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Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

by Erika Dreifus on
2
  • Opportunity for a long-form nonfiction writer: “Gothamist is interested in adding long-form non-fiction features to our website. Since we’re new to this game, we’re going to dip our toes in the water slowly, by publishing a single feature next month. How it will work: We will pay one journalist $5,000 to write a long-form non-fiction piece in the 5,000 to 15,000 word range. Subject: Something relevant to our audience of over one million 20-36 year-old readers in New York, timely but with a shelf-life longer than a week. We’re open to any topic, although we would like something that could be well-illustrated with photos or infographics. We’ll cover the editing and production and then publish the piece to the various eBook singles platforms (Kindle, Apple, etc.) with a reasonable price: $1 to $3. Then we’ll handle advertising the piece on our NYC site. If this experiment makes a profit, we’ll share them with the writer once we’ve recouped our initial costs. Will this work? We’re not sure—but we want to find out.” Proposal deadline is coming up fast: July 1. (via GalleyCat)
  • Since I’ve long believed that “To Build a Fire” is one of the all-time great short stories in existence, I’m sorry to share news of a fiction contest named for its author only a few days before the July 1 deadline! But better late than never, right? From Up Here magazine (Canada): “Can you spin gruesome, harrowing and heartfelt tales of misadventure and drama in the spirit of legendary Klondike gold-rush era adventure writer Jack London? If yes, we want to hear from you. Here’s your chance to write the next best North of Sixty adventure story. The contest is open to all, and the winning story will be published in the September 2011 issue of Up Here. Along with publication, the first-place author will win $750, second-place wins $250.” (Prizes are presumably conferred in Canadian dollars.) There is no entry fee. (via @femministas)
  • Attention, Britons: English PEN is offering “a fulfilling three month internship from July to September/October 2011, working on a range of challenging issues with a diverse team based in an exciting new centre for literature, literacy and free speech.” Even better: This is a paid internship! Application deadline is July 1. (Are you getting the idea that July 1 is a popular deadline date? I sure am!)
  • “Underwired publishes personal essays (800-1200 words) every month and is always looking for new contributors. Essays should somehow relate to the chosen theme for the month and be on topics of interest to women. Underwired buys one-time rights, and payment is $100.” Upcoming themes include “The Budget Issue” (deadline is–wait for it–July 1) and “The #5 Issue” (the latter celebrates the publication’s fifth anniversary). (via @femministas)
  • Do you know about The Evertalis? “We accept flash fiction (max. 1000 words) and short poetry such as haiku, senryu, tanka, Englyn etc. We will also accept non-formalist and custom construct short poetry no longer than 15 lines – it is expected that your submission has a gradient of surrealism, or at the very least is not overly conformist to any specific genre.” Pays: $10/poem and $.01/word for flash fiction. No simultaneous submissions. (via Duotrope.com)
  • From the Community-Word Project: “CWP is looking for energetic teaching artists who are committed to bringing the best, high quality arts programming to grades 1-12 in NYC public schools. In addition to dedication to practicing their own art form(s), Teaching Artists (TAs) interested in working with CWP must be 1) committed to working with young people from underserved communities, 2) committed to continually improving their teaching practice and 3) interested in collaboration and experimentation with other artists and art forms, as our residencies are multi-disciplinary and designed and implemented by two teaching artists (i.e., writer and visual artist) working in collaboration with classroom teachers.” Apply by July 5.
  • By this time next week, The Practicing Writer newsletter will have gone out to nearly 3800 subscribers. As always, it will be packed with opportunities and submission calls. Are you on the subscriber list?
  • Southern New Hampshire University seeks a Digital Publisher, Northwestern University (Ill.) is looking for an Associate Director of Editorial Content, and Duke University (N.C.) is advertising a position for an Associate Director of Communications.

    • Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: One Writer’s Summer To-Do List

    by Erika Dreifus on
    10

    North of the equator, we’ve just begun summer. Although I’m still going to be working 40 hours a week in my day job, still running the usual errands, still partaking in the same family responsibilities (and joys), I’m also hoping to accomplish certain writing-related goals before we merge into fall.

    After all, for six weeks this summer, my 40 hours at the office will be recalibrated: heavier on Mondays-Thursdays with “summer Fridays” off. I hope to use those Fridays wisely. And I hope that I can use the general light and energy of the summer to help infuse some projects under way and others that I hope to start.

    Herewith, items on my list of writerly hopes, plans, ambitions, and commitments for the season.

    “MY” WRITING

    • Continue promotion for Quiet Americans; track progress of new (non-Kindle) versions; calculate and send Q2 contribution to The Blue Card.
    • Complete work on new short story and figure out if it may be a novel chapter; begin new story/novel chapter.
    • Write at least one new poem; revise existing poem drafts.
    • Draft Israel-related essay.
    • Check where submissions are outstanding; follow up if appropriate; send out new submissions.
    • Research/apply for short-term residencies for winter-spring 2012.

    ASSIGNMENTS (SELF-IMPOSED/SOLICITED AND OTHER)

    • Practice and deliver presentation for Manhattanville Writers Week session on “Social Media Strategies for Writers”.
    • Research and write article due to The Writer on August 1.
    • Prepare Q&A re: The Borrower, by Rebecca Makkai.
    • Prepare Q&A re: Rethinking Creative Writing, by Stephanie Vanderslice.
    • Prepare Q&A re: The Little Bride, by Anna Solomon.
    • Peruse fall/winter catalogs for possible titles to review and monitor reviews-in-progress (track ARCs, read, write, etc.).
    • Prepare and distribute July/August/September issues of The Practicing Writer.
    • Consider if I want/need to seek additional fall/winter assignments.

    QUALITY OF WRITING LIFE

    • Research and purchase new computer.
    • Have “writing dates” with friends.
    • Make (and keep) annual appointments with ophthalmologist and optometrist. (Considering how much time I spend squinting into screens, taking care of my eyes seems more and more important.)
    • Get apartment windows washed (and other household tasks). (It’s nice to have a clear view once those eyes are checked.)
    • Read, read, read.
    • Catch up on movies/go to museums/attend concerts & readings. Art feeds off other art! (And I live in New York City, for crying out loud! I’m practically tripping over all of these opportunities!)
    • Get to the gym or go for a jog 2-3 times a week. (Sure, more would be nice, but let’s be realistic here, given my schedule and my usual response to heat and humidity.)  Exercise energizes the body and helps clear and focus the mind.

    And what about you? Have any of you made summer writing to-do lists? Care to share what’s on them?

    Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • Reminder via Twitter from @Missouri_Review: “We are open for submissions of poetry, fiction and nonfiction all summer long, all year long. Guidelines: bit.ly/hgzpfo. (NB: No charge for submissions made via postal mail; fee for electronic submissions.)
  • Received via newsletter from Ploughshares: “A Note on Nonfiction: we are looking for contributions to Patricia Hampl’s all nonfiction issue for Fall 2012. Send us your essays! Or change the names back in your clearly autobiographical stories and send us those. Of course, we are still reading fiction (plus poetry) so feel free to continue to fabulate and versify.” (Same NB note from above applies here.)
  • “Uncle John’s Flush Fiction wants your short story! We’re looking for entertaining short fiction, suitable for bathroom (or anyroom) reading, maximum 1,000 words. Send us your best Western, mystery, horror, sci-fi, literary story, parody–all we ask if that it’s entertaining.” This print anthology will consider previously-published submissions (so long as the author retains copyright). Pays: $50, plus two copies. Deadline: August 31, 2011.
  • Another anthology opportunity: Trust & Treachery: Tales of Power, Intrigue, and Violence seeks ” stories that are 1000-5000 words in length. We will pay $20 per story, to be paid on January 1, 2012 or on acceptance, whichever comes later.  Although the emphasis is on short stories, we will also accept select pieces of poetry for this anthology with payment at $5 per poem.” Deadline: December 15, 2011. NB: “We are very open as to genre: Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, etc. Please no romance, YA or erotica.” (via CRWROPPS-B)
  • From Columbia University (NYC): “The Writing Program seeks to appoint a new faculty member in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, beginning Fall 2012. The position may be filled at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (tenure-track research faculty) or Assistant or Associate Professor of Professional Practice (practice faculty). The teaching includes primarily undergraduate and occasional graduate writing workshops and seminars.” (If the link doesn’t take you directly to the position, look for Requisition #0002175.)
  • Teachers & Writers Collaborative (NYC) is looking for an Education Director, Facing History & Ourselves (Mass.) seeks a Writer & Editor for Online Content, and the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival has announced two available positions (Associate Director & Marketing Director).

    • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • From Creative Nonfiction: “We are currently seeking experimental nonfiction for our ‘Pushing the Boundaries’ section (‘experimental,’ ‘boundaries,’ yes, these can be loaded terms). We want writing that blows our minds with its ingenuity, essays that not only push the boundaries of the genre, but tear down the borders. Be ambitious and send us work like we’ve never seen before. As always, there’s only on stipulation–the pieces must be true.” Deadline is June 13, 2011. Pays: “We typically pay $10 per printed page.”
  • Although the submission season at Colorado Review has closed for fiction and poetry, the journal is now considering nonfiction year-round. “It’s not that we don’t love fiction and poetry—we do!—but we just don’t get enough nonfiction. Between August 2010 and today, 54.74% of the online submissions have been fiction, 33.06% poetry, and just 12.20% nonfiction.” You can also choose to submit via an electronic submissions manager, but that will cost you $3. (You can continue to submit via postal mail, too, without a fee.) Pays: “Colorado Review pays $25 or $5 per printed page (whichever is greater). Authors also receive two copies of the issue in which they are published and a one-year subscription to CR.” (Hat tip to CRWROPPS-B for the news about the nonfiction change.)
  • And still more nonfiction news: Last week, the Internet was abuzz with news of the Hilary Weston Prize, what is now Canada’s largest award for nonfiction. “A prize of $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book that in the opinion of the judges is the year’s best book of nonfiction. The judges will shortlist between three and five titles. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists.” There appears to be no application fee, and the deadlines vary depending on a book’s publication date.
  • Assistant Professor in Creative Writing/Fiction position available at American University (Washington): “One-year temporary position 2011-2012. Specialization: Fiction (at least one book) with some publications in Creative Nonfiction (Memoir, Literary Journalism).”
  • “The English Department at Rhodes College [Tenn.] seeks a Poet for a visiting position starting August 2011. Successful candidates should have an M.F.A. as well as a clear record of teaching excellence. Initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second. Secondary expertise in teaching fiction writing, screenwriting, or dramatic writing is desirable.”
  • Grub Street, Inc. (Boston) has two job positions to fill: Administrative Coordinator (responsibilities include workshop management) and Volunteer Manager/Outreach Coordinator.
  • Arizona State University seeks a Communications Specialist, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is looking for a Managing Editor, and Stand for Children (Indianapolis, Ind.) invites applications for a Communications Director.

    • Friday Find: “Looking Backward: Third-Generation Fiction Writers and the Holocaust”

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    Today’s a very busy day. There’s a royal wedding, a shuttle launch, and, for me, a departure for Boston, where I’ll be leading a session tomorrow at Grub Street’s Muse and the Marketplace conference.

    This weekend also brings Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. Which makes it all the more important for me to share with you my latest essay-review for Fiction Writers Review, “Looking Backward: Third-Generation Fiction Writers and the Holocaust.”

    Have a good weekend, and see you back here next week.