October 4th, 2010

Grub Street News

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out every Monday from the staff member masquerading as Laurence Napier III 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.

Announcing the winner of the 2010 Grub Street Book Prize in Non-Fiction

Grub Street is thrilled to announce that Rahna Reiko Rizzuto has won our 2010 National Book Prize in Non-Fiction for her memoir, Hiroshima in the Morning, published by The Feminist Press. Rizzuto will receive $1000 and will lead a class on the craft of narrative non-fiction at the Muse and the Marketplace conference April 30-May 1, 2011. She will also lead a free craft class for members in our space. Head juror  Grace Talusan described this wonderful book in these words:  “In her memoir Hiroshima in the Morning, Rahna Reiko Rizzuto explores what happens when a bomb finds its target. Initially, she’s in search of stories about Japanese Americans during World War II and survivors of the atomic bomb. Her husband and sons, ages 3 and 5, stay in New York as Rizzuto travels to Hiroshima, despite criticism that she’s a “bad mother” for leaving her family for months to write. She’s steeped in stories about fate and survival, about how someone survived because of a seemingly mundane and arbitrary move. She is collecting material for her second novel, including interviews with survivors of the atomic bomb named Little Boy, when a new ground zero is created in New York. The world around her as well as the world she’s created with her husband will never be the same. Her family pressures her to come home, but Rizzuto won’t leave Japan or her work. She writes, “So there is that moment, then; the last breath of before: when life is about to change, utterly and forever, into something we have no way to conceive of. When the trajectory is already being drawn and there is no way to stop it.” Using diary entries, emails, telephone transcripts, and oral histories, Rizzuto pieces together a masterful collage about Hiroshima, 9/11, ambivalent motherhood, a doomed marriage, and a writer trying to understand what narrative means amidst so many kinds of bombs hitting so many beloved targets.”

Grub Street also congratulates two finalists: Lost in Wonder: Imagining Science and Other Mysteries (Counterpoint, 2010) by Colette Brooks and Cover Me:  A Health Insurance Memoir (University of Nebraska Press, 2010) by Sonya Huber.  

There is only one week left until the deadline for our 2011 Fiction Book Prize, due 15th, 2010. For more information on the Book Prize, visit our website. We remain ever grateful to the anonymous donor who makes the Grub Street Book Prize possible.

Department of Congratulations, Handsome Boys' Husky Pants Edition

We've got lots of great news to report this month. First up, some fantastic news from instructors past and present. This past May, Jami Brandli's play, The Sinker, received its World Premiere at HotCity Theatre in St. Louis, MO and will receive its next production at Rogers State University in OK this coming fall.  Her latest play, Technicolor Life, recently won the 2010 John Gassner Playwriting Award.  It was developed at WordBRIDGE Playwrights Lab this June and will be part of the 2010 Ashland New Plays Festival this fall in Ashland, OR.  Technicolor Life was a finalist for the 2010 Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship and the 2010 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference. It was also a semifinalist for the 2010 O'Neill Playwrights Conference. Go Jami--we miss you! Our summer YAWP instructor, Victoria Murray, has a new chapbook out called On the Hood of Someone Else's Car, and it's available for pre-order through October 6th by clicking here. Grub instructor Becky Tuch was recently interviewed by an on-line radio station, High Volumes Radio, in which she discussed The Review Review, and also read an excerpt from her novel-in-progress (be sure to check out Becky's call for writers below in "Spreading the Love"!) Current Grub insructor Adrian Van Young has a piece on spiritualism coming out in The Believer in October.

Next, some Grub member news. Marjan Kamali's story "Tehran Party" was a Top Ten Finalist in the 2010 Asian American Short Story Contest. Kitty Beer's novel, Human Scale, won Honorable Mention in the 2010 Hollywood Book Festival contest. Barbara Ross's mystery novel, The Death of an Ambitious Woman, was published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage Learning in August, 2010.  Barbara has taken classes with Grace Talusan and Lisa Borders, and the book was reviewed favorably by Library Journal. If you're in the mood for arachnid fun facts, check out new Grubbie Sarah Endo's poem, "Spider Eyes," at Literary Mama. Grubbie Stephen Hale's article "Darwin at Dinner," which shows that if variety is the spice of life, we Homo sapiens are the spiciest of species, has been published in Grist Magazine. Tilia Klebenov Jacobs' screenplay, Fright at the Museum, recently made it to the top 25% of the Page International Screenwriting Contest. And last for the member news, Coatue Publications is pleased to announce the release of Grubbie David Shaughnessy’s debut, The Bitter End, is a novel of political intrigue set in the Irish working-class enclave of South Boston. A breezy read, stocked with vivid characters and snappy dialogue and flush with local color, The Bitter End indelibly captures a world that is passing, but not going easily. The work is available at http://www.lulu.com/content/hardcover-book/the-bitter-end/9055921.

As always, we also have some great news coming out of our workshops. First, an article of Ned Blake's that he workshopped in Ethan Gilsdorf's class "Personal-Essays and Op-eds" was published in the September issue of Points East: the boating magazine for Coastal New England. Instructor Michelle Seaton wrote in to tell us that her student, Blake Hall, took narrative nonfiction with her in the spring and wrote a story about an interpreter he worked with while he was serving in Iraq. He published it in the Sunday Outlook section of the Washington Post a couple of weeks ago. Michelle says: "It's a wonderful story and he said that the class helped him find a way to tell a story that he has been longing to write for three years. He has received more than 300 emails in response, from journalists and high ranking military personnel and former soldiers from Vietnam and Korea, and been on NPR three times in the past ten days." Another satisfied student, Nichole Bernier, sold her first novel to Crown/Random House in July. It’s called The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D, and Nichole polished it up with the help of Jenna Blum's Master Class folks, some of whom are her blogmates at Beyond the Margins. (Nichole also has a great interview with Pulizter-Prize winner Paul Harding on the blog now). Thanks to David Shields' workshop at Grub last May, Alisa Wolf was able to revise two essays that have been accepted for publication. "Lukshen Kugel" went live in September on Agni Online, and "Question Seven" is coming out in December in the Schuylkill Valley Journal. Grubbie Steve Macone had an essay about the Market Basket in Somerville that he worked on in Michelle Seaton’s “Tour of the Essay” class published on Boston.com. And last but of course not least, new Grub student Patty Ryburn had her first piece published in the Boston Globe South edition, thanks to her instructor Suzette Martinez Standring's constructive input and enthusiastic support. Patty says, "The idea for the piece was a result of the workshop, and the feedback that I received there convinced me that I had something to say that others might find worthwhile. Not bad for a three hour commitment, and my first trial run! Please accept my thanks for hosting such opportunities for the many "average Joe" writers out there to attend workshops and classes where their ideas are provided room to grow and be supported, and for the chance to benefit from the experience of those instructors-- such as Suzette--who truly know how to inspire, encourage and share the joy of writing." Thanks, Patty, we're so glad to hear such great feedback. And of course, we remain incredibly inspired by all the great news that pours in to the Dept. of Congrats. Keep it coming.

Do you have writing news and want to be featured in the DoC? The first Monday of every month, we feature Grub Street members who have sent their good news to whitney@grubstreet.org. To be included, please send Whitney an email with information about your publication, award or fellowship. Limit your announcement to 60 words or less. Extra credit if the announcement is written in the third person, which is good practice for your writing anyway.

Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya, Chris, Chip, and Eve

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.

SEMINAR: Monday, October 4th, 7:00-10:00pm, The Unreliable Narrator in Fiction
This one-night seminar will deal in isolating and exploring the various ways in which a first-person narrator can be made unreliable.
Instructor: Adrian Van Young
*SOLD OUT* $65/$50 members, Grub Street headquarters.

SEMINAR: Monday, October 4th, 7:00-10:00pm, Ask the Producer: The Craft and Marketplace of Screenwriting
Visiting Grub Street from L.A., award-winning producer and manager Marilyn Atlas will spend three hours demystifying the process of screenwriting as well as sharing her insider’s opinion on elements of what makes a good screenplay. Her focus, craft-wise, will be on how to create non-stereotypical characters. Her focus, business-wise, is on your questions and concerns. Join us in welcoming this special guest and sit back for what is sure to be an entertaining and informative evening with someone who knows the business better than just about anyone.
Instructor: Marilyn Atlas
$65/$50 members, Grub Street headquarters.

SEMINAR: Monday, October 4th, 7:00-10:00pm, The Business of Writing for Children and Young Adults
In this seminar, agent Maribeth Sanabria, whose clients include Grub’s own Beth Raisner Glass, will offer a nuts-and-bolts overview of the agent-stage of the process (manuscript review, query letter writing, etc) and take your questions on the burgeoning world of writing for these populations.
Instructor: Maribeth Sanabria
*SOLD OUT* $65/$50 members, Grub Street headquarters.

SEMINAR: Monday, October 4th, 7:00-10:00pm, Provoking Thought: The Art of Science Writing
The goal of this seminar is to help you find the best approach for writing your own nonfiction book of ideas. We'll also cover state-of-the-art topics like getting a science-savvy agent, writing a science book proposal, managing web controversy, leveraging Amazon.com, and the unprecedented opportunities of e-books.
Instructor: Ogi Ogas
*SOLD OUT*, email chip@grubstreet.org to be put on a waiting list. $65/$50 members, Grub Street headquarters.

LUNCHTIME WRITING: Wednesday, October 6th, 12:30-1:15pm, 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 one of our award-winning instructors or ambassadors. Best of all, you’ll leave lunch with some new ideas to ponder for the rest of your day, and beyond. No need to RSVP-- just come!
FREE, Grub Street headquarters.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, October 17th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Art of the Scene
Scenes play important roles in fiction and nonfiction—an opportunity for the reader to experience the action as it unfolds in the real time of the story and for the writer to dramatize crucial encounters and key moments. But combining numerous narrative elements into a successful scene can be a challenge. This one-day class – an expanded version of the popular seminar -- will look at the way scenes work and strategies employed by various authors. We’ll focus on pacing, choreography, tension, details, subtext, and more and practice these with in-class writing exercises designed to inspire and elevate your own writing. We'll also workshop a short scene you bring (up to about five pages double spaced) in small groups. Bring 5 copies.
Instructor: Amy Marcott
$115/$95 members, Grub Street headquarters.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, October 17th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Our Lives in the Middle Ages
This is a workshop for writers of a certain (middle) age, according to their own definition. Based partly on James Atlas’ book My Life in the Middle Ages, and partly on the instructor’s own experience in facing ‘50’ and beyond, this session will explore how we can use the universal themes of aging—letting go, dealing with physical illness, the earning of hard-earned wisdom, and laughing at our own foibles—as the raw material for personal essays, memoir vignettes, radio commentaries, etc. In this day-long session, we will examine the work of writers such as Nora Ephron, David Sedaris and others, and then write on a series of prompts, which touch on themes of growing older and (hopefully) wiser. We will share ideas to strengthen and further develop these drafts. Finally, we’ll share ideas about getting our work ‘out there’ through publication in various media, including literary journals, newspapers, and on-line publications.
Instructor: Judah Leblang
$115/$95 members, Grub Street headquarters.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, October 17th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Screenplay Suspense 101: Creating Dramatic Tension through Character Development
Most scripts aren't terrible, just terribly mediocre. The characters are too familiar, the execution is clichéd, and the plot doesn't build to an inevitable boiling point. Tepid stories are usually due to the writer relying on superficial, predictable character types instead of delving deeply into the whys of their actions. A successful story—even a comedy—imbues its characters with complexity, pushes them to the edge of reason, and compels them to face their deepest, darkest fears. In this workshop, you will learn to intensify plot by creating complex, captivating, and enigmatic characters that audiences not only will care about, but will be haunted by for days afterward. The workshop will utilize lecture, interactive writing exercises, and clips from a number of great movies. Bring your informal pitches, screenplay ideas, or the first ten pages of a script in progress, and additional copies for the group.
Instructor: Neil Landau
$115/$95 members, Grub Street headquarters.

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

Spreading the Love

Grub Street wants to promote YOU! Please send events for consideration to whitney@grubstreet.org. Bonus points and undying gratitude for submitting your event info in the same format as the events below. Our apologies in advance if we cannot fit you in. Please note that we do the best we can to evaluate requests, and do privilege requests from members, but cannot be held responsible for the quality of these events and programs or the legitimacy of contests. We expect that readers will do their own due diligence before sending their work or their money to any individual or organization.

--READING AND TALK: Wednesday, October 6th, 6pm, Author Talk w/ Michael Cunningham
Like his legendary, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Hours, Michael Cunningham's masterly new novel, By Nightfall is a heart-breaking look at the way we live now. Full of shocks and aftershocks, it makes us think and feel deeply about the uses and meaning of beauty and the place of love in our lives. Michael Cunningham was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, grew up in La Canada, California and lives in New York. He received his B.A. in English Literature from Stanford University and his M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. His novel A Home at the End of the World was published in 1990 to wide acclaim. Flesh and Blood, another novel, followed in 1995. He received the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award for his novel, The Hours. He has written one nonfiction book, Land's End: A Walk Through Provincetown. He is also the author of Specimen Days.
FREE, Boston Public Library Main Branch, Abbey Room.

--CALL FOR WRITERS: The Review Review
The Review Review, a website dedicated to literary magazines, is looking for people to interview journal editors. This is a great opportunity for writers who want to make contact with editors and also learn more about literary magazines. Past interviews have featured Bill Pierce of AGNI, Rob Arnold of Ploughshares, Lizzie Stark of Fringe, and others. If interested, please email Becky Tuch at 99review@gmail.com.

--CONTEST: One City One Story Writing Contest! Enter to win a Kindle!
What if Jack had made that important call? What if he hadn’t walked off the field? What if his family had tuned in? What if?? Write an alternate ending to "The Smile on Happy Chang’s Face" from whatever point in the story you choose. First place wins an Amazon Kindle and three runners up will receive a One City One Story t-shirt. Only one entry per person and your story must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on October 10. Stories must be no longer than 250 words and will be judged on originality, creativity and writing quality. The winner will be announced at the One City One Story town hall discussion at the Boston Book Festival on October 16. Winning entries will be posted on the One City One Story website. Let your imagination run wild and start writing.

--READING: Thursday, October 14th, 7:30pm, Funny Business
Simon Rich and Sloane Crosley read comic stories and talk about the art of turning words into laughter. Hailed as "the freshest, funniest new writer today,” Rich is a staff writer for Saturday Night Live! and former president of the Harvard Lampoon; his three books include the recent novel Elliot Allagash. David Sedaris calls Crosley “perfectly, relentlessly funny"; she is the author of the I Was Told There'd Be Cake and How Did You Get This Number.  Please note this is a young adult program. Doors open at 6:30pm. For more information: 617-531-4610.
$12 advance purchase / $20 door, Club Café, 209 Columbus Avenue, Boston.

--BOOK FESTIVAL: October 16th, all day, Boston Book Festival
Time to charge up your eReader, bound to the bookstore, or locate your library card.   The Boston Book Festival will take place on October 16th in and around Copley Square.   Join BBF for a free all-day literary celebration and exciting street festival with food and vendors.  Watch over 100 world-class novelists, thought leaders, children's authors and illustrators, poets, scientists, technologists, memoirists, and more share the stage in one exciting day. Featuring superstar authors Bill Bryson, Jeff Kinney, Joyce Carol Oates, Tyler Florence, Atul Gawande, and many more.   Not to mention that there are NINE sessions being led by Grub Street instructors all aspects of creative craft. Bring the kids for fun events for the whole family!   For more information, visit www.bostonbookfest.org.

BOOK EVENT: Monday October 18th, 7PM, 101 Things I Learned in Film School
Join Hollywood screenwriter Neil Landau and Grubbie Matt Frederick, creator of the 101 Things I Learned book series, for a trivia contest on Boston film and television at Harvard Bookstore. Stick around afterward for a discussion of the how-to’s and why-to’s of filmmaking, screenwriting, book-to-film, and more, followed by the signing of their new book, 101 Things I Learned in Film School.
FREE, Harvard Bookstore, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge.