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The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • There’s a lot to absorb in this Fiction Writers Review interview with Joan Leegant. Stick with it to the end–especially if you’re one of us writers who didn’t have a first book published in our twenties (or thirties).
  • Daniel Nester asks, “What are the ‘rules’ of a creative writing workshop?”
  • On a related note, Lily Hoang presents the syllabus for the first MFA workshop (fiction) that she’s teaching.
  • And while we’re still talking about pedagogy: Congratulations to Stephanie Vanderslice, whose book Rethinking Creative Writing is now available in hard copy as well as in e-book version. (Stephanie is running a contest to mark this milestone: check her blog for details, and revisit our interview here.)
  • There are some real gems in this issue of Nieman Reports, “Writing the Book.” Given the source, the material will appeal especially to nonfiction writers, but there’s likely something useful for all practicing writers in these virtual pages. Sections include:”Concept to Content,” “Platform to Audience,” and “Voice to Visual.”
  • It’s the last day for you to become eligible to win a free copy of Quiet Americans!

    • Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • André Aciman writes about Irène Némirovsky.
  • Joan Leegant’s remarkable, Israel-set short story, “Beautiful Souls,” was chosen by Ron Carlson as winner of the 2011 Colorado Review Nelligan Prize. It is extraordinary, as is Leegant’s novel, Wherever You Go, which I finished reading on New Year’s Day. Hope to write more about Leegant’s work soon.
  • The New York Times reviews the Museum of Jewish Heritage’s Emma Lazarus exhibit.
  • More cultural news from NYC: Next week marks the start of the 21st annual New York Jewish Film Festival.
  • Looking for some book-club possibilities? Check out the Jewish Book Council’s themed reading lists.
  • Can you believe that it’s been almost one whole year since my short-story collection, Quiet Americans, was published? To celebrate this anniversary, I’m offering three free copies of my book. There’s no cost to enter this giveaway and the guidelines couldn’t be simpler. Read more here.

    • Shabbat shalom!

    Friday Find: Free Books!

    by Erika Dreifus on
    7

    As hard as it may be to believe, my short-story collection, Quiet Americans, is almost one year old! Its official pub date was January 19, 2011.

    To celebrate this milestone, I’m offering three lucky people free copies of the book. If you’re in the U.S., you can have a signed print copy. If you’re outside the U.S., I can offer you a Kindle copy. (If you’re in the U.S. and prefer a Kindle copy, you can opt for that instead of the print version. It will be totally up to you. And if your name is chosen and you already own a copy and would prefer to gift one instead, we can do that, too.)

    All you have to do is follow me on Twitter OR “like” my Facebook page.

    That’s it. Simple.

    Prizewinners will be chosen randomly and announced on January 19, 2012. Of course, if you follow me on Twitter AND like my Facebook page, you will improve your chances of winning.

    I’d love it if you’d spread the word. (Even if that decreases your own chances, you’ll earn karmic points.)

    Thank you so much. Have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday!

    UPDATED: To avoid confusion, let me explain that there will be a total of 3 winners. I wish I could spare up to six print copies right now, but I just can’t!

    Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: A Significant Purchase

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    It has been a busy and productive week, writing-wise. I’ve had a poem accepted for 2012 publication. I had a wonderful time chatting on the phone about the stories in Quiet Americans with a group from a Chicagoland congregation. Meanwhile, Quiet Americans received a lovely review on the Books, Personally blog (and I was interviewed, too). A book that I’ve been looking forward to reviewing for JewishJournal.com arrived in the mail. And I’ve been cooking up a project with some of the Fiction Writers Review editors. Best of all, I’ve been managing to get some writing done early every morning.

    I’m grateful for all of these developments. But today, I don’t want to dwell on them. Instead, in this post, I want to tell you about a significant purchase I made a few days ago. (more…)

    My Year in Jewish Books

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6

    Looking back at my reading for 2011 (thank you, Goodreads!), I can see that I do not and would not ever limit my reading to “Jewish books” exclusively. (By the way, I define “Jewish books” as books with substantive Jewish content/themes. In my view, non-Jewish authors can write “Jewish books.” And Jewish authors can write books that don’t strike me as particularly Jewish. I read several of those books this year, too.)

    But this year, as usual, I did read quite a few books that fall within the “Jewish book” category. And, as an advocate for Jewish literature, I’m proud of that. Moreover, although it wasn’t intentional, when I revisit the record of my reading (again, thanks, Goodreads!), I find that there are 18 such titles.

    Below, you will find these books presented in the order in which I read them. Please note that, where appropriate, I have included links to reviews/essays/newsy items I have written; interviews I have conducted; and chat transcripts in which you will see I participated. I have also disclosed how I obtained each book: P (purchase), G (gift), R (complimentary review copy), L (library). NB: Later this week, I’ll publish a “meta-post” with some thoughts and observations based on this one.

    Meantime, maybe you will find a title or two (or 18) for your own reading list. Or for a gift for someone else.  (more…)