Volume 8, Issue 29
July 20, 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          
FUNDS FOR WRITERS

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

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

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.

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

Want to Sell Books By The Truckload?

How about a single book order for one
million copies?  Learn how from an author
who's sold over 5 million books.  Free
teleseminar, Wednesday, July 23rd, your
choice of two times.  Go here now to
register:  http://www.freeauthortips.com/call142

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

2008 FLORIDA WRITERS' CONFERENCE
http://www.floridawriters.net/2008_FWA_Conference.html

Join the heart of Florida's writing community at the Lake
Mary Marriott, for the biggest and most exciting 3-day event
FWA has ever presented.

"We've reached the tipping point this year," says Chrissy
Jackson, vice president of FWA and chair of the conference.
"A minimum of 300 attendees has drawn the best faculty we've
ever had -- and I just know that faculty is going to drive
attendance even higher."

Fourteen experienced agents, publishers and writing mentors
will be coming from all over the country to offer thirty
information-packed sessions over three days -- in a three-
track plan tailored for full-time pros, serious hobbyists
and determined beginners.

Make your reservation now. Do it before July 31st and you'll
save $50 over the full registration price of $299. (For hotel
reservations, call 1-899 380-7724 and ask for the FWA discount
rate. First come, first serve.)

NOTE: Hope Clark is a speaker/instructor at this year's affair.
She'd love to meet lots of FundsforWriters readers.

                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

=====

NOTE:
FIRST PERSON IMPRESSIONS
http://impressions.firstpersonarts.org/
Just a note that the winner gives up all rights to the piece.

NOTE:
FLOWER MOUND WRITERS CONTEST - WHEN MOTHER DIED
http://flowermoundwriters.org/contests.html
Have found out that the contest has some questionable issues
such as no physical address to mail entries yet it refuses
email. Also, we've been unable to locate the publisher.
Act on the side of caution with this one.

=====

YOU NEVER ARRIVE

In a list group, I made a comment about writing for no pay,
a topic I'm known for almost as well as The Shy Writer or
Freelance Hope. A new writer told me that turning away a
publishing opportunity because it didn't pay was easy for me
to say since I was established and seasoned. Almost like I'd
arrived and didn't have writing problems anymore.

Listen...a writer never arrives.

When you feel you've arrived, the writing world begins to
pass you by. This business changes with the seconds, and
when you think you have your voice, your income, your
markets and your reputable name, someone else comes along
with a better voice, more income, bigger markets and a
more profound name. This is not a sit-still business.
Rest on your laurels and you lose.

I've read interviews of writers, well-known writers like
Janet Evanovich, who still struggle to find a good story,
find the time to write, and find a way to reach more readers.
They stay under the gun to perpetuate their careers, and
the careers of their agents and publishers. And yes, they
feel intimidated by other writers.

You've read writers whose stories fell flat after their
award-winning novels or shorts circled the globe in popularity.
They allowed that edge to dull. Maybe they didn't throw
their whole soul into the book. Maybe they got tired.
Possibly they thought the current fan base would sustain
them. That bad book often loses fans.

You should never arrive. You should hunger for more. More
knowledge about:

-grammar
-voice
-plot
-setting
-marketing
-self-promotion
-blogging
-web sites
-virtual tours
-podcasting
-conferences
-traditional publishing
-self-publishing
-agents
-bookstores
-distribution
-speaking

I could go on because the list never ends. Seek more.
Crave more. Fight to be better and constantly improve.
Keep up with the traffic, or it passes you by.

    Hope

TOTAL FUNDSFORWRITERS HALF OFF!

Summer is when writers slack off. So to reward those diligent
souls sticking with the task, I'm offering TOTAL FundsforWriters
subscriptions for one-half off. That means you get TOTAL FFW
for $6. Twenty-six issues half off the normal $12 value.

Renew your subscription, sign up like you've always meant to do,
or extend your subscription another year. We'll see to it that
you get your twelve months of grants, contests, markets and
publishing opportunities. 80+ listings in each issue.

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

Only good through the month of July.

=====

NOTE: GRANT WINNERS NEEDED

If you are a writer who has won a grant, please get in touch with
Hope. She is preparing new conference lesson plans and would be
happy to include the writer's name, book, web site or business in
the classroom material. She wants to broadcast your success.

hope@fundsforwriters.com

=====

http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

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

=====

FUNDSFORWRITERS SEEKS SPONSORS FOR THE ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST

GOLD - Accepting Two Offers - $75 (one position left)
Logo, name, URL listed in every FundsforWriters newsletter
between July 30 and October 31, 2008.
Logo, name, URL listed on the contest page and front page of
the FundsforWriters.com web site through 2008.

SILVER - Accepting All Offers - $50 (three positions left)
Logo, name, URL listed on the contest page of the
FundsforWriters.com web site through 2008. This page receives
thousands of hits during the contest period, not to mention
the hits afterwards when writers read the winning entries.
Our standard banner price is $50 for one month. Here you get
five months for the same price.

www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm
 

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write
every time you have a free minute. If you didn't behave that
way you would never do anything.

~John Irving

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Home Sweet Home

By Karen L. Alaniz

When I began my writing career, no matter what the source, I
read the same advice over and over; write what you know. After
reading it several dozen times, I finally decided to give it a
try.  But what did I know? In order to find out, I bought a
shiny new notebook and started a list.  I wrote down all of
the experiences I'd had in my day job, and there were plenty.
After filling several pages, I added my experiences outside of
my job and those too were plentiful.  Then quite by chance, I
discovered something that I hadn't even considered putting on
the list.

I was looking through writing opportunities on one of my
favorite websites when I read something that surprised me. 
A regional magazine wanted stories about my hometown.  My
hometown? Who in the world would be interested in that?  As
it turns out, lots of people were interested; vacationers,
weekend day-trippers, business people.  As I contemplated
this, I sat in my comfy chair looking across the street at
Pioneer Park.  At that moment a light bulb flickered in my
head and then it turned on with a bright glow.  I knew that
the park had a rich history, so I started writing about it.
Then I sent off a query for the article. That day (yes, that
very day) I got an email from the editor.  His response was
positive.  He wanted the article.

It doesn't matter if you've lived in your town for a few years
or a few decades, there are editors out there looking for what
you have. And to get you started, all you need to do is learn
how to see your hometown with new eyes.

Imagine you are a tourist, unfamiliar with your hometown. Walk
through the streets; go to the restaurants and museums. The
park I wrote about was one that I'd been to hundreds of times. 
It had become so familiar to me that I no longer saw its beauty.
But with new eyes I could see what others, unfamiliar with it
would see. Another way to develop new eyes is to think about
where you would take a visitor you didn't know very well.
Perhaps there are historical sites you'd take them to.  Maybe
there is an award-winning winery you'd show off.

Now that you've written a fabulous article or query about a
place of interest in your town, it's time to find a place to
send it. Below are four places you can begin your search.

Freelance Writing 

http://www.freelancewriting.com/guidelines/pages/Regional/
lists more than 150 magazines, along with writer's guidelines
and specifics about editorial needs.

Writers Write

http://www.writerswrite.net/pubbrws.cfm?category=regional&payingstatus=yes
is a database for writer's guidelines. Included is a large
selection of regional magazines.

Great Adventures

http://www.great-adventures.com/know/plan/publish.html is
a website that lists magazines you might not have thought
about.  If you want to put a creative spin on an article about
your hometown, this is the place to look.

Low-Tech Search

Regional articles are one type of writing in which a low-tech
search may be necessary. Visit your local bookstores, convenience
stores, and supermarkets. Websites for regional magazines are
often listed on the front or inside cover, making it easy for
you to jot it down and then go home and visit the magazine online.

There's no place like home when it comes to regional writing. 
All you need to do is step outside your front door, where a
cache of stories await.

Bio:
Karen L. Alaniz is a freelance writer and has also written a
book, Breaking the Code - A Daughter's Journey.  The book
chronicles her journey toward truth after her father gave her
letters he'd written during WWII. You can learn more by
visiting her blog, "Write Now-Because it's later than you think"
at http://karenlalaniz.blogspot.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHYA SCANLON 7-LINE CONTEST
http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/the-shya-scanlon-7-line-contest/
---
ENTRY FEE $10 for a single entry; $17.50 for two.
Write a story that is seven lines or less within margins that
are 8.5 or less. Fiction, non-fiction, prose poetry or any
other excellence is allowed. The winning story, along with a
handful of finalists, will appear in Opium7 which will debut
on Oct. 6. Deadline: August 15, 2008. $1,000, and publication
in Opium7.

=====

CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.trinityfoundation.org/2006EssayContest.php
---
NO ENTRY FEE
First prize $3,000. Second prize $2,000. Third prize $1,000.
The topic of the 2008 Christian Worldview Essay Contest is
the book Freedom and Capitalism: Essays on Christian Politics
and Economics by John W. Robbins. Each person who enters the
contest must read this book and write an essay about it.
Each person who enters the contest must be no younger than 17
years of age and no older than 23 years of age on January 1,
2008. Deadline September 1, 2008.

=====

3-DAY NOVEL CONTEST
http://www.3daynovel.com/
---
Can you produce a masterwork of fiction in three short days?
Now is your chance to find out. This year's 3-Day Novel Contest
will run Labor Day Weekend, August 30 - September 1, 2008.
Registration must be postmarked by August 29th. All writers
are welcome to enter, anywhere in the world. Mail your completed
novel to us as soon as possible after the weekend is over. If
you handwrote your novel, you have a few days to type it up...
otherwise just send it in right away. Novels must be postmarked
on or before Sept. 5, 2008 to qualify. There are no limits to
the novel's length, but entries average 100 typed pages,
double-spaced.

Grand Prize: Publication
2nd Prize: $500
3rd Prize: $100
And a literary prize pack for each shortlisted entrant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEDGEBROOK
http://www.hedgebrook.org/about.php
---
Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles
northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and
meadow facing Puget Sound, the retreat hosts women writers
from all over the world for residencies of two weeks to two
months, at no cost to the writer. Residents are housed in
six handcrafted cottages, where they spend their days in
solitude - writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on
the property, on nearby Double Bluff beach or trails around
the island. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse
kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work,
their process and their stories. The women who come to
Hedgebrook are writing in all genres, and are of all ages,
ethnicities, backgrounds and levels of writing experience.

=====

CHRISTOPHER ISHERWOOD FOUNDATION
http://www.isherwoodfoundation.org/
---
Grants will be awarded to writers who have published at
least one book of fiction, either a novel or a collection
of stories. Each grant is for $4,000. The grants are intended
to enable writers to set aside time for writing. All applicants
must be American citizens. The novel or story collection must
have been published at the time of application. Young adult
novels do not satisfy the publication requirement for our
grants. The Isherwood Fellowships are very competitive. We
receive several hundred applications each year for the grants.

=====

VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS
http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/Grants/NewsDeadlines/tabid/70/Default.aspx
---
Grants range from American Masterpiece Grants to Technical
Assistance and Travel Grants. The deadlines are rolling
throughout the year. Amounts range from $250 to $5,000.

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

PLENTY MAGAZINE
http://www.plentymag.com/guidelines.php
---
Pays $150 for web stories and $750 for first-person anecdotes
on interaction with or viewpoint on the environment. Eco-
connection must be strong. Features and others pay roughly
$1/word. The front-of-book columns ("Forward") are more
news-oriented, while back-of-book departments ("Choices")
address lifestyle topics like fashion, food, and homes.

=====

GOTHAM GAZETTE
http://www.gothamgazette.com/writers.shtml
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/295654-54
---
An on-line Web site about the issues facing New York City.
To query us, please send a concise story pitch, along with
a brief description or your writing experience and a link
to one or two published articles to grobinson@gothamgazette.com
2,000-word articles of the week pay up to $500. For articles on
crime or health up to 1,500 words, we pay $250.

=====

ABOUT.COM - MULTIPLE TOPICS
http://beaguide.about.com
---
We're currently expanding our computing and gadgets channel
and are seeking tech journalists for a number of topics,
including Focus on Windows, BlackBerry, Nintendo DS, PDAs,
and podcasting. Many of our Guides are professional tech
journalists with years of reporting experience in their topic,
and we encourage people with tech journalism experience to apply.

We're also currently expanding our entertainment channel and
are seeking entertainment writers for a number of topics,
including children's music, soap operas, and theater. And
the home & garden channel for a number of topics, including
furniture, hardscaping, pest control, laundry, and plumbing.
Also, we're seeking a travel writer to cover the topic of
casinos, writing content to inform both daytrippers and those
looking for a resort experience at casinos around the world.
Many of our Guides are professional travel journalists with
years of reporting experience in their topic, and we encourage
people with travel journalism experience to apply.

To submit an application, learn more about About.com or see our
full list of available topics. Along with a base payment of
$725 a month, we pay based on growth of page views on a year
over year basis. On average, a Guide will make more than $1,000
a month by their second year, with the potential to earn much
more based on year over year page view growth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
ARTS AND MUSIC WRITERS
Location Anchorage, Alaska
Reply to: editor@anchoragepress.com
http://anchorage.craigslist.org/wri/wri/749985380.html
---
The Press is looking for freelance writers to contribute to
our coverage of the performing and visual arts in Alaska.
Is your knowledge about classical music encyclopedic?
Can you translate modern sculpture for a popular audience?
Say something witty and intelligent about theater? Then we
want to hear from you. If you can hold forth intelligently
about hip-hop, hardcore and everything in between, if you care
just as much about turning a phrase as you do about sharing
your opinion, if you're curious about the stories behind the
music, then we want to hear from you. Send an email to
editor@anchoragepress.com telling us why you'd be a good fit
for this job. Attach some writing samples.

=====

EDITOR-WRITER
Location - MULTIPLE - FL, MA, NM, GA, IL, MI, OH, VA, AR,
NV, CO, UT, MS, AL, TX, MD, DC, AZ
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=67119020&AVSDM=2008%2D06%2D27+08%3A24%3A40&Logo=0&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&customapplicant=15513,15514,15515,15669,15523,15512,15516,45575&q=writer
---
Employing Agency: Air Force Personnel Center. Conduct final
reviews of proposed publications for style, design, layout,
and editorial aspects before release.  Perform substantive
editing, proofreading, reorganizing and rewriting to ensure
message is clear, effective and well written.  Gather and
develop information by researching factual materials through
available sources.  Edit text for grammatical correctness,
clarity, appropriate reading level and consistency with
regulations and style and format requirements of the media
and the publications used. Deadline September 28, 2008.

=====

TECH EDITOR - WRITER
Location - MULTIPLE - OH, TX, NV, UT, CO, FL, GA, AL
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=68643865&AVSDM=2008%2D06%2D27+15%3A01%3A50&Logo=0&pg=4&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&customapplicant=15513,15514,15515,15669,15523,15512,15516,45575&q=writer
---
Employing Agency: Air Force Personnel Center. Deadline
September 28, 2008. Research technical documents or libraries
to develop documentation projects.  Select illustrations and
images for inclusion into material. Observe operational
activities or work processes to obtain or verify information.
Develop change packages to incorporate new or modified
procedures, systems, or equipment.  Accomplish extensive
coordination in all phases of the documentation process. 
Monitor and maintain a manual and/or electronic library of
manuals, publications, catalogs, or other material.  Monitor
technical writing or editing work performed off site or by
contractors to ensure timeliness, consistency, and accuracy. 

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

ALONDRA PRESS
http://www.alondrapress.com/Submissions.html
---
We would rather not see any more fantasy or science fiction
novels, or any novels in which the main ingredients are drugs,
murder, rape, etc. Fiction only. The fact that we are a small
press, with little bargaining power to acquire block-buster
bestsellers does not mean we will take on anything in
desperation. Our goal is to make the Alondra Press imprint
one that will evoke an image of books of the highest quality.

=====

BROKEN JAW PRESS
http://www.brokenjaw.com/submissions.htm
---
Most years we publish five to eight new, almost exclusively
Canadian-authored, mostly English-language or multilingual,
literary arts titles in trade paperback editions. Additionally,
we release a chapbook or two, limited edition hand-bound books,
a few extra little somethings... broadsheets and ephemera. Broken
Jaw publishes mainly literary works--fiction, poetry, and some
creative nonfiction including some local history and arts/artist
books.

=====

CONSTABLE & ROBINSON PUBLISHING
http://www.constablerobinson.com/?section=submissions
---
We welcome non-fiction book ideas and synopses but no fiction
(apart from crime fiction) or children's books. We require a
one-page synopsis and one sample chapter (no typescripts),
plus a covering letter outlining previous experience, expertise
in the subject, etc. The letter should state precisely the
readership at which you are aiming (it may help to cite a
similar title in the field already successfully published),
and it should also explain why you believe there is a gap in
the market/the merits of your proposal versus titles already
in print.

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

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 book's 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.

=====

2008 FLORIDA WRITERS' CONFERENCE
http://www.floridawriters.net/2008_FWA_Conference.html

Join the heart of Florida's writing community at the Lake
Mary Marriott, for the biggest and most exciting 3-day event
FWA has ever presented.

"We've reached the tipping point this year," says Chrissy
Jackson, vice president of FWA and chair of the conference.
"A minimum of 300 attendees has drawn the best faculty we've
ever had -- and I just know that faculty is going to drive
attendance even higher."

Fourteen experienced agents, publishers and writing mentors
will be coming from all over the country to offer thirty
information-packed sessions over three days -- in a three-
track plan tailored for full-time pros, serious hobbyists
and determined beginners.

Make your reservation now. Do it before July 31st and you'll
save $50 off the full registration price of $299. (For hotel
reservations, call 1-899 380-7724 and ask for the FWA discount
rate. First come, first serve.)

NOTE: Hope Clark is a speaker/instructor at this year's affair.
She'd love to meet lots of FundsforWriters readers.

=====

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

=====

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

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

-----------------------------