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The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
4
  • If you’re looking for some short stories to read online, you might begin with the StorySouth Million Writers Award list of notable stories for 2010.
  • Ellen Meeropol has a dual perspective on bookstore readings: She has participated as an event organizer and as an author. Which makes her advice especially insightful.
  • This may be old news already for some of you, but here goes: Last Sunday evening I watched 60 Minutes for the first time in awhile. And one of the show’s segments was about author Greg Mortenson, author of the presumably nonfictional Three Cups of Tea: “[L]ast fall, we began investigating complaints from former donors, board members, staffers, and charity watchdogs about Mortenson and the way he is running his non-profit organization. And we found there are serious questions about how millions of dollars have been spent, whether Mortenson is personally benefiting, and whether some of the most dramatic and inspiring stories in his books are even true.”
  • If you haven’t visited the Poetry Foundation’s website for awhile, you should click on over and check out the redesign.
  • I keep reading wonderful reviews of Meghan O’Rourke’s new book, a memoir titled The Long Goodbye (here’s one). And part of me really wants to read it. But part of me is just too afraid to. I’m afraid that it will make me unbearably sad. Have any of you ever felt that way about a book?
  • Our friend Wordamour has a short essay in a new book, Flashlight Memories, which, according to Wordamour’s blog, “is all about people’s early experiences with reading and books, otherwise known in academia as ‘literacy autobiographies’ or ‘literacy narratives.'” To celebrate the book’s publication–and to celebrate all of our personal literacy stories–Wordamour will award a copy of Flashlight Memories to one of the commenters on her blog. You have until May 15 to post your narrative.

    • Friday Find: Ten Tips for a Writing Life

    by Erika Dreifus on
    5

    If you’re a regular reader of Practicing Writing, you know that I frequently cite/link to author Midge Raymond and/or her blog. I’m delighted to be able to share with you today Midge’s guest post on “Ten Tips for a Writing Life.”

    Midge is the author of Forgetting English, an extraordinary collection that I reviewed for Fiction Writers Review when it was first published. Happily, Forgetting English has just been re-released–in an expanded edition–and there’s still just a bit of time left to enter a Goodreads giveaway (it ends today!) for a chance to win a copy.

    Enjoy the post, and the weekend, and I’ll see you all back here on Monday.

    Take it away, Midge!

    I love lists. I wouldn’t get a single thing done without them. (If I forget to take a list to the store, for example, I have to return home for it, or I just wander the aisles wondering what I need.)

    Lists are helpful in terms of getting things done—but I also find that they’re helpful in remembering how to best get things done. That is, I often have to remind myself of how important certain habits are for living a writer’s life. So I’ve come up with a “top ten” list, which I hope will be useful to all writers who are, like most of us, juggling such things as day jobs and families while still trying to get all that writing done. (more…)

    Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: Update on Reviews, Giveaways, Events & The Blue Card

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    It’s been busy lately, and here’s some of what’s been happening with my story collection, Quiet Americans, in recent days.

  • Reviews and ratings continue to accrue (thank you!) on the book’s Amazon and Goodreads pages. Yesterday, I discovered an especially lovely Amazon review that was posted on April 5. (And no, I do not know the reviewer personally!)
  • The giveaway that I announced last week to mark the release of the Kindle version (which, by the way, can be read even without a Kindle device) ended yesterday. Congratulations to the winners (you can see who they are in the giveaway post’s comments section), and thanks to everyone who entered for the helpful feedback.
  • I’ve been practicing the portion of Quiet Americans that I plan to read this weekend in the Sunday Salon series. If you’re thinking of attending, I promise you that I will stick to my time limit! (I may even have a minute-and-a-half to spare.)
  • And I’m really looking forward to next Tuesday’s online chat with participants in the Jewish Book Council’s Twitter Book Club. (Will I “see” you there?)
  • Most important, now that we’ve entered the second quarter of 2011, I’ve sent The Blue Card its first “cut” of the book sale profits/royalties. It’s a not-insignificant, three-figure sum, and I hope that I’ll be able to do even more next quarter. Thank you all for making the contribution possible. (Extra thanks to the friends and family who have made contributions independently, in honor of the book’s publication. You are exceptionally classy–and generous–people!)

    • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • As of April 1, Arc Poetry Magazine has replaced its submissions procedures with an online manager.
  • “Announcing a call for non-fiction/memoir/personal stories by American Muslim women on the search for love. These stories will be published in a book, Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women, by Soft Skull Press in February 2012.” Pays: “a small stipend (TBD) upon publication,” plus two copies. Submit by April 15, 2011. (hat tip: Literary Mama blog)
  • News from the British Library: “Applications are invited for the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence Award. The award of £20,000, sponsored by the David and Mary Eccles Centre for American Studies at the British Library, is open to writers resident in the United Kingdom. Writers should be working on a non-fiction or fiction full-length book, written in the English language, the research for which requires that they make substantial use of the British Library’s collections relating to North America (the USA and/or Canada). The award holder will be the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence for a period of one year from 1st January 2012. The award will help the Writer in Residence to spend part of that time on site at the British Library, making direct use of the collections relating to North America (the USA and/or Canada).” No application fee. Deadline: August 31, 2011.
  • Reminder: Quiet Americans is now available via Kindle (and Kindle apps are available for all kinds of devices). Enter our giveaway (entries close Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.), or go ahead and buy your “copy” now.
  • “The Penn State Altoona English Program is taking applications for a one-semester teaching residency in fiction and creative non-fiction writing. The residence, designed to offer an emerging writer substantial time to write, offers a salary of $10,000 in return for teaching one general education level introduction to creative writing workshop during the Fall 2011 semester (August 22-December 15). The resident writer will also give two readings and work informally with our English majors. Benefits are not included.” Application review begins May 16.
  • “The Department of English at the University New Mexico invites applications for a Russo Endowed Professor or Creative Writing in Creative Nonfiction for the academic year 2011-2012, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years. 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 UNM creative writing program. A secondary expertise in poetry is also welcome, but not required.”
  • “Bethany College [W. Va.] invites applications for a One-Year Visiting Position in American Literature/Poetry Writing. The successful candidate will teach courses in American literature, Freshman Honors English (on a topic of the candidate’s choice), introductory creative writing, a poetry writing workshop, and composition. Ph.D. in hand by Spring 2011 preferred. ABD would be considered with appropriate adjustment in rank. The successful candidate will be committed to excellence in teaching. The college anticipates a search for a permanent replacement to be conducted in the coming academic year.”
  • “The English Department at Rhodes College [Tenn.] seeks a Poet for a visiting position starting August 2011. Successful candidates should have an M.F.A. as well as a clear record of teaching excellence. Initial appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second. Secondary expertise in teaching fiction writing, screenwriting, or dramatic writing is desirable.”
  • “The Writing & Publishing Department at Walnut Hill School for the Arts [Mass.], which offers talented high school students intensive, craft-based, studio instruction in writing (prose, poetry, and playwriting) alongside real-world training in literary editing and publishing, seeks a full-time Assistant Director to lead instruction in Poetry and production of Department publications.”
  • Boston Colleges seeks a Senior Editor, the African Wildlife Foundation (D.C.) is looking for a Senior Writer and Publications Manager, and Brown University (R.I.) invites applications for a Director, Communications and Stewardship (job #D00842).

    • Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: The Kindle Version Is Here! And I’m Giving Two Copies Away!

    by Erika Dreifus on
    9

    Was it only two weeks ago that I was blogging about the Quiet Americans ebook conversion? That post generated so many helpful comments–thank you again! (Please click here to see the price that was ultimately selected.)

    Yes, just two weeks later, the Kindle version of Quiet Americans is complete and available! And to celebrate, I’m going to offer two “gift” copies to you, dear readers.

    To enter this giveaway, please comment below, with a suggestion or piece of advice to help me promote this new version of the book. (Promoting a print book is something I think I can do; I’m less confident about the promoting the ebook.)

    The trusty random number generator will select our two winners, but please don’t let that stop you from offering the very best advice you can! You can comment right up to 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

    Good luck, and thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions. I truly appreciate them!