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Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
2

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

  • One of the highlights of my college education was a creative nonfiction workshop taught by Verlyn Klinkenborg. You can get a sense of Verlyn-as-teacher in this lovely new essay, ““Where Do Sentences Come From?”.
  • Next: Are you ever discouraged by conference/fellowship/residency applications that require letters of recommendation? Cathy Day shares some solid advice.
  • This week brought my latest “First Looks” column for Fiction Writers Review. Go take a peek at the two forthcoming debut novels I’ve spotlighted this month.
  • John Warner reflects on his new “visiting instructor” title (complete with full-time status, benefits, and other pleasures).
  • Those of us interested in freelancing have likely heard about the service known as HARO (Help a Reporter Out). But do we understand how it works?

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

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

    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).

  • You’ll have to act pretty fast to take advantage of this U.K.-based residency opportunity: “ArtFunkl is delighted to offer the new Scribus series of Residencies for writers or digital media artists. This is part of a long term plan to expand the scope and number of residencies taking place at ArtFunkl, in order to create a more diverse community of connections, both within the ArtFunkl network, and within the environment of the city of Manchester.” The next deadline is August 20. NB: Although there’s no application fee, there IS a studio/room fee of £109 per week.
  • And you’ll need to hurry (deadline is August 15) if you want to apply for one of Salon.com’s assistant editor positions. “These are full-time entry level positions offering benefits and based in New York City. Applicants should… specify an interest in politics, the arts, general news and/or pop culture.”
  • For our Canadian friends: “Hagios Press is now welcoming submission of proposals for manuscripts of literary non-fiction. Hagios Press is asking for samples from book-length of literary nonfiction which could include personal essays, and memoirs. Hagios Press is interested literary non-fiction manuscripts covering a broad range of issues and themes.” Deadline is August 31.
  • In case you missed it, the August issue of The Practicing Writer, which went out to subscribers almost two weeks ago, contains the usual generous helpings of no-fee contest info and paying calls for submissions.
  • “Brooklyn College Community Partnership (BCCP) partners with public high schools and middle schools in the Brooklyn community to offer academic support, college access, social justice, health and wellness and arts-based programs to work with Brooklyn youth. The main hub for BCCP is the Brooklyn College Art Lab (BCAL) located on the Brooklyn College campus. We currently offer workshops in video and new media, visual arts, music, dance, theater and performance, writing, culinary arts, and meditation. Our youth development philosophy and practice is student-centered and dialogue and experience-based. BCCP is offering an open call to hire interdisciplinary teaching artists who have the capacity to facilitate workshops in at least two artistic disciplines. It’s an advantage if one is in media (digital video, photo, web and social media design, or graphic design), but not absolutely necessary.”
  • “Street Poets Inc. is looking for poets/teachers with a deep personal understanding of the transformational healing power of the creative process and a passion for mentoring youth (middle and high school age). The Teaching Artist is responsible for facilitating poetry writing workshops in South Los Angeles area schools on a part-time hourly basis – using the Street Poets curriculum and their own poetry. In addition, the Teaching Artist will be responsible for providing a link from the classroom to the larger Street Poets community.”
  • Salisbury University (Md.) is looking for an Assistant Professor in English (creative writing-fiction) and for an Assistant Professor in English (creative writing-poetry).
  • “The MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco invites applications for a tenure-track position in creative nonfiction at the Assistant Professor level to begin Fall 2013.”
  • From Montclair State University (N.J.): “Opening for a one-year creative writing instructor/assistant professor position in poetry and either creative non-fiction or fiction; secondary interest in contemporary literature or other area appropriate to an English department.”
  • Victoria University (New Zealand) seeks a Lecturer in Creative Writing.

    • Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6

    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.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    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.

    • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    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.