VOLUME 25, ISSUE 16 | april 18, 2025 |
WHAT IS WRITING TO YOU? And is it different to your reader? To most new writers I meet who are attempting to publish a story, what they are doing is all about story. "Listen to this," and they launch into what their story is
about. Then they ask if it's a good idea. "What do you think?" I tell them I don't know. Depends on how it is written. If you ask a reader what makes for a good book, they would tell you the story is key, when in reality, it is not about the story. It's about how the story is told. The reader doesn't realize that. If the story is told wonderfully with careful selection of
words and voice, visuals and strong development, a magic allows the story to come through with personality and power. If a writer doesn't drill down and understand what real storytelling is, in an attempt to master word choice and style, they fall short. And the reader doesn't feel the story. Everyone has a story. Not everyone can tell it well. The good writer sees
that, and works on being unique in HOW the story is delivered and continuously sharpens their craft.
|
There's a reason writers throughout history have felt the call to travel, spend time in nature, and immerse themselves in unfamiliar territory. Research shows that all of these boost creativity and help move ideas to the page. And that's what Compass Writers' small-group walk-and-write retreats are all about. Join us for our 2025 Women's Walk & Write Retreat September 20-29, 2025, starting in Melrose,
Scotland, and writing across 70 miles to land on Holy Island, England. This retreat moves along gorgeous St. Cuthbert's Way, an ancient pilgrimage path through Scotland's lush borderlands. Together, we'll walk, write, play with other creative forms, and see where the challenges, sites, and wildlife along the way take us. Grounded in
the Amherst Writers & Artists method, women writers of all levels are welcome. Limited to 6 writers for an intimate experience. Registration closes on May 30, 2025. To register online, simply go to September 20 on the
registration page calendar. For more information, email Cherylmurfin@gmail.com. THE WORLD TO A WRITER
Last week I mentioned keeping ones senses and awareness open for material for your writing. Not only will it make your writing richer, but it will improve the quality of your life. The keenness of all that is
around you will matter to your whole being. This week, I was flipping through Facebook, in case I needed to respond to someone, when I came across someone saying goodbye to a dear friend. The description of the friend was long, but OMG, it caught in my throat. It was so in depth, frankly, that I printed it off. This was a character, fully fleshed out for me. The personality, appearance, laughter, loves, and friendships mentioned made
me wish I had known her. Yes, this was a character begging to be painted in one of my books. This is just one instance of how being open to suggestion can improve your writing and its ideas. I would post the description here, but I want to save it for the book. I can see her, hear her, and if she is that vivid in my mind, she merits placement in a story. Everything is fodder
for writing. Everything. Being a writer a hundred percent of the day gives so much meaning to my life. Especially when other parts are weighing me down. Falling back into writing puts my mind in a happy place. Honestly, I can see myself a doddering ninety years old, with half my faculties remaining, and sinking into one of my story worlds to be pleasantly happy.
-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 4, 2025 - Zoom, North Carolina Writers Network, "Contests: Fact and Fiction," 1PM Eastern -May 8, 2025 - Writer's Digest Webinar, Finding Funds for Writers, 1PM Eastern -May 13, 2025 - The Blake at Woodcreek Farms, talk on Edisto series, Elgin, SC - 1PM -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 -Sept 9, 2025 - Chapin Library, Chapin, SC -
1PM
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or
otherwise.
"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"
– Anne Frank <<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >>
|
|
|
Find Paying Opportunities Through Social Media
By Dawn Colclasure
Every day I keep my writing career strong by logging in to social media. I often use Facebook Messenger to communicate with other writers, but chats alone are not enough.
Your Profile
Just as a website must make a writer or author stand out
as an authority, so must a social media profile. For example, my social media profiles state that I am a freelance writer, author, newsletter publisher, book reviewer and editor. My Twitter/X profile notes I'm a disabled writer. An editor contacted me on there when looking for disabled writers to submit to an anthology. Include your link as well as hashtags with keywords specific to your specialty, such as #SEO or #Excel.
Group Chats
Personal group chats created on social media sites contain a selection of people with like interests, only drilled down more specific. I belong to many group chats; one for a publisher of my books, one for an
anthology I am submitting to, and one for writers seeking calls for submissions. These were all created by the respective editors who added me. A group chat in a social media message center can help you stay more on top of a discussion. It’s usually more detailed, more instant, and a reference point. Being in a group chat can help you stay informed of new calls for submissions if members share such information. If you don't belong to one, why not get together with other writers you know online
to see if there's interest in creating one.
Groups
Many online groups share submission calls. Many Facebook group pages share submission or pitch calls. Writers who may find such opportunities take the time to post info and links about them. Try entering "writing opportunities" in the search bar for the groups feature to find them.
Here are just a few of those groups where you can find submission calls:
Call for paying
submissions
https://www.facebook.com/groups/294742160951311/
Open Submission Calls for Horror/Paranormal/Mystery/SciFi Writers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1510396739186469/
Open Submission Calls for Short Story Writers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/630538913722930/
Anthology Submissions
https://www.facebook.com/groups/anthologysubmissions/
Editor Accounts
There are many editors on sites like X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky putting out calls for subs. Editors often share their call for specific types of work through their social media accounts. This was how I found one on Twitter/X, and sold the type of essay they were looking for. She later amended the post to include the link to my essay after it was published. You can follow editors or paying markets like @WomenWhoSubmit or @paidwritingopps to stay appraised of these posts. Find markets you like and invariably you’ll find editors with social media account where they post requests.
Search for Hashtags
Many social media sites have a search function. If you seek paying opportunities for writers or calls for submissions, use the search function and enter the hashtag before your search term. Editors, agents and publishers often use hashtags with
keywords when posting their calls for writers or submissions. Put this tool to use the next time you use the search on social media to find writing opportunities. You can try to find any posts with hashtags such as "pitch," "call for submissions" and "WritingCommunity." I have found many calls for submissions this way.
Social media offers many opportunities and value for working writers. Through group pages and editor accounts, writers can find calls for submissions and perhaps a
new writing gig. Peruse writing-related pages on social media to find ones which work for you.
BIO: Dawn Colclasure is a writer living in Oregon. She writes poetry, essays, articles, short stories and book reviews. She is the author and co-author of several books, among them Parenting Pauses: Life as a Deaf Parent and Burning the Midnight Oil: How we Survive as Writing Parents. Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, websites and anthologies. She
publishes the free monthly SPARREW newsletter for self-publishers, authors, readers, reviewers, editors and writers. https://dawnsbooks.com/ https://www.dmcwriter.com/. Twitter/X @dawnwilson325, Instagram at dawn10325, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authordawncolclasure/, BlueSky @dmcwriter.bsky.social, and on Amazon's Author Central https://www.amazon.com/author/dawncolclasure
|
EASTOVER PRIZE FOR A SHORT STORY COLLECTION
https://eastoverpresscutleafjournal.submittable.com/submit
Deadline May 1, 2025. Awarded to a writer
who has not published another full-length book. The winner of this contest will be awarded $2,000 and be offered publication by EastOver Press (after successful completion of a contract). Manuscripts should contain a collection of short stories, which can include flash fiction, and may include one novella. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 125 and no more than 250 pages. THE SOPHIE COE PRIZE
https://sophiecoeprize.wordpress.com/how-to-enter/
NO ENTRY FEE NOTED. Deadline April 25, 2025. Awarded annually to the author of an original, informative article or essay on any aspect of food history relating to any period, place, people or culture. Entries will normally range from 2,500 words up to a maximum total of 10,000 words including notes and
bibliography. The Prize in 2025 will be £1,500. RALPH ANGEL POETRY PRIZE
https://www.foundlingspress.com/news/category/Contests
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 1, 2025. The winner of the Ralph Angel Poetry Prize will receive $250 and publication of a
limited-edition run of letterpress broadsides of the winning poem designed by Foundlings Press printmaker and book artist in residence Talia Ryan. Limit one poem. BAEN FANTASY FICTION AWARD
https://www.baen.com/contest-faa
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 30, 2025. Write and submit a
short story of no more than 8,000 words. It must be a work of fantasy, though all fantasy genres are open, e.g. epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, sword and sorcery, contemporary fantasy, etc. WRITER'S DIGEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARDS
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards
$125 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 1, 2025. One Grand Prize winner will receive $10,000, an interview in Writer’s Digest (March/April 2026 issue) and on WritersDigest.com, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a special trophy presentation at the keynote, a coveted pitch opportunity where the winner will receive one on one attention from editors or
agents, publication of an excerpt from their winning book on WritersDigest.com. First place $1,000 in cash. Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Nonfiction/Reference (General Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Guidebooks, Textbooks, How-To, etc.), Inspirational/Self-Help, Memoirs/Life Stories (Biographies, Autobiographies, Family Histories), Early Readers/Children’s Picture books, Middle-Grade/Young Adult. The competition is open to all English-language self-published books for which the authors have
paid the full cost of publication, or the cost of printing has been paid for by a grant or as part of a prize.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING LET CREATIVITY HAPPEN (HOUSTON)
https://files.haatx.com/grants/2025_Let_Creativity_Happen_Grant.pdf
Deadline April 22, 2025. The Let
Creativity Happen (LCH) grant category provides funds of up to $2,500 for specific programs that amplify artistic creativity and innovation taking place in the City of Houston. Let Creativity Happen grants are designed to encourage artists, creative individuals, and organizations to take creative risks that may not qualify for more traditional funding opportunities. Awards will support innovative ideas that redefine artistic boundaries, reshape the conversation about art and art experiences,
and/or establish unique opportunities to experience art. ARTIST SUPPORT GRANTS - NORTH CAROLINA
https://www.ncarts.org/grants-resources/grants/grants-artists/artist-support-grants
Artist Support Grants is a program funded by the N.C. Arts Council
to provide the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. These grants support professional artists in any discipline and at any stage in their careers to pursue projects that further their artistic and professional development. Contact the granting local arts council (see Application information) for details. Each NC region has different dates and amounts offered. REGIONAL ARTS COMMISSION ARTIST SUPPORT GRANTS - ST LOUIS, MO
https://racstl.org/artistsupport/
Deadline May 12, 2025. The Regional Arts Commission’s (RAC) Artist Support Grant (ASG) serves as funding for the career advancement of individual artists. This grant provides funds for an individual artist’s projects, needs, or creative
opportunities in a variety of artistic disciplines. The artist must be a current resident of St. Louis City or County and has maintained primary residence in St. Louis City or County for at least one year (documentation required). The maximum grant amount an individual artist can receive is $7,500. The maximum grant amount an artist collective/co-creator group can receive is $10,000. ARTISTS 360 - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
https://artists360.art/about/
Artists receive practice-based monetary awards to advance their artistic careers. These practice-based grants allow the individual artists to select how best to use the funding in support of their self-determined goals for success. Funds may be used for any purpose that supports the continued development of their creative practice,
including but not limited to equipment, travel, studio space, child care, professional services, research, supplies, and contingency savings. SOUTHERN ARTS RECOVERY FUNDS
https://www.southarts.org/resources/southern-arts-relief-recovery-fund
Deadline
May 7, 2025. Led by South Arts in partnership with a range of organizations across the region, this fund supports artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Milton. Artists living and working in FEMA-designated impacted areas (FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, and VA) are eligible. Through this fund, artists who lost equipment or supplies due to the hurricanes can apply for a $2,000 grant to help them rebuild.
ADDITUDE
https://www.additudemag.com/contact-us/contributors-guidelines/
The editors of the ADDitude web site are always seeking fresh voices to tell the story of living and thriving with ADHD. We are looking for blog posts by
parents, adults with ADHD, educators, spouses, and experts. The best bloggers write about their personal experiences and share the strategies/tools that work best for them. Please send a 500- to 800-word sample blog post covering the topic you’d like to blog about. Pays $100-200. TC JEWFOLK
https://tcjewfolk.com/about/write-for-us/
Topics range from personal Jewish experiences, reviews of Jewish media, your search for the NJP (Nice Jewish Person) and much more. If you have a solid idea, we have the outlet. We appreciate community voices and happily pay our freelance writers $50-100 per article. Limit 500-700 words. THE FULLER PROJECT
https://fullerproject.org/pitch-us/
The Fuller Project pursues stories around issues that impact women. We don’t approach gender and women as beats per se—they are lenses through which we view politics and policy; the economy and labor; racial, social, and criminal justice; climate and environment; health and science; education and learning; violence and exploitation; and more. We are primarily
interested in stories that will raise awareness, have impact, and/or could spur accountability. We are not looking for profiles, essays, or op-eds. Has been known to pay up to $1/word. NACLA
https://nacla.org/write-nacla
We welcome contributions from academics, activists, students, and journalists
covering political and economic developments in Latin America and the Caribbean, issues affecting U.S. Latinx communities, and U.S. policy in the hemisphere. The following guidelines apply primarily to web submissions. The majority of articles for the print magazine are personally solicited. However, do look out for calls for proposals for future issues. Online articles are typically 1,200-1,500 words. The honorarium depends on the intensiveness of the reporting, ranging from $100-$200 depending
on the type of piece. TACO BELL QUARTERLY
https://tacobellquarterly.org/tbq8-call-bring-us-your-stacks-of-pages/
We are looking for prose, poetry, art, and beyond for our eighth issue, which will be available to read for free online, and to buy in print in the
late fall. We will pay $150. Yes, it can and should be about Taco Bell too, because that is the joke of the literary magazine, in which every piece has a recurring product placement. Because life might happen in a Taco Bell, or with a Taco Bell logo in the background for a moment. That moment of product placement may be chosen sincerely, sarcastically, however you see fit to tell your story and land in The Taco Bell Quarterly. The sweet spot we usually publish is 500-2500 words, but we’re open
to considering up to 4k words. TRACTOR BEAM
https://www.tractorbeam.earth/
Tractor Beam is a new quarterly speculative and science fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk: radical visions of hopeful futures built from the ground up. Our editorial mandate is to explore audacious and provocative
ideas around farming, food, earth science, and beyond, reimagining how humans can live more harmoniously with nature. For our second issue, themed "The Garden", we're seeking original written and graphic works set on a future Earth transformed by new approaches to soil. Literal or abstract, near term or on distant horizons: worlds can take inspiration from innovations or alternative practices in earth and material science, regenerative agriculture, food, microbiology, and more. Each story should
be a visionary proposal woven into a spectacular plot. We prefer submissions under 6000 words for writing or 16 panels for graphic novellas. Pitches and pencils are welcome. Please send all submissions to submissions@tractorbeam.earth . Tractor Beam pays $1,200.00 for all accepted submissions. Let's bring sci-fi down to earth–literally–and sow the seeds of a better tomorrow, today.
CLASH BOOKS
https://www.clashbooks.com/submission-guidelines
We love literary transgressive horror, character driven narratives with strong voices & stories that explore the boundaries of form. We are looking for horror, literary fiction
& nonfiction with an exciting cultural hook. We do publish poetry but are extremely selective. DEEP VELLUM
https://www.deepvellum.org/about
Deep Vellum has expanded its operations to encompass 5 distinct publishing imprints and to publish English-original books with a special focus on Dallas
writers. You can now find fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photography, and our signature translated literature among our books. As of 2020, approximately half of our published books are international works and half are English-original material. DOUGLAS & MCINTYRE
https://douglas-mcintyre.com/
Douglas & McIntyre is one of Canada’s pre-eminent independent book publishers, specializing in books of national interest including history, art, current affairs, Indigenous subjects, literary fiction and cookbooks. We publish predominately Canadian authors. IG PUBLISHING
https://www.igpub.com/about-ig/
Ig Publishing is a New York-based award-winning independent press dedicated to publishing original literary fiction and political and cultural nonfiction. Please take a look at our list before submitting, as we get far too many submissions that do not match up with the kind of books we publish. Our IgKids imprint publishes a curated list of middle grade and YA fiction. 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
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. | |
|
|
|
