THE PRACTICING WRITER

Web site: http://www.practicing-writer.com "Practicing Writing" Blog: http://practicing-writing.blogspot.com

Supporting the Craft and Business of Excellent Writing

Volume 6, Number 5: June 2009

Editor: Erika Dreifus

Copyright (c) 2009 Erika Dreifus

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Editor's Note: What's New 2. Article/Lessons Learned 3. Featured Resource 4. Upcoming/Ongoing Contests, Competitions, and Other Opportunities of Interest 5. Submission Alerts!!! 6. Blog Notes 7. Around the World: Literary Event Calendar 8. Newsletter Matters

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1. EDITOR'S NOTE: WHAT'S NEW
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Hello, practicing writers:

It's June, which means that in this part of the world, anyway, the summer writing conference season is about to take off. In that spirit, I hope you'll enjoy this month's feature article, a review that will give you some glimpses into the Colgate Writers' Conference.

I've taken a few new steps with my writing practice lately, and I hope I'll be able to share some positive results soon.

In the meantime, let me wish you all a successful summer as you continue practicing writing!

All best, ERIKA

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2. ARTICLE/LESSONS LEARNED: GLIMPSING A CONFERENCE FROM AFAR
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GLIMPSING A CONFERENCE FROM AFAR *Crafting Fiction, Poetry, & Memoir: Talks from the Colgate Writers' Conference*, edited by Matthew Leone. Colgate University Press, 188 pages. Paper, $18.95

Review by Erika Dreifus

*Crafting Fiction, Poetry, & Memoir: Talks from the Colgate Writers' Conference* is a book with multiple identities. First, it pays tribute to Frederick Busch (1941-2006), the respected author and professor who established the annual writers' conference at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. At the same time, it records conference history by assembling 15 craft talks - focused presentations on writing - delivered by faculty writers: Busch's "Truth, Lies, Fact, Fiction" leads off the collection.

A perhaps unintended but no less significant quality of this book is its usefulness for novice instructors, who may wonder how on earth to construct talks themselves (this benefit may appeal especially to MFA students tasked with exactly such a requirement, as I was several years ago). Finally, and perhaps most significantly, the book inspires and instructs those who are immersed in crafting their own fiction, poetry, and memoir, bringing the experience of attending a talk directly to the reader's own living room, or wherever she may be when she reads it.

Like workshops, readings, and manuscript pitch sessions, craft talks are staples of many writing conferences. In my experience, the best ones tend to concentrate on a particular writing challenge—crafting scenes, for example. Although it's certainly possible to deliver an illuminating talk framed largely within one's own work - fans of Busch's 1999 novel, *The Night Inspector*, will surely delight in the author's focus on that opus in "Truth, Lies, Fact, Fiction" - it seems more typical for presenters to refer to and quote generously from other people's poetry and prose.

In this volume, for instance, we find Sheila Kohler's "Secrets of the Great Scene," which provides an experienced author's perspective on "the basic elements of a great scene" and detailed overview of "the great scenes we need to tell our stories" ("party scenes," "quarrel scenes," "death scenes," etc.). All of this is grounded in Kohler's extensive background as someone who reads as a writer, who seeks to learn (and to teach) by smart example: Her talk's "death scenes" section discusses Dora's death in Charles Dickens' *David Copperfield*, Felicite's demise in Gustave Flaubert's "A Simple Heart," and a canine passing in J.M. Coetzee's *Disgrace*.

Kohler's offering is among my favorites here, but the book reveals many gems. Frederick Reiken's contribution, "The Author-Narrator-Character Merge: Why Many First-Time Novelists Wind Up with Flat, Uninteresting Protagonists" takes on what anyone who has taught and/or studied fiction must acknowledge as a recurrent problem. Kerry Neville Bakken's "What We Talk about When We Talk" examines challenges in writing dialogue - and in teaching others how to write it. Jennifer Brice's "Land's End Swimsuit Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction" may sound unconventional, but it's also a very practical exploration of the varieties of creative nonfiction forms. These presentations, and others, all made me consider issues in my own writing in new and engaging ways. Time and again, too, the writing itself simply pulled me in - lively, conversational, at times self-deprecating. It's not easy to present a talk that reads well as an essay or book chapter. These writers do.

Two other standout contributions seem less focused on "solving" a specific challenge in the crafting of poetry or prose, but they similarly entertain and educate. Karen Novak's "The Secret to Getting Published; or, Not Only Will I Sleep with You, but in the Morning I Will Vacuum Your Car" combines a laugh-out-loud quality with a poignant, resonant message about the essential meaning of a writer's work: reaching readers. Leslie Epstein's "Tips" provides, as its title might suggest, a list of (mostly) short, succinct instructions: "Spell *all right* as I have here (and not *alright*). Keep commas and periods inside quotation marks; keep semicolons and colons outside, and *learn the proper usage for each.*" Matters become more complicated as the piece progresses.

Editor Matthew Leone, who directs the Colgate Writers' Conference, and all the contributors should be proud of this book. It is a fine tribute to their late colleague, their conference and their shared enterprise as writers and teachers.

(c) 2009 Erika Dreifus. A version of this review appeared in *The Writer* magazine.

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3. FEATURED RESOURCE: Craft Talks and Readings from the Colgate Writers' Conferencce
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You can watch video recordings of some craft talks and readings from recent sessions of the Colgate Writers' Conference. Just click on over to http://groups.colgate.edu/cwc/archive.html and enjoy!

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4. UPCOMING/ONGOING CONTESTS, COMPETITIONS, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITES OF INTEREST
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Bard Fiction Prize http://www.bard.edu/bfp Deadline: July 15, 2009 (received) NO APPLICATION FEE

This prize "is awarded to a promising, emerging writer who is an American citizen aged 39 years or younger at the time of application. In addition to the monetary award, the winner receives an appointment as writer in residence at Bard College for one semester, without the expectation that he or she teach traditional courses. The recipient gives at least one public lecture and meets informally with students." Must submit a published book as part of the application. Check Web site for details."

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Dogs and the Women Who Love Them True Story Contest http://www.angelanimals.net/contestrules.html Deadline: September 30, 2009 NO ENTRY FEE

"The Angel Animals Network (AAN) is accepting story submissions about dogs and the women who love them. The stories should demonstrate the benefits for a woman who fulfills a life purpose by partnering with a dog to perform extraordinary physical, emotional, or spiritual service." Grand prize of $250 and five second-place prizes of $25 will be awarded. Possible publication. For details, visit the Web site. (via PayingWriterJobs, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/payingwriterjobs)

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Esquire Fiction Contest http://www.esquire.com/fiction/fiction-contest Deadline: August 1, 2009 NO ENTRY FEE NEW COMPETITION!!!

"This contest is open to all, and the winning story will be published in a future issue of the magazine" as well as online, within "the new online home of Esquire fiction." You must base your entry on one of three titles provided within the guidelines. First prize is $2,500 and publication. Open to "legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Canada ages 16 and older at time of entry." (via Jacket Copy, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy )

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Hodson Trust-John Carter Brown Fellowship http://www.starrcenter.washcoll.edu/fellows/Hodson-Brown_Fellowship.php Deadline: July 15, 2009 NO APPLICATION FEE NEW FELLOWSHIP!!!

"The Hodson-Brown Fellowship supports work by academics, independent scholars and writers working on significant projects relating to the literature, history, culture, or art of the Americas before 1830. The fellowship is also open to filmmakers, novelists, creative and performing artists, and others working on projects that draw on this period of history." The award supports two months of research (at the John Carter Brown Library on the campus of Brown University in Providence, R.I.) and two months of writing (at the Starr Center at Washington College in Chestertown, Md.). "The stipend is $5,000 per month for a total of $20,000, plus housing and university privileges." Check the Web site for details and application instructions.

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Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center http://www.margolis.com/award Deadline: July 1, 2009 NO APPLICATION FEE

This $5,000 award - plus one month residency at the Blue Mountain Center in Blue Mountain Lake, New York - recognizes "a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humor, wisdom and concern with social justice" and is named for Richard J. Margolis, a journalist, essayist and poet "who gave eloquent voice to the hardships of the rural poor, migrant farm workers, the elderly, Native Americans and others whose voices are seldom heard." See Web site for application instructions.

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Revenge-Lit Contest http://RevengeLit.blogspot.com Deadline: June 12, 2009 NO ENTRY FEE

"To celebrate the launch of Terry Griggs's *Thought You Were Dead*, Biblioasis and Seen Reading are teaming up to help you unleash the murder we know is in your heart with our Revenge-Lit contest. Pen a flash fiction of 250 words or so (though, in truth, no one is likely to count them) on the (fictional) literary critic whose body once filled the chalk outline and what he did to get there and send it by June 12th.... The best of the entries will be published as they are received at RevengeLit.blogspot.com." Winning entry receives $100 (presumably in Canadian funds), publication in *CNQ: Canadian Notes & Queries*, and about $1,000 worth of Biblioasis books. Check the site for details.

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Sandburg-Auden-Stein Residency http://www.olivetcollege.edu/academics/pdf_docs/2011_sandburg.pdf Deadline: September 10, 2009 NO APPLICATION FEE

"During the 2011 Intensive Learning Term, the Olivet College Humanities Department will offer its fifth poet-in-residence position. The Sandburg-Auden-Stein poet will live on or near campus and teach ENG 247: Poetry Writing. The Sandburg-Auden-Stein poet will also host two public events: a public reading of his or her work and a stand-alone talk/discussion on a subject of his or her choice (publishing poetry, beat poets, def poetry, etc.)." Residency will run from late April to mid-May and confers $3,100 (plus room and board). Poets must have published at least one book of poetry to be eligible. Check the information sheet for more details and instructions.

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SPS Studios Poetry Card Contest http://www.sps.com/poetry/index.html Deadline: June 30, 2009 NO ENTRY FEE

Contest offers a first prize of $300, second prize of $150, and third prize of $50. "We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write." Multiple entries OK. Winning poems will be displayed on the SPS Web site. Check Web site for rules/more information.

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5. SUBMISSION ALERTS!!!
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*West Coast Line* is a Canadian journal welcoming submissions from June 1 to August 31. It "publishes work by writers and artists who are experimenting with or expanding the boundaries of conventional forms and contexts. We are interested in work engaged with problems of representation, race, culture, gender, sexuality, technology, media, urban/rural spaces, nature, and language. We advise those considering submitting work to first familiarize themselves with the journal, and with the work of our recent contributors." For guidelines and pay rates, visit http://www.westcoastline.ca/blog/?cat=7 .

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Also based in Canada, *Event* publishes "mainly fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction. As well, each issue contains a selection of reviews and in these we try to match book and reviewer." The journal publishes "mostly Canadian writers, but [we] are open to anyone writing in English." Does not read manuscripts in July or August (resumes in September, with another break for January and December). Pays: $22 (presumably in Canadian funds), per printed page on publication, with a minimum of $25 and maximum of $500. Visit http://www.douglas.bc.ca/visitors/event-magazine.html for more information.

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Australia-based Ilura Press is "currently accepting unsolicited novel length fiction manuscripts. Submissions will close on 30 June 2009." Learn more about Ilura Press by visiting http://www.ilurapress.com (click "submissions" for instructions).

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*Existere*, a Canadian journal, will take submissions until July 1. Publishes "exciting new works of poetry, visual poetry, short fiction, postcard fiction, photographs, art, reviews, essays, and short plays." Pays: "a small honourarium." Find out more by visiting http://www.yorku.ca/existere .

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*Saint Ann's Review* reads submissions September-July, which means you can still send work before the summer hiatus begins. Pays: $50/page of prose, $75/page of poetry, and $75/page of art, on publication, with a $100/limit per author or artist per issue. Accepts submissions via e-mail. Information: http://www.saintannsreview.com/sub/index.htm

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*Westerly* "publishes lively fiction and poetry as well as intelligent articles. *Westerly* is not a specialist academic journal but aims to generate interest in the literature and culture of Australia and its neighbouring regions." Deadline for the November issue is July 31, 2009. For guidelines and pay rates, please visit http://www.westerlycentre.uwa.edu.au/westerlymagazine/contribute (full link needed).

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*Kaleidoscope*, which "creatively focuses on the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts," seeks submissions for an issue to be published in early 2010 on "Journeys of All Kinds," with particular emphasis "on the interior ones that take place throughout life." Deadline: August 1, 2009. Pays: $10-$125. For details, visit http://www.udsakron.org/news/detail.asp?id=12 .

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*Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine* plans a fall/winter 2009 issue on "Spirits," and is taking submissions until August 31, 2009. The magazine offers "a modest honorarium" for poetry and prose. Visit http://www.etsu.edu/cass/nowandthen for more information.

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6. BLOG NOTES
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The newsletter is published just once each month, but there's *always* something new at our Practicing Writing blog: fresh market news, new contest and job listings, links to writing-related articles, newly-discovered craft and business resources, and so much more.

Here's a sampling of posts added since last month's newsletter went out:

--Monday Morning Markets/Jobs/Opportunities --Friday Find: Words of Wisdom from Tayari Jones --An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Writers Worth Day --The Wednesday Web Browser: Freelance Edition --Three Full-Text Tales for Short Story Month

Please visit, and comment! http://practicing-writing.blogspot.com

And for those of you practicing writers who are interested in matters of specifically Jewish cultural interest, please also visit My Machberet, accessible at http://machberet.blogspot.com (for the curious, "machberet" is the Hebrew word for "notebook"). Recent writing-focused posts there include:

--From My Bookshelf: The Confessions of Noa Weber, by Gail Hareven (translated by Dalya Bilu) --Notes from Around the Web --21st Annual Canadian Jewish Book Awards --Ayelet Waldman on the Meaning of Chai --Happy Birthday to Goodbye, Columbus

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7. AROUND THE WORLD: LITERARY EVENT CALENDAR
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Converse College Low-Residency MFA Program Summer Residency Public Events Spartanburg, S.C. U.S.A. May 28-June 4, 2009 http://www.converse.edu/mfa For a full list of readings, lectures, and seminars that are free and open to the public, download the list of selected programs on the program's home page.

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My Uterus, That Party Balloon: A Reading and Conversation Seattle, Wash. U.S.A. Tuesday, June 2, 2009 http://hugohouse.org/events Free.

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Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest Chicago, Ill. U.S.A. June 6-7, 2009 http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/events/printersrow/ "Admission to ALL Fest events is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Only events at Harold Washington Library Center require tickets."

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Trinity Arts Conference: "The Gift of the Unknown" Irving, Texas U.S.A. June 11-14, 2009 http://www.trinityartsconference.com Student discounts available.

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Cape Town Book Fair Cape Town South Africa June 13-16, 2009 http://www.capetownbookfair.com Reduced entry fees are available for students and pensioners.

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BooksNJ: A Celebration of Books and the Readers Who Love Them Paramus, N.J. U.S.A. Sunday, June 14, 2009 http://www.booksnj.org "The event is free and open to everyone."

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Girls Write Now (GWN) Spring Reading New York City U.S.A. Sunday, June 14, 2009 http://www.newschool.edu/eventDetail.aspx?id=28716 Free.

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Are you planning a literary event (conference, exhibition, etc.)? I'd love to feature more events (especially happenings taking place outside the United States) in this space. I'm looking especially for events that offer complimentary admission. (I can find plenty of information on those that charge registration fees on my own!) Information on fee-charging events that offer discounted admission for students will also be most welcome. Please contact me via the Practicing Writer Web site, http://www.practicing-writer.com , to let me know about your event. Thanks in advance!

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8. NEWSLETTER MATTERS
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Information contained in THE PRACTICING WRITER is collected from many sources, with the purpose of providing general references. It is researched to the best of our ability but readers should verify information when necessary and appropriate. THE PRACTICING WRITER and its editor/publisher disclaim any liability for the use of information contained within. Thank you for subscribing.

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For updates and additional opportunity listings between newsletters, please check in with our "Practicing Writing" blog: http://practicing-writing.blogspot.com.

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ABOUT THE EDITOR: Based in New York City, Erika Dreifus has published prose and poetry in dozens of magazines, journals, newspapers, and other publications. She is a Contributing Editor for *Chattahoochee Review* and for *The Writer* magazine, and has taught for Harvard University, the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Center for Adult Education, and the low-residency MFA program in creative writing at Lesley University. Please visit http://www.practicing-writer.com to learn more about Erika's work.

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