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Friday Find: New Chanukah Lit

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

As I muse this morning over on my other blog, I am a little overwhelmed by the quantity of quality essays I’m reading about Chanukah. Have they always existed? (Or does it simply have something to do with heavy-duty anthology promotion?) For an officially minor holiday (yes, it’s true!), Chanukah seems to be inspiring some truly lovely writing.

Since I’m leaving the city later today to celebrate with my favorite people in the world (including seven children under the age of seven–can you imagine the fun [and the noise?]) here are a few finds for your weekend reading pleasure:

–Amy Klein’s “Hanukkah Is in the Holiday Season, Too,”;
–David Bezmozgis’s “Festival of Birthdays”; and
–Joanna Smith Rakoff’s “Dolls of the World.”

Five Writing-Related Activities/Accomplishments from the Weekend Just Past

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Now that I have a single employer paying for my time (and brainpower) between the hours of 9-5 each weekday, weekends have become even more important for my own writing. Here’s a glimpse into how I spent last weekend, writing-wise:

–Drafted and submitted a new poem according to the current assignment for my online poetry class;

–Printed out six yet-to-be-published poems and mailed them to the distinguished poet I met last month through my day job; she had very generously offered to read some of my work;

–Read online (and told some family and friends about) my most recent publication–my first published poem since my high school days–which appears in the Winter 2007-2008 issue of flashquake;

–Completed and submitted my latest review assignment for The Writer;

–And because writers are (and must be) readers: Started reading the new Philip Roth novel, Exit Ghost.

Considering that my weekend also included quite a bit of quality time with my sister and her kids, and my first visit to the gym since my most recent sinus infection struggle, and some catching up with friends, I’m pretty pleased with what this tally!

Anyone else want to share a weekend writing report in comments?

Friday Find: James Scott on Completing a Short Story

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

I recently mentioned my fondness for the author interviews posted at the One Story Web site. The latest features James Scott, who wrote the story I received most recently, “The Strings Attached.” Here’s one of my favorite segments from the interview:

How long did it take you to complete this story?

This story went through the wringer. It started in a craft class taught by Daniel Wallace at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. Then I worked on it off and on (mostly off) for two years or so. Next it went through this amazing class at Emerson’s MFA program taught by Pam Painter called “Revision.” You basically play the part of butcher, eviscerate your story, see what’s edible and what gets tossed, stitch it all back together, and hope it’s delicious (Yes, I know—and am very glad—that butchers don’t actually sew meat together, but the metaphor worked up until then, don’t you think?). I also have to thank Urban Waite, Laura van den Berg, and Taylor Rogers for their close readings. And Hannah and everyone at One Story were so patient and wonderful and kind. So all in all, “The Strings Attached” honestly took at least twelve major edits and I don’t know how many—twenty?—little clean ups and tightenings over the course of three years.

Got that? Three years. We short story writers really do sweat this stuff. And that’s OK.

The Wednesday Web Browser: Health Care for Freelancers, Poets & Writers Online, and a Carrot-based Craft Lesson

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

I sense we’ll have some agreement on this: “Freelancers Need Universal Health Care Too.” (via Ed Champion)
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Among the online offerings in the new Poets & Writers magazine: Kelly Ferguson, MFA candidate in creative nonfiction, offers “Confessions of a Teaching Assistant”; my pal Andrew Furman writes about authors ending the lives of their series characters; Kevin Nance reports on a new “contest alternative”; and Kevin Larimer interviews the director of the new MFA program at CUNY’s Queens College. (This is a particularly good issue–if you don’t regularly read it, try to get yourself a copy.)
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And the ever-instructive Oronte Churm writes in praise of carrots.