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The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Midweek means that it’s time for us to take a look at some intriguing literary morsels discovered online over the past few days.

  • Philip Graham shares what happened when, this spring, he “decided to make going on an adventure (and writing up a two page report) a requirement for my two classes, a beginning and an advanced fiction workshop.”
  • Michael Nye explains “How I Became the Managing Editor at TMR.” (TMR=The Missouri Review)
  • Chad W. Post has some suggestions for revamping the PEN World Voices literary festival.
  • A study says that the influence of the literary canon on today’s writers is declining. Not exactly news to me since the eye-opening experience of my MFA program. But still saddening.
  • Read Maile Meloy’s short story in this week’s issue of The New Yorker; then read this Q&A with the author for background and some ideas on writing stories/writing novels.
  • And for a few laughs: Lev Raphael, with “S**t People Say to Writers.”

    • Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
  • Let’s begin this week’s batch of opportunities with a new, no-fee contest from WorkStew.com: “‘Write a letter to the bright-eyed job seeker interested in following in your footsteps. Illuminate. Opine. Advise. But do not exceed 800 words.’ So goes the official prompt for the first-ever Work Stew writing contest, which kicks off on May 1. There’s real money involved ($1,500 in prizes), so be sure to read the legalese.” Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, May 21. Judge: Pam Belluck.
  • May is an open submissions month for Graywolf Press. Please note that the press is no longer accepting first collections (poetry or short stories) through open submissions. “We will continue to accept second and subsequent collections of poetry and short stories during our open submission periods. In addition, we will continue to accept submission of novels and works of nonfiction as usual.”
  • “Emmerson Street Press is eager to read the work of the vibrant creative people that we know are out there; writers who are proud to be a part of the centuries old literary tradition; writers who have been looking for a place to have their work welcomed. We are also eager to hear from academics interested in writing an introduction (up to 1000 words) to a reprint classic. In this area we want to hear from PhD types with a passion for a specific book, author or thinker; we want to help you pass that passion on. In this area, we are also interested in translations. We are primarily interested in Canadian authors and academics, but would be willing to take on an international writer if the submission is too good to let slip by!” (via placesforwriters.com)
  • Durham University (U.K.) invites applications for its Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) fellowships. “The theme for 2013/14, for which applications are now invited, is “Light,” interpreted in its broadest sense to be of potential interest to those working in a wide range of disciplines.” Fellowships are available for 3-month periods between October 2013 and March 2014. “The IAS will cover the costs associated with the fellow travelling to Durham, UK…and will provide all fellows with an honorarium.” Applicants may be from any nationality or discipline. “Applicants may come from an academic or non-academic background (e.g. public intellectuals, artists, writers, film makers, journalists, policy makers, politicians.” No application fee. Deadline: June 17, 2012.
  • Quick reminder that Practicing Writing is running two giveaways right now: one for Edith Pearlman’s Binocular Vision and the other for Kelly James-Enger’s Writer for Hire.
  • Split this Rock (Washington) is looking for an Assistant Director. “Split This Rock calls poets to the center of public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. From our home in the nation’s capital we celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination. All of Split This Rock’s programs are designed to integrate poetry of provocation and witness into public life and to support the poets who write and perform this critical work. Split This Rock’s cornerstone program is a national festival, held every two years in Washington, DC. The next festival is scheduled for March, 2014. We also have a robust youth program, publish poetry online, organize social justice campaigns, and present readings, workshops, and discussions year-round.”
  • The Wick Poetry Center at Kent State University (Ohio) seeks an Academic Program Coordinator to “assist…with community arts projects and general programming.”
  • PEN International (London) is looking for a Literary Manager and a Communications & Campaign Manager.
  • “Gogebic Community College [Mich.] seeks innovative, collaborative and dynamic individuals for a full-time English Faculty vacancy within the Language and Arts division to teach courses in developmental level English, Interpersonal Skills, and Composition. Opportunities to teach literature and poetry classes may be available. This tenure-track position begins in August 2012.”

    • Friday Find: Hot Freelance Tips from Kelly James-Enger

    by Erika Dreifus on
    23

    The primary concerns of the Practicing Writing blog focus on the craft and business of writing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. But you’ve probably noticed that freelance writing is something of an overlapping concern here. Speaking personally, I’ve been trying to sustain a part-time freelance practice alongside my “creative” writing AND my “day job” for the past several years, and lately, I’ve been trying to take a good hard look at how I can improve it.

    All of which is by way of explaining why I’m so pleased to learn that Kelly James-Enger, another contributing editor for The Writer magazine, has published a new book: Writer for Hire: 101 Secrets for Freelance Success. And to help introduce it, Kelly is featuring a series of “Hot Freelance Tips” on her Dollars and Deadlines blog. (She was also kind enough to arrange for me to receive a complimentary review copy of Writer for Hire.)

    But wait—there’s more! Kelly has agreed to provide another free copy of her new book to one lucky Practicing Writer. All you need to do to be eligible is to read the Hot Freelance Tips and come back here to comment on this post. Please tell me (and Kelly) something you’ve learned from the tips, something they make you wonder about, or something that simply “speaks” to you when you read them.

    We’ll collect comments until through next Friday (May 11), and then the trusty random number generator will do the work of choosing a winner. Thank you for playing along!

    UPDATE: The random number generator has selected CAROL J. ALEXANDER as the giveaway winner. Carol, please email me with your mailing address and I’ll get it to Kelly ASAP. Thank you all for participating–I enjoyed (and agreed with) your comments, and I’m sure that Kelly appreciated them, too.

    Thursday’s Work-in-Progress

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Remember a few weeks ago when I outlined some of the assignments and projects that were on my to-do list? Remember how several of them had May 1 deadlines?

    Well, this week, I’m happy to report that every deadline was met.

    This week has also brought the publication of my latest micro-essay, “Comprehension,” which found a lovely home with Hippocampus Magazine. (If you haven’t already checked out the anniversary celebration on the Hippocampus site–replete with daily giveaways–go take a look.)

    And over on Fiction Writers Review (FWR), Short Story Month is in full swing. I’m proud to have led this month’s “Stories We Love” posts with some thoughts about Jack London’s “To Build a Fire.”

    Finally–and in case you missed it–this week I’ve also announced which title(s) I’ll be giving away as part of my participation in the FWR Collection Giveaway Project. I’m happy to see so much early interest.

    P.S. This week also brought my birthday. Check out the delightful illustration my niece included with the card she gave me.

    The Wednesday Web Browser for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled
    My great-grandparents, H. & K. Dreifus, the inspirations behind Karoline & Jacob Freiburg in "Matrilineal Descent." Photo © The Dreifus Family.
  • One of the reasons I love this week’s writing prompt from Midge Raymond (“Family History”) is that it essentially explains how I started writing “Matrilineal Descent,” a story that was published in TriQuarterly before it was gathered in my collection, Quiet Americans.
  • Embarrassing word-usage gaffes in The New York Times, courtesy of the newspaper itself.
  • It’s almost time for Short Story Month. Which means that there will be another Collection Giveaway Project coordinated by Fiction Writers Review.
  • Adam Mansbach’s sharp-and-funny take on book blurbs was making the rounds last week. But it’s not too late to laugh (or cringe).
  • And also for fun: Some “accidental photography” sited in New York’s beautiful Central Park, courtesy of my very own sister. (If only my purposeful photos turned out half as well as her accidental ones!) You can also find her photos on Etsy.