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Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • First, news from Gold Wake Press regarding its print series: “We are interested in expanding our catalog with drama, mixed genre works, & novels/novellas. We are ONLY open to these at the current time.”
  • Next: “The online literary journal http://www.anderbo.com is looking for a reader/screener for its 2012 Open City Magazine No-Fee RRofihe Trophy Short Story Contest @ Anderbo http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/no-fee-rrofihe-trophy2012.html now in its 9th year. This is a part-time, online, paying position. A recent winning story can be read @http://www.anderbo.com/anderbo1/afiction-057.html.” (The position, advertised on craigslist, pays $20/hour; if you’re more interested in entering the contest than reading/screening for it, the deadline is December 31, 2012.)
  • If you’re already familiar with Duotrope—”a resource for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, submissions trackers (for registered users), and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points we’ve gathered on the publishers we list”—take a look at the sleek redesign. And if you’re not yet familiar with Duotrope, now’s a perfect time to take a look.
  • “The New Writers Project, the MFA program of the Department of English at The University of Texas at Austin, seeks applications for a distinguished faculty position as Associate Professor with tenure in Creative Writing- Poetry to begin Fall 2013.”
  • “The English Department at the University of San Francisco invites applications for a tenure-track position in poetry at the Assistant Professor level to begin Fall 2013.”
  • “Ursinus College [Penn.] invites applications for a one semester position of Science Writer in Residence for fall 2013 (8/26/13 to 12/13/13).” Review of applications begins October 1.
  • Urban Land magazine (Washington) seeks an Online Editor, North American Media Group (Minnetonka, Minn.) seeks a Senior Editor for the Cooking Club of America, and Backstage (Los Angeles) is advertising a position for an Editorial Assistant “with social-media expertise.”

    • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: The Waiting Game

    by Erika Dreifus on
    11

    In an essay I wrote several years ago, I mentioned how in some ways, I’ve been drawn to a life–the writing-and-publishing life–for which I am temperamentally unsuited. And that’s because two of the things I have always found most challenging are these: rejection and waiting.

    As the essay notes, rejection has become much easier with time and experience. But I’m afraid that the patience project is still something more of a work-in-progress. It’s not merely a matter of waiting for the acceptance/rejection decisions. I’m also filled with anticipation (and, sometimes, anxiety) when I know that a new piece has found a home and–yes, after another wait–will be meeting readers.

    At the moment, I have a lot that I’m looking forward to sharing:

  • two book reviews filed, one of which represents my first assignment for the publication;
  • a flash nonfiction piece in the new issue of the lovely Manor House Quarterly. The issue’s theme is “She,” and I expect my contributor copy to arrive soon;
  • a short story (technically, a stand-alone excerpt from my unpublished novel manuscript), to be published in December (online) with another journal I’m a fan of;
  • two guest posts–accepted but awaiting scheduling–for two terrific blogs; and
  • my newest “First Looks” column for Fiction Writers Review, which should, in fact, be posted sometime today.

    • On the anxiety side (mixing in a dash of that good old fear-of-rejection), there’s the AWP proposal I’m waiting to hear about. The Grub Street seminar I’m hoping to fill. And some other things I’ll tell you about as soon as I can.

    I just have to keep working on that patience thing, right?

    What’s notable on your writing-and-publishing horizons? Please share with us, in comments.

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6

    For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.

  • First up: An assortment of authors’ book-promotion tips. I’m most intrigued by C. Hope Clark’s endorsement of the Square Card Reader, pictured to the left. (You may have seen Square elsewhere in the news this week, too.)
  • Next: “Got an MFA? Teach high school,” advises Nick Ripatrazone.
  • The Kenyon Review interviews George Singleton, on being told to “stick to fiction” in a poetry workshop, and other literary matters.
  • Sam Tanenhaus, who edits The New York Times Book Review, describes a typical workday and exemplary criticism.
  • Roxane Gay presents writers of color.
  • And in case you’ve missed the mentions elsewhere: I’m coming to Boston! And if this seminar on writing conferences, contests, and residencies appeals to you, please join us!

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

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Oh, what a busy week it has been. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that many of you have already seen several of the most-talked about (and tweeted) items: l’affaire Jonah Lehrer, Colson Whitehead’s rules for writing, and so on. So please indulge me while I direct your attention elsewhere:

  • Earlier this summer, I was lucky enough to attend “The Uses of History in American Jewish Fiction,” featuring novelists Anna Solomon and Dara Horn and moderated by Josh Lambert. And now, all of you are lucky enough to be able to watch the event on video. (cross-posted on My Machberet)
  • Similarly, you can now see why I so enjoyed these readings by and conversation between Joyce Carol Oates and Richard Ford.
  • New to the blogroll this week: the edifying How a Poem Happens blog. (Thanks to Evelyn Somers for leading me to it.)
  • Adam Stumacher says: “Don’t Wait for Permission: Notes on a D.I.Y. Writing Fellowship.” As you’ll see, he and his writer wife had a pretty cool year. (I’m not quite convinced that this can work for everyone, but the example might help some others make a similar leap.)
  • Finally, a bit of advice for freelancers from the Dollars & Deadlines blog on “six types of markets and how to approach them.”

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

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • It’s time for the annual Helen Schaible Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest. “Open to all. Submit only one entry of either a Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet. The entry must be original and unpublished. First Prize $50.00. Second Prize $35.00. Third prize $15.00. Three Honorable Mentions Unranked. Three Special Recognitions Unranked. There is no fee.”
  • H.A.L Publishing announces The Big in China Short Fiction Competition. “Open only to residents of North America, the theme for this contest is China. This does not mean the contestants have to write about China the nation nor take place in China, though those stories will be gladly read as anything else. The theme is open to interpretation and can center around China, the history of China, life in China, life after China, life without China, fortune cookies (which actually are not Chinese, but whatever, we don’t care, we are open to anything), grandma’s china plates, Chinese take-out, Shanghai, being shanghaied, stuff for sale at Target, trade deficits, foreign affairs, NAFTA, firecrackers or gunpowder, silk dresses, opium dens or railroads in the American Wild West, the struggle of Chinese immigrants to the West, Richard Nixon, Chinatown, or any other conceivable application of the theme ”China.” We might not be ready to read Deadhead stories about China Cat Sunflower, but if that’s what you’ve got, send it in. We are always ready to be surprised.” No entry fee. First-place winner receives $50 (via Paypal) and other prizes, detailed at the site.” Deadline: September 15, 2012. No simultaneous submissions. (via Duotrope.com)
  • From Contrary magazine: “If you’d like your work to appear in our next issue, the deadline for Autumn is Sept. 1. Contrary accepts submissions only through this form.” Pays: “For original commentary, fiction, and poetry, Contrary Magazine pays $20 per author per issue, regardless of the number of works or nature of the submission.”
  • Legal Outreach is looking for part-time Writing Faculty to teach Saturday classes in Long Island City, N.Y.
  • Mother Earth News (Topeka, Kansas) seeks an Editor, The Washington Times (D.C.) is looking for an experienced Editorial Writer, and Carcanet Press (Manchester, U.K.) is advertising for a Managing Editor.