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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

Navigating the Influences

“You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence.” – Robert Frost

In this world of loud, angry voices and people who claim to always know better than you, writers find it difficult to decipher what to listen to. New writers, or older writers returning to the profession, find the noise paralyzing. 

The problem is that we tend to listen to the world in sound bytes and headlines, and when we hear something that may be the next great clue to improving ourselves, we cannot let it pass on by. We worry we'll miss an opportunity. We worry we don't know much and should listen to those who know better. We worry we're getting all this wrong and are afraid of not doing everything right.

The problem is we think everyone else knows better, when in fact no two people will give you the same advice on becoming a successful writer. 

One of the most common questions I receive in interviews is this: "What's the one word of advice you would give to a struggling writer?"

I really dislike that question. 

My advice will not apply to everyone. What I say, which is usually to write every day, will not work for all writers. Some don't want to write daily, and others cannot. Some want to be hobby writers and don't want writing to fall into a need-to-do category. 

You have to determine your own path, your own habits, your own methods. That's part of learning how to become a writer. If I told you to write 1,000 words a day and you slipped three out of seven days this week, would you feel like a failure? 

Just because someone else has a habit doesn't mean you define yourself by it. Your job as a writer is more than learning how to write. It's learning how to establish your own pattern and success route. And it's you becoming the dictator of your own profession. Decide where you want to go, then define the journey. Don't be afraid to be yourself not only in the words you write, but in the time and effort spent doing the writing. 

That's one of the joys of being a writer.

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Featured article

Take a Risk: Submit to a Questionable Market 

By Barbara Weddle

I’ve always enjoyed writing stories about family experiences, experiences so memorable that no matter how much time passed, my mind goes back to them. However, not being targeted for a specific market before I wrote them, they were hard-sells.  

For example, I wrote a short essay about taking my 12-year-old granddaughter hunting on a family ranch in Texas where, under the guidance of a hunter friend, she bagged her first deer. I went along on the hunt, and although it was a memorable moment and I wrote about it, unless you’re a hunter, which I am not, it wasn’t likely that I could sell it to a hunting magazine. No other magazine was likely to purchase an essay about a 12-year-old killing a deer. But I took a chance and sent the essay to North American Whitetail anyway. They published it on their back page column and I received $250.  
https://www.northamericanwhitetail.com  

Another time, I wrote about a large flock of Canada geese that made a temporary home on the river that ran by my home in Wisconsin. Again, I wrote it for the simple reason that it was a memorable moment, and I liked the geese, not considering that I had no specific market for it in mind. I sold it to a hunting magazine also—On Wisconsin Outdoors—even though the magazine is geared toward shooting geese, not admiring them. (The editor’s wife liked it for the same reason I did, so there may have been persuasion on her part.) I was paid $75. http://www.onwisconsinoutdoors.com  

Several years later, I came across guidelines for Creation Illustration. For some time I had wanted to write for children, so I sent my geese story to them. As another granddaughter had been staying with me at the time the geese gathered on the river and she had always walked to the river with me to observe them, so I simply added her to the story. Voila! Creation Illustration bought it. https://www.creationillustrated.com 

I’ve written several articles for Your Teen even though I’m now in my 70s and no longer have teenage children. I simply write from past experiences of having raised four teenage sons and first-hand experiences with teenage grandchildren, though they also are no longer teens. Even though I saw no articles written by grandparents when I read their guidelines, I took a chance and sent articles based on my experience as a previous parent and grandmother of teens. It worked! https://yourteenmag.com/about 

More recently I sold a couple of articles—one about visiting the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado and another about a visit to The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Arizona with intentions to sell each as travel articles, but, for various reasons, they never sold as such. They eventually sold to a spiritual magazine, Unity, for their “Sacred Journeys” column, and I earned $300 for each.
https://www.unity.org/static/unity-magazine-writers-guidelines

There is a market somewhere for that essay you wrote for no other reason than you felt compelled to write it or you wrote it without a specific market in mind. Don’t just send it somewhere randomly, of course. Do send it, however, to some place where it might have a chance of acceptance, even though that chance might be remote. This mindset has worked for me numerous times. It’s worth repeating, however, to never send anything to a publication when you know there’s zero chance of acceptance. Never waste an editor’s time. . . or your own.

BIO - Barbara Weddle is a self-taught freelance writer whose stories, articles, book reviews, and essays have been published in magazines such as Earth Island Journal, The Blue Mountain Review, The Southern Review, Unity Magazine, Your Teen Media, and countless others. 

 

COmpetitions

EUNICE WILLIAMS NONFICTION PRIZE
https://herstryblg.com/herstry-contest
$9-$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 16, 2022. There is no theme to adhere to for this contest, simply nonfiction written by you, about you. All essays must be true and about you and previously unpublished. Essays must stay under 5,000 words. HerStry centers the experiences of women identifying persons. We’re looking for work from bigender/polygender persons, cisgender women, intergender persons/intersex persons, non-binary persons/gender non-conforming persons, transgender women/transfeminine persons, two-spirit. First place $400. Second place $250. Third place $100. 

F(r)ICTION CONTESTS
https://frictionlit.org/contests/
ENTRY FEE $10-$15. Deadline November 1, 2022. Short stories: 1,001 – 7,500 words. Flash fiction: up to 1,000 words per piece. Poetry: up the three pages per poem. We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Writers over the age of thirteen are welcome to submit. First prize in each category receives $1,000 and will be considered for publication. Up to five finalists in each category will be considered for publication, too.

THE BODLEY HEAD / FINANCIAL TIMES ESSAY PRIZE
https://www.ft.com/bodley
NO ENTRY FEE. The competition runs every year and is open to anyone between 18 and 35 years old. Judges will be looking for a dynamic, authoritative and lively essay of no more than 3,500 words in English. It can be journalistic, a case study, wide-ranging or minutely focused. In keeping with the ethos of both sponsors, it can address any topic — from finance and current affairs to history and scientific discovery. We aren’t looking for a particular subject; we’re simply looking for writing that brings its subject alive, and turns the reader’s head with its style. Enter your essay for a chance to be published and win £1,000. Pays £300 (three hundred pounds Sterling) to each runner-up. 

ST. MARTIN'S MINOTAUR/MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA FIRST CRIME NOVEL COMPETITION
https://mysterywriters.org/about-mwa/st-martins/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 17, 2022. The Competition is open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any Published Novel (in any genre) (except that authors of self-published works only may enter, as long as the manuscript submitted is not the self-published work) and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel.  If a winner is selected, Minotaur Books will offer to enter into its standard form author’s agreement with the entrant for publication of the winning Manuscript. After execution of the standard form author’s agreement by both parties, the winner will receive an advance against future royalties of $10,000.

SOUTHEAST REVIEW CONTESTS
https://www.southeastreview.org/writing-contests
$16 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2022. The Southeast Review offers four annual contests with cash awards: the Southeast Review Art Contest, the World's Best Short-Short Story Contest, the Ned Stuckey-French Nonfiction Contest, and the Gearhart Poetry Contest. The winner in each category receives $500. Winners and finalists in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be published in our biannual issue in Fall 2023. 

THE WRITER SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.writermag.com/contests/
Deadlines October 25, 2022 and November 8, 2022. (Early saves $5 on ENTRY FEE.) Submit works in any genre – fiction OR nonfiction – in less than 2,000 words for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine. Grand prize: $1,000 and publication in our magazine. Word count: 2,000 words or less. Our second-place winner will receive $500 and publication on our website, writermag.com; our third-place winner will receive $250 and publication on writermag.com as well.

SMOKELONG QUARTERLY AWARD FOR FLASH FICTION
https://www.smokelong.com/the-smokelong-quarterly-award-for-flash-fiction/
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2022. The SmokeLong Quarterly Award for Flash Fiction (The Smokey) is a biennial competition that celebrates and compensates excellence in flash. The grand prize winner of The Smokey is automatically nominated for The Best Small Fictions, The Pushcart, Best of the Net, and any other prize we deem appropriate. In addition to all this love, we will also pay the grand prize winner $2,500. Second place: $1,000. Third place $500. Finalists: $100. All finalists and placers will be published in the special competition issue in December 2022. Open to anyone 18+. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

 

MARYLAND CREATIVITY GRANTS
https://msac.org/programs/creativity-grants/creativity-grants-projects
Intended to support specific arts projects, events, or programs, this option is available for independent artists, as well as organizations. Each application should focus on a proposal for one specific project or program. Funding amount $1,000 - $4,000. 

MARYLAND EMERGENCY GRANTS
https://msac.org/programs/special-requests/emergency-grant-independent-artists
The purpose of the Emergency Grant is to support the needs of independent artists as they adjust to income losses as a result of an emergency. FY23 applications are now being accepted! Applications received on or after June 8, 2022 will be considered in the first review period of July FY23 (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023). Up to $2,000. 

MARYLAND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
https://www.msac.org/programs/professional-development/professional-development-opportunity-grant
The Professional Development Opportunity Grant program encourages and supports relevant professional development opportunities for artists and arts organizations throughout Maryland. Up to $2,000. 

VERMONT ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/schools/artists-in-schools
Artists in Schools Grants support quality, multiday arts experiences in schools with Vermont teaching artists in residence and encourage collaborations between schools, youth, artists, and arts organizations. Residencies may take place during the school day or in a sequential, after-school setting. Grant funding supports multi-day projects typically between 3-10 days in length and support preK-12 teachers and students within a given school or district. 

VERMONT ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/artists/artist-development
Deadline January 31, 2023, Artist Development Grants support Vermont artists at all stages of their careers. Grants can fund activities that enhance mastery of an artist’s craft or skills or that increase the viability of an artist's business. Funding may also support aspects of the creation of new work when the activity allows the grantee to accept a rare and important opportunity. 

DELAWARE ARTIST OPPORTUNITY GRANTS
https://delawarescene.com/cfa/artist-opportunity-grants-2022-12-31
Next deadline December 31, 2022. Artist Opportunity Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support unique professional and artistic development and presentation opportunities for artists. Examples include: materials to complete work for a specific show or program; the cost to rent a facility for a performance; study with a master for a specified period of time. Evaluation criteria include: anticipated impact on the artist’s work or career; financial feasibility and need; marketing plans; and uniqueness of the opportunity.

MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL SECTOR RECOVERY GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/cultural-sector-recovery-grants-for-individuals/
Deadline November 1, 2022. Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Sector Recovery Grants for Individuals offers unrestricted grants of $5,000 to creatives and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth. 

  

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

FREELANCE PROOFREADER NEEDED
Email info@myhouseofdesign.com
We're looking for a few professional freelance proofreaders for various projects. Need someone with an eagle eye who is also timely, professional, and a good communicator. This is a freelance, remote position that pays $30/hr. To apply please send your resume and two of your proofreading samples in Word (with track changes on) or a marked up PDF with comments to info@myhouseofdesign.com. Please use the subject line "Freelance Proofreader" when responding. Please note that responses without samples will not be considered.

LIBER
https://www.liberreview.com/pitch-guidelines
LIBER is a broadly feminist publication that welcomes timely reviews and essays on forthcoming books of all genres. Our interest is in feminist theory, culture, history, and publishing, though we welcome submissions that use a feminist lens to analyze works that are not explicitly feminist. Reviews can vary in length, from 800 to 1,500 words. Average length for a reported essay is 2,500 to 4,000 words. Pays $100 for book reviews, $50 per poem, $250 to $2,500 for features. 

TORONTOVERSE
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ksZfZWwc8WPKfkBYlHIBtR-dDiV2Yn1XH6t_d3c3kpM/edit
We’ve committed to a minimum payment of $500 for all assignments and two-day payment by e-transfer. Projects that involve multimedia work such as photography or video will be similarly compensated at fair rates. We are currently building a catalog of evergreen (i.e., interesting outside the news cycle) content of 500-1000 words across five areas: News, Sports, Transit, Arts, and Fun. Our preference is for pitches between 500-750 words and upto 1,000 words at most. We may entertain the occasional feature pitch if it’s particularly strong, but we encourage you to keep your pitch narrow in scope to fit within our guidelines. We pay fixed rates for two types of articles: $500 for quicker pieces that don’t require interviews, and $750 for reported stories. 

COGNISCENTI
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qR2V6SvJ0sH_ZX10IkYaazEy7obN2T3ls4H6A2bJdsg/edit
The Cognoscenti is searching for outstanding writing on culture, current affairs, or travel. The writing should be hopeful, reflect your voice, and be lively, albeit polished. We prefer timely pieces (in terms of a tie-in) but evergreen in their interest. We’re offering a flat rate of €500 per long-read and €200 per short-read article. 

TRUVERE
https://www.truvere.com/
https://twitter.com/e_buehler_/status/1574809353495801857/photo/2
Prefers 500 to 2,500 words in length, depending on topic and extent. Pays 50 cents/word. Now accepting pitches for recently launched travel brand. Pitch www.twitter.com/wearetruvere
 
THE ATAVIST MAGAZINE 
https://magazine.atavist.com/
Looking for deeply researched and carefully crafted longform (8,000-13,000 words) nonfiction with attention to narrative. Baseline story pay is $6,000. Pitch seyward@atavist.com and/or jonah@atavist.com

BYRDIE 
https://www.byrdie.com/
Open to any and all beauty / wellness ideas. Pay starts at $200. Send pitch with subject line Byrdie Pitch to Olivia Hancock, Editor at olivia@oliviahancock.com

POSITIVE NEWS
https://www.positive.news/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/positive-news-pitching-guide.pdf
Positive News publishes good journalism about good things. We’d    like to receive pitches for news or features that showcase the best examples of progress and possibility anywhere in the world. We want stories that will inform, inspire and entertain the widest possible audience. Pitch Editor Lucy Purdy at editorial@positive.news. Pays 30p per word. 

NIGHTMARE
https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/guidelines
Nightmare is seeking original horror and dark fantasy stories. All types of horror and dark fantasy are welcome. No subject should be considered off-limits, and we encourage writers to take chances with their fiction and push the envelope. We are not currently seeking reprints. We are open to stories of 1,500-7,500 words. Stories of 5,000 words or less are preferred. Nightmare pays eight cents a word for original short stories.

 

Publishers/agents

LEVEL BEST BOOKS
https://www.levelbestbooks.us/
Level Best Books publishes contemporary and historical crime fiction and Young Adult Fiction. Our Historia imprint focuses on historical mysteries (pre-1970). Our New Arc Books imprint highlights a broader range of fiction to include Romantic Suspense, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. Our Level Elevate imprint features works for younger readers. 

FAHRENHEIT PRESS
http://www.fahrenheit-press.com/submissions.html
We're not too bothered if the books have been published before, or if you have an agent, or if you're an established author, or if you're an absolute beginner. All we need is for the stories to be great and the subject matter to be commercial. We publish CRIME & THRILLERS - if your book doesn't fit squarely into that category don't submit, you're wasting your time.

HERA
https://www.herabooks.com/submissions/
We're looking for crime and thriller, romance, saga and general fiction. Please note we are not publishing non fiction, young adult or children’s fiction, poetry, science fiction and fantasy or short stories. Please send a one-page synopsis, the whole manuscript as a Word document and contact details to submissions@herabooks.com

STAIRWAY PRESS
https://stairwaypress.com/about-us/
Stairway Press publishes and markets literary books in various genres (including science, science fiction, short stories, political essays, literary thrillers and adventures). The main thing we focus on is writing quality–we represent the finest writers we can find…writers who might otherwise be overlooked in the world of the written word.

 

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E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
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ISSN: 1533-1326

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