VOLUME 24, ISSUE 50 | December 6, 2024 |
WHAT TO KEEP.
. . WHAT TO THROW AWAY
In going through Christmas decorations this week, I noticed some that were falling apart and just not worth setting out, hanging, or putting on the tree. One had no real meaning other than it was old and was obtained free from a department store decades ago when they did such things.
Another was a handmade structure with unraveling yarn and popsicle sticks, designed by my son in elementary school. Guess which I kept and which I threw away? Same goes for holding onto old writing. Just because we've had it for a long while doesn't mean it will be published. It's why once I publish a book, I throw away the drafts. It's difficult to toss what we've had or done for a long while. Like our habits. We need to write more, but gosh, there's so much filling up our day. Something needs to be tossed. You can decide writing isn't that important, or you can decide that something else stealing your time isn't worth doing anymore. They don't sound like hard decisions, but guess
what? Once they are made, once you've changed course and altered that old habit, things change. You open doors to what might be what you've needed for a long long time . . . the motivation to get that story down on the page. |
WHEN DO YOU PAY FULL PRICE FOR A BOOK?
A couple years ago, I took a poll. Part of me was curious, the other part of me wanted to be educated as to what indeed would make a reader pay full price for a book. Since we are in the middle of
assorted holiday seasons, and many of us are either hunting for ideas for gifts or looking to make sales in this gift-buying throng, I thought we would revisit the logic behind this question. The results were these. The overwhelming reason for paying full price for a book was AUTHOR. These readers had favorite authors and had developed enough trust in the writer's abilities to entertain to not only
pay full price for a title but also pre-order. (27% of answers) The overwhelming second reason was adding to a collection or liking an existing series, which could have been one and the same for many. (15%) The third reason was due to genre, subject, content quality, or first page read. They heard of
the book, checked it out, liked what they saw, and made the purchase. (12%) Then a cluster of reasons merited about the same percentage rate of roughly 5 percent. Title, cover design, or back cover copy cinched the deal. Some bought based on reviews. Some just had the money readily available at the time, and others wanted to support a particular bookstore or obtain an autograph at a signing.
(5%) They you saw a wide assortment of reasons from the published format (print or ebook or audio), gift giving, unavailable in the library, needing an airport read, a book club requirement, local author interest, a particular setting, or sold as a fundraiser. Is this eye opening or what? The point is
to write a quality book, publish it well, position it, and work on the brand. Hmmm, sounds familiar.
Submissions are now open for the DISQUIET Literary Prize! Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry winners will be published; one grand prize winner will recieve tuition, lodging, and travel stipend to attend
DISQUIET summer
literary program in Lisbon. Cash prize available in lieu of travel. Reading fee: $15. Deadline: January 6, 2025.
-January 9, 2025 - Newberry Fine Arts Club, Newberry, SC - 10AM Eastern -March 22, 2025 - Writer's Digest Mystery/Thriller Writing Virtual Conference - "Person, Place, or Crime: Where to Start Your Mystery" - 1PM Eastern -April 23, 2025 - Artist 5 Show, Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC - 6 PM Eastern -May 3, 2025 - Pelion Library Book Club, 206 Pine St, Pelion, SC, Saturday, 1-2PM Eastern -May 17, 2025 - Speaking of Writing Expo, New Bern, NC - 8-4:30PM Eastern
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise.
Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency.
~Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Hi Hope! I just wanted to tell you I was awarded an artist residency at Casa Uno thanks to this newsletter! I also got one thru Storyknife, but don't think I heard about it here (but it'd be a good one to include in the future) Thanks so much for this newsletter as I would've never heard about this residency otherwise!
<<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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How Persistence Pays Off as a Freelancer
By Alex J. Coyne I’ve sold many articles through the value of sheer persistence. Asking, pitching, and adapting is key to being a career writer. Editors who say no might have a different answer to another pitch in the future. Yes, rejections can be a future opportunity. Here’s how to turn
negatives into positives as you turn rejections into successful article sales. Keep a Record of Your Rejections I send hundreds of messages every week, and keeping track of who comes back with no-responses can prove cumbersome. Create a folder or a spreadsheet, and you’ll have a list of editors who answered your query, and they become your starting points of who to pitch
again. Changing Budgets Editors sometimes decline ideas because of their freelancing budget, which you may not be aware of. Pitch editors again later, say six months to a year later, and their answer could be quite different One year, I sent Writers Write an article about cybersecurity, expecting little for it. A few years later, when their budget allowed for it, I was writing for them once a week. Maintain connections with magazines and their editors and ask even if you’ve asked before. Them remembering you is half the battle. The Right Time When I applied to write for The South African News, my application was unsuccessful. I noticed a job opening three years later and applied again -- and I was hired to write for two years. An editor’s “no” can just mean it’s not the right time. Always return to responsive editors to check again. If someone answers, remember it, and come back to them in the
future. Can you imagine if I had stopped asking? Rejected Ideas Are Opportunities Too Sometimes a singular idea can sell with the right amount of persistence. You may just have to change either the angle or its publishing editor. I’ll use this article on Beer and Celebrities as an example. Originally, the article was commissioned by a magazine; however they declined to publish the final draft. The bad news was that they’d said no, but the good news was that I now had a completed article that had taken a lot of work. I was determined to
sell it, and eventually it appeared in The South African. Take rejected ideas somewhere else or spin them differently. They may readily sell to a different market. No, No... Yes When pitching, I always include three solid ideas to new clients or editors. If those three are rejected, I follow up with three more after I’ve taken some time to study why
they might’ve said no. It took 18 emails to sell a feature about Ouija Boards. I kept refining ideas until it was something the editor was willing to agree with. An editor who takes the time to respond or negotiate is worth their time
in gold. Value it, work off of it in an attempt to give them what they want, and keep a list of the connections for future prospects. Maintain Connections I’ve known about Crystal Lake Publishing since their founding in 2012.
However, I’ve only worked with them in recent years. Maintain connections with those in the publishing and book industries, even if they aren’t hiring right now. When something suitable comes along, people who already remember your name as an author, writer, and/or editor are more inclined to give you a better chance. Personally keeping in touch is a valuable habit to develop. Whether email or social media, maintain a connection. Editorial Changes When you see publications hiring or selling, pitch them again or introduce yourself to the new team. Bridge Base Online merged with 52 Entertainment, and I created and pitched the BBO Prime cardplaying blog with them, which was maintained
for several years. When the magazine Caribbean Compass changed ownership, I asked the new editorial team if I could write for them (and they were happy to accept pitches). Why Persistence Pays
Off Persistence works, because it’s not the same as annoyance. Pitches are more successful when people remember you’re a writer at the right time. Remember that persistence pays off. About the Author: Alex J. Coyne is a journalist, author, and proofreader. He has written for a variety of publications and websites, with a radar calibrated for gothic, gonzo, and the weird. Sometimes, he
co-writes with others.
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NOT QUITE WRITE PRIZE FOR FLASH FICTION
https://notquitewritepodcast.com/prize/
ENTRY FEE AU$35 / ~US$22 (20% early bird discount available). Deadline January 26 2025 AEDT.
The Not Quite Write Prize challenges writers to break the writing "rules" while still telling a compelling 500-word story. Compete for a share of AU$4,000 in cash prizes and the coveted Not Quite Write Prize trophy. Winners are read aloud on the Not Quite Write podcast and receive a publishing contract for the annual Not Quite Write Prize print anthology. Hosted in Australia but open to writers worldwide. First prize AU$1,500 plus a trophy and publication. THE ANDROMEDA AWARD
https://www.theandromedaaward.com/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 18, 2024. The award is open to anyone based in the UK or USA who has a full-length science fiction or fantasy novel. First Prize - $5,000. Second Prize -
$3,000 + a place on Curtis Brown Creative’s nine-week Writing Fantasy course. Third Prize - $1,000 + a place on the six-week online Curtis Brown Creative course of their choice (courses include Writing Science Fiction, Writing Gothic & Supernatural Fiction and many others). The submission must not exceed 120,000 words in length. FURIOUS FICTION
https://www.writerscentre.com.au/furious-fiction/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline first Friday of each month. A monthly short story challenge from the Australian Writers’ Centre. On the FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, we will unveil a new story challenge. You then have 55 hours and a maximum of 500 words to wow us with your storytelling skills. Prize
is $500 AU. LILITH’S ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST
https://lilith.org/contact/writing-for-lilith/
Deadline December 31, 2024. Lilith magazine—independent, Jewish & frankly feminist—seeks quality short
stories with heart, soul, and chutzpah, 3,000 words or under. First prize: $300 and publication. We especially like fresh fiction with feminist and Jewish nuance and are eager to read submissions from writers of color and emerging writers of any age. RATTLE CHAPBOOK PRIZE
https://www.rattle.com/chapbooks/guidelines/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 15, 2025. Every year, three winners will receive $5,000, 500 copies, distribution to Rattle’s 8,000+ subscribers. Open to writers, worldwide; poems must be written primarily in English (no translations, except by the author). Individual poems may be previously published in any format, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished as
a collection. Manuscripts may be 15 – 30 pages of poems.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING SOUTH CAROLINA HUMANITIES FAST TRACK LITERARY GRANTS
https://schumanities.org/grants/literary/
Fast Track Literary Grants are intended to support new or existing public literary programs
such as (but not limited to) writers series, festivals, conferences, workshops, or writer’s residencies at schools. Awards are $5,000 or less. Deadlines March 3, 2025 (for programs that start after April 15, 2025); June 2, 2025 (for programs that start after July 15, 2025); and September 1, 2025 (for programs that start after October 15, 2025). SOUTHARTS FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/southern-prize-and-state-fellowships-literary-arts
Deadline January 15, 2025. The State Fellowships for Literary Arts are awarded to artists with a
commitment to artistic excellence as evidenced by the quality of their work. The program is open to individual artists who meet all eligibility criteria and live in the South Arts region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The State Fellowship for Literary Arts is awarded to artists whose work reflects the best of the literary arts in the South. A national panel will select one awardee per state, for a group of nine State
Fellows based on artistic excellence that reflects the diversity of artistic expression of the region, each of whom will receive a $5,000 award. The nine awarded State Fellows will compete for the Southern Prize for Literary Arts. Each of the nine state fellowship recipients will be required to attend the awards ceremony. The $25,000 Southern Prize will be awarded to the literary artist whose work demonstrates the highest artistic excellence, and a finalist will be awarded a $10,000 Prize.
Additionally, both Southern Prize awardees will receive a two-week residency at The Hambridge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences. THE HUFFPOST
https://www.freedomwithwriting.com/freedom/uncategorized/15-calls-for-pitches-directly-from-editors-10/
HuffPost
publishes freelancer work across a wide range of topics. Sections for which we are currently accepting pitches are listed on this web page. Pitches should include a working headline, two to three paragraphs that outline why you think the story matters, with some indication of how you plan to report and tell the story (e.g., sources, key characters or narrative events). Also tell us a little about who you are and why you're the right person to write this story, and please indicate whether your
pitch is timely. Also, you can just a short bio, your rates and your portfolio to photos@huffpost.com, and if our interests align, we’ll get back to you when assignments become available. Pays at least 10-20 cents/word. THE HEARTH MAGAZINE
https://renaissancedork2.wordpress.com/article-submissions/
The Hearth Magazine features articles, games, and supplemental material for tabletop roleplaying games that are not Dungeons & Dragons, with a particular focus on games from independent and small press creators and publishers. For at least the first year of publication we are
looking for submissions to a maximum of 1000 words. Pitches should be emailed to the magazine at TheHearthMagazine@gmail.com and have “PITCH” and your name in the subject line. The Hearth Magazine pays fifteen (15) cents USD a word to a maximum submission length of 1000 words. THE REVELATOR
https://therevelator.org/about/
The Revelator, a news and ideas initiative of the Center for Biological Diversity, provides editorially independent reporting, analysis and stories at the intersection of politics, conservation, art, culture, endangered species, climate change, economics and the future of wild species, wild places and the planet. Actively seeking both expert commentaries and freelance journalism. Stories usually
run 1,000-1,400 words and pay $300-$500. SOUND FIELDS
https://www.soundfields.org/submissions
We are interested in pitches for short essays (1500-2000 words) that bring us provocative ideas and surprising insights into the
intersection of audio documentary practice and the idea of the archive. Original essay pitches should be a maximum of 400 words. Final essays will be 1500-2000 words or less. If your pitch is approved, you’ll be matched with an editorial board member who will provide two rounds of editorial feedback on your piece. $400 honorarium. Q and As/Conversations (written/transcribed) pitches should be a maximum of 400 words. Proposed Interviewees/conversation partners must already have agreed to
participate. $200 honorarium. POSITIVE NEWS
https://www.positive.news/contact-us/
Fed up with bad news but want to stay informed? Positive News is the magazine for good journalism about the good things that are happening.
Stories of social and environmental progress. Quality, independent reporting with a focus on solutions. Impactful photography and stunning visual design. Boosts your wellbeing and helps you engage in the world. A carbon neutral publication printed on quality paper. Published four times a year: January, April, July and October. They like to receive pitches for news or features that showcase the best examples of progress and possibility anywhere in the world. Pay is usually around 30p/word. Send
your ideas to editor-in-chief, Lucy Purdy, at editorial@positive.news.
GINGER CLARK LITERARY
https://gingerclarkliterary.com/Submissions
For adult, Ginger has a special focus on science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, and women’s fiction. For children’s
works, she represents young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction in all genres. BELCASTRO AGENCY
https://www.belcastroagency.com/about_us/
Belcastro Agency is a full-service literary agency representing authors
writing in adult and children’s fiction. Established nearly fifteen years ago, we are a passionate, hands-on, editorially focused agency representing new and established authors. We work closely with our writers from developing manuscripts through publication. After publication we actively seek opportunities including foreign translation, audio, and film/television rights. RCW LITERARY
AGENCY
https://www.rcwlitagency.com/about-us/
Our literary agency is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading literary agencies. We are a home for writers across all genres including literary and commercial fiction, crime and thrillers, children’s and YA, and all forms of non-fiction. BOOK WYRM LITERARY AGEMCY
https://www.bookwyrmlit.com/submissions
Book Wyrm Literary Agency is actively looking for new and exciting voices. In fiction: literary and commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, science fiction, fantasy, horror,
historical fiction, family saga, upmarket women’s fiction, and YA. In non-fiction: narrative non-fiction, history, biography, science, business, psychology, pop culture, and food writing. Does not represent poetry, screenplays, picture books, and books about parenting, religion/spirituality, politics/current affairs, and sports.
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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