VOLUME 26, ISSUE 24 | JUNE 12, 2026 |
PROMO LESSON Once upon a time not long ago I did an event where several authors appeared. It was at a library. The library didn't advertise except in its own material to its patrons. They thought the writers would really appreciate the recognition. I asked if they had advertising prepared that I could use. No. I mentioned I would promote via my channels. They thanked me. I asked if they had asked the other authors to do the same. No. So I asked who the other authors were. (I had no idea.) Then I did ads. I sent them via all my channels. I crossed my fingers this was worth the travel and the time. I have done this multiple times over the years, learning a hard lesson each time, but apparently not learning it permanently. One would think I would have. Now, however, my rules as a whole are these: -Get paid to appear unless the sale of books will adequately compensate. -If I speak, present, or teach a class, I get paid, regardless of sales. -Avoid multiple author events. . . anywhere. The average visitor buys 1-3 books regardless how many authors are there. When there are many authors, do the math. -People don't come to libraries to buy books. They go to bookstores to do that. Don't get me wrong. I love librarians. But they do not sell books. People who love libraries check out their reading material. They don't buy. I've seen that
enough times in my bookclub, having listened to members fuss about being on a wait list for a book, to include my own titles. . . complaining while I was sitting right there. Like buying a book was insane. Do not sell your soul to sell your books. Be selective. Stand firm. What's the price? It's on the back of the book. Is there a discount? No. Will you speak for free? First tell me how many people will be there and will there be any
other authors? How many books can I expect to sell to cover a decent speaking fee if you don't pay one? In being concise and armed with firm answers you earn a higher degree of respect as an author. They will define you quickly as a hobby writer or a professional writer based upon how you respect yourself. |
DON'T SETTLE
Jane Friedman recently reminded us in her Electric Speed
newsletter that only 20 percent of anyone in their profession is a high performer. High performer, of course, is different depending upon the profession and skill. She spoke of a CPA. I am speaking of the services, tools, and products that get thrown at you involving writing. What makes for the high 20 percent of those options? Customer service.
Willingness to polish
to a higher degree.
Quality work.
Consistency.
Reliability.
No sign of settling for less. If you seek an editor, a cover designer, a website designer, or other need, do you settle? You may feel the higher performer charges more than you can afford, so you go with someone less. Often times our impatience to proceed makes us settle. By you settling, you drop
yourself out of the top 20. Save for the better service. Think hard before settling for less. You think people won't notice. They do.
-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 -August 29, 2026 - Saturday Writers Group - noon Eastern - Zoom -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. Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving in words evidence of the fact.
~George Eliot
Got the Guts to Get Your Piece Published?
By Abby Williams I'm not a talented writer. I'm not even steeped in writing qualifications. Yet my website is splattered with published features.
How? In three words - pitch, ballsiness and research. Pitch - Turtles inspired me to write. While out having coffee, I noticed a company advertising string bags as alternatives to plastic ones. Not very interesting in itself. But, paired with the emotive side that turtles suffer an untimely death by eating an upturned plastic one, I had an idea for a pitch. Ballsiness - I'd never written a pitch so bought a book on how to write a good one. 'I can try that' I decided. I found a UK women's magazine aimed at seniors and read it from cover to cover three times. I'd hit on a topical issue, the editor was interested! Research - The editor guided me. She wanted more ideas for plastic bag alternatives and quotes from supermarkets on how they intended to
eliminate them. Internet searches gave me suggestions for bags. I emailed supermarkets' media departments (found on their website) to obtain spokespeople. The article was published. Beginner's luck? Well, yes and no - I continued to work freelance for the magazine for two years. Discovering our local county magazine in another cafe, I rang to see if they were looking
for a writer. "Can you write an advertorial?" said the editor. Um, no, I thought. "Yes, absolutely," I said. I researched how to write a good advertorial and got another two years' worth of work. Still an average writer but one with a ballsy approach, I noticed the UK Daily Mail published personal health
stories. I had a few. The editor of the women's section was interested in my pitch on acne. She gave me a word count and guidance on what to include. My feature was accepted. I'm still waiting to see it in print but I've learnt to be patient - it took two years once for a feature to appear! Ideas come from my own life - health, hobbies, relationships and experiences. But also from observation and chatting to
everyone! From a casual conversation with a florist I uncovered her inspirational story. A stroke left her unable to read, write or work. She re-learnt everything, then did what she'd always wanted - work with flowers. The interview was published in a women's magazine. Yes, I've had my share of flops. Like dating, you don't find a perfect match every time. From what I've learnt: The pitch is everything. Spend time on it. Read books on how to perfect it. Research the name of the relevant editor. Send to one well researched medium at a time. Don't just meet the deadline - beat it. Get personal - cultivate an ongoing professional relationship with the editor after your first success. Create an account on LinkedIn. Connect with editors. Struggle to find an editor's direct email? From a web
search, find the general format of emails to that medium. It's then possible to figure it out. Media kits, found online as a PDF or as interactive web pages, break down readership and sometimes give an editorial calendar. Wikipedia provides a "days of the year" list of famous births, deaths and historical events. Link your pitch to an anniversary date. On Facebook, 'follow' and 'like' as many publications as you can find. While not advertising for feature writers, they often request funny or topical fillers - all paid. Excellent practice for writing to a tight word count. Aiming for print media? Magazines sometimes offer a cheap 3 month trial membership. Good Housekeeping (UK and USA) offers good deals on this. Beauty salons stock glossy magazines for customers. Study the features for free. Photograph the editorial page for the commissioning editor's name. If you're going to be bold and ballsy, stay interested in life, perfect your pitch, target right and write tight. BIO - Abby Williams is a UK published freelance writer. She
still feels like a newbie writer, but one now with some experience. Her goal is to remain interested in life, people and latest trends so she can help solve readers' problems, entertain and enlighten. That way, she feels she will always have something to write about. www.abbywilliamsfreelancewriting.com
ID 8600159 © Singaporevideo | Dreamstime.com
WRITING YOUR LIFE, WRITING TO HEAL Memoir Writing & Restorative Yoga Retreat Costa Rica - July 25 - August 1, 2026 Tempted to write about your
precious but complex life, but too afraid to dive in? Join award-winning memoirist Zita Arocha, and yoga therapist, Lorelei Alvarez, for a one-week intensive memoir-writing and restorative yoga retreat on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, July 25 to August 1. The experience will spark your creativity and provide useful feedback to help you produce a polished personal essay that connects with readers. Along the journey, we'll practice restorative yoga on the beach and under jungle trees, swim in the infinity pool, meditate, explore tropical wildlife, visit a quaint beach town, and nurture our bodies with healthy vegetarian meals. Find more details and pricing at zitaarocha.com or email [email protected]. The workshop is ideal for writers, journalists, educators, and professionals with a personal story to tell. RATTLE POETRY PRIZE
https://rattle.com/page/poetryprize/
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2026. Offers $15,000 for a single poem to be published in the winter issue of the magazine. Ten finalists will
also receive $500 each and publication, and be eligible for the $5,000 Readers’ Choice Award, to be selected by subscriber and entrant vote. Additional poems from the entries are frequently offered publication as well. In 2024 we published 29 poems that had been submitted to the contest from over 5,000 entries. THE ORISON CHAPBOOK PRIZE
https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/orison-chapbook-prize-6T0fK
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2026. Submissions of chapbook manuscripts (20 – 45 pp.) in any genre (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama, or hybrid). The winner will be awarded publication, a $300 cash prize, and 20 copies of the chapbook, in addition to a standard royalties contract. INTERNATIONAL VOICES IN CREATIVE NONFICTION COMPETITION
https://www.vineleavespress.com/international-voices-in-cnf.html
$28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2026. The competition is open to writers worldwide. If the manuscript is narrative in nature (i.e. a
memoir) then the length should be between 50,000 – 80,000 words, give or take within reason. If the manuscript is experimental in nature (i.e. not straight prose, could be vignettes, poetry, or a mix), it should be at least 100 pages long. The winner will receive a cash prize of $1000. Publication of the winning manuscript will occur in 2028 by Vine Leaves Press. Runners up will also be considered for publication. KEY COLORS
AWARD
https://www.clavis-publishing.com/keycolors2026
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2026. Only a children’s book, intended for children from 2 to 7 years old, can qualify for the award. A professional jury will judge the artistic, literary and child-oriented qualities of the works. The winner receives $ 8000 and the winning
work will be published by Clavis Publishing. Key Colors 2026 is for illustrators based in the US and Canada. THE ORISON CHAPBOOK PRIZE
https://www.orisonbooks.com/submissions
Deadline July 1, 2026. For manuscripts of 20 – 45 pages, in any genre (poetry, fiction, nonfiction,
drama, or hybrid). The winner receives $300 and publication. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING VERMONT ARTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/find-a-grant/artists/artist-development/
Artist Development Grants support activities that enhance mastery of an artist’s craft or
skills or that increase the viability of an artist’s business. Individual artists and groups of artists in Vermont may apply for any amount up to $2,000. Reopens early July 2026. SC INDIE FILM GRANTS
https://www.indiegrants.org/indie-grants
Deadline August 3,
2026. The South Carolina Film Commission and Trident Technical College invite South Carolina filmmakers to apply for INDIE GRANTS, production grants for narrative short film projects. Submissions are now open, with applications due by 11:59 pm ET on August 3, 2026. INDIE GRANTS funding can range from $25,000 to $45,000 to cover the full production of short film projects, including post-production. Selected grant recipients are expected to manage their productions with a high level of
professionalism, quality, and practicality throughout the process. THE BOOK PROJECT
https://lighthousewriters.org/mentorship/book-project
Deadline June 22, 2026. The Book Project is an intensive, two-year program aimed at giving writers of book-length
manuscripts the classes, advice, and moral support they need to draft, revise, and—most importantly—finish. This program provides the inspiration and resources to help you finish your book and take the step in your literary journey. Whether you're working on a novel, memoir, short story collection, or narrative nonfiction title, your mentor will work closely with you to chart a path through your project. Tuition is $8,950 per year but there are fellowships. Book Project Fellows receive full or
partial tuition for The Book Project. TENNESSEE ARTS BUILD COMMUNITIES GRANTS
https://tnartscommission.org/grant-opportunities/abc-open/
Deadline July 1, 2026. The Arts Build Communities Grant program provides support for arts projects that broaden access
to arts experiences, address community quality of life issues through the arts, or enhance the sustainability of asset-based cultural enterprises. Project examples include performances by professional artists, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, murals, creative placemaking projects, and training for artists and arts administrators. 501c3 non-profit organizations legally chartered and headquartered in Tennessee and local government entities may request up to $5,000 for proposed
projects.
COMSTOCK'S MAGAZINE
https://www.comstocksmag.com/submission-guidelines
Comstock’s is open to pitches by freelance journalists, preferably based in the California Capital Region. Check out the navigation bar on our homepage for a list of
the main topics we cover (e.g., transportation, real estate, health care, education, development, law and government, food and agriculture). Looking for those who can write about business and culture in the region, send us a pitch with your CV, clippings and references. New writers begin with a web story at a flat rate of $300 and may then be considered for print stories, which pay a per-word rate starting at $0.50/word. We occasionally run book reviews (local authors only), which pay
$150. TOP OF LAS VEGAS
https://topoflasvegas.com/pitch/
Tell us what we’re missing. A restaurant we haven’t added. A restaurant we’ve ranked wrong. A dish nobody’s talking about. A neighborhood we’ve slept on. A story thread you want us to chase (or one you want to write yourself). We welcome tips
from regulars, servers, chefs, journalists, and anyone who eats in the valley with their eyes open. Flat rates for pitched guides ($250—$600 depending on scope), per-word for reported features, kill fee if we assign and don’t run. ELITE PERSONAL FINANCE
https://www.elitepersonalfinance.com/write-for-us/
Send us an email at info at elitepersonalfinance.com with the title of your post idea, and we’ll let you know whether to move forward. Once complete, we will compensate you $300 for your hard work. This could become a recurring venture. Aim for 1,000 to 3,000 words per post. Accepted topics: Personal Finance, Business, Make Money Online, Save Money, Loans, Credit Cards, Identity Theft, Credit Report, Guides, Articles,
Unique Content, Helpful Tips. THE FINANCIAL DIET
https://thefinancialdiet.com/write-for-us/
Everyone has a story to tell about personal finance, whether it’s living with six figures of student debt or buying a home at 25. We want to hear what really happened, beyond the statistics and the
generalized essays about millennials. Don’t just tell us what you do, tell us why you do it. Let people know something about you, and show someone they are not alone in the process. We don’t have to take ourselves so seriously, or be so taboo about money. Pay at least $250. THE RUMPUS
https://therumpus.net/about/#writersguidelines
We publish original fiction and poetry, cultural criticism, comics, and interviews. We pay $500 for prose and comics and $200 for poetry and interviews.
FIFTH STANZA
https://www.fifthstanzapress.com/
Fifth Stanza Press is dedicated to publishing debut and second collections of poetry by writers in midlife or later. We believe in the power of mining creativity from life experience, and our name, Fifth
Stanza, alludes to the insights that poets can access and express through the writing process after the first four decades of life. We admire and are open to a diverse range of poetic styles, schools and movements. We operate on an open reading period model and do not run contests. FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/submission-guidelines
We accept submissions from authors and agents for our Free Spirit Publishing and Shell Education imprints. Please review our submission guidelines closely, and if your submission fits, submit using Submittable. For more than 40 years, Free Spirit has provided children and teens—and the adults who care for and about them—with the tools they need to think for themselves, overcome
challenges, and make a difference in the world. STRIVE PUBLISHING
https://strivepubandco.com/
Strive Publishing is a hybrid press, and our mission is to be the catalyst that transforms your literary dreams into reality. We aim to empower aspiring authors by providing a supportive platform for
self-publishing and to co-creating projects with our community to reach a worldwide audience. Our mission is to celebrate the power of stories by focusing on books that amplify marginalized voices, with a significant emphasis on works by Black authors. CON TODO PRESS
https://www.contodopress.com/pages/our-mission
Con Todo Press is a Latina-owned publishing company on a mission to uplift and empower underrepresented communities through high-quality bilingual children’s books. By celebrating Latino culture, customs, and leaders, we strive to share authentic stories that reflect our everyday joys, preserve our heritage, and inspire future generations.
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
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