VOLUME 24, ISSUE 33 | AUGUST 9, 2024 |
Life is Art - Art is
Life This week my neck of the woods suffered through Hurricane Debby and her kin folk, the four tornadoes, with the latter doing more damage on Edisto Beach. For those not familiar, Edisto is the setting for my largest series, and I use most of the landmarks. As a result, the readers feel like Edisto is almost home. Coots, McConkey's, Food Lion, and several houses there suffered damage plus power poles went down along the causeway.taking out power for a while. I sent pictures on Facebook and it was amazing to see how that community rallied (it always does). Even my buddy Deni (i.e., think Sophie) told me she hid in a closet all night, to awaken to no damage, thank goodness. Lots of flooding though. Tons of scattered, broken stuff. The ironic thing is that the current Edisto book I am writing is about a hurricane. I worked on the concept back in the spring and have been writing on it since June 1. Some say I jinxed the beach. Others will think, not realizing how long it takes to write and publish a book, that I waited until Debby arrived to get the idea. Instead, I was 65K words into it when the storm hit the beach. It is amazing, though, how many times what I have written about has come to pass. I've created characters only for someone to come to me and describe real people who fit the mold. Two people who lean spiritual tell me if I slowed and focused on my "talents" I would feel and predict more. But all is good and Edisto is back to life,
just picking up the pieces. So happy about that. |
WHAT IF YOU WIN?
I eavesdrop on social media. I don't often reply except on my own page. On others, I watch humanity in all its craziness play out, and I take notes. And I learn lessons. Recently someone posted in a writer's group that she entered a piece in a literary journal competition, never expecting to win. The topic involved something connected to a family member. Unexpectedly, the journal selected her piece. Yay, right? Now she had a dilemma, because part of winning involved agreeing to promote the journal issue in which her
piece would appear. Since the story involved someone who wasn't aware she'd been written about, and the writer wasn't sure that person would approve, she wasn't sure what to do. I am assuming the person would immediately recognize themselves, even if the names were changed. To me, the solution was black and white. 1) Accept the win. Promote the journal. Deal with whatever happens with the person written about.
2) Decline the win. It pained me to see so many people tell her to accept and then don't promote. In other words, not follow the rules. Take and not give back. Cheat. Read the guidelines, the rules, and any small print when you enter a call for submissions. Be prepared to win. Be prepared to follow the rules. Bottom line, if the editor finds out you deceptively took the prize, you've burned a bridge. And trust me, that editor will mention you to more than a few people. It's hard enough to get published, people. And being honest is supposed
to be the natural thing to do, not something you have to think twice about. -October 5-12, 2024 - Edisto Bookstore, exact dates in that week TBD -October 28, 2024 - St. Andrews Church Women's Club, 6952 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29212 - 2PM (tentative) -October 29-30, 2024 - South Carolina Library Association's Annual Conference, Columbia Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC
29201 - TBD -November 12, 2024 - Bennettsville, SC book club - time and place TBD -November 23, 2024 - Irmo Chapin Holiday Market, Chapin, SC - 8AM - 2PM -May 17, 2025 - Pelion Library Book Club, 206 Pine St, Pelion, SC, Saturday, 1-2PM
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise.
"Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come."
—Dwayne Johnson
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >>
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Make Your Professional Author Photo Shine
by Colleen M. Story Your author photo is like your handshake. What does it say about you? We often feel uncomfortable with our author photos. However, if you don't have one—or if you use some
other alternative—you appear to be hiding. Readers and clients will have a harder time relating to you. I'd go so far as to say that if your photo doesn't look professional, you could be losing clients and readers. Feel more confident with professional photos, as they are likely to show you at your best. Find a Good Photographer The right professional photographer can make all the difference, and today's photographers are more affordable than you may think. I recently had my author photos taken to coordinate with the release of my new novel. The last time was 11 years ago. I didn't want to go to an event and have people think that my professional photo did not line up with who they were seeing in person!
Turns out I ended up paying much less for my photos
this time around. I'm sure there are many reasons for that, including the demands of the marketplace and technology improvements, but it made me see clearer how accessible this effort can be for authors. To find a good match, check photographers’ portfolios. Look at lighting, locations, and creativity. Once you've narrowed it down to your top three, call them and talk. Email isn't enough. You want to sense this person knows what they're
doing, and that you will feel comfortable working with them.
Choose Your Outfits
Most photographers allow you to use two to four outfits in your photo session. Go with at least three. This will give you a variety of photos to use in your branding and increase the odds that you will be pleased with the final photos.
Set out five to ten outfits to choose from. Take selfies in each one, then send those to a trusted friend for input. Some of those outfits I thought would look best on me turned out not to be the final outfits I ended up going with. Colors are critical. Choose those that light up your face. The wrong colors can kill a photo shoot. Check Your Hair and
Makeup
This isn't the time for drastic appearance changes. Go with a hairstyle that flatters your face. If you need a trim or color, do it a couple of weeks beforehand. Don't wait until the day before. Let a cut grow to appear less crisp and freshly cut. Give your hair time to settle in. Don't hesitate to go to a makeup counter for help. Don't go
too heavy—makeup that naturally accentuates your features is best. Be Rested and Calm
Nothing messes up a nice photo like fatigue. Schedule your photo shoot at a time you're more likely to be relaxed. In the days beforehand, rest, eat well, and exercise. Take care of yourself—it will show in your photos. On the day of your appointment, block out sufficient time. You don't want to feel stressed rushing to the shoot or tire from too much scheduled in your day. Take Your Time Choosing the Photos
Once the photo shoot is complete, your photographer will likely email you the raw, unedited images. This is your chance to
choose your final photos. Most photographers include a certain number of images in the price of the photo session. (Mine included 15.) You can usually receive extras for an additional fee. Ask one to three other people to weigh in on your choices, but not too many, or they may only confuse you. Take your time. Through a gradual
elimination process, a few photos will rise to the top as those you prefer for your author branding. I ended up with four main ones that I'm using today. Use Your New Photos!
Once you have your new photos, update everything. That includes your website, social media channels, any upcoming books, and everywhere else you can think of that
makes an impression of you. Don't hesitate to invest in yourself this way. You're a professional writer—it's okay to look like one.
BIO: Colleen M. Story is a northwestern writer of imaginative fiction. Her novels include her upcoming release, The Curse of King Midas, as well as The Beached Ones and Loreena's Gift (a Foreword Indies award
winner). She also writes nonfiction books for writers and creators. Find more at her author site (www.colleenmstory.com) and motivational site for writers (www.writingandwellness.com).
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THE PRESENCE SHORT STORY AWARD
https://www.kinsmanquarterly.org/presence
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2024. Needs short stories that
highlight ghosts and/or spiritual entities imposing on the natural world. We specifically want unique stories incorporating the cultures, traditions, and/or histories of BIPOC and underrepresented communities. Stories should lean towards psychological terror instead of excessive use of gore. Grand Prize $500 and publication in the Presence collection and Kinsman Quarterly journal. First Runner Up $250 cash prize and publication in the Presence collection and Kinsman Quarterly journal. Second
Runner Up $100 cash prize and publication in the Presence collection and Kinsman Quarterly journal. Top 6 Finalists receive a $25 Amazon gift card and publication in the Presence collection and Kinsman Quarterly journal. FIRST PAGE CHALLENGE
https://darlingaxe.com/pages/first-page-challenge
$5 CAD ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2024. Open to fiction or narrative nonfiction, short stories or full-length manuscripts. First place: $700 CAD. Second place: $200 CAD. Third place: $100 CAD. Submit one page: double-spaced, 12-point font. CALEDONIA NOVEL
AWARD
https://thecaledonianovelaward.com/
£28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2024. An Edinburgh-based, international writing competition for unpublished and self-published novelists, in all genres for adults and YA. Top prize: £1,500 and an exclusive framed award designed by Edinburgh artist Lucy Roscoe.
Highly Commended prize: £500. Special prize: a free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre for the best novel from the UK and Ireland. Novels must be at least 50,000 words in length. The competition is open to writers over the age of eighteen of any nationality and resident in any country. BATH CHILDREN'S NOVEL CONTEST
https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/childrens-novel-award/
£29.99 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2024. A £5,000 international writing prize for unagented emerging writers who may be unpublished, self-published or independently published. Looking for novels for children or teens, chapter books and picture book texts. Initial submissions are the opening
5,000 words plus one page synopsis of children’s novels, chapter books, and YA novels, or up to three picture book texts with summaries. The author of 2024’s winning manuscript will receive £5,000. The winner will also receive our beautiful Minerva trophy, based on the world famous sculpture in Bath’s Roman Baths. All listees win feedback worth £180 on their opening pages from an editorial director at Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. Shortlisted writers also win a compilation of award readers’
comments on their full manuscript. One longlisted writer will also win a place worth £1,980 on the 18 week virtual course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and the Professional Writing Academy. MARLOWE AND CHRISTIE NOVEL PRIZE
https://www.marloweandchristie.com/
£19 ENTRY FEE. Early deadline September 30, 2024. Submit the opening 3000 words of your novel. Conventionally published novelists are not eligible to enter. First Price: £1,100. Shortlisted Entries: The ten shortlisted entries will receive written feedback from Patrick Gleeson. All entries must be written in English. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING THE HODDER FELLOWSHIP
https://arts.princeton.edu/fellowships/hodder-fellowship/
Deadline September 10, 2024. The Hodder Fellowship will be given to artists
and writers of exceptional promise to pursue independent projects at Princeton University during the academic year. Potential Hodder Fellows are composers, choreographers, performance artists, visual artists, writers, translators, or other kinds of artists or humanists who have “much more than ordinary intellectual and literary gifts”; they are selected more “for promise than for performance.” A $92,000 stipend is provided for this 10-month appointment. BRYN DU MANSION RESIDENCY
https://www.bryndu.com/airapplication
Deadline August 31, 2024. The Bryn Du Artist in Residence program will provide an inspirational setting for the creation of artistic works by one artist at a time, of any
discipline, over an 8 or 12 week time frame. While in residence, the chosen artist will reside in the Cramer House, the renovated laundry building designed for Artists in Residence, behind the Bryn Du Mansion. Open to visual arts, literature, music, theatre, fashion, dance, storytelling and audiovisual studies. Stipends include $2000 for an 8 week residency and $3000 for a 12 week residency. Must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the United States. Location Granville,
OH.
VERMONT ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/find-a-grant/artists/artist-development/
Deadline September 10, 2024. 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. Also new this year, Flood Relief Funding. If recent flooding has significantly and adversely affected your ability to produce, perform, and/or market your work and created a need for immediate relief funds and/or assistance, please see the website for eligible expenses. Grants are up
to $2,000. SUREL'S PLACE
https://surelsplace.org/month-long-residencies/
Deadline September 1, 2024 for residences that occur during January-May of the following year, beginning four months after the
deadline. One month residencies (more time may be possible, but must be justified within the application). Free rent, free utilities, free wi-fi, modest living stipend of $100 per week, $300 travel stipend, use of well-maintained bicycles for transportation, free or discounted tickets to art events and movies, free marketing via our website, Facebook, targeted emails, online public calendars, and press releases, and more. Location Garden City, ID.
RECKONING
https://reckoning.press/reckoning-9-submission-call/
Deadline September 22, 2024. There is no specific theme for this issue; if your work concerns any
aspect of environmental justice, from food sovereignty to ocean plastics to industrial cleanup to Indigenous rights, we want to see it. As always, we are seeking art, poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction up to 20,000 words in length. Pays $50/page for poetry and art, 10c/word for prose. LITTLE WHITE LIES 2024 ONLINE FEATURES WISHLIST
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_gFNpNr6hrT8ZmTS3vvGo_qVEnZJVaNddIVqlNhQebI/edit
Accepting late September/early October pitches only. We commission writers of all ages from around the world. Pitches and submissions must be written in British or American English (we are a UK-based website). We pay between £150
and £370 for features depending on length and work scope. Features range from 1000 words to 3000 for a long read (minimum rate is 15ppw). Primarily seeking pieces on films. Occasionally television, art exhibitions, video games and theatre, IF there is a strong link to film or a particularly compelling reason to do so. NEXT CITY
https://nextcity.org/pitch
Next City publishes news stories reported and written by journalists, and op-eds written by academics and practitioners in the fields we cover: urban policy, planning, housing, economic development, transportation, tech, environmental sustainability, arts and urban culture, health and safety, and design. We are not currently accepting freelance pitches for news
stories, except for solutions-oriented reported news stories about transportation, housing, urban policy and abortion access, community development financial institutions, and Indigenous-led development. Most of our news stories are currently published by our staff, reporting fellows and interns. Our typical flat rate for freelance stories is $400 USD. Please send pitches to managing editor Aysha Khan (aysha@nextcity.org) with the word “Pitch” in the subject line along with a description of your
story idea. We offer a small $100 to $200 USD honorarium for published op-eds.
ARSENAL PULP PRESS
https://arsenalpulp.com/About-Arsenal-Pulp-Press/Submission-Guidelines
We are considering manuscripts only in the following subject
areas: Books by BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ authors, including young adult and children's
Literary fiction and non-fiction (no genre fiction, such as mysteries, thrillers, or romance)
Political/sociological studies
Cultural studies
Regional
non-fiction, especially British Columbia
Graphic novels and graphic non-fiction
Youth culture and young adult literature
Books for children, especially those that emphasize diversity
Craft books
SHAFFNER PRESS
https://schaffnerpress.com/submissions/
All submissions to Schaffner Press must be in the English language and in the following categories. Fiction: literary adult fiction, short fiction collection, historical with socially relevant content, crime fiction. Non-fiction–memoir, autobiography, biography. Journalistic Expose or Narrative.
True crime, art, culture, pop culture, world history, current events, science, arts and letters, US history, military history music, are some of the preferred categories. Please no Children’s or Young Adult fiction or non-fiction. No science fiction, romance, or fantasy. Length: manuscripts between 60,000 and 100,000 words. OLYMPIA PUBLISHERS
https://olympiapublishers.com/submissions/
At Olympia Publishers we work with the hybrid publishing model and offer two types of publishing contracts. Hybrid publishing contract. This offer is based on a contribution, to be paid by the author, to cover initial production and printing of the work. Marketing costs are incurred by us as your publisher. Traditional contract.
This is where no costs are incurred by the author and the whole cost for producing, publishing and marketing the work is covered by us. We are an independent publishing house, with offices in London, Los Angeles and Mumbai. We pride ourselves on our wide range of genres.
LEGACY BOOK PRESS
https://legacybookpress.com/submission-guidelines/
We are essentially seeking to traditionally publish legacy or personal stories, widely defined. It must be book-length [at least 25,000 words for prose and 100 pages for poetry total, including all front and back matter], but can take the form of poetry, non-fiction, fiction, or any combination thereof. It could be
your autobiography, memoir, or family history. It could be a novel heavily based on your personal experience. It could be a collection of poetry written as you navigated a significant period of your life. It could be the story of your business. Any book that will help tell your story or share your experience as a member of the human race qualifies. FOREVER
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/forever-open-submissions/
we are opening our inbox to unagented submissions exclusively to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) authors. We’re looking for full-length romance novels and women’s fiction that promotes a variety of backgrounds and
diversity.
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 2000-2024, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326 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, Emily Stoddard, and other newsletters and online sites. Many announcements are submitted directly to FundsforWriters. All must be paying opportunities. Contests must pay a minimum of $200 first place. Submit potential listings to hope@chopeclark.com **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
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