Check out some of the content in this latest issue (Summer 2007) of Dissent. Some of it is available full-text online:

Genocide Without End? The Destruction of Darfur

Multiculturalism and Democracy
by Shalom Lappin

Justice Denied in Bosnia
by Courtney Angela Brkic

Why Aren’t U.S. Cities Burning?
by Michael B. Katz

Against Academic Boycotts
by Martha Nussbaum

Designer Babies and the Pro-Choice Movement
by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow

Squeezing Public Education: History and Ideology Gang Up in New Orleans
by Ralph Adamo

Universal Health Insurance 2007: Can We Learn From the Past?
by Theodore Marmor

No Refuge Here: Iraqis Flee, but Where?
by Joseph Huff-Hannon

How to Tax the Rich—And Live Happily Ever After
by Robin Blackburn

Notebook A Non-Zionist Reflects on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
by Eugene Goodheart

Who Named the Neocons?
by Benjamin Ross

Plus numerous, in-depth book discussions around relevant, current topics.

The College of Wooster, Ohio: Assistant Professor of English, tenure-track position, beginning Fall 2008. Expertise in African American literature OR in African-American literature and fiction writing.

Texas State University-San Marcos Assistant Professor of English, tenure track, specialty in fiction writing.

University of Tennessee. The Department of English seeks an Assistant Professor in Fiction Writing, tenure track. David Goslee, Associate Head, Department of English.

Creative Writing Fiction. The Department of English at West Virginia University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing with a specialization in Fiction Writing. Donald Hall, Department of English.

Pitzer College invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in creative writing (poetry, fiction, or performance) beginning Fall 2008. Areas of interest include nature-writing, urban issues, or gender and feminist issues. Ability to teach multiple genres desirable. Alan Jones, Dean of Faculty.

“Bad Subjects, founded in 1992 at UC Berkley, is a collective that publishes a magazine (Bad Subjects: Political Education for Everyday Life) and provides access to it via a public-access website. In 1998, Bad Subjects founded a small educational nonprofit corporation, also called Bad Subjects, which promotes the progressive use of new media and print publications. Donations to the nonprofit go toward funding printed copies of the magazine Bad Subjects (distributed for free), and other related projects, such as Bad Subjects books. Bad Subjects seeks to revitalize progressive politics in retreat. We think too many people on the left have taken their convictions for granted. So we challenge progressive dogma by encouraging readers to think about the political dimension to all aspects of everyday life. We also seek to broaden the audience for leftist and progressive writing, through a commitment to accessibility and contemporary relevance.”

Issue 78 (July 2007), devoted to “Hope,” includes the following:
Introduction: Hope Floats on a Paper Boat by Zack Furness
The Moral Politics of Hope by Gary McCarron
Utopia and the City: An Interview with David Pinder by Zack Furness
The War FOR Illegals by Helen Hintjens
The Sanctity of Life by Tamara Watkins
Future Now! Criticism Machines Strengthen Communities by Mike Mosher
(The Invisibles) Hope: A Comic Interlude by Maxwell Schnurer
Reflections on the Sixties by Anonymous
Our Arrest: Four Women’s Antiwar Action in Chicago by Rosalie Riegle
If George Bush Were a Religious Man… Cartoon by Myrrh
Snapshots of Hope, Part One: The New Bird Flu by Chelsea Robinson
Snapshots of Hope, Part Two: Trapped in a Box by Brandy Betz
Snapshots of Hope, Part Three: The Situation by Bianca Wylie
Snapshots of Hope, Part Four: The American Shabbiness by Braxton Marnus

Bound Off is a monthly literary audio magazine, broadcasting literary short fiction with the new podcasting technology. “We aspire to showcase work that is compelling and driven by narrative, with a force that keeps the listener listening. We are dedicated to publishing stories by both the established and emerging writer. Bound Off‘s editors, Ann Rushton and Kelly Shriver, live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. When they turn 75, Ann intends to start smoking again, and Kelly will stop wearing sunscreen.” Women after my own heart… Bound Off seeks original literary fiction between 250 and 2500 words long for upcoming podcasts. See site for submission – and possible recording – guidelines.

Habitus: A Diaspora Journal, the new magazine of international Jewish literature, Brooklyn, NY, is looking for a part-time Managing Editor with a record of success to assist with marketing, distribution, production, and administration. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative, independent candidate who values flexibility and diverse responsibilities. The Managing Editor will play a vital role in shaping public awareness of our work.

Brooklyn Book Festival
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Major free public event: A.M. Homes, Dave Eggers, Edwidge Denticat, Mary Gaitskill, Jonathan Safran Foer, Gloria Naylor, Francine Prose, Jonathan Lethem,George Packer, Chuck Klosterman, Melissa Marr, Jim Carroll, Kimiko Hahn, John Leland, George Saunders, Joshua Ferris, Uzodinma Iweala, Pete Hamill, Paula Fox, Colson Whitehead, David Bouley, Amy Sohn, Reverend Run, Charles Hynes, and more!

Some nice responses on the The Anthology Question blog posted earlier. To answer one point – it’s not that I won’t list the kinds of anthologies I called into question at all. I have, and I will. I am just trying to be select in what I let through to the blog. I look for well-organized operations and those that are connected in some way with a publisher, publication, academic institution, non-profit, or just a down-right good cause. No fee for submissions is a must. Some I list because it seems like good-intentioned editors making a go at being editors and publishing. I don’t see a point (yet) in discouraging them, and in fact, want to encourage their energy and efforts. As I get older, maybe I see this as a way to mentor the younger generation in their literary dreams. They’ll get plenty of squashing later…

One comment I received supported not only my own concerns, but my sense of humor: “I think you’re correct to be suspicious of these anthologies about left-handed mothers of triplets and dyslexic spouses of insomniac electrical engineers. Don’t list them. You do a good job with your posts. More is not necessarily better.” (Pat)

From Dinty W. Moore, editor of Brevity :“I honestly don’t know the answer, but thanks for asking all of the right questions. If an anthology ‘packager’ doesn’t at least have a plan to find distribution, it seems unlikely anyone will read the book other than the authors and the authors’ friends. Which begs the question: if a book falls into the forest of books, and no one hears it fall …”

This note from Dave really takes a stand I hadn’t as fully considered, but have given thought to its merit since: “Good for bringing the anthology glut up, good for you and NewPages right down the line… Writing that’s merely thematic and anthologies of pieces organized thematically is writing that’s typically soulless. The oomph is in the inspiration, not the motive. Anthologies can be worthwhile as literary documents — think of John Bennett’s classic old Vagabond Anthology out of the mimeograph era — maybe in the way working manuscripts are valuable, but they aren’t literary creations.”

Evan was as curious as I had been in his consideration of the calls for submissions, and wrote: “What an interesting post! It never occurred to me that those anthologies might just be revenue generators. It’s very telling that of all the anthologies you queried, you got only one response. I’ve seen their listings, calling for mss in the back of P&W, and they always seemed a little suspicious (i.e., ‘Who are these guys, and why have I never actually seen one of these anthologies in a bookstore?’). If, however, a well-known and well-regarded magazine solicits for a theme, I might send something. “

Absolutely. This isn’t meant to knock the lit mags who run themed issues. Certainly, those publications are the most adept at being able to work with themed content to create strong, unified, lasting works of literature, since their purpose is, first and foremost – literature, not the experience of the theme itself as an entity.

Erika Dreifus, publisher of Practicing Writing Blog, admitted to facing the same situation in choosing what to post and not to post: “Typically, I do not post anthology calls for projects that a) do not yet have a publishing plan and b) do not pay their writers. And I’m also opposed to anthologies that require a ‘reading fee.'” She also posted a thoughtful article on her blog about this very topic: Five Signs of Auspicious Anthologies.

My thanks to everyone who responded; though I didn’t mention all of you here, your feedback has been most instructive in this discussion.

Making Black Girls “Ladylike”
by kameelah rasheed
August 22, 2007

“Looking at the intersection of race, gender, capitalism and pedagogy, the disciplinary efforts and hidden curriculum are working toward a desired young Black woman — one who does not ask too many questions, accepts the power arrangements in schools and becomes a proper young lady — pink bows and all. Schools since their inception have been focused on the poetics of assimilation and thus are sites of production not only for the ready-made American citizen who does not challenge his government or is a depoliticized consumers, but the ‘acceptable’ Black woman who is docile, domesticated and unchallenging.”

Read the rest on WireTap Magazine.

Land-O’-Plenty Shubunkin
by Sally Molini

Nothing breathes so well
as my little fish tank life,
its self-protective see-through
will, pink-pebbled with a
sylph or two of plastic grass.
Food dimples the water —
easy to eat and drift as trees
outside wave green fins…
[Read the rest]

From Mad Hatters’ Review
Issue 7, February 2007

Anarchy
Volume 25 Number 2, Fall-Winter 2007
Quarterly

Humor Times
Issue Number 189, September 2007
Monthly

In These Times
Volume 31 Number 9, September 2007
Monthly

Kyoto Journal
Number 67, 2007
Quarterly

Labor Notes
Number 342, September 2007
Monthly

Lilith
Volume 32 Number 2, Summer 2007
Quarterly

Off Our Backs
Volume 37 Number 1, 2007

Our Times
Volume 26 Number 3, June/July 2007
Bimonthly

Sierra
Volume 92 Number 5, September/October 2007
Bimonthly

Socialism and Democracy
Volume 21 Number 2, July 2007
Triannual

Space and Culture
Volume 10 Number 3, August 2007
Quarterly

Voices from the Earth
Volume 8 Number 2, Summer 2007
Quarterly

White Crane
Number 73, Summer 2007
Quarterly

Z Magazine
September
Monthly

The English Department at Western Kentucky University seeks applicants for the following position: Distinguished Visiting Professor in Creative Writing (Fiction or Creative Nonfiction), Summer 2008. Contact: Dr. Dale Rigby, Department of English Chair.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of English & Comparative Literature & the Creative Writing Program seeks to bring an emerging talent to campus for a one-year teaching appointment as the Kenan Visiting Writer, a position that alternates between poetry & prose. Contact: Bland Simpson, Director, Creative Writing Program/Visiting Writer Search Committee.

Wichita State University Director of Creative Writing & Assistant/Associate Professor of English in Creative Writing, tenure eligible, beginning spring or fall 2008. Contact Margaret Dawe, Chair, Department of English.

Western Washington University Tenure-track assistant professor of Creative Writing beginning September 2008. Deadline: November 6, 2007.

Summer Literary Seminars is “premised on the not-so-novel idea that one’s writing can greatly benefit from the keen sense of temporary displacement created by an immersion in a thoroughly foreign culture and street vernacular; that one’s removing himself/herself from the routine context of his/her life, of one’s own free will, tends to provide for a creative jolt, as it were, by offering up a wholly new perspective, new angle of looking at the customary and the mundane.” Upcoming seminars include Nairobi & Lamu, Kenya (December 14-28, 2007) and St. Petersburg, Russia (June 15-July 8, 2008).

Let’s start the day out with a nice controversy, shall we? Lately, I’ve been running across a lot of “calls for submissions” for anthologies – anything from first-time mom stories to stories from women with diabetes to gay experience poetry and stories to writing from self-abusers – the specialty focus list seems never ending. Now, at first glance, these seem “legitimate” subjects to cover in an anthology, which means to gather together like-experiences to share with others who may be seeking to connect or to understand the experiences of others. So far so good. Where this begins to fall apart for me in terms of legitimacy is when the publisher of the anthology seems to mimic the all-too-famous poetry contest scams (which also seem never ending). That is, the anthology publishes three or four dozen writers, offers a pre-order discount for those whose works are published, and provides no marketing for the book. Basically, all costs are covered and *perhaps* a tidy profit is made from the sales of just those whose work is published. I mean, c’mon – Ellen gets her baby story published in an anthology – how many copies do you think she, her family and her friends are going to buy? There’s at least half a dozen book sales (not to mention putting two copies away for when baby is grown up, so make it eight copies).

Okay, that’s my cynical self. Let’s try the flip side. Anthologies really are a cool creation. They bring like-minded people together, they help us to connect with others in this vast world of ours in which we so often feel disconnected. They put voices out there that might otherwise have never had a chance all on their lonesome and give space to and validate human condition and experience. All good, yes? And let’s face it, it’s not easy to slog through hundreds of submissions and pick out, edit, layout and publish a solid collection of writing. So if anthology publishers do make any money, they’ve earned it for their work in publishing you.

I don’t know. I guess I’m stuck on the more cynical perspective at the moment. Help me out readers – I try to post valid calls on this blog – not wanting to become just another clearinghouse where anyone and everyone can get listed. Are these random anthologies valid? Should they be listed? Would you want to send your writing in to them? Would you list it as a publishing credit on your vitae?

To clarify – I’m not talking about ALL anthologies. Generally, the ones I question are those that are not associated with any other organization or publication, that seem to only publish this one book and that’s pretty much all they do. I also often e-mail the contact people for these and ask them two questions: Who is sponsoring this publication? How do you plan to market the book once it’s published? So far, of the dozen or so queries I’ve sent out, only one has replied answering both questions. The answers? No one and none. At least they were honest.

Tell me what you think: newpagesdenise (at) hotmail.com
Subject line: Anthology blog

Director of Professional Writing Program, University of Southern California. The USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences seeks an outstanding full-time director of the Master of Professional Writing (MPW) Program beginning January 2008.

University of Nebraska – Omaha. Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Fiction with a secondary area of specialization in Screenwriting, Playwriting or other area wanted. Twelve-hour workload in a nationally rrecognized BFA creative writing program within the College of Communication, Fine Arts, & Media. Teaching duties may include Fundamentals; Studio, basic to advanced levels; Contemporary Writers In Print & In Person; Form & Theory (may be designed to reflect instructor

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. Assistant Professor of English wanted for a tenure-track position in Creative Writing: Non-Fiction, beginning Sept. 1, 2008. MFA or PhD required. Expectations include college teaching experience; an active publication agenda; & the ability to teach undergraduate & graduate courses in creative writing as well as general education courses in literature & composition. Opportunity to direct MA theses. Service oon committees & advising of English majors expected. Twenty-four credit teaching load with six credits reassigned to writing for active writers. Competitive salary, strong support for professional activity, & excellent benefits. Send letter of application, c.v., statement of teaching philosophy, three current letters of recommendation, & official graduate transcripts to: Dr. Ron Rindo, Chair, Department of English, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI 54901-8692 . Application deadline: November 12. Employment will require a criminal background check. AA/EOE.

Columbia Poetry Review is accepting submissions from now until November 30th.

Front Porch is now accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews, and AV for their fall issue. FP has a new online submission system.

FRESH YARN is “the first Online Salon for Personal Essays. Part literary publication, part virtual spoken-word, all personal essays. Every four weeks, FRESH YARN presents six new pieces written by a diverse lineup of all-star writers, directors, producers, performers and personalities.”

With no dates on the site, I can only guess this is a new effort that will be growing: bear parade – “raaaar” – is electronically published collections of poetry and short fiction, free for everyone. Currently on the site, works by Mazie Louise Montgomery, Ellen Kennedy, Tao Lin, Ofelia Hunt, Noah Cicero, Matthew Rohrer, Michael Earl Craig. The site also includes a classics section – “raaaareth” – which thus far only contains Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, which, if you are not familiar with this work, is well worth the trip to read, or rather, the trip it provides in reading. bear parade – check it out.

Colorado College – Assistant Professor. The Department of English seeks a fiction writer with a strong record of publication & teaching for a tenure-track position. Terminal degree such as MFA or PhD or equivalent preferred. Send letter of application, c.v., statement of teaching philosophy, & four letters of recommendation by October 29 to: Professor David Mason, Department of English, Colorado College, 14 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

The following is an excerpt from one of my all-time favorite writers and funeral directors, Thomas Lynch. True, I know only one funeral director, so making him my all-time favorite may not be saying much, but I do know quite a few writers, if that helps the recommendation. Thomas is no-nonsense in his balancing words with our culture’s treatment of death and dying, and at the same time, his writing is a lot of serious fun. For example, his idea of combining golf courses with cemetaries to make better use of land space and encourage family visitation. This latest contribution offers humor, but delivers and even stronger message on the role of politics and greed in our simple desire to rest in peace.

In Michigan, Not Even the Dead Are Safe
By Op-Ed Contributor Thomas Lynch
Published: April 29, 2007

THE big cemetery with the name like a golf course out on the Interstate across from the mall was seized by a state conservator this winter. Seems someone took the money — $70 million in prepaid trust funds — and ran. It’s one of those theme park enterprises with lawn crypts and cheap statuary and an army of telemarketers calling up locals in the middle of dinner to sell us all our “commemorative estates.”

“You don’t want to be a burden to your children, do you?” So says the “memorial counselor” with the sales pitch and the flip chart and the forms to “sign here” on the bottom line — the bargain-in-the-briefcase peace of mind. Why not? I say, though never out loud. My children have all been burdens to me. Isn’t that what the best of life is — bearing our burdens honorably?

[Read the rest: NY Times Online.]

failbetter 24 is up now, at www.failbetter.com It features stories by Daniel Alarc

SUNY Buffalo seeks a poet at the senior level who will bring fresh perspectives to the study of poetry & poetics as demonstrated by a record of writing & teaching interests appropriate to undergraduate & PhD mentoring & instruction. Teaching load: 2/2; salary, benefits, & privileges competitive with other Research I-AA universities. Preference given to applications received by October 15. Please submit letter of application, c.v., & a list of recommenders electronically at www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu, posting #0601592

The Department of English invites applications for a poet to join the MFA faculty at the level of Assistant Professor, advanced Assistant, or new Associate. Looking for a colleague of distinction, although not necessarily seniority. Candidates should have a strong record of publication (a minimum of one book published or in press, two books preferred) & a history of excellence in teaching. As a member of our department, the candidate will teach graduate & undergraduate poetry workshops & other courses reflecting his/her interests & departmental needs. Members of the MFA Program share administrative duties on a rotational basis, so evidence of administrative talent & experience & willingness to serve will augment an otherwise strong application. Send letter of application, c.v., writing sample (no more than 15 pages; published material only), & evidence of teaching excellence to: Professor Sidonie Smith, Chair, Dept of English Language & Literature, University of Michigan, 3187 Angell Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003, Attention: Recruitment Coordinator. Review of applications will begin September 30 & continue until the position is filled. Women & minorities are encouraged to apply.

Quiet Mountain Essays (QME) is an online journal of original feminist writing, presented in an essays-only format, which publishes five times a year (January, March, June, August, and October). In the pages of QME, a woman writer can openly voice what she thinks without having to be mindful of micro-specialized politics or demographics. Consequently, a QME reader opens each essay not knowing what she or he may find.

Quiet Mountain Essays (QME) publishes in January, March, June, August, and October; accepting submissions all year. Each issue features 1-3 previously unpublished original essays, the number of which is dependent upon the volume of submissions. QME is an online publication only, there is no print companion. Its continued existence depends upon participation from women visiting this site. Male readers and writers should please respect the spirit of this woman-space site, unless responding to the Open Call (April 1- June 15) for the annual August Open Issue.

For teachers and students alike, ESL Gold is packed with free resources (mostly free, with the usual sidebar ads that aren’t too annoying). For students: links to places to study English; conversation partners (requires registration fee – but “Telephone Teachers” are paid); textbook recommendations language skills; learning strategies; quizzes; links; software and CD-ROMs (for purchase from site partners); and language exchange. For teachers: job list; handouts; textbook recommendations; teaching skills; TESOL courses; lesson plans and ideas; tips for teaching; teacher resources; ESL/EFL links; supplementary materials; software and CD-ROMs; games and activities. Much of the content is shared from other teachers, so this seems to be a cooperative resource. Great for new or even established teachers as well as ESL students.

To view these new issues and other online mags, visit NewPages Guide to Online Literary Magazines

Absent Magazine
Issue 2

Boxcar Poetry Review
Issue 9

The Pedestal Magazine
Issue 41

National University invites applications for a fulltime, Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at our Los Angeles campus. M.F.A. or Ph.D. by date of hire and publications in fiction or literary nonfiction required.