Volume 8, Issue 25       
June 22, 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.

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

FATE: THE BEGINNING
A Novel

In his first novel "Fate: The Beginning", Ken Davis has done
something no other writer has dared to attempt. He has crafted
a story around science and religion, and mixed in the anticipated
passions of love and romance. Whether you are a hopeless romantic
or science fiction buff, all will enjoy this story.

Eric Miller and Erica Myers will embark on a journey only Fate can
prepare. They have traveled through time and space, just to
meet each other again. But will love be strong enough to bind them together after?
This is one book you owe it to yourself to read. But be warned, the ending of this
story will invoke emotions of its own.

To get more information visit the books website at:
http://fate.thebeginning.googlepages.com

Or write the author at ken.davis.writer@comcast.net or
at ken.davis.55@comcast.net to request a signed copy.

                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

=====

(Yeah, I know. Another grandmother picture above, but I've received such a volume
of adoring comments from readers about Seanna, I had to risk another. She is like a
 Gerber baby, so soft, plump and healthy. And she loves her grandma.)

HOW TO QUERY AGENTS AND PUBLISHERS

What is the magic pill to get an agent/publisher to read
your manuscript? I've found samples online and used them.
I've created queries from scratch and had my writers' group
review them. I get great responses and have a 97% answer rate.
So what am I missing?

I recently read a sample query from a woman who wrote
middle-aged humor. Her query was a hoot. And she threw all
the rules about writing queries out the window. She got
the contract.

So why do rules even exist if people land deals without
following them? Same goes for manuscript queries.

I'm a Libra. I like my life balanced and love knowing the
rules, because I'm going to show you how well I can follow
those rules. My queries were by the book. Why haven't I sold
the book?

Because the book needed fixing.
Or the topic is unusual and needs the right agent.
Or the query is TOO MUCH by the book.
Or agents outside the South don't cater to Southern literature.
Don't think all these thoughts haven't raced through my mind.

Nathan Bransford, agent with Curtis Brown LTD, wrote a blog post
about this craving...this desire to know why a rejection takes
place. He explains it well.

He comes up with a theoretical scoring system of 0-10. He doesn't
do this in real life, but we all know that when we rate, we have
a mental scale, and if we had to put a value on it, we could.
He said consider that he scores professionalism, book idea and
qualifications, which we all know are the parts of a query letter.

Say someone types in a strange font in purple with a poor idea,
but he's a celebrity, a 10 on the qualifications scale. The
agent will probably request the manuscript.

Hey, no fair, you say.

Say someone sent a 14-point font query on beige paper with heart
and has no writing credits, but the book idea is a perfect 10. The
agent will request the manuscript.

Again, no fair.

So what does it matter about being professional or building
credits? Because you might rank 8's in the other two categories,
with your professionalism score of 10 pushing you over the top.
The agent might request the manuscript.

To quote him at the end of this June 5, 2008 blog entry...
"I still say your chances are better if you try and stick to the
rules, but I'm also not going to miss out on a perfect 10 book
idea just because someone misspelled my name."

Hope's interpretation?

Make the query letter perfect with dark type, 12-point standard
font, one-inch margins and no typos - following all those rules.
The first impression alone will make the agent read your outside-
the-rule book idea or overlook your lack of publishing credits.
Why cut any corners or second guess an agent?

Professionalism makes an agent/editor read further.
These days, that's a foot in the door.

    Hope

TOTAL FUNDSFORWRITERS

Comes free with an ebook package, a purchase of THE SHY WRITER,
or just through a $12 payment. See why membership is climbing
for this newsletter five times the size of FundsforWriters.
More than enough to propel your writing career.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm
www.fundsforwriters.com/ebooks.htm
www.fundsforwriters.com/shywriter.htm

====

NICHE EBOOKS - check it out
www.fundsforwriters.com/ebooks.htm

=====

http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

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

=====

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.

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

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing
flawlessly.

~ Robert Schuller

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ARTICLE
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Tap Into the Seniors Market
By Susan Sundwall
 
Not too long ago a good friend and I giggled like teenagers
as we contemplated what we were about to do; get our first
"senior discount." It was only ten percent off at one of our
favorite department stores, but there was a bit of devil-may-
care in our giggles that said--so what? We were about to join
the millions of other men and women of a certain age who had
worked in earnest at a productive life and were now reaping a
small benefit from a grateful merchant. Along with store
discounts, cheaper insurance and early bird specials at some
great restaurants, another benefit out there is the many
publications that cater to the needs, desires, hobbies and
overall changing lifestyles of the well-aged citizen. It's
occurred to me more than once what a rich bounty this is for
writers!

If you think you might have some ideas that will appeal to this
age group and would like to write about them, there are some
things to bear in mind. For instance: Seniors do - 

Have sharp minds.
Love to laugh.
Enjoy sharing the highlights of their lives.
Like to dress well, eat well and play hard (think travel articles).
Have expendable income.

Gosh, seems like a great demographic to write for, doesn't it?
Here are some markets for this group.
 
Eldr - A brand new magazine geared towards men and women over
sixty. See website and guidelines at http://www.eldr.com/node/806

AARP the Magazine - Used to be Modern Maturity. Guidelines at
http://www.aarpmagazine.org/Articles/a2003-02-21-mag-writers_guidelines.html

T/L Golf - The sport is certainly not for seniors only, but if
you have a story to pitch that way, you'll reach hundreds. 
http://www.travelandleisure.com/tlgolf/contact.cfm#submissionguidelines

More - Celebrating women over forty. Guidelines here:
http://www.more.com/more/file.jsp?item=/help/writersGuidelines

Good Old Days - Write up some great memories for this one.
Guidelines: http://www.goodolddaysonline.com/pages/magazineinfo.html
 
Seniors are just people. Sure, they've lived longer and done
more than some, but writing for them only needs a bit of
creative sensitivity while bearing a few other things in mind:

Seniors don't -

Have the energy and agility they had thirty years ago.
Like what's happening to their bodies.
Want to be left out of the technology loop.
Listen to loud music or text message their friends
Care as much as they used to about what others think.

Every person who lives for a half-century, and then some,
comes to the realization that things change sometimes for
the better and sometimes not. Whereas a grandchild may be an
utter delight, when it comes to horsey back rides on an old
back--well--that's a whole other story. The idea of death may
not hold the terror it once did, but trying to figure out all
the features on a new cell phone can make a senior's blood
pressure hit the ceiling. Writing about this side of senior
life is important, too. Keeping it light and informative is
what your editor will appreciate. Have a look at these markets.
 
Arthritis Today - Primary focus is baby boomers.
http://ww2.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/writingforarthritistoday.asp#freelance

New Mobility Magazine - Another publication that will
appreciate a senior slant. Guidelines available here:
http://www.newmobility.com/magazine_writers_guidelines.cfm
 
My list of senior do's and don'ts, of course, does not apply
to everyone. As with any age group you choose to address,
there is wide diversity. By simply living I, and hundreds
of others, have passed into the realm our society designates
"senior' and it hardly bothers me at all. And I'm going to
resist the temptation to put forth the old saying, "consider
the alternative," which is--staying eighteen forever. Good
grief, who would want to do that? Certainly not my friend
and I. We're looking for discounts and great articles
everywhere these days!
 
BIO
Susan is a freelance writer and children's playwright. She
writes from her home in upstate New York.

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COMPETITIONS
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PREMIER BOOK AWARDS
http://www.premierbookawards.com
---
$50 ENTRY FEE
Premier 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
welcome.  The contest is 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.  There are $100 cash awards for the
winners in each category, plus a $500 award each for the best
fiction and best non-fiction of the year.  Winners also receive
a certificate suitable for framing and Premier Book Awards will
issue a press release to announce the achievement.  Deadline
August 15, 2008. This is the first year for this competition.

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OPEN AGE POETRY INSTITUTE CONTEST
http://www.poetryinstitute.shawbiz.ca/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Deadline August 11, 2008. Open to all poets of any age, whether
they have been previously published or not. All are eligible
without regard to sex, race or experience. Each poet may submit
one poem only. In the case of multiple poems being submitted,
only the first poem will be entered into the contest.

First prize for the best poem is $500 cash; 5 second prizes of
$50 each; 10 third prizes of $25 each; 20 fourth prize winners
will each receive the Poetry Institute medallion valued at $20
each; and Awards of Excellence for runners-up. Judging is
performed by the editorial team at the Poetry Institute and is
based on best poetic ability in thought, expression, originality
and imagination. Any verse form is acceptable, but within the 24
lines limit. All poems submitted are the property of the poet.
By submitting a poem to this contest the poet may be eligible
to have the work published in our Anthology of Verse. Whether
published or not, however, the poem always remains the property
of the poet. The poet is not obliged to purchase a copy of the
anthology in which his/her work appears.

Prizewinners will be notified after the books have been published. 
A complete list of these winners will be available from Poetry
Institute of Canada, P.O. Box 5577, 509 Foul Bay Rd., Victoria, B.C. 
V8R 6S4, Phone (250)519-0446, E-mail: poetryinstitute@shaw.ca

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SOMEDAY CONTEST
http://memelabs.com/somedaystories/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
This is a contest that's all about you and what you want for
your "Someday." Today, just tell us the true and aspiring
story about your Someday dream and your winnings could help
make it real.

Tell us your story. All you have to do is write your true,
original story in 250 words or less. If your Someday StorySM
entry is picked for our Story of the Week, you'll win $1,000.
If you're one of five first prize winners, you'll receive
$10,000 and your story will be filmed for this website.

Looking for story ideas? Think how you'd finish this sentence:
Someday I'll... become a chef... open my own business... build
my own home... retire... . Now get creative and share your Story!
Finalists must be available for filming the week of August 25-
29, 2008 between the hours of 9:00 AM-5:00 PM PT (unless
otherwise requested by Wells Fargo). Make your Someday a Today.
If your story earns the grand prize, you'll win $100,000!

Dates to remember.
May 1 2008, You can submit your story here.
June 9 2008, Pick up entry form at a Wells Fargo location.
July 25 2008, We close the contest for submissions.
August 25-29 2008, Filming of 5 finalists
September 17 2008, Finalists announced and voting begins.
November 10 2008, The voting closes.
November 17 2008, The grand prize winner will be announced.

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GRANTS
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ARTCROFT RESIDENCY
http://www.artcroft.org/cost.htm
---
Location Kentucky. All residencies are supported by Fellowships
and Work Exchange. There are no fees charged to residents.
For those needing financial support or wishing to lengthen their
residency, work exchange at a maximum of 20 hours per week is
available. Many residents discover new skills and strengthen
existing interests as they work with the animals, in the gardens,
helping with construction projects, or even expressing themselves
in the kitchen. Some residents have developed new career paths in
harmony with their art, based on their experiences at Artcroft.
Opportunities in Community Arts Programming range from offering
writer's workshops, providing art classes for youth, exhibiting
work at commercial galleries, and giving poetry or literary
readings. When submitting an Application for Residency, please
indicate your specific area of interest and provide us with
advance notice of the resources you will need to present a
Community Arts Programming event.

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MARY ANDERSON CENTER
http://www.maryandersoncenter.org/app.htm
---
Location Indiana. The Mary Anderson Center for the Arts is an
artist colony in southern Indiana. Located in a rural setting
only 15 minutes from downtown Louisville, KY, the center
provides residencies for emerging and professional musicians /
composers, writers and visual artists. $60/night, includes all
meals; $40/night, no meals; for hardship cases only, $30/night--
only available for those who couldn't afford the other rates,
need to write a letter explaining why you qualify for this rate.   
Residents are expected to send a deposit of half of total cost
of residency as soon as possible to reserve space. The Center
offers fellowships for writers, composers and visual artists. 
These are posted in the fall. All fellowships include a private
room, meals, a stipend and, if needed a studio.

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EARLE RESIDENCY
http://www.badgerdog.org/earle-residency/
---
The mission of the Lynne and Louis M. Earle Residency is to
foster creativity by providing writers with a serene, private
space to work and reflect in the inspiring surroundings of the
Texas Hill Country. While writers in residence spend most of
their time on the ranch, the program also offers writers the
opportunity to connect with the community through readings and
creative writing workshops. Residents help take care of the
ranch's animals--and through this work, gain a unique sense of
place. Located 50 miles south of Austin, TX.

The residency requires a minimum work requirement of 1.5 to 2
hours per day, 6 days per week. Residents perform light-to-
medium barn work, such as feeding and caring for the horses.
For those needing financial support, work opportunities with
compensation may be made available. These additional tasks
typically involve maintenance or construction projects on the
ranch and offer a chance for residents to learn new skills and
or provide diversity to the residency experience. There also
may be opportunities to teach creative writing in Badgerdog's
after-school programs.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE RAKE
http://www.rakemag.com/about-rake/writers-guidelines
---
The Rake is the Twin Cities' premier story teller. We are a
general interest magazine of stories, essays, reportage, and
humor; a magazine for people who live, work, and play in the
Twin Cities and beyond. Pays up to 25 cents/word. Columns,
reviews, nonfiction, fiction and feature pieces needed.

=====

ARIZONA WILDLIFE VIEWS
http://www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/contributorguidelines.shtml
---
Pays up to $800 for features. If you love our state's wildlife
and wild places, Arizona Wildlife Views is your magazine.

=====

BOCA RATON MAGAZINE
http://www.bocamag.com/
---
Pays up to $1,500 for features. Boca Raton (published eight
times a year) is focused on dining, arts and entertainment,
local issues, personalities and a broad spectrum of lifestyle
components, including travel, fashion, home furnishings, and
health and beauty about Boca Raton, FL.

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JOBS
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CREATIVE WRITER
Location Nacogdoches, Texas
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=559199
---
The Daily Sentinel, a 10,000 daily circulation newspaper in
East Texas, has an immediate opening for a general assignments/
county reporter. Candidates must have a degree in journalism or
related field and some experience working for a newspaper.

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CREATIVE WRITER-REPORTER
Location Minster, OH
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=937046
---
The Community Post, a weekly newspaper serving a three-county
area, has an opening for a general assignment reporter. This is
an entry-level job for a writer who loves to meet people and
tell their stories. The ideal candidate can write a great story
about any topic, take a great photo and meet daily and weekly
deadlines.

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REPORTER
Location: Espanola, New Mexico
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=679944
---
The Rio Grande SUN, a 11,500 paid circulation weekly in Northern
New Mexico is seeking a strong news writer. The successful
candidate must share our news philosophy of going after news
stories relentlessly and telling the whole story. Be warned:
we're hard-hitting and strong open meetings/records advocates.
If you like writing about weddings, dream of regurgitating your
last vacation into your laptop or strive to submit 25 inches of
creative prose on the upcoming Rotary fund-raiser, please don't
apply.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BRANDYLANE PUBLISHERS
http://www.brandylanepublishers.com/
---
Brandylane is a small, independent press, founded in 1985,
that publishes a diverse selection of fiction, non-fiction on
varied topics, poetry and children's books.

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STAR CLOUD PRESS
http://www.starcloudpress.com/
---
We are a small, independent press committed to publishing
poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction of vision and
enduring excellence.

=====

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA PRESS
http://www.uipress.uiowa.edu/about/history-mission.htm
---
Established in 1969, the University of Iowa Press publishes
books that fill the needs of scholars and students throughout
the world, poetry and short fiction, and works of creative
nonfiction. As the only university press in the state, Iowa
is also dedicated to preserving the literature, history, culture,
wildlife, and natural areas of the Midwest. For scholars and
students, we publish reference and course books in the areas
of archaeology, American studies, American history, literary
studies, literature and medicine, theatre studies, and the
craft of writing. For general readers, we publish the winners
of the Iowa Short Fiction Award and the Iowa Poetry Prize,
poetry anthologies, books on the archaeology and natural history
of the Midwest, cookbooks, letters and diaries, biographies,
memoirs, regional history, and collections of historic and
contemporary photographs.

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SPONSORS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2008 WOMEN OF WORDS AWARD AND POETRY CHAPBOOK CONTEST

Southern Hum Press is seeking to publish the award-winning
poetry chapbook by a woman. Entries need not be Southern-
themed. Entries should be no longer than 32 pages in length.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed as long as we are
notified immediately if manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

The award winner will receive a prize of $250 and 25 copies
of the chapbook. (Additional copies can be purchased by the
author for a 50% discount.) The chapbook will also be available
for purchase on the Southern Hum Press website.more info:

http://southernhumpress.squarespace.com/contests/

=====

IDEALIST.ORG

Find and post part-time and full-time employment in Idealist.org.
The newsletter updates cover all sorts of nonprofit employment to
include writers, editors and communication-related fields.

For more details, here is two-minute video about why Idealist.org
is a great place to post a nonprofit job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-BQYIPILUU

=====

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 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

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Advertise with FundsforWriters !!!
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ADS FOR $9 AND UP!

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$20 - one week in FundsforWriters
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$25 - one week in both FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets
$75 - four weeks in FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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