Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • The Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest offers 15 cash prizes totaling $3,600. Top prize is $1,500. Submit one humor poem by April 1 deadline. No entry fee.
  • “The Yiddish Book Center will award a prize of $2,500 for an outstanding new translation of Yiddish prose literature, fiction or non-fiction, that has been completed or published within the last two years. Both submissions and nominations will be accepted for consideration.Translation Prize submissions are due by May 18, 2012. The Yiddish Book Center will announce the recipients in Fall 2012.” No entry fee indicated.
  • “Talking and reading about other people’s childhoods, sadness, happiness and aspirations can help us to cope with our own ups and downs, but shared experience is seldom there to support us when our life is nearing its end or when people close to us are dying. This is why the Dying Matters Coalition is running a new creative writing competition about dying, death and bereavement. Anyone touched by dying, whether directly or as a relative, friend, colleague or carer, can enter. The judges will be looking for original writing in which the author’s feelings and thoughts about the end of life have been crafted into a succinct piece of work that attracts the reader’s attention and retains their interest.” Submissions “should be a maximum of 2,500 words of prose or 40 lines of poetry” and up to three entries may be submitted. Prizes: “1st: £200; 2nd: £100; 3rd: £50; plus highly commended certificates. All entries will also be considered for publication online or in print form.” No entry fee. Submit by March 31, 2012.
  • In case you haven’t seen it already, the March issue of The Practicing Writer is now available, with a plethora of paying calls and no-fee contests.
  • “NetGalley, a service for people who read and recommend books, is looking to add a new Reader Concierge to their existing Concierge Team. A perfect candidate will be smart, friendly, bookish, and savvy with social-media, and will be excited to handle reader support, social media outreach, and facilitate intelligent community growth….We’re looking for someone passionate about books who is a devoted digital reader, and has a solid understanding of current reading devices (and is always willing to learn!). A basic knowledge of the publishing industry and book publicity/marketing is preferred. The NetGalley team is virtual, but most of our employees are based in the NYC metro area, and extra consideration will be given to candidates in this area. We’re looking for someone available to start immediately. This is a full-time position, but we’ll consider part-time candidates (25+ hours/week) who are available every day.”
  • College of Wooster (Ohio) is hiring a Visiting Assistant Professor of English. “Three-year position in journalism and creative non-fiction. Teaching will include introductory and advanced news writing and editing, digital media, and creative non-fiction writing courses. Teaching will also include the department’s introductory course in textual and cultural interpretation, as well as participation in the College’s independent study program and interdisciplinary First-Year Seminar. Ability to offer courses in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies desirable. The teaching load is five courses per year in addition to directing senior theses.”
  • Edge Hill University (U.K.) seeks a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. “This is an opportunity for a fiction-writer with substantial experience in Higher Education. You will provide expert teaching in a variety of modes, including writing workshops, tutorials and online interaction, and facilitate student work in a range of different media.”
  • Coventry University (U.K.) also seeks a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in English (Creative Writing).
  • Swarthmore College (Penn.) is looking for a Writer/Editor, Dallas County Community College District seeks a Web Writer/Editor, and University of Chicago (Medical Center Development) invites applications for a position as Senior Writer.
  • Thursday’s Work-in-Progress: Four Fun Facts About My Year in Jewish Books

    Earlier this week, I wrote about “My Year in Jewish Books” on my “other” blog (which is called “My Machberet” and features news and notes on matters of specifically Jewish literary and cultural interest). But as a practicing writer who knows how significant reading is to the vigor of her writing practice–not to mention as a practicing writer who frequently writes reviews of Jewish-themed books as part of that practice–I’m going to devote this “Work-in-Progress” post on Practicing Writing to some observations based on my analysis of that list of 18 titles.

    1) I’m doing OK–could be better, but could also be much worse–when it comes to reading books in translation. We all know about that unpleasant “three percent” figure, right? Well, four of the 18 titles on my list–that makes about 22 percent–were books in translation. I don’t think that the relatively healthy connection between Jewish literature and literature in translation is incidental. I do think that when you belong to a diaspora culture, and you’re drawn to certain books accordingly, you’re going to be reading books that were written originally in different languages.

    2) I purchased way more books than I thought I had. I live in a New York City apartment, and I receive a lot of free books as review copies. I’m also a regular visitor to the public library. I had begun to believe that I was not, in fact, as conscientious a book-buyer as I should be. I am frankly a bit surprised by the fact that I purchased so many of the titles on this list (basically half of them). Maybe the fact that several were Kindle purchases–and therefore not visible in my office or on my nightstand–has something to do with my surprise here. Keep in mind, again, that these are by no means all the books I bought this year. They’re only all the books on Jewish themes that I bought for myself. That leaves out all the books that I purchased as gifts, and all the books that I didn’t necessary consider to be “Jewish.”

    3) Unsurprisingly, I am still reading quite a lot about the Holocaust. More than half of the books on this list deal with the Holocaust and/or its after-effects in some way. I should have more to say about this–especially given that I’m still thinking about Daphne Merkin’s recent reflections on Holocaust-related films. But for the moment, I’ll just let the fact sit there.

    4) Without additional analysis, I can’t really know the extent to which all of my “Jewish” reading reflects my habits more generally. But here is how the genre distribution works out here: Novels on this list: 10 (56 percent); Memoirs/memoiristic essays: 2 (11 percent). Other nonfiction: 2 (11 percent). Poetry collections: 2 (11 percent). Graphic novels/books for young readers: 1 (5.5 percent). Short-story collections on this list: 1 (5.5 percent–appalling, but I suspect that here, at least, the stats would be better for the “non-Jewish” reading list. I read at least six other collections this year.)

    Have I inspired any of you to review your own reading for the year? If you’re inclined to write up any similar post(s) for yourself, please be sure to share the link(s) in comments. I’d love to come by and read what you have to say.

    The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

  • Literary translator Peter Constantine describes his current work: translating early Chekhov stories.
  • Five “quick and dirty” submission tips from a lit-mag editor.
  • Lots of writers I know love The Sun, so I suspect that many of you will appreciate this interview with the magazine’s managing editor, Tim McKee. (via Leslie Pietrzyk)
  • Counsel on clips from freelancing expert Linda Formichelli.
  • I’ll be investigating this “Ultimate List of Twitter Tools.” (via @davidbcrowley)
  • And I’m bookmarking these “simple writing exercises” from Brian Klems.
  • Earlier this week I blogged about “My Year in Jewish Books” on my other blog (My Machberet, which focuses on matters of Jewish literary and cultural interest). Stay tuned for a “meta-post” in which I reflect on that post’s revelations.
  • Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

  • Special call for ghost stories written by women. “An anonymous flesh and blood patron of the arts has offered a $100 prize for a ghost story written by a woman. Here is what she writes: “Ghosts are with us all year round and in this season of mists they call for particular attention. I leave the definition of ‘ghost story’ up to the author and look forward to the many embodiments and disembodiments of this theme. Preferred length 1000 to 3000 words, but stories of any length may be submitted.” One submission per author. NB: “Simultaneous submissions and previously published stories are okay, but please mention that in your submission. The winning story will be offered non-obligatory publication on the Glass Woman Prize page. There is no reading fee.” Deadline: November 18, 2011. (via Duotrope.com)
  • “Diamond Light Source is the UK national synchrotron facility – a 562m particle accelerator nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside. Diamond generates incredibly bright light from infra-red to X-rays and is used by thousands of scientists every year to study all kinds of materials, from artificial hips and samples of the Mary Rose to virus proteins and potential new fuel sources.  To introduce Diamond to a wider audience we are running a short story competition, Light Reading. The rules are simple: we’re inviting you to submit a story of up to 3,000 words inspired by Diamond – the facility, the science and the people.” Cash prizes (£500/£300/£125). There is no entry fee. Deadline: November 30, 2011. NB: Check the guidelines carefully, and see as well the information on a complementary flash fiction competition. (via Pamelyn Casto’s Flash Fiction Flash Newsletter)
  • “The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute is pleased to announce the third annual competition to translate a book on a topic that deals in a significant way with Jews and gender. Applications will be accepted from both authors and/or translators, and are due by November 16, 2011. Decisions will be announced by February 16, 2012.” No application fee. Download guidelines here.
  • Wesleyan University (Conn.) is looking for an Editor/New Media Writer, The University of San Francisco seeks a Copywriter/Feature and News Writer, and The Writers Guild of America, East, Inc. (New York) is advertising for a part-time Online Communications and Web Manager.
  • “The Department of Writing, Literature & Publishing at Emerson College [Mass.] seeks to fill the position of Department Chair, with the appointment at senior rank depending on experience and qualifications. The appointment begins August 15, 2012.”
  • “The English Department at The University of Texas at Austin wishes to appoint a distinguished senior scholar or creative writer to the J.R. Millikan Centennial Professorship in English Literature. All areas of specialization are open. Ph.D. or terminal degree in field preferred. Duties include undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, publication, and service. Salary will be commensurate with achievements.”
  • “The Jackson Center for Creative Writing at Hollins University [Va.] invites applications for an endowed distinguished professorship in creative writing to begin July 2012. This is a one-year, visiting, full-time, renewable position. The distinguished professor will teach a 2-2 load, including mixed-genre advanced seminars in creative writing, focused graduate tutorials, and graduate and undergraduate thesis direction. Additional responsibilities include full participation in the co-curricular and admission activities in support of Hollins’ MFA creative writing program. Qualified candidates should be accomplished fiction writers with several published books.”
  • “The English Department of Butler University in Indianapolis seeks to fill a full-time, tenure-track position in Creative Writing at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2012. Primary qualifications in prose (fiction and/or nonfiction), with secondary qualifications desirable in one or more of the following: screenwriting, genre fiction, game design and narrative, digital literature and/or publishing, science/health/environmental writing for the public, graphic novel.”
  • Pittsburg State University (Kansas) seeks an Assistant Professor of English. “To teach four courses/semester: fiction writing, craft of fiction, introduction to creative writing, literature, and composition.”
  • West Chester University (Penn.) is advertising for a tenure-track assistant professor (creative writing-fiction). “There is a four course teaching responsibility per semester, with two courses per semester in general education writing.”
  • Princeton University (N.J.) seeks “potential” part-time lecturers in fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and literary translation.
  • Griffith University (Australia) is looking for a Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literary Studies (poetry specialist).
  • “The Department of English at Sam Houston State University [Texas] invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of associate or assistant professor with a primary emphasis in creative writing poetry. A secondary emphasis in creative nonfiction is preferred. An MFA is required.”
  • From Francis Marion University (S.C.): “The Department of English, Modern Languages, and Philosophy is accepting applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor.” What they’re looking for: “Writing specialist with interest in creative non-fiction and business/professional writing. Experience teaching first-year writing required.”
  • “The Department of English at the University of Massachusetts Lowell seeks an energetic and collaborative colleague for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professorship in Creative Writing–Non-Fiction.”
  • The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

  • Fascinating essay by Jennifer Solheim on “polyphony and its translation” in Nathacha Appanah’s The Last Brother. (See my much less ambitious but equally enthusiastic take on The Last Brother here.)
  • Stuart Nadler reflects on the stories that did not make it into his collection, The Book of Life.
  • Another excellent writing prompt from Midge Raymond.
  • And there’s an intriguing exercise embedded within this Q&A between Deborah Treisman and David Long, too. (Long is the author of this week’s short story in The New Yorker.)
  • A routine visit to the Wordamour blog brought not only a new post to read but also a surprise gift: a lovely microreview of Quiet Americans!
  • Need some humor in your day? Check out this book trailer, featuring Julie Klam and Timothy Hutton.