Softball Department (brought to you by guest sportscaster, Becky Tuch)

Word-Slingers 11, ConSultans of Swat, 8

ANDOVER-- On Sunday, Grub Street Word-Slingers went head to head against The ConSultans of Swat. Grub Street started fierce, with power hits and aggressive base running that instantly put the ConSultans on guard. Through the first few innings, Grub Street's hits remained strong and they worked their way through the short line-up, rounding base after base. On defense, their smaller-than-usual team (nine instead of the usual ten players) did not prevent them from catching pop-ups, calling flies, and staying tight and organized...Until players got tired. And the captain made a sloppy error at second. And one thing. Then another. And soon the ConSultans had caught up, closing in on Grub Street's lead...But losing? That is so 2008! The Word Slingers managed to rally their defensive mojo and in the end held their opponents at just a few runs below them. The game was won. The Word-Slingers, at last, exhaled.

Softball Department (brought to you by guest sportscaster, Clarence Lai)

Necessary Roughness 11, Grub Street WordSlingers 2.

After winning two of two games thus far, the Grub Street WordSlingers were vanquished this Sunday by Necessary Roughness, ending hopes of a perfect season. Playing without a full squad, the Slingers fell behind early and were unable to claw back, despite clawing extremely hard. The hits and walks simply did not materalize for the Slingers. A sudden passing tornado threatened to literally blow the team away, suspending play for ten minutes. But fear not, true fans! The team has vowed to rise from defeat to sling words, strikeouts, and home runs as in their days of not-forgotten greatness.

Let's Just Forget About This One

Java Junkies infinity-seven, Grub Street Word-Slingers one

By Matt Frederick

Fresh off a dominating victory the previous week, the Grub Street Word-Slingers took the diamond Sunday expecting big things. The big thing to emerge was an early deficit, as the orange-clad Java Junkies scored several billion times in the first inning to take the lead, several billion to zero. The Junkies added several dozen more dingers in the second and third innings to increase their lead to eleventy-twelve skillion to nothing, despite Matt Biewener's conscientous patrolling of Church Street beyond the left field fence.

Fueled by several swinging bunts, the Word-Slingers built a two-out threat in the bottom of the third, putting runners on first and second. But the rally died when Matt Frederick's drive toward the warning track in left was hauled in by the Junkies' pitcher a little bit in front of third base.

Jon Papernick relieved the starting pitcher in the top of the fourth and finally quieted the Junkies' attack with a variety of illegal pitches. Papernick then led the offense in the bottom of the fourth by singling and scampering all the way home on a double by someone or other; no one is sure who as we weren’t paying much attention by this point.

With the Word-Slingers prowess having been made apparent, the game was called by the umpire after the bottom of the fourth inning on account of it not resembling softball.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

Word-Slingers 19, Other Team 5.

While the rest of the world was cozily dozing on Sunday morning, Grub Street’s dedicated Word Slingers woke at the crack of dawn to stretch their hamstrings and pound their mitts into shape.
“It’s turning into a beautiful day,” team captain Becky Tuch observed, as the mist rose from wet grass and deep layers of mud dried around second base.
“Yeah,” agreed outfielder Matt Biewener, swilling from a bottle of Muscle Milk and wiping sleep from his eyes. “Beautiful.”
Plied with gusto and coffee and delicious farm-picked apples, it wasn’t long before the disappointment of the team’s early-season losses evaporated like dew. At third base, Ted Weesner—who has been studying ballet in his free time—was quick, organized and graceful. No ball got past him as he dove, jumped and hustled like a man—or ballerina—on fire.
But what would a third baseman be without a first baseman to receive his throws? At this post was medieval fantasy freak, Ethan Gilsdorf. Clad in chain mail, clutching his sword in one hand and his mitt in the other, Gilsdorf stopped many a gnome and woodland creature from arriving safe at the plate.
Notable infielders included Jon Papernick, who likes to wear stretchy white leggings, Wayne Feldman who donned the season’s latest hiking boots, and Mike Whose Last Name No One Actually Knows. These three fashion icons caught pop-ups, dug in for grounders, backed up the pitcher, and called out plays, all while giving George Clooney a run for his money as next GQ poster man.
Then there was the outfield. Cunning and sharp, these stalwarts knew how to stack the field. Engine Purring Matt Biewener, Motor Oil Matt Frederick, Elbow Grease Jeff Stern and This-Author-Wishes-She-Knew-More-About-Cars-Because-She’s-Out-of-Metaphors Clarence Lai, lined up in rows, spread apart like star clusters, and generally organized themselves into complex algorithms to safeguard against homerun hitters. It was like watching, well, a car. Run. Without making chugging noises.
And finally, Bestsy Lawson proved once again how vital she is to the team. Not only did she recruit the incredible Kristine YoungPerson, but she stepped right up to the mound and did an outstanding job, pitching a solid and consistent game that left the other team shuddering in their cleats and oversize tee shirts. She is a pitcher who can field, a fielder who can pitch, a mom who can coach, a coach who is a mom, an all around powerhouse.
Team Captain Becky Tuch is happy to report that, indeed, Sunday turned into a beautiful day. Final score: Word-Slingers 19, Other Team 5.

Two East Boston Seniors Meet Twenty East Boston Kids

Here at Grub Street we have been truly impressed with all the unexpected journeys that the Memoir Project has taken since it began in 2006. Last Wednesday, the Boston Museum hosted an event at the East Boston Public Library where two seniors read their essays from My Legacy Is Simply This. The audience was twenty rowdy students from Umana Middle School Academy.

It was not a traditional reading. The seniors, Ann Papapietro and Alice Christopher, punctuated each paragraph of their essays with additional unwritten thoughts and comments, and the students responded with questions and comments of their own. The result was a dialogue on the past and present of East Boston - from the days before the tunnel when a ferry cost a single cent, to the food carts along Porter Street, and even a short talk about the importance of using cloth napkins and tablecloths.

After Mrs. Christopher read from her essay the focus changed from history to heritage. Her essay ‘A Nice American Girl’ is about being the youngest daughter of a large Italian family. And Mrs. Christopher wasn’t shy about how hard it was to be the only one in her family born in America, about having to translate for her parents, about never learning Italian, and about her childhood dislike of traditional Italian food. The same issues were presented to the students: Did they have parents and siblings who were born in another country? Did they ever have to translate for their parents? And for each question, more then half the students raised their hands.

Through the skill of the humanities teachers at Umana Middle School Academy and the foresight of the Boston Museum, several connections were made that day in the basement of the East Boston Public Library. The seniors were able to share the personal stories of their lives, but also add their perspective to East Boston history and the challenges of being an American immigrant. And in that quiet, fidgety way twenty middle school students learned something they didn’t know before- even if it was just that going to the movies used to cost ten cents.

-Whitney Ochoa

Top Ten Reasons Why The Word-Slingers Should Have Won Sunday’s Game

1. The team played at Veteran’s Field, which is the most beautiful of all the North Boston fields, with a glistening lake just nearby and a pleasant atmosphere of dog-walkers, joggers and elderly sports fans.

2. Jen LaVin pitched like an ace, earning numerous strike-outs.

3. No ball was too high or too low for Brian Runk, whose uncannily long limbs make him a star first baseman.

4. Short-stop Jon Papernick didn’t let a single ball go past him. While many balls were stopped, he, himself was unstoppable.

5. Outfielders Betsy Lawson, Mike Last-Name-Unknown, Jeff Stern, Clarence Lai and Ethan Gilsdorf caught fly balls high and fast and deep, and they made it look as easy as reading an email.

6. The umpire had lovely blue eyes, a sturdy physique and a charming Boston accent, all of which did not go unnoticed by team captain, Becky Tuch.

7. A local park ranger came by to remind the team to clean up afterward. His orange tan and waxed chest did not go unnoticed by outfielder Matt Biewener and third-baseman Tom Meek.

8. Power-hitter Steve Rubman beat that ball into the clouds again and again.

9. Wayne Feldman.

10. Finally, while the other team was short a woman, the Grub Street team had just enough, including Kristen, who came from outer space.

Sadly, the game was a tie up until the very last inning, at which point the Team In Lime Green earned a final two runs, ending the game, 10-8. Next time, Word-Slingers. Next time.

Too Bad It's Not Preseason

(Other Team 15, Grub Street Word-Slingers 11)

ANDOVER--While no rain fell on the Word-Slinger’s Sunday game, arbitrary rules and goose droppings spilled from the sky. To start things off, pitcher Jen LaVin was told to stand 600 feet from home plate.

“These are East Coast rules!” said Umpire Pouty McPoutface.

Adaptable as always, the Word-Slingers brought good spirits, high energy and a slew of valuable rookies to the field. New-timer Michelle Hoover hustled into home plate only to later fall victim to McPoutface’s willy-nilly One-And-One rule, which called her out after only two strikes. New-comer Steve Rubman also proved to be champion.

When asked about Rubman’s particular strengths on the field, fellow teammate, Clarence Lai said, “I don’t know. He got a hit.”

When not trying to make sense of the Inside-Outside-First-Base rule, the Sliding-Into-Home rule, the Game-Ends-After-1.25-Hours rule, and the horrendous Girls-Get-Their-Own-Rules rule, and when not sliding in goose droppings, other players proved outstanding as well. Betsy Lawson made vital outs in right field and hit the ball with gusto and grunts. In centerfield, Matt Biewener stared at his toes and wondered why the team was playing in P&G’s pharmaceutical office park, and if the goose droppings may not have in fact been clumps of toxic waste.

Meanwhile, Matt Frederick, Jon Papernick, Wayne Feldman, Brian Runk and Ted Weesner protected the infield with skill and panache, making numerous double plays that looked at once graceful and full of power, at once humble and mighty. In short, they are the voices of our generation.

Ultimately, the Word-Slingers couldn’t get much leverage on the other team’s pitcher. “He was a cheater,” says team Captain Becky Tuch. “Or at least, he was a diaper-wearing, Backstreet-Boys-loving goblin.”

Adds Clarence Lai, “There were a lot of goose droppings.”

Softball Department (brought to you by guest sportscaster, Matt Biewener)

Grub Street Wordslingers 9 – Consultants of D. E. F. 10

ALLSTON--Armed with an off-season’s banquet of come-backs, one-liners, melodic-taunts, and go-get-em-cheers, the Wordslingers descended on the valley known as “Ringer’s Field” to take on the Consultants of D.E.F. Grub Street softball, in all its glory and tragedy, had returned – but the unfamiliar Allston terrain proved to be just as unknowable as the significance of their adversaries’ name. 

Despite clouds circling ominously overhead, threatening to rain or at least make things more dramatic, baseballs were all that fell out of the sky. Jeff Stern stopped one potential homerun with his back to the fence but three more happened to land beyond his reach, beyond the concrete, and, actually, pretty far back in the woods. The Wordslingers, however, were unfazed. A sudden crack of the bat sent a rocket directly toward Ethan Gilsdorf who, pausing for a moment to consider the temptation to catch the ball with the side of his face, defused the threat easily – owing, in large part, to his perfect positioning, freshly oiled leather webbing, and fanatical nihilism. 

But the moment that put a gasp in everyone’s throats was the moment when Wayne Feldman courageously (and perhaps unintentionally) collided with his teammate, his catcher, and his captain to save a run by tagging a runner coming home.  Playing all three of these positions (and, at that point, still lying on the ground unconscious due to the aforementioned collision) was Becky Tuch, who returned the following inning to make two even more amazing plays: first, a Vari-fantas-tek shoe-string grab and, second, preventing the front leg of yet another runner coming home from touching the plate by stabbing it with the ball.

Down six runs to five in the bottom of the fourth, Betsy Lawson made her bat-boy (and future Wordslinger) son proud by sprinting her way down to first with a promising leadoff single.  Unfortunately, the shift in momentum was only momentary as her dazzling display of determination was unreciprocated by her teammates who contributed three consecutive fly-outs to end the inning.

In the fifth, a Clarence Lai trademark hard grounder up the middle set the tone for the inning. A series of domino base hits even George Kennan couldn’t have predicted catapulted the Wordslingers into the lead by two runs.  But that lead was short-lived.  The valley’s violent vortex of wind robbed Amber DeFrancis yet again as it pushed her late sixth inning potential homerun back into the infield as a pop-fly.

Going into the seventh, the Wordslingers were down by only one run.  Following two clutch singles, Jen Lavin produced one of her own, sending the base-runners gunning.  But while Matt Frederick rounded third, the crowd’s cheers, the coach’s directions, and the well-audible shrieking from the bench’s least productive player (Matt Biewener) conflicted with the base-runner’s inner warrior instinct and he was tagged out on his way to home.

In the end, their strong showing in the middle innings, the glove of all-over-the outfield Tom Meek, and the conspicuous lack of any memory of last year’s season proved to be not enough as the Wordslingers lost by one run – 10 to 9.

YAWP! Read All About It!

I walked into Grub Street early last Saturday in preparation for March’s YAWP. I filled out my little form, sat in a chair, and waited for the people to come in as usual, but usual wasn’t in the cards. Last month was what may have been the largest YAWP ever, and I’d be lying if I said that isn’t incredibly exciting.

Most of these new people must have taken the poetry or screenwriting workshop because fiction seemed no larger than usual. We all took our seats in the room and went around the circle, introducing ourselves, before getting down to business. Becky, the first teacher, gave us our prompt. “Write a situation in which one character slowly reveals information to another” and we were off. Thirty minutes later, those of us who wished were able to share their pieces, and the first part of the fiction class came to a close. And as it just so happens we began to talk revision.

For us, revision was an ugly topic, it seemed like the entire room had their own opinion of it which ended with “I really don’t do it that much” and this workshop dealt with it well, editing a small piece is much easier than a larger one. After we’d been at it for a little while, the metaphorical lunch bell metaphorically rang and we took the opportunity to stretch our legs and eat.

The poetry and screenwriting class had, I gathered from other students, been up to similar activities. Following the introductions, they were handed a packet of writing examples and, drawing from one in particular, started working on a piece. After 15 minutes they would share and continue in the same manner until lunch.

Lunch was, as lunch always is, a great time. If you don’t enjoy spending time with fantastically creative and intelligent people, then perhaps YAWP is not for you. Lunch is also short, but we didn’t mind, more writing was to come.

Returning to the fiction class, we had a new teacher, Nadine replacing Becky, and as is often the case she had us read the first bit of a book. After passing the book around, we drew from it, writing about a character that pretended to be something they were not. However, no sooner had we begun sharing the poetry class began to file in for the open mic, and the last chapter of YAWP began.

But now, with all of us sitting in a room, it began. One by one we walked up to the podium, introduced ourselves, and read. We heard tales of immortality, of Jewish grandmothers who change their name and move westward, of a birthday mistake and a loveably insane husband, and of everything else you can imagine. This open mic had a special attribute, as well; it was the first one I can remember that had to be cut short, because more people had read than we had time for. Now that it’s happened, however, I hope as much as possible that it continues.

-Michael McGurk
Grub Street's official YAWP Reporter

The Young Adult Writing Program (YAWP) meets one Saturday a month for writing workshops, food, and fun. For more information visit grubstreet.org.

Peek into Publishing

Here's a recap of the November 1st chat with Elaine McArdle and Lane Zachary. Brought to you by Grub volunteer Val Maloof!

Today Elaine McArdle co-author of The Migraine Brain spoke about what it was like to co-author the book. Elaine is a journalist who teamed up with Dr. Carolyn Bernstein, a neurologist who had an idea to write an easy-to-understand book about migraines.

During the partnership, Dr. Bernstein would provide the medical knowledge and Elaine would simplify the medical terminology and conduct interviews. Elaine spoke about Dr. Bernstein as "the star." Because Dr. Bernstein had medical credentials she was the one going on the press tours and Elaine was mainly just in the background. And Elaine completely understood and accepted her position.

With her for this talk was her agent Lane Zachary of the Zachary, Shuster, Harmsworth Agency. One thing Lane advises writers to do is to get their work published. Agents are always reading different literary journals and magazines, so just by having work out there is a huge step in the right direction.

She also explained that an author's pay check is 15% of the list price of their book. For example, if a book sells for $30 then the author makes $4.50 per book.

When looking for an agent Lane suggests looking in the acknowledgment section of your favorite books-- it will usually state the agents name there. Both Lane and Elaine agreed on how crucial it is for a writer to have a strong positive connection with the agent.

Lane said that if you are to do a co-authorship with a "star," then the profits should always be split 50/50. And NEVER write for hire, according to Lane.


Contact Info:
Elaine McArdle
ElaineMcA at hotmail.com
www.elainemcardle.com

Lane Zachary
LZachary at zshliterary.com
www.zshliterary.com

Biddy Biddy Bop Bop

Grub Street invites you to check out original drawings, doodles, and musings by 28 fabulous writers, including Tom Robbins, George Saunders, Robert Pinsky, Lois Lowry, Charles Baxter, Steve Almond, Susan Orlean, Chris Bohjalian, Ben Percy, Gregory Maguire, and Lee Martin. Welcome to our first-ever “From the Desk Of” postcard auction. Guess who made what!

We mailed each of these authors a blank, 5x7 inch postcard and asked each to create whatever they wanted with it. The creator of each postcard will remain anonymous until our upcoming fundraiser, A Taste of Grub. All details on how to bid on the postcards and come to the event are listed here. Online bidding will close promptly at 5:00pm on November 6th.

A Taste of Grub raises funds to support Grub Street’s community outreach programs, which bring creative writing workshops to senior citizens and at-risk youth throughout the greater Boston area. Plus, it's a chance for us to throw a great party and thank all of the wonderful supporters who make Grub Street possible.

Please spread the word to all your literary-minded friends, and bid, bid, bid! While you’re at it, check out our Literary Silent Auction as well.

Thanks, and cheers,
Sonya

Perfect Posture

The spine is curved into a gracefully grotesque 'C.' The shoulders slouch sloppily. The stomach creases and fold, taking on the back's burden as it gives in and curls over.


The physical body is easily forgotten when in the clutch of a creative flow. While the body may suffer, hunched and gnarled, the writing is able to stretch, to bend and twist, to leap and twirl.

Eventually the streak fades and the body make itself known. Leaning back from the keyboard or placing the pen down, and one can hear each individual vertebra crack as it unfurls. The shoulders wince, the back may moan.

Yet a smile spreads over the writer's face as he or she reads over what has just been created, content to sacrifice the body when in an inspired state.

Literary Nomad

Some spend a lifetime dreaming of the sacred trip to Mecca. My pilgrimage was to the original Grub Street in London, to kneel on its slummy sidewalk and pray to the God(s?) of writing.

Grub Street, today

When I decided to move to London last month I had few worries. My writing was about the only source of real anxiety. I pictured the tail of the plane’s fuel fumes and carbon emissions on the flight over and imagined each particle of my creativity vaporizing in that trail the whole way cross the Atlantic. I still felt rather safe as I stepped out into the bustling big city, yet I walked cautiously. Around any street corner some thug muse might mug me, snatching my whole handbag of writing ability.

Self-doubt can be a humbling spirit to an accomplished author, but as a young writer it is more of a menacing ghost. I love to write, I need to write and sometimes I’m even good at it. But consider it as a legitimate career? Only in my most bohemian dreams. I am the very hack who would have found a cozy home on Grub Street in the 18th century.

My concerns were somewhat practical. In Boston I was just beginning to establish myself as a freelance food writer, even had a base of editors and contacts I knew. Would I be able to do the same in London?

Finishing my prayers on the pavement, an omen appeared. A large, greasy man walked by eating a falafel out of a bright orange ‘Fish&Chips’ takeaway box. They eat here! In fact, people all over the world in all different countries eat. I bet some even read about it. Perhaps my future as a freelance writer isn't over.

That reassuring revelation taught me something important about my writing: I can do it anytime, anywhere. So, maybe I will.

. . . . even from a little London flat where I work out of my closet.

Sarah Leech-Black

F.Y.I. What once was Grub Street is now Milton Street and is right next to the Barbican Centre, London’s hub for arts and cultures.

The Antique Store Downstairs is a Netherworld Paradise

Hey man. All I'm saying is there's a reason why the mannequin in front has one arm, and I swear it follows me with it's one eye.

Just so you know, Grub Street is located at 160 Boylston Street on the fourth floor, four stairs, four concrete slabs of construction protecting us feeble writers from the gangsters "antique" shop downstairs.

So here's my poem/letter to the old woman (in my mind, she's two-hundred and thirty-seven years old, six-foot seven with a big ol' rack, built like a Gorilla with chest hair thick like the perfect shag) who owns the store and the magic portal underneath it that transports her to whatever fifth-dimension she hails from:

Dear Gorilla-Woman,

I've seen the front of your store, explosively slipshod,
I've seen the dust powdered in dough-nut thick rings around your wares,
I've seen the hockey jersey slump next to the brass vase and poster
of an 80's hair-band,
but what I haven't seen makes me cross myself
before I cross that threshold.
shoulder
shoulder
forehead
chest.
and the way the teapot watches me
makes me tingle
way down
in my gibblets.

Oh yes, I'm on to you.
The dolls are your watchmen, the old clock with rat bites hides your portal,
(much like that movie "The Last Unicorn")
Oh yes, I've walked your floors and stooped at the sound of a quiet
'oof!'
What creatures do you hide underneath your living concrete grounds?
Where is your spaceship?
The laughter coming from inside sounds almost
human,
a rolling guffaw and toot,
but I don't believe you.

I thumb my nose,
a leg and a finger, at you.
You're not pulling no
fast one on me.

Not for a second.

But please,
keep the peace. What strange bargain you have with us
is fine enough
to me.
So I'll continue to ignore those slick eyes,
the strange lump-shaped
footprints
settling in the dust,
and I won't tread too hard on your floors.
But I worry about your obviousness,
obviously my genius
(coming from my powers as the unknown
Power Ranger Salmon)
betrayed your identity to me.

But I'll keep your secret if you keep mine.

Best wishes and luck,
xoxoxo,

Lillian.


JUST IN CASE:

Okay, this was really just a joke. I'm new to the blog thing and wanted to have a little fun, so that's all this is. There really isn't a giant man-eating octopus living in the basement of 160 Boylston, I swear. And to the people who actually own the charming shop downstairs: I'm sure your wares are very nice - and expensive. Please don't take offense, it was just a joke and I'm sure you're not towering chimps with big gazongas. But face it, don't lie, I saw the scotch-tape wrapped around the lid of that bronze jar.


In wary, weary dread,
with dreadful eyes,
dreading the people downstairs read this,

Lillian Ling

The Grub Street Rag, 3/24/08

March 24th, 2008

In this issue
Concise Grub Gossip
Effulgent Grub Events
Spreading the Love
"Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short."

~ Thoreau


Grub Street Gossip

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out every Monday by the attack dogs at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this e-mail in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.

The final fifty: get your Muse on soon!
Our Muse and the Marketplace literary conference is five weeks away, and is now 85% full. We have fewer than fifty spots left (out of 330) for the full weekend and/or Saturday or Sunday only. For those of you interested in meeting with an editor or agent in our Manuscript Mart, only two editors and two agents remain. The conference features craft seminars led by some of the most established authors, panels and one-on-one manuscript consultations, and a keynote address by Jonathan Franzen. Check out the details and we'll see you next month!

Grub's growing!

Guess what? We're hiring! Grub Street is seeking a part-time Outreach Coordinator to join us in our bustling non-profit office. The candidate (you?) will coordinate all elements of Grub Street’s outreach programs and provide strong administrative support for the Grub Street office. If you have excellent management, communication and organizational skills, work experience, and love creative writing, go to www.idealist.org to read the full description, and submit your resume by March 28th.

Department of Heraldic Trumpets
As always, we have lots of great news to report. First, we are thrilled to announce that longtime Grub instructor Jenna Blum's second novel, The Stormchasers, has been sold to Dutton, a Penguin imprint. For more information on the novel's publication--and to follow Jenna on her third research round of stormchasing this May--please visit her at www.jennablum.com. Second, new Grub instructor Sara Pennypacker, who will be teaching the Fiction for Children course on June 28-29th, just won the Golden Kite award (given by the society of children's book writers and illustrators) for best picture book text of 2007 for her book Pierre In Love. Grub Street member Dr. Susan A. Berger has been working with Grace Talusan as her editor to complete writing her book: The Five Identities of Grief: How the Death of a Loved One Transforms You. Susan began writing her book proposal in 2000 after taking a class in creative non-fiction with instructor, Michelle Seaton. Working with her agent, Susan received significant interest from many major publishing houses, 4 offers, and finally accepted Shambhala Publications’ generous offer. The book is expected to be in stores in the Summer 2009. Next, Karen Dempsey, a student in Alexis Rizzuto's Master Memoir class, wrote in to let us know she just had an excerpt of her memoir, Tethered Cord: Liddy's First Years, accepted for publication in Brain, Child magazine. Next up, our 2007 Fiction Book Prize Winner, Stray by Sheri Joseph, is now available in paperback and also is a finalist for a Lambda Award. And last but not least, Grubbie Matt Frederick's book, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School has been doing amazingly well. Since October (pub date September 30th) it's gone into three printings (37,500 copies to date, sold in six languages/territories, and just got on the Booksense bestseller list and is the number one architecture book at Amazon. Congratulations to all!

Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya and Chris

The P.S.: For all of you who signed up for the Manuscript Mart, this is a reminder to get your manuscript in by the deadline. Deadline? What deadline? That's April 2nd by 5pm. Don't forget!

Dirty Little (Book) Secrets

Now, my fellow Grubbies, since most of you don’t know me from Adam, and since the rest of you probably have much more important things floating around in your skulls, I’m going to go ahead and divulge one of my dirty little secrets. Perhaps even my dirtiest, being that I talk a big game about reading only the best books.

I read everything. I mean it. I read magazines- Poets & Writers, Writers Chronicle, Fence, Dwell. I read informational brochures- real estate, natural beauty products, piddly writers’ conferences, new MFA programs. Personal blogs, Yahoo News, Bookslut.com, CNN.com, PerezHilton.com, Artjournal.com. And I read books. Of course I read books! Really, really good books.

But which books are good books? Granted, we all know who’s in the literary canon and that if you haven’t read The Brothers Karamazov, at least don’t admit it in a crowd of writers (or literature grad students. That can get really ugly). But what about the rest? Marilynne Robinson? Of course. Phillip Roth? Duh. Grace Paley. Oh yeah. Alice Munro? Yep. Now talk to me about Anne Rice. How about Anais Nin? Stephen King? I was once in attendance at a heated squabble where one side of the table argued red-faced that Sherman Alexie was the most important writer ever to come out of the northwest, while the other side brandished their beers and loudly yelled, “hack.” I have a friend in Chicago who swears that How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton changed her life. I read it. My life stayed exactly the same.

Alright, alright. What am I really talking about here? High art verses entertainment? I can almost hear the ripple of sighs wash across the Grubbie atmosphere. Enough already, you say. We’ve had it up to here with you spoiled, overeducated, elitist, academic literary writers.

But Halt! Do not cast that first stone!

Because I love it. I love it all! I’ve read nearly every Anne Rice book to ever hit a chain store shelf, even the ones released under her pen name, A.N. Roquelaure. Ditto for Stephen King (let me go on record right now and say that I don’t think Stephen King has ever gotten the credit he deserves). Love me some Anais Nin and Henry Miller. I’ve read oodles of authors you’ve never heard of (and never will, trust me) and I’ve even forayed into self-help(ever heard of Tony Robbins? That’s right.). On the other hand, I’ve read Wuthering Heights nine times, completely deconstructed it line by line, and have memorized most of it- for fun. Same thing with Jeanette Winterson’s Written on the Body. If Carole Maso and I met I could tell her exactly when The American Woman in the Chinese Hat should have definitely gone back to New York. Give me a little Faulkner and I swoon. John Updike, how can I express my love for thee?

So there you have it: I swing both ways. I won’t be giving up my book-snob public persona anytime soon, but you might come across me in some out of the way coffee shop, sunglasses on and hat pulled low, inhaling This ‘N That: The Memoirs of Betty Davis as fast as my mocha. There’s a difference between good books and bad books to be sure, but perhaps that difference relies largely on opinion. Maybe it doesn’t matter, as long as we’re all reading.

In All Dreadfulness,
Carla

Grub Street Rag, 3/17/08

March 17th, 2008
In this issue

* Brimming Grub Gossip
* Fluent Grub Events
* Spreading the Love

"Poetry is going on all the time inside, an underground stream. One can let down one’s bucket and bring the poem up."

~ John Ashbery
Grub Street Gossip

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out every Monday from the roadside lemonade stand at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this e-mail in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.
Spring schedule: as welcome as warm weather would be, if we had it

We are proud to announce our spring schedule, now online in all its springy glory on our website. We have a wonderful lineup of seminars, weekend workshops, 6- and 10--week workshops, and free events. We're also excited to be offering our first-ever class in Jamaica Plain (Fiction I), a six-week Travel Writing class, and our first online course, How to Get Freelance Work. Click here to view the entire schedule, and call us at 617.695.0075 to reserve your spot today.
Step up to the plate, Hoss: do your thing

It's time to take your cleats out of the closet, dust off your jerseys and wax your mitt. The Grub Street Wordslingers, Boston's one and only, all-time, relentlessly defeated softball team is kicking into gear. If you have not been with us for the past three years, you have been missing so much fun. We swing. We miss. We swing and miss again. And we have a great time. Please come play with us. We are like The Bad News Bears, but wittier and with more publishing credits. We need players! In particular, we need women! Interested players should email Grub Ambassador Becky Tuch at softballmania08@gmail.com.
Agent of good fortune

Grub Street founder Eve Bridburg, now a literary agent at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, just brokered a huge book deal for Grub Street instructor and writer Michelle Seaton and Boston psychologist Dr. Anthony Rao. More than a dozen major publishing houses were vying for Rao and Seaton's book, Odd Boys Out: Protecting Our Youngest Boys From Today's Climate of Unfair Expectations, High Demands, Quick Diagnoses and Pills, but they accepted a 4th pre-empt deal from HarperCollins that they couldn't refuse and cancelled twelve meetings in NCY to go with the pre-empt. The book is expected to be in stores by fall 2009. Hats off to an exciting Grub success story!
Week in review

Oh, what a week! Last Tuesday, over 100 seniors, their families and guests celebrated the launch of our first-ever Memoir Project anthology, Born Before Plastic, at Borders Bookstore in Back Bay. Senior authors from the North End, South Boston and Roxbury autographed copies of the book and heard tips from Chris, who instructed them in the best way to sign books for adoring fans (hint: cross out your printed name and scrawl your signature above it). Then on Thursday, a lively group gathered at Porter Square Books to hear tips and inspiration from Grub board member Bret Anthony Johnston's new book of writing exercises, Naming the World. The book includes essays on writing and over three hundred exercises to get your creative juices flowing (freebie: "Spend fifteen minutes finishing a paragraph that begins 'George would never have guessed a coffin could hold so many marbles'"). After the reading, a crew of fearless and fabulous Grubbies joined Bret and Grub staff at Tavern at Porter Square, where inspiration continued to flow (almost) as fast as the drinks. If you missed these events, we hope to see you next time, and thanks for everyone who made the events so special.

* Cheers,
* Whitney, Sonya and Chris

The P.S.: The Penny Dreadful makes its triumphant return to the blogosphere! Check out stories of eraser-clapping and more.

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. Ready to sign up? Call us at 617.695.0075 and we'll get you on the list.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Two For One: Writing Fiction and Non-fiction
Join author Lynne Griffin for a discussion of how to nurture the fiction and nonfiction writer in you. She’ll take you through the process of identifying genre elements of each, creating environments conducive to accurate research as well as offer tips for navigating the marketplace. Lynne is the author of Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment and her novel, Life Without Summer, will be published next year. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Tears of Laughter
In this seminar taught by Sonya Larson, we’ll explore the special function of humor in fiction, in its power both to rivet a reader and give unnerving and surprising edge to a story’s emotions. Learn how humor can strengthen voice, energize dialogue, drive a scene, and complexify a character. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Cortiscrawl: Writing With the Brain in Mind
In this class, taught by Tim Horvath, we'll see how understanding a bit more about the brain can boost our own writing. We'll revisit staple topics like detail, description and character, learn how we can tap into the dreaming brain for inspiration, and even look at writer's block and hypergraphia (the compulsion to write) from this new vantage point. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, The Art of the Scene
This seminar, taught by Amy Marcott, will focus on the elements of scene writing in fiction: pacing, choreography, dialogue, subtext, description, character and theme development, and more. We'll look at the techniques various authors use, then practice these with in-class writing exercises designed to inspire and elevate your own writing. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

LUNCHTIME COURSE: Tuesday, March 25th, 12:30–1:15PM, Brown Bag Lunch Series
Bring your lunch and come on over to Grub Street for a Brown Bag Writing Workshop – a series recently profiled in the Boston Globe. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Led by one of our award-winning instructors or ambassadors. Best of all, you’ll leave lunch with some new ideas to ponder for the rest of your day, and beyond. Maximum of 15 students. To sign up, email sonya@grubstreet.org or call 617.695.0075.
FREE, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Wednesday, April 2nd, 7-10pm, Who Told You You Were a Writer?
Co-sponsored by The Writers' Room of Boston with panelists Anita Shreve, Mameve Medwed and Stephen McCauley
Who supported you as a child, teen, and emerging adult, in the pursuit of becoming a writer? Who didn't support you? For many writers, this issue is core, speaking to what we've internalized, not always consciously. It can affect not only our ability to write, but our ability to perceive of ourselves as writers. Our moderator will offer a psychological framework for these issues; our three super-illustrious writers will describe their own journeys. NOTE: The final hour of the seminar will be a meet-and-greet downstairs at Remington’s, which includes a drink and complimentary appetizers.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Wednesday, April 2nd, 7-10pm, Writers' Paradise: The Truth About Residencies
In this seminar, Jamie Cat Callan will guide you through researching the residency that's right for you, how to write a winning project description, the secrets to being accepted and how to get the most out of your time in paradise. The final hour of the seminar will be a meet-and-greet downstairs at Remington’s, which includes a drink and complimentary appetizers. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Wednesday, April 2nd, 7-10pm, Out of the Slush Pile and Into Print (Non-Fiction)
Do you have a book proposal or memoir that agents have passed over? Do some of your essays strike out at literary magazines? In this class, we'll discuss strategies to help you catch the attention of editors and agents. The instructor, Pagan Kennedy, has been working as a writing coach for over ten years and will share with you many of the tricks that have helped her clients leap into print. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

Be sure to check out our events calendar 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. Our apologies in advance if we cannot fit you in.

--SEMINAR: Saturday, March 22, from 3-4:30pm, "Yoga for Writers"
Yoga for Writers is an all-levels class designed to address practical concerns to writers (wrist, shoulder, low-back issues) and to explore the creative process of writing and how yoga can enhance this process. You don't need to be a writer to participate. All are welcome--especially those new to yoga! South Boston Yoga is on the Red Line (Broadway stop). Cost is $15/$10 for students. on at the South Boston Yoga Studio.

--READING: Monday, March 2nd, Blacksmith House Poetry Series presents Linda Pastan and Rachel Pastan
Linda Pastan reads from her new poetry collection, Queen of a Rainy Country, with Rachel Pastan, author of the novel Lady of the Snakes. The Blacksmith House Poetry Series was founded in 1973 by poet Gail Mazur and is sponsored by CCAE.
$3, Blacksmith House, 56 Brattle Street, Harvard Square.

--JOB OPPORTUNITY: Copywriter positions at Grand Circle
Responsibilities: Conceptualize and write promotional copy for direct mail catalogs, letter packages and collateral communications; update and edit existing copy from various sources according to project specifications, marketing directives, and new product information; review circulated copy and implement changes and edits as necessary; serve as freelance liaison as needed. Position Requirements & qualifications: B.A. in English or journalism preferred; Strong writing skills with 2-5 years direct mail experience (or other professional travel-related writing), catalog, letter, and "advertorial" experience a plus; passion for travel and knowledge of faraway cultures; must be deadline-oriented; able to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Salary: $43,815 - $65,196. Application deadline: 03/19/2008. Send cover letters and resumes to Laura Vater at lvater@gct.com.

--CALL FOR INTERNS: Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency
Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary and Entertainment Agency is looking for candidates for its summer internship program. Intern duties consist of both clerical and project development work specifically including phones, filing, computer research, proofreading, evaluating manuscripts and developmental editing. Candidates must be motivated, dependable, energetic, cheerful and possess standard computer skills. Please contact Mary Beth Chappell at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth via email at mchappell@zshliterary.com.

Welcome to the end of the e-mail, where, like a fool with a pot of gold, we offer you the chance to win a prize. Writer a limerick about Boston and St. Patrick's Day. Best limerick, as judged by Master Limerick Judger Whitney, wins. E-mail your answers to Whitney. First correct answer wins a gift certificate to any local J.P. Licks.

Answer to last week's quiz: On March 4th, 1952, Ernest Hemingway wrote a letter to his publisher, telling him that he'd finished his latest novel, The Old Man and the Sea. He was working on a huge novel that he called The Sea Book, and The Old Man and the Sea was originally written as an epilogue to the novel, but he thought it was good enough to publish by itself. In the letter to his publisher, Wallace Meyer, Hemingway wrote, "I know that it is the best I can write ever, for all of my life I think. . . . [It's] an epilogue to all my writing and what I have learned, or tried to learn, while writing and trying to live." Winner: No one.

Clap On.

This is my final semester in college, and my English department advisor told me that I should get an internship, and countless real, live grownups have told me they’re useful. So I applied to a bunch, interviewed at a bunch, and liked Grub the best. I like the idea of “classes” being held there, so that if I ever decide to enroll, I can have new notebooks and hand in homework and stuff. It’s kind of like school, minus the lunch ladies and loudspeakers. Grub Street seems to encourage this nostalgia, because it has the one thing that I will miss most about being a kid- a real, live, dusty blackboard.

When I saw it, I was jolted back to the first grade, where my two favorite jobs were to empty the pencil sharpener and clap the blackboard erasers. The pencil sharpener was done on an as-needed basis; so careful monitoring and a little luck on my part were necessary. But the erasers, that was a job assigned to one incredibly lucky, enthusiastic student. Like the line-leader, hot-lunch counter and the gym class ball-gatherer, the eraser-clapper got a few moments to herself each Wednesday and Friday to consider the world without the interruption of the less fortunate first graders, who only had lunch and recess as time for themselves.

This job afforded me the opportunity to skip show and tell. I hated show and tell. I didn’t (and still do not) care about Caitlin’s Mickey ears or Dave’s new skateboard. So I got to skip out on that, leave through the side door of the classroom- a forbidden portal for anyone without my authority- and shook the chalk dust from the erasers. I always stole the show, coming back in during the middle of a showing and telling, covered in a fine white powder, like Tony Montana in a navy blue jumper.

It gave me a sense of purpose, this little job. I never missed school on Wednesdays or Fridays, and for special occasions, would wipe down the chalkboard with a blue sponge. I like to think of it as my first internship, really. While it didn’t necessarily give me “real-world” experience, I was earning my stripes through grunt work, toward the eventual goal of a great recommendation (hopefully to next year’s teacher, “Marie is a diligent clapper.”).

Unfortunately, this is no longer a classroom job. There are unemployed elementary schoolers, now, kids who do not know chalky snot, dusty corduroys, and the piece-of-chalk-in-the-eraser prank that I used to thwart! My job was outsourced to the low-dust dry-erase marker. Who wants their lessons in color? Black and white is as simple as it gets. There are no teachers with comical chalk lines on their butts from leaning on the ledge at the bottom of the blackboard anymore, either. There was nothing more endearing than that look, I’ll tell you. It said something about what you did, like the grease under the nails of a mechanic.

I loved clapping the erasers. I loved pounding my name out in eraser marks on the brick wall of the cafeteria. Tattooing the building was my way of staying there, giving next year’s students an idea to do the same. It gave us presence, a little bit of our energy left in the walls of the school, and now it’s washed away with the dust.

It’s a comforting feeling that, as I approach the final days of my formal education, there is that last vestige of my dusty childhood schoolhouse manifested in this hip, urban writer’s workshop. I like to think that it sort of represents where I’ve been and where I’m going.

-Marie McIntosh

The Grub Street Rag, 3/10/08

March 10th, 2008
In this issue

* Cordial Grub Gossip
* Convivial Grub Events
* Spreading the Love

"The short story is like an old friend who calls whenever he is in town. We are happy to hear from it; we casually fan the embers of past intimacies, and buy it lunch."

~ R. Z. Sheppard
Grub Street Gossip

Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene sent out every Monday by the marshmallow-toasters around the woodburning stove at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this e-mail in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.
Born Before Plastic debuts at Borders Books

Come celebrate Born Before Plastic, the first anthology of the Memoir Project. Seniors whose work is featured in the anthology will be celebrating with friends and family and signing copies of the book. Mayor Menino and our favorite Artistic Director, Chris, will introduce the book and The Memoir Project, which brings writing workshops to elderly seniors in Boston neighborhoods. Born Before Plastic celebrates a generation’s unique histories and gives voice to stories that have been undocumented until now. Details below.
Department of horn-tooting

Grubbies are winners! The 2007 L.L. Winship/PEN New England Awards were just announced, and not one but TWO Grubbies have won awards, which are given annually to New England authors for books with New England settings. Former Grub student and Grub board member, Rishi Reddi, was the fiction award winner for Karma and Other Stories, and Ann Killough was the poetry winner for Beloved Idea. Huge congratulations to both of these wonderful writers! Next up, a Grubbie publishing success story: Grub instructor Ethan Gilsdorf was a student in agent Sorche Fairbank's "The Hook and The Book: How To Snare An Agent With Your Query And First Five Pages " weekend workshop last February. Based on some random memoir chapters, he wrote a proposal, and she signed him as a client. One year later, she sold his memoir-travelogue Escape Artists: Travels through the Worlds of Role Playing Freaks, Online Gaming Geeks, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms to Lyons Press, to be published fall 2009. Ethan says: "Now I've just gotta write it. . . Were it not for Grub, this never would have happened. . ." Hurrah to Ethan--we are so psyched for you! Also, for all you would-be writers, Sorche will be attending the Muse and the Marketplace and participating in the Manuscript Mart, so get a spot with her while you can.
Thanks for sticking

A huge thank-you to Lillian Ling, Alyssa Mazzarella, Sunny Davidson, and Mo Hanley for helping us send out our postcard mailing last week. Thanks also to the many people who offered to help later in the week once we were (happily) done with the mailing. Don't worry, we'll have many more opportunties to volunteer coming up.
O spring schedule, where art thou?

As our winter classes wrap up, many of you are calling and emailing wondering when you can get your next Grub fix. Rest easy: the spring schedule, in all its springy glory, will be online by the end of the week. Check it out and give us a call to register or get advice on what class might be right for you.

* Cheers,
* Whitney, Sonya and Chris

The P.S.: The Penny Dreadful makes its triumphant return to the blogosphere! After a hiatus based solely on our staff being too busy to blog, the Dreadful returns with more tales of literary life in Boston and beyond. Check it out.

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. Ready to sign up? Call us at 617.695.0075 and we'll get you on the list.

BOOK SIGNING: Tuesday, March 11th, 6:00 - 7:30pm, Born Before Plastic book signing
Come celebrate the release of the Memoir Project’s first anthology of true stories written by forty seniors from three of Boston’s most vibrant and enduring neighborhoods: the North End, South Boston, and Roxbury. These stories vividly bring to life the individual and collective experiences of a generation, as well as a city’s history. Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Christopher Castellani will introduce the program and the book. The evening will close with food, refreshments, and conversation among the seniors, their families and guests, readers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the book and speak with the authors.
Borders Books in Back Bay, 511 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

BOOK PARTY: Thursday, March 13th, 2008, 7-9pm, Naming The World
Come celebrate the publication of Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Fiction Writer, an exciting new anthology edited by acclaimed author (and Grub Street board member) Bret Anthony Johnston. The book features exercises by the country’s most eminent writers and is an irresistible interactive guide to the craft of narrative writing. At this event, we’ll hear some examples from some of our favorite local writers who’ve contributed to the book, and try some of the exercises on-the-spot. Followed by drinks and appetizers at a local bar and restaurant.
FREE, Porter Square Books.

TEENS: Saturday, March 15th, 12-4pm, YAWP! (Young Adult Writers Program)
Do you like to write poems, lyrics, stories, novels or screenplays? Come to YAWP, a free monthly teen writing workshop for Boston-area high schoolers like you. YAWP provides writing exercises in small groups, feedback from experienced writers, pizza and inspiration. You provide the energy to write, share your work, and try new things. Please sign up in advance by emailing yawp@grubstreet.org or calling 617.695.0075.
FREE (includes lunch), Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Two For One: Writing Fiction and Non-fiction
Join author Lynne Griffin for a discussion of how to nurture the fiction and nonfiction writer in you. She’ll take you through the process of identifying genre elements of each, creating environments conducive to accurate research as well as offer tips for navigating the marketplace. Lynne is the author of Negotiation Generation: Take Back Your Parental Authority Without Punishment and her novel, Life Without Summer, will be published next year. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Tears of Laughter
In this seminar taught by Sonya Larson, we’ll explore the special function of humor in fiction, in its power both to rivet a reader and give unnerving and surprising edge to a story’s emotions. Learn how humor can strengthen voice, energize dialogue, drive a scene, and complexify a character. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, Cortiscrawl: Writing With the Brain in Mind
In this class, we'll see how understanding a bit more about the brain can boost our own writing. We'll revisit staple topics like detail, description and character, learn how we can tap into the dreaming brain for inspiration, and even look at writer's block and hypergraphia (the compulsion to write) from this new vantage point. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

SEMINAR: Monday, March 24th, 2008, The Art of the Scene
This seminar, taught by Amy Marcott, will focus on the elements of scene writing in fiction: pacing, choreography, dialogue, subtext, description, character and theme development, and more. We'll look at the techniques various authors use, then practice these with in-class writing exercises designed to inspire and elevate your own writing. Read more on our website.
$45/$40 members, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

Be sure to check out our events calendar 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. Our apologies in advance if we cannot fit you in.

--CALL FOR WRITERS: Can you review?
Grubbie Becky Tuch is looking for writers for The Review Review, her new website dedicated to reviewing contemporary literary magazines. Reviewers will choose or be assigned a lit mag to review. This is a chance to have your writing read by editors around the country, while also familiarizing yourself with the style and culture of various lit mags. If you are interested, please send two 700-word writing samples to Becky Tuch, along with a brief bio. Your bio shouldn’t be a list of publications but rather something that shows who you are and why you’re interested. Please paste your writing into the email text or send as an attachment to 99review@gmail.com.

--LECTURE: Tuesday, March 11th, 7PM, Janice Pieroni, founder of Story Arts Management
In this relaxed and informative event, literary manager/agent, writer, editor, and consultant Janice Pieroni guides experienced and novice writers through the steps of creating a marketable book proposal. In addition, Janice will provide tips for finding representation, discuss strategies for proceeding once a book proposal is finished, and suggest ways of building an audience for a book even before it is published. She also will note important industry trends. (Fun trivia: Janice is also Martin Scorcese's former assistant.) Newtonville Lecture Series. www.newtonvillebooks.com.

--READING AND PARTY: Sunday, March 16, 2008, 7pm, The Dirty Water Reading Series presents "Get Lucky"
"Get Lucky" is a St. Patty's-themed reading at Grub Street Headquarters, featuring mad-libs of famous Irish writers and short readings by Sommer Browning, Steve Himmer, Nina MacLaughlin, and Felicia C. Sullivan. Organized by local journals Quick Fiction, Redivider, and Fringe, along with Black Ocean Press. Free food and drinks, plus door prizes. Come on down and have a pint!
FREE, Grub Street HQ, 160 Boylston Street, Boston, MA.

Welcome to the end of the e-mail, where, like the aroma of despair, we offer you the chance to win a prize. On this day in history, a writer wrote a letter saying he had finished a new book. He considered the book an epilogue to everything he had ever written. Name the author, the title of the book, and who the letter was addressed to. E-mail your answers to Whitney. First correct answer wins a gift certificate to any local J.P. Licks.

Answer to last week's quiz: No one has guessed correctly yet, so we're trying again. I guess Google has failed you at last. Mwah ha ha ha ha! Winner: Not Google.

The thing that writing does

"Some magazine was asking writers what they would have become if they hadn't become a writer, and I said that I would have been stabbed to death in the parking lot outside a bar in Florida at 24, or something like that. I really believe that, actually. I think writing saved my life." -- Russell Banks

What is it about writing that heals us? How does it not only fix our ailments, but make us think better? As a student who has worked across the fields of medicine, policy, youth programming, and not least of all, creative writing, I'm interested in the intersection point of these areas, and I hope I'm not forcing them together. Yet I can't help but notice the similarities in writers' experiences with writing, and patients with mood disorders who have improved health outcomes after writing. In Tal Ben-Shahar's Positive Psychology at Harvard College, which consistently attracts hundreds of students, he argues that the act of writing down our negative perceptions of reality will improve emotional well-being. He emphasizes that writing, not talking or thinking, will cause one to be more realistic and objective. A large part of the class is based on research papers that validate the theory, which is also the backbone for some of the most effective therapies out there. This writing that patients do is often done through some kind of psychological intervention, whether it is journaling, individual therapy, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT actually seems the most akin to writing to me, as the premise is that we will distort our perceptions of reality all the way until we actually write the event down. It is once we have the event on paper that we can stand back objectively and avoid magnifying the errors we've made, and learn to view reality head on. Writing sets us free, but how? The mechanism, or as epidemiologists would call it, the "black box," remains elusive. One revered writer said of her reasons, "I don't know why, and I hope I never find out."

So who cares? Why is academic thesis on a grub street blog? Along with nearly a dozen other dedicated writers, I help run Grub Street's Young Adult Writer's Program (YAWP), whose mission is to recruit high schoolers from all over Massachusetts, regardless of race, income, or ethnicity, to come together once a month and write and share work for 4 hours. Our alums have gone on to publish columns and short stories, while others go onto creative writing programs at Brandeis and Sarah Lawrence. Concurrent to this mission is to have our teachers come into schools and teach kids about the transformative power of creative writing. We wouldn't have used the term "transformative" if we didn't mean it. Recruiting students from nearly a hundred different high schools all over New England, I've seen kids from some tough neighborhoods come in and treat YAWP as though it were a sanctuary, and it kind of is. I know that the act of writing makes these kids feel better, but I can't run a randomized control trial to prove it. Hopefully, though, more evidence on the positive effects of writing will accumulate (what is the cost versus benefit of being more thoughtful about yourself?), more caregivers and community leaders will notice it, and hopefully we will see even more writers reach out to the ailing.

--William Rafelson