VOLUME 25, ISSUE 12 | MARCH 21, 2025 |
WHO HAS TIME TO READ? I heard this line at a writers group, no less. This line is turning into a common remark that I hear each and every time I appear somewhere. I've heard it from
people you'd never imagine, too. Teachers, librarians, parents who wonder why their children don't read, and, yes, other writers. Who has time to read? The remark stuns me each and every time. You make time to read. Like you make time for anything else important. If your job involves books, reading, or learning, why are you holding yourself back? Why are you refusing
to better yourself? Why set the bad example? Why don't you want to read? Not to read tells yourself and those around you (ahem, parents and teachers) that it isn't important. You are setting the example that books are what you do when you don't have time for anything else. My grandson asked me just yesterday why I was reading a different book that day. We were on
our way to Ju Jitsu and I read in the lulls between lessons. I told him that I finished the last one. He asked how many books I read, and I said I try for one book every week or two. He was impressed. This is the child in our family who didn't take to reading easily. Made my day to impress him . . . about reading. If you hold a career or responsibility that should speak books, and you aren't actively practicing the art of reading
books, you are telling the world (and yourself) that you do not take books seriously. You make time for what is important. And writers . . . you ought always to be reading a book. Even when you are writing. Especially when you are writing. It greases the skids, so to speak.
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PIRACY OF BOOKS
A lot of writers are losing their minds about the article in The Atlantic about a pirate site illegally taking copies of titles, posting them, and letting Meta use them to train their AI program. The Authors Guild has already joined with publishers and the federal government in pursuing this. (See AG article here.) (quote from AG article) Legal action is already underway against Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, and other AI companies for using pirated books. If
your book was used by Meta, you’re automatically included in the Kadrey v. Meta class action in Northern California without needing to take any immediate action. The court is first deciding whether Meta broke copyright laws, with a decision expected this summer, before officially certifying everyone as a class. If your books have been pirated and used (you can tell on The Atlantic article where they have designed a place to search for your titles), you are already included in the lawsuit. I am reading all sorts of comments by authors. - Someone ought to do something.
- (Somebody already has. Read above again.)
- This is the
government's fault because it has been dismantled by Trump.
- (Um, big no. This predates Trump and has nothing to do with politics.)
- Who allowed this to happen?
- (Seriously? As long as there has been business entities, there has been graft, cons, and scams. Keeping up with the ups and downs of your profession is part of doing business.)
- I work too hard as it is. I might as well quit.
- (Honestly, go ahead. Nobody should coax
you one way or the other to write. This is a personal decision. If you think this blip is enough to break you, then by all means quit. There are plenty of other authors to take your place.)
If you feel you need something to do, then read this article posted yesterday by the Authors Guild. They give you a list of things you can do if you like. There's even a template to use if you want to write Meta and tell them to stop. But quit? Blame politics? Yelling into the void (or on social media) is a waste of your precious writing time. As for me, I'm just going to start another book. I'm not letting these idiots take that away from me. Is it worth my
while? Writing is always worth my while or I wouldn't do it.
The Art of the Novella, the third Wayward Wormhole for Craft-Minded Writers This year the workshops are in Barbados with instructors Tobias Buckell, Karen Lord, Premee Mohammed, and Cat Rambo, on February 7-21, 2026. Submissions open April 1. Fee is $2500 (does not include accommodations, food, or transportation costs).
Now in its third year, the Wayward Wormhole provides craft-focused workshops for fantasy, horror, and science fiction writers, always in a location that will inspire and delight. Find more details at https://www.catrambo.com/wormhole/
-March 22, 2025 - Writer's Digest Mystery/Thriller Writing Virtual Conference - "Person, Place, or Crime: Where to Start Your Mystery" - 1PM Eastern -March 29, 2025 - Book signing, The Coffee Shelf, 130 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin, SC - 8-11:30 AM. -March 29, 2025 - Read Freely Fest, Richland County Library, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC - 2:30 PM -April 10, 2025 - The Edisto Bookstore, Edisto Island, SC -
3-5 PM -April 23, 2025 - Artist 5 Show, Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC - 6 PM Eastern - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -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 - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -June 7-14, 2025 - Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise.
"Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourse of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness." – Helen Keller
Hi Hope,
I so appreciated the recent piece on older freelancers — great perspective. I also wanted to inform you that I placed second in Joan Dempsey's Page One 2024
contest because of your announcement in this newsletter. I highly recommend that those working on a novel submit to the contest this upcoming summer! Joan is wonderful and supportive of the novel-writing process. Thanks for the wonderful newsletter. I look forward to reading it each week. Best,
Kris Ann Valdez
https://krisannvaldez.com/
https://muckrack.com/kris-ann-valdez
<<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 I Turned a 210,000-Word, 18-Month Disaster into 30+ Articles, 2 Books (and More Money)
By Dan Brotzel
In 2021, I had the idea for a book in which I’d celebrate a different fake holiday every day for a year. (You know, Talk Like A Pirate Day, National Cabbage Day, Bubblewrap Appreciation Day and all the rest.) My publisher of the time loved the idea
and commissioned the book – to be called Awareness Daze – paying 50% of a small advance up front. I did the work, spending a grueling but fascinating year doing silly things and finding out about all sorts of worthy causes. My first draft came in at 210k words which, unsurprisingly, my publisher wanted to cut in half. That took me several more months. But it was all good: the book was scheduled for publication, we had a marketing plan and a great cover design, and I even sold
an article to a national paper about my silly challenge. Then, about three weeks before going to press, my publisher went into liquidation. End of book, no more advance. All the interest generated by the article fizzled away. After a few days of stewing, I tried to salvage something from the debacle. I approached various other publishers but no joy. But then, out of the blue, I was approached by another publisher who was signing up some of the authors from
the bankrupt publisher’s stable. They agreed to re-issue one of my novels, but as for Awareness Daze… sorry, but we only do fiction. I said: What if I re-wrote it as a novel? Sounds good, they said. So I sat down and wrote Thank You For The Days, a romantic comedy about a hapless bloke who sets himself the challenge of celebrating a different fake holiday every day. The new book was acquired and came out in December 2024. Then I remembered that my original
manuscript of 210k was full of lots of stories and items that might make interesting pieces of content in themselves. I put together about 20 ideas for articles which I have since published in various publications on Medium and in local magazines to promote the new book. There are at least a dozen more to come. A piece I wrote on Medium about my year-long challenge made a decent bit, was featured in Medium’s own newsletter, and has since led to another big site asking to reprint the
piece. Next, I suddenly remembered that my original publisher had also managed to secure an audiobook deal (with a different company) for Awareness Daze. I’d assumed this deal would now be dead as there was now no print edition in the works, but I thought I'd find out for certain. It took several months trying to track down the right person, but I finally got an answer: they were still happy to go ahead. So Awareness Daze is out there now too, in audiobook form at least. (Not in the US yet.) And I’m still writing new pieces and making more money from that original disappointment. It was difficult to face the prospect of all that time and effort going to waste, but this journey has taught me a few things. First, not to be consumed by disappointment. Feel what you
feel but don’t be paralysed by despair. Persistence comes with the territory. Second, always look for ways to reuse and re-purpose work in your locker. Just because work is rejected in one place doesn't mean there aren't lots of other possible outlets for it. And remember that every piece you write is also a networking opportunity. You never know what other doors it might open. Above all, we keep going. As James Baldwin said: 'Talent is insignificant. I
know a lot of talented ruins. Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck, but most of all, endurance.’ BIO - Dan Brotzel’s latest novel is Thank You For The Days
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THE LOVELIEST REVIEW FELLOWSHIP (ACTUALLY A CONTEST)
https://www.theloveliestreview.com/the-loveliest-fellowship
Deadline April 1, 2025. The
Loveliest Review Fellowship is open to all seven genres—Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Drama, Photography, Art and Reviews. Only one winner will be selected from the seven genres. 2025 Theme: Justice. Winner receives $1,000 and digital publication. In one to three pages, describe how your work sample correlates with our present theme, your intentions and goals as an artist, and how you and your work may benefit from this fellowship. BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm#qualifications
Deadline May 31, 2025. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the literary tradition of
the Nero Wolfe series. The mystery should be “traditional” in flavor. The crime must be solved using the deductive abilities of the sleuth. No coincidences. The killer must be known to the victim. No random psycho shootings. The characters (male or female) must have an engaging relationship. There needs to be some wit. The timing could be retro or current. There should be no explicit sex or violence. Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length, and submitted by the deadline. The prize is
$1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. OMNIDAWN POETRY BROADSIDE PRIZES
https://www.omnidawn.com/contests/omnidawn-poetry-contests/
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 16, 2025. The winner of each of Omnidawn’s poetry book and chapbook
contests wins $1,000, publication of the book by Omnidawn with a full color cover (unless the author prefers black and white), 20 free copies of the winning book, and extensive publicity through our newsletters and social media channels. There are no citizenship requirements or limitations. F(R)ICTION SPRING WRITING CONTESTS
https://frictioncontests.submittable.com/submit
$10-$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline: May 2, 2025. Short stories: 1,001 – 7,500 words. Poetry: up the three pages per poem. Creative Nonfiction: up to 6,500 words. Flash fiction: up to 1,000 words per piece. We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Writers over the age
of thirteen are welcome to submit. Prizes range from $300 to $1,000, depending on the genre. EYE CONTACT AWARD IN FLASH FICTION
https://sites.google.com/setonhill.edu/eyecontact/guidelines/genre-flash-fiction-prize
NO NOTED ENTRY FEE. Deadline
April 4, 2025. Current theme: Experience. Current genre: Historical Fiction. Submit the best genre story that lands 1000 words or less by the deadline — and that also fits the theme — and you could not only be accepted into the magazine but win a cash prize (or gift card equivalent) of $250. This prize is sponsored by Seton Hill University and its unique MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction, where students earn a graduate diploma for writing a novel in fantasy, romance,
mystery, science fiction, horror, and young adult genres.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING MARGUERITE AND LAMAR SMITH FELLOWSHIP
https://www.columbusstate.edu/mccullers-center/#academic-opportunities
Deadline April 1, 2025.
The Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians awards these fellowships for writers to study in her childhood home in Columbus, Georgia. The fellowships are intended to afford the writers in residence uninterrupted time to focus on their work, free from the distractions of daily life and other professional responsibilities. The fellow is provided with a stipend of $5,000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. Fellowship recipients are encouraged to take an active
role in the community and to meet informally with students and local residents interested in writing. The fellow will work with the McCullers Center director to plan a presentation near the end of the residency. PEN AMERICAN US WRITERS AID INITIATIVE
https://pen.org/us-writers-aid-initiative/
Deadline April 1, 2025. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency
situation. PEN AMERICAN LOS ANGELES WILDFIRE EMERGENCY GRANT
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNSTEOSvjBCvqAyBAcn2PIAwAdJ0fYAzD0tBgznboC22Jy8g/viewform
This emergency grant program under the auspices of the U.S. Writers Aid
Initiative is designated for those whose homes or creative livelihoods were impacted by the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. Must be PEN America members with active membership status. Grants will be between $500 and $1,000. ARTIST RETREAT NEW YORK MILLS
https://www.kulcher.org/programs/artist-retreat/
Deadline April 1, 2025. The Arts Retreat artist residency program of the Cultural Center in New York Mills focuses on providing dedicated artists time for creative development and exploration. The program offers a unique taste of life in rural Minnesota while allowing the artists virtually uninterrupted time in which to immerse themselves in their artwork. We provide stays of two to six weeks for artists at
NO COST for room (solo occupancy of a one-bedroom house and access to studio space in our Cultural Center). Each artist provides her or his own transportation and board. There is no stipend. LINDA ALLEN SCHOLARSHIP TO BOOK PASSAGE CONFERENCE
https://www.bookpassage.com/mystery-writers-conference-linda-allen-scholarship-donation-page
Deadline April 1, 2025. The scholarship is open to anyone trying to break into the craft, who has not yet been published by traditional publishing. methods. Also to those who have never attended a Book Passage conference or who have attended not more than once. Location San Francisco, CA. THE OPEN NOTEBOOK
https://www.theopennotebook.com/submissions-guidelines/
The Open Notebook is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides tools and resources to help journalists who cover science, health, and the environment
sharpen their skills. We publish stories about the craft of science journalism. We do not publish stories about an area of scientific research or interviews with scientists about their science. Send a brief (no more than 500 words) query letter describing your idea, what makes it right for The Open Notebook, and how you plan to approach the story. $1,800 for interviews (assigned at 1,500-2,000 words). $2,400 for reported features (assigned at 1,500-2,000 words). YOUTH TODAY
https://youthtoday.org/pitch-guidelines-for-journalists-andphotojournalists/
Youth Today and our affiliate site JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) welcome pitches on topics related to youth and young adults in the United States. We publish written, audio
and visual journalism. We’re looking for rigorously reported stories that center youth voices and hold public institutions and policymakers accountable or shed new light on issues facing young people. If you’re looking to publish an essay based solely on your opinions, please see our guest opinion essay guidelines. We generally pay about $1/word for reported stories (most fall within 800-1,200 words) and $500 for the occasional Q&A with newsmakers and other less densely reported
assignments. BBC TRAVEL
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20160106-bbc-travel-author-brief
BBC Travel is a feature section within BBC.com that offers high-quality stories about destinations around the world that aim to amaze, immerse, inspire and connect. BBC
Travel is targeted at curious, passionate readers who want to learn about the world as much as they want to travel there. They are professional, aspirational and intelligent. They are more concerned with the value of an experience than its price. Please submit a title (max 39 characters) and a short synopsis (50-100 words) briefly explaining the chosen topic/theme/angle, why you think it would work on the site, why it is relevant to our audience, how is it ‘shareable’ and why you should be
writing the story, etc. Pays up to 50 cents/word. FATHOM
https://fathomaway.com/editorial/
We focus on places we like, writers we trust, and stories that move us. We seek authentic, charming, and memorable experiences wherever we go. We travel spontaneously and deliberately. We combine business
with pleasure and familiarity with curiosity. We love new discoveries and old classics. Pays up to 50 cents/word. RANGE
https://www.rangetravel.com/contribute-to-range
We’re looking for engaging, thoughtful, and well-researched stories that transport readers to new destinations,
reveal hidden gems, and offer practical tips. Pays around $450. HORIZON GUIDES
https://horizonguides.com/journalists
Horizon Guides is a celebration of extraordinary travel. Our readers come to us to learn about the people, places and experiences that take us beyond our comfort zone and expand
our understanding of the world. We work with leading travel journalists, guidebook authors and other destination experts to provide insider recommendations about places that the mainstream tourism industry doesn’t want to talk about. There are two main commission types for Horizon Guides: features for The Journal, or in-depth travel guides. We pay anywhere from £200+ for features and upwards of £400+ for guides, all depending on length. GEIST
https://www.geist.com/submission/submit
Geist is a magazine of ideas and culture with a strong literary focus and a sense of humour. Each issue represents a convergence of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photography, comics, reviews, little-known facts of interest, cartography and the legendary Geist crossword puzzle. Our mandate is to
publish emerging and established writers and artists from across Canada, bringing them to a wide audience. Geist is always seeking short non-fiction (around 800-1500 words, flexible), typically personal narrative, for the Notes & Dispatches section. Pay is $300-500. Longer non-fiction pieces (up to 5000 words) are published as Features. We pay up to $1000. We’re interested in comics that are weird, funny, unexpected or experimental. We pay $120 per page. We publish short stories (up to 5000
words) in the Features section. We usually publish one story per issue, so please send only your best work. We pay up to $1000. Send a maximum of 5 poems. We pay $100 per page.
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
https://www.tuttlepublishing.com/become-an-author
Tuttle has been a leader in publishing books on all aspects of Asia for over 70 years. We publish books in many different categories which you may view by browsing our
website. We work with hundreds of talented authors, illustrators, photographers and designers all around the world and we are always happy to receive new book proposals. TORREY HOUSE PRESS
https://www.torreyhouse.org/submissions
We are interested in great writing that engages intimately with
place, the natural world, or issues that link the American West and the future of the ever-changing Earth. We're particularly drawn to work in which landscape and environmental issues are drivers of idea development, plot, or character. AMBER BOOKS
https://www.amberbooks.co.uk/contact-us/contributor-guidelines/
Amber Books produces illustrated non-fiction books in a wide range of formats and subject areas for an international audience. We are particularly interested in submissions on military topics, but not exclusively so, and welcome good ideas on any non-fiction subject suitable for treatment as an illustrated book. We do not publish fiction, biography or poetry in any form. ARCADIA
https://www.arcadia-books.co.uk/landing-page/arcadia-submissions/
Arcadia proudly accepts unsolicited fiction submissions. If you wish to submit, please email the first 10,000 words, or the first three chapters of your novel to submissions@arcadia-books.co.uk We will only accept submissions that can be categorized as Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror. Your work must contain some element of the speculative or the fantastical in order to be considered.
The manuscript must be complete at the time that you submit it to us.
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 2000-2025, 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
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