FundsforWriters - August 24, 2008
Published: Fri, 08/22/08
Volume 8, Issue 34
August 24, 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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Wrote a piece on memoirs and had to have pics. Took one of the bear I knitted for son number 2 (23 years ago) and my husband's baby shoes (he won't let me tell you THAT number of years.)
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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I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A SQUARE PEG
I think differently than many people. Do you know the feeling?
As a kid I loved withdrawing, pondering the whys and hows of
the world around me instead of being rowdy. Some considered me
shy. Others found me snobbish, because I didn't giggle with the
girls, flaunt and flirt with the boys. I loved school. Even at
those teenage parties I attended, where we sneaked bottles of
Boones Farm Strawberry Hill at someone's house where a naive
parent left us unattended, I preferred the corner, discussing
politics, logic and the future with someone else who dared to
analyze life and all its intricacies like I did.
Now that I've reached middle-age, I cherish the ability to
step out of the real world back into my own. Now I know to
use my gift as a strength in my writing. Plant me anywhere,
give me anything in my hand, show me anybody, and I spin
stories or weave magazine features. It's a challenge to see
if I can take the obvious or mundane and make it otherwise.
Heck, I can't even read magazines anymore without trying to
spin their stories into alternates of my own. I have stacks
and stacks of magazines. Most trade publications are free,
and as editor of FFW, I often receive professional discounts
for most of the rest. As I read one, I note article ideas
on the cover. I'll take one article and dissect another story
from it for another publication. My brain practically
explodes from all the possibilities, and I curse the fact
there's so few hours in the day to pitch them all.
Thus is the negative of being a writer. You scan the world
and extract stories. Problem is, everything is a story.
You can't attend a wedding, go out to dinner, wait in line
at the doctor's office or wet a fishing line without
twisting the moment into a story. You can't read without
wondering if you could do better, or at least learn from
someone with more talent.
The world throws so much at you, it's hard to write it all
down. Yes, I'm a square peg in a round hole as far as the
general population is concerned. But on my planet, all the
holes are square.
Hope
http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com
People are raving about the new look...and the new opportunities
offered four-five days a week.
=====
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
"I am only one - but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
-Helen Keller
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ARTICLE
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10 Ways Linked In Can Help Your Writing Career
By Mridu Khullar
Social networking has caught on in a big way not only for
your personal keeping-in-touch needs, but also in the
professional world. Linked In (www.linkedin.com), one of the
major players in professional social networking is one of the
websites where you can expect to find your boss, the manager
from your previous company, and your current freelancing
clients.
If you're not on Linked In or haven't yet gotten yourself
clued in to the nuances of online social networking websites,
you're doing your business a huge disservice.
While there are several social networking websites such as
MySpace and Facebook, there are few that are exclusively
meant to build professional relationships. Once you've
signed up for a Linked In account, here's how to maximize
your gain:
1. Keep in contact with current clients. It's likely that
you'll find your current clients or co-workers on this website.
Connect with them. Add them to your network so that they can
receive updates on your work. This is just one of the many
techniques professionals now use to keep their name "out
there." You should, too.
2. Connect with old acquaintances. Go ahead, hunt down the
old manager, the editor of the local magazine you wrote five
articles for before moving on to better pastures, and the
successful freelancer who you've been corresponding with over
the past few weeks. Linked In makes it really easy to know
where your editor went after she quit her job with the
magazine, and more convenient for you to maintain contact
with her.
3. Get and give recommendations. This is where it gets really
interesting. Linked In, unlike others, has a space for your
resume, and under each job listed, people you've worked with
can give recommendations or write notes about how they felt
about your work and their experience working with you. As an
independent business person, this kind of feedback can be
very valuable. When you deem fit, also pass on the love.
4. Keep your up-to-date portfolio in front of your clients.
You may have been published in a national magazine recently.
Maybe you won an award. Maybe you got profiled in your local
newspaper. Such things, while adding value to you, are hardly
events you'll be writing to your editors about. Keeping your
resume, professional details, and current projects on a single
page help your clients stay updated on your work if they so
choose.
5. Ask questions: Another great feature that you can make use
of is the ability to ask questions publicly and receive
answers from experts. Say you're seeking information about
the current tax laws on property. Simply type in your question
and specify the kind of experts you're interested in hearing
from, and your question as well as the answers to it will be
posted on your page.
6. Connect with other writers. This is also a great way to
connect with other professional writers, get and give
references, and network with like-minded professionals in a
water cooler like environment.
7. Discover potential ideas. By reading other people's
questions and the answers to them, there is so much potential
for finding information that (1) you wouldn't have thought of
otherwise, (2) people are interested in, and (3) clearly
generates interest. You'll figure out soon enough which topics
bring the most responses, and that in turn, can guide you to
what readers, and in turn, editors want.
8. Expand your source list. This is one of the invaluable
benefits of Linked In. Let's say you're a technology writer
and would like to connect with professionals in that sphere
and create a network of sources that you can turn to whenever
something new comes up. Linked In helps you do that by creating
a virtual Rolodex for you. You can find university professors,
scientists, research students, and sometimes people with jobs
you've never even heard of.
9. Check out the background. One of the main benefits of
websites such as these is that it makes background checks
somewhat easier. Even though the content of a person's page
is created by the person themselves, it can still give you
quite a bit of idea about whether or not you'll want to work
with this person. This is information that can be precious to
an independent journalist because it saves a lot of time if
you're immediately turned off or find that a person's
experience/qualifications aren't what you expected or they
don't seem professional.
10. Find jobs. And finally, one of the most important reasons
to sign on to any professional networking website--the lure of
finding more work. Linked In is not widely known for its job
opportunities yet, but members have reported receiving offers
of work or assignments simply because an editor randomly came
across their profile and liked it. You can also actively search
for work using the website's features.
Whether you decide to actively involve yourself with the website
or simply put up a resume and be done with it, an online presence
is becoming increasingly important in today's publishing climate.
Linked In is just one of the tools towards achieving that presence
and keeping your name in front of the people who may hire you.
Bio:
Mridu Khullar, 26, is a freelance journalist currently based
in New Delhi, India. She writes for Time, Marie Claire, Elle,
Ms., Parade.com, Women's eNews, and Writer's Digest, among
others. She blogs at http://www.mridukhullar.com/journal/
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COMPETITIONS
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THE FIDDLEHEAD INTERNATIONAL LITERARY JOURNAL CONTEST
http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/Fiddlehead/contest.html
---
ENTRY FEE $30 (CAD) for Canadian entries
and $36 (USD) for U.S. and overseas entries.
$1,000 Ralph Gustafson Prize for Best Poem.
$ 500 each for Two Runners-Up
$1,000 for Best Story
$ 500 each for Two Runners-Up
Deadline December 1, 2008. No simultaneous submissions and
no previously published (or accepted for publication) submissions.
No faxed or emailed submissions. The winning entries will be
published in the Spring 2009 issue of The Fiddlehead (No. 239)
and on our web site. The winning authors will be paid for
publication in addition to their prizes. Vetting is blind.
One Fiction Entry is one story of up to 25 double-spaced pages.
One Poetry Entry is up to three poems with no more than 100
lines per poem. The entry fee includes a one-year subscription
to The Fiddlehead. You may enter multiple times, but only your
first entry in each category will be eligible for a subscription.
Email us at: fiddlehd@unb.ca
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CHAUTAUQUA WRITER'S CENTRE POETRY CONTEST
http://writers.ciweb.org/literary-journal/
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$20 ENTRY FEE
Prize: $1,000 and publication in Chautauqua, the literary
journal of the Chautauqua Institution. Winner and finalists
receive a copy of the journal. Theme: Story and Storytelling.
Deadline: November 15, 2008. Send 1 to 3 poems (6 pages
maximum), cover sheet, and entry fee.
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CAFEWRITERS OPEN POETRY COMPETITION
http://cafewriters.awardspace.com/competitions.htm
http://cafewriters.awardspace.com/2008%20ENTRY%20FORM.pdf
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ENTRY FEE £4 PER POEM
Deadline November 30, 2008. First prize £750, second prize
£300, third prize £150. Jarrold Norfolk prize £150 book vouchers.
Maximum of 40 lines. The prizes are open to any writers other
than Cafe Writers' committee members.
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GRANTS
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URBAN LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
http://americancity.org/fellows
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Next American City is currently seeking candidates for our
Urban Leaders Fellowship Program, a unique opportunity to
write about the development of our nation's cities. The
nine-month, part-time fellowship comes with a $10,000 stipend.
Through substantial contribution to our print magazine and
website, as well as a presence in other media outlets throughout
the country, our fellows will conduct new research and in-depth
reportage on the issues at the forefront of urban change. In
addition to diversifying and expanding the editorial content
of our publications, our primary goal is to have a long-term,
positive impact on the cities and urban communities covered.
Fellows are expected to write at least two, 2,500-word feature
stories for our print magazine, as well as several web features
and blog posts each month. Deadline September 15, 2008.
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ILLINOIS ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/guidelines/guidelines.htm#afa
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Deadline September 1, 2008. Non-matching Fellowships of $7,000
and Finalist Awards of $700 are awarded to Illinois artists of
exceptional talent in recognition of their outstanding work and
commitment to the arts. Awards are based upon the quality of
works submitted and the evolving professional accomplishments of
the applicant. The Artists Fellowship Program operates on a two-
year rotating cycle. The following discipline categories will be
reviewed in odd-numbered fiscal years (FY09) Interdisciplinary/
Computer Art, Music Composition, Photography, Poetry and Visual
Arts. In even-numbered fiscal years (FY10) Choreography, Crafts,
Ethnic and Folk Arts, Media Arts, New Performance Forms, Prose
and Scriptworks will be offered.
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PATRICK HENRY FELLOWSHIP
http://starrcenter.washcoll.edu/fellows/index.php
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The C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience
invites applications for its fulltime residential fellowships,
which support outstanding writing on American history and
culture by both scholars and nonacademic writers. The Patrick
Henry Fellowship includes a $45,000 stipend, health benefits,
faculty privileges, a book allowance and a nine-month residency
(during the academic year 2009-10) in a restored circa-1735 house
in historic Chestertown, Md. Deadline: January 15, 2009.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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KIKI MAGAZINE
http://kikimag.com/professionalwriter.php
---
Kiki is both a fashion magazine and a creativity journal
for "tween" girls who are 8-14 years old. We are interested
only in articles that help expand our readers' creative
horizons in a wide range of topical areas, including how-to
crafts, sewing projects, illustration techniques, sewing
techniques, design ideas, business, geography, interviews
with people in the industry (particularly students and young
people starting their careers), book reviews, product reviews,
travel, grooming tips, games, puzzles, and content-related
quizzes. We do not accept articles on sexual topics, puberty,
relationships with boys, or other socially oriented content.
Because our target market is girls ages 9 to 13, we are not
interested in articles directly about college life. Interviews
with college design students are acceptable, however. Pay rate
depends on the length of the piece. Pieces can be anywhere from
250 words to 750 words with inset articles of 150 words. The
pay rate ranges from .50 to $1.00/word.
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INDEPENDENT LENS
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/submissions.html
---
NO ENTRY FEE
29-week national public TV series jointly curated by PBS and
ITVS and showcasing independent documentary programming and
dramas seeks completed films for broadcast during October 2009
- June 2010 season. Welcomes full spectrum of film - from
history to drama to animation to shorts to social-issue
subjects. Must be compelling story, well told, with elements
suited to attracting a national audience; work should be
innovative, provocative, character driven, and well-crafted.
Accepts only very advanced fine cuts and completed works of
all genres and lengths (standard acquisition fee begins at
$30,000 for hour-long program). PBS has standard length
requirements that may necessitate edits. Most programs
accepted will likely be scheduled in 1-hour time-slots.
Receipt Deadline: September 26, 2008.
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SANKYNET
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/301745-291
---
SankyNet is seeking applicants with strong writing and copy
editing skills to fill several freelance positions. Previous
experience writing for the Web is a plus. The right candidate
will be capable of working independently and taking initiative,
as well as meeting tight deadlines and bringing a creative
voice to a wide range of clients. This is a freelance position.
Write compelling e-appeals and e-newsletters for non-profit
organizations whose missions range from hunger relief, women's
rights, education and animal welfare to biomedical research and
the arts. Write and/or edit website copy ranging from featured
articles to complete copy decks. Create pay-per-click
advertising campaigns including ad copy and landing pages.
Degree in English, Journalism or a related subject preferred.
Minimum 3-5 years writing and editing experience. Previous
experience writing for non-profit organizations preferred.
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JOBS
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EDITOR
Location Arlington, VA
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=74631248&aid=27015391-1388&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline August 26, 2008. Employing Agency: Joint Chiefs of
Staff. Review and analyze related Joint Staff documents to
acquire information about the subject. Edit for adherence to
Joint Staff format, grammatical construction, punctuation,
capitalization, spelling, compounding of words, use of italics,
abbreviations, numbers, symbols, accurate use of command or
organization titles (and the explanation thereof), and the
proper use of military terminology. Determine whether the
purpose of the action is properly addressed and whether
pertinent facts are included and cogently discussed in the
relation to the purpose.
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TECHNICAL EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=74769830&aid=27015391-1388&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
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Deadline September 26, 2008. Employing Agency: Federal
Reserve System--Board Of Governors. Applying a general
knowledge of the subject areas relevant to the Board, the
Technical Editor ensures that publications are logically
arranged and that the text conforms to current English-usage
standards and established Board editorial style. The Technical
Editor assists other senior editors in carrying out their
assignments and also may be responsible for coordinating the
Board's contributions to publications of other governmental
organizations. The Technical Editor assists in coordinating
the typesetting and printing of publications and with the
creating and updating of content for the Board's public web
site, PubWeb.
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TECHNICAL EDITOR
Location Quantico, VA
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=74837276&aid=27015391-1588&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline August 29, 2008. Employing Agency: US Marine Corps.
The incumbent provides technical editorial expertise in the
production of military analysis-related multimedia products
(including hardcopy manuals, CD-ROMSs, and the applicable
websites) within a team environment. Applies thorough
knowledge of the English language. Applies computer skills
in electronic/desktop publishing using Microsoft products.
Applies knowledge of formatting, design/layout principles,
and incorporation of graphics, photo imaging, and computer-
generated visual enhancements within publications.
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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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HARLEQUIN HISTORICAL UNDONE
http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1363&chapter=0
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Word Length: 10-15,000 words. Format: eBooks. In Historical
UNDONE we are looking for a high level of sensuality that
flows naturally out of the plotline. There should be a strong
emotional basis to the heightened attraction--it's vital the
reader can believe in the intense emotion driving the characters
as their relationship develops. These stories should be hot,
sexy and subtly explicit without the lovemaking being vulgar
or gratuitous. The history should be well researched in order
to give an authentic sense of period without taking over from
the romance.
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HARLEQUIN NONFICTION BOOKS
http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1297&chapter=0
---
For our nonfiction program we are looking for books that will
entertain, support, inspire and provide insight to women 35+
years old as their lives and roles evolve and change. We are
focused on the following categories: relationships, health,
diet, fitness, self-help, inspirational (Christian living)
and narrative nonfiction (life memoir/personal memoir,
lifestyle memoir, travel memoir and celebrity biographies/
autobiographies). We are also interested in brand extension
nonfiction: projects that are related to one of our brands
(author or imprint). Authors should be writing from a solid
platform with expertise and credentials that can be leveraged
in the promotion of their book.
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SPICE BRIEFS
http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1264&chapter=0
---
Spice Books is looking to acquire bold, sexually explicit
editorial that pushes the envelope for its new eBook erotica
program, Spice Briefs. These are highly erotic short stories;
although brief, these novellas should still establish context
for the erotic content through an interesting and engaging
premise (a great hook), a well-constructed plot and believable
characters. Quality editorial is paramount. Like Spice Books,
what will set Spice Briefs apart is its broad spectrum of sexy
editorial. We are looking for all kinds of subgenres--contemporary,
ethnic, literary, mystery/suspense, historical and paranormal
stories told in first- or third-person point of view (female
only) or, if it works for the story, multiple points of view.
Authors should feel comfortable exploring any and all sexual
scenarios, even ones considered "taboo," and should avoid using
euphemisms in favor of the frank, graphic language typical of
the erotica genre. Word Length: 5,000-15,000 words.
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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
=====
Advertise with FundsforWriters !!!
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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
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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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