Leslie Balkany, museum educator at the Ackland Art Museum, is the founder and leader of the Art and Literature in the Galleries program. The program explores the ways in which visual art and literature complement each other.
Read more on Chapel Hill News.
Test your literary knowledge on seven questions from the GCSE English Literature Quiz (General Certificate of Secondary Education – an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 15–16 in secondary education in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
It’s about time: March 5, 2010.
From the “Great stories in places you might not expect them” file: Gourmet Magazine.
I picked up a couple of “free copies” of these left on a bench on campus last year (those of you who free recycle instead of throwing away your mags – love ya!). In one, I came across the feature “Food Politics” – “The Politics of the Plate: The Price of Tomatoes” – and it has forever changed my tomato buying habits (in addition to my trying to grow my own tomatoes this summer). Not only does Gourmet Magazine feature the political food essay in their print publication, but their website offers the essay along with related articles, reader commentary, and follow up. I never expected to find this kind of content in a magazine I picked up hoping for a few new recipes; now it’s the first feature I read when I pick up the latest issues of this publication.
Bedbug Press has gone on an indefinite hiatus. Contact information is available on their website for questions re: any orders.
A note from Paul Dry of Paul Dry Books that is worth reflection:
Dear Reader,
What words would you use to describe yourself as a reader? Recently I came across two that describe the kind of reader I’d like to be: Ingenuous and Discerning. Since they suggest opposing tendencies I think they describe a good reader. By putting each at the center of a trio, I hope you’ll see what I mean.
Place “Ingenuous” between “Gullible” and “Close-minded”:
Gullible———-Ingenuous———-Close-minded
And place “Discerning” between “Picky” and “Clueless”:
Picky————Discerning———Clueless
In each trio, the term to the left of the middle one is its degraded caricature, and the one to the right, its contrary.
The Ingenuous Reader reads without preconceptions of the author’s intentions or abilities. She’s ready to enjoy and learn from the writing. But there’s a risk to her openness: the Ingenuous Reader may be gullible. Discernment protects her from gullibility. On the other hand, a reader may come to an unknown book so leery of it that she is closed to its possibilities. At this end of the scale of judgment, discernment again guides the reader. To remain ingenuous, we need discernment.
The Discerning Reader makes distinctions, notices and evaluates style, and appreciates a writer’s rhetorical and dialectical abilities. Pickiness is this reader’s characteristic vice. He may have decided that his taste is impeccable and, hence, be unwilling to consider new styles and genres. But in avoiding pickiness, this reader doesn’t want to fall on the other side of discernment into what I’ll call cluelessness. Ingenuousness keeps The Discerning Reader open but not clueless.
The qualities of ingenuousness and discernment are twin pilots, each helping the other to hold the center. Ingenuousness alerts readers to good writing, wherever it comes from. Discernment allows the reader to praise (or criticize) a book, no matter what associations the book carries with it. These paired virtues lead to accurate enthusiasm.
I think we develop these qualities by reading a lot and thinking about what we’ve read and talking or writing about it-and then by reading more books. It’s a happy, and happily endless, cycle.
Sincerely,
Paul Dry
Paul Dry Books
From our local paper, The Bay City Times:
STERLING – The MediLodge of Sterling, a rehabilitative and skilled nursing facility, is asking area residents to send birthday cards for a resident who is turning 102 on July 11.
Eleanor Wenner has lived at the facility for two years and will be celebrating her 102nd birthday with her husband of 64 years, Al, on July 11.
Other than her husband, who resides in the facility with her, Wenner has no other family members to help her celebrate, said Jeri Harris, marketing director at MediLodge.
The cards will be opened at 2 p.m. July 14, during the birthday celebration with staff and residents fo mediLodge. The event is open to the public.
If you would like to send Wenner a card, mail them to Eleanor Wenner, c/o MediLodge of Sterling, 500 School Road, Sterling, MI 48659.
For more information, call Jeri Harris at the MediLodge of Sterling (989) 701-0071.
New additions to NewPages guide to Lit Mags:
From East to West
Ink & Ashes
The Moose & Pussy
Able Muse
Think Journal
Coal Hill Review
New additions to NewPages guide to Alt Mags:
Science & Society
Edge – The Third Culture
New additions to NewPages guide to Publishers:
Tightrope Books (Canada)
New additions to NewPages guide to Conferences/Workshops/Etc:
Surrey International Writers’ Conference
John R. Milton Writers’ Conference
Writing the Midwest: A Symposium of Scholars and Writers
Wildbranch Writing Workshops
Blow-Out! Festival
Somerville News Writers Festival
Writer’s Edge Innovative Fiction Workshops
New additions to NewPages guide to Indie Bookstores:
Blue Sky Collective
Seems some Harvard guys got together for this behind-the-scenes remake of Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way – remade in the zombie version, Swann’s Blood.
On the coattails – or should I say dragging entrails of – Seth Grahame-Smith’s zombiefied Pride and Prejudice, this making-of video is a nice jab at the remake (dare I say) genre.
James Leaf as Director William St. Forte introduces the work: “To me a great film tells you something about yourself, and often I find that something is: you’re a zombie.”
St. Forte later comments on working with the scriptwriter: “His first draft was very introspective. But I found if I just changed the word ‘memory’ to ‘bloodsplosion,’ well, everything worked out alright.”
Steven De Marco as BJ Hardon (really?) as Marcel Proust: “When did this happen? I have no bloodsplosion about it.”
Ten minutes of total literary fun.
River Styx independent literary magazine invites applications for the part-time position of Managing Editor. The areas of primary responsibility include general editorial, event coordination, volunteer management, grant writing, and data base management. Candidates must have a minimum of a BA, with experience in literary publishing and computer literacy in both MAC and PC environments. Attention to detail, creativity, self-initiative and a passion for literature are critical to success in this position. Experience with nonprofit management is highly desirable. Please send application letter, resume, and writing samples by July 6 to: Richard Newman, Editor, River Styx, 3547 Olive St., Suite 107, St. Louis, MO 63103 or email to richard.newman<-at->riverstyx<-dot->org
In a previous post, I had a bad link to The Splinter Generation, so I hope to correct that here, and also make a quick note that they are looking for more fiction submissions. So, all you summer-time story writers, get those drafts polished up and sent in! Their new site is looking great!
***[previous post content]***
The Splinter Generation, a one-time-only publication received so much positive attention, the editors have decided to re-launch the journal as an ongoing publication featuring short fiction, poetry and nonfiction from writers born between 1973 and 1993. They’ve also given the site a new look, added some great new editors and are now accepting submissions.
The Splinter Generation is looking for the best poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. In particular, they’re looking for work that captures what it is to be a member of this generation. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, but the reading period will end on November 1.
Darkness is about seven page story about Darryl Cunningham’s time working on an psychiatric ward.
If you’re looking for grants, fellowships, residencies, or other like resources for writers and artists, then get hip with Mira’s List: “Mira’s List is a free service for artists, writers, composers and others in the arts.Here you will find up-to-date information, resources and deadlines for grants, fellowships and international residencies. Money, time and a place to create.”
Yet another great literary publication through which global cultures and perspectives can be explored is Obsidian: Literature of the African Diasporas. The most recent issue (v8 i2 – don’t let the 2007 date throw you; it just came out) focuses on Ghana – “Honoring the Legacy and Literature of Independent Africa, 1957-2007.”
Editor Sheila Smith McKoy introduces the issue: “As the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence from its ‘colonizer,’ Ghana set the stage for the domino effect of freedom across the African continent…In this issue, Obsidian celebrates the legacies of Independent Africa, her literature, her cultures, and their impact across Africa, her Diaspora and our world.”
Poets in this issue include Kofie Anyidoho, Makuchi, Shane Book, and Sheila Smith McKoy – “all offer riffs on the issues that contextualize the experiences of African and Diasporan identity.” M. Genevieve West interviews Makuchi, several essays “provide diverse perspectives on Ghana and her legacy,” and Kim Coleman Foote contributes to the fiction.
On McSweeney’s: “Comments written by actual students extracted from workshopped manuscripts at a major university.” My favorite: “Is this a typo or are you being experimental?” It’s a short list, to which I’m sure many of us could add our own…
FIRST PLACE
White Space by Janet Burroway
“HIS WRIST IS furred in gold and banded with a, Jesus, Rolex. From the sidewalk it was any other clapboard student digs, but now I remember that he comes from bucks, does Goldenhair. Kenilworth Adamson Lowenthal. What kind of parents pick three dactyls for a name?”
SECOND PLACE
New Year’s Weekend on the Hand Surgery Ward, Old Pilgrims’ Hospital, Naples, Italy by Adam Atlas
“WHEN THE AMBULANCE guys finally came, they were put out and winded. They asked me if I had a plastic bag for the piece of thumb and they watched with their arms folded while I stumbled around and found them a plastic bag.”
THIRD PLACE
That Ain’t Jazz by David Bradley
“COUSIN BERNARD AGREES that I’m trouble, with a capital T. The family buzz is, I’m destined for college. If I don’t get with it now, he says, I’ll end up with some intellectual gig and be swallowed by the Negro Bourgeoisie.”
Upcoming Contests:
The FIRST ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST, with $3,300 in prizes.
Entry deadline: July 18.
The SPRING 2009 STORY CONTEST, with $6,500 in prizes.
Entry deadline: July 31.
Loyola College seeks a full-time Affiliate Instructor in Writing to teach first-year core writing course and upper-level course(s) in area(s) of expertise. One year contract, with possibility of renewal.
The Savannah College of Art and Design is seeking candidates for a part-time faculty position in nonfiction writing, specifically creative nonfiction and/or magazine journalism.
Lebanon Valley College (PA) invites applications for a one-year, full-time position as a visiting assistant professor of English beginning fall 2009. July 1
From Inside Higher Ed: Can You Afford to be an Adjunct? – and it’s not just about the pay. Miss Poor Prof gives insight into taking the “adjunct hit” and how to mitigate its effects.
No where can you find international issues more quickly anthologized through literature than in literary journals. Readers wanting to educate themselves on cultures and issues, and teachers wanting to engage students in global issues have instant access through numerous print and online publications. International Poetry Review* is one such journal, devoting its most recent issue to Georgia (v35n1). Guest Editor Dominik Irtenkauf introduces the issue with his comments, “Mythology in Georgia Today.” It begins:
“In global terms, Georgia has become more popular because of the Caucasus conflict. When it comes to attracting the attention of the media, all too often, only bad news is good news. However, the newspaper headlines aside, Georgia is a country whose rich cultural history repays our careful attention…Nowadays, Georgian writers, poets most of all, suffer from financial and cultural deprivations in their country. Nevertheless, literature is strong there because of its rich heritage and voluptuous poetic language.”
The issue includes the original poems, written in a Georgian alphabet Irtenkauf calls “all its own, not to be confused with the Cyrillic,” and Bela Tsipuria, PhD in Georgian Literature, Tbilisi State University, provides an introduction worthy of its own study for the value of Georgian history she provides readers.
This issue of IPR is an outstanding example of the importance of literature in developing a broadly informed view of world cultures.
*The IPR website it a bit outdated, but Editor Mark Smith-Soto assures me updates are in the near future.
The Summer 2009 issue of American Short Story (v12 i44) includes “Mask of Destiny” by Karen Gentry winner of the annual American Short Fiction contest. Second place went to Robert Glick.
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
Sam Weller, the venerable Salt Lake City bookseller known for his energetic personality and an uncanny ability to match a customer to the perfect book, died Tuesday. He was 88.
His death, attributed to causes of age, marks the passing of a literary era for Utah readers as well as for the nation’s dwindling community of independent booksellers.
“It’s a big ending,” said Linda Brummett, manager of the general book department at the Brigham Young University Bookstore . “Sam really became a mentor to me and many other booksellers. In one way or another, we can all trace our heritage as booksellers back to Sam.”
Glimmer Train has just chosen the winning stories for their April Family Matters competition. This competition is held twice a year and is open to all writers for stories about family, with a word count range 500-12,000. Monthly submission calendar may be viewed here.
First place: Randolph Thomas of Baton Rouge, LA, wins $1200 for “According to Foxfire”. His story will be published in the Fall 2010 issue of Glimmer Train Stories, out in August 2010.
Second place: Amy S. Gottfried of Thurmont, MD, wins $500 for “Chim Chiminy”. Her story will also be published in an upcoming issue of Glimmer Train Stories, increasing her prize to $700.
Third place: Abe Gaustad of Germantown, TN, wins $300 for “A Month of Rain”.
A PDF of the Top 25 winners can be found here.
Deadlines approaching!
Fiction Open: June 30
This quarterly competition is open to all writers for stories on any theme, with a word count range of 2000-20,000. Click here for complete guidelines.
Best Start: June 30
This new category is different from their others in that the piece should be an engaging and coherent narrative, but it does not need to be a complete story; it needs to be an important part of a story in progress. Only open to writers whose fiction has not appeared in a nationally distributed print publication with a circulation over 3000. Maximum word count: 1000. Click here for complete guidelines.
Vancouver author Gerry Gilbert died this past week. From Remembering.ca:
“I’ve used up my reality” Tuesday, April 7, 1936 – Friday, June 19, 2009 Gerry, poet, moved into the past tense Friday in Vancouver after a lifetime dedicated to writing, photography and art. He will be greatly missed by his son Jeremy in Toronto and daughter Tamsin Bragg (Ritchie) in Saltspring Island, and by his grandchildren Cassandra and Drew Storey in Saltspring, and Matilda in Toronto. Gerry waspre-deceased by his daughter Lara, sister Linda, and parents Ralph and Betty, all of Vancouver. Gerry, once called the “Jude the Obscure of the Vancouver poetry scene,” published many books of poetry and prose, including “Moby Jane,” “Grounds” and “Azure Blues” and was for many years host of “radiofreerainforest” on Co-op radio. He published “BC Monthly,” a writing journal, and had numerous photographic and audio-visual exhibitions. Through BC Monthly and radiofreerainforest, he was the most active of all the poets in the Vancouver poetry community in promoting and supporting the work of other poets from all the many groups and schools in the city. He lived for the last 40 years in and around Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, subsisting on his writing. His family would like to extend their gratitude to Marlene Swidzinsky and James Campbell, Jamie and Carol Reid, and the staff of St. Paul’s Hospital palliative ward. Gerry’s ashes will be spread over the waters by Jericho Beach, to join his family there who preceded him.
The most recent issue of Western Humanities Review (Summer 2009) includes works by the winners of the 16th Annual Utah Writers’ Contest. First prize in prose went to Matthew Kirkpatrick for “Different Distances”; first prize in poetry went to Christine Marshall for “Fits of White” (though she has several other poems published in this issue and not the one named in the contest).
The most recent issue of Alimentum: The Literature of Food (Issue 8) begins with a preface by publisher Paulette Licitra. Its beginning here is something I think many lit mags would agree with, and many readers will find encouraging in seeking out and not being afraid to explore the kind of literature being published these days. Licitra writes:
A couple of years ago someone took me aside and, in a wise-man-giveth-advice tone, told me to take “literature” out of Alimentum‘s subtitle.
“Literature scares people,” he said.
Imagine that. Literature – the word, the idea, the stuff itself – scary. Not scary as in frightening, but as in boring. He thought literature was synonymous with snooze. As if, from this label, people would expect to find dry, bland, sleepy stuff between our covers.
Nothing’s asleep between these covers. Every word is awake and raring to go.
The one thing we didn’t want Alimentum to be is boring. In fact, one of our modi operandi is UNboring. Along with delightful, charming, chewing, tasty (even disturbing), and whoa and wow. And GREAT writing tops our list.
And guess what great writing is called?
Literature.
Even Merriam-Webster says so:
Literature: writings in prose or verse; especially: writing having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest.
Now who wouldn’t want to read something like that. Turn these pages and you’ll find: literature profound and soul-searching, ironic and funny, irreverent and silly, naive and sophisticated. And sexy, too.
Ivory Sherman speaks out against Urban Lit: “Books were the last thing that the African-American people had that didn’t promote negative stereotypes; but like a virulent virus, urban literature came and destroyed the true essence of books.”
A list of the most looked up words by readers of the New York Times.
There are numerous “controversies” that surround writing contests, and many responses to these from contest sponsors. Here’s a creative approach from PANK Magazine for their 1001 Awesome Words Contest, which offers prizes of $750/500/250:
“For the sake of transparency… We realize entry fees are controversial—acknowledged. Whether you believe us or not, this isn’t a reading fee — we consider it a privilege and pleasure to read your work. While we are hoping this will make us some money, we mostly want to hold a contest and we want to pay the winners, and we want the winners to truly benefit from participation. That said, the announced prize money is predicated on getting enough entrants (we don’t anticipate a problem). However, if PANK draws a prize pool less than $1500, we will announce how many entries we received, and we will pay the three winners on a graduated scale of 50%/33%/17% of the total prize pool. Good news last — if the prize pool exceeds $2000, PANK will lock its profit at 25% and increase the prize pool accordingly.”
Teresa Stores was selected by Tayari Jones as Kore Press Short Fiction Winner 2010 for her story “Frost Heaves.” She is the author of three novels and her work has appeared in numerous literary journals. Stores is an associate professor of English at the University of Hartford.
The runners-up are Margaret Cardillo with “Hysterical,” and Patricia Engel with “The Bridge.”
The Book Beat Backroom has scoured and compiled a list of top 10 summer reading lists from a variety of educational sources as well as links to NPR, Berkley High School, and Reading is Fundamental.org: “These reading lists of recommended children’s books and young adult books are generally organized by grade level. Many of the elementary children’s reading lists include children’s picture books. Many of the recommended reading lists for middle schoolers include a mix of children’s books and young adult books. You’ll find classics and recently published children’s books and young adult books on these 2009 summer reading lists for preschoolers to grade 12.”
The New York Public Library has created a new campaign for libraries: “Shout It Out” – hoping to raise awareness for libraries in a time of drastic budget cuts. They’ve made a video callout featuring writers Colson Whitehead, Malcolm Gladwell, Amy Tan, and Nora Ephron as well as celebs Bette Midler, Jeff Daniels, Barbara Walters, Tim Gunn, and more. They hope that people will be inspired to speak out for their libraries and help make sure we can keep providing writers, readers, students, scholars, and so many more, the resources we all need. People can add their own response video, and visit the New York Public Library for other ways to take action. (via Deanna Lee, VP of Communications of The New York Public Library)
Michael Thomas won the 2009 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, one of English language fiction’s richest prizes. His novel, Man Gone Down, depictes the difficulty of attaining the American Dream for an African American.
Triggerfish Editor C.M. Bailey answers the question “How Did We Get Here?” in his editorial to issue #1 of this new online journal: “A few years ago, we began a journey to translate the fundamental values of our poetry site (criticalpoet.com) into a journal. The Critical Poet’s mission is to provide poets with a safe harbor to engage with other writers, to work, to fail and to improve, all the while providing feedback through critiques. Not everyone takes criticism easily, however, it is only through this process that a writer can expect to grow. We wanted to bring that forward and there seemed no better way than with a journal.”
Issue #1 includes a feature with poet Carla Conley, as well as works by Heather Lazarus, Colin James, Lise Whidden, Mary Susan Clemons, Ellen Bihler, Lisa Cronkhite, Lesley Dame, Donal Mahoney, Howie Good, Jasmine Templet, Lynn Otto, S. Thomas Summers, Leanne Drapeau, Dave Mehler, and Mal.
Triggerfish is published quarterly and open for submissions: Summer deadline May 15; Fall deadline August 15; Winter deadline December 15; Spring deadline March 15.
More than fifty short-story collections have appeared in the Flannery O’Connor Award series, which was established to encourage gifted emerging writers by bringing their work to a national readership. The first prize-winning book was published in 1983; the award has since become an important proving ground for writers and a showcase for the talent and promise that have brought about a resurgence in the short story as a genre. Winners are selected through an annual competition that attracts as many as three hundred manuscripts. Winners for 2009 whose works will be published this fall are: Geoffrey Becker for Black Elvis and Lori Ostlund for The Bigness of the World.
Seton Hill University seeks published novelist of popular fiction (preferably mystery/suspense), to teach and to mentor novel-length theses in the graduate low-residency Writing Popular Fiction program (half-load), and to teach undergraduate courses in creative writing and first-year composition. Michael Arnzen, Division of Humanities.
Full-time Editor-Berkley Books, Penguin Group(NY).
Simon & Schuster Associate Publisher, Touchstone/Fireside (NY).
Full-time Editor, John Wiley and Son’s Inc (Malden, MA).
Full-time Associate Editor, Palgrave Macmillan (New York, NY).
Writer/Editor, Membership Resources for adult audiences, Girl Scouts USA.
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center (Nebraska) offers up to fifty juried residencies per year to working artists from across the country and around the world. Residencies are awarded to visual artists, writers, composers, interdisciplinary artists, and arts or arts education scholars. Residencies are available for two-, four-, six-, or eight-weeks stays. Each resident receives a $100 stipend per week, free housing, and a separate studio. Deadline September 1, 2009.
I have now received two notices of extended deadline from Eastern Kentucky University’s MFA program for their new publication of Jelly Bucket, so, either they’re not getting enough submissions or not enough GOOD submissions. C’mon NewPages readers/writers – get off yer summer duffs and submit:
“The new literary journal for EKU’s MFA program would like to announce a special call for non-fiction submissions. The deadline has been extended to July 15th. All submissions should be sent to: nonfiction(at)jellybucket(dot)org. All contact information should be on your submission. The inaugural issue will be released this November. Payment will be two contributor’s copies.” (Tasha Cotter, Poetry Editor/Editor-In-Chief)
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15
First Person America: In These Hard Times
A national competition seeking the best videos, photographs, and stories describing how individuals, families and communities are managing during these hard times.
Writing submissions – up to 2,500 words.
Film and video submissions – up to five minutes, excluding credits.
Photography submissions – may include up to five photographs, with or without accompanying text of up to 100 words per image.
Submission deadline: June 30, 2009
“Out of Reach: Is College Only for the Rich” is The Nation cover story for June 29, 2009 by Liza Featherstone: “As the cost of college hits the stratosphere, students are organizing to bring it down to earth.” The Nation editors have their own input with “A Bailout for Students.”
The sixth annual storySouth Million Writers Award is now closed. The winners, based on the popular vote of readers, are:
First place: “The Fisherman’s Wife” by Jenny Williams (LitNImage)
Runner-up: “Fuckbuddy” by Roderic Crooks (Eyeshot)
Honorable mention (third place): “No Bullets in the House” by Geronimo Madrid (Drunken Boat)
New at 2River is Fortune Cookies, by Andrew Cox, number 19 in the 2River Chapbook Series. You can visit and read these prose poems online, or click Make-a-Book to download a PDF, which you can then print double-sided, fold, and staple. You’d then have a personal copy of the chapbook.
2nd River accepts submissions for their chapbook series. Submissions should consist of no more than 23 poems, and authors are asked to browse the series before submitting to be sure their work is a good match for 2nd River.
2nd River is also currently accepting submissions of unpublished poetry (June 1 – Aug 31) for their fall 2009 issue.
Interlochen Arts Academy, world renown for its school-year academy and summer arts programs, now offers an Adult Arts Program.
Narrative has a weekly Literary Puzzler feature, challenging readers to participate. Last week it was the infamous six-word story form, and this week: Neologisms, which asks readers to submit their own best new words. Winners receive a three-month pass to Narrative Backstage or a digital edition of 18 Lies and 3 Truths. Win or not, the puzzlers are fun to play.
From Richard Gold, Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project:
Pongo is doing wonderfully and looking for volunteers for the fall. Pongo volunteers will make a six-month commitment (once a week for three hours plus), and they will learn our techniques for helping abused, neglected, and other traumatized youth to express themselves therapeutically through poetry. More information is included below.
WHAT IS PONGO? Since 1992, the Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project has worked with teens who are in jail, on the streets, or in other ways leading difficult lives. We help young people express themselves through poetry, and the teens often write about traumatic life experiences. Through creative writing, Pongo helps its authors communicate feelings, build self-esteem, and take better control of their lives. Each summer we publish chapbook compilations of the teens’ work. The chapbooks are distributed free to incarcerated youth and others. You can find out more about us at www.pongopublishing.org .
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND FREE TRAINING: Are you interested in learning how to use creative writing therapeutically with incarcerated, homeless, and other distressed youth? The Pongo Publishing Teen Writing Project is offering volunteer opportunities and trainings at several sites this fall, to run mid-September 2006 to mid-April 2007. The sites and possible schedules include:
King County Juvenile Detention, Seattle, Tuesdays, noon-3:15 PM
Child Study and Treatment Center (state psychiatric hospital), Tacoma, Mondays, noon-3:15 PM
(Please feel free to contact us if you will not be available on these schedules but would like to be informed about schedule changes or other volunteer opportunities.)
People who join the Pongo program will be well-trained and well-supervised, and they will work as part of a close-knit team of four to six people, under the direction of a Pongo project leader. Every weekly session includes one hour of training (with discussion about poetry, traumatized youth, and writing activities).
We are looking for mature individuals who have a clear understanding of personal boundaries and an ability to adapt to institutional rules. Ideal candidates will write poetry, have education as teachers or counselors, and have experience working with distressed youth. Candidates must make a commitment to attending the weekly Pongo sessions, being on time, and staying with the program until its completion in April.
If you are interested in becoming a Pongo volunteer, please contact us soon. Spaces are limited, and the application and interview process must be completed in early August. You can begin this process by emailing us a copy of your resume and samples of your poetry. Our address is info-at-pongopublishing-dot-org . We welcome your questions, too.
Brock Davis set out on January 1, 2009 to “Make Something Cool Every Day.” The result is some creatively whacky art with fascinating series (including painting his own hand with gold spray paint – which he does not recommend). Brock is “an artist and musician who works in a variety of mediums. Professionally, I work as a group creative director and art director for an ad agency in Minneapolis.”
“Create Culture is a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, NY. We promote and co-produce arts learning programs with artists around the world. You can visit www.createculture.us to learn more about the organization and the trip we are co-producing in Morocco next year. The social network www.createculture.org is a project of Create Culture intended to break down barriers for artists and arts lovers around the world. The network is evolving but currently has a unique focus on workshops, an incredible gallery, and a wonderful mix of members from Kuala Lumpur to Kailua.”
Black Lawrence Press has announced Patrick Michael Finn as the winner of the 2009 Hudson Prize. His short story collection From the Darkness Right Under Our Feet will be available from Black Lawrence Press in 2011. Finalists and semi-finalists are listed on the Black Lawrence Press website.
Each year Black Lawrence Press awards The Hudson Prize for an unpublished collection of poems or short stories. Winning manuscripts are published by the press and their authors are awarded cash prizes of $1,000.
The NewPages Big List of Literary Magazines
One Page Stories – fiction, memoir, personal essay
Chtenia Readings – Russian fiction, translation
Arroyo Literary Review – poetry, fiction, artwork
Second Run – poetry, fiction, plays, essays
The Sienese Shredder – poetry, critical writing, art, music
Cafe Review – poetry, reviews, artwork
Gigantic – fiction, dialogues, artwork
Hobble Creek Review – poetry, nonfiction
Siren – poetry, prose, nonfiction
Everyday Genius – poetry, fiction
Eyeshot – fiction, essays, rants, reviews, photographs
Farrago’s Wainscot – poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Fiction Weekly – fiction
On the Premises – fiction
Lalitamba – poetry, fiction, essays, translations, interviews
Paul Revere’s Horse – poetry, fiction
Guernica – poetry, fiction, features, interviews, art, photography (a long-time favorite listed as alternative, now also listed as lit)
Alternative Magazines
World Affairs
Independent Bookstores
[THANKS NP blog readers for the adds on this list!]
Book Trout, Old Saratoga Books (Schuylerville, NY)
Buy the Book (Kawkawlin, MI)
Loganberry Books (Shaker Heights, OH)
Wolfgang Books (Phoenixville, PA)
Yesterday’s Muse (Webster, NY)
The Bookery Nook (Denver, CO)
Urban Think! Kids (Orlando, FL)
Inner Wisdom (Galesburg, IL)
Old Saratoga Books (Schuylerville, NY)
Big Sleep Books (St. Louis, MO)
Next Chapter Bookshop (Mequon, WI)
Paragraphs (South Padre Island, TX)
[Words] (Maplewood, NJ)
Barner Books (New Paltz, NY)
Sandman Book Co (Punta Gorda, FL)
Writing Conferences, Workshops, Retreats & Book & Literary Festivals
Wildbranch Writing Workshop
NorthWords Writers Festival
Whitehorse Poetry Festival
Squire Summer Writing Residency
Stop by and check out the freshest batch of NewPages Literary Magazine Reviews of the following print and online publications: Alaska Quarterly Review, American Poetry Review, American Short Fiction, Black Warrior Review, Freight Stories, Georgia Review, Hawk & Handsaw, Jabberwock Review, The MacGuffin, Michigan Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Poet Lore, Sentence, Sewanee Review, South Loop Review, West Branch, World Literature Today, ZZYZYVA.
