Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

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.
  • Friday Finds for Writers

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

  • A dilemma for lots of writers (yours truly included): how open to be about one’s political beliefs and causes. Here’s Jenna Blum’s take on the matter.
  • Free today (and, I believe, through the weekend, but don’t hold me to that): “13 Ways to Get the Writing Done Faster,” an e-book by Linda Formichelli and Carol Tice. If you follow this blog, you know that I’m always linking to posts on Linda’s and Carol’s blogs.
  • Wise words from Jamie Todd Rubin in this “FAQ: Will You Read My Story/Refer Me To Your Agent/Help Me Write A Query Letter, Etc.?” (thanks to @mabfan for the find).
  • And speaking of wisdom: Roxane Gay explains why writers should be wary of Simon & Schuster’s new self-publishing arm, Archway Publishing.
  • ICYMI: My latest thoughts on “Jewish fiction,” inspired by Tablet Magazine’s new fiction series, over on My Machberet.
  • Enjoy the weekend, all (and, Practicing Writer newsletter subscribers, look for the December issue to arrive imminently). See you back here on Monday.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

    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 month of November is an open reading period (no fees) for Black Lawrence Press, which “seeks to publish intriguing books of literature and creative non-fiction: novels, memoirs, short story collections, poetry, biographies, cultural studies, and translations from the German and French.
  • If you’re a short-story writer and a citizen of a Commonwealth country, it’s time to think about the 2013 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, “awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000 – 5000 words). Submissions must be made by the author of the short story. Regional winners receive £1,000 and the overall winner receives £5,000.’ No entry fee. Deadline: December 4, 2012.
  • ICYMI: The November issue of The Practicing Writer is now available. As usual, it features no-fee contests/competitions and submissions calls from magazines and presses that will pay you for your work.
  • The Texas Book Festival (Austin) is looking for a Literary Programs Director, Poetry London (U.K.) seeks a Freelance Poetry Editor, and the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) is advertising for a Features Reporter.
  • “New College of Florida announces an opening for a Writer in Residence, spring semester 2013 (February-May). The successful candidate will have: at least one published book, and significant publication in other venues as well; two years’ experience teaching creative writing, which can include instruction as a graduate student; and a strong commitment to playing an active role in the community of our residential honors college. MFA, MA, or equivalent degree preferred, but experience considered. Writers whose work engages multiethnic experience especially encouraged.” (if you need the posting #, it’s ADJ101)
  • Another big batch of teaching job announcements after the jump. (more…)

    Friday Finds for Writers

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

  • To begin: As you may have noticed, I’m something of a dash fan (even if I have to disguise the dash as a hyphen sometimes for text-only newsletters that don’t absorb the auto-corrected dash all that well). Which is all a way of saying that I loved Ben Yagoda’s “Mad Dash” column for NYTimes.com this week.
  • “How NOT to Put Together a Short-story Collection,” by Amber Sparks.
  • Joel Friedlander’s useful “Twitter for the Absolutely Terrified Newbie Author.”
  • Clear-eyed post on “the economics of self-publishing,” with a detailed case example, from Anne Trubek.
  • If you’re in the Boston area, I hope you’re going to be able to enjoy the Boston Book Festival this weekend. Wish that I could be there with you.
  • Have a great weekend, all. See you back here on Monday.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    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).

  • News from Robert Lee Brewer, who edits a slew of books for the Writer’s Digest folks: “I want to announce that we’re planning to put together a new Market Book: 2014 Guide to Indie Publishing. This guide will be loaded with listings for self-publishing companies, freelance editors, freelance designers (books, e-books, and websites), and great expert advice on the business of indie publishing. This is where you may enter the picture. We need pitches for articles that would be relevant to people looking to self-publish books, whether in print, digitally, audio, or some other crazy new-fangled way.” (I apologize for getting this to you so late: Pitches are due Wednesday, October 24. Good luck to all!)
  • I wish I’d had the chance to apply for this one! “The Posen Foundation is pleased to announce the Posen Society of Fellows, which recognizes eight outstanding doctoral students and fiction writers from around the world. Fellows will be awarded $40,000 over the course of two years and invited to attend an annual meeting led by senior scholars and writers. The Fellowship supports doctoral students who are writing their dissertations on modern Jewish history and culture, and fiction writers working on a Jewish-themed novel or short story collection. Eligible scholars must have completed their comprehensive exams before the award date; eligible writers should not yet have published their first book.” No application fee. Deadline: January 13, 2012. (via @NaomiDanis)
  • Attention, Virginia poets (defined as those born in or currently residing in Virginia). It’s time for submissions for this year’s Graybeal-Gowen Prize from Shenandoah and the Virginia Poetry Center. This is an annual prize of $500 (plus publication) for a single poem. No entry fee. Deadline: November 15, 2012.
  • Next, something for the Georgians among us: Creative Loafing‘s 2013 Fiction Contest has as its theme “The Meaning of Life.” Cash prizes ($500/$100/$50) and publication for the winners. No entry fee. Deadline: November 16, 2012. (via CRWROPPS-B)
  • And an opportunity for our Canadian friends: Canadian Women in the Literary Arts (CWILA) “seeks to support a female Canadian writer (poet, novelist, storyteller, scholar) as its resident critic for a calendar year. The aim of the residency is to foster vital criticism that promotes public awareness of women’s literary and critical presence in Canadian letters. Specifically, the critic-in-residence will work on critical essays and/or book reviews and submit them to one or more Canadian review venues (print or web)….The residency is virtual, so the writer will be free to work from home.” Stipend: $3,000. No application fee. Deadline: November 1, 2012. (via fundsforwriters.com)
  • From WritersWeekly.com: “We’re out of features! We pay $60 for around 600 words; non-exclusive electronic rights only. Our guidelines are here: http://www.writersweekly.com/index-markets.htm.”
  • “We need a full-time managing editor at The Sun, a nonprofit, ad-free magazine in its thirty-ninth year of publication. This position is in our editorial office in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.”
  • “The College of Humanities at the University of Arizona is seeking exceptionally well-qualified applicants for the position of Executive Director of the Poetry Center, one of the nation’s leading centers for the study and celebration of poetry.”
  • Want to check out some recent teaching-job announcements? Keep reading! (more…)