Friday Finds for Writers

For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.

  • First up: An assortment of authors’ book-promotion tips. I’m most intrigued by C. Hope Clark’s endorsement of the Square Card Reader, pictured to the left. (You may have seen Square elsewhere in the news this week, too.)
  • Next: “Got an MFA? Teach high school,” advises Nick Ripatrazone.
  • The Kenyon Review interviews George Singleton, on being told to “stick to fiction” in a poetry workshop, and other literary matters.
  • Sam Tanenhaus, who edits The New York Times Book Review, describes a typical workday and exemplary criticism.
  • Roxane Gay presents writers of color.
  • And in case you’ve missed the mentions elsewhere: I’m coming to Boston! And if this seminar on writing conferences, contests, and residencies appeals to you, please join us!
  • Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.

    FROM THIRTYSOMETHING TO MOVING WATERS: A Q&A WITH RACELLE ROSETT

    About three years ago, I gave a presentation on publishing short stories at a conference run by the Jewish Book Council here in New York City. Among the attendees was Racelle Rosett, who impressed me immediately as someone who knew quite a lot about writing short stories and who also shared my interest in writing about Jewish experience. We have stayed in touch since that conference. I’ve been delighted to see Racelle’s stories in print and online, and I’ve recommended them to friends and family. Now, I’m thrilled to introduce Racelle here on the occasion of the publication of her debut story collection, MOVING WATERS.

    Racelle Rosett is the winner of both the MOMENT Magazine-Karma Foundation Prize for Jewish short fiction and the LILITH Fiction Prize. Her work has also appeared in TIKKUN, PLOUGHSHARES, NEW VILNA REVIEW, JewishFiction.net, SANTA MONICA REVIEW, and ZEEK. As a television writer, she won the WGA award for THIRTYSOMETHING. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons.

    Please welcome Racelle Rosett!

    ERIKA DREIFUS (ED): Racelle, congratulations on the publication of MOVING WATERS. Your background includes a successful career writing for television. How has that background infused your work as a writer of short fiction? (more…)

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • McSweeney’s Internet Tendency has announced that it is once again column contest time, and you’re eligible if you’re writing in English, regardless of location. Even better: “We have prizes. Cash prizes. The top five selections will each receive a $500 lump sum and a one-year contract to write your column (twice a month or thereabouts) for McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. One of those five winners will win a $250 bonus voted on by our readers. We do reserve the right to choose fewer (or more) winners than our planned number of five.” Deadline: “Submissions will be accepted until Monday, August 20th at 10pm Eastern time.” No entry fee.
  • The First Line has announced The First Line First Line Contest: “To celebrate our 15th year, we’re giving you a chance to inspire the world. Send us your best (original and unpublished) starter sentences, and we’ll pick four to use for next year’s first lines. You have until August 31st to submit. The winners will receive $50 and five copies of the issue that was inspired by your first line.” No entry fee.
  • Cha: An Asian Literary Journal is running a contest for unpublished poems about “The Past.” Prizes: “Prizes: First: £50, Second: £30, Third: £20, Highly Commended (up to 3): £10 each. (Payable through Paypal.) All six winning poems will receive first publication in a special section in the September 2012 issue of Cha.” No entry fee. Deadline: September 15, 2012.
  • From Grub Street, Inc.: “We’re now accepting applications for scholarships for fall workshops. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, each quarter we’re able to offer $200 scholarships to at least five writers. Recipients may use their scholarship at any time in the year and toward any class they desire, though not for Muse and the Marketplace tuition or manuscript consulting. To apply for a Fall 2012 term scholarship, please email the following to rowanATgrubstreetDOTorg by Wednesday, August 22nd at 12:00pm: a 5-10 page sample of your work, and a one-page letter detailing your financial need and desire to take a Grub Street class. Applicants will hear from the selection committee within one week after the deadline.”
  • “Beacon Academy, which provides a transformational year between 8th and 9th grades for promising, motivated, and hard-working students from Boston and surrounding areas, is seeking a part-time writing teacher for a one-year appointment from September 2012 to August 2013.”
  • James Madison University (Va.) is looking for an Assistant Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center.
  • The YMCA of the City of New York is looking for a Literacy Tutor, Atlantic Media (Washington) seeks an Editor “to oversee a new channel on its website devoted to the intersection of work and family,” and Angie’s List (Indianapolis) is advertising for a Writer.
  • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: How to Make an Audio Recording

    I’m immensely grateful to Qarrtsiluni magazine, not only for accepting and presenting my brief piece, “With or Without,” as part of its current “Fragments” issue, but also for encouraging me to acquire a new skill: how to make an audio recording.

    Following Qarrtsiluni‘s guidelines–and with the benefit of a little time, patience, and experimentation–I’ve become semi-comfortable with the iTalk application (I upgraded for a nominal fee). Hence, last week’s post and its incorporation of brief audio excerpts from “Homecomings,” one of the stories in Quiet Americans.

    I’m reminded, again, of the importance of adding new skills to my writing practice. What are some of the new items in your writing-practice toolbox? I’d like to know.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • It’s time for the annual Helen Schaible Shakespearean/Petrarchan Sonnet Contest. “Open to all. Submit only one entry of either a Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet. The entry must be original and unpublished. First Prize $50.00. Second Prize $35.00. Third prize $15.00. Three Honorable Mentions Unranked. Three Special Recognitions Unranked. There is no fee.”
  • H.A.L Publishing announces The Big in China Short Fiction Competition. “Open only to residents of North America, the theme for this contest is China. This does not mean the contestants have to write about China the nation nor take place in China, though those stories will be gladly read as anything else. The theme is open to interpretation and can center around China, the history of China, life in China, life after China, life without China, fortune cookies (which actually are not Chinese, but whatever, we don’t care, we are open to anything), grandma’s china plates, Chinese take-out, Shanghai, being shanghaied, stuff for sale at Target, trade deficits, foreign affairs, NAFTA, firecrackers or gunpowder, silk dresses, opium dens or railroads in the American Wild West, the struggle of Chinese immigrants to the West, Richard Nixon, Chinatown, or any other conceivable application of the theme ”China.” We might not be ready to read Deadhead stories about China Cat Sunflower, but if that’s what you’ve got, send it in. We are always ready to be surprised.” No entry fee. First-place winner receives $50 (via Paypal) and other prizes, detailed at the site.” Deadline: September 15, 2012. No simultaneous submissions. (via Duotrope.com)
  • From Contrary magazine: “If you’d like your work to appear in our next issue, the deadline for Autumn is Sept. 1. Contrary accepts submissions only through this form.” Pays: “For original commentary, fiction, and poetry, Contrary Magazine pays $20 per author per issue, regardless of the number of works or nature of the submission.”
  • Legal Outreach is looking for part-time Writing Faculty to teach Saturday classes in Long Island City, N.Y.
  • Mother Earth News (Topeka, Kansas) seeks an Editor, The Washington Times (D.C.) is looking for an experienced Editorial Writer, and Carcanet Press (Manchester, U.K.) is advertising for a Managing Editor.