FundsforWriters - December 30, 2007

Published: Fri, 12/28/07

Volume 7, Issue 52       
December 30, 2007

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FUNDS FOR WRITERS
Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
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Editor:  C. Hope Clark
Mailto:    Hope@fundsforwriters.com
Website: http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Newsletter: 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.
 
 
 
 

                 
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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Read newsletter online at: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
=====
 
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK...
 
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Storytelling, like writing, is a craft that can be learned.
Writers Central specialises in online courses and e-books
devoted to the art and craft of writing great fiction.
And great fiction sells.
 
Join published author and columnist Suzanne Harrison, as she
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=====
 
HOPE'S HABIT
 
I admit it. I subscribe to magazines to get the free introductory
copy then cancel the subscription. Surely you know that many
magazines offer that opportunity? Especially this time of year.
I have offers to cookbooks, parenting and business magazines in
my stack of mail as I sit here typing.
 
I know what you're thinking. You'll get your names on mailing
lists. Or you'll forget to cancel the magazine. Don't worry.
The mailing lists often provide other magazine opportunities.
And they'll always send you a bill upon which you can promptly
write across the front "PLEASE CANCEL" and drop back in the mail.
Some even have online access to cancel. I have a habit of opening
the invoice, writing CANCEL and putting the invoice in my out-
going mail in one fell swoop. And even if you forget, you haven't
paid. They quit sending. Simple!
 
Some magazine, especially trade publications, offer their
subscriptions for nothing. What's the catch? No catch. These
publications make their money from advertisements since they
cater to niche markets that use the products. I receive a half
dozen of them. Take a moment or two to peruse these web sites:
 
http://www.all-freemagazines.com/
http://freebies.about.com/od/magazinesubs/Free_Magazine_Subscriptions.htm
 
To find more magazines that flaunt their ability to sign you
up for nothing, do a search for "free magazine subscription."
The list of magazines goes on and on.
 
Order all the titles you have the slightest chance of pitching.
Suddenly your mailbox will feel like Christmas with so many
opportunities coming to you instead of you buying copies or
visiting the library. In the quiet of your home, you can decide
whether a magazine is right for you.

    Hope
 
You have until midnight December 31 to sign up to TOTAL FFW
at the $6 rate. http://www.fundsforwriters.com/totaldeal.htm
 
=====
 
http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com
People are raving about the new look...and the new opportunities
offered four-five days a week.
 
=====
 
OUR NEW NEWSLETTER SERVICE
Aweber.com is the host of our newsletters. If you have a need
for a newsletter hosting service, this one is highly
recommended. http://www.aweber.com/?285524

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~
 
WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
There's still a strange moment with every book when I move
from the position of writer to the position of reader and I
suddenly see my words with the eyes of the cold public. It
gives me a terrible sense of exposure, as if I'd gotten
sunburned.
 
--Eudora Welty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
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Making It Pay
 
By Christine Venzon
 
I confess. I broke the first commandment of writing: Thou
shall not write for free.
 
Like most sins, mine was one of weakness. My cash-cow client
had just closed its doors, on very short notice. Heady with
an uncharacteristic burst of confidence, I decided to take a
chance and explore my first love: food history. While emailing
some respected food writers for advice, I got an offer to
submit articles to an encyclopedia, to be published by a
well-known academic press. It would involve researching
foodways, comparing recipes, talking to other foodies. In
short, everything I wanted in a project-except pay.
 
I was led into temptation, not exactly kicking and screaming.
At first it was great (sin is like that). Not charging for
my work, I spent hours, guilt free, tracking down the most
minute of minutiae. But eventually my conscience, and my
checkbook, started niggling at me. I couldn't back out: I
wanted to make a good impression on these people. And such
nice people. Everyone I contacted was supportive and helpful,
with their own sob stories of encyclopedia writing. I felt I'd
been initiated into a select society. The few, the proud, the
food historians.
 
Divine intervention came to my aid. A website that had already
paid me for an article accidentally sent me a second check.
When I notified the editor, she suggested that rather than
return the check, I earn it by writing another story. I'd been
grumbling that somehow I was going to make this work pay. Here
was a golden chance.
 
I suggested an article with updated, healthful versions of
traditional ethnic recipes (casually mentioning my exhaustive
research on the subject). She thought it was a great idea and
told me to run with it. I fine-tuned some recipes I'd been
experimenting with (my family is fully recovered, thank you),
reworked another that the editor had raved about, and had
myself a sale.
 
After that, I started looking at this project with two eyes:
one on the article I was writing, the other on the articles I
was going to write.
 
It soon paid off. Barely had I signed the contract on my
ethnic recipes story when I saw that an upcoming theme in a
children's magazine was life in ancient Greece. I felt like
I'd lived the last six months in ancient Greece. I Googled
topics in Greek cooking, learned the names of the authorities
in the field, and compiled a bibliography of their books. The
encyclopedia editor kindly agreed to supply some expert quotes
(like I said, helpful and supportive). Now I have a query on
professional baking in ancient Greece ready to go.
 
Speaking of children's markets, they're good venues for
"research derivatives." Respected, higher-paying magazines
insist on solid sources-primary sources when possible-but not
the depth required of articles aimed at adults. They also use
a wider variety of formats: puzzles, quizzes, recipes, crafts,
and fiction. I used what I learned about Polish Christmas
traditions for a short story for kids on the true meaning of
Christmas. For an adult market, I might have turned it into an
essay on the same theme.
 
The moral, in case you skipped to the last paragraph, is not
"don't write for free." You already know that. The moral is:
if you do, make it pay. We're writers; making stuff work for
us is part of the job. I think is was Garrison Keillor who
said, "Nothing bad happens to writers; it is all material."
 
Research and Reward
 
www.cobblestone.com and www.cricketmag.com  Cobblestone and
Cricket are divisions of the venerable Carus Publishing,
producers of Appleseeds, Muse, and other children's magazines.
Each publication specializes in science, social studies, history,
or literature. While the focus is factual, the writing is
flowing and compelling-no dusty history or stale science here.
 
www.eatingwell.com Are you a foodie with a better-than-average
understanding of nutrition (or know someone who is)? Eating
Well accepts work from freelancers for features as well as
numerous departments.
 
www.herbcompanion.com. If you've amassed a small library on
handling honeybees or the history of mustard, with recipes
(edible or medicinal) or tips on cultivation, query The Herb
Companion. The magazine's friendly, noncultist approach makes
it a good fit for the well-informed, green-thumbed writer.
 
BIO
Freelance writer Christine Venzon specializes in all things
food but pays the bills by writing for Christian teen
magazines, local newspapers and magazines, and high school
textbooks read by a captive national audience.

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COMPETITIONS
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ERIAN PRESS THE BEST BOOK AWARDS
http://www.bestbookawards.com/
http://www.erianpress.com/index.htm
---
$50 ENTRY FEE
Best Book Awards were established to recognize meritorious
works by writers who self-published or had their books published
by a small press or independent book publisher. POD books are
eligible. Open to selected book length fiction and non-fiction
titles with a 2007 or 2008 copyright, published in the English
language and targeted for an adult audience in the North American
market. More than one book and/or one book in more than one
category may be submitted. Two Grand Prizes will be awarded:
one for the Best Fiction of the Year and one for the Best Non-
Fiction of the Year. Each Grand Prize Winner will be awarded
$500, a certificate of achievement suitable for framing, and
Best Book Awards will distribute a press release to all major
media announcing the achievement. First, second, and third place
winners will also be chosen in each category. First place winners
in each category will receive $100, a certificate of achievement
suitable for framing, and Best Book Awards will distribute a
press release to all major media announcing the award. Second
and third place winners in each category will receive a
certificate of achievement suitable for framing. Deadline
August 15, 2008.
 
NOTE: This is a new award without history. Read carefully
as with all contests.
 
=====
 
COLUMBIA JOURNAL OF LITERATURE AND ART
The 2008 Contests in Poetry, Fiction, & Nonfiction
http://www.columbiajournal.org/contests.htm
---
$12 ENTRY FEE
$500 will be awarded to the best entry in each category.
Winning entries will be published in Columbia; runners-up
will also be considered for publication. All entrants will
receive a copy of Columbia. Deadline: January 15, 2008.
Fiction and nonfiction entrants may submit up to 20 double-
spaced pages. Poetry entrants may submit up to five poems.
 
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ODD CON
http://oddcon.com/contest.html
---
ENTRY FEE - $10 ADULTS / NONE STUDENTS
Adult division: 18 and over. $500 + OddCon membership to
first place; books, etc. to top three. Youth division:   
under 18 as of Jan. 31, 2008. One entry. $50 + OddCon
membership to first place; books, etc. to top three. Send 500
words or less of speculative (SF & F) fiction or prose poetry
(paragraph form) by January 31, 2008. No previously-published
work, but simultaneous submissions are allowed, and multiple
adult submissions are encouraged. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
DUNE SHACK RESIDENCIES
http://www.thecompact.org
---
Provincetown Community Compact, Provincetown, MA. One to three
week stays in primitive and glorious dune shack in Cape Cod
National Seashore, open to all; one $500 fellowship and 3-week
stay for visual artist; two one-week stays for writers. No fee.
Deadline February 15, 2008.
 
=====
 
CONNECTICUT COMMISSION ON CULTURE AND TOURISM
http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2213&q=308532
---
The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) Creative
Collaboration program fosters collaborations between and among
teaching artists, schools, non-profit arts organizations, and
arts programs of non-arts organizations. The program encourages
the integration of teaching artists from CCT's Directory of
Teaching Artists into a variety of settings. Creative
Collaboration grants may be used to fund residencies and
professional development collaborations between and among
teaching artists and schools; teaching artists and non-profit
arts organizations or arts programs of non-arts organizations;
and teaching artists and school/arts organization teams. The
application deadline is March 6, 2008 for activities that take
place between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
 
=====
 
HUNGARIAN MULTICULTURAL CENTER
http://www.hungarian-multicultural-center.com/
---
Accepting applications for the Csopak/Balatonfured - International
Artist/Writer Residencies and FilmFest. Program Dates: Tuesday,
May 20 - Thursday, June 12, 2008; Thursday, June 17 - Thursday,
July 10, 2008; Tuesday, July 15 - Thursday, August 7, 2008.
Deadline: Tuesday, March 25, 2008. FilmFest Dates: August 5-6, 2008.
The HMC invites interested visual artists, musicians, filmmakers
and writers to submit applications.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
MAD
http://www.dccomics.com/mad/?action=submissions
---
We're actively looking to expand our pool of freelance comedy
writers and there's more opportunity to join The Usual Gang Of
Idiots than ever. If you have a twisted sense of humor, a
peculiar way of looking at the world, or are simply eager to
express your immature, strange or just plain silly side, then
we want to see your stuff! We pay top rates -- $500 per MAD
page (for new contributors) -- on acceptance (pieces that are
less than a page -- e.g. comic strips, Fundalini bits, etc. --
are pro-rated accordingly).
 
=====
 
HORSE AND RIDER
http://www.equisearch.com/horseandrider/submissions/
---
Horse & Rider is the magazine of Western riding. Its mission
is to educate, inform, and entertain both competitive and
recreational Western riders with tightly focused training
articles, practical stable management techniques, hands-on
health care tips, safe trail riding practices, well-researched
consumer advice, and a behind-the-scenes, "you-are-there"
approach to major equine events.
 
=====
 
PLAINTIFF
http://www.plaintiffmagazine.com
---
Plaintiff is the magazine for Northern California plaintiffs'
attorneys. We support those who protect the individual's right
of access to the civil justice system. Pays $250 for columns
and $500 for features.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
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WRITER
Location Lansing, MI
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?sc_extcmp=JS_JobAlert_Title&ipath=PSSK0&psa=1&Job_DID=J3F4M475J1WF7SR572T
---
The Lansing Board of Water and Light is seeking an
enthusiastic part-time Writer/Editor to join our Communications
Department. This position will be responsible for writing
stories and taking photos for our internal publication, the
Pipeline. Eight years of news writing experience required or
a Bachelor's degree with minimum of two years' experience in
news writing or public relations writing for a newspaper,
magazine, or newsletter required.
 
=====
 
ONLINE EDITOR - ELECTRONICS & GADGETS
Location New York, NY
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=5231
---
About.com is seeking a smart self-starter with excellent
editorial skills and judgment to fill the role of Electronics
& Gadgets Editor at our headquarters in New York City.
Experience in an online publishing environment is required.
Experience working with freelance writers or independent
contractors is a strong plus.
 
=====
 
PROMOTIONAL WRITER
Location Phoenix, AZ
http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?joid=69566&page=1
---
The qualified candidate must have 5+ years professional
copywriting experience with proven ability to write headlines,
body copy, and calls to action.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
PLAINSMART PUBLISHING AGENCY
http://www.plainsmart.com/submission.html
---
For nonfiction, we are currently seeking:
History, Politics, Current Affairs, Business (Management &
Leadership, Finance, etc.), Health & Fitness (targeting adults
and children), Gambling (blackjack, poker, roulette, etc.)
For fiction, we are currently seeking:
Literary (with a commercial angle), Commercial mainstream,
Women's fiction, Mysteries & Thrillers (Legal, Medical,
Political, etc.), Chick lit (paranormal, mystery, YA,
etc.), Romance (suspense, contemporary, historical, etc.),
YA/Middle Grade (must be high concept/commercial).
 
=====
 
SERENDIPITY LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.serendipitylit.com/main.asp
---
We accept three kinds of manuscripts: adult fiction, (including
genre fiction,) children's fiction, and children's and adult
non-fiction. 
 
=====
 
AEI, Inc.
http://www.aeionline.com/svc.html
---
AEI, Inc., a literary management and motion picture production
company, represents literary properties strictly for a commission
on their sale as established by contract and is always attached
as the producer of dramatic book and screenplay projects. It
charges no fees other than our sales commission, and refunds
its commission when a film moves into production.
 
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SPONSORS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WORLDWIDE FREELANCE WRITER - Download a free list of writing
markets if you subscribe this week. Our database has almost 2,000
writing markets from USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia.
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
 
=====
 
ARE YOU A STARVING POET?
Even if you're not, how would you like a free resource coming
to you monthly via email?  Subscribe to the free newsletter,
The Poetry Market Ezine, by logging onto www.thepoetrymarket.com
and using the sign up box, or send any email to: 
poetrymarket-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The newsletter features poetry markets, contests, and news.
Listed as one of Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for
Writers 2007, The Poetry Market ezine has been exclusively
catering to poets for over 6 years! 
For general info, send any email to tpme@thepoetrymarket.com
 
=====
 
Advertise with FundsforWriters !!!
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$75 - four weeks in FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/adrates.htm

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BUSINESS STUFF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Copyright 2000-2007, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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