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Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Quick note: I don’t expect to be online today–I’m preparing this post ahead of time and scheduling it for “normal” publication on Yom Kippur, which this year begins at sunset Tuesday evening and ends Wednesday evening.

StaggerwingCelebrating Staggerwing

Had a terrific time Saturday evening at the launch event for Alice Kaltman’s Staggerwing. The story collection and its author were celebrated by a lively crowd at Brooklyn’s BookCourt, one of my favorite book-event venues.

I don’t think I’ve attended a bookstore reading organized quite like this one. After greeting us, Alice explained that we’d hear first from two other people–a poet friend and a brother-in-law (who happens to have “actor” in his resume)–who would each read one section from her story “The Honeymoon Suite.” After that, we’d hear Alice read a story. And then, we’d be treated to a Q&A with Alice conducted by Sara Lippmann. (Oh–complimentary wine and beer were also available.)

It worked out so well. Definitely a strategy to consider (especially if you have friends/relatives with stage presence!).
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Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

by Erika Dreifus on
2

heirloomsHeirlooms Has Arrived!

One of this week’s highlights: the arrival of my pre-ordered copy of Heirlooms, the debut collection of linked stories by my friend Rachel Hall. This is a gorgeous book (yes, go ahead and judge this one by its cover!).

You’ll discover more about Heirlooms and its wonderful author in the October issue of The Practicing Writer, which should be going out in just a couple of days. (Rachel will be the featured Q&A participant.)

In the meantime, however, I recommend that you read this terrific interview, published on Saturday over on The Rumpus. (more…)

Midweek Notes from a Practicing Writer

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

242.jpeRevision Strategy?

Several days ago, a rejection came in for one of my poems, one that I didn’t happen to have out (currently) elsewhere. This is a poem that I thought might also match well with a venue that doesn’t seem to take simultaneous submissions. So when I considered “next steps” for the poem, I went to revisit the “new” venue’s guidelines.

Which is where I saw that said venue also prefers poems no longer than 18 lines.

I’d already figured that it might be time to apply additional revision to this poem. And the fact that the poem exceeded the 18-line limit helped jump-start the process in this case.

Next time I need to revise a poem and can’t quite begin to envision how to go about it, I may use a similar approach—even if the guidelines don’t compel me to do so.

Oh—I did, then, submit the poem anew. Stay tuned for the outcome! (more…)