November 30th, 2010
"Sometimes a flat-footed sentence is what serves, so you don’t get all
writerly: 'He opened the door.' There, it’s open."
—Amy Hempel
Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out from the line at the discount shopping mall 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.
Look what's here! It's our 2011 winter workshop schedule, and it's a great one. Check out our website to view brand-new classes in self-publishing, speculative fiction, the modern epic, and even comics. To see the complete list of winter offerings (and to search for the ideal class for you), go to http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=402, where you can read descriptions and register online. The online registration process is very easy, but if you have questions or need help selecting a course, please call 617.695.0075 and any of our staff will be happy to assist you.
Sherman Alexie, Sandra Cisneros, Raymond Carver, Margaret Atwood – all of these authors have distinguished themselves in (at least) three genres: poetry, fiction and non-fiction. If you’ve only been interested in one genre, or you’re just beginning and want to try your hand at new genres in a supportive and non-stressful but rigorous atmosphere, this course is for you. We will talk about the line-blurring among genres as well as the benefits of “pinching” techniques and tools from one genre and applying it to another. Each week, we will read and discuss selections from one genre, do writing exercises, and workshop your stories, poems, or essays. Think of it as “poetry for prose writers” or “prose for fiction writers”—a great way to do something creative on a weekday and get inspired for the weekend and beyond. Instructor: Jennifer De Leon. (10 Wednesdays, 11:00am-2:00pm at Grub Street headquarters. Begins January 12th. $455/$430 members. Learn more or register now!)
We are thrilled to announce the four writers who were awarded 2011 Run for Grub Scholarships: Lawrence Gillette, Tracy Hahn-Burkett, Matthew Izzi, and Adam Olenn. Out of dozens and dozens of fantastic entries, these four writers stood out for their enthusiasm, their dedication to their craft, and most of all, their writing. They will each receive a scholarship good for a 10- or 6-week workshop in 2011. The scholarships are funded by the talented and fit Cathy Elcik, who ran a marathon in July to raise money for Grub Street. We hope that everyone who applied knows how impressed our reading committee was with their work--it was a very tough choice this year!
Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya, Chris, Chip, and Eve
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.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5th, 9:00am-4:00pm, The Murky Middle
If you’ve written at least 50 pages and feel lost in the murky middle of your novel, this class will help you forge a path toward the story’s climax.
Instructor: Lisa Borders
*1 SPOT LEFT* Register now! $220/$195 members, Grub Street headquarters.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5th, 9:00am-4:00pm, The Hook and the Book
Join agent Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank of Fairbank Literary Representation for a weekend of intensive query and writing critique, lessons on the basics of a powerful synopsis, help on the first five pages, review of a laundry list of Dos and Don’ts, and group and one-on-one analysis of your submission package.
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, December 4th, 9:00am-4:00pm,Workshop Your Website or Blog
Do you have a website and/or blog but want to learn ways to enhance the design and content? Looking to broaden your reach or boost your professional appeal? This class will offer a venue for receiving feedback on your online presence. Along the way, you’ll learn strategies for more effective design, navigation, usability, search engine optimization, and content. We’ll also do some writing exercises to help your work stand out. Note: this seminar is only for those who already have a designed website or active blog. Submit the URL(s) of your website and/or blog to chip@grubstreet.org by noon on Tuesday, November 30th. If you have a blog, also submit two of your best posts that could be discussed in class. The instructor will prepare thorough critiques of each site before class so submitting URLs as early as possible is appreciated. Amy Marcott is a web writer and editor at MIT who blogs frequently and assists with web redesigns and incorporating new technologies into online strategies.
Instructor: Amy Marcott
*3 SPOTS LEFT* Register now! $115.00/$95.00 members, Grub Street headquarters.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, December 4th, 9:00am-4:00pm, The Confident Writer
If you had more faith in your writing, what would you do? Submit more work to magazines? Finish that draft of your novel? Share your nonfiction in public? Receive critiques with delight? In a world where writers are often asked, "What novels have you published?" it can be difficult to build the confidence we need to progress. In this one-night seminar, we'll view our writing through an honest and encouraging lens, learning the art of positive self-talk and interpretation, while also finding ways to celebrate and inspire. Led by a writing teacher and psychology grad who has specialized in self-esteem, we'll practice tried and tested techniques including self-talk, community building, the praise sandwich, achievable goal-setting, arts activism, and alternative methods of showcasing our work. If possible, please come with two 500 word samples of your writing or excerpts from a longer piece, which you would be willing to share.
Instructor: Sue Williams
*4 SPOTS LEFT* Register now! $115.00/$95.00 members, Grub Street headquarters.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, December 5th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Jumpstart Your Writing
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.
Instructor: Grace Talusan
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, December 5th, 9:00am-4:00pm, Poetry Revision Clinic
"A poem is never finished," wrote Valery, "only abandoned." In this workshop, we will spend the day exploring different methods of revision – focusing on such techniques as storyboarding, reconsidering form, and attending to imagery and language. We will also try out a variety of revision protocols that can be used in writing groups. Participants should bring two to three poems (at any stage – from idea to completed draft) that they are interested in revising.
Instructor: Ben Berman
*2 SPOTS LEFT* Register now! $115.00/$95.00 members, Grub Street headquarters.
DAYTIME INTENSIVE: Monday-Friday, December 6-10th, 11:00am-2:00pm, Week-Long Revision Clinic
Whether it's exploring the possibilities of an initial draft or adding the final touches, revision is a process no successful writer can do without. This week-long intensive course will teach the crucial concepts of revision.
Instructor: Cam Terwilliger
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
READING AND OPEN MIC: Thursday, December 9th, 8:00-10:00pm, Fall Season Showcase
Join Grub students from the Fall 2010 term, plus two of our award-winning instructors, as they read (for 5 minutes each) from recent work. You'll hear great fiction, non-fiction, poetry and maybe even a screenplay. Open only to students who've taken courses, seminars or weekend workshops in Fall 2010. And yes, everyone gets free snacks and drinks. Sign-ups begin around 8pm. A great event for current Grubbies and those who want to check us out. Bring friends!
FREE, Grub Street headquarters.
SEMINAR: Tuesday, December 7th, 7:00-10:00pm, Find Your Memoir
This seminar will help writers who are beginning to write a memoir (or want to write a memoir) find a shape and form for their story.
Instructor: Ethan Gilsdorf
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
SEMINAR: Tuesday, December 7th, 7:00-10:00pm, Childhood Firsts
Flannery O’Connor famously said: “If you’ve survived your childhood, you have enough material to write about for the rest of your life.” In this seminar we will write with courage and exuberance to plumb these memories, hear them sing, and see how they connect and reverberate.
Instructor: Leslie Lawrence
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
SEMINAR: Tuesday, December 7th, 7:00-10:00pm, Become a Critical Creative: The Art of the Literary Review
Earning a living as a writer is notoriously difficult, especially without a diversified portfolio. Critical reviewing is an excellent way to build income and identity, all while maintaining a connection to one’s art. Taught by a veteran of the publishing industry and long-time book reviewer, Becoming a Critical Creative explores the development of a distinct perspective that writers can apply to the areas in which they work. The seminar evaluates key examples from leading critics and discusses the successful—or unsuccessful—methods of their approach. It covers the most common forms of reviewing—short form, long form, capsule, academic, pop—and the publications in which they appear. It also shares strategies for securing work as a reviewer and for creating the kind of voice that grabs a reader’s attention. Students are encouraged to submit review samples before class that the instructor and class can workshop. If you'd like to submit samples, please send them as an attachment by Sunday, December 5th, to chip@grubstreet.org.
Instructor: Marisa Pagano
*3 SPOTS LEFT* Register now! $65.00/$50.00 members, Grub Street headquarters.
SEMINAR: Tuesday, December 7th, 7:00-10:00pm, Ask the Agent
Janet Silver, Literary Director of the Zachary Shuster Harmsworth agency, brings more than three decades of experience as an acclaimed editor and publishing executive to her work as a literary agent. In this Grub Street seminar, you will sit down with Janet and ask her any question that’s on your mind about the role of the agent and get an insider’s view of the life of a literary agency.
Instructor: Janet Silver
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
FREE LUNCHTIME WRITING: Monday, December 13th, 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.
SEMINAR: Wednesday, December 15th, 7:00-10:00pm, Keeping Fiction Wild
An expanded version of the very popular Muse and the Marketplace 2010 Conference Lecture. How do we recognize wildness in our fiction, how do we sustain it? We will try to answer these questions through examples drawn from Denis Johnson and Jorge Luis Borges.
Instructor: Pablo Medina
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
SEMINAR: Wednesday, December 15th, 7:00-10:00pm, The Poem and the Idea
Poems that describe a heron or the moon can be nice, but what sets the one you remember apart from all the rest? Chances are it’s an interesting idea. This seminar will explore poetry as a manifestation of thought, examining the ways in which poems communicate complex ideas (be they overt ideas, diffuse ideas, or meta ideas through conceptualism), the overlapping territory of poetry and philosophy, and the difference between the poetic idea and other modes or tropes, such as imagery, description, narrative, and abstraction. Class time will be divided between lecture, discussion, and in-class reading, with an emphasis on discussion. A reading packet will be distributed, including poems by Rae Armantrout, Anne Carson, Maggie Nelson, Wallace Stevens, and Jon Woodward.
Instructor: Elisa Gabbert
*7 SPOTS LEFT* Register now! $65.00/$50.00 members, Grub Street headquarters.
SEMINAR: Wednesday, December 15th, 7:00-10:00pm, Epiphany and a Side Order of Meaning (or, “I’ll Have What She’s Having”)
If only it were that simple. Elevating our work from the personal to the universal—to some larger meaning that has your readers shaking their head in recognition and in amazement at your grand wisdom—can feel daunting. In this seminar geared toward writers of personal essay and memoir, we’ll examine the work of authors who do it well, such as Bernard Cooper, Joan Didion, Scott Russell Saunders and others.
Instructor: Amy Yelin
*Sorry, this class is sold out. Please click here to be put on a waiting list.*
Be sure to check out our website for a comprehensive view of upcoming events.
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: Wednesday, December 1st, 7pm, Stephen McCauley
Stephen McCauley (Alternatives to Sex, Object of My Affection) will be doing a reading and signing at Borders Books in Boston this Wednesday. The reading is one in a series of nationwide events at Borders stores in support of World AIDS Day and Lifebeat, an HIV education and prevention organization for youth. A portion of proceeds go to Lifebeat.
FREE, Borders, Back Bay, 511 Boylston Street.
--READING: Tuesday, December 7th, 6-7:30pm, Marianne Leone
Grub friend (and recent Taste of Grub reader) Marianne Leone will read and discuss her beautiful new book Knowing Jesse. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the JESSE COOPER FOUNDATION. Stellina will provide free appetizers and have a cash bar. Q & A and signing to follow reading.
FREE, Stellina's Restaurant, 47 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
--READING: Wednesday, December 8, 7:30-9:30pm, Four Stories Season Finale
It's a special Boston Fall 2010 Four Stories Season Finale at Mobius Gallery in the South End, in partnership with and support of the New Center for Arts & Culture and their Chanukah Festival. The theme of the evening: "Who Am I? Tales of Identity, Confusion, and Conflict." Featuring art, conversation, and readings by:
Charles Coe, author of the poetry volume Picnic on the Moon; Judah Leblang, writer and storyteller whose column 'Life in the Slow Lane' appears regularly in Bay Windows, and author of the book Finding My Place: One Man's Journey from Cleveland to Boston and Beyond; Michael Mack, writer with pieces published in America magazine, the Beloit Poetry Journal, New York Quarterly, and Journal of the American Medical Association; and Tracy McArdle, novelist, screenwriter, and author of humorous essays for The Boston Globe Magazine and the comic novels Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa and Real Women Eat Beef.
Please note: The New Center for Arts & Culture requests a donation of $5 in advance/$10 at the door for admittance to this event, in support of their operations. For questions, please call them at 617-531-4610.
Mobius Gallery,
725 Harrison Avenue, South End, Boston
--BENEFIT: Wednesday, December 8th, 7:00 p.m., Poets for Haiti Benefit
Please join Porter Square Books, Partners in Health, and Whole Foods for a very special evening of poetry. Six weeks after the city of Port-au-Prince was brought to its knees by one of the most destructive earthquakes on record - 18 remarkable writers including Robert Pinksy, Rosanna Warren, and Gail Mazur, joined together at Harvard University campus and demonstrated the power of the spoken word. That benefit reading was a vital and galvanizing event, and this anthology, Poets for Haiti, has been created to capture some of the magic that was sparked that night. With stunning artwork by some of Haiti's most prominent visual artists, the volume is itself a work of art. All proceeds from the sale of this anthology will go to Partners in Health to benefit the people of Haiti.Reading this evening will be Robert Pinsky, Daniel Tobin, Fred Marchant, Marilene Phipps-Kettlewell, Tom Daley and Ophelia Dahl.
Welcome to the end of the e-mail, where like a carnival magician with a mysterious signet ring, we offer you the chance to win a prize. This "foolish" author took twenty years to finish her only novel. Email your answer and your postal address to whitney@grubstreet.org. First correct respondent wins a J.P. Licks gift card.
Last week's answer: The question was "name three famous authors who were under five feet tall." While many of you had three good guesses, no one guessed all three authors: Charlotte Bronte (4'9"), Alexander Pope (4'6") and Jean-Paul Sartre (4'6").