again.
  • I’m still laughing over this McSweeney’s item: Raymond Carver’s OKCupid profile, edited by Gordon Lish.
  • Like many of you, I’ve got Alice Munro’s latest, Dear Life, on my tbr list. Munro’s Q & A with The New Yorker‘s Deborah Treisman only increased my interest.

    • Have a great weekend all. See you back here on Monday.