VOLUME 24, ISSUE 52 | December 20, 2024 |
WHEN IT'S
DIFFICULT TO WRITE
These days everyone is too busy for whatever it is they are not getting done. For me, it's been trying to crank out the current WIP (scheduled for Fall 2025 release). My publisher has all sorts of faith in me to maintain a deadline, turn in manuscripts that are clean with storylines that come full circle, and basically keep up. Yeah, I'm behind. But I keep telling myself that just writing down a couple hundred words per day is still making progress. So that's what I try to do. The other night, I could not sleep. It's been a hard year with hurricanes, canceled events, some hard
disappointments with family, and a hubby who had open heart surgery that threw us for a loop . . . still does. My brain couldn't settle down. So I got up, like I always do. I either read or write until my eyelids get tired. I decided to write. I cranked out a thousand words then went back to bed. I honestly sat down at three AM thinking I'd hit two hundred at best. The next day, I sat down to read
those words then add a few to them. I cranked out another thousand. And to think I thought I was stuck. Sometimes all it takes is sitting down and putting fingers on the keyboard. Give your brain permission to come through. |
Re-IGNITE your connection to the joy, fulfillment and pleasure of writing in a supportive community of writers. FundsforWriters friends save an additional 25% (even on Early Bird prices) with code: FFW25 Ignite provides editing, coaching, writing workshops, and gathering opportunities for writers. In Ignite's workshops you'll find encouragement, community, and input from other writers—if and when you want it. Find support, structure, accountability, flexibility, and the inspiration you need to carry your project forward and Ignite YOUR Write. Make 2025 the year you Ignite Your Write. All workshops happen LIVE on Zoom :
Build & Burn Sunday, Jan 12 or Saturday, Feb 15 9am PT/12pm ET Have questions about your work? Tired of writing in a vacuum? Trying to see your way forward? In the camaraderie of a small, live group of writers, read up to 300-words from any part of your project-in-progress. Have the opportunity to give and receive input and encouragement. Learn from others what's working in your piece. Additionally, you'll have guaranteed writing or
editing time, and other opportunities to share. All genres welcome! Illuminating Your Story Wednesdays, Jan 8 - Feb 12 4pm PT/7pm
ET Explore what makes your story tick in a small cohort of emerging and established writers. This workshop is ideal for writers with the ember of an idea for a book-length project. By the end of the workshop, you will have gathered the raw materials to begin or continue drafting with inspiration and new insights. Early bird price ends Dec 25th! Book Boost Saturdays, Jan 11 - Feb 8 8:30am PT/11:30am ET Do you have a book-in-progress? Commit to working
on it in the company of a small group of other writers doing the same. This Ignite signature workshop will help you refine, fine-tune, and make progress on your book. Early bird price ends Dec 25th! Learn more at igniteyourwrite.com
GIFTS FROM A WRITER
We read everywhere about what to give a writer as a holiday gift. But let's turn that idea on its head and envision what a writer could give others as a gift . . . and still underline
the fact they are a writer. Now, on to some ideas. 1) Give a book that made a difference in your life. Include a note as to why. 2) Give a set of your books for your friend to donate to the library. A set
beats a lone book. And you don't donate it....let them do it. Include something additional in the package that they can keep as their gift. 3) Offer to write or edit something they made need in the coming year. A letter to the newspaper. A poem to a loved one. A resume. 4) If they have such connections
or need, offer to present, tutor, or teach about writing without compensation. 5) Give any gift and instead of just a name tag, write a flash story or poem instead. 6) If you have an upcoming event, give them a free ticket and maybe a meal out afterwards. Anything you can add to make the evening
special. 7) Give them a Book of the Month subscription. www.bookofthemonth.com 8) Write the lyrics for a song and have it finalized via Songfinch.com 9) Go to Etsy.com and search CUSTOM POEM or CUSTOM WORDS to have your writing presented on a canvas print, on wood, via calligraphy, with art, with pressed
plants. 10) Go to Spoonflower.com and have your words made onto fabric, wallpaper or an assortment of home decor items. 11) And if you want to think
ahead, keep a journal throughout the year about your relationship, friendship, travels, or just philosophies. It could be written no more than monthly, if you like. Then give it a year from now. I have done this, and it is a super special gift that is long remembered. Giving a lone book of yours is just too easy. It carries no real meaning. It gives the sense you grabbed a free book from your closet
and threw it in a gift bag to avoid thinking too hard about what to buy. These eleven ideas can make a difference and leave a lasting impression, and they work all throughout the year for any occasion.
-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.
"Literature, the best of it, does not aim to be literature. It wants and strives, beyond that artifact part of itself, to be a true part of the composite human record-- that is, not words but a reality."
~Mary Oliver,
poet
<<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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Video Content for Writers
By Alex J. Coyne Video content is an excellent way for authors to reach new audiences, who frequent platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Vimeo. Book trailers, narrated videos, and reels of writing advice have become an incredibly useful way to market yourself. Here’s how to reach more
readers. Why Make Video Content? Video reaches broad audiences, across multiple platforms where written content alone wouldn’t reach them. Book trailers, narrated stories, and writing advice add depth to your online personality (and marketing plan). It puts the multi in multimedia and expands your potential fanbase. Do you scroll through YouTube (Shorts) or Facebook (Reels) for entertainment sometimes, rather than reading a story or article? Viewers become fans. The Potential Costs Compared Upwork lists potential editors at $15 to $20 per hour, whereas Direct Images says professional editors can range between $75 to $150 per hour. Hiring video editors can be
expensive. However, video creation can also be DIY with practice. Learn editing techniques via courses (like Udemy, Alison, or YouTube), and tinker with editing tools. If you lack patience and time, pay a professional; otherwise, learn how. Using Basic Editing Tools Editing tools allow authors to add basic effects (fade-ins, scene transitions, overlays, and voice-overs), as well as splicing scenes together. That’s the basics of creating video, whether you’re making a trailer or reading one of your stories into a USB-microphone. Mobile editing tools are powerful, and for Android or iPhone there’s YouCut, Capcut, and Filmora. For for PC, there’s OpenShot, Kdenlive and Shotcut. Your first attempt at it might not be a Spielberg-style gem, but you keep at it and get better just like writing. Using Video Webcams and smartphones (with addition like a USB-microphone) are base recording essentials. Sometimes you might also want to overlay
someone else’s music, video, or images as part of your content. For copyright purposes, source third-party multimedia from libraries with fair-use licenses from sites like Creative
Commons, Pexels, and Shutterstock. Infringing content gets issued with takedown notices, and this is how you avoid the issue. Video Hosting Platforms Video hosting platforms are where audiences see your
content, usually based on direct input, searches, or their suggestions (like marketing the tag “author” or “horror” to a user who searches both). YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook are three large video platforms with astronomical reach: start there. Videos can be longer or made for bite-sized consumption in the Shorts or Feeds reels. Many influencers create shorter versions of a video, uploading to both timelines -- and again broadening their
potential video creation’s reach. What Authors Could Create Audiovisual content engages differently than written work and allows authors exploration into a whole new way to make things. If someone types your name into YouTube and finds nothing, you’re losing a potential audience member that you could have hooked into your channel! What do you make? The answer is anything you want, and whatever you think viewers might enjoy. It’s a trial-and-error process, and the best gauge is making something that you yourself would find cool. Author Martin Steyn created this book trailer for NB
Publishers’ horror collection, which I was also featured in. The South African News created narrated content from my popular articles. Also popular are narrated stories (and yes, you can hire voice-over artists online at Fiverr or Upwork), parodies, or writing advice in visual form. Video is versatile, and audiovisual content has become a way to extend what’s written down. With some time and patience,
authors can use video to reach their following and boost their reach. 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.
33417252 © Edwardgerges | Dreamstime.com
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3 MILE HARBOR PRESS POETRY AWARD
https://3mileharborpress.submittable.com/submit
$40 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2025. The winner will receive a $500 award, and
the publication of their book as a perfect-bound edition. The winner will also receive 25 author copies. Send a manuscript of 48-88 pages in a single document via our online submissions manager, Submittable. Manuscripts may include poems that have been previously published in periodicals, anthologies chapbooks, or on the web, but the manuscript may not have been published as a larger body of work. WRITING BATTLE
https://writingbattle.com/
$39 ENTRY FEE. Start writing January 12 and submit by January 19, 2025. Involves a 1000 word story / Drama, Romance, Rom-Com, Comedy. The Battle begins with prompts being dealt to you. The prompts must be incorporated into your story. Use your limited
redraws to swap them until you feel inspired. In a limited amount of time, rise to the challenge and submit your best story using the prompts. Your story will only compete against others in its same genre. Once the top stories from each of the four genres have been selected, the industry judges take over and pick the four winners. The cash prize pool is split amongst the genre finalists and semi-finalists. CRAFT MEMOIR EXCERPT AND ESSAY CONTEST
https://www.craftliterary.com/craft-memoir-excerpt-essay-contest-2024/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 15, 2025. Eager to read your best longform creative nonfiction, from 1,001 to 6,000 words total. Both excerpts
from book-length projects and stand-alone essays will be considered. Three winners will receive $1,000 each and publication. Our team will also select two “editors’ choices” to publish alongside the three grand-prize winners. All fifteen shortlisted creative nonfiction writers will receive a $1,000 scholarship to PocketMFA. DRIFTWOOD PRESS SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://driftwoodpress.submittable.com/submit
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 15, 2025. The Grand Prize winner will receive $400 USD and five copies of the issue in which the story appears. The winner will also have the opportunity to be interviewed about their work; the interview will be published alongside the story.
Runner-ups will be offered publication, an accompanying interview, $200 USD, and one copy of the issue in which their work appears. 1,000-5,000 soft word limit.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING INDIAN ARTS RESEARCH CENTER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE FELLOWSHIPS
https://sarweb.org/iarc/native-american-artist-fellowships/
Deadline January 15, 2025. The
IARC invites applications for its artist-in-residence program, which annually awards three fellowships, including a monthly stipend, housing, studio space, a supplies allowance, full access to the IARC collections, and travel reimbursement to and from SAR. Fellowships are intended to give artists time to explore new avenues of creativity, grapple with new ideas that can advance their work, and strengthen their existing talents. The fellowships support diverse creative disciplines, including
sculpture, performance, basketry, painting, printmaking, digital art, mixed media, photography, pottery, writing, and film and video. VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
https://www.vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/
Deadlines January 15, May 15, September 15. The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) provides time and space for national and international writers, visual artists, and composers of talent and promise to bring forth their finest works, because the arts are vital, diversity is a strength, and creativity is essential. Financial Assistance: In addition to the fully-funded fellowships listed, significant financial assistance is available throughout
the year. All eligible applicants demonstrating financial need are considered for financial aid funding to help cover the cost of their residency. FILM AND VIDEO PRODUCTION FUNDING - NEW ENGLAND
https://lef-foundation.org/moving-image-fund/guidelines/
Deadline: January 17, 2025. New England-based directors and producers seeking production and post-production funds for feature-length (40+ min) nonfiction film and video projects are encouraged to apply for LEF’s next grant. A maximum of eight (8) grants of $15,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Production phase, and a maximum of six (6) grants of
$25,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Post-production phase during LEF’s major grants review. SUMMER FISHTRAP FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
https://fishtrap.org/fellowships/
Deadline January 1, 2025.
Fishtrap Fellowships recognize and encourage writers who show promise at an early stage in their career. The primary benefit of this award is an opportunity to attend the 38th Summer Fishtrap Gathering of Writers, July 7-13, 2025 at Wallowa Lake. A Fishtrap Fellowship covers the cost of the seven-day conference including a five-day writing workshop, readings, activities, panel discussions, and special events. Fishtrap Fellows also receive meals and lodging for the week, and a $150 travel
stipend. A Fishtrap Fellowship is valued at more than $2000, but more than that, it is an opportunity for emerging writers to build new friendships and a renewed sense of creative potential in an atmosphere of mentorship and community. A Fishtrap Scholarship covers the cost of the seven-day conference including a five-day creative writing workshop, readings, activities, panel discussions, and special events. A Fishtrap Scholarship is valued at more than $1000. Location Enterprise,
OR. SOUTHARTS EXPRESS GRANTS
https://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/express-grants
Deadline December 31, 2024. South Arts believes that rural communities deserve great art, and
can require specialized support to make that vision viable. Distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, Express Grants support rural organizations and communities with expedited grants of up to $3,000. To be eligible for funding, applicants must program arts experiences featuring a Southern artist. Express Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from
inside or outside of the presenter's state. MOTHER JONES
https://www.motherjones.com/contribute/writer-guidelines/
Mother Jones is a nonprofit investigative news organization that delivers bold and original
multiplatform reporting on the urgent issues of our time, from democracy protection and climate change to extremism and beyond. Our rates are based on a writer’s experience, our experience with the writer, article type, and the difficulty of the reporting and editing required. For print, rates start at $1.75 per word. For online, rates start at $0.75 a word. We pay 1/3 of the fee upon submission of a first draft, and the rest as soon as possible after publication. THE GAY & LESBIAN REVIEW
https://glreview.org/writers-guidelines-for-submission/
he G&LR accepts unsolicited manuscripts and proposals on all LGBT-related topics. Especially sought are proposals on the following themes for issues
in development: The Gossip Issue: Unearthed scandals of the past, The State of LGBT Rights: What’s next for the movement? and The Travel Issue: The role of travel in LGBT culture. he G&LR publishes nonfiction and poetry—but not short fiction, personal memoirs, or journals. Contributors of original feature articles receive a flat fee of $250, or may choose to waive this fee, as well as the option to give up to four gift subscriptions to parties of their choice. Contributors of full-length
book reviews can request $100 in addition to giving four gift subscriptions. All contributors receive a complimentary subscription, plus a few copies of the issue in which their article appeared. TAGG MAGAZINE
https://taggmagazine.com/contribute/
Tagg Magazine is an online publication founded on the belief that all queer women deserve to see themselves reflected in queer media. We celebrate the diversity of the sapphic community and feature writing across various gender identities, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic classes, physical abilities, mental abilities, and life experiences. We are a small digital publication and aim to publish short-form content of 1200 words or less about three times
per week. Our pieces are about 350-1000 words long and we pay $75-175 per piece. CHICKEN SOUP - FUNNY STORIES
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline April 30, 2025. We are looking for stories about something that
happened to you or someone close to you, the kind of stories that get you and your listeners laughing when you tell them. Rat out your spouse. Share that funny thing your kid said. Tell us that hilarious thing that happened when your relatives did... yeah, that thing. We want to hear about your family, your friends, your colleagues... and most importantly, that embarrassing thing that you did. Laughing at ourselves is the best! Pays $250 for up to 1,200 words written in first person, along with
ten copies of the book that contains the story. CRAFT
https://www.craftliterary.com/submit/
We pay our authors $100 for original flash and $200 for original short fiction and creative nonfiction. We do not charge submission
fees, but are highly selective in what we choose to publish. Flash Fiction, for work up to 1,000 words. (See submission form for details about microfiction.) Short Fiction, for work up to 6,000 words. Flash Creative Nonfiction, for work up to 1,000 words. (See submission form for details about microessays.) Creative Nonfiction, for work up to 6,000 words.
LIBRARY TALES PUBLISHING
https://www.librarytalespublishing.com/submissions
Self-Help Books: Self-help books are our specialty. We are passionate about publishing works that
empower and inspire readers to improve their lives, develop new skills, and achieve personal growth and well-being. Drawing Books: We are interested in manuscripts that teach and inspire the art of drawing. Whether it's instructional guides, sketching techniques, or books that encourage artistic creativity, we welcome submissions in this category. Nonfiction Titles: We seek compelling nonfiction works that cover a wide range of topics, from history and science to psychology and business. If your manuscript offers valuable insights, knowledge, or explores intriguing subjects, we want to hear from you. Enthralling Memoirs: Personal stories that captivate, inspire, and offer unique perspectives
on life are of great interest to us. If you have a memoir that resonates with readers and leaves a lasting impact, we encourage you to submit it for consideration. Fiction Books: We are open to fiction submissions that feature engaging storylines and well-developed characters. Whether your work falls within the realms of contemporary fiction, mystery, romance, or other genres, we are eager to
explore compelling narratives. VINE LEAVES PRESS
https://www.vineleavespress.com/submissions.html
Deadline January 31, 2025. We are looking for: novels and novellas (all genres accepted, but with a
literary bent), memoirs/biographies/autobiographies, creative nonfiction, writing/publishing reference books, short story collections, and poetry and vignette collections. For shorter works, such as poetry and vignettes, we will not accept anything shorter than 60 pages. TULE PUBLISHING
https://tulepublishing.com/submissions/
Tule Publishing will be closing un-agented submissions on Monday, September 2, 2024 and will reopen for un-agented submissions on Monday, January 6, 2025. We are interested in working with authors who know their brand and vision, and are passionate about what they write. As we are a digital first publisher, we would like to work with authors who have a strong online
presence and who are committed to promoting and marketing their work, and we love stories with series potential. We accept both agented and un-agented submissions that have not been previously published. Note they are full for 2025 releases, but will consider manuscripts for a 2026 release. ROOT LITERARY
https://www.rootliterary.com/submissions
At Root Literary, we kindly ask that you submit your query to one agent at a time; please do not query multiple agents simultaneously. We’re a boutique, future-focused literary agency, representing award-winning, bestselling, and up-and-coming authors, illustrators, and graphic novelists.
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
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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