Much as I love Lisa Romeo’s idea of an annual “I Did It” list to summarize my writing year, I’m going to kick it back old-school here and simply list a few professional highs–and not-so-highs–that I will remember about 2013. (more…)
Over on Grub Street Daily, Becky Tuch has a post about something we’ve surely all been noticing: “Increasingly, it’s the norm for lit mags to charge reading fees, anything from $2 to $5, in some cases $20 or more.” Tuch references a related Writer’s Relief post on “Literary Journals, ‘Reading Fees’, and You” and then shares what she discovered when she looked for what other writers are saying about the subject. “Are writers paying these fees? Are they resisting them? Why? Why not?” She collected a range of responses, which you can read for yourself.
The end of Tuch’s post asks: “What do you think, dear hardworking writer? Is it fair to have to pay to play? Will all lit mags eventually charge reading fees? Will you never pay?”
I was tempted to post a comment, but the comments were closed when I last checked. So here’s my response: (more…)
Auntie Erika can always be counted on to bestow books as gifts when it’s holiday time. This year’s family Hanukkah party–held slightly belatedly this past weekend, proved no exception.
What was really wonderful, though, was the overall success of my book choices. Some years, it seems that my selections are more miss than hit. This year, however, I’d say most of the choices were exceptionally well received.
Case in point: The Top 10 Everything in Sports, published by Sports Illustrated for Kids. Copies went to the 9-year-old and the 8-year-old in our group (but as you can see below, the 12-year-old was equally intrigued).
Also popular picks this year: Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Wait Till Next Year (for the aforementioned 12-year-old) and 100 Most Disgusting Things on the Planet, by Anna Claybourne, for the seven-year-old and the six-year-old (thanks to my sister for the recommendation of this one).
Which books are you gifting to the young people in your life this year?
This evening brings the conclusion of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
Two years ago, I was privileged to have a short story included on National Public Radio’s “Hanukkah Lights” broadcast. That story, “Fidelis,” was on my mind last week when I caught this article in The New York Times Magazine about a World War II battle (Tarawa) that is central to it.
“Fidelis” is still available online, if you wish to listen to it. It’s the fourth of the four stories in the 2011 broadcast.
Among the things I’m grateful for in the writing realm as Thanksgiving approaches is a brand-new, first-time byline in The Washington Post. I deeply appreciate the opportunity I had to review a new historical novel, Rhidian Brook’s The Aftermath, as well as the expert editing my work received from Ron Charles before publication last week.
I was drawn to the book in part due to my abiding interest in fiction that involves aspects of World War II, and in part due to my ever-increasing interest in fiction written by grandchildren of those whose lives were dramatically influenced by those historical events. In this case, as mentioned in the review, Brook drew the novel’s storyline from his own grandfather’s British military service in postwar Germany.
I hope that you’ll read and enjoy the review. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone all of this blog’s readers who celebrate it. And if you’d care to share a comment regarding something in your writing practice that you are thankful for, I’d love to read it.