Volume 8, Issue 33
August 17, 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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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

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ATTEND A GRANT MEETING

People periodically fuss at me for not posting a grant they
can use. Sigh. Most of the time, they want a grant to write.
That's it. They want money to let them not work a day job so
they can have the solitude to write. A wonderful daydream.
Truth is, such grants are R-A-R-E, and usually go to writers
with publishing credits.

I send writers to their state or national arts council to
ask questions of their representatives to learn what funds
are available in their particular geographic region. But I
also tell them to attend the townhall meetings provided by
these agencies. The meetings provide guidance on how to
apply for a grant.

If you've never been to one, GO. Autumn is prime time for
these meetings. I just received a notice from New Hampshire's
State Council on the Arts listing its meeting schedule.

"Attend one of the free grant information sessions that
are scheduled for this autumn. If you represent a school,
community group, nonprofit arts organization, or are an
individual artist, or traditional artist, you will want
to attend one of these informative sessions. The grants
coordinators will introduce themselves to you and provide
an overview of the range and scope of the Council's work.
They'll also help you to identify resources that suit your
professional needs. In addition, you will hear tips for
submitting a quality application. Breakout program sessions
will allow you to ask questions. Join us to learn how we may
help you, your organization, community or school achieve your
arts goals in the 2010 fiscal year (for grant period July 1,
2009 - June 30, 2010)." www.nh.gov/nharts

That's a quote from the New Hampshire newsletter. Such
notices read pretty much the same for every state. As a
matter of fact, I spoke to an agency rep in Washington State
just a week ago and almost had them coming with me to a
writers' conference to co-teach a grant session. They have
to make the rounds in hopes of teaching artists and writers
how to embrace grants. The very nice council representative
instead offered her material to me to teach in her stead.
They are that eager to educate you on grants.

Contact your state arts organization/council/committee/
agency and inquire as to the dates of their outreach
sessions. Find your council at http://www.nasaa-arts.org/ .

If you don't go, you don't know...what you're missing.
Somebody wins those grants, and they probably were
enlightened at such a meeting.
 

    Hope

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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7th ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST
Sponsored by IdeaWeaver
www.ideaweaversoftware.com

FundsforWriters and its annual sponsor IdeaWeaver, creator
of writing and creativity software, announce the 7th Annual
FundsforWriters Essay Contest.

THEME: "The Best Advice I Ever Had."

As is the FundsforWriters trademark, applicants enter with
or without an entry fee, their choice. Prize monies range
from $10 to $200.  Limit 750 words. Deadline October 31,
2008.

www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm
Questions to hope@fundsforwriters.com

Also sponsored by:

Shelley Lieber
4Ps to Publishing Success:
Get Your Manuscript Off Your Desk & Into Print
www.shelleylieber.com/work1.htm

and

Original Impulse - Cynthia Morris
Creativity & Life Coaching Resources for Writers
www.originalimpulse.com

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

A man would do nothing,
if he waited until he could do it so well
that no one would find fault
with what he has done.

~ John Henry Cardinal Newman

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ARTICLE
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Focus on the Rocks, Not the Pebbles

By Laura Gater (619 words)

At a recent writers' conference, the analogy of rocks and
pebbles in a vase attracted my attention for a particular
reason. You've heard that analogy, I'm sure. The rocks fill
up the vase while the pebbles fill the crevices and spaces
between the rocks. This analogy urges us to spend our time
on the big things in life, or in writing, the big assignments
- the rocks, rather than on the tiny pebbles, or the least-
paying assignments.

As a freelance writer, I have learned over the past 15 years
that it is more efficient for my business to focus on the
larger assignments, the ones that pay more, the ones that are
more crucial to building my file of clips and establishing my
expertise in various subjects. The pebbles take up room that
might otherwise have been available for more rocks. When times
are slow, I find myself reaching out for pebbles to fill my
time, when I should be looking for the rocks, or the more
prolific new markets to query. The pebbles I refer to here
are low-cost assignments (which I define as those paying less
than 20 cents a word). Often these low-paying assignments are
for writing website content. I find myself thinking "It won't
take more than an hour or so to write up that story, so it
will be an easy $30" Or $50. Either way, I have to spend that
time online, reading what's already on the website on that
topic, locating sources, checking and double-checking that my
style matches theirs. Before I know it, two or three hours
have elapsed on a (very) low-paying 500-word story. I could
have sent out several queries to higher-paying publications
or websites instead. Once I realized this, after many "quick"
low-paying assignments, I dropped those as quickly as I could
in order to spend more time on the better-paying markets.

It's tempting to write those pebbles, especially if you have
no pressing deadlines at the time or if you simply need more
work. I'm not saying we shouldn't reach for the pebbles. I'm
saying that we should first make sure that our time is filled
with rocks, which are the bread-and-butter of our income, and
then consider the pebbles, if there's any time left or a need
for additional income. Make sure the pebbles don't overtake
your vase of freelance work. They can slowly creep in, like
poison ivy, to overtake all of your valuable time and crowd
out those more prolific assignments or time spent querying
better markets. A more efficient use of your time might be to
search for reprint markets for current and past articles that
you have written.

If you are writing freelance in addition to working full-time,
you should especially beware of the pebbles. You don't have
time to spare for them. Focus instead on the rocks, well-paying
assignments that will be an asset to your writing career and
provide references and possibly future networking experiences.
The pebbles will just take up all your time and provide you
with little to show for your efforts, especially after already
working 40 hours a week. Some freelancers fill their vase with
pebbles and when they find some rocks, don't know how or where
to fit them in. This is the opposite of what you should be
doing for your writing career, which is dependent on the rocks
in your vase, not on the pebbles.

Keep your eyes on the rocks, and try to fill your vase with
them. Save the pebbles to put in the vase last, when you have
absolutely nothing else to do and/or really need the money,
despite the low pay. Your time is valuable. Don't spend it on
less worthy pursuits, namely low-paying assignments. Save it
for the better ones.

BIO
Laura Gater's articles have been published in Credit Union
Business, Corrections Forum, Courts Today, Diversity/Careers
in Engineering & Information Technology, Podiatry Management,
For the Record, Bottom Line/Women's Health, Medscape, Successful
Meetings, and Healthcare Traveler, plus other national trade
and consumer magazines. She is the author of two books, Writing
for Professional Medical Publications, www.booklocker.com, and
Small Practice Survival Guide, www.doctorsdigest.net.

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COMPETITIONS
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FOURTH RIVER POETRY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE
http://fourthriver.chatham.edu/submit.cfm
---
ENTRY FEE $5 for three poems or one essay.

We are looking for poetry and creative nonfiction that capture
the places--natural, built and imagined, urban, rural or wild--
where humans and nature converge and collide. First place
winner in each category will be published in the Fourth River
and will receive a $500 cash prize upon publication. Deadline
November 15, 2008. 7,000 words max on the essay. All entrants
receive a copy of the volume.

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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOUSE LITERARY PRIZE
http://www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org
http://www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org/site/sections/Literary%20Prize.pdf
---
Each year, a question exploring Benjamin Franklin's relevance in
our time is open for interpretation in 1,000 - 1,500 words by two
groups: young people and professional writers. The winner of the
Young Writers prize will receive £500 while the winner of the
Professional Writers Prize will receive £1,000 and publication
in a leading British newspaper. Deadline September 30, 2008.
Judges of the young people's award will include professional
writers; judges of the professional writers' award will include
young people. Winning submissions published at the web site.
Entrants in the Young Writers Award must be under age 25.

2008 Theme
"What is ethical journalism? Benjamin Franklin said the effects
of the written word (delivered by press in his day - in ours by
a variety of media) "are more extensive, more lasting." What
are journalists' responsibilities and why?

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RONALD SUKENICK/AMERICAN BOOK REVIEW INNOVATIVE FICTION PRIZE
http://americanbookreview.org/contest.asp
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
The Ronald Sukenick/American Book Review Innovative Fiction
Contest is open to any writer of English who is a citizen of
the United States and who has not previously published with
Fiction Collective Two. Submissions may include a collection
of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel. There is
no length requirement. Works that have previously appeared in
magazines or in anthologies may be included. Translations and
previously self-published collections are not eligible. Entries
accepted August 15 - November 1, 2008. The Prize includes $1,000
and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama
Press. In the unlikely event that no suitable manuscript is
found among entries in a given year, FC2 reserves the right not
to award a prize.

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HURRY ON THIS ONE...

HALLMARK CARD CONTEST
http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/holiday/
http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/holiday/index.cfm
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Create a holiday-themed card involving RED and you could win.
This contest is open to all persons in the United States, age
15 or older as of July 28, 2008. Deadline August 18, 2008.

20 Finalists will receive
1. Their card produced and sold online in 2 ways--as flat cards
   and as folded cards during the holidays!
2. $250 cash to spend however they darn well choose
3. $250 match, in their name, donated to The Global Fund to
   help fight AIDS in Africa.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive
1. His or her cards may be sold in stores all over the country
   during the next holiday season.
2. $1,000 for plenty of fun spending.
3. $1,000 match, in the winner's name, donated to the Global
   Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa.
4. A trip for 2 to (RED)^(TM) Headquarters for a tour.
5. The opportunity to present the $1,000 donation check to The
   Global Fund.

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GRANTS
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ARTISTS ON THE VERGE (AOV)
http://northern.lights.mn/aov.html
---
The Jerome Foundation and Northern Lights, a new Twin Cities-
based arts agency, with fiscal sponsor Forecast Public Art,
announce Art(ists) on the Verge (AOV), a new two-track
fellowship and mentoring program for Minnesota-based,
emerging artists working experimentally at the intersection
of technology, with a focus on practices that are social,
collaborative and/or participatory. Deadline for Applications:
Monday, September 8, 2008.

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ABE FELLOWSHIP FOR JOURNALISTS
http://fellowships.ssrc.org/abe/AFJ_detailed_application_criteria/
---
The Abe Fellowship for Journalists is designed to encourage
in-depth coverage of topics of pressing concern to the United
States and Japan through individual short-term policy-related
projects. Applicants are invited to submit proposals on one of
the three themes below.

1) Traditional and non-traditional approaches to security and
diplomacy; 2) Global and regional economic issues; 3) The role
of civil society.

Fellows are expected to produce an analytical article or
feature story that will inform public debate or a policy
community. The Fellow and his/her news organization will
decide when to run the article. Deadline September 15, 2008.
The program provides support for six weeks in Japan or the
United States. The term may be divided between the principal
destination and another country. For example, for Americans,
four weeks in Japan and two weeks in another country in the
region, and for Japanese, four weeks in the United States
and two weeks in Canada or Mexico. The maximum stipend is
$23,500, which includes one roundtrip air ticket, $500 to
prepare for overseas fieldwork, and support for interpretation
based on requests.

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KENTUCKY ARTIST RESIDENCIES
http://artscouncil.ky.gov/guide/prog6/tip_guid.htm
---
These grants give professional artists an opportunity to
demonstrate their art form and provide students and teachers
repeated hands-on experiences in the making of art. Artists
also collaborate with teachers to design and implement
innovative programs that provide the tools to continue
utilizing art across the curriculum after the residency is
completed.

The grant amounts are based on the length of the residencies
which can be for one to four weeks. The grants awards are
$540, $1,080, $1,620 and $2,160, respectively. Artists are
selected by the schools from the Kentucky Arts Council's Arts
Education Roster of Artists, which is available at
http://artistdirectory.ky.gov/aer. For more information about
the Teacher Initiated Program, contact Program Branch Manager
Chris Cathers at (502) 564-3757 ext. 488 or
christopher.cathers@ky.gov. The next application deadline is
October 15, 2008 for residencies occurring in the spring of
2009.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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ADDITUDE MAGAZINE
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/writers-guidelines.html
---
Most of the articles we publish are written by journalists
and mental-health professionals. However, we are generally
willing to consider first-person articles by parents,
employers, teachers, etc. who have personal experience with
ADHD or LD and whose insights might be helpful to ADDitude's
readers (most of whom are parents of children with ADHD or a
learning disability and/or adults with ADHD).

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SRQ - SARASOTA'S PREMIER MAGAZINE
http://www.journalismjobs.com/job_listing.cfm?jobid=952195
---
SRQ MEDIA GROUP seeks freelancers to cover a wide range of
topics for SRQ: Sarasota's Premier Magazine--the monthly,
regional magazine influencing 60,000+ of Sarasota's affluent,
multigenerational residents and visitors. Ideal candidates
will be experienced in writing dynamic, magazine-length
feature stories. Competitive, per-word salary. Southwest
Florida-based writers are preferred, but all U.S. candidates
will be considered.

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REPTILES MAGAZINE
http://www.reptilechannel.com/writers-guidelines.aspx
---
REPTILES is a monthly magazine that caters to reptile and
amphibian hobbyists. It covers a wide variety of reptile
and amphibian-related topics, including captive care, field
herping and herpetocultural trends. Prices can vary,
depending on length, level of technicality, if the article
is assigned and excellent photos are provided. We generally
pay about $500 for a 2,000- to 2,500-word article with good
photos; less for shorter pieces.

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JOBS
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TECHNICAL WRITER
Location Frederick, MD
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=74408485&aid=27015391-588&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline August 25, 2008. Employing Agency: Animal & Plant
Health Inspection Service. The incumbent works without
supervision to design, develop, produce and maintain
operational and policy manuals, job aids, training materials
and other scientific technical communication to facilitate
the mission.

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COPY EDITOR
Location New York, NY
http://tinyurl.com/5w5kua
---
Soap Opera Digest, America's top soap magazine, has an
exciting opportunity for a talented Copy Editor to join our
team of dedicated soap lovers.  We are looking for a
multitasker with strong copy editing skills, exceptional eye
for detail, and ability to meet tight weekly deadlines.
Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism or related field
required, 1-2 years of experience in copy editing.

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WEB CONTENT EDITOR
Location Redmond, WA
http://tinyurl.com/5w256k
---
The Web Content team at Our Client's leading worldwide game
publisher and developer studio, is looking for a Content
Editor for their Community Web sites. This is a small tight-
knit group, responsible for brainstorming, producing and
propping compelling creative content, such as:
Character descriptions
Story elements
Game info
News articles
Videos

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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TALBOT FORTUNE AGENCY
http://www.talbotfortuneagency.com/submit.htm
---
The agency represents authors of narrative nonfiction, romance,
women's fiction, suspense, and literary fiction. Does not
handle children's books, westerns, science fiction, fantasy,
poetry, or screenplays.

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TALCOTT NOTCH LITERARY SERVICES
http://www.talcottnotch.net/
---
Fiction - Specializes in mystery, suspense, crime novels.
Nonfiction - Biography, history, true crime, psychology and
self-help, health and medicine, parenting, how-to, juvenile
nonfiction, sports, business and finance.

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LAVINIA TREVOR LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.laviniatrevor.co.uk/
---
Established in 1993 by Lavinia Trevor, who is a member of
the Association of Authors' Agents.  The agency represents
writers of both fiction (commercial and literary) and general
nonfiction (including popular science).

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SPONSORS
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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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BUSINESS STUFF
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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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