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Friday Finds for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.

  • Let’s begin with an item from ASJA’s “The Word” blog, in which freelancer Margie Goldsmith tells us “How to Conduct a Successful Interview.”
  • Next up: “The more I looked at stories where I’d never read past page one, the more I realized how many of them lacked clarity. Even as I read, I never really knew what was going on. Or I couldn’t keep the characters straight. Or I couldn’t picture the physical details being thrown my way. And this lack of clarity was preventing me from being engrossed enough to turn the page.” So writes Robin Black, in a terrific (and for this practicing writer, wonderfully timely) “rerun” Beyond the Margins post on story beginnings.
  • “What’s the state of American fiction today? VPR Presents Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles. He speaks at the Vermont College of Fine Arts with VCFA President, Thomas Greene, about the decision not to award a Pulitzer Prize for fiction last year, how books are selected for review, and why people really read ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’.” I’m setting aside some time this weekend to listen.
  • This will also require some sustained attention: a list of the 20 most popular freelancing-related posts of the year (so far) on Carol Tice’s blog.
  • Finally, I’m very proud of this piece, “Remembering Munich, in Fact and Fiction,” which went live on The Forward‘s Arty Semite blog yesterday. The “fiction” in question is my own (“Homecomings,” a story in Quiet Americans). I may have more to say about this post next week. For now, I’ll just be grateful if you read it.

    • Have a great weekend, all. See you back here on Monday.

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • Reminder from Ploughshares: “Our submission manager is open. In addition to stories, poems, and essays, we are also looking for longer work (Pshares Singles) and literary essays. Pshares Singles is our new e-book series for pieces from 6,000 to 25,000 words. Our literary essay series (called Look2) will begin in the Fall issue with an essay on John Neihardt by the novelist and screenwriter Barry Gifford. If you have a beloved author you would like to share with others, our critical essay query guidelines are here.” NB: There’s a fee for using the submission manager, which is waived for subscribers and can be avoided by submitting via postal mail.
  • “A Blade of Grass is seeking bloggers! We are looking for exceptional bloggers of all backgrounds to write posts that speak to our mission and support the work that we do as an organization. ABLOG (http://www.abladeofgrass.org/blog) aims to engage its readers through writing that is conversational, informal, non-academic and incorporates images. We are a non-profit arts organization that focuses on art and social change. We give grants to organizations and individual artists who are working in this vein. We also organize public programs that address issues of social engagement, collaboration and public space.” Pays: “Compensation: $100 per approved post.”
  • “A brand new Latin food site is seeking writers/contributors to pitch articles surrounding recipes, chefs, entertaining ideas, how-to’s, food travel and more. Writers must have experience in the food space and be able to quickly turn around copy for accepted pitches. Writers will be paid $40-50 per post, based on length & experience.”
  • “The Department of Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured position in Creative Writing. The Department is seeking a poet with secondary expertise in fiction, non-fiction, cross-genre, and/or other media (for example, journalism, book arts, performance, internet publishing), with an ability to teach both poetry and fiction at the intermediate and advanced undergraduate level. We seek a writer who will participate fully in our undergraduate program while also helping us to envision an innovative future in our Literature graduate program.”
  • Heyday Books (Berkeley, Calif.) is looking for an Assistant to the Publisher/Development Associate, the Poetry Society (London) seeks an Education Manager, and Poets & Writers magazine (New York) is advertising for a Production Editor.

    • Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    6

    For the weekend: some writing-related reflections, news, and resources to enjoy.

  • First up: Some marvelous items produced in connection with the latest Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing program residency. I recommend that you spend a good chunk of time with Patrick Ross’s “MFA Nugget: An Entire MFA in Writing Residency in One Post” (warning: you’ll actually end up reading more than one post) and with new graduate Sarah Seltzer’s graduation speech.
  • Still thinking about the fact that there was no Pulitzer awarded in fiction this year? So is one of the fiction jurors. Check out Michael Cunningham’s two-part commentary for The New Yorker.
  • Making the Internet rounds: Patrick Somerville’s Salon essay titled “Thank You for Killing My Novel” (subtitle: “The New York Times panned my book, then had to correct the review to fix all their errors. So why am I not angry?”)
  • As usual, I find myself agreeing with much of what Carol Tice shares in “5 Stupid Things You Do in Social Media that Brand You a Pariah.” (Numbers 1 and 5 happen to irk me especially, too.)

  • Last, but definitely, definitely not least: Algonquin Books presents its fall 2012 “Reader,” comprising brief introductions to (and excerpts from) the publisher’s forthcoming fiction titles. The introductions, which explain the genesis of each book, are written by the respective authors. I’m always fascinated by the origins of others’ fiction, so this would have pulled me in even if I didn’t already admire Algonquin’s list and didn’t know some of the authors represented this fall. Side note: If you’re looking for a forthcoming title for your book-reviewing practice, you may well find one here.

    • Have a great weekend, everyone. See you back here on Monday!

    Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee contests/competitions and paying gigs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • Let’s begin with the Six-Word Story Prize! “Fleeting Magazine is looking for the best six-word story in the world. In return, we’re offering a stay at The Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan, where Hemingway bet the Round Table, “I can write a story in six-words.” You can send up to five six-word stories (no entry fee). Deadline: September 30, 2012. NB: “The winner’s room must be booked in arrangement with Fleeting Magazine within a year of the closing date. Alternatively, it may be exchanged for cash: £100 ($160 /€130). By entering the competition, you give permission for your name and six-word story to be used by Fleeting Magazine and other publications.”
  • Anthology call: “Margaret River Press invites short fiction, poetry, photo essays and creative nonfiction submissions that illuminate the theme of ‘fire’. The anthology seeks works that illustrate experiences of and relationships to fire: its destructive, creative and redemptive powers, its social impact, its cultural and ecological role, its terror, symbolism and its beauty.” Deadline: August 31, 2012. Pays: “Payment is a flat fee of AUD$200 for fiction and creative non-fiction works, $150 for photo essays and poetry for both Australian print rights and International Digital rights, plus a contributor’s copy of the print edition.”
  • From WritersWeekly.com: “We’re out of features! We pay $60 for around 600 words; non-exclusive electronic rights only. Our guidelines are here: http://www.writersweekly.com/index-markets.htm.”
  • From Persea Books: “We have a longstanding commitment to publishing extraordinary contemporary poetry and maintain an active poetry program. Although our program is small, we are always on the lookout for a poet we simply must publish. Currently, our open submission period for poetry is the month of July: any submissions sent must have a July postmark.”
  • Northumbria University (U.K.) seeks a Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Creative Writing.
  • Oklahoma State University is advertising a “tenured or tenure-track open rank position in Poetry.”
  • WRITE BOSTON, an organization within the Boston Redevelopment Authority, is looking for a Part-Time Writing Coach.
  • Los Angeles-based job: “Zócalo Public Square, a Koreatown-based non-profit that blends live events and digital ideas journalism, seeks a smart, ambitious, intellectually curious Editorial/Events Coordinator to help plan events, handle logistics, conduct outreach, manage the office, and proofread and post editorial content on our website.”
  • “The MFA Program for Writers located at Warren Wilson College (N.C.) seeks candidates for the position of Project Manager/Web Manager. The person in this full-time, twelve-month position performs a wide range of duties requiring computer/technical, organizational, customer service expertise in service of the MFA students, faculty, alumni, and prospective students, under the supervision of the Assistant to the Director. She/he maintains the MFA Program’s website as well as the alumni (Friends of the Writers) website; she/he hires and supervises the undergraduate crew; as the Program’s liaison with vendors, she/he develops and negotiates contracts; she/he aids in the production of semi-annual residency session. Among the his/her major duties beyond the maintenance of the websites are the management of the websites are the management of the application process annually, and the compilation, and the compilation and production of student manuscript books for the residency.”

    • Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress: Habits of a (Slightly More) Productive Writer

    by Erika Dreifus on
    8

    I’ve discerned a couple of trends in my writing practice over the past couple of weeks.

    First, I’ve been getting up earlier each weekday, and sneaking in either a) more writing before I leave for the day job or b) a workout at the gym before the same. Both activities seem to be boosting my mood and energy level. I feel as though I’ve accomplished something important for myself before heading off to the land of 9 to 5. (Please remind me that I wrote this if and when I slip back into less-productive habits.)

    Slightly more interesting, or at least unexpected, is the extent to which I’ve been taking to heart from Midge Raymond’s Everyday Writing: Tips and Prompts to Fit Your Regularly Scheduled Life. (more…)