Volume 9, Issue 2
January 11, 2009

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

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

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

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, Thursday, January 15th, your
choice of two times.  Go here now to
register:  http://www.freeauthortips.com/call302

                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 FROM HOPE:

Cobblestone Publishing is unable to pay writers at present.
I prepared a piece for their Appleseeds Magazine, a project
with my grandson for fun (payment only $75), and it published
in December. I asked for copies and payment this week and
was told not to expect payment in the immediate future due to
"difficult financial times." They cannot say when ANY writers
will be paid, and the individual who notified me of this
stated she was affected as well.

Cobblestone includes all these magazines, so be aware that
payment isn't assured if you choose to write for any of these:

APPLESEEDS - general history and cultures (for ages 6-9)
CALLIOPE - world history (for ages 9-14)
COBBLESTONE - American history (for ages 9-14)
DIG - archeology (for ages 9-14)
FACES - world cultures and geography (for ages 9-14)
ODYSSEY - science (for ages 9-14)
BABYBUG - for babies and toddlers
LADYBUG - for ages 2-6
SPIDER - for ages 6-9
CRICKET - for ages 9-14
CICADA - for ages 14 and up
CLICK - opening windows for young minds (for ages 3-6)
ASK - arts and sciences for kids (for ages 6-9)
MUSE - the magazine of life, the universe, and pie throwing
       (for ages 9 and up)

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REACHING OUTSIDE THE BOX

Yeah, I know. Everyone is telling you to think differently
in 2009. That's because the advice is sound. However, few
people who receive the advice, and many who give it, will
continue to operate business as usual. They won't change.
They won't be different.

Different is scary. It's uncomfortable. It's venturing into
places you've never been before. It's flaunting yourself
from a new base, and you worry someone will label you a fraud.

Hey, I understand. Occasionally someone bashes me for making
money with FundsforWriters. Or someone thinks I'm another scam.
Some think my pictures are stupid. But for every one who thinks
ill of me and my motives, there are a thousand who believe
otherwise.

I'll play those odds everyday. I'm still pondering my 2009
goals. What do I give up and what do I expound upon? What new
tools do I place in my toolbox and what product can I provide
that's fresh and appealing? What can I do that aids writers
and helps me in my writing at the same time?

How can you take this recession, turn it on its ear, and thumb
your nose at the naysayers out there who wring their hands at
the economy? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Be ultra professional.
Be prompt, polished, honed and thorough. Be polite and
empathetic. Be customer friendly.

2. Be more than you are.
Aim for a quicker, better, more educational or entertaining
product. Just be a lot more of what you are. Provide photos
with your submissions. Provide your features ahead of schedule
with a free sidebar.

3. Recirculate everything.
When you research one piece, go ahead and pitch it from
different angles to multiple publications. Don't wait for
the initial rejection. Go ahead and rewrite the material
for different markets and pitch six articles in lieu of one.
When you are rejected, immediately pitch two more articles.
Pitch the same article to another publication and pitch
a different article to the editor who just rejected you,
while you're fresh on his mind.

4. Define your brand.
You may have multiple talents, multiple genre, several
different writing interests. Pick the one that maintains
your interest or earns you the most income. Jump into it.
Create or recreate your web site. Start or spice up your
blog. Join professional groups and network. Be seen. The
best compliment I receive is "I see your name everywhere."

For fun, look at this author's new website for his new
thriller release. Now THIS is unique, and he's doing it
in 2009 when everyone else is fearful of publishing. A
quirky website with games, video and fun stuff to keep
you stuck there long enough to remember his name and the
title of his book. If he's this good on the web site,
imagine the thrill of his story.

http://www.beatthereaper.com/

    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/

This daily writers' calendar is perfect. 2009 will be
Hope's fifth year using this marvelous writing tool. See
writers just like yourself on each weekly post. Keep up
with literary conferences, author birthdays. Manage your
submissions. Its uses are endless.

Offered each year by FundsforWriters.

www.fundsforwriters.com/Bylines.htm

=====

FLASH! LET'S TALK!

Hope offers coaching/consulting/proofing.
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/ConsultHope.htm

====

http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

New opportunities posted several days a week.

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NOTE:
Many state arts commissions are holding free grant classes
and townhall meetings in states. Contact your arts commission
if you are interested in attending and learning how to make
grants a part of your life. Find your state's commission at
http://www.nasaa-arts.org/

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements
of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to
be enthusiastic about.

~ Charles Kingsley

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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi, Hope, and Happy 2009!
 
I'm writing to share my good publishing fortune. I wrote an
essay many years ago that I've been fine-tuning forever, and
figuring the time was ripe, in it went as an entry in the
First Impressions 2009 Memoir and Documentary Competition
advertised in FFW. Sounds easy-peasy enough, except this
essay had taken me a decade to revise because it details
the sad and horrific abuse showered on my mother and me by
my father--a decorated Korean war veteran and untreated PTSD
sufferer.
 
And then the silly essay went ahead and WON. Eeek. Talk about
airing dirty laundry...I had just strung the proverbial
clothesline across Center City Philly--literally--since that's
where the essay was presented to a public audience!
 
Unfortunately, I couldn't make the 3-hour drive for the public
reading, but I was honored with a fat check and the satisfaction
that not everyone means "make me laugh" when they ask for
personal stories. Sometimes, people really do want the truth,
no matter what it looks like.
 
Winning that recognition was scary, exhilarating, and very
satisfying since, in my house growing up silence equaled
complicity and, as you might imagine, we were silent a lot.
 
Frankly, I can't think of a better venue for this essay...
a story waving in the wind for all to see.
 
Here's to a prosperous and peace-filled year of publishing.
We couldn't do it without FFW and all your hard work!
 
Hugs,
Sylvia M DeSantis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Making Money from your University Essays (without cheating).
 
By Stephanie Green
 
I arrived at university with a single suitcase and a desire
to write. I envisioned writing opinion articles for student
magazines and being involved in the local poetry scene. I
hadn't counted on the long hours of library research and
essay writing that left me so drained that I couldn't bear
the thought of writing for fun. During my four year degree
I only finished two short poems.
 
I learned a lot about technique and style from writing
academic essays. I became a better writer, and I've since
sold those essays to paying markets, and I don't mean hawking
them behind the cafeteria. Here's how you can make writing
income from your academic essays:
 
1. Sell them directly to journals and magazines.

First, you can try academic journals in your subject area,
but these rarely pay for contributions. Next, look for
general interest magazines that cater for your subject area,
such as pet magazines if you're a veterinary student, or
heritage magazines for archaeologists. If you study a
practical subject like engineering or computing, you could
also look at trade magazines.
 
You'd be amazed at where your essays might end up. I sold
an English paper about 'The Food and Diet of Hobbits' to
Strange Horizons, a popular online speculative fiction
market. I've since sold another anthropology essay to the
same market.
 
2. Rework them into Articles

If you change the tone of your essay from argumentative to
informative you have a great 'Did You Know?' article.
Alternatively, you can use your research notes to whip out a
couple of snappy filler articles or features for children's
magazines. I've written articles for kids about bog bodies and
ancient Egypt based on research for highly technical essays.
 
4. Enter Essay Competitions.

I entered a few essay competitions while at University and
placed in most of them. The competition isn't as stiff as
you'd think, and besides, you're a writer, so you already
have an edge. I revise my best essays (the ones that earn
A's and A+'s) according to my professor's comments. Visit
your professors, explain the guidelines of the competition
and ask if they have any further advice for you.
 
The judges are normally looking for essays that present
arguments relevant in today's society, even if the topic is
'burial customs of Ancient Egypt'. It can be to your benefit
to make sure your examples are from recent headlines or
contemporary cases. Above all, the judges are looking for
original thinkers. If you write essays that challenge
established thoughts or introduce new methodologies or
unique interpretations, you'll rise to the top with ease.
 
Apart from the money, selling your essays brings other
advantages. If you wish to continue in academia or apply
for competitive jobs within your profession, a list of
publishing credits in your subject area will impress
prospective employers. It's an excellent way to hone your
writing skills and help keep down your student debt.
 
BIO
Stephanie Green is a New Zealand freelance writer with articles
published in academic journals, magazines, online newsletters,
ezines, and poetry and short story collections. She writes on
such diverse subjects as disabilities, swordfighting, heavy
metal music, literature, archaeology, travel and weddings. Her
ebook '33 Mistakes Writers Make About Blind Characters' will
shortly be available from OneMoreWord books.

http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=222

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

2009 STALLE KUPFERBERG MEMORIAL SHORT STORY PRIZE
http://www.symphonyspace.org/shorts/writing_contest
---
$10 ENTRY FEE
The winning submission selected by Ann Patchett will be
read as part of the Selected Shorts performance at Symphony
Space on May 20, 2009.  The story will be recorded for
possible later broadcast as part of the public radio series. 
The winner will receive $1,000. Submit a single short story
that contains a surprise. Deadline March 6, 2009.

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NEW ZEALAND POETRY SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
OPEN AND JUNIOR SECTIONS
http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/
---
Open Section Prizes: 1st prize NZ$500, 2nd prize NZ$200, 3rd
prize NZ$100. Entry fee is NZ$5 per poem; NZ$4 per poem for
NZPS members.

Open Junior Section Prizes (Open only to entrants who are 17
years of age or younger on 31 May 2009.) First Prize: NZ$200.
Primary/Intermediate: 1st runner-up: NZ$100, 2nd runner-up
NZ$50; Secondary: 1st runner-up NZ$150, 2nd runner-up NZ$100.
Entry fee is NZ$2 per poem.

Overseas entries are welcomed in both sections. The New Zealand
Poetry Society is an incorporated non-profit organisation which
aims to advance education by promoting, developing and
supporting poetry and poets in New Zealand.

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GRACE DIEU WRITERS' CIRCLE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.gracedieuwriterscircle.co.uk/
---
ENTRY FEE £5
1st Prize £300. 2nd Prize £150. 3rd Prize £75. 4th Prize £50.
5th Prize £25. A short, fictional story written in English of
up to 2,000 words on any subject. Deadline February 28, 2009.
The Competition is open to anyone aged 16 or over. All entries
must be written in English and be your own original work.
 

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GRANTS
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IRISH ARTS COUNCIL TRAVEL AND TRAINING AWARD
http://www.artscouncil.ie/en/view_fund.aspx?fid=5b99f00f-1c14-4545-b363-85e62e50bf44
---
Maximum awarded: €12,000. The primary purpose of Travel and
Training Outbound is to support individuals who wish to avail
themselves of training and other professional development
opportunities abroad, where the focus is on the development
of the individual's own arts practice. The primary purpose of
Travel and Training Inbound is to support individuals or
organisations who wish to invite specialists from abroad to
deliver high-level training or mentoring for the professional
development of artists and others working professionally in
the arts in Ireland. Ongoing.

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SOZOPOL FICTION SEMINARS
http://ekf.bg/sozopol/apply/
---
The Elizabeth Kostova Foundation offers its second annual
summer fiction-writing seminar in historic Sozopol in Bulgaria.
The seminar consists of intensive daily fiction workshops,
roundtable discussions, and readings/lectures by faculty and
participants. Fiction writers from Bulgaria and fiction writers
from English-speaking countries, including but not limited to
the U.S. and the U.K., are invited to apply. A total number of
ten applicants will be selected for participation and funding.
All participants will receive equal funding. Five participants
writing in English and five writing in Bulgarian language will
receive scholarships regardless of country of residence. The
scholarship covers tuition, room and board, in-country
transportation, and 80% of international travel.

(Thanks to http://www.practicing-writer.com/)

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THE CREATIVE RETREAT AT MT. SAN ANGELO
http://www.vcca.com/
---
The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts is an international
working retreat for writers, visual artists and composers.
The Center is located at Mt. San Angelo, a 12-acre hilltop
in Amherst County, Virginia - 160 miles southwest of
Washington DC. Residential fellowships are offered of two
weeks to two months where artists may work, free from
distractions and responsibilities.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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COMMUNICATIONS NEWS
http://www.comnews.com/contactus.aspx
---
To propose cover stories or feature articles, send a short
abstract first. We do accept contributed articles. Indicate
"Month/Focus/Story" in the subject line of your e-mail.
Trade publication on network communications.

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FIRSTLINE
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/static/staticHtml.jsp?id=162994
---
Firstline is a professional trade magazine for veterinary
team members--receptionists, veterinary assistants,
technicians, and practice managers--that provides detailed
articles about the business of client and patient care. We
cover topics related to communication and practice management,
including professional growth, client relations, team
building, and the human/animal bond. Features (800 to 2,000
words, $250 to $350). We're looking for team members to share
their stories and lessons from practice life. Many filler
opportunities from 250 - 600 words paying $40-$150.

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HYPHEN MAGAZINE
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/details.php?cat=free&ID=7189
---
Hyphen is a magazine about Asian America for the culturally
and politically savvy. Built around a clarity of image, word
and social awareness, Hyphen takes form from the artists,
thinkers and creators who are shaping a new multiethnic
generation. As a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization,
Hyphen has limited resources, but we have secured funding to
pay $500 for in-depth, feature-length stories that can carry
the theme for each issue. The theme for the spring 2009 issue
of Hyphen is "Family." We are soliciting proposals for feature
length stories (up to 2,000 words) and stories for other
departments of the magazine that fit this theme.
 

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

ECOLOGY WRITER
Location virtual
http://www.ecohearth.com/jobs-at-ecohearth.html
---
Exceptional and creative Web writer needed to craft original
content on environmental topics. Please respond with your résumé
and several paragraphs describing why you would be an ideal
contributor to the site. Paste these into the message box on
the Jobs Contact page with "Ecology Writer" as the message
subject.

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FREELANCE EDITORS/PROOFREADERS
Location virtual
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/cgi-bin/displayJob.pl?job_no=5827
---
Author Solutions, including iUniverse and AuthorHouse seeks
experienced book editors and manuscript readers. Experience
with major traditional book publishers preferred. High-speed
Internet and Microsoft Word required. Applications welcome
from candidates with hands-on book experience in manuscript
critiquing, proofreading, indexing, copyediting, line editing,
content editing, developmental editing, book doctoring, and
ghostwriting. Applicants with backgrounds as acquisitions
editors, book reviewers or agents also welcome. E-mail:
freelancers@authorsolutions.com

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COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Location Los Angeles, CA
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/323275-69
---
Be responsible for all communications within the congregation,
including website updates, editions of the Meeting House,
production of worship bulletins, and the creation of brochures
and other materials describing the work of the church.
Responsibilities include: weekly production of the Meeting
House, Weekly production of the Worship Bulletin, Website
Management, Development of all printed materials, attendance
at all Staff Meetings, Working with the Sr. Minister on the
vision and ministry of the Church.

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

SERENDIPITY LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.serendipitylit.com/about/default.asp
---
Accepts three kinds of manuscripts: adult fiction, (including
genre fiction,) children's fiction, and children's and adult
non-fiction. 

=====

DENISE SHANNON LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.deniseshannonagency.com/
---
Particular areas of specialty include literary fiction,
narrative nonfiction, biography, journalism, politics,
social history, health and business.

=====

THE STUART AGENCY
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/Andrew/
---
General fiction, biography, history, sports, African
American, science, narrative nonfiction, politics, memoir,
narrative nonfiction.

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

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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ARE YOU THE NEXT VIP AUTHOR?

Writing is a passion. Publishing is a business.
VIP Authors know the difference.

Would your book be published today if you had someone to
mentor you every step of the way? Would you be closer to
your goal if you knew how to:

--Decide if you should traditional publish or self-publish
--Find legitimate agents and publishers and avoid scams
--Choose the right POD publisher
--Find markets for your work
--Build a waiting audience before your book comes out
--Use the Internet to market and sell your work
--Use social networking sites effectively (and not waste your time)
--Get free publicity

There are more opportunities now to get published than ever
before--if you know what you're doing. Join VIP Authors as we
make 2009 The Year of the Author!
 
For free newsletter and benefits:
http://tinyurl.com/96akbo

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www.winningwriters.com/tomstory

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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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EARN UP TO $2 PER WORD

Forget about pouring your heart and soul into projects that
only pay a couple cents per word. You can earn much, much
more, once you know how to write for this little-known, but
highly-lucrative market. In fact, some writers routinely
get paid $2 per word to write some projects that are only
250 words in length.

http://www.awaionline.com/web/b8a

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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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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

=====

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's 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 $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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