The Decline of the English Department

The American Scholar article wonders “Where Have All the Students Gone?” An article of deep introspection by William Chace.

Publishers Must Change the Way Authors Get Paid / Editorial by M.J. Rose

Shout it from the rooftops, or better yet, hashtag it on Twitter. It’s time to turn the page on how authors get paid.

Times have changed, and with them, every aspect of the publishing landscape is morphing. And from my vantage point, nowhere is it changing more than in marketing. Authors aren’t waiting and watching to see what publishers aren’t doing for their books — they are jumping in feet first and months ahead of their houses to make sure there’s a serious marketing and publicity effort. — READ MORE

Rich Murphy’s Upcoming Poetry Title

Rich Murphy’s collection of poetry entitled Voyeur which won the 2008 Gival Press Poetry Award will be released this fall 2009.

His books and chapbooks have been nominated for the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, Griffin Award, Balcones Center Poetry Award, L.L. Winship / PEN New England Award, the Massachusetts Book Award, and William Carlos Williams Award.

His credits include a book of poems The Apple in the Monkey Tree (Codhill Press); chapbooks Great Grandfather (Pudding House Publications), Family Secret (Finishing Line Press), and Hunting and Pecking (Ahadada Press); poems in hundreds of journals in Anglophone countries; and essays in such periodicals as The International Journal of the Humanities, Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning, Reconfigurations: A Journal for Poetics Poetry / Literature and Culture, Fringe, and Big Toe Review. His essay on poetry’s evolving ecology will be in a special issue of The Journal of Ecocritism (University of British Columbia).

For more information click here.

Dynamic Workshops offered by Tamara Kaye Sellman

Writer’s Rainbow Online Workshop Schedule, Fall 2009

Registration for Fall 2009 Online Creative Writing Classes now open!

~Full workshop details and registration info here~

*Back to School, Back to Writing: Generative workshop for writers returning to the craft after an absence.
Registration Deadline Aug 26

Generative workshop for writers returning to the craft after an absence.

*Blog Content Builder: Three (3-session) blocks of blog-building strategy sessions, to be taken separately or together, for bloggers looking for new ways to generate content.
Registration Deadlines: Sept session (or for all 3 fall sessions), Aug 29
Oct session, Oct 3
Nov session, Oct 24

*Silencing the Critic: Live interactive strategies for managing the inner critic, supplemented with handouts from the instructor.
Registration Deadline Aug 30

*Rabbit’s Hat: Generation workshop for magical realist writers who are somewhat familiar with literary magical realism or speculative fiction. I’m pretty easygoing here, I just want to make sure you have some idea what magical realism is.
Registration Deadline Sept 3

*Prose Ekphrastika-”Strangeness”: Generative class using Ekphrasis (writing inspired by works of art).
Registration Deadline Sept 24

*Wet Dog Stories: Revision strategies for short stories up to 2000 words in length.
Registration Deadline Sept 30

*Team Rainbow 2009! National Novel Writing Month clinic: Live online clinic for all writers interested in writing a first draft of a novel between the dates of Nov 1 and Nov 30. Team Rainbow is the code word for success! Supportive team effort makes this difficult challenge much more playful and manageable. Students must be willing to follow National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org) rules, which include no pre-writing before Nov 1. Instructor offers tips, techniques and encouragement for getting through 30 days of intensive writing. Go Team Rainbow!
Registration Deadline: Oct 5

ALSO…

*If you’re in the Greater Seattle area…you can also sign up for my live workshops through the Bainbridge Island Park District! Look for my writing workshops in the BIMPRD catalog this fall, or check out my class listings here (go to page 14-15!)

• Blogging 101 for Writers
• Short Fiction Clinics (short stories, flash fiction)
• Short Fiction Lab
• NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month clinic

Key websites:

• Writer’s Rainbow Literary Services LLC: www.writersrainbow.com (home page)
  (Twitter: WritersRainbow)
• Margin: Exploring Modern Magical Realism: www.magical-realism.com (magical realism anthology)
  (Twitter: MR_Maven)
• MRCentral.net: www.mrcentral.net (community page)
  (Twitter: MR_Maven)
• Big Blog of Marvel: http://bigblogofmarvel.blogspot.com (magical realism blog)
  (Twitter: MR_Maven)
• TeachStreet http://www.teachstreet.com/teacher/writers-rainbow-llc (Writers Rainbow LLC)

BIG, SCARY, UNAMERICAN SOCIALIZED MEDICINE”

by DON STITT

A conservative Republican friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of President Obama in Heath Ledger’s “Joker” makeup, wearing a T-shirt that read, “Socialism.”

He included the addendum, “Hey, I don’t want my liberal friends to get their panties in a bunch over this. Remember, a lot of unflattering stuff was posted about Bush.”

(True enough. But to make a distinction here, Obama is an eloquent, diplomatic, thoughtful, and forward-thinking statesman, whereas the other person referred to was an imbecile who set our nation back by generations with ridiculous ideas. Just sayin’.)

And, it should be pointed out that this friend of mine once produced a music video of a song I recorded…with another actor playing the role I voiced on the recording. (I was available. Go figure.)

The notion of socialized medicine is an embarrassment to our nation’s capitalists. But it’s also an embarrassment to our “Capitalist” nation that between the growing national debt and the implosion of the banking and investment communities, our nation is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. We are roughly 3 trillion in debt to another nation, a nation whose sound mix of capitalism and socialism has made them able to effectively buy us. The are the People’s Republic of China. Yes friends, that’s right: Our greedy capitalists are now in hock to a communist country.

I got yer Big Scary Socialism right here.

So here are a few points about Big Scary Socialism that I think we have to consider as we try to drag 50 % of our population unwillingly into the 21st century:

Are you against the public libraries? The library system we enjoy today was the brainstorm of that dangerous anti-American Benjamin Franklin. He concluded that since most people only read a book once, we should make books available to as many people who wish to read them, for free. This idea did not do any harm to professional booksellers, as far as I can tell. He was a publisher himself, you know.

And public libraries are socialism.

Franklin also proposed another public works project: The Fire Department. Have the public pay to extinguish blazes in the homes of the poor? Outrageous. And yet, we have come to depend on the Fire Department, and their collective heroism on 9/11 still brings a tear to my eye to this day. Hard to imagine a world without fire departments.

And the Fire Department is socialism.

Are you against public education? Because, as far as I can tell, public education is helping countless millions of children. I won’t argue that private education seems to be superior for those who can afford it. I’d only point out that public education seems to be a good “default setting” for those who are not so fortunate, and it hasn’t threatened private education one bit.

And Public Education is socialism.

Are you against Medicare, or Medicaid in California? A poor fellow in a town hall meeting showed up with a sign for President Obama that said, “Keep your hands off my Medicare!” To those of us who understand the debate, this is wryly amusing, because Medicare is not threatened by the proposed Health Care legislation, nor is Medicaid. They would only be enhanced by single-payer health-care reform.

And Medicare and Medicaid are socialism.

Are you against Social Security? Remember, when FDR proposed helping destitute Americans who had worked a lifetime, and had their savings wiped out in the Wall Street crash of ‘29. he was called a “traitor to his class” by the uber-wealthy whose fortunes were commensurate with his own. But social security has been a hand-up, not a hand-out, to untold millions of Americans in their golden years since the thirties.

And Social Security is…well, you know.

To the degree that our private-insurer system works, (which in my opinion is “not very well,”) it works because the government keeps them in check. Do you think that a lot of claims are denied by the insurers now? Imagine what the system would be like if the government weren’t breathing down their neck.

And that’s the whole idea of the single-payer plan being debated now. It doesn’t eliminate private insurance for those who can afford it. It simply reduces the health care costs the public is already paying for by reducing the copious number of emergency-room visits for the uninsured. We pay for their emergency room visits, you know. Lessening this cost would save us money. An idea capitalists should embrace.

Public health has been in place in Europe and Canada for decades, and I have rarely heard a complaint from my European and Canadian friends to that end. Germany’s system seems to be exemplary. (And need I point out that the Marshall Plan was payed for by the public?)

Look, McCarthy was shamed into silence before most of us were born. The USSR is no longer a threat, (although I admit that Putin has me a little jumpy, and Kim Jong Ill hasn’t died just yet.) But the great communist threat never did us much harm. And while I do not propose putting such fears aside entirely, I do not see anything about socialized medicine that threatens the American way of life.

In fact, what I see is that it will help us immeasurably.

The one thing holding us back seems to be the fact that many people seem to get their information from news sources that are really in the pockets of big business, and the insurers have no shortage of propaganda and outright lies that they are willing to spew to keep their profit margins up. But some high-ranking former executives of these insurers are breaking ranks, and speaking out on public radio and public television.

And public broadcasting is…

Oh, gosh. I hate to repeat myself.

___________

If you like Don Stitt (and frankly – who doesn’t) check out his Facebook Profile and his other writings and social connections.

Liturgical Credo

Check out Liturgical Credo – Contemporoary Stories of Faith & Doubt

They have new submission guidelines and are a member of the CLMP. We enjoy sharing a writing community with a unique concept for writing. Enjoy the scope and depth of the writing. Perhaps it will be a good fit for your work, or just a good read.

Call for Submissions for Women Writers Anthology

Press Pause Now™ is accepting submissions for its first anthology. Press Pause Now™ is a unique retreat, workshop, and coaching program whose purpose is to help successful women rethink, refocus, and reenergize their lives.

Main Focus
Life is about change. As human beings we‟re always changing, growing, transforming, and transitioning our lives – whether we‟re seeking a new job, new career, or new direction. Whether it‟s our circumstances that lead us to take a new path or a desire to pursue a goal or dream, we learn that as women we have the power to choose who we want to be, what we want to do, and what kind of life we want to lead.
This inspirational and motivational collection of essays and articles will focus on stories about women and their “press pause moments,” those points of transition when they have decided to take a different path, pursue a passion, or go after a goal or dream. The catalyst and outcome of the journey may be personal, professional, or both. Most importantly we are looking for diversity in the types of stories. We want to hear from all kinds of women doing all kinds of things. (In other words, don‟t hesitate for fear your story won‟t “fit!”) This anthology will celebrate the “go for it” spirit shared by women everywhere who define success on their own terms and find the strength within themselves and among their network of supporters to make it happen.
Guidelines

• Nonfiction essays and articles should be between 800 – 2500 words in length, double-spaced.

• Only email submissions will be accepted and should be sent electronically as attachments (word or pdf format) to anne@presspausenow.com. Please put the word „Anthology‟ in the subject line.

• Please include a 65-70 word bio as you would like it to appear in the published anthology should your submission be accepted. You may include a website address for consideration.

• You will greatly increase your chances of inclusion if you take care to proofread your work and run a spell check prior to submitting.

• You may submit up to two essays or articles for consideration. Each submission should be sent in a separate email.

• Deadline for submissions is midnight September 25, 2009.

• Publication is anticipated by early 2010.

• You can stay up-to-date about the anthology‟s progress at http://www.ppnanthologyseries.wordpress.com .

About the Editor
Anne Witkavitch is currently president of C-Suite Communications, a strategic marketing and communications firm, and founder of Press Pause Now™, a life design and coaching program that helps successful women rethink, refocus, and re-energize their lives. She is a former Fortune 100 communications executive. Anne‟s press pause story began when she decided to pursue a lifetime dream to become a published writer by returning to graduate school at the age of 42. Juggling fulltime career, parenthood, and studies, she earned her M.F.A. in Professional Writing and has published her work in a variety of publications. She also teaches, mentors, and speaks about writing, communications, leadership, and work/life balance.

Please Note
Publishing this anthology is a new endeavor; unfortunately at this time we cannot pay for contributions that are accepted. However we will actively promote the anthology and your writing. Inclusion will provide writers with a focused publishing credit.

Thank you for considering a submission.

What can Miranda Twitter do for you?

Our Twitter profile is filled with different tweets from writers, agents, publishers, and journals sending out advice, links, news, and connections to good writing. Check it out and see what people are buzzing about. An imortant aspect of our community is to give writers a communty and share information. Check it out.

Follow our writing fraud articles here on the blog and send us your stories about shady writing deals and people in the industry. Your story and information will help others.

Miranda Twitter

Miranda Facebook

Word Whore or Respected Professional Writer? Getting Published and Paid Without Having to Turn Tricks

By Anne Witkavitch

Now that I’ve grabbed your attention, let’s get down to business. I hear you want to be a successful freelance writer. That is great news! But I also get nervous, like I do when I hear about some young girl with starry eyes who quits college, packs her bags, and moves out west for her big break. It rarely happens. Those who do find success know it takes more than just good looks and talent to reach their dreams. They are willing to take small acting jobs to build their resume and hone their craft. They network and make reliable contacts. They have a strategy. And they slowly and deliberately develop a steady stream of work.

Many people mistake freelance writing as an easy way to make a living. Like the young girl who thinks because she has the face, body, and talent she’ll land the first audition and win her Oscar® next year, many freelance writers expect that their talents will get them the first assignments they go after, or worst yet, believe their ring tones will go off nonstop just because they’re open for business. But when that doesn’t happen, they get desperate and seek any opportunity to get their words in print, on computer screens or on paper, which could have disastrous consequences for a would-be career.

Be careful! Before you listen for that never-ending ring tone, make sure you:

• Research and Learn the Business. Read some of the excellent books by Bob Bly or visit his website www.bly.com . Bly is considered one of the gurus of freelance copywriting and has been around since I had my first business in 1991. Another great book is What to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants by Laurie Lewis. An important read to understand how to price your time and talent effectively and realistically.

• Understand your mission. What kind of freelance writing do you want to do? Articles and features? Web content or promotional copy? Speeches and presentations? Or does your background and expertise warrant a unique blend of all of these?

• Position your business. Be able to articulate your value proposition (why should clients hire you? What makes you unique?) Know what kind of work you want to do before you write. This will most likely adjust as you grow your freelance business, but you need a starting point.

• Develop a strategy. Include clearly defined goals and objectives, a timeframe, and desired results you hope to achieve in the next three years. Think finances; in other words, how much money do you need/want to make each year and how will you do that?

• Build Your Target Market. Create a contact list of people who need your services and would be willing to pay for them. Be innovative. Check out creative service providers who represent contractors and freelancers. Attend networking events in your industry. Check out your local Chambers of Commerce and reach out to small business.

• Create an Online Presence. You at least need a simple website that tells prospects about who you are and what you do. Create an online portfolio that professionally presents your best work. Dedicate one page for your resume to give a comprehensive overview of your background if this strengthens support for your services.

About Anne Witkavitch: Anne is a published writer, speaker, and consultant. She holds an M.F.A. in Professional Writing. Her explication of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking was previously published in Miranda Literary Magazine. Read her thoughts about being a 21^st century working mother on her blog The Eclectic Writer. She also is the “resident sanity expert” and a blogger for TravelingMom.com.

Twitter and the Elections in Iran

by Ron Samul

I am really new to Twitter, but I’ve been waiting for more information about the elections in Iran and what is going on there. I found some good articles and video from the BBC and the AP – but once I got to Twitter and started following the protester directly, I was caught up in the movement.

Protesters, citizens, and students have been sending out little messages that create an amazing tapestry of information, visions, views, and opinions. It has been so powerful that the company that hosts and supports Twitter has postponed scheduled update outages so that the voice of the pro-democracy movement in Iran wouldn’t be turned off.

Now, the government has started shutting down access to the Internet. In response, people around the world are opening new IP addresses to help the people in Iran communicate to us and more importantly, to each other. Hackers are helping too. But they are hacking into the old regime websites and shutting them down. For them, it is there way of contributing to the cause.

CNN and other news media are too slow and too static to help and verify the information that is coming through twitter and other sites. People are helping inside and out. As we found out during the Obama election cycle, information is power and it can move people.

I have to say that I didn’t like Twitter when I signed on, but checking out what is happening is not only empowering and informational, it is a connection that a whole generation of young people have been shaping for years.

Following the posts on Twitter has been an inspiration to the humanity of it all. It has also been haunting and sad that people are fearing for their lives, changing locations so they aren’t caught by the police, and are still trying to reach out to the world.

Does technology shift the culture or has the culture made the technology a tool for change? We shall see.