VOLUME 24, ISSUE 41 | octoBER 4, 2024 |
HURRICANE HELENE
PART 2 I only received one light scolding from my last editorial about the hurricane where someone told me that while I am tired of the hurricane, there are others who will be recuperating from it for months. Of course this guy was writing from the comfort of his home in an unaffected state. Sorry, just had to mention. In reality, me and mine are good.
The vast majority of people are doing fine, just having to adapt to being inconvenienced. There are others, however, who died. And there is everything in between. It isn't a pissing contest. We count our blessings and welcome our lot in life as character building. Eye-opening. And others have no choice but to accept their luck wasn't as good. I do, however, see this as opportunity to write. If I have learned anything in my
writing arena, it is that there is never a bad time to write. Sure, we might not feel like it, but if we do it, absorbing whatever experience we are enduring, we might be amazed at the results. The prologue from Edge of Edisto came from just such a moment. Take advantage of your moments, whatever
they may be, even if you don't really see that they are indeed moments. Just write through anything, |
RECORDING THE MOMENT At this point in time, with hurricane reminders all around me, I struggle like anyone else to write. However, I am quick to tell myself that of all times to write, it is now. The
feelings that surround me about losing a major appearance due to the storm (after investing in $2000 in books for signing), about being unable to keep in ready touch with publishers/editors/readers, and just recently learning that a close family member has to have major surgery, can either bottleneck on me, or be compartmentalized. One of the best ways to ease your frustrations is to watch the world. Whether it's eying a lineman sixty
feet in the air or high school girls tittering in the corner of the only coffee shop around with wifi, there are scenes and stories there. At least metaphors. I have spent the last two afternoons attempting to work on a laptop against the wall in a tiny coffee shop in Chapin, SC. Sometimes people recognize me. At other times I am invisible. I am amazed at how people think nobody hears them when they sit at a table with a cup of coffee.
It's like they feel a bubble surrounds them, and what they say cannot be heard except by the person on the other side. A teenager talked about her car running out of gas, and her boyfriend stealing something out of a convenience store. At the same time, another teen talks to a guy about downloading a video to learn how to do her math. A barista says she is stressed because nobody appreciates her. A young man came in alone and
depressed, ordered a drink full of all kinds of elaborate flavors, drizzles, and whip in an attempt to feel better. A senior is confused about all the choices, asking a dozen questions about the drinks, trying to understand all the options, in the end just asking for something cold with caramel in it somehow. A mom comes in with one child toddling and another in a carrier, orders herself a fancy whipped coffee then plants herself in
the upholstered chairs, just to take a break and tend to herself. The slices of humanity that waltz right before your eyes are stories. I am headed to Edisto tomorrow to sign books, meet some locals, and observe. I intend to take in everyone and everything, outlining scenes for future use. If you see me there, just know that I may have seen you first and put you in my notes. -October 10, 2024 - Edisto Bookstore, Edisto Island, SC - 3-5 PM -October
28, 2024 - St. Andrews Church Women's Club, 6952 St. Andrews Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29212 - 2PM (tentative) -October 30, 2024 - South Carolina Library Association's Annual Conference, Columbia Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201 - 2 PM -November 12 -Bennettsville Book Club, Bennettsville Library, SC - 4PM -November 22 - Newberry Library - Newberry, SC - 3 PM -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.
"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeated, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."
—Maya Angelou
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >>
|
|
|
Writing Historical Non-Fiction for Profit
By Bobbie Smith Bryant Since the popularity of DNA testing, millions of people have sought information about their ancestors. However, not everyone wants to do the research or write about their family history once uncovered. This opens a huge market for those who enjoy looking for dead people and an opportunity
to turn a hobby into a paying gig. Creating a story around dates on a tombstone or from a marriage certificate can be daunting, even to a seasoned writer. Yet, as a writer collects more information about those being researched, much more is illuminated about the community where they once lived. Everything from home addresses and career paths can be discovered as well as local traditions and customs of the era. This basic research can serve as a launching pad for all sorts of
writing opportunities, particularly when an intriguing tidbit captures your attention. For example, I thought my family's long lineage of tobacco farming was terribly dull until I discovered the way they produced their crop proved unique to their specific region of the world. Armed with this fascinating detail, the particular geographic features, and the culture surrounding their line of work, I prepared to write. My hometown newspaper showed interest in
stories related to this heritage and provided space for a monthly column. While the column did not pay, it did provide a platform for me to gain name recognition. When awareness of the column spread, I discovered audiences I had not anticipated. In addition to local and regional historical associations, organizations, schools, museums, and libraries seek presenters on topics of local significance. Every speaking opportunity opens a door to selling books. Many of these entities
publish newsletters and host websites providing additional placements for your writing. While I worked a full-time paying job, I also placed articles in paying and non-paying genealogy venues in local and regional publications and digital platforms. As my skills improved and name recognition grew, I submitted articles to state-wide academic history journals and periodicals, building credibility as a researcher and writer. With my credibility bolstered, I
landed a publisher for one of my family history books, Farming in the Black Patch. The subject matter was a familiar industry – farming – and I used my family's real-life experiences to tell the story. I also became a presenter for a statewide humanities organization. They paid me a small stipend and travel expenses, and in turn, I gained a much broader audience. Hope Clark belongs to the same organization speakers roster in her own state of South Carolina. In time,
invitations for other projects arrived that paid surprisingly well. The first was to pull together historical content for the National Association of State Procurement Officers so they could build a website to commemorate their 75th anniversary. I had never heard of this organization and knew nothing of its history. Yet, the same research and writing skills I used in searching for my ancestors allowed me to gather the necessary information and organize it in a usable format.
With a growing reputation as a local historian, I was invited to write a community history to commemorate my hometown's bicentennial. This job came with a multi-year contract in a genre that I was already invested in and loved learning more about. Writing about ancestors and local history takes persistence and skill. Reliable information can prove elusive, and documents can be difficult to find. To make the information interesting can be challenging.
One resource I have found helpful is old newspaper articles that often provide details not typically recorded in documents such as obituaries or census records. These tidbits of information combined with cultural heritage and local traditions add much to what otherwise would be as bland and uninformative as the dash between a birth and death date on a tombstone. Yet, in the hands of a gifted writer, those rich details are what cause history to come to life for
readers. ###
Authors Bio:
Bobbie Smith Bryant is a Kentucky author residing in Louisville, Kentucky. She is retired from a 25-year career with a statewide association assisting cities in Kentucky with community and economic development concerns. Learn more about Bobbie and her writing at bobbiesmithbryant.com
|
Deadline: February 27, 2025 Entries are now being accepted for the 2025 Next Generation Short Story Awards, a
not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories. The Short Story Awards offers 30+ categories to choose from and accepts original, unpublished stories (5000 words or less) written in English by authors in the U.S., Canada, or internationally. The Next Generation Short Story Awards is offering an Early Bird Special Discount for the month of October to all story writers. Enter and pay by October 31, 2024 to receive your second category (for the same story) for free! Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to have your story considered for 30+ cash
prizes, gold medals, complimentary gold digital stickers, literary exposure and recognition as one of the top stories of the year! Winners will have their story published in an Anthology of Winners and will receive a complimentary copy of the Anthology of Winners (you retain copyright). Finalists will have their author name and story title mentioned in the Anthology of Winners. Enter today at www.ShortStoryAwards.com. The Short Story Awards is brought to you by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international book awards program in the world for independent and self-published authors. THE STEVE KOWIT POETRY PRIZE
https://sandiegopoetryannual.com/kowit/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2024. Open to any poet anywhere. First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100. Winning and
Honorable Mention poems will be published in the San Diego Poetry Annual each March. Submit one previously unpublished poem (in English) and a 50-word biography. TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS LITERARY AWARDS
https://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/?id=436
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2024. Accepting fiction, nonfiction
and poetry. First-place winners in each category will receive $1,000, second-place $500, and third-place $250 along with full scholarships to attend the 2024 Tucson Festival of Books Masters Workshop in March. The top 50 entrants will be invited to this exclusive workshop, which features a faculty of distinguished U.S. writers. Submit up to 5 poems of any length, a short story, novel excerpt, OR a nonfiction piece or book excerpt. THE
BEDFORD COMPETITION
https://bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk/
£17 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2024. Short story and poetry competition main prizes – £1500. Second prizes – £300. Third prizes – £200. Cygnature short story and poetry prizes – £200. Bedford short story and poetry prizes – £100. All submissions are entered in the Main Prize. VERN RUTSALA BOOK PRIZE
https://cloudbankbooks.com/vern-rutsala-book-contest/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2024. A prize of $1,000 is awarded, plus publication of the manuscript and 50 free books.
Submit 60 to 90 pages of poetry and/or flash fiction, including a Table of Contents and Acknowledgments page.
Submissions are accepted from around the world with no citizenship limitations. The first 50 writers submitting to the contest receive a Cloudbank book or journal. HELENA WHITEHILL BOOK AWARD
https://www.tupelopress.org/helena-whitehill-book-award/
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2024. A
prestigious international poetry prize for adult writers. Includes a cash award of $1,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, a book launch, national and international distribution by the University of Chicago Press, a one-week residence at Gentle House on the Olympic Peninsula, and unlike our other prizes, open to submissions of poetry, chapbook or full length, no page limit, and also open to creative non-fiction, no page limit. NIGHTBOOK BOATS POETRY PRIZE
https://nightboat.org/poetry-prize/
$28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2024. The winning poet(s) receives a $1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 25 free copies of the published book. Any poet writing in English. Previous book publication is not a consideration for eligibility. Minimum of 48 pages, paginated, no more than one poem per
page. INEXPLICABLE STORIES CONTEST
https://www.silversailspress.com/storycontest
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2024. Did you experience a thing so strange, so odd, so unusual that it makes no sense? Enter to win cash and publication in our anthology. First prize is $500. Top entries may be invited for
publication in Inexplicable Stories published by Silver Sails Press in an anthology publication, our website, or podcast. Stories are a minimum of 100 words and maximum of 500 words. Do not include a title or author name in the word count. (NOTE: This is a new contest.) GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING UTAH PROJECT SUPPORT GRANTS
https://artsandmuseums.utah.gov/project-grants/
Deadline October 11, 2024. This grant is being offered to support the professional development and career advancement of individual artists. These grants are specifically designed to support
artists by helping them take advantage of timely external professional opportunities and providing access to resources to advance their artistic careers. Must be currently residing in and practicing in Utah. JOHN UPDIKE TUCSON CASITAS FELLOWSHIP
https://blogs.iwu.edu/johnupdikesociety/the-jur-emerging-writers-prize/
Deadline November 1, 2024. Open to everyone. A two-week residency at the Mission Hill Casitas within the Skyline Country Club in Tucson, Arizona—casitas that John Updike owned and where he wrote during a part of each year between 2004-2009. Offered annually the last two weeks in May. The fellowship includes a $1000 prize
provided by The John Updike Society, which administers the fellowship. Creative writers should also provide a five-page (and only five-page) writing sample.
BOLTS
https://boltsmag.org/pitch-us/
Bolts is always seeking to work with freelancers to report on critical voting rights and criminal justice stories across the United States. We encourage pitches that fit our mission to grow coverage of the local and state politics, elections, policymaking, and
organizing that shape these issues—think of county prosecutors and sheriffs, secretaries of state and local election administrators, state legislators, municipal officials, and the activism brewing around them. Most of the stories we publish involve original reporting; the default rate we offer for a story with original reporting is $800. NEW LINES MAGAZINE
https://newlinesmag.com/pitch/
New Lines Magazine publishes essays and reportage on a wide range of subjects that focus broadly on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. We also cover politics, culture and controversies in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia, and conduct deep-dive investigative journalism based on open-source intelligence and leaked data. Danny Postel, Politics Editor at New Lines Magazine, dpostel@newlinesmag.com, is looking for pitches on the U.S. election. Looking for genuinely original stories, political/cultural reportage, personal essays, think pieces and historical takes on America from fresh, unexpected angles. Rates are basically $800 per article, whatever the length — unless it's for our Spotlight series (https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight), which is typically for shorter pieces (we pay $600 for those). CHICKEN SOUP - CALL ABOUT CATS
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline November 30, 2024. If your story is chosen, you will receive a check for $250 and 10 free copies of your book. Limit 1200
words. Cats have always been considered companions and playmates that brighten our days and enrich our lives. What would we do without them? They are also wonderful and amazing teachers. The lessons we learn from our feline friends come in all shapes and sizes, just like they do. Tell us the new thing your feline friend has taught you. CHICKEN SOUP - CALL ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline January 31, 2025. We want to hear how you celebrate your holidays. Please submit your true stories about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year's festivities too. If your story is chosen, you will receive a check for $250 and 10 free copies of your book. Limit 1200 words. THISTLEDOWN PRESS
https://thistledownpress.com/submissions/
Thistledown is committed to publishing literary work of exceptional merit, including novels, short story collections, creative non-fiction, and collections of poetry that we find irresistible. We will consider YA novels
and—occasionally—books for younger children. We only publish Canadian authors, and acknowledge a preference for Western Canadian voices. UNBRIDLED BOOKS
http://unbridledbooks.com/about/
Unbridled Books is a premier publisher of works of rich literary quality that appeal to a broad audience. We want to be able to continue our longtime
discussion about what allows a novel to touch our hearts and our minds at once. And we want our readers, booksellers, and reviewers to trust that when they pick up an Unbridled book, we’re inviting them to enjoy that rarest of pleasures, a good read. 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. | |
|
|
|
