Friday Finds for Writers

Treasure ChestWriting-related resources, news, and reflections to enjoy over the weekend.

  • A lovely video profile of “Jhumpa Lahiri at Work” emphasizes the essential mystery of the writing process. (h/t @KNguyenWrites & @SaraLippmann–it was by “eavesdropping” on their Twitter convo that I ran across this video.)
  • Jamaal May offers advice on shaping a poetry collection.
  • Speaking of poetry–if you missed my mentions elsewhere of Esther Cohen’s essay about what happened when she responded to an atypical Craigslist ad, you’ll find the piece here.
  • This interview on HTMLGIANT made me want to read Elissa Washuta’s memoir (it’s coming from Red Hen Press in 2014) and provided further food for thought on memoir more generally.
  • And because we can all use this advice from time to time: “Four Simple Ways to Improve Your Day.”
  • Happy weekend, everyone!

    Monday Markets for Writers

    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).

  • “The thirty-second annual volume of New Writing Scotland will be published in summer 2014. Submissions are invited from writers resident in Scotland or Scots by birth, upbringing or inclination. All forms of writing are welcome: autobiography and memoirs; creative responses to events and experiences; drama; graphic artwork (monochrome only); poetry; political and cultural commentary and satire; screenplays; short fiction; travel writing or any other creative prose may be submitted, but not full-length plays or novels, though self-contained extracts are acceptable.” Deadline: September 30, 2013. Pays: “£20 per published page.”
  • “The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard offers short-term visiting fellowships to individuals interested in working on special research projects designed to advance journalism. The application deadline for the 2014 fellowships is Nov. 8, 2013.” NB: “As with other longer-term Nieman fellowships, a Visiting Fellow’s employer is encouraged to extend the employee’s salary and benefits during the period of study. If such funding is not available, a standard Nieman stipend will be provided to the Visiting Fellow and prorated for the length of the fellowship. The Nieman Foundation will also help candidates find temporary housing in the Cambridge area.” No application fee indicated.
  • Writers & Books (Rochester, N.Y.) is looking for a program director (half-time position).
  • “The Department of English at Purdue University invites applications for a nationally distinguished fiction writer with an interest in serving as director of our program, which offers a B.A. and an M.F.A in Creative Writing. This position is tenure/tenure-track, at the level of advanced-associate or full professor.” Another position at the same university: “The Department of English at Purdue University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Creative Writing-Fiction at the level of associate professor.”
  • “The Iowa Writers’ Workshop seeks a fiction writer for a position on its permanent faculty, at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. Candidates should have a distinguished record of publication, including at least one book of fiction, as well as enthusiasm for and substantial experience in teaching, preferably at the graduate level. A generous interest in the work of talented student writers is essential. Start date is Fall, 2014. We will consider splitting the position: two individuals, each at half-time.”
  • The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is advertising for an Assistant Professor of Fiction Writing.
  • “The Creative Writing Program at Purchase College, SUNY, is seeking an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in fiction writing. Applicants with expertise and interest in a second field (creative non-fiction, poetry, the graphic novel) and an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration are especially welcome to apply.”
  • “New College of Florida announces an opening for a Writer in Residence, spring semester 2014 (February-May). The successful candidate will have: at least one published book, and significant publication in other venues as well; two years’ experience teaching creative writing, which can include instruction as a graduate student; and a strong commitment to playing an active role in the community of our residential honors college. MFA, MA, or equivalent degree preferred, but experience considered. Writers whose work engages multiethnic experience especially encouraged.”
  • “The Department of Romance, German, and Slavic Languages and Literatures at The George Washington University invites applications for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor in Francophone Literature and Creative Writing with a focus on Francophone Africa….Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Francophone literature and culture. ABD applicants will be considered but must complete all requirements for the PhD by August 1, 2014. Applicants must demonstrate a strong record of publications in fiction or poetry; evidence of excellence in teaching literature and writing as demonstrated by teaching assessments or references, and native or near-native fluency in French and English.”
  • The State University of New York at Geneseo is advertising an assistant professor job: “Department of English seeks candidate for tenure-track position in creative writing – poetry. Candidate will also teach first-year writing, literature, Humanities. Required Qualifications: MFA or PhD in hand by August 2014, demonstrated excellence in teaching writing and literature. Record of significant publication, such as a book, preferred.”
  • Western Carolina University is looking for a “Tenure Track assistant professor of English with a specialization in Creative Nonfiction beginning August 2014.”
  • “The George Mason University [Va.], Department of English invites applications for a Nonfiction Visiting Writer faculty position for spring 2014 with possible renewal for spring 2015.”
  • “St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) invites applications for a one-year, full-time appointment in creative non-fiction.”
  • Regis College (Mass.) is looking for a Director “to design, implement, assess and serve as academic administrator for all facets of the MAPW program.”
  • Friday Finds for Writers

    Treasure ChestWriting-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • This week brought a new NYT “Draft” column, in which Carol Kaufmann recommends writing outside.
  • There is also sad news about the passing of Ann Crispin, who, as Brian Klems phrased it, was “an advocate of writers’ rights.”
  • Fascinating developments in the quest to identify the author of The Bondwoman’s Narrative.
  • On the Ploughshares blog: litmag submission tips from Ian Stansel.
  • I recommended it once on Twitter this week already, but if you’re looking for some good weekend reading online, check out the latest issue of Brevity.
  • And from the Poetry Foundation: a reminder of the free resources they offer to help teach poetry.
  • Have a good weekend, everyone!

    Wednesday’s WIP: Market Season!

    Way back when–in the 1980s–I was an ambitious teenage writer who really, really wanted to start seeing some of her work published. And by the time I applied to colleges, I was able to declare myself a published writer–thanks, in part, to the Writer’s Market, which helped me identify the journals that first published my poetry. (I’m hoping, though, that many other journals simply did away with my inappropriate submissions rather than pin them up on a bulletin board for lasting mockery. Live and learn, as they say.)

    Fast forward to September 2013. (more…)