Posts Tagged‘Craft of Writing’

Home » Craft of Writing » Page 78

Quotation of the Week: Zelda Popkin

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

“You do not conceive a novel as easily as you conceive a child, nor even half as easily as you create nonfiction work. A journalist amasses facts, anecdotes and interviews with top brass. Enough of these add up to a book. A novelist demands quite different things. He has to find himself in his materials, to know for sure how he would feel and act and the events he writes about. In addition, he requires a catalyst — a person, idea, or emotion which coalesces his ingredients and makes them jell into a solid purpose.”

–Zelda Popkin

Source: Zelda Popkin’s autobiography, Open Every Door, as quoted in “A Forgotten Forerunner: Zelda Popkin’s Novels of the Holocaust and the 1948 War,” by Jeremy D. Popkin. I’m not sure that all of the nonfiction writers I know would agree with the statement above. But as I mentioned last week, it was Zelda Popkin’s journalistic/nonfiction work that led me to a key anecdote that shapes my new story, “Fidelis,” and I’ve found out a little more about her. The article I’ve reference is fascinating, for anyone who has access to the database (or a really good library!).

Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: How to Tell a True War Story

by Erika Dreifus on
3

As many of you know, the big reveal has happened: The commissioned story that I’ve mentioned several times on the blog over the past few months is out in the world, and I’ve been shouting the news from the virtual mountaintops. The story is titled “Fidelis,” and I am so proud to say that it is part of this year’s Hanukkah Lights broadcast on National Public Radio. (Local air dates and times vary, but my story–as well as the others featured this year–can be accessed at the link I’ve given you.)

Of course, my first “thank-you” must go to the series producer, who contacted me during the summer with the stunning invitation to write something for the broadcast. When he cited something that he particularly appreciated about Quiet Americans–about the way he perceived the stories making the past resonant in the present–I knew that I was going to write a piece of historical fiction. He was a pleasure to work with. And his one revision request improved the story immeasurably.

Beyond that, and the word count, the only “limitation” was that the story had to “pertain to the Hanukkah season.” When I realized that this December would mark the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor (remember, I’m an historian by training), I knew that I was one step closer to finding a story to tell.

I owe a great deal of thanks to Rabbi Lisa S. Greene, who helped guide me to extremely useful background resources on Hanukkah. And I am immeasurably grateful to three readers of early drafts for their constructive critiques: B.J. Epstein, Natalie Wexler, and my mom!

Most important–and hopefully without giving too much away–I’m grateful to the military veterans–including chaplains–who have given us all so much.

Please go listen to the story. And then come back here to find out which books and other resources helped me write it. (more…)

The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
2
  • Faye Rapoport DesPres recently published such a good post on rejection on her blog that she inspired me to go back and dig up a short essay of mine on the same subject.
  • On the Fiction Writers Review blog, Celeste Ng reflects on naming practices in fiction–and provides some links to online name generators you may want to try.
  • I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I have sometimes managed to turns peeves and annoyances into fee-garnering writing (for one example, see this essay). So naturally, Midge Raymond’s latest writing prompt caught my eye.
  • Kelly James-Enger suggests “5 Things for Freelancers to Do Before Year’s End.”
  • Feeling a bit crunched? Worried that you aren’t writing during this holiday season? Lori Ann Bloomfield shares tips for making sure you don’t neglect your writing practice.
  • If you haven’t heard about the latest Facebook changes, Robert Lee Brewer will help you get oriented.
  • It has been quite a long time since I’ve shared a New York Times “After Deadline” post (on grammar, usage, and style). Here’s an example of what you’ve been missing.
  • From David Abrams: A gorgeous look at the year in book covers.

    • Please tune in tomorrow, when I’ll share the story behind my first commissioned short story, “Fidelis,” which is currently airing on NPR.

    Quotation of the Week: Moshe Sakal

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    “As Picasso said: know how to draw a horse, and only then do Cubism. That means, before you go and break the rules, you’d better know the rules first.”

    –Moshe Sakal

    Source: Moshe Sakal’s Writer Rules. If Sakal’s name is familiar, perhaps that’s because you heard about his expulsion from a literary panel last week. Sakal is an Israeli writer, and a Palestinian poet on the panel requested (demanded, it seems) that the panel proceed without Sakal.

    The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • Literary translator Peter Constantine describes his current work: translating early Chekhov stories.
  • Five “quick and dirty” submission tips from a lit-mag editor.
  • Lots of writers I know love The Sun, so I suspect that many of you will appreciate this interview with the magazine’s managing editor, Tim McKee. (via Leslie Pietrzyk)
  • Counsel on clips from freelancing expert Linda Formichelli.
  • I’ll be investigating this “Ultimate List of Twitter Tools.” (via @davidbcrowley)
  • And I’m bookmarking these “simple writing exercises” from Brian Klems.
  • Earlier this week I blogged about “My Year in Jewish Books” on my other blog (My Machberet, which focuses on matters of Jewish literary and cultural interest). Stay tuned for a “meta-post” in which I reflect on that post’s revelations.