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The New York Times Magazine remembers poet Lucille Clifton.
Over on her Brave New Words blog, B.J. Epstein launches a recurring “market research” feature for literary translators.
And speaking of literary translation: That’s what Edith Grossman and Lydia Davis recently did (speak of literary translation, that is) on NPR.
Here’s a blog I’ve only recently discovered but already admire: Carol Tice’s Make a Living Writing.
Writer Beware Blogs offers some tips on evaluating literary contests.
This week’s blizzard here in NYC made me especially grateful to have a warm, comfortable home. And at some point, I remembered (and looked up and reread) the classic Jack London short story, “To Build a Fire.”
WritersWeekly.com needs Success Stories. “Have a Freelance Success Story to share? We pay $40 on acceptance, non-exclusive electronic rights only. Success stories run around 300 words but we’re very flexible. Our guidelines are here: http://writersweekly.com/misc/guidelines.php.”
From Sage Cohen: “Would you love to take the Poetry for the People Level 1 or Level 2 class starting in January but can’t afford it? Then you qualify for The Poetry for the People Scholarship. And the time to apply is now….I’ll be accepting applications for the Poetry for the People Scholarship from Thursday, December 16 through Friday, December 31. The scholarship recipient for each class will be chosen based on the following criteria: demonstrated past effort, need, and enthusiasm as determined by Sage Cohen.” There is no entry fee, and each scholarship (one for the Level 1 class and one for Level 2) is a full scholarship. (I’ve taken both of these classes, and I can attest that they’re fabulous.)
A forthcoming Madonna anthology seeks submissions from women writers: “I’m looking for sharp women-authored nonfiction essay submissions for a new anthology (to be published by Soft Skull Press in winter 2012) about our favorite freaky feminist singer/artist/’Sex’-er/mother/material girl: Madonna. She’s been such a powerful, iconic cultural figure for the past 27 years (!). For women and girls in America, it’s almost impossible not have been influenced, in some way, by her media presence. I want to hear how Madonna has changed your life. Love her or hate her, you probably have an opinion. Whether you think she’s a genius marketing maven, a pioneering feminist businesswoman or little more than a very rich stripper, I want to hear your perspectives. How did her work affect your feelings, your mindset, your sexuality, your ambitions? How did seeing her videos on MTV change the way you thought about growing up female? How did your parents react when they heard you singing the lyrics to ‘Like a Virgin’ at the dinner table? What was it like the first time you saw her perform live? What about her pisses you off to no end? I don’t care if you love her or loathe her. Just own a strong point of view, and write your essay in an honest, thoughtful, engaging fashion. Having a very specific, unique, or unexpected angle is a plus!” Pays: “a small stipend ($TBD) upon publication” and two copies. Deadline: February 15, 2011. (via Susan Johnston’s UrbanMuseWriter Twitter feed)
From Holland Park Press (U.K.): “To celebrate the release of Arnold Jansen op de Haar’s King of Tuzla, Holland Park Press is holding a short story writing competition, because often fiction describes reality more truthfully than an item on the evening news. The task: You are asked to write a short story set in a conflict zone. The story should not contain more than one thousand words.The story can take place anywhere in the world and be set in the past or present but not in the future.” Prize: £100 and online publication. No entry fee. Deadline: December 31, 2010. (via WinningWriters.com)
“The Creative Writing Program of the Department of English at the University of Arizona invites applications and nominations for a tenure-eligible advanced assistant professor or tenured associate professor in creative nonfiction/environmental writing, to start August 2011.We seek an outstanding writer with significant publications and demonstrated excellence as a teacher to work with students at the graduate and undergraduate level in the creative writing program and in other English programs such as Literature or Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, if appropriate. Publications must include at least one book from a reputable press. A secondary expertise in poetry or fiction is also welcome, but not required.”
“The Brief-Residency MFA Program and the Department of English & Theatre at Eastern Kentucky University seek applications from fiction writers for an entry level, tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor in creative writing. Though we seek a fiction writer for this position, we will consider applications from writers who specialize in creative nonfiction, as long as these applicants can demonstrate the ability to teach graduate workshops in both fiction and nonfiction.”
Rhode Island College is looking for an Assistant Professor of English (Creative Writing-Fiction) (click “Faculty Positions”). Prefers “some college teaching experience; subfield in literary nonfiction and/or young adult creative writing” as well as “experience supervising the production of an undergraduate literary journal; willingness eventually to play a significant role in program promotion and administration.”
Wright State University seeks a Public Relations Writer, George Washington University (D.C.) is looking for an Electronic Communications Writer/Editor, and the Office of the Manhattan Borough President plans to hire a Speechwriter.
Author and teacher Kyle Minor shares the very extensive suggested reading list for his spring 2011 fiction workshop.
From another author and teacher: Danielle Evans spotlights some of this year’s notable “outsider fiction.”
The Urban Muse (Susan Johnston) offers “6 Ways to Reconnect with Your Freelance Network.”
Susan Bernofsky has launched a new blog, Translationista, providing “dispatches from the world of literary translation.”
The Jewish Book Carnival takes place on the 15th of every month (this month, that’s today). And this month, my other blog, which focuses on Jewish literary and cultural matters, is the Carnival’s host. Step right up and see what we’ve got for you from the world of Jewish books.
“Matador Abroad is looking for narrative pieces, photo essays and single photo submissions for a new series.” This series focuses on “celebrating holidays outside of your home country….Submissions are not limited to American holidays; tell us what it was like first celebrating Ramadan away from home, or how Diwali is different in London than it is in Delhi.” Pays: $25 per narrative or photo essay (single photos do not receive payment).
Also from Matador: an interesting piece spotlighting paying online markets for freelancers.
Let’s keep the travel focus going, shall we? The NYT’s Nicholas Kristof has announced the 2011 “Win a Trip with Nick Kristof” contest. This year, the competition is open to graduating students and to those over 60 (US residents only). Application deadline (essay or video submission) is January 18 (my thanks to Mr. Kristof for so kindly responding to my query about this on Twitter). No application fee.
“Voices of Youth (VOY) is UNICEF’s site for young people interested in learning about and taking action on issues affecting their lives. VOY is currently undergoing a redesign to update the site’s look and functionality. The new site will emphasize interactivity and dialogue, and will feature posts from youth contributors, UNICEF staff, activists, bloggers, etc….We’re looking for 2 part-time bloggers to create original content (primarily print, but video, audio, and visual pieces are welcome) for Voices of Youth.”
“The Arc Poetry Society [Canada] seeks applications for the part-time contract position of Editor of Arc Poetry Magazine commencing April 1, 2010. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Arc’s editor will ensure that the content of Arc Poetry Magazine is selected and presented to maintain a consistently high standard for the publication.”
From Johns Hopkins University (requisition #46416 if you’re redirected to the human resources home page): “This part-time faculty position at Johns Hopkins University involves academic administrative duties and the teaching of four courses per year in a thriving, two-campus graduate writing program. This year-round position offers a 12-month contract requiring part-time responsibilities in fall, spring, and summer terms. The position expects a regular presence at the program’s Washington, D.C. and Baltimore locations, although the faculty member will be based at the main Hopkins Homewood Campus. Expertise in teaching, writing, or editing is required in at least one of the program’s concentrations of Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Science-Medical Writing, or in Journalism, Professional Writing, Publishing, Editing or related fields. This faculty member will work with and report to the program’s full-time director and assistant director. The M.A. in Writing Program caters mostly to part-time adult students who take evening or Saturday courses at the Hopkins Washington, D.C. Center near Dupont Circle or the main Homewood Campus in Baltimore. The program is based in Washington but has offices, students, and faculty at both campuses. This position is effective on Jan. 3, 2011.”
Nicholls State University (La.) is looking for an Instructor whose “preferred experience” includes “Creative Writing, Poetry and/or Screen Writing.”
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (N.Y.) seeks an Editor, Boston magazine is looking for an Associate Editor (you’ll need to register/log in, free of charge, to read the announcement), and the University of Oregon School of Law invites applications for a Director of Communications position.
“We Need to Talk About Your Amazon Sales Rankings” is an amusing video/book trailer from husband-and-wife authors John Yunker and Midge Raymond.
For someone who’s never even been married (and is not a child of divorced parents, or a matrimonial lawyer, or therapist), I probably know a lot more about divorce than I should. To be sure, these two divorce-related poems, published recently through YourDailyPoem.com, resonated.
Fear of conducting interviews getting in the way of your freelancing? (It’s happened to me.) Linda Formichelli busts your excuse.
Also from and for the freelancing files: sage advice from Kelly James-Enger on “the best place for new writers to pitch.”
The December Practicing Writer newsletter went out to subscribers yesterday, and I’ve been worried about some line-spacing glitches I’ve seen in my own (and others’ forwarded) copies. I’m hoping that my template isn’t corrupted. It’s such a basic template that it’s tough for me to guess what the problem is. In any case, everything looks tip-top in the copy I’ve posted on my website.