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Don't be fooled by the grim-faced picture. It was the only unblinking one. For me, words are worth a thousand pictures. I'm looking forward to saying hi to all of you.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The joy of all our learning braiding together

I was at the MOMA today (Museum of Modern Art) admiring a contemporary drawing by Glenn Ligon when I looked closer and noticed that there was text in it that was familiar to me. I read the title: Stranger in the Village/Hands. Yes, the text that was interspersed in the drawing (a collage really, made of glue, dust, ink and newspaper) was from an essay by James Baldwin that I had assigned in my essay class. It was about the shock of being the first African American to visit a small town in Switzerland. The text was overlaid with images of the Million Man March in 1995. A surprise like this is one of the pleasures of growing older. Everything you've learned comes together, grows richer from different fields of study and perspectives. Another pleasure of growing older is not dying younger.

I guess what made me think of this is that tomorrow is my birthday.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Some places to send your work

I'm always urging students to send out their work. Here are some "Where to Send's."

Upcoming AnthologiesDeadline:

11/15/09.Submit to: Diverse Voices Quarterly. E-mail attachments to: submit@diversevoicesquarterly.com.Theme: We welcome submissions from everyone, of all ages and backgrounds.Type: Poetry (5 poems MAX), short stories, personal essays (3,000 words MAX), and artwork/photography (2 images words MAX).

Deadline: 11/31/2009.Submit to: Untitled Anthology. Submit via e-mail (.doc or .docx attachment) to: susan@burwen.com. Please include your e-mail and phone number.Theme: Relationships between men and women that are almost successful in leading to marriage or a long-term commitment, but somehow don't work out.Type: Prose (8,000 words MAX).URL: TBA (NOTE: this anthology does not yet have a contracted publisher.Deadline: 12/01/09.

Deadline: 12/15/09.Submit to: Earth’s Daughters. PO Box 41, Central Park Station, Buffalo, NY 14215.Theme: Flesh and Spirit.Type: Poetry (3 poems MAX) and prose (1,500 words MAX).URL: http://www.earthsdaughters.org/themes.htm

Deadline: 12/15/09.Submit to: Fiction International. Harold Jaffe, Editor. San Diego State University, Dept. of English and Comp. Lit., 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-6020.Theme: Walls.Type: Prose. URL: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~fictintl/submissions.php

Deadline: 12/31/09.Submit to: A Cup of Comfort. Submit via online form: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/memberlogin.Theme: For Golfers.Type: Personal essays (2,000 words MAX).URL: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/CallForSubmissions Deadline: 12/31/09.Submit to:

12/31/09.Submit to: Whole Terrain. Editor, Antioch University New England, 40 Avon Street, Keene, NH 03431-3552, or e-mail to: whole_terrain@antioch.edu (preferred).Theme: The Scale of Significance. Type: Poetry (3 poems MAX), short stories, and essays (2,000 words
MAX).URL: http://www.antiochne.edu/news/news_detail.cfm?News_ID=733Deadline:

12/31/09.Submit to: Robot Hearts: Twisted and True Tales of Seeking Love in the Digital Age. E-mail to: red@lifesabitchbooks.com, or mail to: Life’s a Bitch Books, PO Box 4788, Baltimore, MD 21211.Theme: Looking for pieces that focus on the uniqueness of trying to make a human connection in this digital age.Type: First-person essays (5,000 words MAX).URL: http://www.lifesabitchbooks.com/anthologies/calls-for-submissions

Deadline: 12/31/09.Submit to: What Doesn't Kill You... E-mail (via attachment) to coeditor Murray Dunlap at murraydunlap@gmail.com.Theme: Stories of struggle (real or imagined, physical or mental).Type: Short stories or personal essays (10,000 words MAX).URL: http://www.press53.com/whatdoesntkillyou.html

01/04/10.Submit to: City Works Press. E-mail to: MammasPappas@gmail.com, or mail to: City Works Press, ATTN: Mamas and Papas, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101.Theme: Motherhood or fatherhood, or the decision NOT to be a parent.Type: Poetry (4 poems MAX) and prose (2,500 words MAX). URL: http://www.cityworkspress.org/submit.html

Deadline: 01/30/10.Submit to: K.A. Sheahan, Healing EMA, 12618 La Cresta Court, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, or e-mail Word document attachment and include in the body of the e-mail to sheahan.k@gmail.comTheme: Healing After the Betrayal of an Extramarital Affair.Type: Stories, essays, or excerpts where genuine healing has occurred (6,000 words MAX).URL: Please Google for more information.Deadline: 02/01/10.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Writing Book Reviews are Wonderful Opportunities for all of You

http://calitreview.com/5301

Here's my latest book review for Sounth Carolina Literary Review. I never would have read this book had it not been on the review list, and I'm so glad I did.

So many small lit magazines and webzines need reviewers. My students' feedback on what they've read proves to me that there are many reviewers among us. If you want to review books, poetry included, google lit matgazines, book reviews. Get a letter of recommendation from one of your teachers, and apply.