VOLUME 25, ISSUE 51 | DECEMBER 26, 2025 |
THE IN-BETWEEN The day after Christmas. . . it's a mixed bag for this girl. Holidays are highly stressful for me. I sat outside on my deck next to the lake for an hour before everyone arrived for Christmas chaos, just to collect myself and try to reach some level where I thought I
could perform. My husband, bless him, sat beside me, talking, totally understanding what I was trying to do, helping me in his way. The day went so much better than expected. A couple of things overheard hurt, but so many more were really good, but when you get people together, that's the way things go. I was touched by some gifts that showed that someone really thought about what they gave. The first person to arrive was a son I
never ever get to spend time with, and those 15-20 minutes was the best gift he could have given me. . . though he had no idea. Today, however, the day after, is a regrouping for me. Actually, I do not like the in-between time between Dec 25 and Jan 1. I love January. It's plain. It's quiet. It's a rebirth. The air feels cleaner and crisp. It's a time to decide how to learn from all the messes of the previous year. That's why I am mentioning here the Reedsy Prompt Contest. The theme is "Stuck in Limbo," talking about just what I mentioned above, the week in between the two holidays of Christmas and New Year. Write a short story
(not nonfiction) between 1,000 and 3,000 words, submit it from your Reedsy Prompts profile (no charge to have a profile), and pay the $5 entry fee before 11:59 p.m. EST on the 2nd of January. If you just want to write and not pay the fee, that's fine. The winner of the paid entries receives $250. You may not feel like writing on your novel, or your short story or script. Maybe this in limbo time is meant for something just like
this. Practice your writing and soothe your holiday blues at the same time. Good luck and happy new year. |
WHAT DOES "READY" MEAN?
We attempt to polish to perfection. The funny thing to me is that we dare think of being able to achieve perfection. Nobody does nor should they think they can. Weekly I write two editorials: the opening thought, then later the editor's thoughts. One is
more personal than the other. One tends to be more crafty or business-like than the other. Sometimes, however, I just write what's on my mind. Sometimes I throw something together based upon my own experiences. Time pushes me each Friday to send out the newsletter, and grasping for ideas becomes difficult some weeks. You might be amazed at how many times I write something and deem it over-reaching, stupid, or something most readers
wouldn't care about. Those are invariably the topics most people resonate with. With limited time, I write what's on my heart, hanging on the tip of my tongue, or niggling my brain. In other words, they are real and raw and fresh. I don't have the time to polish them until they shine craft-wise. I don't have time to weight if they are important enough. That often means I
don't have time to edit the raw, genuine meaning and feelings in those words. Chris Cage recently wrote a piece for Tiny Buddha that hit home with me. "The truth is, most of the things that resonated most with people—my most-downloaded podcast episode, the articles that readers emailed me about months later—were the ones I almost didn’t share. The ones that felt too messy, too vulnerable, too real. And yet, those are the ones people said, 'This is exactly what I needed to hear.' Not the flawless ones. The human
ones." That applies to anything you write. It needs to feel human, such that other humans can relate. It's why AI has its limitations. It's why human carries so much more weight than machine. (Chris Cage is the author of Still Human:
Staying Sane, Productive, and Fully You in the Age of AI. He is a product manager, writer, and mental health advocate. He writes at The Mental Lens blog and hosts the podcast Through the Mental Lens, where he explores the intersection of productivity, mental well-being, and technology. Learn more and subscribe to the newsletter at TheMentalLens.com.)
-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) -June 4, 2026 - Chapin Library, Chapin, SC - 1-2 PM
Email: hope@chopeclark.com to schedule events, online or otherwise. “March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path.” — Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931), “The Voice of the Master”
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to hope@chopeclark.com >> The Subject Line Secret: How to Win Readers Before They Even Open Your Email By Evan Swensen
You've spent hours crafting the perfect newsletter. Every paragraph sparkles, the call-to-action is
clear, and the design looks sharp. You hit "send," then wait. And wait.
But the results are flat. Your open rates are terrible.
The problem isn't your content. It's your subject line. In publishing, the real battle for attention happens in the inbox. If your subject line fails, the rest of your work never gets a chance—and that failure can mean lost book sales, empty seats at a signing, or missed freelance contracts.
The Door to Your
Income Think of your subject line as the front door to your work. A dull line like "Monthly Newsletter" is a locked door. Nobody enters. But "The One Mistake That's Costing You Readers" invites curiosity, promises value, and drives clicks.
As a publisher, I've seen the difference firsthand. A vague subject line buried an important release, while the same book, retitled with urgency, sold out in days. The subject
line was the difference between a financial flop and a profitable launch.
Subject Lines Are a Business Skill Some writers treat subject lines like lottery tickets: toss something out, hope for luck. But writing subject lines isn't a gamble—it's a craft that can be practiced. And when practiced well, it pays.
Strong subject lines usually do three
things:
1. Spark curiosity without tricking.
"How a Simple Change Boosted My Book Sales by 40%" makes readers want to know more.
2. Offer a clear benefit.
"5 Ways to Sell More Books at Your Next Event" gives readers a reason to open.
3. Create urgency when it's real.
"Last Chance to Register for Saturday's Writing Workshop" motivates immediate action.
Each of these
techniques has helped me and the authors I work with earn real dollars.
Why People Click (or Don't) In less than a second, readers subconsciously ask:
•Is this relevant to me now?
•Will it benefit me?
•Do I trust the sender?
When the answer is yes, they open. When it's no, your chance at income is gone.
Mistakes That Cost
Money •Being vague: "Update from Me" = instant delete.
•Over-cleverness: If readers don't "get it," they don't click.
•Looking spammy: too many emojis or all caps.
•Clickbait without delivery: a quick way to lose trust, and with it, future sales.
The Swipe File Secret One of my best tools is a swipe
file: a collection of subject lines that worked on me. Over time, I've built a library of examples that inspire my own campaigns. That file has directly led to more open rates—and more income—for my authors and myself.
The Bottom Line The subject line isn't just a label. It's your first impression, your open door, and often your first dollar. Every email unopened is a missed paycheck.
So,
before you hit send, ask: Would I open this? If not, rewrite until the answer is yes. Because when you win the subject line, you don't just win readers—you win income.
Author Bio - Evan Swensen is a publisher of Publication Consultants, an Alaska-based company dedicated to helping authors bring their books to life. He has guided hundreds of writers from manuscript to marketplace and is the longtime host of Alaska Outdoor Magazine. Explore Evan's books and resources at publicationconsultants.com
Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Calling all storytellers! Got a funny story or touching personal essay? The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is accepting 450-word, previously unpublished submissions through Jan. 6. Four first-place
winners — one in each local and global category of humor and human-interest writing — will receive $1,000, free registration to the sold-out Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop (March 26–28, 2026) and publication of their essays. $100 cash prizes for honorable mentions. Details: https://wclibrary.info/erma HACHETTE CHILDREN'S NOVEL AWARD - UK
https://newwritingnorth.submittable.com/submit/337371/hachette-childrens-novel-award-2026
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 12, 2026. We accept all
kinds of children’s and early teen fiction, including but not limited to historical fiction, crime, science fiction, romance and fantasy. Please do not submit collections of short stories or individual short stories. In terms of target age group, we are looking for fiction for children aged 7–11 (at the younger end of this bracket the word count can be 15–30K; at the older end, approx. 40K), or teen fiction for readers aged 11-13 (50–65K words), this should still exclude high-end or explicit
content including swearing, sex and drugs. There will be two winners of this award. The winning writers will be offered a financial prize of £3000 each; and a programme of mentoring opportunities with professionals at Hachette Children’s Group, including a minimum of 4 professional development sessions in a nine-month period, across editorial and design, sales, marketing and rights. Any reasonable travel expenses will be covered by the publisher. To apply for this award you should be: Living in
the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months; Over the age of 18; a debut author of middle-grade and early teen fiction. MARLOWE & CHRISTIE NOVEL PRIZE
https://www.marloweandchristie.com/
£24 - £95 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January
5, 2026. First Prize: £1,200/$1,600. Top Three: Feedback from Alec Shane, literary agent with Writers House, Jenny Hewson, literary agent from Lutyens & Rubinstein and Guest Reviewer Katie Seaman, Developmental Editor and Former Commissioning Editor at HQ. Top Ten: Feedback from Patrick Gleeson, Bedford Square author of Hattie Brings the House Down and Hattie Steals the Show. Submit the opening 3000 words of your novel. No need to have written more or to provide a synopsis. DO WHATS WRITE
https://www.dowhatswrite.com/rules
$5 CAD ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2025. The winner will receive a prize of $200 CAD and published on the website. Contest entries should be flash fiction or short stories, with an absolute word limit of 1000 words. There is no
required prompt or topic. There is no preferred genre or format of story. This contest is international - you do not have to reside in Canada to participate. SHEPTON SNOWDROPS POETRY CONTEST
https://www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk/competitions/2026-poetry-competition/
£4 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 4, 2026. THEME: IN THE GARDEN. Prize 18 & Over – £300. Your poem(s) must be no more than 30 lines long. Entrants can enter poems from any country in the world, but they must be written in English. You can write your poems in any format – haiku, sonnet, blank verse etc., but they must be relevant to the theme. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING YADDO RESIDENCIES
https://yaddo.org/apply/
Generally, those who qualify for Yaddo residencies are either working at the professional level in their fields or are emerging artists whose work shows great professional promise. An
abiding principle at Yaddo is that applications for residency are judged solely on the quality of the work. Yaddo places no publication, exhibition or performance requirements on artists in residence. The January 6 deadline is for residencies starting May of the same year, through March of the following year. Applicants receive results by email in mid-March. The August 1 deadline is for residencies starting November of the same year through June of the following year. Applicants receive results
by email in early October. Residencies vary in length, from two weeks to two months. Residencies include room, board, a studio and more, granting you the opportunity to work without interruption in a supportive environment. GEORGE R. R. MARTIN SUMMER INTENSIVE WRITING WORKSHOP GRANTS 2026
https://forms.medill.northwestern.edu/view.php
Deadline January 12, 2026. Medill is committed to identifying talented, established journalists with an idea for a specific fictional project and immersing them in a nurturing and supportive environment. We will provide writing time, reflection, discussion and collegial workshopping of novels in progress. The workshop -- which will take place at Northwestern University’s Evanston, Ill., campus July 7 to 15,
2026 -- will focus on writing fiction. GRRM Fellows will have the opportunity to learn from award-winning novelists and writing instructors. This program is designed specifically for mid-career journalists. Applicants should have at least five years of experience in the field, either full-time or freelance. Participants will receive funds for transportation from their home base to Chicago (basic roundtrip economy airfare, or similar), lodging in a single room at a group hotel, and all meals
during the program. MIDDLEBURY BREAD LOAF WRITERS' CONFERENCE GRANTS
https://www.middlebury.edu/writers-conferences/writers-conference/apply
Participant applicants are writers with a range of experience who are in the early stages of their literary careers or
ongoing learners of the literary arts interested in feedback on work-in-progress. Our admissions board seeks emerging writers whose work shows talent and literary promise as well as those who already have an established literary background including publications in magazines and periodicals and/or an MFA or additional literary or academic training. BANFF CRIME WRITING RESIDENCY
https://www.banffcentre.ca/funding-opportunities-artists
Deadline February 18, 2026. Banff Centre's Artist Fund provides financial support to artists in many of our programs including full scholarships for Canadian Indigenous participants. Please fill out the Financial Aid question when you apply for your program to be eligible. Crime Writing is a self-directed
residency that provides writers with the time and space to focus on their work away from the constraints of everyday life. During this two-week residency crime writers can take advantage of one-on-one mentorship opportunities with faculty, group discussions, and a community of artistic peers. BANFF SPORTS WRITING RESIDENCY
https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/literary-arts/sports-writing-2026
Deadline April 08, 2026. This two-week residency encourages the exploration of new ideas in sports writing. Designed to challenge and stimulate, the program aims to inspire creative pieces of sports-focused non-fiction and to assist the writers in their completion. A preeminent space
for long-form journalism, this residency emphasizes the strengths of thorough and articulate reporting, distinctive storytelling, and literary devices. Banff Centre's Artist Fund provides financial support to artists in many of our programs including full scholarships for Canadian Indigenous participants. Please fill out the Financial Aid question when you apply for your program to be eligible. STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS
https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/straightarrownews/jobs/4006731009
https://san.com/about/
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. Typically, Straight Arrow News freelance stories fall into three categories: 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; and Longform enterprise: Stories that require at least five sources to be interviewed, as well as intense analysis and the use of several data points. WRITER'S DIGEST
https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/submission-guidelines
We consider completed manuscripts on spec, as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. Your query should discuss how the article will benefit our readers, why the topic is timely and why you’re the
appropriate writer to discuss the topic. Please submit pitches to the print magazine using one of the pitch forms on the editorial calendar. If your pitch doesn't fit the issue themes, please submit your pitch using this general submission form. Payment up to 50 cents/word. Note there is an editorial calendar with themes. ORI
https://ori-mag.com/
https://ori-mag.com/pages/contributor-guidelines-and-protocol
Deadline January 10, 2026. Ori is accepting pitches for this spring's World Cup issue from now until the first week of January. We are looking for unique angles and unheard histories, the kind of stories that
make us laugh, sit up out of our chair, scratch our heads, laugh, cry, FEEL. We urge you to go deep on these, and to get a little nerdy. To give a little taste, we have already assigned a piece on the grass farmers that are providing futuristic turf for World Cup games and are looking at an entire church dedicated to one of the game's greatest heroes. These are stories about people, place, and how they all come together. Pitch kade@ori-mag.com (Kade Krichko, Founding Editor). AMERICAN GARDENER
https://ahsgardening.org/writers-guidelines/
Our readers are mainly experienced amateur gardeners; about 20 percent are horticultural professionals. American Gardener is the official publication of
the American Horticultural Society. Feature articles run 1,500 to 2,500 words, depending on subject and assignment. Column stories run 900-1,000 words. Payment for feature articles ranges from $300 to $700 on publication, depending on the article’s length and complexity, and the author’s background and publishing experience. Reimbursement for travel and other expenses can sometimes be negotiated at the time an article is accepted. Payment for column stories ranges from $150 to $200. We pay a
25-percent kill fee in those instances where an author has completed revisions of the text requested by our editorial staff, and the article is still for any reason considered unacceptable. HERIZONS
https://herizons.ca/submissions
Herizons Magazine has been Canada’s foremost feminist magazine since
1992. Herizons publishes social commentary on art, culture, and legal/political/community affairs related to gender, race, and sexuality. Each issue includes timely, feminist-informed essays, news, and reviews, prioritizing writers based in Canada. Herizons is published 4 times per year in Winnipeg. Please note, we are only accepting submissions from women, non-binary, and Two-Spirit writers based in Canada. $600 flat fee for 1500-2000 words | critical essays, personal essays, responses,
reviews, interviews, art writing, experimental writing, and more. $250 flat fee for 600 words | personal/critical essay related to current events. $175 flat fee for 500 words | critical or personal responses to recent films, exhibitions, performances, or other moving image and art happenings. $125 flat fee for 350 words | brief, opinionated responses.
GEMMA COOPER LITERARY
https://www.gemmacooperliterary.com/about-us
Right now, I’m only open to the following adult genres: cosy crime, smart contemporary crime with humour like Everyone On this Train is a Suspect, crime with a fantasy twist like
Rivers of London or Thursday Next series and crime with a sci-fi spin like murder on a spaceship. I’m looking for something on the lighthearted side – a clever story with an unusual or interesting hook – and not dark thrillers or anything gritty. Please don’t send me anything with child death or gratuitous violence. I’m not open to contemporary adult fiction, adult non-fiction, literary novels, romance, nor poetry. STEELWORKS
LITERARY
https://steelworksliterary.com/submissions/
Lori Steel considers fiction and nonfiction projects from picture books to New Adult/crossover books, and author-illustrators who create picture books, illustrated novels, and graphic novels. Julie Romeis Sanders considers fiction and nonfiction projects for children ages 0-12, including authors
and author-illustrators of picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and middle grade. AMPERSAND AGENCY
https://theampersandagency.co.uk/submissions
We would like to see the first three chapters or approximately 50 pages of your book, together with a brief synopsis and some
biographical details about yourself. We welcome contemporary and historical novels, literary, crime, thrillers, fantasy, science fiction; non-fiction: current affairs, history, popular science. We don’t handle poetry, self-help books, or stories for young children. D4EO LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.d4eoliteraryagency.com/
See the submission guidelines, per agent, by clicking to their profile. Submission instructions are specific to every individual agent. D4EO is a full-service, multi-agent literary agency representing authors of a broad range of commercial fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults, and adults. RITTENBERG LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.rittlit.com/
Gracie is looking for enemies to lovers romance novels, light fantasy or romantasy, leftist political non-fiction and/or biographies, and fiction set around characters in the global south. See published books to see what Ann represents.
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
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