Posts Tagged‘Work-in-Progress’

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Wednesday’s WIP: All Together Now, Or A Completed Essay Sequence

by Erika Dreifus on
4

SU13_coverLast week brought the release of my essay “Lucky Day” in Proto magazine, which is published by Massachusetts General Hospital. The essay is part of the magazine’s “First Person” series, which “originates at the other end of the stethoscope, presenting essays and commentary from patients, consumers and other medical outsiders.”

“Lucky Day” is the fourth essay to be published in what I call my “Sunday in the City” sequence. I’ve mentioned this sequence before. Now, and with thanks to all of the editors who have made this possible, I’d like to present the essays in chronological order–not chronological in terms of either their composition or their publication dates–but rather chronologically insofar as the reader encounters them in a linear way, moving directly forward through the events described:

  • “Sunday in the City,” carte blanche, Fall 2012
  • “Lucky Day,” Proto, Summer 2013
  • “Before Sunrise,” Brevity, March 2013
  • “At the Station House,” Contrary, Summer 2013

    • Yes, there’s one more essay idea that I’ve toyed with that might belong here. But for now, at any rate, I think that the series is complete. Perhaps you will agree.

    P.S. At long last, I’ve attempted to (re)organize my website’s nonfiction writing page. Thoughts or suggestions?

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Negative Reviews on the Brain

    by Erika Dreifus on
    7

    Thumbs_down_smiley2On my mind lately: negative reviews.

    The topic came up during my recent visit to the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program, not just within the book-reviewing discussions I had with students, but also in a presentation by another faculty member, who told us that he was fired from one of his freelancing gigs (as a food critic) after negatively reviewing a restaurant whose ad dollars helped fund the publication he was writing for.

    It came up again when I returned home and discovered a new, negative (two-star) review of Quiet Americans on Goodreads (go ahead and look for it if you want to). I didn’t mind quite so much the disdainful adjectives the reviewer applied to my writing style–everyone’s entitled to an opinion–but I was bothered (and stunned, really) by one other judgment about its substance. If I were to engage with the reviewer (which I won’t; we all know authors should NOT follow that understandable impulse), I would ask for some specifics. That’s one thing about negative reviews–it’s especially frustrating when the reviewers don’t provide details, examples, or other evidence to support their arguments. It’s not all that dissimilar from getting a negative workshop critique that offers painfully little (if anything) to help you understand what, exactly, the critiquer objects to.

    And then, last week, I read a negative review that seemed exemplary: sensitive, thoughtful, detailed, and evidenced. Read it here, and be sure to read through to the end, which offers some powerful closing lines (yes, I’m always reading as a writer!).

    Meantime, just this past Monday, David Abrams’s always-interesting Quivering Pen blog presented, as part of its “My First Time” series, a guest post by Doreen McGettigan on her first bad review. Which brought back memories of my own similarly-themed “My First Punch-in-the-Gut Review” for the same feature.

    So, yes, I have negative reviews on the brain. Any thoughts on the subject or relevant links you care to share?

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Visiting the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program

    by Erika Dreifus on
    5

    IMG_0325One week ago, I was on my way to the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program in Washington state. It was a quick trip (I was back in New York City Sunday morning) but a glorious one.

    I taught two classes on Thursday afternoon and two on Friday. I attended a student reading one evening and on another, an alumni association fundraiser that featured both alumni readers and guest faculty Rikki Ducornet. I enjoyed so many conversations with students, alumni, and faculty (all of whom impressed me as smart, generous, and incredibly hard-working). And I was lucky enough to stay long enough to attend the beautiful graduation ceremony on Sunday.

    In addition to all of that, I got to soak in the scenery. My photos don’t really do the place justice–but I hope that you’ll get a sense of the beauty and inspiration that surrounded me. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. (more…)

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Updates Galore

    by Erika Dreifus on
    3

    A few bits of news to share this week:

  • Remember when I told you that I was about to submit a poetry chapbook manuscript to a contest for the very first time? Well, I’m overjoyed to share that the manuscript has reached quarterfinalist status! The news really made my day last Wednesday when it was announced. Obviously, I’m hoping that the manuscript makes it to the next (semifinalist) stage, too. But even if it doesn’t, I have gained such a sense of validation in the work. For that, I am so grateful.
  • Today I’m on my way to the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program‘s August residency, where I’ll be teaching seminars on freelancing, character development, and short-story collection structuring. I’m honored to have this opportunity and eager to get my first-ever glimpse of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
  • And speaking of fiction/short stories, may I recommend that you short story writers consider pre-ordering the 2014 Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market? I won’t get any commission, but you will get to see my article on “Habits of Highly Successful Short Story Writers” within. More about that (and public thanks to my interviewees) when I’m able to get my hands on a final copy of the book, myself.

    • I’m not sure what my Internet situation will be like while I’m away at the residency, so I’m taking a brief hiatus from blogging until I get back. (Don’t worry–when I say “brief” I mean “brief”–you’ll see me back here on Monday morning!) Have a great several days, everyone.

    Some of the scenery I can look forward to! (photo from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts Facebook page)
    Some of the scenery I can look forward to! (photo from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts Facebook page)

    Wednesday’s WIP: Notes on Fallen Idols

    by Erika Dreifus on
    7

    1. I am unabashedly stealing the structure of this post from Daniel Nester, who is currently posting “99 Days of Notes” on his site. All last week, I was especially moved by the several Notes on Grief. You can find links to each post in the series and read all about the project right here.

    2. I’m hoping that this format will help me say something at least semi-cogent regarding Margo Rabb’s essay, “Fallen Idols,” which appeared in last Sunday’s New York Times Book Review.

    2a. Rabb’s essay evoked many thoughts, only some of which I’ll attempt to articulate here.

    2b. I’ve never met or corresponded with Margo Rabb, but I admire and have often recommended her short story “How to Tell a Story.”

    3. “Fallen Idols” essentially presents us with exemplary instances of disillusionment resulting from discoveries that esteemed authors have flaws.

    3a. The essay begins with Rabb’s own admiration for Rainer Maria Rilke; having Googled him, Rabb discovers enough to make her wonder, “How could the kind prophet whose lengthy passages I’d copied into my teenage diary be a selfish, sycophantic, womanizing rat?” (more…)