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Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Giving Thanks

by Erika Dreifus on
2

As we begin the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., I just want to pause and thank all of you for being part of this writing life of mine–and reading these posts.

I know that some of you end up here on the blog when you click through Facebook updates. But I also know that Facebook has been playing around with the algorithms and that lately, lots of updates are only reaching a fraction of each page’s “fans.” You’ve probably seen this message before, but I’m going to repeat it here (instead of on Facebook, where, it seems to me, the people who might most appreciate reading it won’t see it at all!). It’s this:

1. Please go to the fan page, or others that you’d especially like to get updates from.
2. Click on the “Liked” button under the cover photo.
3. Activate the “Show in News Feed” option; you should then continue to receive all the updates you want.

(Many thanks to CoolMomTech for the simple instructions I’ve modified here.)

Now, enjoy the holiday. And, truly, THANK YOU.

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).

  • Launching this week: the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Emergency Relief Fund. “The Andy Warhol Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and Lambent Foundation (a project of the Tides Center) have established an Emergency Relief Fund, administered by NYFA to assist artists with damages and losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Eligible artists can be working in any discipline and reside in Connecticut, New Jersey or New York. Damages are broadly defined and include, but are not limited to: damage to physical work; damage to homes/studios/other facilities; loss of equipment or supplies; loss of income, and reimbursement for cancelled performances/appearances/engagements. We anticipate the overwhelming majority of grants will range between $1,000 and $5,000, but there may be extraordinary circumstances in which slightly smaller or larger grants might be made.” Applications will be made available on November 21.
  • “Bethesda Magazine and the Bethesda Urban Partnership are partnering to sponsor a short story and essay contest.” Cash prizes, publication, and other goodies will be awarded in each genre (and for high-school age writers and writers 18 and over “and finished with high school”). There’s no entry fee, and the deadline is January 25, 2013. Note that essay submissions (500 words, maximum) may come from writers resident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC; short-story submissions (4,000 words, maximum) are limited to residents of Montgomery Country, Maryland, and Upper NW, DC (ZIP codes 20015 and 20016).
  • From the U.K.: “Booktrust is looking for paid freelance reviewers to write book recommendations for our site on books from contemporary fiction to Young Adult fiction to crime to translated fiction to short stories to non-fiction. We cover a wide range of books.”
  • “Mediabistro is looking for a dynamic, spirited instructor to teach a food blogging class online this March. Class meets over 6 weeks and will teach students how to design, promote, and maintain a blog dedicated to food.” (NB: Site registration required to view full ad.)

    • Please keep reading for college-level teaching jobs. (more…)

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

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

  • I was very sorry to learn of the passing of Isaiah Sheffer, whose voice has welcomed me into so many memorable “Selected Shorts” broadcasts.
  • Superb submission advice from Michelle Seaton.
  • Nina Badzin is celebrating her blog’s second birthday with a slew of prizes. (The blog is instructive and fun, and I love visiting/reading, so I recommend that you go over there even if you aren’t interested in the books, barres, or blogging consultation that Nina is offering.)
  • You’ve likely heard the news: Philip Roth is done with writing! Eitan Kensky reads Roth’s declaration more closely.
  • And ICYMI: my November “First Looks” column, posted this week, previews two new fiction releases.

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

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Gone Readin’

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6
    https://twitter.com/GeneseoEnglish/status/268099498348265472/photo/1

    Last night I returned from a few fabulous days in the Rochester area. There’s so much to do as I return to the day job this morning, so for the moment, I’ll simply thank the organizers, hosts, attendees, and various friends (you know who you are) who made my appearances at the JCC Lane Dworkin Rochester Jewish Book Festival and SUNY Geneseo (pictured above) so warm, special, and memorable.

    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). (Please excuse the relative brevity of this week’s post: I’m away for a few days.)

  • Are you a college senior or recent graduate planning to begin a graduate degree program in creative writing in the fall of 2013? You may want to check out the Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award. “The award provides funding for tuition, room and board, required fees, and books.” The awards can reach “as much as $50,000 annually.” Deadline for Phase One of the application process is November 28, 2012. No application fee indicated.
  • Press 53 is currently open for submissions of poetry and short-story collections. Deadline: November 30.
  • Grub Street (Boston) is looking for a part-time Digital Consultant. “Grub Street is readying to pilot a variety of experimental online creative writing classes in 2013. We’re looking for a part-time consultant to manage and coordinate our efforts in concert with relevant staff members.”
  • “Quadrant is published ten times a year, monthly, except for larger combined issues in January-February and July-August. Each year we publish more than 200 articles, 200 poems, 70 book reviews, 20 short stories and 75 letters to the editor. Quadrant accepts unsolicited, previously unpublished articles that fit within its general profile of a journal of ideas, essays, literature, poetry and historical and political debate. Although it retains its founding bias towards cultural freedom, anti-totalitarianism and classical liberalism, its pages are open to any well-written and thoughtful contribution.” Quadrant is an Australia-based journal and “pays contributors for articles, reviews, poems and short fiction.” (via placesforwriters.com)

    • Teaching jobs continue after the jump. (more…)