I am still recovering from the AWP Conference and my long weekend in New York City…I feel as though I need at least a week to sort through all the interesting new literary journals I picked up and to absorb all the passionate conversations I had about writing. Spending three days with 7,500 writers makes for an intense experience.
Favorite oddball tidbit: the character of Elaine Bennes on Seinfeld was based on legendary writer Richard Yates’s daughter!!
As for the other important part of the trip: New York food highlights include scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, smoked sturgeon, and onions at Barney Greengrass (“The Sturgeon King”); about the best hamburger I’ve ever had at the burger joint in (of all places) a hole-in-the-wall hidden deep in the Le Parker Meridien hotel; and a Brazilian shrimp stew at Via Brasil. Oh, and I found a coal oven pizza place in midtown that was excellent (Angelo’s). Goodness…I almost forgot the fabulous Nantucket scallops at the Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station! And the corned beef sandwich at Carnegie Deli! There’s even more but I’ll seem like a pig if I keep going….
So, more substantial items as the week proceeds, but for now, this call for submissions from The Writer magazine looks fun:
Writing is serious business. But funny things do happen. We all make silly mistakes, some more humiliating than others. At the time, your blunder probably seemed unbearably embarrassing, but looking back on it ... it was pretty funny.
Here's a chance to show your sense of humor by sharing a favorite faux pas from your writing career. Send us your story in 50 to 250 words by May 31, 2008, and we'll publish the most entertaining entries in a future issue of The Writer and/or online at www.WriterMag.com.
We will read all submissions and notify you if your work is selected for publication. Selected works will be edited. If your piece is published, you will receive $50 and a year's subscription to The Writer.
Send entries as Word attachments to exchange@writermag.com. Submissions must be e-mailed no later than May 31, 2008.
Sorry, we are unable to critique or return your work. Be sure your manuscript is clearly identified with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
We're all human. Don't be shy--share it with the rest of us!