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). (more…)
Day-Job Doings
Much of my time lately has been consumed by my work for Fig Tree Books. It has been exceptionally busy, with lots of good things happening.
Among the latest goings-on: an announcement about the company’s expansion to new genres; the launch of Safekeeping, Jessamyn Hope’s gorgeous debut novel (pictured below at a local bookstore); and, ahem, the drafting and polishing of the latest Fig Tree newsletter, which should be out this week.
Readings on the Upper West Side
Last week I spent a lot of quality time at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble. On Wednesday, I attended Thane Rosenbaum‘s reading from How Sweet It Is, his latest novel. The next evening, I was back for Alan Cheuse’s reading from Prayers for the Living.
I hadn’t seen Thane in several years, and I’d never met Alan (with whom I’d been working remotely while Fig Tree Books prepared Prayers for publication). Two lovely evenings celebrating the work of two very gifted and generous writers! (Bonus: At Thane’s reading, I finally met one of my “Twitter friends,” podcaster Gil Roth, “in real life.” You might know Gil from his wonderful podcast The Virtual Memories Show.)
Rejection, Rinse, Repeat?
Five rejections this past week for a brand-new, potentially time-sensitive poem. But one of those rejections was significantly warmer than usual and truly made my morning the day I received it. (You know how we practicing writers are about finding the silver linings in these notifications!)
Also received this week: a rejection for an essay that had been out for quite some time. BUT, that piece appears to have found a terrific (albeit nonpaying) home. Stay tuned for more news on that. (more…)
How I Participated in a Poetry Reading from the Comfort of My Own Home
Late Sunday afternoon, I returned from a lovely day’s event in southern New Jersey and noticed the following Tweet:
PSH Live Open Reading in 15 minutes. Tune in and listen and/or call in and read! 2-3pm (pacific) http://t.co/4CGcqjiZzc
— Poetry Super Highway (@PoetrySuperHwy) April 19, 2015
I’d started following Poetry Super Highway on Twitter during this National Poetry Month. Their daily prompts are among those I’ve been seeing (thanks to C.A. LaRue). And, as mentioned last week, I’d submitted a poem for inclusion in Poetry Super Highway’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Issue.
I didn’t plan to call in to the reading. But I RTd the announcement. And then I was encouraged to call in.
So I did. (more…)
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). (more…)