VOLUME 25, ISSUE 27 | july 4, 2025 |
TIMES ARE A CHANGIN' I'm beginning to see and feel the change in the freelancing industry. While I can find a lot of writing jobs, they are morphing. Freelancing is more than about writing copy now. It's about being knowledgeable, flexible, and open-minded. 1) Being a niche writer matters more and more. Publishers want experts and intelligent people who can make suggestions, not just get a topic and write. Those writers are more appropriate for writing mills. 2) You should demonstrate other knowledge like SEO, AI, social media, podcasting, and branding. You should bring more than wordsmithing to the table. 3) You must have an online presence. If you cannot market yourself, how can you write words that market someone else? A publisher/editor should be able to find you online and be impressed. 4) Define what makes you different and the right choice to write what you propose. The writing world is flooded, and publishers/editors have a sea of options. AI is
fast becoming the go-to for low-income business. What you did ten years ago no longer carries you. Be versatile and keep up with the times. You don't necessarily have to become a videographer atop your writing, but at least consider writing for podcasts, blogs, and social media. . . more than just an article. And you might check out Patreon, Substack, and Medium. Just saying... |
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Own your story. Keep every word and every reward. YOUR NAME IS IMPORTANT
Someone pitched me an article this week, and while the idea sounded decent, I declined based upon his online presence...or lack of one. He told me
he could send his CV and a list of articles he has done, but they were not online. He had a handful of articles with links. The problem arose when it came to demonstrating who he was. His photo looked like a blurred thirty-year-old passport photo. His only presence was on LinkedIn and even then only had 42 connections. His page graphic was a stock photograph, having nothing to do with who he was or what he did. Very very generic. These
days, that looks very very scammy. I tried to explain to him that when my readers read his writing, it reflects on me in having chosen him. When they click on his link and reach a questionable presence, that reflects on me. Keep in mind that writing an article is more than just about the topic matter. It's about the reputation of the writer and the reputation of the
publication. The following are the considerations of an article being selected: 1) Is the article well written?
2) Is the topic pertinent to the reader with strong take-away value?
3) Is the writer reputable (i.e., online presence)?
4) Will the reader be able to research the writer for more information?
5) Will the publisher benefit from the reader's reach?
6) Is the contracted article equally beneficial for both
writer and publisher? It is about more than a writer selling words and getting a check. When you pitch, remember: 1) It's about the fit of the article.
2) It's about the fit of the writer.
3) It's about the benefit of the publisher.
4) It's about the benefit of the reader. The last factor is it being for
the benefit of the writer.
A Request from Hope: Writers everywhere, please consider taking this survey : How Much Do Writers Earn? Results will appear in Writer's Digest
later this year. Thanks so much for helping writers manage what to charge to earn a living. (Feel free to share.) https://s.surveyplanet.com/685b3d39e93316a6f9a4cd72 -Sept 9, 2025 - Chapin Library, Chapin, SC - 1PM
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise. The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
~Buddha
<<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 "Almosts" Can Help Get a Writer Noticed
By Barbara Weddle As freelance writers, we know to include a bio with our queries or pitches—one that provides links to published pieces and that aligns with the type of submissions a magazine is looking for. There is something else we need to consider adding to our bios or pitches—"Almosts." Almosts are what I refer to as submissions
(mainly those to literary magazines) that have not made the final cut in a contest, nomination, or other but have earned an honorable mention or a place on a magazine's shortlist or longlist. These additions to your bio, website, or resume can prove invaluable in getting future literary assignments or having your completed submission noticed, especially for beginning writers. A shortlist is at the top of the hierarchy of Almosts. Once initial reviewers have determined which
entries are to be deleted from the competition altogether, an editor or team of reviewers decides which remaining entries are eligible for placement on a shortlist. A shortlist is a list of next-in-lines should the winner (or one of the winners in the case of more than one) drop out or be eliminated. An entrant's chronological place on a shortlist is, in turn, determined by its importance or suitability. A longlist is second in the hierarchy of Almosts. It
is a list of runners-up from which the shortlist is obtained, and, like a shortlist, placement is decided according to its importance or suitability. The honorable mentions category is usually last in the hierarchy of Almosts. Think of this sequence of Almosts as the line of succession of a prince or princess to the throne. The oldest son or daughter of a king or queen is usually next in line of succession should the king or queen die or abdicate;
next in line would be the son or daughter of that king or queen in the order of their birth. And so on. The further down the line of succession, the less likely you are to become king or queen. It is the same with the hierarchy of Almosts. So, say your entry came in last in one of these categories. (My flash-fiction piece in CRAFT'S Dialogue Challenge was second to last in its Honorary Mention category. Even so, I was elated.) Coming in last or near last is still an
achievement, and it gives a reviewer or reviewers some indication of your writing ability when you submit your query, pitch, or completed piece. An Almost might also include an editor's praise of your writing ability even though the editorial team passed on publishing your submission or if your submission failed to come in as an Almost. We writers need encouragement and affirmation occasionally. An editor's praise can provide this. This praise can also be used in your bio;
however, don't prattle on and on about the praise you received, and be sure you can back up said praise with a link, PDF, or other if asked. When you submit to magazines, especially literary magazines, you are competing with submissions from all over the country and, often, the world. While your Almost or Almosts may initially get an editor's notice and get you a foot in the door, so to speak, you still have to provide exactly what you promised in your query or pitch. You also
have to provide an exceptional piece. Magazine editors are overflowing with submissions of great writing. The following are four good literary markets, especially for emerging writers: CRAFT (paying market with no submission fee) is open year-round to emerging and established writers. CRAFT accepts fiction,
creative nonfiction, craft essays, and interviews. The Masters Review New Voices category (paying market with no submission fee) is open year-round to any new or emerging writer "who has not published a novel-length work of fiction or narrative nonfiction with a major press." The Kenyon Review (paying market with no submission fee) is open between September 1 and September 30 for general admissions. The Kenyon Review publishes short fiction, essays, flash fiction, and excerpts from larger works. The Missouri Review (paying market with a small submission fee of $4) is open year-round. The Missouri Review publishes poetry, fiction, essays, book reviews, and nonfiction. Short Bio- Barbara Weddle is a freelance writer living in Kentucky. She has been writing for more than 30 years and has been published more than 400 times.
399021 © Darrenw | Dreamstime.com
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$20 ENTRY FEE. Submissions open June 16 – July 16, 2025 (5PM ET). The Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize is awarded for an outstanding first page of an unpublished novel. First prize is $1,000; 2nd is $500; 3rd is $250. The prize is open internationally to anyone over 18 writing a novel in English in any genre
for adult or YA readers. https://gutsygreatnovelist.com/page-one-prize/ NOT QUITE WRITE PRIZE FOR FLESH FICTION
https://notquitewritepodcast.com/fleshfiction/?utm_source=funds+for+writers&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=comp+list
FREE ENTRY! Deadline August 24 2025 AEST. The Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction calls for erotic stories of up to 1,500 words written in response to the theme: "Making the unsexy irresistible." Compete for cash prizes plus a trophy, a range of "spicy" sponsored prizes, and the chance at print publication. Please note: All
characters must be consenting adults and all characters must be fictional (no fan fic). Overall Winner AU$500 and a trophy. Category Winners (x5) AU$100 (excludes the Overall Winner). CREATIVE WRITING INK SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2025-2/
£12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2025. Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre. Maximum word count is 3,000 words. First prize: £1000, a free creative writing course of the winner's choice and publication on the website. Runners-up: £200 each and publication on the website. Open internationally. TENNESSEE WILLIAMS LITERARY FESTIVAL 2025 CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliams.net/contests/
$10-25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline Oct 15, 2025. 1st Place prizes range from $1,500-$500. Accepting Short Fiction (7,000 words), Very Short Fiction (1,000 words), Poetry, and One-Act Plays. Winning submissions will be published in either the French
Quarter Journal or Bayou Magazine. Winning One-Act Plays will have a staged reading at our 2026 Festival. The story must be unpublished at the time of submission. SAINTS & SINNERS LGBTQ+ LITERARY FESTIVAL 2025 CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline Oct 15, 2025. 1st Place Prize: $500. 2nd Place Prize: $100. Accepting Short Fiction and Poetry from LGBTQ+ writers and poets. Winning submissions will be published our 2026 anthology. DRIFTWOOD PRESS ADRIFT CHAPBOOK CONTEST
https://www.driftwoodpress.com/adrift-chapbook-contest
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2025. Original poetry only. Prose poetry, experimental poetry, and poetry with a visual component (color images accepted) are all welcome. Submit 15-40 pages of poetry. The winner will receive $750 dollars and 20 copies of their chapbook. A print run of the winning chapbook will
be sold on our website, through affiliate bookstores, and will be nationally and internationally distributed by Ingram & Asterism. BOOKS LIKE US FIRST NOVEL CONTEST
https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/avid-first-novel
Deadline July 14, 2025. Avid Reader Press,
an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is pleased to announce the launch of the fourth BOOKS LIKE US First Novel Contest. The aim of the contest is to facilitate access to the publishing process for writers from underrepresented groups, and to celebrate the diversity of readers across the United States. Encouraged to submit twenty-five pages of an original adult novel using the online form. The author of the selected novel will be awarded the opportunity to enter into a $50,000 book deal with Avid
Reader Press.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING NEVADA PROJECT GRANTS FOR ARTISTS (CYCLE B)
https://www.nvartscouncil.org/fy26-project-grant-for-artists-guidelines/
Deadline September 2, 2025. Grants up to $3,000.
Must be an individual, NV Resident, 21 years or older, and a non-student. Examples of eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, readings, concerts, the creation of art, portfolio creation, curation, and marketing/promotional activities related to an arts project. LOGHAVEN ARTIST RESIDENCY
https://loghaven.org/#intro
Located on ninety wooded acres in Knoxville, Tennessee, Loghaven Artist Residency provides artists the time, space, and resources necessary to cultivate new art and ideas in an extraordinary environment. Practicing artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply. Artists currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program are not eligible. Artists must be at least twenty-one years old and live more than 120 miles away
from Knoxville. In addition to underwriting the cost of room and board for the duration of the visit, Loghaven provides an $850 weekly living stipend, travel subsidy on a sliding scale from $400 to $800, and up to $200 in reimbursement for materials shipping. There are six residency sessions each year. Loghaven accepts applications annually from June 1 through July 15 for residencies starting the following February. Application deadlines will always be posted on our website and communicated
through social media. GRAND CANYON ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
https://www.grandcanyon.org/experience-grand-canyon/residency-program/artist-in-residence
Deadline July 15, 2025. The Artist in Residence Program at Grand Canyon National
Park provides a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with the land, cultures, and histories of the region through emotional, spiritual, and intellectually stimulating contemporary art – including exhibitions, films, performances, workshops, and unique participatory projects. The Artist in Residence program serves the priorities of the National Park Service’s Department of Interpretation and Resource Education including inclusive storytelling and climate change and aims to highlight
differing perspectives on this precious natural resource. SARASVATI RESIDENCY - FARM STAY SCHOLARSHIP
https://www.sarasvati.space/residency-overview
Next deadline July 22, 2025. Writers, artists, graphic designers, and creatives of all walks of life are
welcome, even part-time creative peeps, and are encouraged to coordinate your time in this supportive environment where you can hug donkeys, pet cats, laugh with chickens. There is a residency base fee and then a lodging fee determined by room choice and length of stay. Must identify interest in this scholarship on application. An interview via video chat will be arranged to discuss your residency project and goals, as well as your experiences and interests related to the Farm Stay experience.
No more than three people at any one time will be participating in this option. Located halfway between Hohenwald and Waynesboro, TN. ISAAC RAUCH FELLOWSHIP
https://documentedny.com/2025/06/11/isaac-rauch-fellowship-2025/
Deadline July 9, 2025.
Documented is searching for a reporter to take on an ambitious project that tackles an issue that matters to New York City’s immigrant communities. We are offering a grant of $10,000 to pursue a story of your choosing over the course of the coming year. If you’re interested, please submit a proposal of no more than 500 words with a description of the story you hope to tell, a list of potential sources, and links to previous stories you have written. You will be expected to deliver your work in
six months. US WRITERS AID INITIATIVE
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
Deadlines July 15, 2025 and October 1, 2025. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, 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. Writers currently enrolled in degree-granting programs are also not eligible. Writers do not have to be Members of PEN America to receive a grant, but all recipients of emergency funding will be given a complimentary one-year PEN
America membership.
THE ATAVIST
https://magazine.atavist.com/submissions
Atavist stories can be historical or current; they can be about crime or science, adventure or romance; they can be rooted in investigative reporting or in first-person experiences. What unites
them is their narrative approach—our stories are plot- and character-driven, cinematic, the kind of yarns you don’t want to stop reading because you can’t wait to see what happens next. We’re looking for stories that need to be longer than a typical magazine feature, anywhere from 8,000 to 30,000 words. Payment rates vary by project. We offer a story fee plus, if applicable, a budget for expenses. Our baseline story fee is $6,000. We guarantee 25 percent payment for all assigned stories, because
that’s the equivalent of our kill fee (an industry phrase we hate, by the way). We also pay quarterly royalties to our authors, based on traffic to paywalled versions of their stories. THE SOJOURNER
https://sojo.net/magazine/write
We accept pitches for reported pieces, analysis, and commentary that
address social justice issues or appeal to a well-informed faith audience. We are also looking for pieces that use a solutions lens when reporting on social issues. Our feature articles are typically 1,800-2,000 words. Pay $150-$500 depending on the piece. TRACTOR BEAM
https://form.asana.com/?k=65SA73WqwgCO4xJ1m5axmg&d=1201670601127747
Deadline July 21, 2025. For our upcoming issues, we’re specifically seeking stories celebrating decay and rot, ice and snow (the frozen earth), the ocean and soil under water, fashion and style, soil as tech, soil as the origin of life and anti-apocalyptic futures. 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. We prefer submissions under 6,000 words for writing or 16 panels for graphic novellas. Tractor Beam pays $1000 for all accepted submissions. FLOW SPACE
https://www.theflowspace.com/
Flow Space is a digital
media platform focused on serving women’s health with content, community, and commerce. Its blog publishes science‑backed articles, personal stories, and expert interviews on topics such as menopause, chronic illness, and wellbeing. Writers don’t need to be in the 35–65 age range themselves, but must be able to write knowledgeably and sensitively for that demographic. Rates $200 to $300. Heavier investigative may be considered up to $800 with approval. Pitches Emily at ecegielski@shemedia.com.
AQUEDUCT PRESS
https://www.aqueductpress.com/submissions.php
Aqueduct Press publishes works of feminist sf as well as works about feminist sf or of particular interest to readers of feminist sf. We are interested in seeing feminist sf novels of
any length. For our Conversation Pieces series, we are interested in original novellas, poetry, and prose work of every kind at lengths ranging from 20,000-35,000 words. Please send a query to editor[at]aqueductpress.com before sending us nonfiction or a collection of short fiction. BROTHER MOCKINGBIRD
https://www.brothermockingbird.net/submissions
What we are looking for: Action/Adventure, Chick Lit, Commercial, Contemporary, Crime/Detective/Cozies, Historical, Horror, Humor/Satire, Literary, Multicultural, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Upmarket, Western, Women's Fiction, Young Adult. Opens and closes for submissions. Check often if you go to the
site and they are closed. DUNHAM LITERARY
https://www.dunhamlit.com/how-to-submit
Dunham Literary represents Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction, and Children’s Books (including both authors and illustrators). We do not represent Individual Short Stories, Chapbooks or Novellas, or Original
Screen/Stage Plays.
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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