Friday Fridge Clean-Out: Links for Writers, Sept. 9, 2011 Edition

►Book contest season has arrived, and here's a list of the small field which focuses on the memoir manuscript.

►On the Glimmer Train blog, Lynne Barrett discusses (often funnily) what an editor of a literary journal wants (and so rarely gets). Kind of makes you glad to be a submitting writer instead.  (hat tip Kendall Williams)

►Galley Cat has unearthed links to free ebooks of five ultra long novels. 

►At Writer's Digest University, an excellent example of the kind of crisp, no-frills cover letter recommended for literary journal submissions; plus, other tips for less submission stress (via @ErikaDreifus).

►Amazon has launched an interactive feature inviting its customers (or anyone, really) to ask questions of their favorite authors. Queries can be posted either online or from Kindle.

►Quick – pronounce these authors' names:  Colm Tobin, J.M Coetzee, Jhumpa Lahiri. Need help?  Try this cheat sheet. (via Shelf Awareness)

►Many – at least 200 – MFA faculty members are upset at Poets & Writers Magazine's ranking of MFA programs, and have said so in an open letter.

►Finally, one writer asks herself 200 Questions Before Lunch.

Have a great weekend!