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Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Packing My Bags & Polishing My Prose

by Erika Dreifus on
4


One week from today, I’ll be heading to Charlottesville, Va., for a few jam-packed days. As I’ve mentioned here before, I’ll be teaching a freelancing seminar at WriterHouse, participating on a short-story panel for the Virginia Festival of the Book, and speaking at a local Jewish congregation.

My seminar handout has been emailed to WriterHouse, and I know what I’ll be reading from Quiet Americans for the panel. This weekend, I’ll finish polishing my presentation for the congregants. In my “things-to-take-with-me” pile I’m carefully placing the ARC I need to read en route so I can write a review that’s due one week after my return.

I’m so looking forward to this trip–and immensely grateful to everyone who is welcoming me in Charlottesville.

Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: The Grumpy Writer, Or Where to Publish Your Rants & Complaints

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

What’s the saying? Don’t get mad–get even.

For me, the adage might be adjusted: Don’t get mad–get writing. (And maybe even get paid.)

Over time, I seem to have found a particular way to cope with things that annoy and irritate me: I write about them. Most of the time, I’ve gained a check along with the byline.

This week, a short piece (dare I call it flash nonfiction?) was posted on The New York Times‘s City Room blog, in a recurring feature called “Complaint Box.” A few months ago, I sold a short article-essay to The Writer in which I vented certain Twitter-focused frustrations. And let’s not forget some earlier examples, such as my rejoinder to a workshop leader who mocked the use of “foreign words” in fiction, or my argument against the equally misguided classmate who told me that I shouldn’t be incorporating “current events” into my short stories, either.

Of course, as my own examples show, it’s not impossible to place this writing–essentially a kind of essay–in a variety of publications, including literary and niche magazines. But I do try to take note of specific calls and opportunities to publish rants, peeves, and other opinion-driven pieces. Here’s a short list of a few such venues (I’ve limited the list to publications that specify that they pay their writers). (more…)

Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: All About Book Reviewing

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
SOME of the print galleys and advance reading copies (ARCs) awaiting my attention.

I have book reviewing on the brain right now.

Part of that is due to the number of reviews I’ve been writing lately (and the assignments remaining yet-to-checked-off my to-do list). Part of it might have to do with two of my recent reviews having appeared online within the past few days. One of those reviews looks at Natasha Solomons’s new novel, The House at Tyneford, and the other was assigned to note the paperback release of Johanna Adorján’s An Exclusive Love: A Memoir (trans. Anthea Bell).

And part of is surely connected with the survey I’ve devised for book reviewers/book bloggers who use NetGalley.

That last item is something I devised to help me with an article-in-progress in which I’m writing about NetGalley’s usefulness to me (and others). If you’re a reviewer/blogger who has used or is using NetGalley, I’d be so grateful if you’d take a few moments and complete the survey. It’s quick and painless, I promise! Thank you in advance for your time, and thanks to those of you who have already participated.

Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Preparing for Literary Travel

by Erika Dreifus on
4

Four weeks from today, I’ll be heading to Charlottesville, Va., for an event-packed few days. Everything is being organized around the Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual shindig I’ve known about for years, but will be attending for the first time.

I’m looking forward to this trip with great anticipation. I have three “official” events on my schedule: a seminar on freelancing that I’ll be teaching at WriterHouse, the local literary center; a festival panel on “the art of short fiction”; and an event at the local synagogue. While I await instructions from the panel moderator, I’m working hard to prepare the seminar materials and to polish the remarks that I’ll be offering at the synagogue.

Everyone in Charlottesville–the festival staff, my WriterHouse contact, and the congregation’s rabbi–has been amazingly receptive, generous, and helpful. And then there’s all of the “extra” stuff: the events where I won’t necessarily have to be “on,” but rather where I will be able to sit back, listen, and learn (I really can’t wait for a panel featuring Thomas Mallon on Saturday afternoon).

I can already tell this is going to be a great trip. Any chance that I may meet some of you in Charlottesville?

The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
4
  • If you’re an MFA student (past or present), or you teach in a graduate program in creative writing, please consider participating in Cathy Day’s quick survey on novels in MFA programs.
  • And on a somewhat related note: Since I seem to be having trouble enough writing anything long-form these days, my attention was caught by John Vanderslice’s post about his new workshop, which will focus on long poems.
  • The latest brouhaha in the creative-nonfiction world (check follow-up posts, too).
  • I was over on Carol Tice’s Make a Living Writing blog, and I just kept bookmarking posts to share with you. To save some time, I’ll simply send you to the homepage. Just keep scrolling down!
  • Another freelance tip: Consider the lesser-known holidays.