Volume 9, Issue 6
February 8, 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.

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

Are you an author who wants more national media exposure? 
 
Meet over 100 national media face-to-face at
National Publicity Summit, April 22-25th in NYC.
Only 100 attendees admitted. 
http://www.NationalPublicitySummit.com/?11333

                 
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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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NOTES ON THE WRITING LIFE

I plan my newsletters months in advance. An article approved
in February might not appear until summer. I juggle articles
around depending on the season, current events and the
mysteriousness that occurs when an article matches my editorial.
Twilight Zone kind of stuff. So when I noted February 8 open
in the middle of all the others being filled, I wondered why.

Then Gwynne's email happened. Fate, God, or the cosmos knew
I'd need that vacancy for the piece below. Gwynne is a dear
friend I've known for several years...only online. I have
so many close friends I've never hugged or shared coffee with
whom I know only through the Web. This time I wish I'd been
close enough to console her.

Gwynne and I have dachshunds. She had two. Hers are age 15
and mine is a few months shy of 13. You've seen my Dixie in
an occasional picture on my web site. She's now blind from
glaucoma. That's her this week in the picture above.

Gwynne is one of the most natural writers I've ever known.
I see pictures in her words, and few authors make me laugh
aloud like she does. She takes life and spins it into chapters,
stories, columns and student lessons. I'd love to be in one
of her classes. This time she took the passing of her "puppy"
Henry and memorialized him in a piece about writing through
the pain. I cried.

So allow me to deviate for one week from a standard article
about finding markets, landing grants and selling your books.
You'll probably skip over my ads and weekly WORDS OF SUCCESS
and go straight to this week's article, but that's okay. I
believe you'll take away a smile, maybe a tear, and probably
an "oh wow" with this one.

Besides, Henry was worth it.

    Hope

Check out our ebook updates...

Grants for the Essayist        - updated November 2008
Grants for the Serious Writers - updated December 2008
Tis the Season                 - updated January 2009
Markets for the Young Writer   - Updated January 2009
The No Fee Contest Book        - updated January 2009

www.fundsforwriters.com/ebooks.htm

(***purchase $30 or more in ebooks and receive a TOTAL FFW
 subscription)

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BYLINES DAILY WRITERS CALENDAR

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.

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

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THE BLOG, THE BLOG!
http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

TWITTER ME
http://twitter.com/hopeclark

CONSULT WITH HOPE
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/ConsultHope.htm

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"A man may fail many times but he isn't a failure until he
begins to blame somebody else." 

 -- J. Paul Getty

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hope,

A while back you posted a sponsored ad for Long Tale Press.
Thank you. My first novel is going to be published next month
because I followed that link. Long Tale is unique in that they
publish what the community decides should get published. I am
fortunate that I already had a community who wanted to see my
work in print. They flooded the website with support.

My Young Adult/Adult crossover novel, This Side of Normal,
depicts the struggle of a fifteen-year-old boy whose parents
are headed toward divorce and whose best friend has ditched him
for a girl. Amidst this, he acquires type one diabetes. Therefore,
the story follows his path of understanding his disease, finding
new friends and helping his parents heal their relationship.
There's also a literary tie in with Macbeth. E-book and paperback
copies will be available at www.longtalepress.com sometime in
February.

I am not certain that I ever would have heard of Long Tale had
I not received your newsletter. I appreciate the work you do
and the outlets you provide all of us. You have my gratitude.

Eric Devine
http://ericdevine.wordpress.com/
http://www.longtalepress.com

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ARTICLE
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Writing in the dark

By Gwynne Spencer

It was Garrison Keillor who said, "When you're a writer,
nothing bad happens to you because it's all material." I've
quoted that line often in my writing workshops, and last night
when my small brave weener dog Henry died, I had to repeat it
to myself, a rosary of sorts, bead by bead, over and over. 

Other people, I said to myself, have to tell their stories
twenty times to get the trauma through their systems, like
waiting for that leather glove eaten by your daughter's Doberman
to show up. Not me! I'll write it, I thought. I'll write it and
be through with it.  But what I've learned is that it takes
twenty writings, twenty edits, to get it right. Twenty versions
that tell the truth, whatever that might be.

So, in the better interests of helping each other, at least the
"each others" who are writers, I share this moment with you.
Loss, like all the dark angels who haunt our destiny, is a rough
teacher. No mercy given, even when asked. Bottomless grief and
no end to your tears.  You cry out into the unlistening couch,
"When can I stop crying?" and the only answer you get is the
too-loud television guy selling Sham-wows and you want to
strangle him.

Out of this anger, this despair, this quest for some sort of
solid footing, good writing comes. Your internal editor is
silenced for a while, gagged by your grief and duck-taped into
the corner facing the wall in the uncooperative chair. So, while
the red raw searing pain is still with you, write it down. Don't
be afraid. It can't hurt more than it already does. Write it so
that others can read it, and they too can let go of their held-in
grief. The bags under their eyes from old uncried tears will
diminish if they read your words and say, "You said it, sister."
Your jagged nouns and razor sharp verbs can speak for those whose
voices are blunted enough so you can handle them without cutting
yourself to ribbons only with your mute sobbing. So write it, and
write it and write it.

Let the voices come through, the scraping of their fingernails
loud and clear on your chalkboard of emotion. Let the cookies
burn in the oven and write the horror and the visions, the smells
and the sights that live behind your eyelids and just won't go
away. Let the waterfall of remorse smash your editorial
sensibilities into mush at the bottom of the cliff. Don't stop.
Don't censor. Write, just write. Say over and over, "Thank you
for the gift of being able to put words on paper." Mix up those
metaphors, gal.

Not only will it save you, it will reach out across the
ionosphere and save others who are afraid to tell their lost
hopes, tell their despair. Like Mary Oliver in her poem "Wild
Geese", says, 'tell me your despair, I will tell you mine.'
And then remember 'you do not have to walk on your knees for a
hundred miles repenting. You only have to let the soft animal
of your heart love what it loves.' I'm sure I'm mangling that,
but isn't that what poetry is for? To speak for us out of the
well of darkest fear? 

Don't worry about selling what you write this time. Worry about
writing it down before the words run away. Worry about getting
the words onto the page before they melt under your tears. Don't
worry about the syntax or the spelling or whether somebody else
has already said this and you are being derivative or
inconsequential.

Write it because in writing it you will find the voice that you
need to come back, the voice coming out of the innermost murk
of the deepest part of the heart of darkness. Write it because
when you are a writer--nothing bad happens to you when it's all
material.

On the passing of Henry-- small dog, a big heart, 1994-2009.

BIO
Gwynne Spencer writes in the soggy Willamette Valley. She is
the author most recently of The Secret Diary of Nikola Tesla
(http://tinyurl.com/946py3) and Down the Shore 1956
(http://tinyurl.com/92cj33), a freelance editor, and teaches
classes on writing through Western Oregon University. E-mail
her at gwynnespencer@aol.com

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COMPETITIONS
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RACING WRITING AWARDS
http://www.willswritingawards.co.uk/news/story.asp?NewsID=12
---
NO ENTRY FEE
The Martin Wills Memorial Trust, a UK-registered charity,
is offering its 17th annual awards for creative writing
(fact or fiction) on, or with a background in, any aspect
of horseracing by young people resident in the UK or the
Republic of Ireland.  Particular importance will be attached
to originality, enthusiasm and use of language. Quality of
writing is key; a detailed knowledge of horseracing is needed.
The maximum word counts are 1,200 (under 26 category/under
19 category) or 800 (under 15 category). The six prizes, for
the winner and runner-up in each category, are £1,250/£750
(under 26s), £500/£250 (under 19s) and £250/£125 (under 15s)
- a grand total of £3,125.  In addition, the winners will be
published in the Racing Post and The Irish Field.  The under
26 winner will also have the opportunity of work experience
at the London offices of the Racing Post. Deadline February
28, 2009.

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WRITE A STORY FOR CHILDREN COMPETITION
http://www.childrens-writers.co.uk/competition.htm
---
ENTRY FEE
The competition is open only to previously unpublished (for
profit) writers of children's fiction over the age of 18.
U.K Entries must be accompanied by an official entry form
and a £2.70 entry fee (10 x 2nd class UK stamps preferred).
Non U.K entries should be accompanied by an official entry
form and a US $10 bill or €10 note. Non U.K Cheques/Checks
are not accepted. The story must not exceed 2,000 words in
length and may be suitable for children of any age group up
to teenage. The story must be the unaided work of the entrant
who must have had no work of children's fiction published for
payment at the time of entry. Only one entry per person will
be accepted. The story must be typewritten or clearly hand-
written, but illustrations must not be included, regardless
of the type of entry. Illegible or mutilated entries will
be disqualified. Deadline March 31, 2009. There are cash
prizes of £2,000 for the best story submitted, £300 for
second prize and £200 for the third placed story.

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MEMOIRS, INK. HALF-YEARLY PERSONAL ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.memoirsink.com/docs/contestmain.html
---
ENTRY FEE $17 (save $2 by becoming a fan on Facebook).
We are looking for previously unpublished, first person
essays, memoirs, or creative non-fiction. Essays can be
on any topic. Open to any writer, any age, anywhere.
First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $500. Third Prize: $250.
Maximum 1,500 words. Deadline February 16, 2009. Late
deadline February 28, 2009 (extra $5). Winners announced
and published April 30, 2009 at Memoirsink.com
 

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GRANTS
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RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS FOUNDATION/MacARTHUR FOUNDATION GRANTS
http://www.driehausfoundation.org/support
---
This is the seventh year of their funding program for Chicago-
based arts and culture organizations. Seeking applications from
organizations that have budgets of $500,000 or less and reside
in and serve the Chicago metropolitan area (Cook, DuPage, Lake,
McHenry, Kane, and Will counties). Most grants will be in the
range of $5,000 to $15,000 each. Generally, the fund will make
operating support grants. Deadline March 2, 2009, for performing
arts groups in theater, dance, and music, and June 1, 2009, for
all other arts organizations, including visual and media arts,
literary arts, interdisciplinary arts, special projects, museums,
and service, policy, or advocacy groups. The decisions for funding
will be based on artistic contribution, potential for stability,
and, in some cases, growth and compelling mission. Applicants
must have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal agent with such status.

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ARTIST AT NEEDLE PINES RESIDENCY
http://www.smm.org/scwrs/programs/artist/
---
The Artist at Pine Needles residency program invites natural
history artists or writers to spend 2 to 4 weeks to immerse
themselves in a field experience, gather resource materials,
and interact with environmental scientists and the local
community. Deadline February 27, 2009. Location St. Croix, MN.

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GREENBRIER SYMPOSIUM CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOOD WRITERS
http://www.greenbrier.com/site/foodwriters-scholarships.aspx
---
Scholarships from $500 to $2,000 for attendance at the
conference. Six categories. Deadline February 28, 2009.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE
http://www.morethanamagazine.com
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/wri/1010525147.html
---
National publication seeks limited number of well-written
articles on life-changing travel experiences. Have you been
to Costa Rica to learn Yoga? Explored China with human rights
workers? Found the meaning of life camping in Montana? If
you've been someplace that has impacted your mind/body/soul,
can tell the story well, and the reader can identify with what
you've experienced, your story is for us. Submissions should be
approximately 1,000 words. Pays 20 cents/word for accepted
submissions.

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ANGELS ON EARTH
http://www.angelsonearth.com/writers_Guidelines.asp
---
Angels on Earth® publishes true stories about God's
messengers at work in today's world. We are interested
in stories of heavenly angels and stories involving humans
who have played angelic roles in daily life. For full-length
manuscripts (1,500 words): $100 - $400, and is made when the
story is approved. For quotes, anecdotes to use as fillers,
and material for our short features (50 - 250 words):
"Messages": brief, mysterious happenings, or letters
describing how a specific Angels on Earth article helped
you. Payment is usually $25. "Earning Their Wings": unusual
stories of good deeds worth imitating. Payment is usually
$50. "Only Human?": short narratives in which the angelic
character may or may not have been a human being. The
narrator is pleasantly unsure and so is the reader. Payment
is usually $100.

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TEXAS MAGAZINE
http://www.mytexasmag.com/about-us
---
Texas Magazine is a bi-monthly general consumer magazine that
celebrates and informs about life in Texas covering and
presenting its Culture, Commerce and Creativity with a fresh,
positive voice. From the voice of Texans who love this state,
each issue presents the culture, commerce and creativity of
the people and businesses who contribute to what makes the
Lone Star State bigger and better to those who are passionate
about Texas.

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=78938025&aid=27015391-2819&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline February 10, 2009. Agency: Department Of State.
Serves as editor on a variety of publications and in the
course of producing a publication product, writes captions,
introductions, short feature articles, essays, chapter-length
texts, and also brief poster texts, cables, and internal
reports.

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RADIO EDITOR
Location Washington DC (3 vacancies)
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=78909066&aid=27015391-2919&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline February 12, 2009. Agency: Broadcasting Board of
Governors. The editor reports to one of the Assistant Managing
Editors. Coordinates English language news coverage by the
Central News Division. Duties includes long, short term and
daily planning of news coverage and responsibility for final
content and production of correspondent reports for use by
all language programming elements.

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NEWS EDITOR
Location Nashville, TN
http://umcom.org
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Non-Profit&JobID=1015460
---
United Methodist News Service seeks a news editor to lead a
team of multimedia reporters in covering The United Methodist
Church. The news agency operates with editorial autonomy and
has a global focus, so team members have opportunities to
travel to Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The news
editor must have strong editing and writing skills, management
ability, an interest in using new media and technology, and a
passion for impact journalism.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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BLUE MOUNTAIN PRESS
E-mail queries/guidelines: BMPbooks@sps.com
---
Blue Mountain Press, the new book division of Blue Mountain
Arts, is accepting manuscripts in the following categories:
gift books, personal growth, teens/tweens, family, relationships,
motivational, and inspirational. Mail manuscripts to: Blue
Mountain Press, P.O. Box 4219, Boulder, CO 80306.

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ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS
http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com
---
ALL THINGS THAT MATTER PRESS seeks to publish those books
that help the author share their Self with the world. We
all have something to say, and this is a press that wants to
hear your voice.  While our focus will be on spiritual, self-
growth, personal transformation, and books with a strong
message, we understand that self-expression occurs in poetry,
collections of short stories, science fiction, thrillers and
even novels with a bit of romance.  If it is good, we will
take a look. We are not actively seeking children and young
adult books but if it WOWs us, we will consider this genre.

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MAPLE STREET PRESS
http://www.maplestreetpress.com/rewrite/pg.doc
---
MAPLE STREET PRESS LLC is a privately-held, independent
publishing company supporting the trade sports market. We
publish high quality, authoritative, analytical, and insightful
sports publications for involved and serious fans.

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

Writing is a passion. Publishing is a business.
VIP Authors know the difference.
 
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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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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,
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Visit www.irwinfreelance.com for more details or
email Elizabeth@irwinfreelance.com.

http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

=====

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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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