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Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
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Most Fridays the Practicing Writing blog shares writing and publishing resources, news, and reflections to peruse over the weekend. But it’s been an excruciating week for so many of us. And frankly, I’ve paid next-to-no attention to garden-variety news from the writing and publishing spheres.

On Wednesday, however, I received an email from Facing History and Ourselves, a Boston-based global nonprofit organization that I’ve admired for many years. The email introduced a “mini-lesson” titled “Processing Attacks in Israel and the Outbreak of War in the Region.”

The resource isn’t perfect. (What resource is?) But one of its segments impressed me as something that, though intended for educators and students, could be clarifying for writers as well, in our work and in the rest of our lives. It’s a section titled “Avoiding Antisemitic and Islamophobic Tropes in Discussing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”

Screenshot of text published beneath "Avoiding Antisemitic and Islamophobic Tropes in Discussing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." Text taken from the website linked within the post.
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Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Treasure ChestWriting-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • It’s always a treat to receive Diane Lockward’s poetry newsletter. If you’re not a subscriber, I highly recommend that you become one! Here’s the latest (April) issue.
  • Not surprisingly, some of the more astute commentaries on Amazon’s acquisition of Goodreads have come from Steve Almond and Porter Anderson.
  • Speaking of Amazon: Do you think it should change its policy on Kindle book returns? I do, which is why I’ve signed the Change.org petition that Galleycat brought to my attention this week.
  • Acronyms decoded: pay terms for freelancers.
  • Congratulations to Kelly James-Enger on the launch of Improvise Press and the new edition of Six-Figure Freelancing (and special thanks to Kelly for the complimentary digital review copy that she offered me–I’m gobbling it up!).

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

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

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

  • First up: “Three Stories Unlikely to Make it Beyond the Slush”–at least at Indiana Review.
  • Next: I’m hoping to set aside some time soon to dig into The Open Notebook’s Pitch Database. It looks like a great way to see how other nonfiction writers–specifically, science writers–have successfully pitched features to major magazines and newspapers. (A tip of the hat to the member of the Upod group who shared this resource with the rest of us in response to another list member’s question.)
  • Let’s continue with some thoughts about poetry and our contemporary “mass-submission culture.”
  • And speaking of poetry: What are some of your favorite opening lines?
  • Among the highlights of the current issue of WOW! Women on Writing (which has a “Freelance Writing” theme) is this Q&A with Carol Tice, of “Make a Living Writing” fame.

    • Have a great weekend, everyone. As you read this, I’m already enjoying a mini-vacation in New England. See you back here on Monday.