Bismillah
From: Ayesha Mattu - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 5:33 PM Subject: Reminder: Literary pitch deadline approaching 1/15/08 >>Please forward widely<< Salaam and warm greetings of peace dear friends, This is a reminder that the deadline to submit a pitch for the American Muslim women's anthology is next Tuesday, January 15, 2008. If you have not yet written your pitch, it's not too late! At this time we are requesting a simple 2-3 paragraph pitch outlining the highlights of your story. For more information please see the call for stories, frequently asked questions and sample pitch below. This is a wonderful opportunity for women to raise their voices and tell their own stories and we request your help in ensuring that we include a diversity of perspectives. Please forward this reminder to your network and I look forward to receiving and reading your pitch! All inquiries should be sent directly to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you! Warmly, Ayesha In-line attachments below: * Call for Stories * FAQs * Sample Pitch CALL FOR STORIES from Muslim Women Announcing a call for non-fiction, personal stories by American Muslim women on courtship and/or dating to be published in an anthology. We are looking for talented writers to pitch well-written, surprising and compelling anecdotes for a book on loving and looking for love while Muslim. WHY A BOOK ABOUT COURTSHIP/DATING? There is a stereotype about Muslim women out there that does not show them as the thinking, feeling, lively people with loving hearts and independent minds that we know them to be. Partially, this is because there just aren’t enough real-life stories about Muslim women being told by Muslim women themselves. The purpose of this collection is to take control of our narrative by telling our own stories, emphasizing the humanity we all share and celebrating the quirks that make us unique. We hope to do that through stories about courtship/dating because these rituals exist in every societal context; the search for a partner is universal. We’re excited at the prospect of amplifying the voices of American Muslim women. If you think such perspectives need to be heard too, we invite you to contribute your story! DETAILS Stories must be auto-biographical and written by American Muslim women, either born in and/or predominantly raised in the United States . We are looking for contributors who identify as American and as Muslim, whether by birth or conversion, and who reflect a broad range of religious perspectives, from orthodox to cultural to secular. Write about a transformative episode that defined your courtship/dating experience. Think about the epiphany, the crystallizing moment: At what point in your life did your religious identity play a role in your search for a partner? Did other factors, such as ethnicity, race, class, etc. merge or collide with your religious identity? We want real-life stories rich with details so they read like fiction. We want more story-telling and less essay-like commentary. Diversity: Contributions are welcome from Muslim women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, born and convert Muslims, Sunnis/Shiites, disabled, single, engaged, married, divorced, or widowed. In order for your story to be considered, please send us the following information by Tuesday, January 15th. All responses will be treated as confidential. *Your full name *Age *Your geographic location *Sect *E-mail address or phone number *Ethnic/racial background *Whether Muslim by birth or conversion *A 300-500 word pitch describing the highlights of your story Pitches will be selected based on their literary merit. You already know what makes good writing: humor, drama, irony, triumph, and focus. Bring your anecdote to life with vivid characterization, plot, and surprising real-life details. Draw us in and leave us craving more of your story! Contact us: Please send your pitch and all other inquiries to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Notification: We hope to make our selections by February 15, 2008. Final stories will be due May 1, 2008. Stories should range between 1,500 and 4,000 words. All submissions may not be accepted, but every submission will be considered. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the American Muslim Women's Literary Anthology January 2008 1. Can I make up a fictional story? 2. Can I contribute if I am a non-Muslim woman married to a Muslim man or a non-Muslim woman living in a Muslim country? 3. Can I contribute a story anonymously or under a pen name? 4. Will I receive a payment for my essay? Will I own the copyright? 5. Can I deal with some of the darker issues we have around dating and/or courtship in the community or is this a rosy-view only anthology? 6. Can I write my parents', my friend's, or someone else's story? 7. If I am an American Muslim woman living abroad can I still write for this anthology? 8. Can I write about my marriage? 9. Is this anthology for a Muslim or non- Muslim audience? FAQs 1. Can I make up a fictional story? No, this is an anthology for personal, non-fiction, and autobiographical stories by individual American Muslim women. 2. Can I contribute if I am a non-Muslim married to a Muslim man, or a non-Muslim woman living in a Muslim country? No, this anthology is specifically for stories by American Muslim women. 3. Can I contribute a story anonymously or under a pen name? We prefer non-anonymous stories. Part of the reason for the anthology is to establish an open dialog within the Muslim community as well as between Muslims and non-Muslims. Having said that, we also understand that sometimes there are valid reasons not to write under one's own name, so we will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in writing under a pseudonym please send in your pitch and your reasons so that we can make a decision after reading both materials. 4. Will I receive a payment for my essay? Will I own the copyright? If your essay is chosen, you will receive a (to-be-determined) payment for the essay upon signing a legal contract with us. We will own the copyright; however, you will be able to use it under the terms and conditions listed in the contract. 5. Can I deal with some of the darker issues we have around dating and/or courtship in the community or is this a rosy-view only anthology? First and foremost, we are interested in insightful, well-written, and compelling stories. Having said that, they may run the gamut of funny to sad to moving because we would like to portray the full, authentic spectrum of American Muslim women's experiences. We welcome the description of the darker side of relationship experiences and are also interested to learn whether or not the writer was able to grow through the experience or able to find a light, however dim, at the end of the tunnel. Some questions to ask yourself include: How did the experience change you as a person? Did it make you stronger or more insightful? Were you able to get support from your faith, family or community or not? Most importantly, What did you learn from it that might be of benefit to other women? 6. Can I write someone else's story? No, stories must be based upon your own, personal, non-fiction, auto-biographical experiences. 7. If I am an American Muslim woman living abroad can I still write for this anthology? As long as the writer self-identifies as an American Muslim they may write from wherever they are currently based. 8. Can I write about my marriage? Although elements of your marriage may come into the story, the primary focus should be on the dating and/or courtship experiences leading up to marriage. In the case of divorced of widowed woman, for example, their marriage may have informed what they are seeking in a partner now, but again, the focus should remain on the courtship/dating process. 9. Is this anthology for a Muslim or non- Muslim audience? It is for both audiences. We hope to help amplify American Muslim women's voices and to encourage creativity, communication and discussion within the Muslim community. In the wider community, we would like to help develop a more nuanced perspective of Muslim woman as intelligent, humorous, strong and capable of articulating their own, diverse opinions and experiences. If you have a question not listed or answered here, please feel free to contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] SAMPLE PITCH If you have never written a pitch before, you may read the one below. It is full of interesting details, humor, a strong narrative voice and leaves us wanting to know more about the narrator and her relationship. Sample pitch: In my mid twenties I gave birth to a son, dropped down to a svelte size six, and dropped 165 pounds of dead weight (aka my ex husband). Since I was the girl who married her father’s dream boy from Palestine as a teenager; being divorced with a baby was a huge step that I prayed about constantly before taking. Newly single and happy to be free- getting involved with another man was the furthest thought from my mind. I began taking advantage of the opportunities that were finally available to me- I began attending a local university, I kept my part time job working in social services, I devoted my self fully to my son, and I spent four days a week exercising my frustrations away. After a couple of months, I began receiving phone calls from friends who knew someone ‘perfect’ for me, but the more men I spoke to, the more I wondered who my friends thought I was. Why was someone with questionable social skills perfect for me? I never realized what it would mean to be Muslimah, muhajjabah, mama, and single. I was expecting to be single forever, until I met a 6’3” tall African man who opened my eyes, heart, and mind- and eventually introduced me to the man who is now my husband! Navigating a courtship that involved my partner asking my father’s permission to marry me, in home interrogation from my brother, list making, facing the Arab/African culture clash, physical challenges, class issues, and even greater attention from our Texas Wal Mart shoppers as they see a family of a small white Palestinian woman in hijab with her tall black husband and their children of varying shades of brown. Our unexpected courtship and marriage has yielded a great lesson for both of us on the commonalities of marginalized populations in the US, importance of compromise, and value of broadening our experiences beyond our traditional comfort zones. --- All rights reserved.
