VOLUME 26, ISSUE 18 | MAY 1, 2026 |
SUCCESS STORY TIMES TWO And this is the main reason I do the FFW newsletter. I've put a poet together with a contest I wholeheartedly support and both have won. Kudos, Emily (and kudos WinningWriters.com) Dear Hope Clark, Signing up to your newsletter over ten years ago was one of the best things I did as a writer to make it easier to find opportunities. By "find", I mean they just arrive in my inbox every Friday. I've been a
finalist and had several poems published after submitting to opportunities you've shared. I've had more rejections than acceptances, which I've learned to see as steps toward success. Most recently, I won the 2025 Tom Howard Poetry Prize. Such an honor! I may have missed this contest by Winning Writers if it wasn't for you promoting it several times. Here is a
link to my winning poem, "Sonogram Vision."
https://winningwriters.com/past-winning-entries/sonogram-vision Thank you for all you do to support writers! Best wishes,
Emily Davis-Fletcher
|
Editing That Respects Your Voice While Strengthening It—Using 100% Human Eyes! At Copper Quill Editing, every manuscript is treated like a finely engineered marvel. Specializing in: - Fiction genres including romance, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, thriller, YA, and literary fiction
- Series continuity.
- All fiction writers, including self-published and indie writers and those who work established publishing houses.
- Respect for author voice and genre conventions without using AI.
- Clear communication and honest feedback.
- Reliable deadlines.
- Judgment-free collaboration.
Contact me at [email protected] for a free 1,000-word sample edit. www.copperquillediting.com BOOKSTORES AND AI
I was talking to a bookstore owner recently, and she spoke of her disgruntlement of self-published authors. Why? Because of AI. At least once a week, someone will come in, pitch their book to be placed on the store's shelves,
and quickly give away in some fashion how they used AI to become an author, and how wonderful it is. She lets them leave a free book, not engaging in conversation because of how AI can turn controversial. Then she throws it into a mile-high stack in the back corner of her office until she throws them away or donates them somewhere. Those AI books never stand a chance. She has no intentions of reading them. She has no intentions of selling them. She runs a business, for goodness sake. Using AI flies in the face of entrepreneurs, she said. Like real authors, shop owners are busting their butts doing the real work, the original work, the hard learning-curve work. And they don't like someone using short cuts doing what they work hard to genuinely do. And a sad point is this AI trend is reflecting
on self-published authors as a whole. You can like this or not. You can think it fair or not. Doesn't matter. A bookstore owner works hard. They don't have time to read every freebie left in their possession. But to write one with AI is a guaranteed rejection if they suspect it at all.
-June 4, 2026 - Chapin Library, Chapin, SC - 1-2 PM -June 13-20, 2026 - Gutsy Great Novel Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine - Hope as author-in-residence -July 25, 2026 - Smoking Guns Sisters in Crime Zoom meeting - Noon - Zoom -August 17, 2026 - Saluda County Library, Saluda, SC - 5:30-7 PM -October 27-28, 2026 - SC Library Conference,
Columbia Convention Ctr - lunch speaker -November 15-21, 2026 - Edisto Beach, signings TBD
Email: [email protected] to schedule events, online or otherwise. “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” ~Joseph Campbell
How Writing Contests Became My Best-Paying Writing Habit This Year
By Bethany Bruno Last year, I made more money from my writing than I ever had before, and it came from one change: submitting to
writing contests. I don’t pretend contest winnings can replace a full-time income, and they haven’t for me. But contest money has helped in concrete ways, and it gave me a takeaway even more useful than a check: momentum. I won $1,000 from The Saturday Evening Post's Great American Fiction Contest. I also won $500 from Blue Earth Review's Flash Fiction Contest over the summer. Those two wins did not solve everything, but they paid bills, funded entry fees, and proved to me that my work could earn. If contests have always felt like a long shot, here's what worked for me once I started treating them less like a lottery and more like a targeted submission strategy. Step 1: Put finding contest leads on autopilot I stopped relying on random scrolling and started subscribing to newsletters and databases that routinely post contest calls. I use these often:
• Chill Subs: https://www.chillsubs.com/
• Authors Publish: https://authorspublish.com/
• FundsforWriters: https://fundsforwriters.com/ The goal is simple: I want a steady flow of contest opportunities coming to me, so I'm not reinventing the wheel by searching from scratch every time I'm ready to submit something I deem worthy. Step 2: Vet contests by size, visibility, and payout When I see a contest opportunity, I do a quick reality check before I spend time, money, or
emotional energy. I look at:
• Prize amount and how many prizes. One big prize can be great, but a contest with multiple awards, runner-up payouts, or publication can improve the odds of earning something.
• Who's running it. Is it tied to a journal, press, or organization people recognize? Does it list past winners? Does it look legitimate?
• Entry fee
versus upside. If the fee is $20 and the prize is $200, that's different math than a $25 fee for a $2,000 prize and publication.
For broader research, the Poets & Writers Grants & Awards database is useful because it's curated and searchable: https://www.pw.org/grants
Step 3: Theme matching is the advantage most writers ignore Here's the biggest reason contests started paying off for me: I stopped sending my "best story" everywhere and started sending the right story to the right theme. Themed contests narrow the field. When the theme is specific, a lot of writers submit work that only sort of fits. If your piece
truly matches, you stand out fast. Theme alignment does not guarantee a win, but it can move you ahead of a large chunk of the pile. My approach:
• I keep a small inventory of finished work and near-finished work in different moods, subjects, and settings.
• When a themed contest appears, I ask, "Do I already have something that hits this cleanly?"
• If I'm
close, I revise toward the theme without forcing it. This is where the money has been for me. Not because I write "for contests," but because I aim finished work at opportunities where it belongs. Step 4: Track your results so you can repeat what pays Once I started winning and placing, I realized
something: contest earnings reward consistency. I track:
• contest name
• theme
• fee
• prize
• deadline
• what I submitted
• outcome That data teaches you what kinds of contests you place in,
what themes your work excels at, and where your time pays you back. If contests intimidate you, I get it. I waited too long because I assumed I didn't belong in that arena. But submitting became a skill over time. I learned how to find contests, vet them, match themes, and send work out without turning every entry into a referendum on my talent.
Even if contests can’t become your whole income, they can
become a real piece of it. Plus, the courage you build from hitting submit is its own kind of payment.
Author Bio: Bethany Bruno is a Floridian author. She holds a BA in English from Flagler College and an MA from the University of North Florida. Her work has appeared in more than a hundred literary journals and magazines, including The Threepenny Review, The Sun, McSweeney's, River Teeth's Beautiful Things, and The Huffington Post. A Best of the Net nominee, she
has won multiple writing contests, including the 2026 Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. Learn more at www.bethanybrunowriter.com.
ASIAN VOICES IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE WRITING CONTEST
https://go.teachercreatedmaterials.com/free-spirit/asian-voices-childrens-literature-writing-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May
31, 2026. The contest is open to authors of Asian heritage who at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age and residing anywhere in the United States. The contest’s mission is to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children’s stories written by and about people of Asian heritage. Every entry is considered for publication. Must be original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–1,000 words). First Place: $1,000 cash prize, a swag package from
Sambasivan & Parikh and Teacher Created Materials, and a meeting with Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh, founder of Sambasivan & Parikh, and an acquisitions editor from Free Spirit to discuss the winner’s project. Second Place: $500. Third Place: $300. CRAFT FIRST CHAPTERS CONTEST
https://www.craftliterary.com/craft-first-chapters-contest-2026/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 28, 2026. Opportunity to win a $2,000 award, excerpt publication, and a full manuscript critique by Artful Editor. The First Chapters Contest is open to all fiction writers; CRAFT is a market for literary fiction.
Please send excerpts of up to 5,000 words of book-length fiction only. SILENT RIVER POETRY PRIZE
https://riverpawpress.com/silent-river-poetry-prize/
$35 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2026. First prize $1,000. Open to authors residing in the United States, who have not yet published a full-length poetry collection. Authors with previously published chapbooks or books in
other genres are eligible. Self-published poets are also eligible, provided they have not published more than one full-length poetry collection. Manuscripts must be 50–70 pages in length. FUGERE BOOK PRIZE FOR FINELY CRAFTED NOVELLAS
https://regalhousepublishing.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2026. Winner receives $1000 and book publication by Regal House Publishing. Minimum of 17,000 words, maximum of 40,000 words. Must be a US citizen. PETRICHOR PRIZE FOR FINELY CRAFTED FICTION
https://regalhousepublishing.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2026. Winner receives book publication by Regal House Publishing in 2028/9 and a $1000 prize. Minimum of 100 pages, maximum of 350 pages.
GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING MOONSHOT INITIATIVE
https://www.moonshotinitiative.org/pilot-accelerator
$59-$79 ENTRY FEE depending on which deadline. NEXT DEADLINE May 29, 2026. In this highly competitive virtual accelerator program for TV writers,
6-8 fellows will receive three weeks of industry training before having the opportunity to pitch to major studios, production companies, representatives, and producers. The entire accelerator, including training and pitching, will occur online. NEBRASKA ARTIST ROSTER
https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/artist-roster/join/
Our roster provides a list of talented Nebraska artists available for hire through grants that assist with the cost of retaining artists for educational residences or performances. RAUSCHENBERG MEDICAL EMERGENCY GRANTS
https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/rauschenberg-medical-emergency-grants/
Deadline May 12. 2026. The Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography. RYAN HUDAK LGBTQ+ DRAMATIC WRITING AWARD
https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/the-ryan-hudak-lgbtq-dramatic-writing-award
Deadline June 16, 2026. An $8,000 cash grant to a New York State-based playwright or screenwriter who self-identifies as LGBTQ+ including those who live within the five
boroughs of New York City.
DISTILLATIONS
https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/pitch-a-magazine-story/
We are actively seeking writers with a background in historical research or magazine feature writing who have a knack for unearthing little-told
history and finding historical angles to contemporary topics. $1.25/word for features. $750 flat fee for argued essays, columns, and profiles. ANCIENT HISTORY
https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/en-us/pages/submissions-ancient-history
Ancient History
consists of a number of sections, which will determine on what sort of topic the article should focus. Authors will receive 10 eurocent per word (except for reviews). Articles are written for a large audience, interested in ancient history. This means that the article should be both informative and based on modern academic research, but written in a smooth and easily accessible style. EVERYTHING IS FINE
https://everythingisfineonline.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines
Everything is Fine* is a resistance substack focused on anti-fascism in particular, and progressive issues in general. We’re looking for reported stories, opinions, profiles/interviews, and personal essays, of somewhere between 1200 and 2000 words. We pay $200 for an
essay/opinion, $250 if there is original reporting, and $300 if there are original photos in addition to the reporting. TRAVELPULSE CANADA
https://www.travelpulse.ca/write-for-us
TravelPulse Canada welcomes pitches from experienced freelance writers who can deliver original, insightful
travel content for a Canadian travel trade audience. We publish timely travel news, destination features, trend analysis, and journalism relevant to travel professionals. We pay $250 CDN for 800-1000 words. CHICKEN SOUP: HUMOROUS STORIES
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline August 31,
2026. We are looking for true stories about something that happened to you in your life — in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, a pet, at work or at home — that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. All submissions need to be true — we do not publish fiction. Stories should be no longer than 1,200 words. Please write in the first person. Pays $250 and 10 free copies of your book. FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/imprint/free-spirit-publishing
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/submission-guidelines
Whether at home, in early childhood settings, or in classrooms and counseling offices, our books meet young people where they are, not where we wish they were. We focus on helping kids develop practical life skills, resilience, confidence, and a positive outlook so they can reach their full potential. Our line of materials includes early childhood board books and picture books on
social skills and positive behavior; Self-Help for Kids®; Self-Help for Teens®; and teaching resources for educators. ANGRY ROBOTS BOOKS
https://angryrobotbooks.com/submissions/
We are currently accepting un-agented submissions from Black authors. We currently only publish novels (think
70k+ words), whether standalone or as part of greater series. We are not looking to publish short works such as novellas, short stories, short story collections, poetry or plays, graphic novels, or non-fiction at this time. All our books are “genre” fiction in one way or another – specifically science fiction, fantasy, and horror. DOWN AND OUT BOOKS https://downandoutbooks.com/
We’re seeking novel-length works of crime fiction, 50,000 words or more. Send us the kind of raw, dark, and existential noir mainstream publishers shy away from—fiction that stares into the chaos of morality and keeps going. We’re not interested in cozy mysteries, young adult or adolescent-led crime fiction, domestic thrillers aimed at the early afternoon Chardonnay and Pinot
Grigio crowd, or police procedurals unless you have a tremendously unique spin on an exhausted trope. SOLARIS NOVA
https://rebellionpublishing.com/solaris-nova/submissions/
Your novel must be science fiction, fantasy, or horror. Your novel must be at least 60,000 words but
no longer than 90,000 words. Your novel must be an original work of fiction, written wholly by you without the assistance of AI technology.
FUNDSFORWRITERS FINE PRINT Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint any editorials, contact [email protected] 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: [email protected]
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 [email protected] **Note that FundsforWriters.com places paid advertising in this newsletter. ALL ads are related to writers and the business of writing, screened by FundsforWriters to make sure the information is suitable for writers and their endeavors to improve their careers. While the mailing list is
not sold to third parties, other parties do advertise in the newsletter, to include the occasional solo ad. You will not receive this newsletter without your permission. It's physically impossible since recipients must opt-in, giving us permission to send the newsletter. If at any time you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each newsletter. We want you to enjoy this newsletter at your pleasure, not be forced to read anything you do not wish to
receive. Direct any complaints, suggestions, and accolades to Hope Clark at [email protected]. We are an anti-spam site. | |
|
|
|
