VOLUME 25, ISSUE 31 | AUGUST 1, 2025 |
THE PASSION FACTOR In the gym today, my trainer advised that if you want to improve and build muscle (i.e., get strong), you push the last three reps/times such that you think you'll fail at any moment. In other words, you push to failure. You push, seeking that point when you just
can't. He said he's had clients get frustrated when he tells them they left effort out there unused, and then walk out. But they usually walk back in the next day after they've had a look-in-the-mirror moment. Once they learn to lift like that, and once they learn to come back day after day and not just when they can work it in, they are lifting with
passion. Only then is when you see success. Your brain will try to tell you to take the path of least resistance in most anything. It will tell you to stop before it gets too hard. But you do not improve unless you push past that. In writing, you write/publish/submit to the point of failure. Writers who
opine about the pain of rejection, in my opinion, don't write with passion. They write for fun. They write to feel good. They do not write with passion. Passion is doing something beyond the level of "can't." Beyond the level of shaking muscles. Beyond the fear of rejection. Beyond the trepidation of having to do something you aren't sure will work. Beyond the concern of being embarrassed. Those who excel, who succeed, who achieve something different than the masses, are doing so with passion. Passionate writers write through all the noise, voices, criticism, demands, and obstacles in their path. They write until it hurts. |
Make “portfolio chaos” a thing of the past. How much time do you spend manually updating your portfolio? And how often is it still outdated? With
Authory, that's a thing of the past. Authory creates a beautiful, self-updating portfolio that automatically pulls in your new articles as you publish them, no matter where. And that’s not all: Authory also backs up all your published articles automatically, so you never have to worry about losing your work. Join thousands of writers who already use
Authory to impress potential clients and employers. THE NEW REASON FOR HAVING A WEBSITE
The new reason you need a website is going to be different than you might think. Artificial Intelligence - AI. Many writers these days
deem themselves "writers" because they've learned to access AI programs, tell it what they want to pitch, and have it either write the query letter or the article itself. Some call themselves still being original because they edited the piece and changed a few things. I don't want that in FundsforWriters. Many of them claim that by using Discord, Reddit, and other sites, they find loads of work and submit as many as 20 articles a day
(eye rolling by me), and therefore, claim a website not needed. Why bother, they say, when they can find work without the burden of tending a website? Or even maintain social media? I rejected four articles within an hour this week, each using the same spiel they were taught by someone in a YouTube episode. Seriously, there are people out there making money teaching wannabes (or not even wannabes since they don't really want to be
writers) how to scam editors in this method of pitching. Even more arcane was how one writer pitched me a piece on how to use AI to write all these articles, thinking I would want all of you to learn how to do this, too! The other method they are using is to claim they ghostwrite, so they don't need a website. They get work via word-of-mouth or have several clients with repeat business, so neither a website nor social media is needed.
An excuse to remain covert. If you have no online presence, you will get rejected by FundsforWriters and most publishing entities out there. If you cannot prove who you are, if you cannot be vetted, you are out. There are dishonest people out there. It's a shame you have to prove your existence these days, but it seems this is the way writing has evolved.
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-Sept 9, 2025 - Chapin Library, Chapin, SC - 1PM
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise. "If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success." ~James Cameron
Dear Hope, Thanks to FundsforWriters, I entered the WOW! Women on Writing Q3 essay contest, and my essay "Alice's Grave" placed in the
top 10, earning publication on their site, much gratification, and an Amazon gift card. This achievement also served as an object lesson. I had submitted previous pieces to WOW!'s essay contests without success. The editors sent a message, though, saying they liked my writing and hoped I would try again. So I did. I think of other occasions, however, when I have ignored such notes from editors or judges, imagining they were simple
politeness, and wish I had followed up with those. Here is a link to the published piece: "Alice's Grave" https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/downloads/printable/116-FE1-Q32025EssayContest-Leslie-Carlin.html With all best wishes, and much gratitude for FundsforWriters, Leslie Carlin lesliecarlin.com
Transatlantic Travails https://lesliee.substack.com/
<<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 to Break Into the Video Gaming Article Market
By Matthew Adams Do you have a passion for video games? If you do, breaking into the video game article market could be a good way to expand your freelance writing business. Countless video game websites and magazines cover console, mobile device, and Windows PC gaming, many of which are open to freelance article submissions. I have been a freelance gaming writer since about
2010 and will share some advice here for how you can break into this burgeoning article market. What Are Video Game Articles? You can write various types of video game articles for digital and print publications. Many gaming websites include video game guides, features, reviews, and news articles. Guide articles provide hints and tips for playing games. Reviews rate the latest game releases. News articles cover all the latest developments in
the gaming industry, especially for new games and console releases. The feature pieces explore aspects of video gaming from many angles. Search For Freelance Game Writer Vacancies Video game websites often advertise their freelance vacancies on recruitment network sites. Websites such as Simply Hired, Pro Blogger, Blogging Jobs, Video Game Journalism, LinkedIn, Indeed, and Freelance Writing Jobs are good places to search for video game sites seeking regular contributors. Valnet and GAMURS Group are two digital media networks with numerous video game websites
that frequently advertise remote vacancies on such recruitment websites. To apply for freelance writing vacancies at video game sites, you'll usually need to send at least a cover letter (email) expressing your interest in collaborating with them. Most gaming websites will ask to see some article samples from you on linked webpages or saved document files. You should also send a CV if requested. However, you don't always need to look through recruitment
sites to find video game websites seeking freelance contributors. You can instead look for pages with write for us or contact links on video game websites advertising regular contributor vacancies. For example, I joined a video game website by filling out a contact form on a page with a "Write for us" heading. You can usually find such pages by clicking write for us or contact page links, often included at the bottom of websites. Add Sample Articles to
Medium If you don't have any online gaming article samples to show game websites you're interested in joining, you can always add some to Medium. Medium is an online publishing platform where anybody with a Google, Apple, Facebook, or X account can submit articles. Click Sign in on this Medium page and choose a login method there. Then, you can
submit some video game articles to Medium and show those samples to gaming websites and magazines. Look for Submission Guidelines on Video Game Websites Some video game (and more general entertainment) websites are open to freelance article submissions from outside contributors. Such gaming websites include submission guideline pages and offer variable remuneration (pay) for articles included on them. For example, sites like Restart, IGN, Games Industry.biz, and Geek Native offer remuneration ranging from $120 to $1,000 for video game articles. You can find video game websites open to freelance article submissions by searching for them on Google. Search for video game sites with article submission guideline pages. To
submit articles to gaming websites open to freelance submissions, you'll usually need to pitch article titles to them first, with email addresses specified or contact forms on their pages. It's relatively straightforward to find video game websites seeking regular contributors or at least open to freelance article submissions. The article remuneration that such websites offer can vary widely, but there can be little doubt that video gaming is a big freelance writing market in
terms of breadth of coverage. So, video gaming can be a fun, exciting, and potentially quite lucrative freelance article market to explore.
Author Bio:
Matthew Adams is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles for various websites and magazine publications, such as KeenGamer, Retbit, Windows Report, Writer's Digest, Tech Junkie, MakeUseOf, dotTech, TapScape, Games Errors, Retro Format, Pixel Addict, and Bright Hub. He has been a freelance
gaming and tech (software) writer for more than 10 years. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-adams-b8a170188/
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JOY BALE BOONE POETRY PRIZE
https://elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/community/theheartlandreviewpress/poetry-prize.aspx
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2025.
There will be a $400 first place VISA gift card, $240 second place VISA gift card, and $100 third place VISA gift card. Each winner and honorable mention (and any other finalists we print) will receive a free copy of the Spring issue of The Heartland Review wherein they are published. Electronically submit no more than three (3) original, unpublished poems in any style, length or genre but in English. OMNIDAWN POETRY OPEN BOOK
CONTEST
https://www.omnidawn.com/contests/omnidawn-poetry-contests/
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 16, 2025. Prize: $3000, publication, and 20 copies. There are no citizenship requirements or limitations. Approximately 40 pgs to 90 pgs of poetry. MASTERS
REVIEW SUMMER SHORT STORY AWARD
https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 7, 2025. We’re looking for spectacular stories—up to 6,000 words, fiction or creative nonfiction. The first-place winner of this contest, selected by our guest judge, will receive a $3,000
grand prize, along with online publication. Second- and third-place finalists will receive $300 and $200 respectively, along with online publication. All finalists will receive agency review from our six partnered agencies. ALUMINUM CROWN SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.chokeandstroke.com/
NO ENTRY
FEE. Deadline October 31, 2025. In the year 2101, due to environmental changes, the Melbourne CBD will be enclosed in a cube: the Central Business Cube, the CBC. We are looking for stories based around this speculative event in the future of Australia. We are asking you to think inside the box. Open to Australian and international writers. Word length between 1000-5000 words. Stories cannot be published elsewhere (including blogs/Facebook etc). 1st place: $300 (AU), 2nd place:
$150 (AU), 3rd place: $50 (AU). (NOTE: $300 Australian is $200 USD) ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS FIRST BOOK AWARD
https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/first-book-award
$35 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 1, 2025. The winning manuscript, chosen
by an acclaimed poet, is published by Graywolf Press, an award-winning independent publisher. $5,000 prize. The winner also receives an all-expenses-paid, six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center, a fifteenth-century castle in the Umbrian region of Italy, where they will become part of a cohort of accomplished international artists, writers, and composers; distribution of their winning book to thousands of Academy of American Poets members, making it one of the most widely-distributed
poetry books that year; inclusion and promotion in American Poets magazine, the Academy’s newsletter, and Poets.org, among other opportunities. Manuscripts must be between 48 and 100 pages, typed single-spaced.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING BRYN DU MANSION RESIDENCIES
https://www.bryndu.com/airapplication
Deadline August 31, 2025. The Bryn Du Artist in Residence program will provide an inspirational setting for the creation of artistic
works by one artist at a time, of any discipline, over an 8 or 12 week time frame. While in residence, the chosen artist will reside in the Cramer House, the renovated laundry building designed for Artists in Residence, behind the Bryn Du Mansion. Artists may be in any stage of their career to apply and participate in a Bryn Du residency. All Artists in Residence are expected to provide a minimum of 2 community engagement activities per month. Stipends include $2000 for an 8-week residency and
$3000 for a 12-week residency. Location Granville, OH. PAT CONROY CENTER RESIDENCY
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Conroy-Center-Writer-s-Residency--Oct-22---29-.html?soid=1124256585060&aid=MZ1cnvej8NY
Deadline August 11, 2025. Coinciding with the annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will offer our ninth Conroy Center Writer's Residency this coming fall, available to writers of all prose genres. Located on a salt marsh, the residency at MarshSong Cottage provides an inspirational, creative
space in the heart of Pat Conroy’s beloved lowcountry. The residency location is a guest cottage on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Beaufort and 15 minutes from the beach at Hunting Island State Park. The residency dates will be October 22 to 29, 2025, overlapping with the 10th annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, which the selected writer will be invited to attend. STORYKNIFE WRITERS
RETREAT
https://storyknife.org/how-to-apply/
Deadline August 31, 2025. Storyknife provides women with the time and space to explore their craft without distraction. Every aspect of a residency at Storyknife is steeped in a profound generosity of spirit so that each writer knows she and her work are valuable. Residencies at Storyknife in
Homer, Alaska, are either for two or four weeks. Resident’s food and lodging is covered during the period of their residency, but travel to and from Homer, Alaska, is the responsibility of the resident. KIMMEL HARDING NELSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
https://khncenterforthearts.slideroom.com/#/Login
Deadline September 1, 2025. The mission of the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts is to support established and emerging writers, visual artists, and composers/musicians by providing working and living environments that allow uninterrupted time for work, reflection, and creative growth. KHN gives special consideration for Nebraska artists by ensuring that a number of residencies are awarded to
Nebraska artists each year. The application process is the same for all applicants, however applications from Nebraska artists receive special consideration. ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOK FELLOWSHIP - BOSTON
https://www.associatesbpl.org/events-and-programs/illustrated-childrens-book-fellowship/
Deadline August 15, 2025. The Associates of the Boston Public Library is thrilled to announce the launch of the Illustrated Children's Book Fellowship, a prestigious new opportunity for emerging writers in New England who are developing original illustrated books for children. This year-long fellowship offers a $25,000 stipend, $2,500 for editorial or coaching support,
the opportunity to present the completed manuscript at a fall reading, and the completed manuscript will be preserved in the BPL's Archives. This fellowship is designed for authors with no prior published children's books. Eligible applicants must reside in New England and be U.S. citizens or green card holders. Projects may take the form of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, or poetry. JUNEAU COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS
https://www.juneaucf.org/individual-artist-award/
Deadline August 15, 2025. The program awards grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 award to support a specific, short-term project that has clear benefits to the artist and the development of their work. Artists at any career stage may apply for the program. Only individuals,
groups, or collaboratives living in Juneau are eligible to apply. Artists must be a full-time Juneau resident, living in the City and Borough of Juneau for the past two years at the time of the application, and remain a resident for the duration of the grant period, must be at least 18 years old at the time of application, and must currently be producing work. PITCHDOX - Indiana
https://www.watchhoodox.com/pitchdox
Deadline August 3, 2025. PitchDox, the documentary film competition exclusively for Indiana filmmakers, invites you to submit your unfinished documentary projects (at any stage, from concept to post-production) for a chance to win a $10,000 financial award to support the production of your film. The five Finalists will be invited to present a
verbal pitch and presentation at the PitchDox Main Event to an audience that will include a jury, invited funders, fellow filmmakers, Hoodox representatives, and the general public.
LATE CHECKOUT
https://newsletter.latecheckouttime.com/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VkBxIpyYkFrs6TyVkdIenmOpuwZy1wLhjW5qEaxZJhk/edit?tab=t.0
Late Checkout is a cheat sheet for jet setters and go-getters with a penchant for all things food, drink and travel. Whether it's the biggest trends in bars and restaurants, curated city guides, design inspiration, shoppable packing lists, or noteworthy cultural moments, Late Checkout is here to make your life a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. Must be based in the U.S. Pays
$150 for 200 words. We publish 24 pieces/month, including our Side Dish newsletter every Friday. Even if we’re working on something similar, a fresh angle can still catch our eye. MOUNTAINS MAGAZINE
https://mountains-magazine.com/Mountains-Magazine-Pitch-Guidelines
Deadline August 31, 2025. Seeking pitches about snow sports in Japan. Mountains Magazine is a consumer magazine featuring personal experiences of a destination from writers who are experts in their region and/or field. This is a quarterly magazine published in Autumn (September), Winter (December), Spring (March) and Summer (June). Features are around 850-1100 words. Rate: £110 per
feature. STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/straightarrownews/jobs/4006731009
Straight Arrow News is open to excellent stories from freelance journalists. We welcome pitches that tackle important, timely topics in ways that will register with a
national audience invested in reading unbiased reporting. We are actively seeking stories that can make local issues feel compelling to a national audience. Standard features: Stories that require at least three sources interviewed and produce original reporting; typically 800-1,000 words. Deep dives: Stories that require more than three sources interviewed, as well as analysis and data, which may be acquired via public records requests; typically 1,200 to 1,500 words. Longform enterprise:
Stories that require at least five sources to be interviewed, as well as intense analysis and the use of several data points, which are not readily available and for which the reporter smartly uses investigative skills to find a unique way to tell a story that hasn’t been reported elsewhere; may exceed 2,000 words. Rate $500 for features 800 to 1,000 words. Pays $750 for deep dives of 1,200 to 1,500 words. BYLINE AND BOTTOM LINE
(PUBLICATION OF REMOTE WRITING JOBS)
https://bylineandbottomline.substack.com/about
Real stories, written by working writers who’ve lived what they’re writing. Each one is a window into what it actually takes to get paid in this industry. We pay a flat rate of $400 for stories between 500–800 words. B&BL is funded entirely by paid
subscriptions to our Remote Writing Jobs directory. That support allows us to commission new work and pay our writers fairly. SAD MAG
https://www.sadmag.ca/submissions
SAD MAG IS an independent publication dedicated to COVERING the stories, art and design of vancouver FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
LOCAL, EMERGING creatives. SAD Mag has a mandate to support emerging writers and artists based in B.C., with an emphasis on stories and works from underrepresented voices. We especially encourage pitches from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and people with disabilities. Submissions are welcome from those who have never been published before, or who are in the early stages of their careers—editorial support will be provided. Depending on the word length, writing submissions for each print issue will range from
$100-300, and depending on the size and placement, art submissions will range from $70-500.
QUILL AND CROW
https://www.quillandcrowpublishinghouse.com/novelsubmissions
We are currently seeking fiction NOVELS (45k - 110k words) that have not been published previously. We are not seeking Gothic fiction titles at this
time. We are not accepting books that are part of a series or a first book that cannot stand alone. We are not seeking previously published books. We are seeking the following genres (and genre blends): Feminist Horror, Women's/Pink Horror, Historical Horror, Southern Gothic horror, Historical fiction with dark elements, Dark fiction, Speculative fiction with dark elements, Women's fiction, YA Horror. AMARA
https://www.entangledpublishing.com/entangled-amara-submissions
Amara, an upmarket single-title romance imprint of Entangled Publishing, utilizes both digital-first and traditional publishing models to deliver the sweet—or scintillating—romances readers want to online and brick-and-mortar bookstores. Seeking novels in the following subgenres of
romantic fiction: Contemporary, Historical, Romantic Suspense and Thrillers, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy. SEVERN HOUSE
https://severnhouse.com/submissions/
We’re a proud publisher of commercial and genre fiction: crime and mystery, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, sagas, and more.
We don’t publish nonfiction, graphic novels, children’s books, poetry, or ‘literary’ (i.e. non-genre) fiction. BAYEUX ARTS
https://www.bayeux.com/pages/contact-us
Bayeux Arts is interested in finding new authors. Please do not send us complete manuscripts, unless requested to do so by
Bayeux. Instead, send us a synopsis of your work, no longer than 200 words in length. For Children’s books, please include with the Synopsis a sample of no more than 2 illustrations. We will respond to your submission within three months. Genres include: literature/fiction/poetry, biography, western, mystery, odd little books, history, arts/architectural design, theater, social science, nature and environment, children/YA, inspirational/health, management. BEACON PUBLISHING
https://www.beaconpublishinggroup.com/submissions
We accept manuscripts across all genres, with or without an agent. Whether you are a new author or have been previously published, Beacon Publishing Group and its imprints would like to hear from you. The review process can take up to six weeks. Beacon
Publishing Group and its imprints accept all genres of Fiction and Nonfiction. ASABI
https://www.asabipublishing.com/manuscript-submissions
We are accepting manuscripts or proposals from literary agents or directly from authors. A professional query letter is required prior to
every submission. We do not publish religious or spiritual books of any kind. Seeking: Fiction For Children, Youth & Teens: We are looking for manuscripts for our "I Can Remember" series. Each story should be written for written & oral delivery and must contain age appropriate "lessons". The stories also need to contain cultural elements. Non-Fiction For Children,
Youth & Teens: We are looking for guides covering how to play vintage games children can play outside and/or indoors on rainy days, cultural histories - (African, Maori, Aboriginal, Native American, Asian, Native South American, Native Central American, Scottish, Irish, etc.) Fiction for Adults: We are looking for creative, engaging manuscripts for the following genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Classic Noir Crime, Lesbian,
Erotica and Culture-based Historical fiction - (African, Maori, Aboriginal, Native American, Asian, Native South American, Native Central American, Scottish, Irish, etc.). Non-Fiction for Adults: We are looking for unique titles for the following genres: Biographies, Autobiographies, Narratives and Memoirs. Survival Guides: We are looking for survival guides which cover
psychological survival techniques, survival in various climates, building and hunting for survival, social/psychological survival techniques for groups and survival trading. Travel & Relocation Guides: If you are an avid traveler or if you have relocated to another country from your home country, we are looking for travel guides and step-by-step relocation guides.
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
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