Posts Tagged‘Resources’

Home » Resources » Page 85

Friday Find for Writers: Robert Lee Brewer’s April Platform Challenge

by Erika Dreifus on
2

“One of the most important tools for a writer trying to find success in today’s media environment is a strong platform. That’s part of the reason I devote so much time to the topic on MNINB. However, I’ve been thinking about how to get even more hands on with helping writers build their online platforms, and I think I know the solution: A month-long platform building challenge.”

April begins this weekend! So go on over to Robert’s blog and see what he had in mind for this challenge. I’ll be following along, that’s for sure.

And if a platform challenge isn’t your thing, maybe a poetry challenge is!

Have a great weekend. See you back here on Monday.

The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
  • Let’s begin with some reflections after my own heart: Kelly James-Enger’s “Love Versus Money: Can You Write for Both?”
  • Next: a variation on our own “Web Browser”: Robert Lee Brewer’s collection of “Advice for Writers.” Check out this recent installment.
  • Another provocative writing prompt from Midge Raymond. (I’m eager to take some time to work on this one!)
  • Freelance advice from Adam Sternbergh, New York Times Magazine Culture Editor.
  • Finally: Am I too terrible for thinking that this is an interesting idea?

    • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • “The Danish Centre for Writers and Translators has the pleasure of being able to offer a four-week working residency in the buildings on the beautiful grounds of Hald Hovedgaard, near the town of Viborg, in the period of July 16 – August 13, 2012. Four foreign authors and eight to ten Danish authors will gather for this period in a writing-conducive environment, where they will have the opportunity to work undistracted in an inspiring literary atmosphere. This working residency is available to Danish and foreign writers who have had at least two works of fiction published.” There is no entry fee indicated. Application deadline for non-Danish applicants is April 1, 2012. NB: “The H.A.L.D. residency program is supported by DIVA – the Danish International Visiting Artists Exchange Programme, a programme administered by The Danish Arts Council (link to text in Danish and English). This means that, besides staying at Hald for free, the four chosen authors from abroad will receive a sum of DKK 10,000 to cover other expenses, such as food, as well as a refund of up to DKK 5,000 (DKK 7.000 overseas) for travel expenses.”(via @femministas)
  • I’m thrilled for Jonterri Gadson, who kindly let me know via Twitter that she has won the Herbert W. Martin Fellowship at the University of Dayton–which she found out about through this list of post-MFA opportunities.
  • Subscribers, you’ll have the April issue of The Practicing Writer by the weekend. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to learn more. There’s no fee to subscribe, your email address is kept confidential, and new subscribers receive a free writing contest ebook.
  • The Daniel Pearl Investigative Journalism Initiative, “[c]reated in memory of the 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter slain by terrorists in 2002, is designed to encourage young journalists to write in-depth stories about a modern manifestation of anti-Semitism or another deeply ingrained prejudice. The DPIJI will help writers develop their ideas, mentor them and provide them with a stipend of $5000 ($2500 upon selection and $2500 upon completion of the project). Moment will edit and publish their stories, possibly in conjunction with another media outlet. Applicants must be between the ages of 22 and 38.” No application fee. Deadline: April 4, 2012.
  • “The Authors’ Foundation was established in 1984 to mark the centenary of the Society of Authors. It has been generously supported by authors, charitable trusts and the Royal Literary Fund. The Foundation provides grants to writers to assist them while writing books. There are two rounds of grants each year, awarded in the summer and in the winter. The next closing date for applications is 30th April 2012.” No application fees indicated. Eligibility: “You may apply if: 1. You have been commissioned by a commercial British publisher to write a full-length work of fiction, poetry or non-fiction and need funding (in addition to the publisher’s advance) for important research, travel, or other more general expenditure; or 2. You are without a contractual commitment by a publisher but have had at least one book published commercially by a British publisher, and there is a strong likelihood that your next book will be published in Britain.” Note: “Maximum grants are unlikely to exceed £3,500 – £4,000. Most grants are in the range £1,000-2,000).”
  • “The Scripps College [Calif.] Writing Program seeks a distinguished visiting writer for the Mary Routt Endowed Chair of Writing during the spring semester of 2013. The successful candidate will serve as Mary Routt Chair of Writing throughout the spring semester (from mid-January to mid-May). Teaching responsibilities include one writing workshop in the area of his or her choice as well as a presentation of his or her work at two public events. We are looking for candidates with critical recognition consistent with a writer of national reputation; we prefer candidates who can show evidence of outstanding teaching ability.”
  • Harvard University Press (Mass.) seeks a Writer/Editor, George Washington University (Washington) is looking for a Managing Editor, and WomenWorking.com (New York) invites applications for a Writer/Editor.

    • Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: The Grumpy Writer, Or Where to Publish Your Rants & Complaints

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    What’s the saying? Don’t get mad–get even.

    For me, the adage might be adjusted: Don’t get mad–get writing. (And maybe even get paid.)

    Over time, I seem to have found a particular way to cope with things that annoy and irritate me: I write about them. Most of the time, I’ve gained a check along with the byline.

    This week, a short piece (dare I call it flash nonfiction?) was posted on The New York Times‘s City Room blog, in a recurring feature called “Complaint Box.” A few months ago, I sold a short article-essay to The Writer in which I vented certain Twitter-focused frustrations. And let’s not forget some earlier examples, such as my rejoinder to a workshop leader who mocked the use of “foreign words” in fiction, or my argument against the equally misguided classmate who told me that I shouldn’t be incorporating “current events” into my short stories, either.

    Of course, as my own examples show, it’s not impossible to place this writing–essentially a kind of essay–in a variety of publications, including literary and niche magazines. But I do try to take note of specific calls and opportunities to publish rants, peeves, and other opinion-driven pieces. Here’s a short list of a few such venues (I’ve limited the list to publications that specify that they pay their writers). (more…)

    Friday Finds: Five Ways to Benefit from AWP (Without Attending the Conference)

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Although it may be somewhat difficult to believe (depending on how much time you’re spending on Twitter this week, and how many writer-types you follow), not everyone is attending the annual conference of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) right now.

    And here’s something that may be even more surprising: There’s plenty to gain and glean from a quick-and-easy trip (no luggage! no airport delays!) to the organization’s website.Here are five examples:

  • Searchable database of writers’ conferences, centers, residencies, festivals, and retreats.
  • Online guide to writing programs (graduate and undergraduate).
  • Selection of craft-focused articles from AWP’s magazine, The Writer’s Chronicle.
  • Selection of career-advice articles from the AWP Job List.
  • “Advice for Grantseekers from the National Endowment for the Arts,” a podcast from last year’s conference (scroll down to Episode 12; many of the other episodes on this page are limited to listeners with [membership] eLink access, but Episode 12 is available to all.

    • AWP membership does offer, as they say, some privileges. But everything I’ve listed just above is available to anyone who visits the site.

    Enjoy, and have a great weekend!