English Majors: Are We Doing It Wrong?

A Deconstruction of the Anxieties Associated with English majors, Fiction Writers and Beyond

If you’re an English major, fiction writer, poetry buff, or literature lover, chances are you often encounter a dash of crippling anxiety from time to time (or perhaps that’s just me). Why? Well, I feel that over time those of the literary persuasion have gotten a bad rap. It’s become a bit of a running joke in the academic world that those who choose a life of metaphors, papers, and workshops are also choosing a life of unemployment, low-pay, and uncertainty. I have yet to meet an English major who hasn’t heard in so many words that they will not make any money and are in for a rough go once graduation hits. And in my personal experience, after listening to this lecture so many times, it becomes harder and harder not to believe the prophecy. It was this inkling fear and curiosity that lead me to this.

In his article, “The English Major’s Guide to Getting a Job,” Matthew Hall tells us all what we’re doing wrong and how we can fix it, despite the debatably awful choice made in our undergrad. There are many things wrong and ultimately anxiety-inducing within this article, but let’s just start with the title:

“The English Major’s Guide to Getting a Job”: I feel that on some level this somewhat exoticizes English majors. It kind of lumps us into this certain brand of person, particularly one that has quite a bit of trouble finding a job. Although we do obviously have some things in common, such as a love for literature and the inevitable desire to one day become authors, we are not clones.

The title is then followed by the subtitle, “What You Need to do NOW to Have a Great Life.” This begs the philosophical question, what is a great life? What’s more, am I headed for a bad one?  Plus, the urgency created with the all-caps “NOW” makes me want to get up and stress-apply to all the internships in the world because apparently the chips that I’m currently eating aren’t good enough.

After reading that inherently terrifying title, Hall launches into the actual breadth of the article. It starts off relatively well, addressing a few of the nerve-wracking aspects of being an English major (i.e. teachers with a defeatist mindset, being told that our only option is teaching, that we will never have money, etc.) that many of us can relate to. This makes me feel hopeful. Perhaps the answer to all of these fears lays head. Hall continues with “if I had known then what I know now,” which insinuates that there’s a secret and we’re not in on it. After that he dangles the six-figure income that he supposedly has. This becomes a main selling point, and is mentioned many times. I’ll admit that the materialistic capitalist inside me begins to drool a bit, since money is everything and six figures sounds pretty nice. Maybe this will be worth it. Maybe this is what I, the useless English major, actually need.

But, surprise! “The English Major’s Guide to Getting a Job” is not only the title of this article (blurb, propaganda? The jury is out.) But also the title of his book, complete with a brief list of what you can learn if you buy his book such as: what undergrads need to be doing to secure the right job (and apparently it’s not an internship) and “the 7 biggest sins English majors commit that make finding a job impossible when they graduate.” I suppose this is probably a pretty good marketing strategy (but how would I know? I’m just an English major). Not revealing all of the actual secrets, making us want more, and so on. But in doing so Hall does nothing but reinforce all of the negative feelings surrounding the English major mentioned in the first paragraph. Then, he goes on to make it a bit worse by essentially saying “Hey, yeah…you are ill equipped for the real world and your major taught you nothing and this is why you need this book.”

I’m sure this guy probably feels like he’s helping us out. Or, maybe he just knows how terrible anxious we are and was smart enough to capitalize on that. Well played, Mr. Hall, well-played. I’ll admit that for a split second I did consider buying your book. However, in the next split second I realized that in doing that, I would become part of the problem, just like the book itself. It’s a perpetuation of the negative stereotypes surrounding English majors and all worries we must encounter because of them. So thanks, Mr. Hall. Thanks for nothing.

However, it appears that not all hope is lost. According to author, USA today columnist and “the country’s leading small-business expert” Steve Strauss, English majors could be a lot more lucrative than we think. In his article “Why I Hire English Majors,” Strauss goes on to commend those studying English on their intelligence, boldness and writing ability. We’re also incredibly easy to work with and considered “interesting,” “well-spoken” and “pleasant to be around.” Go us! And all without having read Matthew Hall’s book. So maybe, just maybe, we can get a job. No manual required. 

-Shelby Heinrich

Lit Journal Volunteer Needed!

Anobium Books, a small publishing upstart from Chicago, IL, is seeking one extraordinary assistant editor to help with the compilation of Anobium: Volume 2 - our second literary journal release.

We'll be upfront: this is an unpaid position. All of the money Anobium makes goes straight back into future Anobium productions. Everyone who works for Anobium does so on a volunteer basis. We love writing. That's all there is to it.

As a volunteer, you still have a lot to gain from the experience:
- You will be an important part in helping to develop a small business with a lot of potential.
- You will gain valuable editing, communications and publishing experience which you can apply towards future professional positions.
- You will receive credits as an assistant editor both on the website and in the print publication; credits which can also be used to develop your own name as an editor and writer.

The ideal candidate should:
- Be familiar with Volume 1 (doesn't hurt to have purchased Volume 1).
- Be able to commit for the duration of this project (up to six months).
- Be able to put in 5-10 hours per week working for Anobium.
- Be a published writer.
- Be interested in brand development and promotion.
- Have some editorial experience (doesn't necessarily have to be literary editing).
- Have a working knowledge of InDesign.
- Have a constant and stable Internet connection.
- Have a personal website.
- Be active and involved in social media and networking (Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc.) [This is very important].
- Live in the Chicago area, though this is not required (most of the work is telecommunicative).

Please note: It is okay if you don't have all of these things, though the more you have, the better.

Responsibilities will include:
- Reading and grading poetry and prose submissions to Anobium: Volume 2.
- Promoting Anobium in social media and brick-and-mortar outlets.
- Editing selected writings for publication.
- Communicating with independent authors.
- Communicating and meeting with other Anobium team-members.
- Possible fundraising.
- Attending a few possible events.

While experience and ambition are important determining factors for this position, it is also important that applicants share similar aesthetic and literary sensibilities with Anobium. Please go to our website to get an idea of our tastes.

If you have read all of these guidelines and are still interested in the position, please send a resume and a short letter listing your qualifications to our Managing Editor, Benjamin van Loon, at b@benvanloon.com. Please make your subject: "APPLICATION FOR ANOBIUM: [Last Name], [First Name]."

Job Openings

South Dakota State University Assistant Professor: Tenure Track Position

The English Department at South Dakota State University is accepting applications for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor of English to teach courses in Creative Writing, with an emphasis in Fiction. Minimum qualifications are a Ph.D. in English with Creative Dissertation in Fiction or MFA in English with Creative Thesis in Fiction, in hand by August 15, 2011, along with an established and successful record of publication. Experience or training in one or more of the following areas desired: Contemporary Literature; Screen- and/or Play-Writing; Ethnic Studies; or Juvenile Literature. Must demonstrate the following: effective written and oral communication skills; effective interpersonal skills; ability to teach introductory courses in Creative Writing and upper-level and graduate courses in Creative Writing (Fiction); experience coordinating writing conferences and assisting with student publications and contests; willingness to develop and teach distance education courses; interest in developing community outreach or Service Learning programs.Tenure-track assignment includes a 3-3 teaching load with expectations in scholarship, advising, and both departmental and university service. Application deadline is December 30th, 2010. For more information regarding this position, contact Dr. Christine Stewart-Nunez at 605-688-4065 or C.Stewart-Nunez@sdstate.edu. To apply, visit https://YourFuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position, and follow the electronic employment process.

Two Half-Time Positions Available in Creative Writing at University of Delaware
Qualifications: MFA, or appropriate terminal degree, record of publication, and experience teaching creative writing. We are seeking a person to join our undergraduate English concentration in Creative Writing to teach creative writing courses and workshops at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. The new faculty member will be part of a dynamic department, with opportunities to contribute to a successful program that is ready to expand and innovate. The successful candidate will teach 2 courses per semester in multi-genre and single-genre Creative Writing courses. The position starts September, 2011, and offers a competitive salary and partial benefits. For consideration, submit an application letter that provides evidence of high-quality teaching, c.v., and contact information for three references to Prof. Bernard Kaplan, Search Committee Chair, Department of English, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2537 by November 15, 2010. Application Information: Postal Address: Prof. Bernard Kaplan / Department of English/ University of Delaware / 413 Academy Street Office of Human Resources / Newark, DE 19716-0619 / Phone: 302-831-2171

Creative Writing Position at Rowan University

Description: One full-time tenure-track faculty member with expertise and 3 years college-level teaching experience in one or more of the following areas: fiction, creative nonfiction, children's stories, or introductory creative writing. Qualifications: M.A./M.F.A. required. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong record of prose publication, preferably at least one book, and preferably in more than one genre. Special consideration will be given to candidates with teaching experience on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, or in courses such as writing the novel, memoir or children's stories, or editing the literary journal. General Information: The department's atmosphere reflects the invigorating environment at Rowan University which is a vibrant, comprehensive state institution with a present enrollment of over 11,000 students. The university is located in a suburban, residential setting in southern New Jersey and is less than 20 miles from Philadelphia. All positions are contingent upon budget appropriations. Rowan University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. Starting date is September 2011 and salary is competitive. Procedure: Candidates must submit a letter of application describing their qualifications and a current vita and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to the address below by December 15, 2010. Chair, Creative Writing Search Committee / Rowan University / Hawthorn Hall / 201 Mullica Hill Rd. / Glassboro, NJ 08028

Paine College Seeks an Assistant Professor of English in Creative Writing
The successful candidate will have an earned MFA in Creating Writing. Those candidates with a PhD in Creative Writing, English or Rhetoric & Composition will be preferred. Eighteen hours of discipline specific course work will be required for serious consideration. Successful candidates will possess a broad knowledge of creative writing (fiction, poetry, playwriting, screeenwriting), exemplary teaching skills, and the ability to teach effectively in the Paine College Core Curriculum. This position hire will be expected to teach upper division courses in creative non-fiction, fiction and poetry as well as first and second year composition and other lower division courses in support of Paine College's Core Curriculum. There will also be an opportunity to develop new courses in creative writing. For all candidates, at least three years of teaching experience in creative writing and composition is required. The teaching load is 3-3. In addition to teaching responsibilities, the position requires attendance and scholarly involvement at faculty/department/division meetings, advisement of students in the major, grant writing, and community service. Interested individuals should submit a detailed letter of interest addressing all requirement points in the job announcement. Include an updated CV, unofficial transcripts, and three professional reference letters. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. For full consideration, complete applications should be submitted by November 10, 2010. Application Information: Apply for this Position through My HigherEdJobs. Contact: Dr. Emily Williams, Chair, Division of Humanities / Paine College/ Phone: 706-821-8224 / Online App. Form. Email Address: rtucker@paine.edu.

A Cup of Ambition: The Video Game Writer

We've all heard it before, at dinner parties, from relatives, from our therapists: "Oh, you write. Does that mean you'll be a teacher?" Fine, fine. We can't make enough money to "eat" or "live" from our poetry. Every MFA graduate knows the horrible feeling that settles into his/her stomach as graduation approaches. You finished a whole book!, you keep telling people. And still, no prospective employers come a-calling. Here at HFR, we know how you feel. We thought it might be interesting to take a closer look at some jobs we writers and lovers of books might enjoy. Or do enjoy. Or have tried, and regret. This regular post, A Cup of Ambition, will talk to those in-the-know about what the working world is really like. (To see our previous interviewees, click here.)

Introducing Mademoiselle...
Emilie Poissenot. I’m also known as Aheïla on the web. I work as a video game designer at Sarbakan, a renowned independent game studio specializing in global cross-platform development services and original game creations. A studio born here, in Quebec city, a little over 12 years ago. I also teach narrative structure for games part time. And when I’m not doing either of those things, I’m an aspiring author posting fiction on The Writeaholic’s Blog.

Game Designer huh, what about it?
The game designer’s job is a little challenging to explain. I don’t program and I don’t produce art. In a way, I write games but not just (and often not even) in a narrative way. I create the rules by which the game is played, the controls, the characters (if any), the scoring system, and the game levels that contain all that. The documentation I write contains the guidelines the team of programmers and artists need to turn an idea into a playable experience. In huge studios, game designer, level designer and game writer are different jobs. Sarbakan falling somewhere between large studio and indie developer, I’m more a jack-of-all-trade.

Getting Started
I’ve always dwelled in artsy things. I took acting classes from 5 and a half to 15, I wrote stories for the local newspaper when I was 10, I dance, I sing, and I studied cinema in college. When my college classes taught me to be a critic instead of a creator, I decided to take a step back from my education. I needed time to figure out the best route to something that would satisfy my urge for creation whilst reassuring the Taurus in me who likes job security. I worked a few very random, non-creative and outright weird jobs before I stumbled upon the idea of developing games. I took a 13 months intensive class to become a game designer. Now, I work in the business and I occasionally teach it. Suffice to say I fell in love with game creation.

Good Stuff
Everything!? Okay, I’ll narrow it down. In the course of my career, which is about to reach the 3 years mark, I have worked mostly on free online Flash projects. These projects are for clients such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, MTV, Fisher Price, and others. I designed games for SpongeBob, Transformers, Hot Wheels, etc. There is an undeniable thrill to work with franchises that influenced a generation, brands that made, and are still making, childhood magical. It’s nice to become part of the magic. Moreover, though we do have crunch times and hard days, making game is all about fun. Plus, it’s ever-changing so I don’t get bored!

Bad Stuff
Games have yet to develop their language for storytelling. We rely on cinema’s language or plain text. Since games are interactive in nature, unlike any other medium, it’s not working quite right. Ultimately, we cannot/should not control elements of the story writers usually perceive as the key to storytelling, like pacing or even the main character’s actions for that matter. Since it’s partially charted territory, we’re often required to avoid stories or make them as short as possible. While it’s a great way to learn how to shorten dialog and make it snappy, it also means the depth of stories is limited. As someone who is obsessed with fiction and the way various mediums convey emotions, my biggest challenge at work also is my greatest motivation. One of my career goals would be to broaden the very limited emotional range of games by one emotion.

Something weird, something cool, or something surprising
Writing games allowed me to realize the weight of my words. They convince clients to invest anywhere from five to seven digits sums in our projects. They launch a journey of 2 months to over a year for a team of five to over a hundred people towards the realization of an outstanding product. And yet my words are worth very little. Without the trust of the client, without the budget, time, and technology, or the synergy of the whole team, my words aren’t a game; they’re a silly idea on paper. Who would read twice the story of a plumber jumping on turtles and eating mushrooms on his way to save a princess? A person might have the best idea in the world, if it is not expressed properly, no one will care. When games are concerned, “expressing properly” means molding ideas to constraints and realizing them with a team.

Cool Story, let's hear it
Just one? How am I supposed to pull that off? The working environment in games is prone to anecdotes. How can I choose between Formal Fridays, guys jealous of the Transformer RPM race track Hasbro sent me or chasing the boss with a Super Soaker during the summer party? I’ll use something that has nothing to do with the social aspect of my work. I’ll tell the story of a task I actually had to perform. MTV premiered a new comedy last June entitled The Hard Times of RJ Berger. The lead game designer (aka my immediate superior) worked on a game called Chain of Thoughts to accompany the premiere. One morning, he dropped by my desk to delegate the dialogs of the game to me. “You have to write a few scenes of an awkward teenager flirting with the most beautiful girl in school,” he said. I already had ideas bubbling in my head and a wide grin. “Those will be the good lines. Then change one word to turn the lines into sexual innuendos, dorkish/geekish references or, you know, wrong things to say when you’re flirting.” So I worked for a couple of days on the awkward teenager’s line and the messed up versions of said lines. Both were a lot of fun to write. I even did some extra ones so the lead game designer could choose his favorites. But, you know, my job is very serious.

The Key to Game Designing
The core traits are an interest for games, creativity that can work within specific constraints, teamwork capability, and the capacity to express ideas clearly (written and spoken). Humility is always a plus: people might be working on your idea but they know things that you don’t and you should listen when they speak. Besides that, lots of skills are useful and make each designer unique. I talk “programmer-speak” but I don’t code. Some of my coworkers do. I can devise the flowchart of the behavioral pattern of an artificial intelligence but I don’t enjoy it. My desk neighbor does. So I might drop my flowcharts on his desk and he’ll give me the storytelling required for his game. We work as a team whenever possible to play on everyone’s strength.

Advice for the people of tomorrow
A lot of people think they can be game designers because they have ideas and they play a lot of games. It is not enough. Your creative horizon needs to be wide so you can draw inspiration from an array of things. Expressing yourself clearly is key and learning to let other people alter your ideas is a must. Because like a movie, game development involves a multi-disciplinary team. You should also be prepared to work for it. There aren’t a whole lot of game designers within a company. I’m one of the few of my class who got hired; I went the extra mile during my formation and networked whenever I had the chance.

Thoughts for those people who write poetry or non-fiction
The job itself teaches a few skills that are useful for people who want to pursue publishing. I alter my ideas on a daily basis which is a good trial run for the editing process. I create according to a target audience which contributes to the marketability of any oeuvre. I write proposals to convince people my ideas are worth investing large amounts of money in (query letter, anyone?). As I said before, game stories also teach concision which is something I, personally, constantly need to work on. The work schedule itself being somewhat flexible, except during crunch times, I can find time to work on my blog.

Outside work and the Job, how is that going?
Because storytelling in games is fairly limited, my blog and my other writing projects channel my need to explore emotionally complex narratives but I started them for other reasons too. The primary goals of my blog are to work on my writing flaws and build my confidence in storytelling in English (my first language is French). Unforeseen Dives, my first blog novel, has a rigid structure that forces me to be concise and write steadily. The readers comment right away which gives me instant feedback. Since its inception, my blog has grown to serve other purposes as well, such as giving writing tips and networking to help my attempts at publication. Good writing comes with practice so the time I spend blogging is never lost.

Aheïla wants anyone who has any questions to go to her blog. She is ready and willing to answer.

Calling All AZ Poets and Artists!

Whoever said you can't make money as a poet obviously hadn't heard about the Seventh Avenue Streetscape Demonstration Project.

As part of a partnership between the Seventh Avenue Merchants Association, Arizona State University School of Artchitecture, local neighborhood associations, City of Phoenix Departments of Street Transportation and Neighborhood Services, and the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, the Seventh Ave. Streetscape Demonstration Project is an opportunity for local poets and artists to have their work displayed publicly in what they are calling a "changing streetside gallery," that is at the cross-streets of 7th Ave. & Glenrosa Ave. in Phoenix. And as if that weren't incentive enough, selected poets and artists make $900 for their work. I'm pretty sure that's the most you're ever going to make for a single poem, unless you're this guy.

Submissions are due by the beginning of October, so get to work. Contact Jeanine Garcia at jeanine.garcia@phoenix.gov for submission guidelines (sorry guys, you gotta be in AZ to submit) and check out the website to see the current installation.

Jobs!

Assistant Professor of English (Creative Writing) Requisition Number 06737
Tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of English (Creative Writing), entry-level (no more than four years of full-time post-doctoral teaching experience at the time of appointment), beginning August 2011. "Specializing in creative writing: fiction, with ability to teach fiction writing at beginning and advanced levels as well as introductory multi-genre courses. Ability to teach creative nonfiction, screenwriting, or playwriting is desirable." Duties and Responsibilities: Minimum Qualifications: MFA or Ph.D. and teaching experience required. Preferred Qualifications: Record of publication in fiction strongly preferred. Special Instructions to Applicants: Application deadline is October 15, 2010. Please submit letter of application, CV, and writing sample (Document 1). Please provide three references and their email addresses. Please visit the Bucknell English Department on the web at http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/english.

Visiting Faculty in English
The University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana announces an opening for an one-year, full-time, Visiting Professor in English, beginning August 16th, 2010. The candidate must be able to teach undergraduate Creative Writing and Composition courses. Additional course assignments may include general education literature courses. The course load for this position is 4/4. The candidate should be familiar with using technology in the composition classroom and conversant with the mission and values of the University of Saint Francis. Requirements: MFA or Ph.D. preferred, ABD will be considered, and evidence of successful teaching. Interested applicants should submit letter of application, curriculum vitae, transcripts, names, and contact information for at least three professional references by email to searchcommittee(at)sf.edu
(replace (at) with @) or by mail to the address below. Official transcripts will be required upon hire. Applications will be reviewed as received. Search Committee (Position Title) / University of Saint Francis / 2701 Spring Street / Fort Wayne, IN 46808.

Jobs! and Residencies!

English Department and Creative Writing Program of Bowling Green State University seek strong applicants for a tenure-track assistant professor in Poetry Writing and Literature. The successful candidate will teach graduate and undergraduate poetry workshops and literature courses, work with students on BFA and MFA theses, and advise BFA and MFA majors. He/she will be expected to engage in creative/scholarly writing and publishing, to serve on program and department committees, to serve as program director on a rotating basis with the other program faculty, and to participate actively in the life and governance of the program including its efforts to recruit, advise, and retain students. Qualifications: PhD in English or MFA in Creative Writing by start date of employment; Specialization in poetry writing; Strong record of publication of poetry, including at least one book of poetry; Strong commitment to excellence in both undergraduate and graduate teaching, including the teaching of literature. Desirable attributes: secondary specialization in creative nonfiction; experience editing a national literary journal; and interest in form/theory of poetry. Salary: Competitive. The starting date of employment is August 2011. See our website, www.bgsu.edu/departments/english/index.html for a fuller description of position. Submit application materials to: Kristine Blair, Chair, English Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403. Complete application files should include: 1) letter outlining qualifications relevant to this position; 2) a CV which includes a brief description of courses taught; 3) at least three current original letters of reference; 4) transcripts; 5) writing samples. Application Deadline: Postmarked by 11/15/10. BGSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Postal Address: Dr. Kristine L. Blair / English Department / Bowling Green State University / 1001 E. Wooster Street / Bowling Green, OH 43403 / Phone: 419-372-7543

This is a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track faculty position responsible for contributing significantly to Stephen F. Austin State University's undergraduate and/or graduate programs through teaching, scholarship/creative accomplishment and service. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This is a security-sensitive position. Reports to the chair. Essential Job Functions: 1. Performs an equivalent of eight teaching units of work during the regular academic year; reduction of teaching load through reassignment of duties is possible under certain circumstances. 2. Engages in research/scholarly/creative and service activities at levels that are appropriate to faculty rank and departmental tenure/merit criteria. 3. Provides services to the university and the profession. 4. Participates in promotion review of lower-ranked faculty within the department. 5. When tenured, participates in tenure review of candidates for tenure.
6. May conduct supplemental instructional activities such as independent studies, internships, advising, and thesis/dissertation supervision. More here. Special Instructions: Candidates must apply via the SFASU online application system. Please submit letter of application and CV at: https://careers.sfasu.edu.

Oklahoma City University seeks applications for part-time faculty to teach in a new low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program, scheduled to begin in Summer 2011. We seek faculty committed to creative and professional writing, writing pedagogy, and teaching online as well as in workshop formats during twice-a-year residencies. Genres of interest include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and screenwriting, although writers who cross genres, or write in a secondary, specialized genre, are also welcome to apply. Qualifications: Terminal degree (or demonstrated equivalent) and extensive creative publication required; college-level teaching experience and knowledge of genre-specific practices and theory preferred; knowledge of writing theory and pedagogy, and a history of professional writing employment and/or knowledge, and ability to teach online appreciated. Successful candidates must be available to attend on-campus residencies, faculty meetings, and orientations at our Oklahoma City campus. Residencies will take place in summer and winter, at times TBD. Application deadline: To be considered for the spring/summer 2011 semester start date; submit materials by June 31, 2010. Applications received after this date will be kept on file for review as additional positions become available. Application instructions: Please complete our online application by clicking on the application link below. Should the link fail to work you can find the posting on our website at http://ocucareers.silkroad.com click on Employment Listings to search and apply for the position. You will be able to upload the required application materials during the online application process. More here.

The Frost Place in Franconia, New Hampshire, invites applications for a six- to eight-week residency in poet Robert Frost's former farmhouse, which sits on a quiet north-country lane with a spectacular view of the White Mountains, and which serves as a museum and conference center. The residency begins July 1st and ends August 31st, and includes an award of $1,000. The Resident Poet will have an opportunity to give a series of public readings across the region, including at Dartmouth College, for which the Resident Poet will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. There are no other specific obligations. Accommodations are spartan but comfortable. The Frost Place Museum is open to the public during afternoon hours, but the resident poet will have sole use of non-public rooms of the house. Previous recipients of this residency include Katha Pollitt, Robert Hass, William Matthews, Cleopatra Mathis, Mark Halliday, Mary Ruefle, Mark Cox, and Laura Kasischke. The 2010 Resident Poet will be Adam Halbur. The aim of The Frost Place Trustees has been to select a poet who is at an artistic and personal crossroads, comparable to that faced by Robert Frost when he moved to Franconia in 1915, when he was not yet known to a broad public. To be eligible, applicants will have published at least one book of poems. Applications will be judged by members of The Frost Place Board of Trustees. Applications are received March 1 through July 2, 2010. Poets can apply directly or be nominated by someone else. Please submit to The Frost Place, P.O. Box 74, Franconia, NH 03580: a check for $25 (reading fee) and four copies of the following: 5 poems from a most recent book, a letter explaining why the candidate would be a good choice for a residency at The Frost Place, a current resume, and contact information for two references. More here.

2012 Sandburg-Auden-Stein Residency
Intensive Learning Term poet-in-residence program, from 30 April to 18 May 2012. From the early 1930s to the mid 1940s, Olivet College hosted some of the best-known writers of the time: Sinclair Lewis, Sherwood Anderson, Katherine Ann Porter, Carl Sandburg, Ford Madox Ford, W.H. Auden, and Gertrude Stein. In that tradition, Olivet has established an annual residency program for poets who are establishing a name for themselves in this new millennium. Previous Sandburg-Auden-Stein poets-in-residence are John Rybicki (2007), Carol V. Davis (2008) and Rhoda Janzen (2010). During the 2012 Intensive Learning Term, the Olivet College Humanities Department will offer its sixth poet-in-residence position. The Sandburg-Auden-Stein poet will live on or near campus and teach ENG 247: Poetry Writing. The Sandburg-Auden-Stein poet will also host two public events: a public reading of his or her work and a stand-alone talk/discussion on a subject of his or her choice (publishing poetry, beat poets, def poetry, etc.). An award of $3,100 (plus room and board) will be given to the 2012 poet. The Humanities Department faculty will evaluate the submissions and choose the winner. Poets who have published at least one book of poetry are eligible. Submissions are due on Sept. 10, 2010, and should include the following: five poems from your most recent book, a single page personal statement regarding your poetics and teaching, a current résumé and two references. There is no entry fee. Please contact Kirk Hendershott-Kraetzer, Ph.D., Humanities Department chair, with your questions at (269) 749-7621 or mailto:khendershott-kraetzer@olivetcollege.edu. Electronic applications are strongly encouraged: .rtf, .doc, .docx formats accepted, .pdf preferred. Send to khendershott-kraetzer@olivetcollege.edu with "Residency application" indicated in the subject line. More here.

Jobs!

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MARATHON COUNTY
The University of Wisconsin-Marathon County and the University of Wisconsin Colleges English Department invite applications for a position as full-time lecturer. The UW-Marathon County campus is one of 13 campuses that comprise the UW Colleges, a freshman-sophomore transfer institution within the UW System. UW Colleges offers an excellent liberal arts and pre-professional education for students beginning work toward a bachelor's degree. APPOINTMENT: Full-time lecturer position for the 2010-2011 academic year. Contract year is August 25, 2010 to May 24, 2011. This position is filling a vacant tenure-track position. We expect to fill this position with a tenure-track faculty hire within the next two years and the person hired at this time may be considered if criteria are met. QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D., MFA, or other terminal degree in English required, with a concentration in Creative Writing. A record of successful teaching in first-year composition is preferred. RESPONSIBILITIES: Normal teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester. Scheduled course load includes first-year composition, creative writing, intermediate composition, and the literary magazine course. APPLICATION Applications are due by Sunday, May 16, 2010 for assured reconsideration. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Electronic submission requested. Submit the following materials in PDF or Microsoft Word to holly.hassel(at)uwc.edu>(replace (at) with @): * Letter of application * Curriculum vita * One-page statement of teaching philosophy * Contact information including email addresses for three current references * Unofficial graduate transcripts. Materials that cannot be sent electronically may be mailed to: Charlene Schmidt / UW-Marathon County / 518 S. 7th Avenue / Wausau, WI 54401. Please call 715-261-6221 if there are questions about submitting application.

Announcement of Position Vacancy, Arts & Sciences Distinguished Visiting Writer
The English Department of Bowling Green State University seeks strong applicants for the College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Visiting Writer. Duties: The Creative Writing Program at Bowling Green State University seeks a distinguished visiting fiction writer who can contribute to both its undergraduate and graduate instructional programs as well as enhance its national reputation. The successful candidate will be in residence spring 2011; teach one fiction writing workshop in our BFA program and one workshop in our MFA program; give a public reading and a lecture; and advise theses. Qualifications: 1) MA, MFA or Ph.D. by time of employment. 2) At least one book of fiction and critical recognition consistent with a writer of national reputation. 3) Evidence of outstanding teaching. Salary: Competitive. Effective Date of Employment: The starting date of employment is January 2011. Submit application materials to: Send cover letter, CV, transcripts, three current letters of reference, writing sample (one book), a list of courses taught with brief descriptions, and 1-2 samples of undergraduate syllabi to Kristine Blair, Chair, English Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0191. The starting date of employment for this position is January 2011. Screening of applicants will begin June 14, 2010 and continue until the position is filled. BGSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Visiting Professor (Open Rank) - Poetry, Institution: Oklahoma State University
One year appointment or two one-semester appointments, rank open, beginning August 2010. MFA or Ph.D. in Creative Writing with significant poetry publications and teaching experience required. Teaching 2 workshops per semester. Salary competitive. For further information on the department, see our web page at http://English.okstate.edu. Send letter of application, cv, and writing sample to Carol Moder, Head, Department of English, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-4069. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by May 3, 2010. However, we will continue to accept and consider applications until the position is filled. Filling of this position is contingent upon availability of funding. OSU is an AA/EEO/E-verify Employer committed to Diversity, and OSU Stillwater is a tobacco-free campus.

The Liberal Arts Department at D'Youville College is seeking an Assistant Professor of English beginning August 2010. Job Details: Experience in teaching Composition, Creative Writing, and/or Technical Writing required. Experience or interest in teaching third world literature a plus. PHD required. Online applications preferred to humanresources(at)dyc.edu (replace (at) with @). Review of applications will begin on May 1, 2010. How to Apply: Candidates are asked to submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, along with the names and contact information of three references to the attention of Dr. M. Ruth Kelly, Chair, Department of Liberal Arts. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For more information see dyc.edu. Application Information. Postal Address: Linda Moretti / Office of Human Resources / D'Youville College/ 631 Niagara Street/ Buffalo, NY 14201. Phone: 716-829-7811.

Full-Time Temporary English Instructor or Assistant Professor, Framingham State College
The English Department invites applications for a one-year, full-time appointment starting September, 2010, to teach creative writing, first-year writing, and literature. The course load is 3/3 and includes two sections of first-year composition, one literature course, and three creative writing courses. Framingham State College is a wireless, laptop campus and welcomes instructors with experience using computers in the classroom. A terminal degree is required, with preference given to applicants with a Ph.D. in literature. We seek a colleague with demonstrated excellence as a teacher of the writing of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction; first-year composition courses; and literature, preferably modern and contemporary British, European, or American literature. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Application materials received by May 15, 2010 will be guaranteed full consideration. Candidates should demonstrate their writing accomplishments in at least two genres by submitting ten pages of poetry and twenty pages of prose fiction or non-fiction, either published or unpublished. Please send a letter and vita to http://framingham.interviewexchange.com; and a dossier, including three letters of recommendation and transcript, and a writing sample to Professor Elaine Beilin, Chair, English Department, Framingham State College, 100 State Street, Framingham, MA 01701.

Jobs!

Lincoln Memorial University invites applications for the position of Writer-In-Residence. The Writer-In-Residence will teach a nine hour instructional load in creative writing, three hours of which may be negotiated for another assignment and will co-direct LMU’s annual Appalachian Literary Festival. The ideal candidate will show evidence of a significant body of creative and/or scholarly publications and possess relevant teaching experience and effective communication skills. Qualifications; Required: Master of Fine Arts or other advanced degree in an appropriate discipline, evidence of a sufficient body of creative and/or scholarly publications. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants should submit an LMU Application for Employment, a cover letter addressing qualifications for the position, a resume, official transcripts and contact information for three references to Pamela Lester, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752. Electronic submissions are encouraged to (replace (at) with @). LMU's hiring policies are in accordance with EEO regulations and policies. LMU is committed to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Internal Posting period expires Friday, March 26, 2010.

University of Cincinnati. Visiting Position in Fiction Writing. The Department of English & Comparative Literature invites applications for a visiting position for the 2010-11 academic year. MFA or PhD (completed by September 1, 2010) is required in creative writing/fiction field of study. Candidates must have significant publications & at least one book is required. Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate & graduate courses in creative writing/fiction & to advise graduate students. Teaching load will be 2-2-2. The appointment will be made at a rank & salary commensurate with the individual’s record & includes a comprehensive benefit package. For full consideration, applications must be received by May 1, 2010 at www.jobsatuc.com job posting210UC0247. The job posting is available at this quicklink: www.jobsatuc.com/applicants/Central?quickFind=73824 Applicants being considered will be asked to provide additional information & materials. Women, people of color, people with disabilities & veterans are encouraged to apply. AA/EOE

The University of Chicago. Lecturer in Creative Writing (Fiction). The Committee on Creative Writing at the University of Chicago is accepting applications for a 3-year, renewable, lectureship. The effective date for this teaching appointment will be July 1, 2010. Candidates should hold, at minimum, a Bachelor's degree (MFA is desirable), & have published at least one book with a press of distinction or equivalent short-story publications in magazines of national standing. The teaching schedule of five courses over three quarters will include creative writing workshops within the candidate's genre of expertise & the advising of undergraduate & MA creative theses. The candidate should demonstrate both talent & commitment as a teacher & have a strong interest in building a young & exciting creative writing program through administrative service & participation in cultural events on campus. To apply for this position please go to http://academiccareers.uchicago.edu & search for posting number 00306. This position is contingent upon final budgetary approval. To be assured of full consideration, your application & requested materials must be completed by May 1, 2010. AA/EOE. (AWP)

Penn State Altoona. The English Program at Penn State Altoona is taking applications for a one-semester teaching residency in fiction writing. The residence, designed to offer an emerging writer substantial time to write, offers a $5,000 stipend & an additional $5,000 allowance to cover room & board in return for teaching one sophomore-level creative fiction writing workshop during the Fall 2010 semester (August 23-December 16). The resident writer will also give two readings & work informally with our English majors. Benefits are not included. We are looking for a writer with publications in literary magazines. Emphasis will be placed on the quality of the work submitted. A Master's degree in Creative Writing or English is required. Teaching experience is preferred. The application should consist of a writing sample (one short story or ten pages from a novel); a CV, including publishing history; & one or more letters of recommendation. Send to: Emerging Writer Residency, Dr. Thomas Liszka, Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts, Pos #: B-31665, Penn State Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601-3760. Review of applications will begin May 17, 2010, & continue until the position is filled. For additional information about Penn State Altoona, please visit our web page at http://www.aa.psu.edu AA/EOE.

Position: Instructor/Assistant Professor, Creative Writing, Full-Time Temporary. Department: Writing Arts. Description: Expertise and 2 years college-level teaching experience in one or more of the following areas: fiction, creative nonfiction, children's stories, or introductory creative writing. Qualifications: M.A./M.F.A. required. Candidates should be actively writing and publishing their work, preferably in more than one genre. Special consideration will be given to candidates with teaching experience on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, teaching the novel or memoir, or editing the literary journal. Starting Date: September 1, 2010. Salary: Competitive. General Info: All positions are contingent upon budget appropriations. Rowan University values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. Contact:
Please reply by May 1 with a resume and cover letter to: Julia Chang, Chair, Creative Writing Search Committee / Rowan University / 201 Mullica Hill Rd., Hawthorne Hall / Glassboro, NJ 08028.

Teacher & Program Coordinator in Writing for UW-Madison Continuing Studies. Work in a team environment teaching and creating online and in-person workshops. Prefer a candidate who has published and taught fiction, with genre fiction a plus. Should have experience with coaching and critiquing writers, in-person teaching, program planning and budgeting, and marketing writing programs. Master’s degree (or near completion) with relevant professional experience required. Apply by May 7. Begin: August 16, 2010. For full description, and application instructions, please see website. Send materials to: Tom Boll, Writing Area Search, 21 N. Park St., 7th floor, Madison, WI 53715. Email: tboll(at)dcs.wisc.edu (replace (at) with @) . Phone: 608-263-6735. UW-Madison is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Sacred Fire magazine, a quarterly in its 11th issue, is looking for a creative director who will design and manage the layout of the magazine, supported by a small team.. Sacred Fire is dedicated to bringing traditional, earth-based spiritual beliefs to the modern world. Check out the website. At this time we are only able to offer a token fee on a per-issue basis. Sacred Fire is a part of the Sacred Fire Foundation, and we are looking to increase compensation in the future. This is an opportunity for someone committed to changing the toxic relationship our culture has created with the earth to help the world reconnect with the ancient wisdom of the earth's elders. If you are interested in learning more, please get in touch with publisher Sharon Brown at sbrown@sacredfiremagazine.com.

Anderbo seeks to create a possibly-paying position for a Literary Blogger... http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/1698129959.html

Jobs!

Allegheny College. Allegheny College invites applications from a fiction writer with a strong academic background for a one-year full time Visiting Assistant Professor position. Primary responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate writing workshops & literature courses & supervising several senior theses in fiction writing. Teaching load is 3/3. Qualifications: PhD or MFA, college teaching experience (in both literature & creative writing), significant record of publications, & a strong commitment to teaching. Allegheny College is a highly selective private liberal arts college with a dedicated faculty of teacher-scholars. Please send letter of application & CV by no later than March 22nd, 2010, to Professor Jennifer Hellwarth, Chair, Department of English, Allegheny College, 520 N. Main Street, Meadville, PA 16335. Writing samples & letters of recommendation will be requested of short-listed candidates. Women & members of other under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. Applications will be considered until the search has closed. Interviews will be held at the Associated Writing Programs conference in Denver, April 7-10th. For more information about Allegheny College, visit: www.allegheny.edu

University of Cincinnati. Visiting Position in Fiction Writing. The Department of English & Comparative Literature invites applications for a visiting position for the 2010-11 academic year. MFA or PhD (completed by September 1, 2010) is required in creative writing/fiction field of study. Candidates must have significant publications & at least one book is required. Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate & graduate courses in creative writing/fiction & to advise graduate students. Teaching load will be 2-2-2. The appointment will be made at a rank & salary commensurate with the individual’s record & includes a comprehensive benefit package. For full consideration, applications must be received by May 1, 2010 at www.jobsatuc.com Job posting: 210UC0247. Applicants being considered will be asked to provide additional information & materials. AA/EOE.

Gonzaga University. The English Department seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor to teach writing & literature, starting August 2010. 3/3 teaching load. Required qualifications: PhD in English with significant creative writing publication or MFA with at least one book & significant experience teaching literature. Evidence of superior teaching is essential. Particular consideration given to fiction & creative non-fiction writers with strong experience teaching literature. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate creative writing & other courses in the English Department. Letter of application should include a description of teaching philosophy, experience in teaching & writing, & professional values. Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution interested in candidates who will contribute to its distinctive mission. Salary range—$42,227-48,495. Please send letter of application, vita, unofficial graduate transcript, & three current letters of recommendation to: Dr. D. S. Butterworth, Chair, Department of English, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258. Deadline: postmarked March 29, 2010. We plan to conduct telephone interviews with finalists & have campus visits by late April. To learn more about Gonzaga University, visit www.gonzaga.edu AA/EOE.

Lecturer in Creative Writing (Fiction), The University of Chicago
The Committee on Creative Writing at the University of Chicago is accepting applications for a 3 year, renewable, lectureship. The effective date for this teaching appointment will be July 1, 2010. Candidates should hold, at minimum, a Bachelor's degree (MFA is desirable), and have published at least one book with a press of distinction or equivalent short-story publications in magazines of national standing. The teaching schedule of five courses over three quarters will include creative writing workshops within the candidate's genre of expertise and the advising of undergraduate and MA creative theses. The candidate should demonstrate both talent and commitment as a teacher and have a strong interest in building a young and exciting creative writing program through administrative service and participation in cultural events on campus. To apply for this position please go to http://academiccareers.uchicago.edu and search for posting number 00306. This position is contingent upon final budgetary approval. To be assured of full consideration, your application and requested materials must be completed by May 1, 2010. The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

The English Department of the State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh invites applications for a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor position in Creative Writing to begin Fall 2010. Responsibilities include teaching core courses for writing majors; general education courses; lower and upper division creative writing and literature courses. Active involvement in developing the Writing Arts Major, mentoring student writers, working with the Z-Platt student publication, and sharing editorial responsibilities for Saranac Review, the Department's literary journal, are also required. The successful candidate will be expected to engage in campus and departmental service, as well as continued publication and scholarship. Qualifications: M.F.A. and/or Ph.D. in Creative Writing; evidence of publication and record of successful college teaching are required. Significant publication in more than one genre and/or medium is preferred. Secondary teaching interests should be included in the cover letter. $46,000 minimum, with excellent benefits. Date Posted: 03-22-2010. Open Until Filled. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Materials received by April 12, 2010 will be guaranteed full consideration. Please submit a cover letter, resume or CV, 10-20 page writing sample, statement of teaching philosophy and 3 current letters of reference. Official transcripts from an accredited institution will be required prior to employment.

Jobs!

Illinois College. The Illinois College English Department is now accepting applications for the position of Claridge Writer-in-Residence, a one-semester teaching position in Creative Writing, for the spring semester of 2011 (January 10-May 15). The primary responsibilities for the position include teaching an introductory-level multiple-genre creative writing class & an advanced writing workshop in a genre of choice. The resident writer will also give two public readings, visit area schools, & work informally with student writers. Beyond these duties, the position is intended to offer a productive writer substantial time to write. The ideal candidate for this position is a talented writer with publications in at least two genres, who is also an energetic, experienced teacher of writing. A MFA or Ph.D. in Creative Writing or English is required. The salary for this teaching residency is $24,000 & partial benefits, including a furnished apartment. The application for the Claridge Writer-in-Residence should consist of a cover letter, a substantial writing sample (a dozen poems or twenty pages of prose from at least two works), a curriculum vitae, undergraduate & graduate transcripts & three letters of recommendation. The application should provide evidence of strong teaching. Send these materials to: Ms. Elise Meyer & Dr. Robert Koepp, Chair, English Department, Illinois College, Office of Academic Affairs, 1101 W. College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL 62650. Review of applications will begin March 15, 2010, & will continue until the position is filled.Illinois College (founded in 1829) is a dynamic private, Phi Beta Kappa, liberal arts college located in Jacksonville (West Central), Illinois.

The Department of Literature, Language, Writing, and Philosophy at Fairleigh Dickinson University's College at Florham is seeking a well-rounded and flexible Creative Writing/Fiction faculty member to fill a tenure-track Assistant Professor line. This individual will teach in an innovative and rapidly growing program in Creative Writing. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate education and advising, teaching effectiveness, writing for publication and service. Position subject to budgetary approval. MFA and/or significant publication with leading publishers required for teaching Creative Writing/Fiction. Book publication on a major press required. Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Candidates for hire will be required to sign a waiver authorizing the background check and produce a Social Security Card. Interested candidates can learn more about and apply for this position through the University's Web site (www.fdu.edu) by clicking on the Employment link at the bottom of the page. Contact: Professor Peter Benson, Chair Application Information. Contact: Peter Benson/ Literature, Language, Writing and Philosophy/ Fairleigh Dickinson University/ Online App. Form: https://jobs.fdu.edu.

Distinguished Visiting Writer: Bowling Green State University. The English Department seeks applicants for the College of Arts & Sciences Distinguished Visiting Writer. The successful candidate will be in residence spring 2011; teach one fiction writing workshop in our BFA program and one workshop in our MFA program; give a reading and a lecture; and advise theses. Qualifications: 1) MA, MFA or Ph.D. by time of employment; 2) at least one book of fiction and critical recognition consistent with a writer of national reputation; and 3) evidence of outstanding teaching. Salary: competitive. See our website, www.bgsu.edu/departments/creative-writing/visitingwriter.html, for a fuller description of the position. Send cover letter, CV, transcripts, three current letters of reference, writing sample (one book), a list of courses taught with brief descriptions, and 1-2 samples of undergraduate syllabi to Kristine Blair, Chair, English Department, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0191. The starting date of employment for this position is January 2011. Screening of applicants will begin June 14, 2010 and continue until the position is filled. BGSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Application Information Postal Address: Kristine L. Blair, Chair/ English Department/ Bowling Green State University/ 1001 E. Wooster St./ Bowling Green, OH 43403-0191/ Phone: 419-372-7543.

Writing: Assistant Professor, Fiction Writing, Department of English, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Tenure-track position available August 20, 2010. Responsibilities: teach and develop a wide range of undergraduate and graduate creative writing courses, particularly in fiction; publish fiction. Minimum qualifications: earned MFA or Ph.D. in creative writing by August 1, 2010; strong record of publication in fiction; record of effective teaching at the college or university level. Preferred qualifications: one published book of fiction; secondary specialization in poetry or screenwriting (with record of publication or production); experience in digital media, creative writing program administration, or community-based education. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and copies of graduate transcripts as pdf or MSWord attachments to (replace (at) with @) or by mail to: Professor Jill Christman, Chair, Tenure-Track Creative Writing Search Committee, Department of English Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47306; fax: 765-285-3765. After initial review of applications, selected candidates will be asked to supply a writing sample (20 pp of fiction), statement of teaching philosophy for creative writing, and three letters of recommendation; interviews to be held in Denver at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs annual conference, April 8-10, 2010. Review of applications will begin March 1, 2010, and will continue until the position is filled. http://www.bsu.edu/English. Ball State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community.

Jobs!

Lecturer- Creative Writing (Fiction), Department of English & Philosophy, Murray State University. Full-time, non-tenure track position to begin August 2010. Qualifications: M.F.A. or Ph.D. in Creative Writing (Fiction) by appointment date is required. Evidence of teaching excellence and significant record of publication required. Ability to teach contemporary literature desirable. Responsibilities: Teach four courses per semester in fiction writing, courses covering one or more periods of literature with an emphasis in the short story and the novel, composition, and a sophomore-level Humanities course; engage in appropriate service. Application Deadline: Postmarked by March 5, 2010. To Apply: Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and placement file with transcripts and three recent letters of recommendation addressing the above qualifications/responsibilities to: Creative Writing-Fiction Search, Department of English and Philosophy, Murray State University, 7C Faculty Hall, Murray, KY 42071-3341. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Murray State University is an equal education and employment opportunity, M/F/D, AA employer. Postal Address: Department of English & Philosophy/ Murray State University/ Chair, Creative Writing—Fiction Search/ 7C Faculty Hall/ Murray, KY 42071.

Quinnipiac University invites applications for an Assistant Professor position beginning in Fall 2010. This is a full-time, non-tenure track renewable term appointment. Applicants must have an MFA or appropriate terminal degree in hand by August 2010, with a specialization in creative writing, fiction writing preferred. We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching and an established publishing history. Qualified applicants should apply online at https://careers.quinnipiac.edu. Online application materials should include a letter of application and a current curriculum vita. In addition, three letters of recommendation, at least one of which directly addresses the candidate's teaching, should be sent to Creative Writing Search, c/o Danielle Pomponi, English Department Secretary, CL-AC1, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518. Applications must be received by February 28, 2010.

Assistant Professor, Creative Writing (Fiction) and Literature
JOB DUTIES: Teach 9 credits per semester (3/3 load). Departmental and University service as appropriate. Teaching responsibilities include fiction writing at the graduate and undergraduate level in a growing writing program; undergraduate courses in literature, including lower-level surveys; and composition. Provide academic advising to English majors. 3-credit scholarship course release per semester. REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in English or Creative Writing (Fiction) or M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Fiction). At least one book of fiction on a reputable press. Evidence of effective college-level teaching in a broad array of courses from general education literature and composition to graduate level creative writing. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Secondary scholarly interest in an area of Anglophone literary study, including but not limited to non-western literatures. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 02.28.2010 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS: Anticipated opening for the 2010-11 academic year. Tenure-track. Transcripts and three letters of recommendation may be sent directly to Hiring Committee, Department of English Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ 07764. Please do not send books or writing samples unless we contact you to request them. We cannot return unsolicited materials. Additional information about the English department can be found at: http://www.monmouth.edu/academics/english/default.asp

Creighton University. Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing. Pending budgetary approval, Creighton University’s English department seeks to fill a tenure-track, entry-level Assistant Professor position in Creative Writing (area open). We welcome applicants with interest & involvement in the international writing community. Three-course load. MFA or PhD in creative writing required by August 2010, with evidence of excellent university-level teaching & significant publications. All faculty teach 100-level courses. Position begins August 2010. Candidates should familiarize themselves with our programs, department, university, & mission athttp://www.creightonenglish.org, Review of applications begins February 20 & continues until the position is filled. Preliminary interviews at AWP Conference. Apply online with three letters of recommendation, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, & graduate/undergraduate transcripts (photocopies acceptable initially) to http://careers.creighton.edu; select "Faculty" & follow directions. Send writing samples to: Dr. Brent Spencer, Chair, Search Committee, Department of English, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178. Include email address. All applications will be acknowledged. A Jesuit, Catholic institution, Creighton University encourages applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds who believe they can contribute to the university’s distinctive educational traditions. http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english

Goddard College Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Creative Writing Program
Part Time, Temporary, Faculty Positions Available. We seek faculty who are published writers committed to excellence in their craft and the development of individual voice. Our students work closely with their faculty advisors during each residency to plan the work of the semester. Our faculty continue this supportive and sustaining mentorship throughout the semester, and the students benefit from the experience, insights, and critical feedback of their advisors. BFA faculty members are cross-listed in the Individualized BA program at Goddard; applicants must, therefore, be prepared to respond to student work in at least two areas of liberal arts study in addition to creative writing. Interested applicants are urged to explore the Goddard BFA-CW and IBA programs on the Goddard web site before applying. Online App. Form: http://www.goddard.edu/employment_opportunities

Viterbo University invites applications for a full-time instructor (renewable, non-tenure track position) in the English Department beginning August 16, 2010. Primary teaching responsibilities will be in freshman composition courses, but may also include lower division creative writing or literature courses. The successful candidate will teach 15 credits per semester. Anticipated salary is in the low to mid $30s. Minimum qualifications: master's degree or MFA in English or related field and prior experience teaching freshman composition. Experience teaching either non-traditional populations or online courses preferred. Viterbo University is a Catholic, Franciscan, liberal arts institution located in southwest Wisconsin in the scenic upper Mississippi River Valley. To apply, please send your application to Dr. Glena Temple, Dean, School of Letters and Science, Viterbo University, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601 (or electronically to ggtemple(at)viterbo.edu). Your application should include: a letter of application indicating qualifications; application form (www.viterbo.edu/employmentapplication.aspx); teaching philosophy; curriculum vitae; copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts; and three letters of reference. Review begins March 10, 2010 and continues until position is filled.

Jobs!

English, Full-Time, One-Year Temporary, Non-Tenure-Track, Visiting Writer
Institution: University of Central Oklahoma
Location: Edmond, OK
Category: Faculty - Liberal Arts - English and Literature
Application Due: 02/15/2010
Type: Full Time
Salary: $40,000 USD Per Year
Effective Date: 08-16-2010 Position Number: 999766 Requisition Number: A000551
Position Summary: Writer in residence, novelist and/or short story writer; play/screenwriting experience desirable. Teach two classes per semester, including advanced novel or short story writing and introductory creative writing classes; serve on M.F.A. and M.A. thesis committees in creative writing; participate in co-curricular activities in support of the creative writing program. Online App. Form: https://jobs.uco.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=71970&jtsrc=www.higheredj obs.com&jtrfr=www.peopleadmin.com&adorig=PA

Stephen F. Austin State University. Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. The Department of English & the BFA program at Stephen F. Austin State University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, with a specialization in fiction & a strong secondary strength in creative nonfiction or poetry. The successful candidate will have an MFA or PhD in Creative Writing by time of appointment, a record of substantial publication, & demonstrated teaching excellence. We are looking for candidates with the ability to teach a variety of courses, from freshman composition to advanced or graduate courses in Creative Writing. The successful candidate will have the ability to supervise creative theses on the BFA & MA levels; the ability to teach introductory film courses & literature, with particular interest in American multicultural literatures, is highly preferred. Experience in teaching freshman composition is essential. The standard load is 4-4 with opportunities for research & service-related reductions. SFASU is a comprehensive university with an enrollment of more than 12,000 students, located in the East Texas Piney Woods region. Candidates must apply via the SFASU online application system. Please submit letter of application & CV at: https://careers.sfasu.edu. Send copies of transcripts, three current letters of recommendation, & a 25-page creative writing sample directly to: Dr. Mark Sanders, Chair, Department of English, Stephen F. Austin State University, PO Box 13007, SFA Station; Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3007.Review of applications begins January 20; position open until filled.

Norwich University. Visiting Instructor/Assistant Professor of English—Creative Nonfiction/Advanced Writing. The School of Humanities at Norwich University invites applications for a one-year English faculty position to begin fall 2010. Preference will be given to candidates holding the PhD (ABD considered). This position will teach courses in freshman composition, world literature surveys, & English program electives. Documented expertise in creative non-fiction & advanced writing is welcomed. To apply: please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, names, addresses, & telephone numbers of three references, & a Norwich application, to: English Faculty Search, via e-mail:jobs(at)norwich.edu (replace (at) with @) Candidates must have U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status. This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of extending this position to a second year. Applications must be received no later than February 5.

Carroll College. The English program at Carroll College is accepting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in creative writing with emphasis in fiction. The position will entail the teaching of multi-genre creative writing courses from the introductory to the advanced undergraduate level, so experience in teaching poetry is also required. The successful applicant will have the MFA or PhD in hand along with a substantial record of publication. Teaching experience in areas such as non-fiction prose, screenwriting, world literature, or first-year seminar is welcomed but not required. All members of our department teach literature courses & one section of freshman composition per year; the course load is 4/3. The search committee will contact selected candidates sometime in January for phone interviews. Please send a letter of application, CV, & writing sample of 20-30 pages by January 10 to: Renee McMahon, Director of Human Resources, Carroll College, Helena, MT 59625. Carroll College is a Catholic undergraduate college in the liberal arts tradition.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Department of English & the Creative Writing Program seek 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. For the 2010-2011 academic year, beginning August 2010, the Program requests applicants in prose Fiction. Requirements of Applicants: Significant publication in major literary magazines; Applicants should have published onerecent book or have one book under contract, no more; Previous college teaching experience; Willingness to relocate to Chapel Hill for one year; MFA degree preferred but not required. Conditions of Appointment: 1-Year appointment; Salary: $28,000; will teach ONE undergraduate creative writing course per semester, probably on an introductory level; Must give one major public reading & otherwise participate fully in the life of the Creative Writing Program. Materials Needed: Curriculum vita; Three letter of reference, two of which should be written by people familiar with the applicant’s teaching abilities & who can evaluate applicant’s suitability; Up to 10 pp. of published work; 1-page personal statement indicating how an appointment of this sort would serve the applicant’s needs & endeavors. Deadline for Submissions: February 1, 2010. Mail applications & all supporting materials to:Michael McFee, Director, Creative Writing Program, Kenan Visiting Writer Search Committee, Greenlaw Hall, CB# 3520, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3520.

The English Department seeks to foster the writing culture of Whitworth University by stressing writing in all courses, cultivating a sensitivity to language, its power and complexity, and a commitment to training good writers through working cooperatively with the Whitworth Writing Center. We are seeking evidence of exceptional teaching and significant publication in Creative Nonfiction. Preference will be given to candidates who have expertise in a second genre in creative writing, and in composition. Teaching load: three courses in Fall, one course in compressed January Term, three courses in Spring; courses taught will include Creative Nonfiction, Intro to Creative Writing, Composition, and possibly a topic of the candidate's choosing. More information at http://www.whitworth.edu/Administration/HumanResources/Pdf/EnglishFacultyCreativeWriting.pdf

The Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor, or Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, in the area of Fiction writing. The initial appointment is for the 2010-11 academic year beginning September 1, 2010. An M.F.A. or other terminal degree, or equivalent professional experience, with a significant national publication record including at least two published books, are required. Essential to the position will be the teaching of undergraduate workshops, graduate level workshops in a thriving M.F.A. Program, as well as courses in literature of narrative fiction. Ability to teach literature courses that focus on African American literature is also essential. Additional faculty responsibilities will include maintaining professional development and scholarship activities, academic advising and participation on faculty and College committees. Send a letter of application, a curriculum vita, and writing sample to Search Chair, Fiction Writer, The Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Have your dossier sent to the same address. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please visit our web site for a full listing of academic positions: http://www.emerson.edu/academic_affairs/faculty/Faculty-Employment.cfm

Jobs!

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH - EMERGING WRITER LECTURER
One-year appointment, beginning August 2010, for a creative writer who plans a career that involves college-level teaching, to teach three courses per semester, including Introduction to Creative Writing and an advanced course in the writer's genre, as well as to assist with departmental writing activities. Mentorship for teaching and assistance in professional development provided. M.A., with a concentration in creative writing, M.F.A., or Ph.D. with creative dissertation, required. Teaching experience and literary magazine publications are essential. Competitive salary. To apply, send letter of application, curriculum vitae, names of three references, and a 5-10 page writing sample to: Emerging Writer Lectureship, Department of English, Campus Box 397, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325, postmarked by January 29, 2010. Electronic applications will not be accepted. Do not send entire monographs, books, etc.

Carroll College. The English program at Carroll College is accepting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in creative writing with emphasis in fiction. The position will entail the teaching of multi-genre creative writing courses from the introductory to the advanced undergraduate level, so experience in teaching poetry is also required. The successful applicant will have the MFA or PhD in hand along with a substantial record of publication. Teaching experience in areas such as non-fiction prose, screenwriting, world literature, or first-year seminar is welcomed but not required. All members of our department teach literature courses & one section of freshman composition per year; the course load is 4/3. The search committee will contact selected candidates sometime in January for phone interviews. Please send a letter of application, CV, & writing sample of 20-30 pages by January 10 to: Renee McMahon, Director of Human Resources, Carroll College, Helena,
MT 59625. Carroll College is a Catholic undergraduate college in the liberal arts tradition. AA/EOE.

Quinnipiac University invites applications for an Assistant Professor position beginning in Fall 2010. This is a full-time, non-tenure track renewable term appointment. Applicants must have an MFA or appropriate terminal degree in hand by August 2010, with a specialization in creative writing, fiction writing preferred. We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching and an established publishing history. We have a growing interest in creative arts at Quinnipiac University, and the successful candidate will take a leadership role in developing this interest, including contributing to curriculum development within the department, advising our undergraduate literary magazine, organizing readings on campus, and advising departmental and college arts and creativity organizations. Expected teaching load is the equivalent of 3/3. Qualified applicants should apply online. Online application materials should include a letter of application and a current curriculum vita. In addition, three letters of recommendation, at least one of which directly addresses the candidate's teaching, should be sent to Creative Writing Search, c/o Danielle Pomponi, English Department Secretary, CL-AC1, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518. Applications must be received by February 28, 2010.

Kent State University. The Department of English will hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Poetry Writing, beginning August 2010. We seek a published poet, who is qualified to teach in our undergraduate program & in the Consortial Northeast Ohio Universities Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA) in Creative Writing program. Candidates should have a strong publication record & teaching experience in creative writing. Northeast Ohio supports a flourishing writing community, including Kent State’s Wick Poetry Center which promotes opportunities for emerging & established poets & poetry audiences locally, regionally, & nationally. Competitive salary & benefits & opportunities for full semester & summer research appointments & pre-tenure workload releases. Teaching will include undergraduate poetry-writing courses & portfolio direction for students in our Writing Minor, as well as graduate courses in poetry-writing & thesis direction in the MFA program. An MFA or PhD in Creative Writing is required by time of appointment in August 2010. For a complete description of this position & to apply online, visit our jobsite at: http://jobs.kent.edu for position number 991014 & complete an academic data form. In addition, please submit by January 15 a cover letter, vita, names of three (3) references, & a sample of published work letters of recommendation to: Professor Ron Corthell, Chair, Department of English, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001. Attn: Creative Writing Search Committee. AA/EOE.

English: English, Assistant Professor: Seton Hill University seeks published genre novelist (priority for popular mystery/crime/suspense writer; will also consider fantasy or romance author) for tenure-track position in our low-residency MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction, starting June 2010. Commitment to genre fiction essential. Composition, online and graduate teaching experience highly desirable. MFA required (Ph.D. preferred). 4/4 teaching responsibilities; half of course load will serve undergraduate English and Composition instruction. Seton Hill University is a Catholic, liberal arts University, serving undergraduate, adult and graduate students. Seton Hill is located 35 miles east of Pittsburgh. Visit http://www.setonhill.edu for more information. Immediately send a letter, curriculum vitae, official transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, sample publications, and three letters of reference to Michael Arnzen (arnzen(at)setonhill.edu), Ph.D., Seton Hill Uni
versity, Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601. Deadline: February 3rd, 2010. Seton Hill University is committed to a faculty, staff and student body that reflect the diversity of our global population. AA/EOE.

Virtual Poet-in-Residence: ARC Poetry

Call for Proposals: Poet in Residence, October 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
History and Overview: Over 32 years of publication Arc Poetry Magazine has established itself as an important feature in the Canadian literary landscape. In addition to the publication of dozens of vibrant and thought-provoking issues, some highlights of Arc’s legacy include the establishment of the Confederation Poets Prize, the Lampman-Scott (formerly Archibald Lampman) Award for Poetry, the Poem of the Year Contest, and the Diana Brebner Prize for emerging poets. Arc has also received many honours, including numerous National Magazine Awards. A new addition to the Arc family of services is the Poet in Residence program. As a publication that receives hundreds of applications from emerging poets each year, Arc would like tobe able to offer more constructive feedback than time usually allows topoets whose work shows promise. The Poet in Residence (PIR) will provide this editorial feedback through an internal referral system,will produce a commissioned work for publication in Arc, andwill attend to present this work at the issue launches (locations to be confirmed). This will be the second year for the Poet in Residence program, and may be subject to the approval of funding. The PIR willbe asked to provide relevant feedback regarding the program in order to improve service for subsequent years. The successful candidate will beable to meet the criteria established by the Canada Council for the Arts for its writers residency program. Position Description: The nine-month residency will consist of the following: This is a virtual residency, so the Poet in Residence will not be required to relocate. Ten to twenty hours of mentoring per each month of the residency, serving a minimum of ten poets per month, for a total of between three and four weeks of the entire residency; Tailored mentoring will include written assessments of approximately 250 words, a tailored recommended reading list, and phone and/or email consultation where necessary; The PIR will undertake to clarify with each participant in the program that the opinions are those of the him or herself and not those of the Arc Poetry Society or of Arc Poetry Magazine; In order to prepare a thorough mentoring statement the poet in residence will request a larger sampling of a mentee’s work where necessary; Creation of a project of ten to fifteen printed pages for publication in Arc and approximately two weeks of travel and readings to promote the launch of the issue of Arc containing the PIR’s work. More here.

The Southern Review's Resident Scholar Position

Louisiana State University. Postdoctoral Researcher/Resident Scholar, The Southern Review. This is a two-year non-renewable twelve-month appointment & carries a salary of $32,000 & benefits (Pending final administrative approval). Preferred start date is August 1, 2010. The Scholar will commit 20 hours per week to editorial duties at The Southern Review & teach one class per regular semester in the English Department (courses assigned by departmental need and/or Fellow's expertise). Required Qualifications: Terminal degree (MFA, PhD or equivalent); one year editorial experience on the staff of an established literary journal. Additional Qualifications Desired:Ability to demonstrate the following: editorial expertise with fiction, nonfiction, & poetry; a broad knowledge of literature, especially contemporary; basic computer skills; a solid understanding of publishing, especially small presses & literary magazines. Special Requirements: All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States; ability & willingness to work some holidays. Flexible scheduling of hours may be available. Responsibilities: handles manuscript review & selection, proofreading, circulation development, fundraising support & conference participation; teaches one class per regular semester for the English Department; produces new works of prose or poetry culminating in a public presentation the final semester of the residency. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Application deadline is January 4, 2010 or until a candidate is selected. Apply online at: www.lsusystemcareers.lsu.edu Position #034688. AA/EOE

Jobs!

Missouri State University: Creative Writing/Poetry Instructor (A060)
Creative Writing (Poetry) Instructor--The English Department at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO anticipates an August 16, 2010 opening for a 9-month, non-tenure-track Instructor. For a full description of the position seehttp://www.missouristate.edu/academicopenings. To apply for this position, please complete the electronic application and submit supplemental materials to: Dr. W.D. Blackmon, English Department, Missouri State University, 901 South National, Springfield, MO 65897. EO/AA. Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense.' Postal Address: Dr. W.D. Blackmon/English Department/Missouri State University/901 S. National/Springfield, MO 65897. Online App. Form here.

Assistant Professor of English with specialty in Poetry Writing.
Ph.D. required and experience teaching first-year composition highly desired. Candidates must be committed to teaching excellence and serious creative production and/or scholarship. The 3-course load includes responsibilities at the freshman, sophomore, and upper levels with occasional opportunities to teach in the M.A. program. Interviewing at MLA. Deadline for applications is November 15, 2009 Send cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, and dossier (with current transcripts and three letters of recommendation), to Dr. Patricia Ward, Department Chair. For more information please visit here.

The University of Michigan-Flint invites applications for a tenure-track position in Creative Writing at the Assistant Professor level beginning in Fall 2010. The appointment carries a 3-3 teaching load divided between undergraduate and M.A. courses in Creative Writing and introductory and/or advanced courses in a second field. We seek an individual committed to teaching and curricular development at the undergraduate and Master's level, creative and/or scholarly publication, university and community service. Cover letter, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, dissertation abstract, and three letters of reference should be sent electronically to creativewritingsearch@umflint.edu or in hard copy to Thomas C. Foster, Creative Writing Search Chair, Department of English, University of Michigan-Flint, 326 French Hall, Flint, MI 48502-1950. No first-round interviews at MLA. On-campus interviews will likely be conducted in February 2010. Review of applications will begin January 4 and continue until the position is filled.

The Department of English at the University of Massachusetts Lowell seeks an energetic and collaborative colleague for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Creative Writing-Poetry. Teaching includes poetry workshops and other upper-level as well as introductory writing courses. Secondary specialty in one or more of the following areas also desirable: children's/adolescent literature, world literature, linguistics. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue an active publishing agenda, to mentor students on individual and group projects, and to develop significant outreach projects in the community and the region. Online App. Form.

Bennington College seeks two published writers of distinguished literary accomplishment to teach literature and writing to highly motivated undergraduates. In keeping with our commitment to the teacher-practitioner model, we seek writers of poetry, fiction, drama or nonfiction whose own interests and abilities as teachers will shape our future curriculum. We are committed to teaching major works in the history of literature, and likely candidates will demonstrate the ability to teach a broad spectrum of essential works. Please submit a letter of interest and CV to Literature Search Committee, Bennington College, One College Drive, Bennington. VT 05201. Online App. Form.

Assistant Professor of English - Creative Nonfiction Writing, Bemidji State University
Responsibilities: Teach creative nonfiction writing at junior through graduate levels. Teach first-year composition and related academic writing. Contribute to a program of scholarship within the discipline,student advising, service to the University and community, and other associated faculty duties. Contribute to interdisciplinary teaching and distance learning delivery. Involvement in activities that support Bemidji State University's signature themes: Environmental stewardship, Civic engagement, Global/multicultural understanding. Minimum Qualifications: MFA in writing and/or PhD in English with specialization in writing creative nonfiction. Significant and appropriate publications. Teaching experience in university level courses. Ability to teach upper division and graduate level courses. Ability to teach first-year composition. Teaching excellence, student-centered. Knowledge of and interest in diverse cultures and populations. Application Procedure: Apply online here.