VOLUME 23, ISSUE 33 | AUGUST 25, 2023
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I gave my piano setting of family photos a new face. This picture doesn't cover them all, but it shows the recent changes. It all started because I added my son's
girlfriend (who we absolutely adore). Then my daughter-in-law poked fun at me that the girlfriend's picture was bigger than hers, so I just redid a lot of them, doing an upgrade. Now when people come into the house, they pause and study them . . . because they are fresh. That is what you need to do with your website and your social media pictures. Change just enough
to capture attention and appear clean and new, but not so much that people don't recognize who you are. Whether you are an author, a poet, freelancer, or ghostwriter, you need that presence. The business is getting more and more competitive, with AI and the economy impacting the markets and the public in what they prefer to read and who they prefer to hire.
Don't let something as simple as a website hold you back. So many people pitch an article to me for FundsforWriters and say they cannot prove they are a writer. No online presence. And that usually is enough for me not to hire them unless they pitch something out of this world. That's rare as hen's teeth. Don't give someone a reason not to read or hire you,
and a lack of online presence is an easy one. It sort of shows you aren't really into this writing thing seriously. |
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(READ THIS NEWSLETTER ONLINE) C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email
Hope | Visit Website | Sign up for Newsletter
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
FFW
has proudly been on the Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers list every year since 2000
Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. Use information listed at your own risk. FundsforWriters gives no warranty to completeness, accuracy, or fitness of the markets, contests, and grants although research is done to the best of our ability. FundsforWriters finds open
submission calls, contests, and markets from a wide variety of sources, including Erika Dreifus' Practicing Writer newsletter, Erica Verrillo's blog, Authors Publish, Poets & Writers, Duotrope, Winning Writers, Write Jobs Plus, LinkedIn Jobs, and other newsletters and
online sites. Many announcements are submitted directly to FundsforWriters from active contests, journals, magazines, publishers, residencies, and grant providers. All must be paying opportunities. Contests must pay a minimum of $200 first place. Submit potential listings to hope@chopeclark.com
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
AUTHOR SITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark
BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark Read the FFW Archive
ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO WRITE |
It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way. ~Ernest Hemingway Excellent writing has to come across as seamless and effortless. You want to appear gifted when someone falls in love with your writing. No, you don't want it to sound like anyone else can do it. You want to have a unique voice that is yours and yours alone. You want people to wish they were you. All of those reasons are why you do not want
to talk online or to readers about how hard it is to write. Why do you want to throw that yoke around your book's neck? All you want is for readers to love the story, and be impatient for the next one. Your job is to write the next one. . . . mouth shut and bent over the grindstone. There is no perk or positive or justification for you to talk about how many weeks/months/years it took you to write the first draft, or to edit, or to format, etc. All you do is turn focus on yourself as being less than professional, because real professionals write and don't complain about the process. You do not
talk about how people choose the cost of a cup of coffee over the cost of a book. Irrelevant. You don't discuss how an editor was wrong in their critique, or how an agent didn't know what they were talking about in suggested changes. You do not whine about readers not giving you a review. If they loved the book, and are prone to giving reviews, you'll get one.
You will not change who they are or what they prefer to do once they've read THE END. None of this matters to readers. None of it. Just write. Then do the work to publish. Then do the work to market. But never, ever fuss about how hard
your lot in life is toiling over getting a book to full fruition. It wastes energy better spent on the next book. Plus, it's not a good look. |
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- September 4, 2023 - Night Harbor Book Club, Night Harbor S/D Rec Center, Chapin, SC - 7-9 PM
- September 14, 2023 - Chapin Library, 129 Columbia, Ave, Chapin, SC - 1-3 PM - open to the public
- October 2, 2023 - Night Harbor Book Club, Night Harbor S/D Rec Center, Chapin, SC - 7-9 PM (Hope will be moderating this
night)
- October 5, 2023 - Richland County Cooper Library, 5317 N. Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC - 6:30-9 PM - open to the public
- October 26, 2023 - Podcast - Everyone Has a Story: True Tales from Everyday Life - guest C. Hope Clark
- December 9, 2023 - Triangle Sisters in Crime Zoom - Gary W. Clark, Sr
talks about crime solving and Hope's books - 1:30-2:30 PM
- June 1-8, 2024 - The Gutsy Great Novelist
Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine - writer-in-residence
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise. There's starting to be life out there! You can write nothing of value unless you give yourself wholly to the theme – and when you so give yourself – you lose appetite and sleep – it cannot be helped. ~Charlotte Brontë
If you have a success story you believe was prompted
by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com
Harnessing the Power of Rejections |
By Lisa Timpf
In Getting Published: The Writer in the Combat Zone, Leonard S. Bernstein articulates his "Rule of Twelve," suggesting that it may take an average of twelve tries before a given manuscript is accepted for publication. Bernstein admits this number
is arbitrary, but the premise is valid. It's unlikely that every single article, poem, or story we submit will be snatched up the first time out. These rejections can even be helpful to our writing careers—if we know how to leverage them.
Knowing the Score In order to use rejections to full advantage, it's
important to track them. I keep an Excel spreadsheet where I enter the title and category (poetry, fiction, or non-fiction) of each piece I send out, along with the publication it was sent to, the month and year it was sent, and the status of the piece (still in play, accepted, or rejected). I enter status updates when I receive acceptances or declines. This spreadsheet allows me to calculate my acceptance vs. rejection percentages overall and by category.
Making the Most of the Information Each January, I establish a business plan for the coming year. This plan includes targets for the number of pieces I hope to sell, by category. Acceptance and rejection data allows me to fine-tune my planning. My current acceptance rate for fiction is 1 in 5. That means that if my target for
the coming year is to sell 6 fiction pieces, I'll need to submit 30 fiction pieces to achieve that goal. This may sound daunting, but it doesn't mean I'll need to send out 30 unique stories. The same rejected story can be resent to other venues.
Rejection ratios can measure how well you're targeting your submissions. Let's say you have an acceptance rate of 1 in 3—much lower than Bernstein's 1 in 12. This could mean that you're doing a great job of
matching submissions to appropriate venues. On the other hand, a relatively low rejection rate might also indicate that you're submitting to "safe" markets rather than taking risks by trying more challenging, higher-paying venues. You might be missing out on the potential to earn more money for your stories, poems, or articles.
Highlight the Positive Rejections aren't intended as a personal slight. Still, it's natural to feel disappointed or even discouraged when on the receiving end. To combat this tendency, I maintain a spreadsheet focused on rejections. This spreadsheet includes columns for the date the rejection was received, the publication, the title of the piece rejected, and "comments." My notes in the "comments" column might include "accepted 2 of 5 poems sent," "invited to submit
again," or "made it to final round." This information helps me keep rejections in perspective. Of the 221 rejections I received in 2022, over half were in some way positive. Positive comments like "feel free to send us more in future" help me target markets that might be receptive to future submissions.
Getting Back on the Horse My short story "The Messenger's Mission" racked up nine rejections in 27 months. Inspired by the Rule of Twelve, I continued to send the story out. The next submission resulted in an acceptance, and three years later, I re-sold this story as a reprint.
I currently have 85 pieces out for review, ranging from short poems to 7,500-word stories. While I hope some submissions will be accepted, rejections are inevitable. As I receive
those, I know what to do. I'll consider any feedback provided by the editor, then seek another suitable market—because surely, an acceptance must be just around the corner . . .
Author Bio: Lisa Timpf is a retired HR and communications professional who lives in Simcoe, Ontario. Her poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and book reviews have appeared in New Myths, Star*Line, The Future Fire, and other venues. Lisa's speculative
haibun collection, In Days to Come, is available from Hiraeth Publishing. You can find out more about Lisa's writing at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/.
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ZEMII ONE-ACT PLAY CONTEST
https://www.zemiigroup.com/zemii-one-act-play-contest
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December
31, 2023 or until 200 submissions have been received. Grand Prize $1,000, submission to various theatrical groups for performance, and publication with Zemii Media and Publishing Group, available for purchase worldwide. The top finalists will be published on the website, e-newsletter, and our social media pages. This contest is for previously unpublished plays. Plays should run no more than one hour in length (one act or approx. 60 pages.) Play content is NOT limited to any particular
themes. MINOTAUR BOOKS/MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA BEST FIRST NOVEL COMPETITION
https://us.macmillan.com/minotaurbooks/submit-manuscript/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline
December 15, 2023. 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), as defined by the guidelines below, (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. HEART POETRY AWARD
https://nostalgiapress.com/heart-poetry-award-2023/
$10 ENTRY FEE for three poems. Deadline August 31, 2023. Submit an unpublished, prose poem, modern free verse, insightful, immersing thought. Prize is $500 and publication in HEART 18. VIVIEN SHIPLEY AWARD
https://ctpoetry.net/the-vivian-shipley-award.html
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2023. Submit up to three poems per entry fee. First prize $1,000. Second prize $100. Third prize $50. Winning poems published in Connecticut
Review. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING MARY MACARTHUR HOLIDAY TRUST FUND - UK
http://mmht.org.uk/index.html
The trust aims to help qualifying applicants some financial assistance towards
holidays for women who are in need of a period of rest or holiday by reason of age, poverty, infirmity, disablement or social or economic circumstances. We try and help as many women as possible each year, therefore the maximum available financial assistance the trust can provide for each successful applicant per holiday is £350. A sponsoring body or person must support your application with a letter written on the sponsor's letterhead paper explaining why they feel you are eligible for a
holiday grant and how a holiday would benefit your health. MARCHMONT RETREAT
https://www.marchmonthouse.com/residencies/writers-autumn-retreat
Our second writers'
residency opportunity, will also take place in the atmospheric Tower Studio using one of our Hobbit Pods for accommodation. For this residency we encourage established or mid career writers of fiction to become inspired by the peaceful rural surroundings of the Marchmont Estate and the vibrant multi disciplinary artist community on site. The residency takes place over four weeks and includes a Writers Weekend event which will be open to the public. The resident will be asked to take part
in the Writers Weekend by hosting a workshop or talk as part of the programme. The successful candidate receives a weekly stipend of £350 together with the fully funded studio and accommodation. The starting date of the residency is 27th October 2023. Location Marchmont, Greenlaw, Berwickshire, UK. Does not appear to be geographically limited. ARVON GRANTS -
UK
https://www.arvon.org/writing-courses/grants/
For our online and in-person writing weeks and weekends, we offer a Low Income Grant. If you couldn’t attend an Arvon course without some financial help, we encourage you to apply. With Low Income Grants, you can apply for any amount up to the full course fee.
Please note, we have no grant funding remaining for residential or online courses running up to the end of December 2023. If you are interested in a course running in the first quarter of 2024, we hope to release further funding in a few months’ time and can accept applications then. Keep an eye on this website and/or sign up to our weekly newsletter for details.
If you are a UK resident and cannot afford the full course fee, we encourage you to apply for
one of our grants, which are awarded on the basis of financial need – not writing ability. Priority is given to those coming to Arvon for the first time. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR THE WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY
http://stockton.edu/wintergetaway
Deadline: October 1, 2023. 25+ scholarships are being offered for first-time participants of the 30th annual WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY, January 12-15, 2024 in the Atlantic City, NJ area. Recipients may choose from workshops in novel writing, memoir, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, songwriting, playwriting and flash prose. In addition, the conference offers a Story
Slam, a literary bookstore, open mics, tutorials, sunrise yoga, karaoke, dancing at the Getaway Disco, writerly camaraderie and more. MONSON ARTS
https://monsonarts.org/residencies/overview/
Deadline September 15, 2023. Monson Arts’ residency program supports emerging
and established artists and writers by providing them time and space to devote to their creative practices. During each of our two-week and four-week programs throughout the year, a cohort of five artists and five writers are invited to immerse themselves in small town life at the edge of Maine’s North Woods and focus intensely on their work within a creative and inspiring environment. They receive a private studio, private bedroom in shared housing, all meals, and $1,000 stipend ($500 for
two-week programs). BLOEDEL RESERVE CREATIVE RESIDENCIES
https://bloedelreserve.org/creative-residency/
Deadline September 1, 2023. The mission of the Creative
Residency program at Bloedel Reserve is to foster creative thinking that is inspired by nature and that explores the connection between humans and the environment. It is an opportunity to utilize Bloedel Reserve as a place of inspiration for their work over a period of several months. Selected Community Creatives have access to the grounds beyond public hours and are offered a $1000 stipend in support of their work. UTAH ARTIST GRANTS
https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/project-grants/
Deadline September 9, 2023. Scholarships are being offered to support the professional development and career advancement of artists. These scholarships are
specifically designed to support artists by helping them to take advantage of timely external professional opportunities and providing access to resources to advance their artistic careers. Artists can apply for: Creation/design of marketing materials (professional photos, website, videos, recordings, etc. for publicity and marketing); Expenses associated with an exceptional learning environment such as a residency or intensive study with a recognized master/mentor. (Degree bearing programs are
not eligible); Conference registration fees and/or associated travel costs; and Vendor license fees for professional artistic opportunities. For Utah residents. ARS TECHNICA
https://arstechnica.com/about-us/
Pitch John Timmer, Senior Science Editor at jtimmer@arstechnica.com. Seeks writers of science journalism. Specializes in news and reviews, analysis of technology trends, and expert advice on topics ranging from the most fundamental aspects of technology to the many ways technology is helping us discover our world. They work for the reader who not only needs to keep up on technology, but is passionate about it. Rates vary based
on article length, difficulty, etc. Pays solid idustry rates. CHARTMETRIC
https://chartmetric.notion.site/chartmetric/Chartmetric-Freelancer-Pitch-Process-59dd7bb26b3a4d8ebef45f1b3be689b8
Blog post pitches should demonstrate the writer’s familiarity with Chartmetric and our data-driven approach to storytelling. Topics should be specific and focused, as posts should be around 1000-1500 words. We are always looking for new contributors from diverse backgrounds to tell music stories that matter to them
and provide interesting perspectives on the ever-evolving music landscape. Pays roughly 50 cents/word. I NEWS
https://inews.co.uk/how-to-pitch-i-opinion
Seeks opinion and analysis pitches
which offer new angles on the news, as well as engaging original stories drawn from personal experience. Your pitch should be well-argued, punchy and genuinely interesting – it should make us want to read on. Expect 30 cents/word. THE DRIFT
https://www.thedriftmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pitching-the-Drift.pdf
We’re looking for essays that are driven by sharp, surprising argumentative interventions in ongoing conversations. These may include: socially engaged cultural criticism; class-sensitive analysis; pieces that point out what’s being avoided or talked around in
politics, media, arts, or even academia; upbeat cynicism; un-self-serious screeds; generous takedowns; entries from the margins. Pays $2,000 for essays, $500-$1,000 for fiction, $150 for poems, and $25 for Mentions. BEZZY
https://boards.greenhouse.io/rvohcontentfreelance/jobs/4301274005
Bezzy is a free online platform bringing new meaning to the word “community” for people with chronic conditions where everyone feels seen, valued, and understood; everyone’s story matters; shared vulnerability is the name of the game. We're seeking contributors who live with any of the 10 chronic conditions Bezzy covers. Payment starts at $150. HATCHETTE UK
https://www.hachette.co.uk/landing-page/freelancers/
Hachette UK is always looking to broaden its database of freelancers. We have created a training programme for those looking
to move into the publishing industry via the freelancing route and opened a database for existing UK-based freelancers to register their interest to work on our projects. If would like to be on our database for future freelance projects, please fill in the form. PARENTS
https://www.parents.com/parents-editorial-guidelines-5270847
We work with highly-qualified parenting writers and journalists to create quality content that’s science-backed and filled with reassuring advice from leading parenting experts—from pediatricians and child psychologists to OB-GYNs and doulas. For every topic we cover, we strive to find the best
writer—whether that’s someone with relevant expertise or real-life experience. KINDRED
https://talkingbiznews.com/biz-news-help-wanted/kindred-is-looking-for-writers/
Black writers: I’m looking for pitches for Kindred by Parents.com. Kindred is focused on the Black family, not just parenting and parents. I’m looking for original reporting, fresh ideas, and Blackity Black perspectives. Rates for reported essays, entertainment roundups, how-tos/explainers/guides sit around $250, and $400 for reported features. BLUE STAR PRESS
https://www.bluestarpress.com/contact/
Blue Star Press is searching for wildly creative authors and independent artists.
Blue Star Press publishing focuses on the arts, creative processes, wellness, and witty non-fiction. We collaborate with wildly creative authors and independent artists. PAIGE TATE & CO. https://www.paigetate.com/pages/write
Art How-To, Craft, Self-Help, Wellness, Gift Books, Devotionals, Heirloom & Memory Books, New Parent Books, and Children’s Books. Although these are our specialties, we’re not afraid to reach outside the box. If you have a great idea, our team may just take a chance on it! Function + beauty contributes to all of the books we carry. G EDITIONS LLC
https://geditionsllc.com/pages/submission-guidelines
We will review book proposals in the fields of fine art and popular culture, fashion and photography, architecture and design, cooking and gardening,
children's interests, and lifestyle. We prefer to receive proposals in the form of an annotated table of contents (three-to-four-page table of contents with a brief description of every chapter). Also included should be author’s C.V. and/or biographical statement. Please note if you own the rights to the illustrations, and if not, if you have access to the required illustrations. NO STARCH PRESS
https://nostarch.com/writeforus
No Starch Press has long had a reputation for publishing unique books on technology, with a focus on open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO®, science, and math. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate,
and our books tackle topics that people care about. If you have a book in mind or just an idea for a book that you'd like us to consider, let us know. You can email our editors at editors@nostarch.com. Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint any editorials, contact hope@fundsforwriters.com for permission. Do not assume that acknowledgements listed in your publication is considered a valid right to publish out of ours.
C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
http://www.fundsforwriters.com Copyright 2000-2023, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326 **Note that FundsforWriters.com places paid advertising in this
newsletter. ALL ads are related to writers and the business of writing, screened by FundsforWriters to make sure the information is suitable for writers and their endeavors to improve their careers. While the mailing list is not sold to third parties, other parties do advertise in the newsletter, to include the occasional solo ad. You will not receive this newsletter without your permission. It's physically impossible since recipients must opt-in, giving us permission to send the newsletter. If
at any time you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each newsletter. We want you to enjoy this newsletter at your pleasure, not be forced to read anything you do not wish to receive. Direct any complaints, suggestions, and accolades to Hope Clark at hope@fundsforwriters.com. We are an anti-spam site. | |
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