Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • Let’s begin this week’s batch of opportunities with a new, no-fee contest from WorkStew.com: “‘Write a letter to the bright-eyed job seeker interested in following in your footsteps. Illuminate. Opine. Advise. But do not exceed 800 words.’ So goes the official prompt for the first-ever Work Stew writing contest, which kicks off on May 1. There’s real money involved ($1,500 in prizes), so be sure to read the legalese.” Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, May 21. Judge: Pam Belluck.
  • May is an open submissions month for Graywolf Press. Please note that the press is no longer accepting first collections (poetry or short stories) through open submissions. “We will continue to accept second and subsequent collections of poetry and short stories during our open submission periods. In addition, we will continue to accept submission of novels and works of nonfiction as usual.”
  • Emmerson Street Press is eager to read the work of the vibrant creative people that we know are out there; writers who are proud to be a part of the centuries old literary tradition; writers who have been looking for a place to have their work welcomed. We are also eager to hear from academics interested in writing an introduction (up to 1000 words) to a reprint classic. In this area we want to hear from PhD types with a passion for a specific book, author or thinker; we want to help you pass that passion on. In this area, we are also interested in translations. We are primarily interested in Canadian authors and academics, but would be willing to take on an international writer if the submission is too good to let slip by!” (via placesforwriters.com)
  • Durham University (U.K.) invites applications for its Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) fellowships. “The theme for 2013/14, for which applications are now invited, is “Light,” interpreted in its broadest sense to be of potential interest to those working in a wide range of disciplines.” Fellowships are available for 3-month periods between October 2013 and March 2014. “The IAS will cover the costs associated with the fellow travelling to Durham, UK…and will provide all fellows with an honorarium.” Applicants may be from any nationality or discipline. “Applicants may come from an academic or non-academic background (e.g. public intellectuals, artists, writers, film makers, journalists, policy makers, politicians.” No application fee. Deadline: June 17, 2012.
  • Quick reminder that Practicing Writing is running two giveaways right now: one for Edith Pearlman’s Binocular Vision and the other for Kelly James-Enger’s Writer for Hire.
  • Split this Rock (Washington) is looking for an Assistant Director. “Split This Rock calls poets to the center of public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. From our home in the nation’s capital we celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination. All of Split This Rock’s programs are designed to integrate poetry of provocation and witness into public life and to support the poets who write and perform this critical work. Split This Rock’s cornerstone program is a national festival, held every two years in Washington, DC. The next festival is scheduled for March, 2014. We also have a robust youth program, publish poetry online, organize social justice campaigns, and present readings, workshops, and discussions year-round.”
  • The Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University (Ohio) seeks an Academic Program Coordinator to “assist…with community arts projects and general programming.”
  • PEN International (London) is looking for a Literary Manager and a Communications & Campaign Manager.
  • “Gogebic Community College [Mich.] seeks innovative, collaborative and dynamic individuals for a full-time English Faculty vacancy within the Language and Arts division to teach courses in developmental level English, Interpersonal Skills, and Composition. Opportunities to teach literature and poetry classes may be available. This tenure-track position begins in August 2012.”
  • Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

    Remember a few weeks ago when I outlined some of the assignments and projects that were on my to-do list? Remember how several of them had May 1 deadlines?

    Well, this week, I’m happy to report that every deadline was met.

    This week has also brought the publication of my latest micro-essay, “Comprehension,” which found a lovely home with Hippocampus Magazine. (If you haven’t already checked out the anniversary celebration on the Hippocampus site–replete with daily giveaways–go take a look.)

    And over on Fiction Writers Review (FWR), Short Story Month is in full swing. I’m proud to have led this month’s “Stories We Love” posts with some thoughts about Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.”

    Finally–and in case you missed it–this week I’ve also announced which title(s) I’ll be giving away as part of my participation in the FWR Collection Giveaway Project. I’m happy to see so much early interest.

    P.S. This week also brought my birthday. Check out the delightful illustration my niece included with the card she gave me.

    The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

    Another midweek medley of writing-related finds culled from the Web.

  • Let’s begin with some application advice (mainly for academe, but with crossover appeal for writers-who-don’t-teach but are applying for grants/fellowships/awards/etc.). (via Wordamour)
  • Five Ways to Celebrate Short Stories is a post I wrote for Fiction Writers Review last year, but the beginning of Short Story Month 2012 seems to be a perfect time to “recycle” it.
  • Speaking of Fiction Writers Review: My “reviewlet” of Anne Korkeakivi’s The Unexpected Guest posted last week. One of the things I discuss in that piece is the author’s use of French words and phrases, so I was of course interested to discover Korkeakivi’s thoughts on handling languages other than English in fiction (thanks for the link, Writer Abroad!). (By the way, you can read some relevant thoughts of my own archived on the Brave New Words blog, too.)
  • May is apparently prime giveaway season. Don’t forget about this practicing writer’s participation in the Collection Giveaway Project. And over on Hippocampus Magazine, there will be one giveaway every day of this month to celebrate the publication’s anniversary. You need to delve into the current issue to participate–may I humbly suggest that you check out my own micro-essay in that issue, “Comprehension”?
  • For those who ask am I a writer, Cathy Day has some answers.
  • Collection Giveaway Project 2012: What You Can Win Here

    Because the stories in Binocular Vision are set in Massachusetts. And Europe. And Israel.

    Because the characters in Binocular Vision are Jews. And non-Jews.

    Because Binocular Vision spins stories about war. About families. About history. About things that are timeless.

    And because its author does this all so beautifully. And–dare I say–so quietly?

    For all of these reasons, I am proud to offer a free copy of Edith Pearlman’s superb story collection, Binocular Vision (Lookout Books, 2011), as my selected Collection Giveaway Project title.

    The Collection Giveaway Project (CGP) is one way that the team at Fiction Writers Review will be celebrating Short Story Month through the month of May. And you have all month to comment on this post, right here, to be eligible to win a copy of Binocular Vision.

    Comment as you wish–perhaps tell us about another collection we might enjoy, and if you’re participating in the CGP by offering up a collection (or two), please tell us where we can find *your* post. On May 31st, I’ll use a random number generator to select a winner who will receive a copy of Binocular Vision. A “runner-up” will receive a copy of my own story collection, Quiet Americans. (Winners may choose to gift their copies to another recipient if they already own the books.)

    Sound good? Let the giveaway begin!

    UPDATE (5/31): Thank you all for taking part! And congratulations to Anca (who has won a copy of Binocular Vision) and Kizzy (who has won a copy of Quiet Americans). I will be in touch with you shortly via email. Thank you once again.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • To Think, To Write, To Publish is “a yearlong program, supported by the National Science Foundation, featuring two multi-day workshops in Washington, DC and Tempe, Arizona. Twelve emerging communicators and 12 early-career science and innovation policy scholars will learn about creative/narrative nonfiction storytelling techniques; meet with and learn from creative writing and science journalism professors, museum professionals, and editors of mainstream publications; and collaborate, in scholar-communicator pairs, on narrative essays to appear in a nationally-distributed publication. Each workshop will include a keynote event and sessions led by prominent narrative/creative nonfiction writers, teachers, editors and agents, featuring Lee Gutkind, ‘the godfather behind creative nonfiction’ (Vanity Fair) and the founder and editor of Creative Nonfiction. This is a unique and challenging opportunity open to next generation science and innovation policy scholars and next generation communicators working in any genre(s) and interested in science, technology and the social sciences. All participants will receive an honorarium plus travel expenses to the workshops. To Think, To Write, To Publish will help writers learn much more about the process and importance of research and the vital importance of policy, and scholars learn about how to utilize creative nonfiction storytelling techniques to make science policy more accessible to a general audience.” No application fee. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
  • The Cha Flash Fiction Contest is run Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. “It is for unpublished flash stories in English language on the theme of ‘Misinterpretation.'” You may submit up to two pieces (no longer than 250 words each). There is no entry fee. Deadline: July 15, 2012. Prizes: £50/£30/£20 (payable through Paypal). All three winning pieces will receive first publication in a special section in the fifth anniversary issue of Cha.
  • Freelance opportunity with Columbia Journalism Review (for a Virginia-based writer): “CJR seeks one Virginia-based freelance correspondent for an online media criticism project, The Swing States Project, focused on the 2012 presidential campaign and other campaigns for federal office. The correspondent will critique campaign coverage—local and regional, but also national when it comes to town—with two specific areas of focus. First, he or she will monitor the media for instances of ideological fear-mongering, rhetorical distortion and manipulation, missing context, errors of fact, etc. (Or, alternately, he or she will highlight coverage that excels in pushing back against political misinformation.) Second, the correspondent will explore how the impact of political money in Virginia is covered, in terms of advertising, fund-raising, and the perception of candidates during the campaign, and lobbying and power politics beyond it. Swing States Project correspondents are expected to contribute on average three posts per month, which are featured on the CJR website. Much of the work will involve reading and reacting to/critiquing in-state campaign coverage, with some reporting as well. To see the project’s output to date, visit http://www.cjr.org/swing_states_project/. Correspondents also consult with the editors in New York about how national trends are reflected in their states and occasionally share insights and reporting for stories written in New York, and work with an in-house engagement editor to promote the project through local media (including, possibly, radio/TV appearances) and social media (Twitter proficiency—and following—a plus). Compensation will include an $800 monthly retainer and a per-post fee of $200. This position is grant-funded and continued freelance assignments are contingent on funding renewals.”
  • “The Hudson Valley Writers’ Center, Inc. [Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.] is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to advance the art and craft of writing by encouraging writers and readers at all levels to participate in and enjoy the literary arts. We seek an Executive Director with vision and proven experience in development of not-for-profit organizations and a dedication to the arts and literary pursuits. The ED is responsible for overall management of the Center’s programs, operations, and staff, and for development and fundraising.”
  • And last, but by no means least: The May issue of The Practicing Writer went out to subscribers over the weekend. As usual, the newsletter focuses on poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, and is filled with no-fee competitions and paying litmag calls for submission.