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Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: How to Pitch a Book Review

by Erika Dreifus on
5

You were all so incredibly kind about and interested in my previous “case study” post. So when my latest book review (of Damion Searls’s translation of Life Goes On, the first novel by Hans Keilson), appeared in The Forward last week, I thought that you might similarly welcome some potentially instructive background. That’s why I’m sharing the text below, which reproduces most of my initial e-mail message seeking the assignment.

I say “most” because when I sent this pitch last summer, The Forward‘s arts coverage was in transition. Ultimately, I sent this pitch to both the managing editor (the former arts & culture editor) and the newly assigned arts & culture editor. I’d corresponded with both of these individuals before, so there were some personalized greetings that I’m omitting in the text below. (more…)

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
7

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).

  • News from Robert Lee Brewer, who edits a slew of books for the Writer’s Digest folks: “I want to announce that we’re planning to put together a new Market Book: 2014 Guide to Indie Publishing. This guide will be loaded with listings for self-publishing companies, freelance editors, freelance designers (books, e-books, and websites), and great expert advice on the business of indie publishing. This is where you may enter the picture. We need pitches for articles that would be relevant to people looking to self-publish books, whether in print, digitally, audio, or some other crazy new-fangled way.” (I apologize for getting this to you so late: Pitches are due Wednesday, October 24. Good luck to all!)
  • I wish I’d had the chance to apply for this one! “The Posen Foundation is pleased to announce the Posen Society of Fellows, which recognizes eight outstanding doctoral students and fiction writers from around the world. Fellows will be awarded $40,000 over the course of two years and invited to attend an annual meeting led by senior scholars and writers. The Fellowship supports doctoral students who are writing their dissertations on modern Jewish history and culture, and fiction writers working on a Jewish-themed novel or short story collection. Eligible scholars must have completed their comprehensive exams before the award date; eligible writers should not yet have published their first book.” No application fee. Deadline: January 13, 2012. (via @NaomiDanis)
  • Attention, Virginia poets (defined as those born in or currently residing in Virginia). It’s time for submissions for this year’s Graybeal-Gowen Prize from Shenandoah and the Virginia Poetry Center. This is an annual prize of $500 (plus publication) for a single poem. No entry fee. Deadline: November 15, 2012.
  • Next, something for the Georgians among us: Creative Loafing‘s 2013 Fiction Contest has as its theme “The Meaning of Life.” Cash prizes ($500/$100/$50) and publication for the winners. No entry fee. Deadline: November 16, 2012. (via CRWROPPS-B)
  • And an opportunity for our Canadian friends: Canadian Women in the Literary Arts (CWILA) “seeks to support a female Canadian writer (poet, novelist, storyteller, scholar) as its resident critic for a calendar year. The aim of the residency is to foster vital criticism that promotes public awareness of women’s literary and critical presence in Canadian letters. Specifically, the critic-in-residence will work on critical essays and/or book reviews and submit them to one or more Canadian review venues (print or web)….The residency is virtual, so the writer will be free to work from home.” Stipend: $3,000. No application fee. Deadline: November 1, 2012. (via fundsforwriters.com)
  • From WritersWeekly.com: “We’re out of features! We pay $60 for around 600 words; non-exclusive electronic rights only. Our guidelines are here: http://www.writersweekly.com/index-markets.htm.”
  • “We need a full-time managing editor at The Sun, a nonprofit, ad-free magazine in its thirty-ninth year of publication. This position is in our editorial office in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.”
  • “The College of Humanities at the University of Arizona is seeking exceptionally well-qualified applicants for the position of Executive Director of the Poetry Center, one of the nation’s leading centers for the study and celebration of poetry.”

    • Want to check out some recent teaching-job announcements? Keep reading! (more…)

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    3

    The weekly collection of writing-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • I’ll be traveling (again!) this weekend, and while I wait around airports I’m hoping to read at least some of the essays mentioned in Robert Atwan’s “The Top 10 Essays Since 1950.”
  • To help you get started publishing your stories, essays, and poems: an updated list of links.
  • “50 Freelance Tips” from The Writer magazine.
  • And, some freelance tips (or warnings) from me, courtesy of Carol Tice’s “Make a Living Writing” blog.
  • Finally: Like many, I had a visceral and horrified reaction to the news we’ve all followed from Penn State. And, like many who have already cited it this week, I am deeply impressed by Michael Bérubé’s essay on why he resigned the Paterno Family Professorship in Literature at Pennsylvania State University.

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

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    Remember last winter when I mentioned that I was mulling over applying for membership in the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)? Well, after shelving the question for awhile, I went ahead and applied last month. And over the weekend, I learned that my application was accepted. So, here I am, a newly minted ASJA member!

    At this point, I’m still exploring the various “members-only” resources and lurking around the discussion boards. But once again, I’d love advice from any of you on how to maximize my membership’s usefulness.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    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).

  • Let’s begin with this: “Apply now for the Writer-in-Service Award, which includes a two-week residency at the Lillian E. Smith Center in Clayton, Georgia in 2013, a $500 honorarium, and a $300 travel allowance. The Award is open to U.S. residents working to advance writing and the arts through public service careers or volunteer work. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, arts education, literacy instruction, prison arts and education, arts administration, non-profit work, ESL instruction, art-related therapies, etc.” No application fee. Deadline: November 15, 2012.
  • Next: the “SAVE THE FROGS! Poetry Contest,” which I found out about from WinningWriters.com. Open to all writers of all ages and nationalities, it awards cash (and other) prizes. Deadline is October 15. “We welcome any poems that mention frogs, salamanders, newts, toads, caecilians, amphibians, savethefrogs.com, and/or SAVE THE FROGS.” No entry fee. Check the site for additional ideas and guidelines.
  • If freelancing for home and garden magazines is your thing, you may find this round-up article to be helpful.
  • Franklin & Marshall College (Penn.) seeks a Magazine Editor, the Casper Star Tribune (Wyo.) is looking for a Feature Writer, and the Saturday Evening Post (Indianapolis) is advertising for an Assistant Editor.
  • “Oregon State University-Cascades located in Bend, Oregon invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month, Director to coordinate the MFA-Creative Writing low-residency academic program.”

    • And another long list of teaching opportunities. Please keep reading! (more…)