Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • Richard Hugo House (Seattle) is looking for a Writer-in-Residence: “The writer-in-residence holds office hours (for free but by appointment only) for anyone seeking advice and feedback on their writing, and they also lead writing workshops and programs that reach into the heart of Seattle’s communities, with a specific focus on underserved populations who may not have access to the arts. Residencies run from September through June and may last for up to two terms.” Pays:”$500 per month stipend for nine months, plus additional compensation for Hugo Classes; a vibrant and growing community of, by and for writers; an opportunity to work with a committed staff in a creative work environment and receive support and encouragement for artistic projects.” There is no application fee. Deadline: June 4, 2012. NB: “Applicants for the position should be practicing, published writers of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction and accomplished and dedicated writing teachers with experience working with writers of all levels in a traditional workshop setting and on a one-on-one basis as a mentor offering criticism and professional development advice.”
  • Working an unpaid internship at a magazine in NYC this summer? You may be eligible to win a $1,000 grant from the generous Ed (2010). Summer application deadline (no fee) is May 30, 2012 (11:59 p.m.).
  • The Stowe Prize is a $10,000 award to recognize a United States author whose written work makes a tangible impact on a social justice issue critical to contemporary society. Named in honor of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the Stowe Prize was established to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her birth in 2011 and is awarded biennially. The inaugural Stowe Prize was awarded to authors Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn for their work, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin changed how Americans thought about slavery, galvanizing the antislavery movement and widening the divisions that led to the Civil War. Translated into sixty languages, Uncle Tom’s Cabin remains an international classic, read for its powerful portrayal of the struggle for freedom. It is in this tradition that the winner of the 2013 Stowe Prize will be chosen.” No entry fee indicated. Deadline: July 2, 2012.
  • The Common Language Project (a nonprofit online journalism organization based at the University of Washington in Seattle) is commissioning freelance articles, photography, video and multimedia on international issues for an American audience. We are interested in work that is original, rigorously reported, character-driven and designed for online presentation. All stories must include visuals and we give priority to stories that incorporate multimedia. Our rates vary depending on the medium, length and complexity of assigned stories. Note that while we pay for each story we assign, we cannot pay for travel expenses at this time. CLP contributors retain all rights to their work. We publish work from all over the world. Currently we are especially interested in hearing pitches from Latin America, East Asia, and the former Soviet states.”
  • “Marlboro College [Vt.], a liberal arts college of 300 students and 41 faculty members, invites applicants for a Visiting Professor of Writing for a one-year sabbatical replacement, beginning August 2012. Teaching responsibilities include teaching a Fiction Workshop in the fall and a Poetry Workshop in the spring, tutorial support for advanced students in Writing, with an additional literature course or two (depending on the tutorial load) each semester in the applicant’s area of expertise. MFA or PhD required.”
  • Oklahoma State University seeks a Visiting Professor, Poetry. “One-year appointment or two one-semester appointments, rank open, beginning August 2012. MFA or PhD in Creative Writing with significant poetry publications and demonstrated excellence in teaching required.”
  • From the University of Virginia: “The Department of English and Creative Writing and the Program in American Studies seek applications to fill non-tenure-track Lecturer and Instructor positions during the 2012-13 academic year. Subject areas of particular need include but are not limited to: English Language and Literature, Creative Writing (fiction and poetry), and American Studies. Compensation may take the form of wages, part-time salary with part-time benefits or full-time salary with full-time benefits, depending upon the number of courses taught. A relevant terminal degree is expected but not required. Candidates must have a strong commitment to teaching. Applications will be considered immediately.”
  • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • Let’s begin this week’s batch of opportunities with a new, no-fee contest from WorkStew.com: “‘Write a letter to the bright-eyed job seeker interested in following in your footsteps. Illuminate. Opine. Advise. But do not exceed 800 words.’ So goes the official prompt for the first-ever Work Stew writing contest, which kicks off on May 1. There’s real money involved ($1,500 in prizes), so be sure to read the legalese.” Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, May 21. Judge: Pam Belluck.
  • May is an open submissions month for Graywolf Press. Please note that the press is no longer accepting first collections (poetry or short stories) through open submissions. “We will continue to accept second and subsequent collections of poetry and short stories during our open submission periods. In addition, we will continue to accept submission of novels and works of nonfiction as usual.”
  • Emmerson Street Press is eager to read the work of the vibrant creative people that we know are out there; writers who are proud to be a part of the centuries old literary tradition; writers who have been looking for a place to have their work welcomed. We are also eager to hear from academics interested in writing an introduction (up to 1000 words) to a reprint classic. In this area we want to hear from PhD types with a passion for a specific book, author or thinker; we want to help you pass that passion on. In this area, we are also interested in translations. We are primarily interested in Canadian authors and academics, but would be willing to take on an international writer if the submission is too good to let slip by!” (via placesforwriters.com)
  • Durham University (U.K.) invites applications for its Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) fellowships. “The theme for 2013/14, for which applications are now invited, is “Light,” interpreted in its broadest sense to be of potential interest to those working in a wide range of disciplines.” Fellowships are available for 3-month periods between October 2013 and March 2014. “The IAS will cover the costs associated with the fellow travelling to Durham, UK…and will provide all fellows with an honorarium.” Applicants may be from any nationality or discipline. “Applicants may come from an academic or non-academic background (e.g. public intellectuals, artists, writers, film makers, journalists, policy makers, politicians.” No application fee. Deadline: June 17, 2012.
  • Quick reminder that Practicing Writing is running two giveaways right now: one for Edith Pearlman’s Binocular Vision and the other for Kelly James-Enger’s Writer for Hire.
  • Split this Rock (Washington) is looking for an Assistant Director. “Split This Rock calls poets to the center of public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. From our home in the nation’s capital we celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination. All of Split This Rock’s programs are designed to integrate poetry of provocation and witness into public life and to support the poets who write and perform this critical work. Split This Rock’s cornerstone program is a national festival, held every two years in Washington, DC. The next festival is scheduled for March, 2014. We also have a robust youth program, publish poetry online, organize social justice campaigns, and present readings, workshops, and discussions year-round.”
  • The Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University (Ohio) seeks an Academic Program Coordinator to “assist…with community arts projects and general programming.”
  • PEN International (London) is looking for a Literary Manager and a Communications & Campaign Manager.
  • “Gogebic Community College [Mich.] seeks innovative, collaborative and dynamic individuals for a full-time English Faculty vacancy within the Language and Arts division to teach courses in developmental level English, Interpersonal Skills, and Composition. Opportunities to teach literature and poetry classes may be available. This tenure-track position begins in August 2012.”
  • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    Every week, I try to start us off with a fresh batch of markets, jobs, and opportunities. Always paying gigs. No submission fees. Let’s get started with this week’s offerings.

  • From Mason’s Road: “For our upcoming issue, the theme is characterization. We are looking for submissions in which characters’ voices, behaviors, and thoughts resonate and shine. While we always aim to publish the very best work that we receive, our genre editors will sift through their selections from Issue #5: Characterization to nominate their favorite for the $1,000 2012 Mason’s Road Literary Award. A special guest judge (TBA) will select the prize winner from these nominations. We have a blind submissions policy and accept work in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, drama (stage or screen), art, craft essays, and audio drama from both emerging and established writers and artists.” Deadline: May 15, 2012.
  • Ashland Creek Press is currently accepting submissions of novels, memoirs, short story collections, and essay collections on the themes of travel, the environment, ecology, and wildlife — above all, we’re looking for exceptional, well-written, engaging stories. As you’ll see from our new and forthcoming titles, we are open to many genres (young adult, mystery, literary fiction) as long as the stories are relevant to the themes listed above. At this time, however, we are not reading submissions for children’s books.
  • The Dave Greber Freelance Writers Book and Magazine Awards are for Canadian residents who work a minimum of 70 percent of their time as self-employed freelance writers. “As of 2012, the book award is valued at five thousand dollars and the magazine award is valued at two thousand dollars. Both awards are made available to freelance writers of non-fiction for social justice writing that is exceptionally well written and researched. The Book and Magazine awards provide financial support while the writer completes a book or magazine project for publication.” No entry fees indicated. Deadline: June 15, 2012.
  • The Paris Review wishes to hire a full-time assistant for our editorial, advertising, and development staffs. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: managing social networks, updating Web store, formatting and proofreading Web site, and producing newsletters. Candidates should have experience with Google Analytics, HTML, WordPress, and Excel. Experience with InDesign and SalesForce (or other fund-raising programs) a plus. In addition, candidates should have strong writing skills, an interest in the arts, lots of energy and enthusiasm, and the ability to do many things very well at once.” Job is in NYC.
  • Intriguing freelance opportunity for those in the right cities: “The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) seeks a San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston-based freelance writer to write profiles for our member site http://membercentral.aaas.org. Please have experience writing profiles and science content for a broad audience. A background or degree in journalism is preferred. A degree in science with proven writing skills will also be considered. We pay $.75/word at a maximum length of 800 words. You are required to submit a high-res digital photo (good enough for web publication) of the profile subject with your story. We pay $5 for every photo you take that we publish with the story. We accept but don’t pay for photos the profile subject gives you/us permission to use.”
  • “The University of Houston-Victoria invites applications for the position of Writer-in-Residence in the School of Arts and Sciences. The individual must have a strong publication record in creative non-fiction and be able to help us grow our Creative Writing major as well as establish a low-residency MFA. Teaching duties will include upper-division courses in creative nonfiction as well as introductory Creative Writing classes.  The School of Arts and Sciences is home to the Society for Critical Exchange, Cuneiform Press, Centro Victoria, and two internationally distributed journals: American Book Review (http://americanbookreview.org) and symploke (www.symploke.org).”
  • Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (New York) is looking for a Communications Coordinator, Infectious Diseases Society of America (Arlington, Va.) seeks a Senior Communications Specialist, and Sarabande Books, Inc., (Louisville, Ky.) is taking applications for a Director of Marketing and Development.
  • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • Brevity has announced an unusual contest, linked to the publication of A Field Guide for Immersion Writing: Memoir, Journalism, and Travel (by Robin Hemley). “For centuries writers have used participatory experience as a lens through which to better see the world at large and as a means of exploring the self. Immersion writing encompasses Immersion Memoir (in which the writer uses participatory experience to write about the Self), Immersion Journalism (in which the writer uses the Self to write about the world), and Travel Writing (a bit of both: the writer in the world and the world in the writer). Types of immersion writing within these broad categories include: the Reenactment, the Experiment, the Quest, the Investigation, and the Infiltration. Immersion, by the way, is defined as involvement in something that completely occupies all the time, energy, or concentration available. So, choose one of the immersion modes and knock yourself out, except that we are only allowing you 500 words.” Prizes: “First prize is a copy of A Field Guide for Immersion Writing: Memoir, Journalism, and Travel and $50, second prize is a signed copy of the immersive The Accidental Buddhist, and third prize is a showercap. All three winners will be published on the Brevity blog.” No entry fee. Deadline: May 11, 2012.
  • Attention, New England writers! Level Best Books is taking submissions for its tenth anthology, Best New England Crime Stories 2013: Blood Moon. Deadline: April 30, 2012. Pays: “Authors whose work is selected receive $25 and one free copy of the anthology.”
  • Earthworks Prize for Indigenous Poetry: “The Kenyon Review, in partnership with Salt Publishing, UK, and the award-winning Earthworks Book Series, announces a competition for a first or second collection of poems by an Indigenous writer. The winning volume will be published by Salt, and the winning poet will give a reading at Kenyon College and receive a $1,000 honorarium.” No entry fee indicated. Submissions during the month of August 2012.
  • Paying editorial internship with The Root, “the leading online source of news and commentary from an African-American perspective”: “The Root has openings for summer editorial interns. Duties include but are not limited to: Writing, article and photo research, online comment moderation, social media posting and curating, preparing content for publication, answering phones, answering emails, and podcast production. The internship pays $10 per hour.”
  • Utica College (N.Y.) is looking for: “One-year assistant professor starting August 2012 with the possibility of renewal. Applicants should have expertise in creative nonfiction. Candidate will teach a minimum 4 course load per semester, including two sections of freshman composition, and one section of literature every semester, and a multi-genre beginning creative writing course and a course in creative nonfiction in alternating semesters.”
  • “The Delaware College of Art and Design (http://www.dcad.edu) is accepting applications for adjunct faculty to teach Writing and Literature. Fall semester begins on August 27, 2012. Teaching assignments may be possible for subsequent semesters, depending upon enrollment. Master’s degree required.
  • Idealist.org (New York) seeks a Writer & Editor, the Association of American Medical Colleges (Washington) is looking for a Writer/Editor, and the Idaho Education Association (Boise) invites applications for a Director of Communications position.
  • Wednesday’s Web Browser for Writers

  • First, having recently met Thomas Mallon–and being a few pages into the autographed copy of Watergate that I purchased at that time–I recommend to you Nick Kocz’s Mallon/Watergate-inspired blog post.
  • Next: wise words on post-MFA life (and work) from Eric Weinstein.
  • Reading B.J. Epstein’s reflections on aspiring literary translators, I can’t help but see some parallels with the expectations often embedded among aspiring writers in MFA programs.
  • From Redux: three incredible poems by John Guzlowski. (Warning: not for the faint-hearted.)
  • Finally, and especially if you need to put a smile on your face at this particular moment, check out Jane Roper’s new book trailer. Jane’s memoir of her first three years parenting twins (Double Time) will be out in May from St. Martin’s. I’m thrilled that the next issue of The Practicing Writer will feature a Q&A with Jane. But in the meantime, go ahead–enjoy this trailer and meet the two chief inspirations behind the book.