Thursday, August 13, 2009

Miscellania...

Various bits and pieces of writing news to ease you back into the world before the semester begins (unless, of course, you never left to begin with):

-Check out the recent SF Chronicle online, featuring a review of The Convalescent by alum Jessica Anthony (who will also be reading from her novel at this year's Fall for the Book Festival)as well as Alan's review of the new Thomas Pynchon book

-Boulevard had just opened for their short fiction contest, deadline 12/31 - this one offers a free subscription with the entry fee (ok, so not really free)

-Zoetrope: All Story is still accepting entries for their fiction contest, judged by Yiyun Li, who will be Visiting Fiction Writer this Fall at Mason


-And more contests from Black Warrior Review, Gulf Coast, and - yes - even Good Housekeeping

And don't forget - most lit mags are open to submissions either now or in just a few weeks - get those stories ready and sent out!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

The MFA Chronicles, with Jennifer Brown

The MFA Chronicles, in which several first-year creative writing students share their experiences while pursuing MFAs (and a PhD), have already begun. The diverse group includes incoming GMU first-year fiction MFAer Jennifer Brown—nice work, and welcome, Jennifer!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Dan Kois on Facing Future

Dan Kois, a 2001 GMU fiction MFA alum, contributing writer for New York magazine, and film critic for the Washington Post, has a book out November 2009, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Facing Future, a nonfiction account of Hawaii's all-time best-selling album (e.g.). It is part of publisher Continuum’s 33 1/3 series (see here or here).

Eugenia Tsutsumi in Caketrain!

Caketrain took GMU fiction MFAer Eugenia Tsutsumi’s short-short, “Trek,” for issue 7, tentatively slated for publication in late 2009. Nice work, Eugenia! (Et oui!) Purchase said issue here, when it’s ready.