VOLUME 24, ISSUE 42 | octoBER 11, 2024 |
DON'T HURRY YOUR
WRITING In the last three weeks, I've been asked to look at four books that came with great story ideas and very nice premises. The covers immediately hollered self-publishing, but, hey, there's great writing in self-published books. I gave up that prejudice a long time ago. Truth be told, I'm still reading two of them, so that also speaks to the writing. One of those two, however, is formatted horribly. Double spacing between paragraphs and 1.5 spacing between lines. Paragraphs that go on for whole pages, which scream a need for editing. Dialogue without beats and tags that get in the way. Loads of telling versus showing in a story with vast potential for great visuals. The story, however, is incredibly remarkable. I kept thinking what a waste of a grand tale, because the
numerous errors in writing got in my way of reading. The other book I'm reading is beautifully formatted. It entices me to read a story that doesn't necessarily draw me in. Attention to detail gives the story some sense of promise. In the other two that I ceased reading, I could hear the author
trying too hard to be an author. Too many mistakes. Too much in need of editing. A strong sense of getting through a first draft, some quick editing, then voila, publication. I cannot say this enough. Do not rush publication. Do not rush editing. Be willing to let someone rip you up with edits, then study hard what they had to say. Because when you have this fantastic story, then shortcut
putting it together, you handicap yourself when it comes to sales, and you forever ruin a story that might need telling. The average reader might not instantly recognize what makes a book difficult to read because they aren't in the business. But they can definitely quit reading, tell others how bad the book was, and remember what author not to read again in the future. |
IDEAS Move yourself outside your normal daily routine every once in a while, notebook in hand, and pay attention. Ideas climb in your lap, and hopefully you write them
down. This week I am at Edisto Beach, between books, seeking big and little ideas for book 13. I sat chatting with family, friends, and even strangers a time or two, and listened. I even asked them to give me book ideas. Others I just let talk about Edisto Beach. I have a page of ideas that to the average person are nothing, but to me are dribbles of things from dialogue to whole scenes to a decent
plot for another novel. The idea for a novel was a pure joke, tossed around the porch overlooking the beach. I mean, it was us being crazy about wild ideas that made us laugh, but once things slowed down, I studied my notes, connected dots, and formed the basis for a tale. The point is to see the whole
world as a story. You can observe or you can ask for opinions on what you should write next. You can talk over dinner or you can eavesdrop at the local bar. The world is wide open with creativity. Steal it. Use it. Become a fulltime writer, at least in your head, seeing everything as potential. $5,000 Fiction | $5,000 Nonfiction | $5,000 Poetry Winners receive a cash prize, publication in the Spring 2025 issue of the Missouri Review, and promotion across our social media
channels. Guidelines - Submit one piece of fiction or nonfiction up to 8,500 words or any number of poems between 6 to 12 pages. Please double-space fiction and nonfiction entries.
- Multiple submissions and simultaneous submissions are welcome, but you must pay a separate fee for each entry and withdraw the piece
immediately if accepted elsewhere.
- Entries must be previously unpublished.
- Standard Entry fee: $25. Each entrant receives a one-year subscription to the Missouri Review in digital format (normal price $24) and a digital copy of the latest title in our imprint, Missouri Review Books, a short story anthology by former contributors (normal price $7.95).
- "All Access" Entry fee: $30. In addition to the one-year digital
subscription to the Missouri Review and TMR Books e-book, Life Support: Stories of Health & Medicine, entry fee grants access to the last 10 years of digital issues and the audio recordings of each digital issue.
-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.
"Instead of looking at the past, I put myself ahead 20 years and try to look at what I need to do now in order to get there then."
—Diana Ross
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >>
|
|
|
(WRITING) TRUE CRIME PAYS
By Alex J. Coyne True crime is an interesting topic, and the niche is more multifaceted than a diamond. Authors with a knack for research and interviewing could make this genre their best friend. I’ve written about crime scene cleaning and true crimes,
interviewed reformed criminals, and learned about law. Here’s how (writing) true crime pays. Crime Scene Cleaning: A First Feature Sells My crime writing fascination started by interviewing Crime Scene Solutions (People Magazine), finding out that true crime is about co-operation between police departments, investigators, cleanup crews, and other law enforcement branches. Crime authors cover crimes, but also effects, impact, cases, and resulting industries. You’ll never tire of the intrigue, and there’s always something new to pitch. Second, I sold Cold Cases (People Magazine), investigating infamous South African crimes. For this article, I researched intensively, and tracked down Flippie van Rooyen, the son of notorious child-abductor
Gert. Knowing the Law While writing The 18 Rules of Journalism for Writers Write, I made the 13th rule this: Know the
law. It’s especially true within criminal and justice-related writing, even fiction where your characters must appear to have real procedural background. I have copies of the Criminal Procedure Act and laws against human trafficking, as well as databases like Justia and Lawcator.org bookmarked for reference. True crime writers should research relevant laws, case studies, and forensic technologies. Join
newsletters and watch press releases, like the US Department of Justice, Forensic Mag, and the South African Police Service’s newsroom. Using Justice and Law Enforcement Resources Create a folder with law enforcement resources, newspapers, and archives. I’ve used the South African Police Services newsroom, the FBI news site, the local court system for case lookups, and newspapers like News24. Every country has similar links, like FindLaw CaseLaw for the United
States, Interpol’s website for international data, and Legislation.co.uk. Cover news from
an unbiased viewpoint, choose responsible angles, and never interfere with open investigations by publishing anything without resources backing up your words or giving approval. Successful crime authors know where to reach top law enforcement officials, and their press departments, and become familiar with them for repeat contact. Knowing Law Enforcement Plus
Procedure Develop a relationship with local law enforcement. Attend open days for the public, note their details, and make an appointment for a tour of the station -- see procedures in action, and watch how law enforcement and courts get to work. Courts will also let authors sit in, and a walk through the courtroom library is a learning experience worth lifetimes of knowledge
for authors seeking inspiration. Law enforcement contacts will also, sometimes, share important information about their industry. For example, I noticed a call for new recruits, and wrote about it for The South African (Careers in the police). Covering Legal Changes and Laws Cover legal changes and current laws as a crime writer. Mainstream publications prefer (1) legal explanations for everyday readers (e.g. “Catfished: Potential signs of a romance scammer” for The South African, (2) summaries of new laws and their impact (e.g. “SASSA fraud remains a criminal offense” on MSN), or (3) human interest pieces (e.g. “I Survived a Kidnapping” for People Magazine). Niche law
publications prefer (1) in-depth or industry legal coverage, (2) industry information pertinent to careers. For example, LitNet’s legal section, or the internally-published SAPS Journal for law enforcement officials. I covered important changes in restraining order law (LitNet, 2023),
and wrote about complaints against lawyers (The South African, 2023) with in-depth legal coverage and industry information in mind. Covering Current Crime Breaking news, criminal psychology, and syndicates are hard-hitting topics. Write with care, because crime writing often attracts criminal attention -- and while illegal, criminals can easily sneak a phone into prison to let you know
their thoughts or feelings. Cover current crime, like the country’s top enforcement officials (MSN), or information about dating app syndicates warning readers about their techniques. However, make your social media profiles private instead of public. Learn to use the Report and Block buttons on social media websites like Facebook, X.com, and TikTok. Report suspicious activities or threatening messages to the law, and always keep copies. Pitching Insider’s Perspectives Publications often buy interviews and insider’s perspectives, because the “whys” behind crime fascinates people. Look
for biographies (like “Escape from Pretoria” by Tim Jenkin) and speakers like reformed banking fraudster and speaker Brad
Sadler for inspiration. I covered Brad Sadler, a convicted, reformed banking scammer’s story for A Fraudster Confesses, and always keep my ears to the
ground for more stories to tell. A casual conversation is always a contact, a reference, or a story. I also wrote about Cryptocurrency Fraud (The Citizen) and Money Laundering (MSN), revealing techniques (and how to avoid them) to readers. True crime writing is rewarding, it informs its readers, it documents important events and stories, and sometimes it can even provide insight or justice
through writing. Bio: 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.
|
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. WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING FALL 2024 FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline November 30, 2024. Seeking short fiction of any genre between 250 and 750 words. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. Limit 300 entries. First Place: $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. Second Place: $300, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. Third Place: $200, publication, interview and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. Seven Runners Up
receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication and interview. Ten Honorable mentions receive $20 Amazon Gift Card. Top 10 stories are published in the WOW! Women On Writing e-zine, and contestants are interviewed on WOW's blog, The Muffin. WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION ESSAY CONTEST
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php#EssayContest
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2024. Seeking creative nonfiction on any topic (1000 words or less) and in any style from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hermit crab. The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an
understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Open internationally. Limit 300 entries. First Place: $500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store. Second Place: $300, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store. Third Place: $200, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store. Seven Runners Up receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards, publication, interview, and
gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store. Ten Honorable mentions receive a gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store. EVARISTO PRIZE FOR POETRY
https://africanpoetrybf.unl.edu/contest-prizes/evaristo-prize-for-african-poetry/
NO ENTRY FEE NOTED. Deadline November 1, 2024. $1,500 awarded to ten poems written by an African poet. The Prize is open to African writers. An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African. Only poems written in English can be
considered, but we welcome poems in translation for consideration too. Manuscripts of 10 poems, no more and no less. Poems must be the original work of the entrant and be no longer than 40 lines each. F(r)ICTION CONTESTS
https://frictionlit.org/contests/
$10-15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2024. Categories are short story, poetry, and flash fiction. FICTION: First prize receives $1,000 and will be considered for publication in F(r)iction, our triannual print collection or through our online blog F(r)iction Log. Up to five finalists will be considered for publication too. FLASH: First prize receives $300 and will be considered
for publication. POETRY: First prize receives $300 and will be considered for publication. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING 2025 "MISS SARAH" FELLOWSHIP FOR BLACK WOMEN WRITERS
https://www.trilliumartsnc.org/writing-fellowships-guidelines
Deadline November 15, 2024. The
fellowships aims to provide Black women writers a restful environment conducive to reflection and writing. It also offers uninterrupted, independent time to plant the seed of an idea for a new writing project or to develop or complete a project underway. For 2025 the Fellowship will focus on the genre of Poetry. The selected writer will receive a ten-day solo residency in July 2025 and can choose whether to stay at Trillium Arts' rural "Firefly Creek" apartment in Mars Hills, NC or at E. Patrick
Johnson and Stephen Lewis' "Montford Manor" residence near downtown Asheville, NC. Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend and transportation to and from Asheville, NC. MISSISSIPPI MINI-GRANTS
https://arts.ms.gov/grants/
Deadline
November 1, 2024. Individual Mini-Grants can provide up to $500 in reimbursements, and organizations can receive $200 to $1,000 for artist fees or staff development—with a dollar-for-dollar cash match required. MISSISSIPPI ROSTER APPLICATIONS
http://arts.ms.gov/grants/grants-for-individuals/mississippi-artist-roster-application-process/
Deadline November 1, 2024. The Mississippi Artist Roster is also open for new artist applications. This is your opportunity to join a network of professional artists available for performances, workshops, and
more across the state, getting paid by the Commission to appear.
EATEN
https://www.eatenmagazine.com/
Deadline October 16, 2024. Please send your pitches to Emelyn Rude, Founder and Editor in Chief at hello@eatenmagazine.com with PITCH No. 22 somewhere in the subject line. Pays $400 per story. The theme for this volume is "tech." Looking for stories that will be between 1000 and 1500 words in their final form, are historical in nature, and can be tied to the theme in some way (puns and unusual takes are always welcome). SHADO MAGAZINE
https://shado-mag.com/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYKML-2NalOIn7YLmkoW2zgzb4sDJTWOqLyqsdr5UAwjx_wA/viewform
Deadline October 21, 2024. We re-open our mentorship scheme for under-represented, unpublished writers looking to gain journalism experience. This programme provides first-time writers with in-depth support from pitch to publication with their first piece of published writing, on the topic of their choice. During the process you
will not only be able to workshop your pitch, but also work closely with mentors from shado’s global network on your piece, and choose an artist from shado’s network to create imagery to be published with it on our site. You will receive a fee of £100 on completion of your piece. THE MARGINS
https://aaww.org/the-margins/
The Margins is open year-round to pitches and submissions of critical essays on Asian American literature, film, visual art, and culture. We specifically seek essays that—through close engagement with art—might challenge the Asian American community to think or act in a new way. Send pitches of up to 500 words or drafts from 1,500-3,000 words to Spencer Quong, criticism editor, at criticism@aaww.org. Known to pay up to $450 per article. TEXAS MONTHLY
https://www.texasmonthly.com/about/story-submissions/
Every story we publish has a strong Texas focus and/or features Texans. We’re looking for well-reported stories of varying lengths, as well as visual stories, essays, and thoughtful commentary. We value great storytelling, humor, vivid characters, distinctive voices, and fresh perspectives. We’re particularly interested in stories from outside of Austin, where we’re based. Our standard print rate is $1/word. LUNATE
https://www.lunate.co.uk/
Deadline October 20, 2024. For this edition, we are looking for written pieces of 2,000 - 10,000 words. One piece only per writer. There is no theme for this volume. Fiction: we don’t publish genre/commercial fiction (eg action, fantasy, YA, romance),
or work that features sexual violence. Essays: we’re looking for work that lands largely within the realm of personal memoir and offers a compelling angle on the chosen subject. Email your work as an editable Word doc attachment to submissions@lunate.co.uk. FREELANCE ARTICLE WRITERS NEEDED
Email: info@myhouseofdesign.com
We're seeking professional writers for articles, infographics, and blog posts. We need someone with an expressive writing tone, professional demeanor, sound research capability, and the ability to communicate clearly. Someone who can inject humor into their writing is a definite plus. You will be provided with topics, directions, samples, and scope. This freelance, remote position pays 12 cents/word
(length between 700-1400 words). To apply, please send a resume and two of your best business writing samples to info@myhouseofdesign.com (subject line: Freelance Writer Opportunity.) Please note that your application will only be considered with the requested samples.
FAIR WINDS PRESS
https://www.quarto.com/Fair-Winds-Press
Fair Winds Press publishes instructional books in a range of categories, including nutrition and cookery, fitness, parenting, beauty,
treating sickness, mental health, and using new medicine. If you have a book idea in one of our focus areas that you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear it. FLYING EYE BOOKS
https://flyingeyebooks.com/about-flying-eye/
Flying Eye Books is an award-winning children’s publisher based in East London, UK. Many of our own titles are translated into several languages and we are proud to count the most prestigious international publishing houses as our licensing partners, from Paris to Seoul. DUNDURN PRESS
https://www.dundurn.com/resources/submissions
An independent and Canadian-owned publisher of contemporary trade fiction and non-fiction. Currently accepting literary fiction and literary non-fiction such as memoir. Also accepting non-fiction across numerous genres including: biography, history, especially Canadian and social history, public policy, politics, business and
economics, true crime, self-help and well being, supernatural, Canadiana and local interest, travel, sport, music and culture, city building and architecture, social science, popular science. NOT accepting the following genres: poetry, children's and YA.
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. | |
|
|
|
