September 13th, 2011

Grub Street News

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene brought to you every Monday (except when we're in Seattle for a work conference) from the walk-in shoe closet at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this email in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.

A few things of note: Don't miss out on these great upcoming classes

• Write in the light! Grub's offering brand new Daytime Classes, many of which begin next week.
• Speaking of next week, all 10-week workshops start next week as well — now is the last chance to register, so don't delay!  
• We've added two great new workshops to the Fall lineup: 6 Weeks, 6 Essays— Level II and The Smart Page-Turner Reloaded. There are spaces in both but they're filling fast.

Grub gone. . . to Seattle

The Grub Street office was a little empty last week, since three of our six staff members were in Seattle attending a fantastic seminar led by National Arts Strategies. If you work at a non-profit arts organization, we highly recommend you check out NAS and apply for one of their transformational workshops. While we were in Seattle, we got to enjoy some wonderful sunny weather, rub shoulders (and drink cocktails!) with our good friends from The Loft, and get a chuckle from street signs like the one pictured at the right. We have no idea what GRUBWITHUS stands for, but we like the sound of it.

You can't get through this week without Grub (well, okay, maybe you can, but you shouldn't!)

We've got two great weeknight events this week that we don't want you to miss. On Wednesday, join us (and host Jennifer De Leon) for a free writing workshop and reading with the much-buzzed-about debut author Justin Torres, who is making a splash with his first novel, We The Animals. Then, on Thursday, come down to Grub for our Summer Season Showcase. If you took a class this summer, be sure to sign up for one of the fifteen open mike slots when you arrive; if not, come and listen to the great readers, including two of our instructors, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich and Ben Winters.

Not enough Grub for you? Check out the three stellar seminars happening on Wednesday night, and the SIX weekend workshops coming up this weekend, including two past favorites: The Hook & the Book (How to Make Your Query Letter and First Five Pages Irresistible to an Agent), and Writing For Radio. Details on all classes and events are below.

Our Daily Best

• Floating a Model-A on a raft: what life used to be like on Nantucket (an excerpt from Little Gray Island)
• Friday Five-O: What to do with two weeks to focus on your writing
• Cold, blue-white-lit, MacBook-fueled terror. AKA writer’s block.
  

Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya, Eve, Chris, Rowan and Sean

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.

SEMINAR: Wednesday, September 14th, 6:30-9:30pm, Freelance Writing Essentials
In this seminar we’ll discuss how to come up with ideas that editors want, where to get insider information on who edits what. We’ll also look at the do’s and don’ts of contacting editors and cover the basics of pitching stories and writing pitch letters.
Instructor: Ethan Gilsdorf
$65/$50 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

SEMINAR: Wednesday, September 14th, 6:30-9:30pm, Funny Is the New Deep
In this informal class, we'll look at the work of Lorrie Moore, George Saunders, and others, in an effort to learn how you can be funny and break hearts while doing it.
Instructor: Steve Almond
Sorry, this class is sold out. Join the waiting list.

SEMINAR: Wednesday, September 14th, 6:30-9:30pm, Dynamic Scene Writing
Scenes are the flesh and blood of every piece of fiction, but they often get crowded out by exposition, stage directions, cliched cigarette smoking, poor pacing, literary showmanship, and the writer's own nervousness over letting characters get out of control. We will discuss cinematic techniques for writing scenes, infolding/unfolding of time, and the necessity of the senses, desire, curiosity, and conflict.
Instructor: Michelle Hoover
Sorry, this class is sold out. Join the waiting list.

WRITING EXERCISES AND BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: Wednesday, September 14th, 6:00–6:45pm, An Evening with Justin Torres
Meet Justin Torres, author of one of the most exciting debut novels of the year, who will guide you through a few writing exercises and talk a little bit about the craft of fiction. This will be a FREE and informal gathering of Grubbies and friends before Justin reads from We The Animals at 7:00pm, hosted by Jenn De Leon. After the reading, join us for drinks at Daedalus, where we will continue to celebrate and talk about writing and the writing life.
FREE, Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge.

OPEN MIKE: Thursday, September 15th, 8:00pm, Summer Season Showcase
Join Grub students from the Summer 2011 term, plus two of our award-winning instructors -- Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich and Ben Winters -- as they read (for 5 minutes each) from recent work. You'll hear great fiction, non-fiction, poetry and maybe even a screenplay. Signups for open mike open only to students who've taken courses, seminars or weekend workshops in the summer of 2011. Limited to 15 readers. 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.
FREE, Grub Street HQ.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18th, 10:00am-5:00pm, The Psychology of Character
In this weekend workshop, novelist and family life expert Lynne Griffin will share her unique ideas for crafting characters from the inside out; ones who are more than the sum of their physical traits, showing you how to get to the heart of character motivation. You’ll learn how to use behavioral research on human nature to answer all kinds of questions like, “What would this character really do?” “What makes a person do this and such?” “How would my character react to that?” Through lecture, discussion, close reading, and writing exercises, you’ll practice new techniques for crafting three dimensional, compelling and memorable, major as well as minor, characters.
Instructor: Lynne Griffin
$220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18th, 10:00am-5:00pm, The Hook & the Book (How to Make Your Query Letter and First Five Pages Irresistible to an Agent)
Most literary agents receive at least one hundred query letters each week, yet respond positively to less than two percent. Decisions on writing samples (partials) are often made within the first five pages. Would yours make the cut? Do you know the secrets to writing a winning query? 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, tips on how to stand out in a pile of queries, help on the first five pages, a review of a laundry list of Dos and Don’ts, and both group and one-on-one analysis of your submission package. By the time you leave on Sunday, you can expect to have a strong query letter that gets an agent’s attention, (or at least a strong framework), and first pages that sing. Open to all levels, all genres.
Important: Please prepare and email to rowan@grubstreet.org no later than noon on Monday, September 12th, a query letter of no more than 400 words, and the first five pages of your manuscript (double spaced, single sided, 12pt font, 1 inch margins, pages numbered) for the instructor.
For Day One: Bring four copies of the query and the first five pages to the first class for group review. Note: you will be reworking your query and first five pages between classes.
For Day Two: Please bring thirteen copies of your reworked query and first five pages. If the class size is smaller than 12, you will be notified on the correct number of copies.
Instructor: Sorche Fairbank
$220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Writing for Radio
Public radio is a writer's dream come true. From commentaries to personal essays, memoir to satire, it's a perfect place to pitch your wackiest ideas. But writing for broadcast is nothing like print. It's a beast all its own. Whether it's the distinct voice of This American Life or the fast-paced daily news of All Things Considered, NPR is one of the most exciting places for today's storytellers to air their work. Problem is most people don't know enough about broadcast to navigate their way through the NPR system, no less a radio script. You will learn the basics of how to write for the ear, the critical differences between print and broadcast, how to read your copy on air, and how to pitch your stories. Participants will begin writing a radio script so that by the end of the weekend each student will have some version, finished or not, of their ideal radio piece. There will be an opportunity for you to receive feedback as well as share your thoughts with others. Taught by an instructor who was a producer for NPR's nationally syndicated program "The Connection” and a six-and-a-half-year producer for CNN.
Instructor: Jennifer Mattson
$220/$195 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, September 17th, 10:00am-5:00pm, A Deeper Kind of Naked: Writing Literary Lust
Literary work often shines best when desire is not only enticing to read, but lays its characters bare both literally and figuratively. In this day course, you will practice crafting sex scenes that raise the stakes by building authentic desire. Placing an emphasis on feeling, sensation and transformation, we will lend fire to your work while revealing your characters at their most vulnerable and/or powerful. Whether you are writing a novel, short story, or are crafting brand new scenes, you will benefit from this supportive class. All sexualities warmly welcomed.
Instructor: Sue Williams
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, September 17th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Memoir: Making Smart Choices Behind the Scenes
Capturing your story on paper requires dozens of choices, from the creative (Who are you as a character? How do you represent family & friends in a way that won't crush those relationships? How do you find the best narrative arc?) to the practical (What legal hurdles do you need to clear? How do you put together a winning proposal?) In this class we'll look at the "behind the scenes" aspects of writing memoir, and help you create a personalized strategy for for telling and selling your story. Class will include writing exercises, goal setting, and opportunities to share your work.
Instructor: Trish Ryan
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, September 18th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Sonnet Generator
Have you always wanted to write a sonnet but didn't know how to start? Or maybe you started and then got bogged down somewhere around the sixth line, when the rhyme scheme became daunting. This class is for you. In the morning we will follow an exercise designed to produce a "modern sonnet," using fourteen 10-syllable lines without end rhyme, and in the afternoon an exercise will guide us in writing a sonnet with borrowed end-rhyme. We will also read published sonnets, both modern and traditional. As time allows, we may critique each other's poems, but the emphasis will be on writing. All levels welcome. Bring to class one or two of your favorite sonnets that use end rhyme.
Instructor: Wendy Mnookin
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Sunday, September 18th, 10:00am-5:00pm, How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book: Section A
Books often start with a simple yearning to explore new territory: fascinating topics, characters who won’t leave you alone, a good story. But manuscripts get unwieldy, fast. One out of ten writers never finish their manuscripts because most first-time book writers get lost without good structure and planning. Mary Carroll Moore, award-winning author of 13 books in three genres and a PEN/Faulkner nominee, will guide you through a simple and successful book-writing process that can take your book from idea to publication, a process using a three-act structure that eases organization and makes a manuscript vivid and engaging to readers. Find out why Aristotle believed that three acts formed a perfect structure for all stories, why humans lean toward beginning, middle, and end, and why we crave the emotional catharsis of that format in literature too. For all levels of writers working on nonfiction, memoir, or novels, at any stage from seed idea to draft. Learn why strong structuring is the key to selling a book in today's competitive publishing industry.
Instructor: Mary Carroll Moore
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Not a member? Become a Grubbie today!

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: Wednesday, September 14th, 7:30pm, Henri Cole and Sara Peters
Henri Cole was born in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1956. He has published seven collections of poetry, including Middle Earth, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Sara Peters was born in Nova Scotia in 1982. She is a 2008 graduate of Boston University’s MFA program and currently lives in San Francisco, where she is a Stegner Fellow at Stanford.

--NETWORKING: Wednesday, September 14th, 6-8pm, Book Builders of Boston
Book Builders of Boston is having another Casual Networking Event on September 14 at the Back Bay Social Club, 6-8pm. No cover charge, no formal agenda, just a chance to drop in, enjoy a drink, and mingle with fellow book builders and book lovers!

--WORKSHOP: Friday September 23rd, 7-9 pm and Saturday, September 24th, 10-5 pm, Walking into Fire: Sidestepping Fear, Writing Your Heart Out, and Letting Your Story Tell Itself
You love to write. You like to write. You think you’d like to write. You used to write. Writing brings you home. Even though you may find it hard to say, “I am a writer,” your heart knows it’s true. Please join best-selling authors and experienced teachers Jen Louden, Susan Piver, and Patti Digh for a heart-expanding, writing refreshing day bursting with learning, craft, and creativity.

--FESTIVAL: September 23-25, Salem Literary Festival
Salem Literary Festival brings together authors, readers and writers for a weekend of literary fun in beautiful and historic Salem MA. Registration for the two main events, Friday's Opening Night Celebration featuring Erin Morgenstern and The Night Circus and Saturday's Dinner with the Author, ends Monday 9/19, so go to www.salemlitfest.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets now.  The rest of the events can be accessed with the purchase of a $5 admission button, and while pre-registration isn't required, it's recommended.

--TEEN WRITING: 10-week session begins September 24th, Poetry and Pictures: Creative Writing, Ages 15-18
Explore the MFA collections to find inspiration and content for your writing. Discover the deep relationships between visual art and poetry. The class includes presentations of artists and poets, group discussions, and a personalized tour of the galleries. Develop a polished poem or short prose and complete your project by creating an optional audio/video performance of your written work accompanied by fine art imagery or your personal photography.

--WRITING SPACE: The Writers' Room of Boston
Are you looking for a quiet place to write? The Writers’ Room of Boston is a nonprofit organization located on State St. in Downtown Boston and we are currently accepting new members.  Our mission supports the creation of literary and other written works by providing 24/7 access to an affordable, quiet, and safe workspace.   All writers, whether published or not, are encouraged to apply. The minimum residency is three months; membership costs $300 per quarter.  

--CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Best Women's Travel Writing 2012
Best Women's Travel Writing 2012 is looking for the full range of experience: adventurous, mystical, funny, poignant, cuisine-related, cross-cultural, transformational, funny, illuminating, frightening, or grim—as well as solo travel and travel with friends, partners, and families. Stories should reflect that unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. Previously published essays are OK, provided you control all rights to the story.

--CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Newport Review
Newport Review is now accepting entries for its 2011 Flash Fiction Contest. Meg Pokrass will judge. Offering $500 in prizes and publication. Word limit: 1000; entry fee: $8 per story, 3 for $21. Deadline, October 1.