February 2nd, 2010

Grub Street News

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out every Tuesday from the Jumperoo activity center at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this e-mail in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.

Grub Street National Book Prize Wrap-up

This past Friday night, we proudly welcomed poet Rick Barot, who visited us from Tacoma, WA, as the winner of Grub Street’s 2009 National Book Prize in Poetry for his collection, Want. About fifty Grubbies gathered at 160 Boylston to enjoy dinner and wine, hear Rick read both from Want and from new work, and engage in a lively and informative Q&A. The next morning, thirty Grub members gathered for breakfast and for Rick’s 2.5 hour craft class on form. Much of this was orchestrated by Wendy Mnookin, head juror for the prize and our mistress of ceremonies. It was a great weekend that we hope ushers in a new era of poetry at Grub Street. Special thanks to Harvard Bookstore for selling books, and to the anonymous generous donor who makes our three annual national book prizes a reality.

Coming Soon: Muse and the Marketplace 2010

It's coming! We are thrilled to announce that the 9th Annual Muse and the Marketplace--New England's premier writing and publishing conference--will be the weekend of May 1st-2nd at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

This year, Grub Street is excited to welcome Chuck Palahniuk as our keynote speaker, one of the most popular and compelling writers at work today. In addition to sharing his thoughts on the writing and publishing process, Mr. Palahniuk will make the Muse conference the very first stop on the book tour for his new novel, Tell All, a "dark reimaginging of All About Eve and a hilarious assault on celebrity." Mr. Palahniuk will speak for approximately one hour and take questions on the content of the talk he has delivered, as well as other relevant questions relating to his work and the writing life. We look forward to a thought-provoking speech and the thoughtful discussion to follow.

The growing list of authors who will be attending the event can be found here. Interested in this year's Manuscript Mart, where you'll have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an agent or editor who's read a sample of your work in advance? Check out all the details about the Manuscript Mart and start polishing your submission now! For the full bios of visiting literary agents and editors participating in the Manuscript Mart, see the bios page. Get a head start on the selection process by reading the bios and researching these agents and editors before conference registration opens in late February.

Full conference details, including online registration and workshop descriptions, will be online later this month. Grub Street members will receive advance notification, and will have the opportunity to sign up for the conference early. If you sign up to be a member now, we'll add you to the list for priority registration (and you'll save over 10% on the cost of the conference!)

Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya, Chris, Chip and Alexis

Grub Events

In addition to our ongoing workshops, Grub Street offers numerous writing-related events around town. See our website for a long-term view of all we do. Ready to sign up? Call us at 617.695.0075 and we'll get you on the list.

EDITORIAL: Weekend of Manuscript Consultations: Saturday, February 13th, between 10am-3pm
Throughout this Saturday, various members of our creative writing faculty will be meeting individually for thirty minutes with writers who have submitted 25 pages of their work ahead of time. See all details, including the list of consultants, here. <http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=172>
*Deadline for submissions has passed.*
$140, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, February 6 - Sunday, February 7th, 9-4pm, Screenwriting Made Simple
Instructor: Drew Yanno
Whether you have read a book or two on the subject or have never studied screenwriting at all, Screenwriting Made Simple will provide you with the information and knowledge you need to write a full-length feature film script. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn screenwriting from a pro – in just two days!
*SOLD OUT* $220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, February 6 - Sunday, February 7th, , 9-4pm, The Next J.K. Rowling: Unlocking the Power of Fairy Tale and Myth
Readers can’t get enough of the fantastical. J.K. Rowling, and most recently Stephanie Meyer, have millions of devoted readers worldwide. So too does Philip Pullman, Margaret Atwood, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and hundreds of others who employ such worlds and characters. During this team-taught weekend, we will delve into the glittering Aladdin’s Cave of myths and fairytales and help you to find and develop your own fantastical kingdom. Revisiting a varied host of familiar tales from Little Red Riding Hood to The Odyssey, we will look at modern interpretations of these fairy tales and myths and see how you too can carve out your own magical world. There will be many inspiring creative exercises and prompts and plenty of time for you to start “opening the wardrobe door” and creating your own Narnia.
**THREE SPOTS LEFT!** $220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, February 6 - Sunday, February 7th, 9-4pm, Developing Your Personal Brand: New Media Marketing For Writers
Instructor: Crystal King
Novelists, poets, freelancers and writers around the world are benefiting from the possibilities of the Internet, building both their personal brand and at the same time driving visibility (and sales!) of their work. Writers face the same challenges as other entrepreneurs: competition; resource restrictions; the need to be first, the best or the most original to market; and, most importantly, the need to be innovative. Publishers are feeling the pinch which means that fewer and fewer writers will get “lucky” and score it big through traditional means. Instead, they need to engage in techniques that move them past hurdles and into the minds of their potential buyers. This class will explore both the basic tenets of what comprises a personal brand as well as to talk about the best ways to use new media tactics such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LibraryThing and much more.
$220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

ONE-DAY WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, February 7th, 9-4pm, Jumpstart Your Writing
Instructor: Grace Talusan
Through a series of fun directed writing exercises, we will explore the terrain of fiction and some non-fiction: mining for material, constructing characters and settings, shaping vivid dialogue, understanding point of view, and finding your voice.
*SOLD OUT. Email sonya@grubstreet.org to be placed on a waitlist.*
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

LUNCHTIME WRITING WORKSHOP: Tuesday, February 23rd, 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM, Brown Bag Lunch Series
Do you work downtown and want to fit some writing into your day? Or do you have a schedule that gives you free afternoons instead of evenings? Bring your lunch and come on over to Grub Street for a Brown Bag Writing Workshop – a series recently profiled in the Boston Globe. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Led by the inimitable Mike Marano. Best of all, you’ll leave lunch with some new ideas to ponder for the rest of your day, and beyond. To reserve a spot, email sonya@grubstreet.org or call 617.695.0075.
FREE, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

TEEN WRITING: Saturday, February 27th, 12:00 - 4:00 PM, YAWP (Young Adult Writers Program)
Are you – or do you know – a teen who likes to write poems, lyrics, stories, novels or screenplays? Come to YAWP, a free monthly teen writing workshop for Boston-area teens 12-17. YAWP provides writing exercises in small groups, feedback from working writers, pizza and inspiration. You provide the energy to write, share your work, and try new things. Please sign up in advance by emailing info@grubstreet.org or calling Chip Cheek at 617.695.0075. See website to sign up for specific groups such as poetry, screenwriting, fiction, graphic novel, songwriting, etc.
FREE, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

PARTY: Friday, March 12th, 7:30 PM, Grub Gone. . . Blue
The “Grub Gone…” series is back! This time, join visiting author Diana Joseph and host Steve Almond for a night of Grub authors, instructors and students reading work from their “blue” periods. What does that mean? Come and find out. In between and after the readings, there will be music, drinks, food and maybe even some dancing. A great way to reconnect with old Grubbie friends or make new ones. Readings begin at 8:30. Limited to 200; tickets sell out quickly! Call 617.695.0075 to buy. With special thanks to our beer sponsor, Boston Beer Company.
In Advance: $8/$5 members; at the Door: $10/$7 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

Be sure to check out our events calendar for a comprehensive view of upcoming events.

Spreading the Love

--BENEFIT: Wednesday, February 10th, 7:30pm, A collaborative reading to benefit Partners in Health and the people of Haiti
Robert Pinsky, Rosanna Warren, Jorie Graham, Gail Mazur, Fred Marchant, Afaa Michael Weaver,  Barbara Helfgott-Hyett, Jericho Brown, Frannie Lindsay, Kevin Bowen, Tom Daley, Kim Stafford, Wendy Mnookin, Nadia Herman-Colburn, Merilene Phipps-Kettlewell, Patrick Sylvain, Jean-Dany Joachim, Christina Davis, Daniel Tobin, and more. Requested donation of $10, with all proceeds going to Partners in Health (PIH).  Poets' books will also be on sale, with all proceeds after cost going to PIH.  Co-sponsored by the Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard and Harvard's Technical and Clerical Workers Union. Organized by Kim Triedman and Jim Henle.
FREE, Longfellow Hall at Harvard, 13 Appian Way, Cambridge.

--FILM AWARDS AND SCREENING: Saturday, February 6th, 7pm, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Ceremony
Jeremy Renner, star of the acclaimed Iraq War drama The Hurt Locker, will accept his best actor honor from the Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) at the BSFC’s third annual awards ceremony Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m. at the Brattle Theatre. The BSFC’s annual awards ceremony has become a much-anticipated event for the Boston film community. The BSFC’s first awards ceremony in 2008 featured Frank Langella, named best actor for Starting Out in the Evening. In 2009, producer Maureen A. Ryan presented the acclaimed documentary Man on Wire, which went on to win the Academy Award. Tickets to the event are available through the Brattle Theater. There will be a pre-event cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. at Casablanca restaurant in Harvard Square and a screening of The Hurt Locker following the awards presentation. .For more information got to http://www.thebsfc.org/2009/ceremony-pr.html or to purchase tickets to the awards event, visit the Brattle Theatre website at www.brattlefilm.org. 

--FOR SALE: The Lizard's Tale Bookstore
The Lizard’s Tale, the children’s bookstore connected to Newtonville Books in Newton, MA is for sale.  The Lizard’s Tale was founded in 2005 and grew from a small section of kids’ books in the back of Newtonville Books to become its own 1300 square foot space at 294 Walnut Street.  The Lizard’s Tale is a full service children’s bookstore that carries books and learning toys and puzzles for all age groups.  Additionally, the kids’ bookstore hosts events with children’s authors, storytimes featuring activities, and a Middle Reader Bookclub. When asked about selling the Lizard’s Tale, Newtonville Books owner Mary Cotton replies: “Newton is a vibrant community full of children and the time is right for a new owner to take what we have built and nurtured and grow it into something even greater. We just renewed the Lizard’s Tale lease, so we can pursue this sale in a leisurely manner with the hope of finding someone whose passion for children’s literature matches my passion for adult literature and the literary programming we provide the community through Newtonville Books.” The Lizard’s Tale is ideally situated on a heavily trafficked corner in Newton, with plenty of parking and a CVS, Bank of America, Starbucks, and Shaw’s Supermarket within close proximity.  The space itself boasts terrific windows and a canopied corner entrance. CONTACTS: Press Matters:  Mary Cotton – mary@newtonvillebooks.com; Acquisitions Matters: Lori Yarvis, Esq. – (617) 965-3500/lyarvis@sab-law.com

--CONTEST: Short Month, Short Stories
February is the shortest month, and Harvard Bookstore is making it a short-short month! Lets make these 28 days count! Write a short short story (500 words or less). Send in your entries (no more than 3 entries per person) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th. They'll read them, pick their favorites, and, at the end of the month, print them in a book, using our very own in-store print-on-demand machine, Paige M. Gutenborg! For those unfamiliar with the form, short shortsflash fiction, micro fiction, sudden fiction, etc.are extremely short stories (almost never more than 1,000 words). Author Steve Almond has described them as little bursts of empathy characterized by an emotional urgency [and] immediacy. For examples, check out Micro Fiction, Rumble, or Word Riot. All stories must be original, previously unpublished, and written between February 1st and February 17th, 2010 (Well hold you to the honor system). Contributors will receive a copy of the as-yet-untitled book and be invited to read their work at Harvard Book Store at our March Winedown on Wednesday, March 3rd. One grand-prize winner will receive a $50 gift card to Harvard Book Store, a contributors copy of the book, and have his or her short short appear in Harvard Book Stores weekly newsletter. Harvard Book Store will acquire first, non-exclusive print rights. To submit, email no more than three stories (500 words or less each) to shortshorts@harvard.com. Include your submissions in the body of the email; do not send stories as attachments. Include your name, street address, and phone number with your submissions. All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010. Get writing!

--MYSTERY-WRITING DISCUSSION: Thursday, February 11th at 7pm and Sunday, February 21st at 3pm, Quarry Authors and Editors Discuss the Art of Mystery Writing
Quarry continues the Level Best tradition of introducing the regions readers to some of its finest crime writers, including Grub Advisory Council member Hank Phillippi Ryan, Susan Oleksiw, Nancy Means Wright, Vincent ONeil, Grub Instructor and dear friend Kate Flora and Mike Wiecek. From the light- hearteda lobsterman who works a Nigerian-style scheme on a guy from away, or the art thieves who may not be as clever as they thinkto the very dark, a magical piano with forbidden ivory keys, or a quarry turned golf-course covering long-ago secrets. From ice storm to ice out, from the small town superette to the back streets of Salem, these stories explore the wickedness and courage of the human heart. This rich collection is the perfect gift for any mystery lover. Quarry authors and editors will be discussing the mystery short storyhow writers write them and how editors select themat Porter Square Books on Thursday, February 11th at 7:00 p.m. and at the Concord Bookshop on Sunday, February 21st at 3:00.
FREE, Porter Square Books (Feb. 11th) and Concord Bookstore (Feb. 21st).
 

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