Volume 9, Issue 3
January 18, 2009

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

Get your free tip sheet on 10 Reasons A
Large Company Or Organization Might
Buy 10,000 (Or More) Copies of Your Book ...

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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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DEADBEAT PUBLISHERS AND EDITORS

Amazing the stories coming out of the woodwork about deadbeat
editors. As the economy continues to spiral, the more editors
shirk their ethics, blaming nonpayment on financial issues.

Cobblestone Publishing/ Carus Publishing has stiffed more than
me. Others have notified me of similar situations. Seasoned
children's writers are dumbfounded that such a foundation in
the children's magazine world has tarnished. Angela Hoy, dare-
devil founder of Writers Weekly and Booklocker.com has been
corresponding with them in an attempt to collect payment for
another writer who lost $75 to Cricket, another publication in
that family of magazines. I shared my experience with her.

In the past, we knew that sooner or later we'd be taken
advantage of by some start up magazine or unethical editor.
However, in these financial times, dire straits are causing
decent people to stray. Some editors have moved to the dark
side. It amazes me that at Cobblestone they continue to
accept submissions and sign contracts, knowing full well
they cannot honor them. 

I understand the economy wreaking havoc. What I don't under-
stand is the fact it didn't happen overnight. What I don't
understand is why these publications still solicit queries.
What I don't understand is why they pay the printer, the
post office, the light bill and the webmaster, but not the
writers who hand them the words from which they make a buck.

Sure, it's not frugal to pursue legal action. However, we
can educate each other about the snares and traps that
await the unaware. Then we move on, doing our homework on
markets the best we can, and forgetting the ones that
did us wrong.

That means never subscribing to them again.

And I refuse to let them ruin my day. They pay me or
they're off my radar. I have money to make and stories
to tell...to someone who'll pay me and take me seriously.

    Hope

ENDORSEMENT FOR THE 2009 BYLINES CALENDAR FOR WRITERS

Hi, Hope. FFW ran a lead last year seeking writers for the
Bylines 2009 Writer's Desk Calendar. I wanted to thank you
for this opportunity. I am honored to have a calendar page
of my own, and especially honored to share the space with
so many enthused and determined writers. While the pay was
nominal, I got a free copy, and its thoughtfully designed
spaces for goals, tasks, and notes have really helped to
get my wheels turning. This had led to a very well organized
start to the New Year!
 
Katherine Hauswirth
Hauswirth Writing Solutions, LLC
http://www.pw.org/content/katherine_hauswirth
http://inchingsimplicity.blogspot.com/

Offered each year by FundsforWriters.

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

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TWO EBOOKS UPDATED!

 

Wow - with the economy, so many magazines and web sites
are disappearing. Fresh links and markets for you in these
two popular ebooks. As always, if you've ordered either of
these ebooks in the last two months, request your free
update.

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.

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Often the difference between a successful man and a failure
is not one's better abilities or idea, but the courage that
one has to bet on his ideas, to take a calculated risk -
and to act.

~ Maxwell Maltz

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi!  I just had to let you know that I found the name of an
editor (Holly) on your site, and submitted a proposal to her
for her new website. Not only did she love my idea and offer
me a contract, she did it with real spirit, enthusiam and a
genuine concern, not only for the business side of publishing,
but for the real, behind the scenes part of it as well. I have
been submitting ideas and take every rejection as a lesson,
not as a failure. I won't say that I have not thrown my little
tizzy fits and announced that I will never write again, that
would not be true. But, I always calm down and realize that I
do not write for the money, the possible fame or for anything
else. I write for me first, and the rest is just cake.
 
Email: hockygrrl4@aol.com
Amie Nogrady

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ARTICLE
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Flying Away From Rejection

By Gwynne Spencer

Rejections! If there were a prize each year for the most,
or the best, or the most cheeky, I'd win for sure. I know
I haven't studied the magazine or the publisher deeply
enough whenever I get one in the mail. How do I know that?
Because one article I wrote for a magazine called Pilot
Getaways taught me how to really study the market I intended
to write for.

Pilot Getaways is for owners of small planes who fly for
pleasure. Since I don't fly, but at the time the fellow I
was associated with did, I figured it was worth a look-see.
As a writer, you have to be flexible, right?

I dutifully trundled down to the nearest bookstore, down
Tombstone Gulch in Bisbee, Arizona and bought a copy of
the magazine. At the adjacent Copper Queen hotel, on the
patio in the blinding morning sun, I outlined each feature
article. I had two columns--vaguely "what" and "how much"--
that told me the content or intent, and the word count or
size.

I knew how many words were in each paragraph. I knew how many
words belonged in a sentence. I knew how many words should
appear in each subhead. I knew how many words ran in the
cutlines. I knew how many paragraphs belonged on the page,
and how many words to include in each sidebar. I knew the
size of each photo, and how many photos went with each feature.

With the fortification of more coffee, I went on to do this
sort of analysis for each of the less-than-feature articles
and around noon, when the fire whistle blew (as it used to do)
I felt like I was the editor, not a prospective writer. The
whole deal took about three hours, and four cups of coffee.

Then I trudged back up Tombstone Canyon to my house (which
used to belong to a notorious gunslinger-turned-judge and
which was haunted by his ghost) and knocked out a rough draft
of an article on Bisbee. When I got to the part about the
airport--how long the runway is, how it is lighted, the
services provided--I hopped in the car and drove out there.
It's a tiny remote airstrip in the middle of a patch of
tumbleweeds and cactus with a few watchful rattlesnakes on
patrol. All the information I needed was also available online,
I later found out.

I took a few pictures of the open pit copper mine, bought a
few postcards of historic sites mentioned in the article,
and bundled it up without so much as a query. About a week
later, I got a call from the publisher wanting the article.
They paid me nicely, and instead of my photos, they arranged
for a flyover in a historic airplane with in-air photos. I
must admit hanging out of a plane by my seatbelt a thousand
feet above the desert is not on my list of activities I'd like
to repeat, but it was instructively unforgettable.

My article ran longer than my romance with the Evil Bastard
of All Time, so by the time it was published I had moved from
Bisbee to Mancos, Colorado, my secret rebel base by the river.
And once I was there, I took out my outline, sat on the front
porch with some coffee, and filled in the skeleton with
information about Mesa Verde, seven miles away. That one sold
too, only I didn't get to fly over the ruins because of the
fires that year and small planes were deemed to be too
dangerous to the fragile ruins. They sent a photographic
crew later after the fires had ended. I didn't even have to
hang out of the aircraft by my seatbelt this time!

What I learned from this was that when a publication says
"study our magazine" they assume you know how to do this
and that you will do this analytical exercise. So instead
of an "F" on your homework, try this technique and you might
get an "A."

A is for acceptance.

BIO
Gwynne Spencer now lives in Monmouth, Oregon three miles
from the state-owned Independence Airpark where they have
a fine little café that has terrific breakfasts and folks
have hangars not garages because they 'drive' their
airplanes to their homes. 

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COMPETITIONS
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ABC CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK COMPETITION
http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/rules.htm
---
$55 ENTRY FEE
If you have an original manuscript, you are invited to enter
the competition. Below are the specific manuscript guidelines
for entries:

The winners of the Internet vote will receive a royalty-based
publishing contract along with one thousand copies of their
finished book. They will also have access to additional copies
of the book at a greatly reduced rate. The ABC's Competition is
ideal for children's authors who want to do school visits
and sell books as part of the presentation. One thousand books
sold at full price can net the author more than $15,000 in
sales on top of the royalties involved in the publishing
contract. The publisher of the winning book will be The ABC's
Press, an imprint of Bluebonnets, Boots & Books, a Houston,
Texas-based publisher. Must be 21+ and a US citizen.

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NEW SOUTH CONTEST
http://www.review.gsu.edu/contest_ns.html
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
Poetry Prize - up to three poems per entry fee.
First Place: $1,000. Second Place: $250.

Fiction Prize - up to 7,500 words, but shorts are welcome.
First Place: $1,000. Second Place: $250.

Deadline March 4, 2009. New South publishes quality literary
art promoting the work of emerging and established writers.
New South holds no subject biases. The staff will select
the best work regardless of style or genre.

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SIR JOHN M. TEMPLETON FELLOWSHIPS ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.independent.org/students/essay/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
The Sir John M. Templeton Fellowships Essay Contest encourages
college students and young college professors around the world
to study the meaning and significance of economic and personal
liberty. Deadline: May 1, 2009. All applicants must be 35
years of age or younger as of May 1, 2009. Student must be
enrolled in a college or university in Fall 2009. College or
university students: 1,500 to 5,000 words. Junior faculty
members: 5,000 to 8,000 words.

Students    
First Prize: $2,500
Second Prize: $1,500
Third prize: $1,000 

Junior Faculty Members
First Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $5,000
Third Prize: $1,500
 

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GRANTS
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NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL
http://www.nebraskaartscouncil.org
---
The Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) would like to remind artists
of its upcoming deadline of February 1, 2009 for applications
to the NAC's Artist Directory. The Directory includes both the
Artists in Schools/Communities program and the Nebraska Touring
Program/Exhibits Nebraska. Artists interested in applying for
the AiS/C roster should contact Anne Alston at
anne.alston@nebraska.gov. Artists interested in the NTP/EN
roster should contact Nicole Palof at nicole.palof@nebraska.gov.
Artists may also call 402/595-2122. Applications may be
downloaded by going to Programs/Programs for Artists/Artist
Directory from the home page of the NAC website.

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NEW VOICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
http://www.j-newvoices.org/index.php/site/story/2009rfp/
---
Is something missing in your local media landscape? Are you
craving news and information sources that energize, engage
and build a sense of community and connection? Are you ready
to be the media you wish to see in your town? J-Lab: The
institute for Interactive Journalism invites you to apply for
funding to launch a participatory news venture in your community.
J-Lab will select eight projects in 2009. Each project may
receive up to $25,000. Proposals are due Feb. 12, 2009.
Eligible to receive New Voices funding are 501(c)3 organizations
and education institutions, including community groups, public
broadcasters, independent media, colleges and universities, and
individuals working under the sponsorship of a nonprofit fiscal
agent. Only start-up news initiatives can receive funding.
Ongoing efforts are not eligible unless they are proposing a
new project or product.

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NEW WOMEN MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR GRANTS
http://www.newmediawomen.org/index.php/site/proposal_guidelines/
---
J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism and the
McCormick Foundation are seeking to fund three women-led
projects that will rock the world of journalism. They will
fund individuals who have original ideas to create new Web
sites, mobile news services or other entrepreneurial initiatives
that offer interactive opportunities to engage, inspire and
improve news and information in a geographic community or a
community of interest. Deadline: March 31, 2009. The McCormick
New Media Women Entrepreneurs program will give one-time
funding of $10,000 to women who have the vision, skills and
experience to launch a new venture. These can be solo ideas
or team projects spearheaded by women.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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VERVE MAGAZINE
http://www.vervemag.com/write-for-verve/
---
Verve is Western North Carolina's smartest women's magazine.
It provides an in-depth look at women in the arts, business,
cultural affairs, fashion and design. The magazine is both
playful and practical, delivering provocative news and trend
stories as well as savvy advice.

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SAVVY MISS
http://www.savvymiss.com/company/sign-up.html
---
Pays 35 cents/word. A Savvy Miss is an intellectually curious,
fun-loving woman. She's smart, mixes a mean cocktail (or likes
to think that she does), and wants to save the world by
volunteering, one charity at a time. She'd rather find a good
book than know which celebrity was spotted wearing which designer
while sipping a nonfat, no whip, triple mocha frappa-whatever;
and she cares more about finding a home for abandoned dogs than
carting one around in a furry pink purse. She's interesting AND
interested.

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EDIBLE LOS ANGELES
http://www.ediblelosangeles.com/content/index.php/writer-s-guidelines/writer-s-guidelines.htm
---
We are a member of Edible Communities, a growing, award-winning,
nationwide series of community-based food publications whose
mission is "to transform the way communities shop for, cook,
eat, and relate to the food that is grown and produced in
their area." Recipes to accompany articles are highly desirable,
but they must be original and carefully tested. Articles can
range in size from around 400 (1/2 page) - 2,700 (3 pages)
words, with the length determined by what seems best for the
particular topic. Articles from 400 - 950 are preferred. We
also seek short (@ 150 - 300 words) news-type features for
our upfront Notable Edibles section. At this time, payment
is anywhere from 18 to 30 cents/word for original articles.
Payment is also based on the complexity and polish of the
submitted article.

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JOBS
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TECHNICAL WRITER
Location Washington DC
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=78443194&aid=27015391-1219&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline February 12, 2009. Agency: Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Writes, rewrites, summarizes
and edits documents based on overarching knowledge of a full
range of initiatives and activities managed by the Programs
Deputy Chief Area, considering target audience and use of
each document in assessing its organization and the manner
of presentation.

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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Atlanta, GA
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=78532216&aid=27015391-1219&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline January 23, 2009. Agency: Centers for Disease Control
& Prevention. The incumbent receives, writes, and edits
documents, and/or other general or technical materials.
Proofreads and edits materials for factual content, such as
reports, regulations, newsletters, magazines, news releases,
training materials, brochures, pamphlets, guidebooks,
scholarly works, reference works, speeches, or scripts.

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FREELANCE WRITERS
Location Bryan/College Station, Texas
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1011774
---
Deadline February 19, 2009. AbouTown Press, a monthly Bryan/
College Station community newspaper, is searching for several
experienced freelance writers located in the Bryan/College
Station area. Our writers uncover the Brazos Valley's hidden
gems with in-depth features on a variety of topics typically
passed over by traditional media outlets.

Candidates will have a proven background in journalism, be
able to consistently deliver on deadline, and represent
AbouTown in a professional manner. Curiosity, diligence, and
enthusiasm are requirements. Familiarity with AP style and
photography skills are a plus. Please send a resume, cover
letter, and no more than three clips representative of your
writing style to rebecca@aboutownpress.com or fax to
888-694-0003. No phone calls, please.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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AZRO PRESS
http://www.azropress.com/
---
Azro Press, founded in 1997, is a small publishing company
located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Azro Press is devoted to
bringing to life the works of authors and illustrators of the
Southwest. We publish illustrated children´s books for ages 2
to 6, easy readers for ages 5 to 8, and fiction for older
children. Azro Press is in the vanguard of publishers of
picture books in Santa Fe. Green Knees is a new imprint of
Azro Press. Its mission is to publish books written and
illustrated by children.

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SMALL BEER PRESS
http://www.lcrw.net/
---
We accept fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and black and white
art. The fiction we publish most of tends toward, but is not
limited to, the speculative. This does not mean only quietly
desperate stories. We will consider items that fall out with
regular categories. We do not publish gore, sword and sorcery
or pornography.

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LEE & LOW BOOKS
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/wguide.mhtml
---
Our focus is on fiction and nonfiction featuring children/
people of color, for readers ages 5 to 12. Of special interest
are realistic fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction with
a distinct voice or unique approach. We do not publish
folklore and animal stories.

-Picture book manuscripts should be no longer than 1,500 words
for fiction and 3,000 words for nonfiction. Please send the
complete manuscript. Do not include illustrations unless you
are a professional illustrator. Do not send irreplaceable
materials.

-For middle grade manuscripts of more than 10,000 words, please
send a query letter with story synopsis and chapter outline.
Do not send the complete manuscript.

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

BOOKEXPO AMERICA / WRITER'S DIGEST BOOKS WRITERS CONFERENCE

The seventh annual BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books
Writers Conference will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at
the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in New York City. 
Best-selling suspense author Karin Slaughter (Triptych,
Fractured) will be the keynote speaker. Admission to the
conference is $199.  The conference is open to the general
public.  Conference registration is online at
ttp://www.bookexpoamerica.com.

For up to the minute news on the conference, visit the
Writer's Digest website at http://www.writersdigest.com/bea .

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ARE YOU THE NEXT VIP AUTHOR?

VIP Author Talks kicks off the 2009 tele-series on Wednesday,
January 21 at 8:00pm ET when publishing consultant Shelley
Lieber interviews Marlene Chism, author of "Success is a Given:
Reading the Signs While Re-Inventing Your Life."
 
In this presentation, you can learn how to:

Choose the topic and title for your book
Organize your material
Use your book as a tool to build and expand your business
Use writing, speaking and coaching to build an audience (readers)
 
Free Call: VIP Author Talks Series
When: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 8pm - 9pm ET (5pm - 6pm PT)
Details: http://vipauthors.com

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BEFORE YOU QUERY (again) - GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!

Elizabeth Irwin provides editing services for fiction
and non-fiction of all lengths - from manuscript
evaluation to proofreading to content editing. Publicity
consultation is also available.  Twenty years of writing,
editing, and marketing experience are just a click away.

Visit www.irwinfreelance.com for more details or
email Elizabeth@irwinfreelance.com.

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"Words of hope when life gets hard"
 
A unique Christian card line written and designed after
being healed of a disability. Card categories include:

Illness - New life Phases - Everyday Life -
Tried but Failed - Asking for Help

Each card comes with a card insert with the Scripture
reference typed out in its entirety.
 
Need a card personally written for someone or something
special? Check out website information about our
Specialty card line.

Contact information, verses and card examples
at www.prayfullyyours.com

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CAN YOU TAKE A SIMPLE PHOTOGRAPH?

If yes, you could make $2,000 a week taking snap shots in your
own backyard, on your family vacations, or anywhere in the
world you care to travel. Here's everything you need to know
about this fun and lucrative business:

http://www.thephotographerslife.com/ph2/b8a

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A FUN AND REWARDING SECOND INCOME FOR WRITERS

Wouldn't it be wonderful to be responsible for creating a
happy memory that will stay with a child forever...and get
paid handsomely to do it? With the tremendous recent
successes of children's books, many publishers are looking
to develop first-time authors. When you know who they are,
what they want and how they want it, you'll be ahead of
90-95% of other new writers. If you've ever considered
supplementing your livelihood by writing for children, this
will make it easier than ever: 

http://www.publishachildrensbook.com/kid/b8a

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CAN YOU WRITE A SIMPLE LETTER?  

If yes, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing
just a few hours a day from anywhere in the world you choose to
be. Learn the secrets of this little-known, lucrative business.

http://www.thewriterslife.com/awi/b8a1

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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 !!!
Advertise with FFW Small Markets!

ADS FOR $12 AND UP!

$12 - one week in FFW Small Markets
$30 - four weeks in FFW Small Markets

$25 - one week in FundsforWriters
$75 - four weeks in FundsforWriters

$30 - one week in both FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets
$90 - 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 2000-2009, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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