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Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: A Bit About My Latest Book Review

by Erika Dreifus on
3

If you look at my list of published reviews you’ll see that I’ve written repeatedly for certain publications. There’s no question that I value and appreciate those long-standing relationships and the relative ease with which the editors of those publications and I exchange review ideas and assignments.

But it’s also nice to establish new connections. And that’s what I’ve done with the Jewish Review of Books, whose current issue contains my byline for the first time.

The quarterly isn’t new to me. I’m a subscriber, and I’d pitched a couple of times before I sent the April 30 email that resulted in the assignment to review Munich 1972: Tragedy, Terror, and Triumph at the Olympic Games, by David Clay Large (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012). I submitted the draft in July; editorial correspondence and revisions continued in August; and my contributor copies arrived over the Labor Day weekend. The JRB website was updated last week. (Alas, my review, briefly accessible to all, now appears to be behind the subscriber paywall.) And my payment arrived a few days ago.

So that’s a quick summary of one of my summer projects. I’m proud of this work–and most grateful for the opportunity to undertake it.

P.S. If you’re desperate to read my review–and all of the other “locked” content–you might consider the JRB‘s free 30-day online trial.

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
4

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

  • First up: News from Tin House magazine: “Starting September 1, Tin House will be reading for Spring and Summer, 2013. The Summer issue is open, non-themed. The Spring issue has a theme of “This Means War.” Conflict is at the heart of all stories, and these days it seems that the world’s major conflicts are portrayed in black and white, good and evil. We’re looking for the grey, the messy, the not-so-easily classified. We’re not just looking for work about armed conflict, but domestic, political, ecological, religious, and moral battles. If there is heat, we want to see the fire. The Spring, 2013 deadline is October 31. The Summer, 2013 deadline is January 14.”
  • Next: Interested in winning a copy of the new edition of the Guide to Literary Agents? Check the link for details.
  • This looks like a useful list for creative-nonfiction writers: book contests and publishers. Note that the contests all seem to charge fees, but many of the publishers appear to welcome submissions fee-free. (Hat tip to Hippocampus Magazine.)
  • Attention, Canadian writers: News about a new fiction prize (no fee indicated). Deadline: October 1.
  • The new academic year brings a wave of academic job announcements: (more…)

    • Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

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

  • First up: “Who needs to write every day? Only someone who feels they can, who wants to, who needs to (for deadline or other reasons), and for whom that kind of schedule is workable, enjoyable, nurturing, and possible.” Note the original emphasis in this post from Lisa Romeo.
  • Next: “5 Ways Writers Can Get the Most out of Goodreads.”
  • “8 Tips for Promoting Your Book Online.”
  • I’m sure we’re all sending healing thoughts to author Judy Blume.
  • And if you were intrigued by our Q&A with David Abrams–perhaps especially by David’s references to the Emerging Writers Network–please take a few moments to read this post from the man behind the EWN, Dan Wickett, on the occasion of the publication of David’s first novel this week.

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

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Bat Mitzvah Poetry

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
    Erika becomes a Bat Mitzvah (1982).

    No, I’m not in seventh grade. And I don’t have offspring in middle school, either. But it’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah season for me nonetheless. Starting on Saturday and continuing for the next six weeks, I’ll be attending three services at which young Jewish women and men will be called to the Torah to become adult “daughters” or “sons” of the commandments.

    Two of my published poems to date have been inspired by my witnessing similar occasions. In “Diaspora,” a prose poem, I reflected on a remarkable assemblage of relatives who converged on Columbus, Ohio, five years ago. More recently, in “Emor,” I relied on the Torah portion read by the Bat Mitzvah–which happened to be the same portion I was assigned way back when it was my turn to be called to the Torah for the first time–to help depict some especially moving moments from another family’s simcha.

    Who knows the inspiration that awaits me in the coming weeks? Advance gratitude to my hosts for the invitations, and a hearty Mazel Tov to all!

    Any of you have Bar or Bat Mitzvah-inspired poetry to share or recommend?

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

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

    • First up: ArtsFwd is looking for two Blogging Fellows, who “will be expected to contribute posts of 500 to 800 words twice monthly for a four month term about topics including the process of innovation, adaptive leadership, and new thinking about organizational change in the arts, with a focus on models of success. Fellows will also be expected to monitor comments on their posts and respond as appropriate. Topics for posts will be selected and edited in collaboration with the EmcArts staff, and may include analysis of sector trends and current events, interviews with arts leaders and non-arts innovators, book reviews, and roundups of news and events.” Pays: “Blogging Fellows will be paid as freelancers at a rate of $50 per post. If Fellows have an existing blog, cross-posting content generated for ArtsFwd is allowed and encouraged. Following the successful completion of their term, Fellows will be welcome to continue writing for ArtsFwd on an ad hoc basis. The position is not office based: candidates from all over the United States are encouraged to apply.” Apply by September 17, 2012.
    • From The Pedestal Magazine: “FROM AUGUST 28-OCTOBER 13, AND AGAIN FROM OCTOBER 28-DECEMBER 13, WE WILL ONLY BE RECEIVING POETRY SUBMISSIONS (NO RESTRICTIONS ON THEME, LENGTH, OR STYLE). There is no need to query prior to submitting poetry. Submit up to six (6) poems. Please submit all poems in one (1) file. Pay Rate: $40 per poem.”
    • Subscribers have had all weekend to peruse the September issue of The Practicing Writer. But you can catch up with all of the paying publication opportunities and no-cost competitions listed within by clicking here.
    • Towson University (Md.) is advertising for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of English. “Creative Non-Fiction Writing specialist. Sub-fields may include lyric essay, free-lance writing, editing, prose style, memoir, and/or rhetoric. Candidates must possess a demonstrated commitment to teaching and evidence of an active creative agenda, generally shown by a book or several significant journal publications.”
    • “The English Department, University of Kentucky, seeks a tenure-track assistant professor specializing in Creative Nonfiction. Experience teaching other genres of creative writing, as well as literature courses, is also desirable. Subspecialty in Appalachian literature and culture is also desired.”  If the link doesn’t take you directly to the listing, it will help to know the job requisition number: SM542545. (h/t to Tasha Cotter)
    • “The English Department of Williams College seeks to fill a full-time tenure-track position in Creative Writing (Poetry), beginning in fall 2013. Appointments are normally at the beginning assistant professor level. Requirements include at least one book with a nationally recognized press, as well as evidence of excellence in teaching.”
    • Washington City Paper seeks a City Lights Editor, Ogden Publications (Topeka, Kansas) is looking for an Online Editorial Assistant, and Girls Write Now (New York) is advertising for a Director of Programs.