VOLUME 25, ISSUE 47 | DECEMBER 5, 2025 |
MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT Illness/shingles tried to get in the way of my writing, and while I haven't written every day, I have managed to throw a few words together often. The motivation is mostly due to the fact I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of the next book. So I've reverted to my old habit of going to bed and thinking about the chapter in play. I rehearse the characters, the plotting, the dialogue, and the beats. Last night was no different. At my normal bedtime, I commenced thinking of chapter 26. But I couldn't sleep. And I couldn't think clearly. I got up once, read a book, then returned and recommenced thinking of the
chapter. As my eyes grew heavy, my mind took off. So much information. Characters behaving differently than expected. Some red herrings I hadn't thought of before. More motive. Argh, I couldn't stand it. I jumped up, grabbed the closest pen which happened to be purple, and snared the closest pad which happened to be the one I list Christmas presents in each year to keep up with purchases. Then standing in front of the dark
television, I laid it on the stand, bend over, and wrote. Two pages of writing. Nice ideas, if I say so myself. Which is a long lesson to tell you to keep a notepad by your bed because you'll never remember ideas in the morning, and you don't want to stand in a thin nightshirt in the middle of a cold night trying to jot them down! |
Erma Home Schooling: Laugh and Learn from Home Missed your chance to grab a seat at the sold-out March 26-28 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop? Don’t worry — the laughs (and lessons) are coming to you. With Erma Home Schooling, you can livestream five inspiring keynote talks and four exclusive humor-writing workshops — all from the comfort of your couch.
(Note: In-person workshops are not included.) Learn how to: - Find and sharpen your comedic voice
- Master timing, structure and tone
- Use humor to connect, comfort and help readers see the joy in
life’s messiest moments
Discover more about the keynote speakers, faculty and sessions. Registration opens today. Early bird rate: $175 before March 9. In a world that needs more laughter, your words matter. PULL AWAY FROM THE ROUTINE
I was at Edisto Beach a few years ago, and it rained all week. I mean two days of hurricane-type rain and five days of drizzle. Water dripped off the porch roof and plopped in the sand below. Ozone hung in the air. A small herd of deer walked hidden in dunes and assorted grasses, not caring in the least about
being wet. My sister-in-law had returned home from being there with us, there was zero on television, and I wasn't in the mood to write. So I sat on the back porch and watched the clouds over the water and other islands, playing what-ifs in my head. I saw a kayaker in the Sound and wondered who was foolish enough to go out in this weather. Which morphed into: What if I was an
antagonist watching someone I knew floundering in a kayak though unfamiliar choppy waters of the Edisto Sound? It was off season, crazy hazy, and pouring. I would've known they were going out, but I chose to sit back and watch, despite the danger. Pen to paper, I described where I was and what I felt, saw, heard, smelled. . . all the senses. A fun chapter. Maybe an opening chapter to a novel I'd not thought about yet. A year later, most of it became chapter one of Edge of Edisto. By sitting down in an environment rich in senses, weather, scenery, and potential, creativity oozed out. Slow at first because it was a little forced, but in closing my eyes, I hit pay
dirt and the rough-edged chapter happened. I didn't want it to stop. You don't always have to write for a reason, deadline, or defined purpose. And you don't always have to write in your regular chair at your regular desk. Mix it up. Write for no reason. Write somewhere unique and strange. Do it with daring, as if nobody would ever see it. Dance on the page. Write outside the boundaries. Never be without a notepad. I had another such moment on the back porch of Edisto a couple weeks ago. The result was three pages of story. Slowly but surely, I'm seeing it as part of something to expand. Allowing yourself to be an author rich outside your norm, just may teach you to grow and achieve something unusual. . . and reach a fresh higher level you didn't see in yourself before.
-Feb 10, 2026 - Book Club, Mt. Horeb Church, Lexington, SC - noon-2PM -Apr 15, 2026 - Book Club, Noon to 2 PM - Elgin, SC (members only)
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson <<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >> The Way to Seeing Better Search Results
By Alex J. Coyne Search engines are an integral part of writing research, and often the way authors find new magazines, writing markets, or submission guidelines. However, search engines can be repetitive or biased and easily trap
searchers in a scrolling loop. Here’s key advice on how to find your way around search engines. The Writing Market Search Searching for new submission guidelines was how I first noticed search engine pitfalls. I was getting the same results for every search, making it difficult to unearth magazines I haven’t submitted to yet – and for months, I was stuck on
the same websites. When Raven Digitalis hired me to research unique publications and guidelines for them, I found an opportunity to experiment with how to source the most unique results. Using these tricks, I contacted new, active publications, and several like Musing Mystical eagerly reviewed Raven’s
Empath’s Oracle Deck. The Trap Search engines and other websites build a composite view of you, the user, while using their site. Cookies permit websites to collect statistical data about what you search, and everything from your search results to advertisements will carry some of this influence. If
you’ve just watched a YouTube video on coffee, you may be advertised instant coffee via another site. Searching for “coffee shops” will be more likely to show you results in your hometown or country, rather than coffee shops in Indonesia. It’s useful for companies and consumers trying to hit a targeted market. However, it’s less useful when authors need unbiased research or
completely unique, fresh results (e.g., magazines or submission guidelines). Clear Your Cookies (Or Use Incognito Mode) Step one: clear your browser cookies and you’re less likely to see search results based on these traceable crumbs. Since apps and user accounts collect similar data, they impede unique results. To clear browser cookies, navigate to Settings (or History) at the top of your browser window, and Clear All Results with the cookies-tab checked. If you want to keep user accounts logged in, uncheck Clear Browser Data. Using your browser’s incognito mode is a way to stop most websites from tracking data for that search – and it guarantees whatever you search for won’t be influenced by previous searches. For Chrome, click the top-right menu and select Incognito Mode. For Firefox, simply open a New Private Window. Switch Your Search Engine Using different search engines is an excellent way to break out of the ‘search results loop.’ Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo are three powerful engines. I published a feature
about Ouija boards in Fate and Fortune Magazine after finding their guidelines via Bing. Using Google, the same guidelines showed up much lower down when I searched for market guides , and I might have missed them otherwise. Search results are never the
same for every person, and each search engine is a little different. Country-Based Blocks and VPNs ‘Results not available for your country’ and ‘website blocked’ are notifications you’ll see when a country-based firewall is in the way. Unfortunately, this isn’t great if you seek unbiased research. This is why a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is
important. A VPN ‘bounces’ connectivity around countries to circumvent such blocks. If you’re being censored, enable yourself to look around the curtain with a VPN like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or ProtonVPN VPNs have helped me to write unbiased international movie reviews like Gangsterism in Movies and Television and What’s the Best South African Movie Ever Made? – as well as horror reviews for Taste of Cinema. Use Advanced Search Functions Advanced search functions allow you to customize your results. Choose specific keywords by using quotation marks (“”), or include/exclude specific words by using the plus and minus keys (“-” and “+”). Results can also be customized by time: last week, month, or year. I’ve used this to find blogs that post new content,
and sometimes use this to see where my writing has been recently mentioned – like on TerribleMinds or as a Wikipedia reference. Advanced searches help me locate publications and blogs with recent posts (e.g., the past week or month), rather than staying in a loop of markets that rank high but don’t necessarily publish often anymore. Using search engines like a superuser guarantees better, less biased search results every time. About the Author:
Alex J. Coyne is a journalist, author, and proofreader. He has written for an array of publications and websites, with a radar calibrated for gothic, gonzo, and the weird. His debut Dark History and Pop Culture Stories published via Dark Moon Press. BCALA SELF-PUBLISHING LITERARY AWARDS
https://bcala.librariesshare.com/bcala-ebook-contest/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. These awards
acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. Each genre prize winner shall receive: $2,500.00, formal recognition at the American Library Association conference, and a BCALA Literary Award Seal to use in their marketing. This contest is free and open to all self-published authors. EDINBURGH SHORT STORY AWARDS
https://www.scottishartstrust.org/short-story
£11 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2026. Open to writers worldwide, published and unpublished. For short stories on any topic up to 2,000 words. We welcome stories in all genres: literary, historic, crime, romance, realism, contemporary, humour and more. Entrants can be any age over 16 years. Stories should be
suitable for an adult audience. First prize £3,000. Second prize £500. Third Prize £250. Five Commendations worth £100. Publication in The Edinburgh Anthology will be offered to all longlisted and shortlisted authors (15 stories). Various other cash awards for categories as well. PORTER FLEMING LITERARY COMPETITION
https://www.themorris.org/porter-fleming-literary-competition/details/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 1, 2026.
Fiction—Short stories only (2,500 words maximum)
Nonfiction—Article or essay (2,500 words maximum)
Poetry—(Up to three poems per entry, not to exceed five pages total per entry)
One-Act Play—(Professional format required;
limited to fifteen pages, double-spaced)
Writers ages 18 and older who reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. can enter. LASCAUX PRIZE IN SHORT FICTION
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2025. Length should not exceed 10,000 words. All genres and styles are welcome. Winner receives $1000. LASCAUX PRIZE IN POETRY
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline March 31, 2026. Poems may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. Winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. All entries are considered for publication. There are no length restrictions. All genres and styles are welcome. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING ANARCHISTS UNITED WRITERS DISCOVERY FELLOWSHIP FOR SCRIPTS
https://filmfreeway.com/AnarchistsUnitedWritersDiscoveryFellowship
Deadline January 5, 2026. The Anarchists
United Writers Discovery Fellowship is a six-month program providing an immersive introductory experience to the world of the TV ecosystem. Each Fellow will be assigned a seasoned industry mentor who will guide them by way of script development and career advice, and by the end of the program, introduce them to television producers and executives who align with their creative voice. The mentors will support the cohort through each step of the creative and networking process. Applicants must not
be in the WGA. Must be U.S.-based. The Fellowship pairs five to six selected writers with a dedicated industry mentor to develop a television pilot and establish connections within the industry. To support them throughout this process, all Fellows will be given a financial stipend of $10,000. PITTSBURGH AREA CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR GRANT PROGRAM
https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/grants/creative-entrepreneur-accelerator?blm_aid=100326
Referral Coordinator deadline: January 7, 2026. (Must make an appointment well in advance.) The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) grant program provides creative entrepreneurs with small business consulting and $2,000 in critical
financial resources to grow businesses and revenue. The program encourages the participation of interested creative entrepreneurs located in communities across the commonwealth, including those located in low-income communities, urban, suburban, and rural communities. Specifically Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties. THE SOUTH CAROLINA YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT
https://www.indiegrants.org/young-filmmakers
Deadline February 9, 2026. Open to all high school students in the state, from the South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College. Participating students must create a short film (two minutes max) telling a cinematic story in any genre, following all rules and this year's Creative Challenge -- use a MEGAPHONE as a
prop. The films will be scored by a panel of independent judges. Top Ten scorers will screen at a special program where winners will be announced. First Prize receives $750, Second Prize $500, and Third Prize $250. VERMONT ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/find-a-grant/artists/artist-development/
Deadline January 26, 2026. The Vermont Arts Council is now accepting applications for its second and last round of Artist Development Grants for fiscal year 2026. These grants support artists at all stages of their careers. They can fund activities that enhance mastery of an artist’s craft or skills or that increase the viability of an artist's business. Funding may also
support aspects of the creation of new work when the activity allows the grantee to accept a rare and important opportunity. The maximum grant award is $2,000. The grant is offered two times in the fiscal year. Applications are drawn randomly. Must be a resident. TENNESSEE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANTS
https://tnartscommission.org/news/individual-artist-fellowship-applications-now-open/
Deadline January 27, 2026. The fellowships recognize and acknowledge professional Tennessee artists who, through their work, add to the cultural vitality of the state. Pays $5000 per grant. The accepted categories for fiscal year 2027 are: Craft, Media, Visual Art, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Literary Arts. Applicants must be legal residents of
Tennessee and have resided in the state for the past three consecutive years.
NEW LINES MAGAZINE
https://newlinesmag.com/pitch/
New Lines Magazine publishes essays and reportage on a wide range of subjects that focus broadly on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. We also cover politics, culture and controversies in the United
States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia, and conduct deep-dive investigative journalism based on open-source intelligence and leaked data. Pays up to $800. ROCK PAPER SHOTGUN
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-to-pitch-an-article-to-rock-paper-shotgun
All freelance articles begin with a pitch – an email explaining what you would like to write for us and why you're the person to do it. Our standard article rate is £200 for an article in the region of 1000-1500 words. This covers most features and reviews.
We will endeavour to adjust the rate fairly according to the amount of work the article requires. Reviewing a particularly long game or
interviewing multiple subjects might warrant £250, while an exceptionally short game might warrant us to offer £125 or £175. We'll discuss this with you to agree on a rate. BALLS AND STRIKES
https://ballsandstrikes.org/contact-us
Everything you need to know about writing about the Supreme
Court, and getting paid for the associated mental and emotional anguish you invite upon yourself by doing so. Balls & Strikes covers courts, the judges who preside over them, and the legal system they uphold. Essays between 800 and 1200 words. Typically, we pay $500 for essays of about 1000 words, and adjust both figures up or down based on a project’s scope, the depth of necessary research, your availability, and the like. RUFFWEAR
https://ruffwear.com/pages/pitch
Ruffwear is an outdoor dog gear brand based in Bend, Oregon. We're looking for personal stories that tell the tale of outdoor experiences you’ve shared with your dog(s) – anything from an epic adventure to those everyday moments when you seek fresh air with your canine sidekick. For now, we can only accept
writers based in the US and Canada. Our stories are approximately 800-1000 words in length. We’ll also ask you to provide 8 - 10 photos to be included in the piece. We pay a flat rate of $500 per story, which covers roughly 800-1000 words and 8-10 photos to be included. BON APPETIT
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-pitch
Our standard rates begin at $250 for stories in the 400-word range and go up from there as determined by word count, experience, and the complexity and/or amount of reporting in the piece. See the different links for How to pitch Cooking stories, How to pitch Shopping stories, How to pitch Culture stories, How to pitch Restaurant stories. Our articles are typically short (in the 400–600–word ballpark). The stories that perform
best have one clear takeaway—say, how to pit peaches with pliers, or why you should never throw out olive brine.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESS
https://uapress.arizona.edu/about
The University of Arizona Press is the premier publisher of academic, regional, and literary works in the state of Arizona. We disseminate ideas and knowledge of lasting value that enrich
understanding, inspire curiosity, and enlighten readers. BOTTOM DOG PRESS
https://smithdocs.net/who_we_are_mission_staff_guidelines
We believe in a sense of place and person, in writing that reveals through its directness an essential human story. We also support the
history and development of Working Class Literature and Appalachian Literature, and we work to provide outlets for that writing and information on that vital art. WHITE STAG PUBLISHING
https://whitestagpublishing.com/poetry-proffering
White Stag is looking for full length poetry
manuscripts in the scope of our thematic elements, which can include themes of alchemy & the occult, mysticism & spirituality, folklore & mythos, the speculative or supranatural, or intersections of witchcraft & activism. These themes are not limited to any specific belief, culture, race, or region. You must be a US resident or have a US mailing address to publish manuscripts with White Stag at this time. CORNERSTONE
PRESS
https://www3.uwsp.edu/english/cornerstone/Pages/SUBMISSIONS-.aspx
Cornerstone Press seeks book-length manuscripts in poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction and makes publishing decisions based on the quality and marketability of the manuscripts submitted. We read and evaluate manuscripts throughout the year. Fiction and
nonfiction manuscripts should strive to be a maximum of 70,000 words. Poetry manuscripts can vary in length, but our minimum page count for a printed volume is 80 pages. LOBLOLLY PRESS
https://www.loblollypress.com/pages/submit
Submissions open November 1st - December 31st each year.
Loblolly Press is seeking submissions that embody a profound sense of place, particularly focusing on the Southern and Appalachian regions.
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C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
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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
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