With a superior military we are blessed that casualties are minimal, and it’s rare to lose an aircrew. But when you do it cuts deep and hurts…. Especially as a former aircrew member. Today we honor the 6 who lost their lives in Iraq. Nickel in the grass brothers and sisters.

Weekend reminder: you'll find *lots* of calls for submissions and adjacent opportunities that remain open for submissions/applications w/i this post & thread-in-progress.

"When her book club read *The Plot Against America*, her comment had been, But Roosevelt *didn’t* lose the election in 1940." This week's #SundaySentence comes from one of the stories in Allegra Goodman's THIS IS NOT ABOUT US. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/sund...

Weekend reminder: you'll find *lots* of calls for submissions and adjacent opportunities that remain open for submissions/applications w/i this post & thread-in-progress.

Another day, another attack on a synagogue. Literally.

Also: "At the same time, we want to emphasize that it’s crucial that trauma not be presented to children as the crux of Jewish identity. While we’re calling out these relevant books right now, please balance them with reading about Jewish values, traditions, and joy."

"While it’s distressing that such a topic is now prevalent enough to be a part of children’s literature, talking about it is better than not talking about it. These books can be conversation starters, as well as cautionary tales and models for allyship." jewishbookgarden.substack.com/p/books-to-p...

This week on My Machberet: calls for submissions from Writing on the Wall & The Artists Against Antisemitism; a new EiC at @lilithmagazine.bsky.social & new (first-ever!) Director of Publishing Relations at @jewishbookcouncil.bsky.social; and more. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/jewi...

On Practicing Writing: “Promoting Books Without Social Media”; “From Never to Yes: How and Why I Self-Published My Memoir”; thoughts prompted by Allegra Goodman's latest book; more. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/find...

Michigan shul is at least the 7th Diaspora synagogue targeted so far this month https://www.timesofisrael.com/michigan-shul-is-at-least-the-7th-diaspora-synagogue-targeted-so-far-this-month/

This week on My Machberet: calls for submissions from Writing on the Wall & The Artists Against Antisemitism; a new EiC at @lilithmagazine.bsky.social & new (first-ever!) Director of Publishing Relations at @jewishbookcouncil.bsky.social; and more. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/jewi...

I missed Matt's announcement a few days ago. His bookstore is wonderful — and I don't say that just because it carries signed copies of all the books he and/or I have written.

"'In an ideal world, if there were a bomb shelter in this building, I’d want to do a children’s story hour,' [Michal Goldschmidt] said, given the school and daycare closures due to the war. 'But I’ll have to hold off on that for now.'" #Bookstores

With h/t to @erikadreifus.bsky.social , here's a profile of @susanbk.bsky.social on surviving publishing in the 2020s and her upcoming projects. leekofman.com.au/the-writer-l...

ICYMI: Yesterday's #MondayMotivation

"'In an ideal world, if there were a bomb shelter in this building, I’d want to do a children’s story hour,' [Michal Goldschmidt] said, given the school and daycare closures due to the war. 'But I’ll have to hold off on that for now.'" #Bookstores

VIENNESE IMPESSIONS A Riot of Tulips on the Windowsill Ready to Jump? #EastCoastKin #Photography #PhotographersOfBlueSky #Bloomscrolling

I'm accepting nonfiction essays or book excerpts for Judith magazine. We are a must-read for many in the Jewish literary community, and I'm proud of what we've built since our launch. Write to me at [email protected] and put "Judith" somewhere in the subject line. judithmagazine.substack.com

My book, "Emet: How Jews Can Reclaim Truth in an Era of Lies,” is already attracting the attention of agents and publishers. It’s exciting, but nerve-racking. This is by far the most significant thing I’ve written to date.

Meantime, today: "A 'criminal explosion' struck a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège at around 4 a.m. local time on Monday in a 'violent act of antisemitism,' a local government spokeswoman confirmed to ABC News." abcnews.com/Internationa...

ICYMI this weekend: "Police in parts of the Greater Toronto Area will be increasing their presence after shots were fired at two synagogues in North York & Vaughan. It comes just days after another North York synagogue, the Temple Emanu-El, was also shot at...." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Also worth sharing, methinks, in the context of #InternationalWomensDay #IWD #IWD26.

Weekend reminder: *lots* of calls for submissions and adjacent opportunities that are open for submissions/applications w/i this post & thread-in-progress.

"Sometimes the same plane can carry a new widow and a newly-wed wife: their cargo of past and future, earth-weighted grief enclosed in a large wooden box and winged happiness ringed by a tiny circle of gold— both immeasurable." #SundaySentence via Ruth Kessler. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/sund...

Weekend reminder: *lots* of calls for submissions and adjacent opportunities that are open for submissions/applications w/i this post & thread-in-progress.

On Practicing Writing today: *"Another Book Bites the Dust"; *"How to enjoy criticism, and how to embrace rejection"; *"Amplify Your Story: How Writers Can Build Literary Visibility"; and more. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/find...

On My Machberet today: www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/jewi...

Good night Chicago

Natan Fund and Jewish Book Council are thrilled to announce the Winter 2026 Natan Notable Books winner, Matti Friedman for OUT OF THE SKY: HEROISM AND REBIRTH IN NAZI EUROPE. Read the full press release and more about this insightful new book.⁠ bit.ly/408FrpC @spiegelandgrau.bsky.social

"The soldiers are Capt. Cody Khork, 35; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20. All four were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve sustainment unit out of Iowa." edition.cnn.com/2026/03/03/p...

10 *additional* calls for submissions/applications went out to paid subscribers via Substack early this AM—a link to the free version is included within the post below and active now! erikadreifus.substack.com/p/opportunit...

So far, the 5 items drawing the most clicks: * @tommydeanwriter.bsky.social’s “cheat sheet” for submitting to #litmags; * @barrelhouse.bsky.social's current call; * Brilliant Flash Fiction contest; * Ox-Bow’s summer residency program; * and my own re-upped post about PEN America.

Now it can be told: " @jewishbookcouncil.bsky.social is thrilled to wel­come Kate Schmi­er as our first ever Direc­tor of Pub­lish­ing Rela­tions." What a shidduch (match!). Mazal tov to JBC, to Kate, & to all of us in the publishing & #WritingCommunity! www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/the...

So far, the 5 items drawing the most clicks: * @tommydeanwriter.bsky.social’s “cheat sheet” for submitting to #litmags; * @barrelhouse.bsky.social's current call; * Brilliant Flash Fiction contest; * Ox-Bow’s summer residency program; * and my own re-upped post about PEN America.

"What Jew hasn’t, at one time or another had to become an escape artist?" www.erikadreifus.com/2026/03/sund... #SundaySentence, from @hisraeli.bsky.social's "Escape Artists," as shared by @elissakw.bsky.social.

"Multiple commitments can be true at the same time. Serious moments require us to hold them together in our minds and hearts with clarity and humility." In which Boston JCRC Executive Director @jeremyburton.bsky.social outlines those commitments in just such a fashion. jcrcboston.org/us-israel-co...

Welcome to the March newsletter, featuring dozens of fee-free *and* paying/funded calls and competitions that are now (or will soon be) open for submissions and applications. Please share with *your* #WritingCommunity. erikadreifus.substack.com/p/the-practi...

The FBI being on high alert for terrorist actions is important right now. Too bad they fired and gutted their counterterrorism capacity

"Multiple commitments can be true at the same time. Serious moments require us to hold them together in our minds and hearts with clarity and humility." In which Boston JCRC Executive Director @jeremyburton.bsky.social outlines those commitments in just such a fashion. jcrcboston.org/us-israel-co...

If it's Friday, it's time for some fresh Finds for Writers. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/02/find...

Once again for the evening crowd.

Last call for the February newsletter—lots of still-open opportunities there. The March issue will post *tomorrow*; the Feb. issue will then move to the archive, access to which is a benefit for paid subscribers.

This week: *My Jewish Learning's new writing workshops (& discount code); *Jewish Writers Caucus (& more) @ #AWP26, via @yetzirahpoets.bsky.social; *"Tell Me a Lore: Revisiting the Children's Books of Lore Segal"; *Inaugural "Read with JWI x AAA" series convo www.erikadreifus.com/2026/02/jewi...

@lawrenceodonnell.bsky.social is doing an extraordinary job this evening on his show outlining this (with thorough credit to Roger Sollenberger's reporting). It's sickening to listen to, but listen we must.

This is bigotry, pure and simple. open.substack.com/pub/erininth...

Once again, PEN America has been in the news. Ten days after I sent a letter to @nytimes.com responding to their coverage, that text is no longer "exclusive" to them. My letter, and more, in this new post. erikadreifus.substack.com/p/about-pen-...

My latest: erikadreifus.substack.com/p/about-pen-...

For the final time this February: #MondayMotivation in the form of fee-free *and* paying calls, competitions, and other opportunities that are open for submissions and applications. www.erikadreifus.com/2026/02/fee-...

Ahead of the weekend: a reminder that if you're seeking a call for submissions (or a few dozen of them), this post/thread features plenty of opportunities that are open. No fees. Paying/funded opps only. #WritingCommunity