I was doing some research into literary journals and found this hilarious and sweet “remembrance” by George Saunders about getting published early in his career in Quarterly West:
“Publication in Quarterly West was a huge and defining moment for me because it meant that, to somebody out there, I was making sense. I was not making sense to my boss, or to the co-worker who came in every day at precisely 5 p.m., when I was trying to get in my half hour of writing before the bus came, to tell me, again and again, in agonizing detail, the life story of Louis L'Amour, and I was starting to not even make sense to myself. And then, from Utah, a place where I had once been back when I did make sense to myself a hitchhiking young moron a` la Kerouac came this reassuring and sane voice, speaking to me as if I had not only made sense, but a unique kind of sense, the kind of sense they were looking for, a kind of sense they hadn't heard before but liked.”
Read the whole (short) piece here.
And if you’re in the DC area, be sure to buy your tickets now for Saunders’ appearance—with Susan Orlean—in the PEN/Faulkner Reading Series on February 1, 2010.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Art Club of Washington Welcomes J.C. Hallman on October 8
DC poet Sandra Beasley is someone who’s always moving amidst a flurry of excitement, whether it’s listening to a cappella Romeos as recounted in her recent and wonderful XX Files column in the Washington Post Magazine, winning prestigious awards for her poetry, or organizing fabulous events…in this case, a great program at the warm and welcoming Arts Club of Washington.
Here’s Sandra’s enticing description:
“Please join us on Thursday, October 8, as we welcome J. C. Hallman for a dual-genre evening that shows off the breadth of this versatile and acclaimed author. We will hear an excerpt from Hallman's short story collection THE HOSPITAL FOR BAD POETS; we will also "flirt with the masters" of literary criticism in celebration of his just-released anthology THE STORY ABOUT THE STORY: Great Writers Explore Great Literature.
“The reading will begin at 7 PM, and will be followed by our customary light reception and booksigning. It is free and open to all--I urge you to come, bring a friend, and spread the word.”
And here are the more formal details:
Thursday, October 8, 2009 - 7 p.m.
The Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I Street NW
Free and open to the public, reception to follow.
J. C. HALLMAN studied at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins, and he has since taught widely. His nonfiction combines memoir, history, journalism, and travelogue; previous books include The Chess Artist and The Devil is a Gentleman. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
THE HOSPITAL FOR BAD POETS (Milkweed Editions), considers the ways in which scholarship and pop culture inform ordinary lives. In the title story, an unnamed poet is taken to Nietzsche's hospital for bad poets after collapsing—and is given Rilke and oxygen to remedy his chronic acuteness. Publisher’s Weekly said “Hallman's clever debut collection … invites the reader into ordinary homes and heads before dropping sly twists of the surreal to examine contemporary culture.”
THE STORY ABOUT THE STORY (Tin House Books) anthologizes writer-on-writer reviews by such luminaries as Woolf and Nabokov in hopes of inspiring a school of “creative criticism.” As Michael Dirda observed, “We read books not from obligation but for pleasure, for mental excitement, for what A.E. Housman called the tingle at the back of the neck…. J. C. Hallman has gathered love letters, exuberant appreciations, confessions of envy and admiration. In these pages some of our finest writers stand up and testify to the power of literature to shake and shape our very souls.”
THE ARTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON is at 2017 I Street NW, near Foggy Bottom/GWU and Farragut West metro. Headquartered in the James Monroe House, a National Historic Landmark, the Club was founded in 1916 and is the oldest non-profit arts organization in the city. The Club’s mission is to foster public appreciation for the arts through educational programs that include literary events, art exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances.
For more information:
sandrabeasley@earthlink.net
www.artsclubofwashington.org
Here’s Sandra’s enticing description:
“Please join us on Thursday, October 8, as we welcome J. C. Hallman for a dual-genre evening that shows off the breadth of this versatile and acclaimed author. We will hear an excerpt from Hallman's short story collection THE HOSPITAL FOR BAD POETS; we will also "flirt with the masters" of literary criticism in celebration of his just-released anthology THE STORY ABOUT THE STORY: Great Writers Explore Great Literature.
“The reading will begin at 7 PM, and will be followed by our customary light reception and booksigning. It is free and open to all--I urge you to come, bring a friend, and spread the word.”
And here are the more formal details:
Thursday, October 8, 2009 - 7 p.m.
The Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I Street NW
Free and open to the public, reception to follow.
J. C. HALLMAN studied at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins, and he has since taught widely. His nonfiction combines memoir, history, journalism, and travelogue; previous books include The Chess Artist and The Devil is a Gentleman. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
THE HOSPITAL FOR BAD POETS (Milkweed Editions), considers the ways in which scholarship and pop culture inform ordinary lives. In the title story, an unnamed poet is taken to Nietzsche's hospital for bad poets after collapsing—and is given Rilke and oxygen to remedy his chronic acuteness. Publisher’s Weekly said “Hallman's clever debut collection … invites the reader into ordinary homes and heads before dropping sly twists of the surreal to examine contemporary culture.”
THE STORY ABOUT THE STORY (Tin House Books) anthologizes writer-on-writer reviews by such luminaries as Woolf and Nabokov in hopes of inspiring a school of “creative criticism.” As Michael Dirda observed, “We read books not from obligation but for pleasure, for mental excitement, for what A.E. Housman called the tingle at the back of the neck…. J. C. Hallman has gathered love letters, exuberant appreciations, confessions of envy and admiration. In these pages some of our finest writers stand up and testify to the power of literature to shake and shape our very souls.”
THE ARTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON is at 2017 I Street NW, near Foggy Bottom/GWU and Farragut West metro. Headquartered in the James Monroe House, a National Historic Landmark, the Club was founded in 1916 and is the oldest non-profit arts organization in the city. The Club’s mission is to foster public appreciation for the arts through educational programs that include literary events, art exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances.
For more information:
sandrabeasley@earthlink.net
www.artsclubofwashington.org
Fitzgerald Conference on October 17
Who could not love a writing conference named for Fitzgerald? Here’s an excellent event to add to your calendar:
Fitzgerald Conference Offers Unique Opportunity for Writers
According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Action is Character.” Now, 113 years after the great American author’s birth, many writers will put their character in action by registering for 14th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference in Rockville, Maryland. You can too.
The conference takes place on Saturday, October 17.
The Fitzgerald conference offers the unique opportunity for writers to hone their craft in top-notch workshops, and then listen to the masters who already have.
Julia Alvarez is this year’s honoree. Alvarez excels in multiple fields of writing: storybooks for children, young adult books, nonfiction, poetry — and most notably, novels. She is best known for her critically acclaimed novels How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. More recent fiction includes Return to Sender and Saving the World.
Alvarez joins a diverse and prestigious list of honorees, including John Updike, Norman Mailer, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Ernest J. Gaines, Edward Albee, William Styron, John Barth, Grace Paley, Pat Conroy, Jane Smiley, William J. Kennedy, and most recently, Elmore Leonard.
Azar Nafisi, best known for her national bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books, will share her experiences teaching The Great Gatsby in Tehran.
Pulitzer-prize winner Henry Allen will moderate a panel discussion on Literary Border Crossings. The panel will include authors H.G. Carillo (Loosing my Espanish) and Olga Grushin (The Dream Life of Sukhanov).
In addition to talks from these masters, writers attending the conference will participate in writing workshops led by top-notch professionals, including editors of literary journals, authors of books, writing instructors, publishers, and others involved with the art and industry of writing. Workshop topics include short story, novel, poetry, screenplay adaptation, voice, writing for children, and more.
Adding flavor to this year’s international theme, coffee from Julia Alvarez’s own coffee farm in Dominican Republic has been generously donated by Vermont Coffee Company, and the lunch menu features a selection of international cuisine.
Learn more about the conference—and register now—at the conference website, where you can find a complete schedule of the day’s activities: www.peerlessrockville.org/FSF.
Fitzgerald Conference Offers Unique Opportunity for Writers
According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Action is Character.” Now, 113 years after the great American author’s birth, many writers will put their character in action by registering for 14th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference in Rockville, Maryland. You can too.
The conference takes place on Saturday, October 17.
The Fitzgerald conference offers the unique opportunity for writers to hone their craft in top-notch workshops, and then listen to the masters who already have.
Julia Alvarez is this year’s honoree. Alvarez excels in multiple fields of writing: storybooks for children, young adult books, nonfiction, poetry — and most notably, novels. She is best known for her critically acclaimed novels How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. More recent fiction includes Return to Sender and Saving the World.
Alvarez joins a diverse and prestigious list of honorees, including John Updike, Norman Mailer, E.L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Ernest J. Gaines, Edward Albee, William Styron, John Barth, Grace Paley, Pat Conroy, Jane Smiley, William J. Kennedy, and most recently, Elmore Leonard.
Azar Nafisi, best known for her national bestseller Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books, will share her experiences teaching The Great Gatsby in Tehran.
Pulitzer-prize winner Henry Allen will moderate a panel discussion on Literary Border Crossings. The panel will include authors H.G. Carillo (Loosing my Espanish) and Olga Grushin (The Dream Life of Sukhanov).
In addition to talks from these masters, writers attending the conference will participate in writing workshops led by top-notch professionals, including editors of literary journals, authors of books, writing instructors, publishers, and others involved with the art and industry of writing. Workshop topics include short story, novel, poetry, screenplay adaptation, voice, writing for children, and more.
Adding flavor to this year’s international theme, coffee from Julia Alvarez’s own coffee farm in Dominican Republic has been generously donated by Vermont Coffee Company, and the lunch menu features a selection of international cuisine.
Learn more about the conference—and register now—at the conference website, where you can find a complete schedule of the day’s activities: www.peerlessrockville.org/FSF.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Want to "Win" Your Own Weekly Column for the Washington Post Op-Ed Page?
Go here for contest details: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/pundit-contest/index.html You won’t get rich, but if TV can embrace reality-style programming, why not newspapers?
"Spill a Drop of Blood"
I read this review of Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer’s Life by Michael Greenburg in Sunday’s New York Times Book Review. The book of essays sounds quite interesting, and I was taken with the phrasing of this bit of writing advice:
"Several years ago Greenberg received a commission from The Times Literary Supplement in London to write short essays of less than 1,200 words each; the only other stipulation was that each piece had to spill a drop of blood. As the editor said: “Give it a sense of personal necessity, a sense of urgency. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.”
"Several years ago Greenberg received a commission from The Times Literary Supplement in London to write short essays of less than 1,200 words each; the only other stipulation was that each piece had to spill a drop of blood. As the editor said: “Give it a sense of personal necessity, a sense of urgency. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.”
Vices and Virtues of Writing Groups
Here’s a nice write-up by Cathy Allen of the event I spoke at last week down in Richmond:
"James River Writers delivers a powerful Writing Show on writing groups: Can writing groups put the “Great” in your Great American Novel? James River Writers presented the vices and virtues of critique groups at last Thursday’s Writing Show....”
"James River Writers delivers a powerful Writing Show on writing groups: Can writing groups put the “Great” in your Great American Novel? James River Writers presented the vices and virtues of critique groups at last Thursday’s Writing Show....”
New Literary Journal Is Open for Submissions
Josh Korenblat, one of my former writing students at Johns Hopkins, is one of the co-founders of /One/, a new online literary journal that looks fabulous with work by Adrienne Rich,
David Sacks, Laila Lalami, and others.
He writes: “I co-founded this journal with my friends, and our original idea was how creative people affect or relate to their community, and we focused on work that reflected that theme (so basically, the opposite of art for art's sake.) We've broadened the idea to the theme of how through art, we celebrate what is human in us all.”
About the journal: /One/ is a quarterly journal of literature, art and ideas that celebrates the human in us all. In every issue, /One/ will feature one item for each of its departments—an essay, a poem, a short story, a photograph or photo essay, an audio/multimedia presentation and an interview. The editors will publish both established and emerging artists and writers whose work fits the scope of the magazine.
Noting that the journal will publish established and emerging writers, he passes along these submission guidelines:
Submission Guidelines
/One/ accepts original, unpublished written work. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please let us know as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere. Submissions are only accepted via email and should be directed to: editors@onethejournal.com. In the email subject line, please write the department for which you’re submitting work to followed by your last name (eg. Fiction: Doe or Photography: Doe).
* Fiction: We have no minimum word-count but ask that stories don’t run longer than 3,000 words.
* Essays: We ask that essays don’t run longer than 5,000 words.
* Poetry: You can send up to five poems of any length or style.
* Interviews: For this section, please send us your idea in a short pitch first.
* Photos/Art: Please send low-res files with a brief description of the work for consideration. If the work is accepted, we can make arrangements to receive higher quality files. When submitting photographs, please provide the files as 72 dpi jpgs, 800 pixels on the longest side, sRGB, Quality 10.
* Audio/Video: Please send a short description of your work first. If we’re interested, we’ll make arrangements to receive the files.
* Illustrations: We will occasionally use illustrations pertaining to text. Please send your work and we will let you know if it’s a fit for an upcoming issue.
At this time /One/ cannot provide any compensation to its contributors. /One/ acquires first publication rights for written work (this does not apply to art, photographs or music and video). After publication, the rights revert to the contributors, at which point they are free to reprint their work on websites, books and anthologies or as they wish. The work of our contributors will be archived on One’s website. We respectfully ask for contributors to mention that the work was first published on /One/.
More information at the website.
David Sacks, Laila Lalami, and others.
He writes: “I co-founded this journal with my friends, and our original idea was how creative people affect or relate to their community, and we focused on work that reflected that theme (so basically, the opposite of art for art's sake.) We've broadened the idea to the theme of how through art, we celebrate what is human in us all.”
About the journal: /One/ is a quarterly journal of literature, art and ideas that celebrates the human in us all. In every issue, /One/ will feature one item for each of its departments—an essay, a poem, a short story, a photograph or photo essay, an audio/multimedia presentation and an interview. The editors will publish both established and emerging artists and writers whose work fits the scope of the magazine.
Noting that the journal will publish established and emerging writers, he passes along these submission guidelines:
Submission Guidelines
/One/ accepts original, unpublished written work. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please let us know as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere. Submissions are only accepted via email and should be directed to: editors@onethejournal.com. In the email subject line, please write the department for which you’re submitting work to followed by your last name (eg. Fiction: Doe or Photography: Doe).
* Fiction: We have no minimum word-count but ask that stories don’t run longer than 3,000 words.
* Essays: We ask that essays don’t run longer than 5,000 words.
* Poetry: You can send up to five poems of any length or style.
* Interviews: For this section, please send us your idea in a short pitch first.
* Photos/Art: Please send low-res files with a brief description of the work for consideration. If the work is accepted, we can make arrangements to receive higher quality files. When submitting photographs, please provide the files as 72 dpi jpgs, 800 pixels on the longest side, sRGB, Quality 10.
* Audio/Video: Please send a short description of your work first. If we’re interested, we’ll make arrangements to receive the files.
* Illustrations: We will occasionally use illustrations pertaining to text. Please send your work and we will let you know if it’s a fit for an upcoming issue.
At this time /One/ cannot provide any compensation to its contributors. /One/ acquires first publication rights for written work (this does not apply to art, photographs or music and video). After publication, the rights revert to the contributors, at which point they are free to reprint their work on websites, books and anthologies or as they wish. The work of our contributors will be archived on One’s website. We respectfully ask for contributors to mention that the work was first published on /One/.
More information at the website.
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