Corrections or additions?
This article was prepared for the July 28, 2004
issue of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All rights reserved.
Between the Lines
Our thanks go to the more than 125 writers who submitted poetry and
short stories to the 8th annual U.S. 1 Fiction Issue. Every year we
reiterate, “This is not a contest,” because we choose some stories and
poems because they go together or fit into a particular category, and
we have to leave some out for space considerations.
Surely, you say, the selections are less subjective at a more literary
publication, say, the New Yorker. No, if statistical research is to be
believed, New Yorker editors prefer “local” settings, and they match
story protagonists with their own sex and ethnicity – just as writers
like to use themselves as models for their own characters.
That hypothesis was the senior thesis topic for Katy Milkman, Class of
2004 at Princeton University, who concentrated in Operations Research
and Financial Engineering but also earned a certificate in American
studies.
When Milkman applied her statistical methods to short stories
published in the New Yorker from October, 1992, through September,
2001, she found that male editors typically chose stories where a male
character was supported by a female character. In particular, Bill
Buford had a 70 percent record of choosing male authors, compared to
Charles McGrath’s record of 57 percent.
We haven’t run the numbers for the past eight fiction issues of U.S. 1
– we will leave that to the readers – but suffice it to say that this
issue had two reader, one male and one female (see page 47).
Milkman also found that most characters in New Yorker fiction tend to
live in New York, and in this respect U.S. 1 is similar. Our editors
do have a bias toward fiction and poetry that takes place in
Princeton.
We invite all our contributors – and our readers – to the U.S. 1
Fiction Issue reception set for Thursday, August 12, 5 to 7 p.m., at
Barnes & Noble MarketFair. Note also that the next issue of U.S. 1 is
Wednesday, August 11. We are taking our annual mid-summer break.
We would also like to suggest that behind every successful writer may
be a good writing teacher or a supportive writing group. Many of our
authors are self taught, but others attribute their success to
writers’ groups or writing courses. Here is a list of opportunities:
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, 609-924-8777,
www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Writing courses offered.
Barnes & Noble, 869 Route 1 South, North Brunswick, 732-545-7966.
Writers Anonymous monthly meeting for experienced and beginning
writers led by Jack Cargill of Rutgers University. Free.
Barnes & Noble, Marketfair, 609-716-1570. Writers Exchange, a monthly
writers’ group facilitated by author Ed Leefeldt, Monday, August 2, 7
p.m. Free.
Deb Cooperman, 666 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro, 609-924-1808,
www.debcooperman.com. Living Out Loud writing workshops designed to
encourage creative expression and help writers improve self-knowledge
(no experience necessary). Cooperman can also serve as a writing coach
for individuals.
Delaware Valley Poets, Box 6203, Lawrenceville 08648.Jean Anderson and John Baldwin, monthly reading at Barnes & NobleMarketFair, Monday, August 9, 8 p.m., followed by open read.609-716-1570.Garden State Horror Writers, Monmouth County Library,Symmes Drive, Manalapan, 973-625-9512, www.gshw.net. Monthly meetings.Grounds For Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton,609-689-1089, www.groundsforsculpture.org. Poets’ Invitational: Poets,writers, and musicians can register to participate, Saturday, August21, 2 p.m.Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey, Monroe TownshipJewish Center, 11 Cornell Avenue, 732-249-4894,www.jewishgen.org/jhcj. Jewish Women Writers.Mercer County College, 609-586-4800, www.mccc.edu.Writing courses and certificates.Network of Writers and Artists, Friends Conference Centerat Glen Arbor, Bridgewater, 908-722-1632, www.nowa.org.New Jersey Film Festival, Loree Hall 020, DouglassCampus, New Brunswick, 732-932-8482, www.njfilmfest.com. Films andcourses.New Jersey Repertory Company, Lumia Theater, 179Broadway, Long Branch, 732-229-3166, www.njrep.org. Script-in-HandPlay Series. Monday, August 9, 8 p.m.New Jersey Romance Writers, Holiday Inn, Exit 8-A,Jamesburg, 856-767-7188, www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/7019. Monthlymeetings.Plainsboro Public Library, 641 Plainsboro Road,609-275-2897, Writers group on last Mondays, refreshments and reading,August 30, 6:30 p.m.Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street,609-924-9529, www.princeton.lib.nj.us. Writers Talking Series.Wednesday, July 28, 7:30 p.m. Also, writing groups for adults andteens.Princeton Screen Script Writers Circuit, 1603 CovingtonRoad, Yardley, 215-493-1796. E-mail: Princetonfilmaca@aol.com.Writers, artists, musicians, actors, and singers meet the firstThursday of every month. Bring work to share.Professional Writers Alliance, 10 Tally Road, Hamilton08619. Robin Levinson, president. 609-584-9330; fax, 609-584-9330,www.pwawriters.org. Formerly the Mercer County Writers’ Collective,comprised of those who make their living using words. Online directoryand speakers bureau.Studio Zen, 57 Hamilton Avenue, Hopewell, 609-466-7787,www.studiozen.org. Workshops in song writing and creative writing.U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative, Box 127, Kingston 08528-0127.609-844-9736. Weekly meetings on Tuesdays, co-sponsor of the U.S. 1Poets Invite series at Princeton Public Library, publisher of U.S. 1Worksheets.The Writers Room of Bucks County, 4 West Oakland Avenue,Doylestown, 215-348-1663, www.WritersRoom.net. True Confessions MemoirBoot Camp with Foster Winans presenting an intensive workshop.Saturdays, July 31, August 7 and 14. 9 a.m. to noon. Register. $165.Top Of PageTo the EditorI was sitting in Mercer Airport last Saturday evening waiting for aflight to Johnstown, PA, when I happened to glance at the July 21issue of U.S. 1. There was the article by Richard K. Rein about”Windfarms” in Pennsylvania. I was thrilled to read your observationsabout the windfarms, as the community at Saint Francis University ispresently developing the same to serve the energy needs of the campus.I appreciate the attention you bring to this very essential energyalternative and look forward to reading more of your reflections inU.S. 1.Fr. Gabe Zeis, T.O.R.President,Saint Francis UniversityCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
