Volume 8, Issue 19       
May 11, 2008

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FUNDS FOR WRITERS

Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

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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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PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Curriculum is tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. 
Work at your own pace and finish with concrete parts of an
application completed.

Taught by Katie Krueger-a grant writer with 9 years experience
and a past contributor to FundsforWriters.

Go to www.FindFunding.net/onlinecourses to enroll.

                 
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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Read newsletter online at: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
Read past issues at: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?fundsforwriters

=====

GET REPETITIVE

Just received one of those great rejection letters...from
a popular women's magazine I've been striving to break into
for three or four years. It was a thousand-word mystery, one
I felt finally met the formula favored by the editor. The
Fiction Editor wrote:

"Hope, I enjoyed this mini-mystery, but the Editor-in-Chief
decided to decline."

Doesn't sound like much, does it? However, I have received
a dozen rejections from this publication. I've studied their
publication, understand their stories, and know that the
story approval project is three-tiered. This is the first story
that's reached the final tier. This is the closest I've come
to breaking through.

This response means I'm close...so very close.

Some writers would say, "Screw this. I'm tired of wasting my
time. I'm not bothering with them anymore." The majority of
writers do that, believe it or not. I used to think that.

Today, if I'm hell-bent on publishing in a magazine, I
submit until rejected, then submit again, tweaking my submission
from what I've learned in the last rejection. I will submit
until accepted.

I published in a certain writing magazine in 2005, the article
accepted in 2004. Since then, I've received rejection after
rejection from them, making me wonder what I'd done to anger
them. Fact was, I hadn't pitched them what they wanted. We
can't read their minds, and we can't see the other submissions.
Our submissions are half craft and precision...half timing
and luck.

Four years after that initial sale, after four years of
rejection, I have a new assignment with that publication.
I smiled, knowing I'd outlasted the dry spell.

And I'll win one day with this women's magazine, too.

(NOTE: From the picture above, you know why my newsletters are coming out in the middle of the night this time. Just look at that who's been occupying my attention for the past three weeks. Of course, grandma and grandbaby think each other hung the moon.)

    Hope

GOT YOUR CALENDAR YET FOR ALL THOSE 2008 GOALS?

Once again FundsforWriters is offering the Bylines Calendar
for your writing needs. I've used one for going on four years
now, and I'm addicted to it. Listing a writer (like Hope)
for every week along with the writer's personal points of
wisdom makes you realize you aren't alone in this struggle
to make a living at what you love. Order yours today!

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/Bylines.htm

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http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

People are raving about the new look...and the new opportunities
offered four-five days a week.

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WE HAVE OTHER NEWSLETTERS, TOO

A lot of folks join FundsforWriters newsletter not realizing
we have three others. Shame on me for not making it clear!

FFW Small Markets - markets that pay under $350 or 20 cents/word.
                    Delivered weekly - no cost.

WritingKid - markets, contests, scholarships for the young
      writer from late grade school into college.
             Basically, 8-21 years old.

TOTAL FFW - the paid subscription - the super, duper version
            of FundsforWriters only instead of 15 opportunities,
            it lists 80+. Very cool.

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFWnewsletters.htm

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EBOOKS COMING OUT OUR EARS!

The new ones are AUTHOR IN YOUR POCKET and THE SHORT STORY WRITER.
That doesn't include QUICK AS A FLASH, SHORT & SWEET: MARKETS FOR
YOUR FILLERS, and THE NO FEE CONTEST BOOK. Ebook combos include
a subscription to TOTAL FundsforWriters, our largest newsletter.

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/ebooks.htm
 

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"By thinking and acting affirmatively in this minute,
you will influence the hour, the day, and the time,
your entire life."

-- Denis Waitley

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ARTICLE
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NOTE:
Amy Munnell has given permission for this blog entry to be
repeated on FundsforWriters. I posted this article for two
reasons:

1. The information is concise and educational.
2. This blog is remarkably intelligent and informative. I look
   forward to reading it and have added it to my own blog as
   a recommendation to others.

Enjoy!  ~HOPE

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Getting Paid...How Much is Enough?

By Amy Munnell

Figuring out what your work is worth as a freelance writer is
sometimes difficult. Here's a brief guide to the average pay
rates for freelance writers.

Do you charge by the hour, by the project, by the word?

This all depends on what you're doing. Certain tasks just
lend themselves to different pay styles. Here are some samples.

By the hour:

Publicity/Public Relations
Advertising or copy writing
Evaluations, critiquing, editing
Research, fact checking, proofreading

By the project:

Speech writing
Press kits, press releases
Brochures, Newsletters
Presentations to groups

By the word, line or page:

Magazine/newspaper features
Reviews

How do you decide what to charge?

That's different for everyone and for every task. The first
thing you should do when you decide to freelance, part-time
or full-time, is figure out how much you're going to charge.
There are several things to consider.

First, look at your experience level. If you're a beginning
freelance writer, remember that the byline and the clipping
or résumé item are part of your salary. Yes, you'd like money
in your pocket, and you should always be paid some amount for
your work, but the experience can help you secure your next
assignment. However, just because this is your first day as a
freelancer doesn't mean you're completely inexperienced. Don't
forget your educational background and if you have experience
in certain fields from your past jobs.

Next, consider how much you need to make from your writing.
Look at all aspects of your life. Is your writing going to pay
for living expenses, your health insurance, car payment? Or is
it supplemental income? For instance, if you spend two days
doing a promotional brochure for a new dance school, you need
to know how much those two days are worth to you and be
prepared to ask for that amount.

Research what other people charge in your area for the same
or similar work. Simply ask for a rate sheet from companies
or other freelancers. You don't have to explain why. You can
also join local writers groups or professional groups or
search the Internet.

Are there national averages for pay rates?

Google "what writers are paid" and you'll get a number of
websites for all different types of writers, from technical
writers to screenwriters. WritersMarket.com has a pdf file
entitled "How Much Should I Charge?" that has nine pages of
charts showing pay rates for 10 different categories from
advertising to audio visual to newspapers. This pdf is only
available to subscribing members, but it is only about $3/
month to subscribe. The document is well worth $3 if you don't
use the site again. If you want to write for T.V. or film, the
Writers Guild of America also has a pdf called the "Schedule of
Minimums" that outlines the pay rates for a variety of tasks
in T.V. and film. Although this is accessible to anyone, it
applies only to WGA members, but it will give you an idea.

We can't consider every mitigating factor here, but generally,
working from the lists above, hourly rates for such tasks as
public relations, evaluations and research, the rates can run
from a low of $20/hour to a high of $200. By the project rates
vary even more widely between the tasks, locations and potential
exposure. A press release may run as low as $125 while a
presentation at a national event (if you have the right
credentials) could earn you $30,000. Publications sometimes
pay by the piece, in general smaller publications like city
magazines pay as low as 10¢/word or $25 per short front section
articles, while slick national magazines can pay $3/word and up
for feature-length articles.

When planning your rate sheet, be realistic, but don't sell
yourself short. Then when facing a client, be flexible when
the potential is high, but be firm in your negotiations.
Finally, keep moving forward to have a solid career as a
freelance writer.

BIO
Amy Munnell, Editor
3 Questions...and Answers: a Blog/Zine about Writers
http://3questionsandanswers.blogspot.com

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COMPETITIONS
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JUKED FICTION AND POETRY PRIZES
http://www.juked.com/prize/
---
$10 ENTRY FEE
Fiction:  send one story per entry.  There is no length
requirement. Poetry:  send up to five poems (no more than
ten pages total) per entry. Deadline August 1, 2008. First
prize for each genre: $500 and publication in our upcoming
print issue, Juked #6.

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AESTHETICA CREATIVE WORKS COMPETITION
http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/submission_guide.htm
---
ENTRY FEE £10
Deadline August 31, 2008. Submit up to three short stories.
Word count up to 2,000 words per piece. Any genre considered.
Submit up to 5 poems. No more than 40 lines each. Any genre
considered. Three winners £500 each. Third category is visual
art.

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RUTHANNE WILEY MEMORIAL NOVELLA CONTEST
http://www.csuohio.edu/poetrycenter/contest2.html
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
One prize of $1,000 and publication of the winning novella
is offered for the best original novella submitted between
April 1, 2008 and October 1, 2008. Manuscripts must contain
a minimum of 60 and no more than 120 double-spaced manuscript
pages, not including front matter.

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JOHN GARDNER WRITING AWARD
http://writingformoney.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=28
---
$500 for 150 words?? Yes indeed...in our latest writing contest.
We're looking for your best character description in 150
words or less. It can be in any style, fiction or nonfiction,
published or unpublished. There will be 15 winners and a top
prize of $500. Deadline May 30...and we can't wait to see what
your best character description is!

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GRANTS
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MONTANA ARTISTS REFUGE
http://www.montanaartistsrefuge.org/residencies.htm
---
The Refuge offers affordable short and long-term living and
studio spaces for artists of all disciplines. There are no
specific residency requirements, but residents are asked to
support the Refuge in one of many ways. Artists may wish to
donate a piece to our permanent collection, support fund
raising by a donation of time or work to be sold, or provide
community outreach. The Refuge provides some fully funded
residencies each year. In addition to the fully funded
residencies, scholarships and financial assistance with rent
are available on a limited basis. Artists are responsible for
their own personal living expenses, supplies, long distance
phone charges and any other expenses relating to the cost of
production work while in residence. 

American Indian Artists Program Scholarship - Deadline April 15
Writer's Residency Program Scholarship - Deadline May 15
Master of Fine Arts Scholarship Program - No deadline.

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POETS & WRITERS READING GRANTS

Organizations that sponsor readings and workshops in New York
State or California, or Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
New Orleans, Seattle, Tucson, or Washington, D.C. may apply
for grants to be used for writers' fees. P&W provides grants
of $50-$350 for readings or spoken word performances, and up
to $500 for workshops. (In New York State, the maximum
available for a series of workshops is normally $1,000 [$100
per session]. In some cases, depending on the length of the
series and the population served, the maximum may be increased
to $2,500. Decisions on maximum grant amounts are based on the
availability of funds and are made at the discretion of Poets &
Writers.). To support as many literary events as possible, we
generally grant no more than $1,000 to organizations in New York
and California, and $500 to organizations in Atlanta, Chicago,
Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Tucson, and Washington,
D.C. during the course of our fiscal year (July 1-June 30).
Published poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers,
and performance poets are eligible to receive fee payments from
P&W. If the writer is not listed in P&W's Directory of American
Poets and Writers (see http://www.pw.org/directory), the
organization must submit a bio for the writer that includes
verifiable publication or performance credits for the writer's
original works.

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WORLD PRESS INSTITUTE FELLOWSHIP - INTERNATIONAL
http://www.worldpressinstitute.org/fellowship.htm
---
WPI fellows begin their fellowship in Minneapolis-St. Paul,
Minnesota, with briefings about aspects of the United States.
The fellows then embark on a journey across the U.S., with
briefings, interviews and visitations in states in the nation.
Selection is a competitive process. Each year, 100-200 journalists
outside the U.S. apply by the February 28 deadline. Requirements
for applicants, who must have demonstrated a potential for
leadership, include:

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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ARMY MAGAZINE
http://www.ausa.org/webpub/DeptArmyMagazine.nsf/byid/KGRG-6CUQGV
---
Features are typically 1,000 to 1,500 words long. Shorter
articles such as sidebars to features or photo essays are
250 to 500 words. Include a brief explanation of why your
submission (if it is a feature article) is timely, innovative
or important. Book reviews, guest columns (such as "Sounding
Off" and articles for "Front & Center") are preferably 500
to 1,000 words long. We do not accept unsolicited book reviews.
If you are interested in book reviewing, write us regarding your
areas of interest and expertise. Send writing samples also.
No simultaneous submissions.

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REALMS OF FANTASY
http://www.rofmagazine.com/pages/guidelines
---
Realms of Fantasy, a bimonthly magazine, is a professional
market for the best in fantastic short fiction. Stories should
be no longer than 10,000 words, and can address any area in
the realms of fantasy: heroic, contemporary, traditional,
feminist, dark, light, and the ever-popular "unclassifiable."
For stories under 7,500 words, rates begin at 5 cents per word
for new writers and move upward as a writer gains recognition.
For stories over 7,500 words, the rates break at 7,500 to 3
cents a word. Thus, a 10,000-word story by a newcomer would
pay $400. Again, for established writers, the rates will be
proportionally higher.

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SUBTROPICS
http://www.english.ufl.edu/subtropics/submit.html
---
Subtropics seeks to publish the best literary fiction, essays,
and poetry being written today, both by established and
emerging authors. Considers works of fiction of any length,
from short shorts to novellas and self-contained novel excerpts.
Subtropics pays a flat fee of $1,000 ($500 for a short short)
for North American first serial rights. Poets are paid $100
per poem.

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JOBS
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SCIENCE WRITER
Location New York, NY
http://philanthropy.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000558781-01&pg=e
---
Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
a leading medical research and educational institution seeks
a Writer for Institutional Advancement. Outstanding writing,
editorial and proofreading skills required. At least five
years' experience in grant-writing, development, PR and/or
marketing in a non-profit, health-related or academic
setting required; science background and excellent computer
skills a must.

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WRITER/EDITOR (EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT)
Location Renton, WA
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=71436296&aid=27015391-358&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline May 23, 2008. Employing Agency: Federal Aviation
Administration. Writes and/or edits documents such as
management briefing material/press releases, guidance or
policy interpretation, speeches, statistical reports,
documents, handbooks, pamphlets, and memorandums. Performs
research to collect information, using files, databases, the
Internet or by conferring with subject matter experts, program
officials, attorneys and management officials. Manages the
airports publication by planning, selecting articles, writing
and editing news, feature stories for publication.

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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=71477279&aid=27015391-358&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline June 3, 2008. Employing Agency: Bureau of Land
Management. Consults with clients to determine their
communication needs and to plan the development of each
product or family of products.  Serves as an expert on the
whole publishing process addressing the audiences and objectives
to determine the content and the best medium and treatment to
effectively convey the message; analyzes audience knowledge
levels, perspectives, attitudes, backgrounds, and motives,
and applies this information to a treatment of the subject.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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BOOK CENTS LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.bookcentsliteraryagency.com/subs.html
---
Book Cents Literary Agency represents fiction for both
adult and young adult books. Currently seeking: single title
romance - contemporary, romantic comedy, women's lit,
paranormal, mystery/suspense, mainstream, mystery/suspense,
medical or legal fiction, espionage. NOT looking for: category
romance, erotica, inspirational, historical, sci-fi/fantasy,
horror/dark thrillers, screenplays.

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BOOKSTOP LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.bookstopliterary.com/
---
Promotes authors and illustrators of children's and young
adult books. Sells quality fiction, nonfiction and
illustrations to major children's book publishers in the
US and abroad.

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BROWN LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.brownliteraryagency.com/
---
The agency specializes in women's fiction, erotica, single
title and category romance. Enjoys romantic comedies to
sizzling erotica. Historicals to category romances.

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SPONSORS
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NOVEL BEGINNINGS
First Chapter novel contest

They say everyone has a book inside them so now's your chance
to prove it by submitting the opening chapter to a novel.

You can write on any subject or genre, but you'll need to
ensure your work is a real page turner to have a chance!

FIRST PRIZE £50
TWO RUNNERS UP PRIZES £25
Plus 5 copies of the fantastic, WriteItNow novel writing software.

Closing Date: 31st May, 2008
Limited to 100 entries.
http://www.writelink.co.uk/novelbeginnings

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"What, me worry?"

If you're ever at a loss for things to do with your grandkids,
we have the answers! The Joyous Gift of Grandparenting is
packed with activities, conversation starters, tips and
resources written especially for today's active grandparents.
Whether you have the kids for an hour, a day, a week, or even
if they live with you, you'll find this book invaluable for
years to come.

The Joyous Gift of Grandparenting
by Doug & Robin Hewitt

available at www.HewittsBooks.com or your favorite bookstore

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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

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Advertise with FundsforWriters !!!
Advertise with FFW Small Markets!

ADS FOR $9 AND UP!

$ 9 - one week in FFW Small Markets
$30 - four weeks in FFW Small Markets

$20 - one week in FundsforWriters
$60 - four weeks in FundsforWriters

$25 - one week in both FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets
$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 2000-2008, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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