A Pause for the Cause (2.0)

Ever wonder what literary magazine editors are thinking while they are reading your submission? This podcast may interest you . . .

About Literary Magazines (and Submitting Work to Them) An interview with Vince Gotera, editor of the North American Review, by Paula Berinstein of The Writing Show: Information and Inspiration for Writers 10 August 2008 · 50 minutes · MP3 (24 MB) · Click here to get to the podcast.

We talked about literary magazines in general, and the North American Review in particular; what editors look for and what turns them off (or, at least, what turns one editor off); common mistakes people make when they submit to a literary magazine; and so on. Give it a listen!

If you're a writer, Paula Berinstein's Writing Show is a truly indispensable international resource. Some recent highlights . . . the current podcast is "What Do Publishers Want from Query Letters and Proposals?" — an interview with Jennifer Silva Redmond, Editor-in-Chief of Sunbelt Publications (there are two podcasts each week). Current article on the website: Jeff Rivera on "Being Picked Up by a Major Publisher." For Halloween (two weeks ago): readings and interviews with five Australian horror writers: Rick Kennett, David Conyers, Chuck McKenzie, Alison Pearce, and Marty Young (president of the Australian Horror Writers Association). Every month, tips for screenwriters from screenwriting guru Blake Snyder. There are frequent writing contests. And mentoring services for fiction and nonfiction writers. And more . . . much more. Check out The Writing Show, friends!

And, Paula, many thanks for all the wonderful work you do for writers around the world.

A Pause for the Cause (1.0)

I first heard that phrase — pause for the cause — listening to KSOL and KDIA, the San Francisco Bay Area's soul stations, back in the late 60s and early 70s. Johnny Quick, or some other DJ, would lay down that phrase just before cutting to a commercial . . . in that respect, the "cause" was selling something, keeping the station's and the music's body and soul together.

In a more general sense, "pause for the cause" can mean to take a break in order to take stock, to get back in touch with what's really important. For example, Run-D.M.C. used "pause for the cause" as the motif phrase in their anti-violence, anti-crime, anti-drug ditty "Pause." (For what it's worth, there are currently three definitions in UrbanDictionary.com that have yet to get much play.)

Today, I'm pausing for the cause (that is, no poems here today) to let you know about a couple of things you may find interesting.

-----	(ONE) ----	My "Craft of Poetry" website . . . lots of people have used this website to help them learn to write formal, rhymed and metered poems. They send me e-mail thank-you's from time to time. I must tell you, this is somewhat of a "cobweb" site, meaning I haven't updated it for some time. In fact, there's a note on the main page that says to watch out for changes that will come in Summer 2003. Oh well. Nonetheless, it's a good resource to learn about the elements of poetry and how to write in poetic forms.
	(TWO)	I will be the resident editor for Writing Away Retreats during June 12-16, 2009, in Vail, Colorado. Get away from the daily grind . . . carve out some unfettered time for your poems up high in Rocky Mountain air. Consultations about your work with two poets and a poetry editor (me). Should be loads of fun.

Okay . . . first, a PSA, a public service announcement, and then, second, a commercial. Check 'em both out.

That's today's pause for the cause, good friends. And now let's jump on back to the music: here's the inimitable Godfather of Soul, the one-and-only James Brown, with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"!