Volume 9, Issue 10
March 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
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AWARD WINNING NOVELIST, STORY WRITER WILL EDIT YOUR WORK

Your work must be polished before you send it out.
Richard Krawiec can help. He has published novels, story
collections, plays, poetry, award-winning feature articles
and Young Adult sports biographies. He's been nominated for
the National Book Award and the Pushcart Prize.  He won
fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the
North Carolina Arts Council and the PA. Council on the Arts. 
He wrote Fiction Writing curriculum for UNC Chapel Hill.

Email: rkwriter@gmail.com or visit him at
http://home.mindspring.com/~rkwriter/ 
                 
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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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AMERICAN IDOL

Are you hooked on the American Idol craze? I started watching
it because my adult son did, and it became our weekly time
in front of the tube together. I've come to enjoy watching
those star-struck youngsters striving for that long-shot
chance of singing for a living.

I pick my favorites each week and root for them. But the
judges invariably ask half or more, "Why did you choose that
song? It was the wrong song for this competition."

The contestants answer, "I've always liked that song." Or
"That song is special to me."

I smack my forehead and want to strangle the singers. "It
isn't about you!" I fussed last week to the TV screen. I
turned to my poor son and said, "Do you know how many writers
I've counseled about that? They write what THEY want to write
instead of what the public wants to read. Then they wonder why
the book doesn't sell."

He smiles and puts up with my rants. The fact is, though,
"They chose the wrong song."

When you perform in any manner for the public, and when you
seek public approval to garner success, you have to please
the public much more than yourself. Just because you like
that story about your childhood doesn't mean everyone else
will.

When you write a piece to sell, book or article or play,
you write for others first. If you are good, you can write
anything well. But if you want the reader to spread word-
of-mouth about you, the piece better be more about the
reader than about you.

Test your next piece by asking yourself, "Who cares?"
If the answer keeps pointing to you, start over and
pick another song.

    Hope

NOTE:
F&W Publications (i.e., Writer's Digest) has a few free ebook
downloads, including one ebook on writing.

http://www.fwmedia.com/article/freebookdownloads/

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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

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WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
"An idealist believes the short run doesn't count. A cynic
believes the long run doesn't matter. A realist believes
that what is done or left undone in the short run determines
the long run."

-- Syndey J. Harris

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi Hope,

Thank you for keeping authors up to date on writing opportunities.
Contests inspire me. Last October, I entered seventeen entries in
the Children's Writer PreK Seasonal contest for a story or article
under 125 words. There was no entry fee, because I was a
subscriber to the newsletter. This week I received a certificate
naming me the Grand Prize Winner and a check for $500!

Tell your readers to give contests a try. It's great writing
experience even if you don't win.

Warm Wishes,
Charline Profiri  
www.cprofiri.com
COUNTING LITTLE GECKOS

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ARTICLE
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THE GIST OF A GRANT APPLICATION

By C. Hope Clark

Periodically, someone asks me how to write a grant application.
Of course, a grant application is like a magazine. Each one
is different.

The concepts of obtaining a grant, however, run pretty
universal. The basics apply across the board. While perusing
grant sites, I revisited one to check for updates and found
what I consider solid generic guidelines that might explain
how all grants work.

http://www.mayerfoundation.org/

The Mayer Foundation is what I call a good generic grant
provider. The core mission of the Foundation is as follows:

to make economic relief grants to needy individuals who are
distressed or suffering as a result of poverty, low income or
lack of financial resources, including as a result of natural
or civil disasters, or from temporary impoverishment, loss of
employment, death or incapacity of a family wage earner or
damage to home and property; to provide health care to those
who cannot afford health care or whose health insurance or
financial resources are insufficient to cover medical needs;

to make grants to other IRS 501(C)(3) organizations for
educational, literary, cultural, humanitarian, scientific,
health-care related and other charitable purposes;

and to award scholarship benefits and student aid to high
school, college or graduate school students to enable the
recipients to complete an undergraduate or graduate education
in the field of their choice at the college or graduate school
of their choice.

To apply, the grant reviewers need:

General information (Name, Address, Phone, Fax and Email) -
you'd be amazed at how many people neglect this information.

Description of the assistance requested, goals and objectives
(measurable if possible) -

Description of the individual's need - In this case, an
emergency usually applies, but other grants need to know the
specific reason you need the grant. Don't say to pay the bills,
give you more time to write, get away from other obligations,
allow you to quit work to write. Instead, think positive.
State what you hope to achieve. How will your writing aid
others, educate, entertain or enlighten humanity? Give your
writing a mission and describe it in your application as
well as you've ever written anything else in your life.

Adequate evidence of individual's need - This grant requires
financial statements, but your evidence of need might be
the outline of your book that needs research, or the cost of
travel that will enable you to finish gathering information.
If they request financial information, be forthcoming. Don't
fudge the facts.
 
Plans to accomplish goals and objectives - Map out clearly
your plans and mission. 

Timetable for implementation of goals and objectives - Not
only give a deadline, but give benchmarks along the way that
will demonstrate progress and success. You should be doing
this in your writing life whether or not you receive a grant.

Plans for evaluation including how success will be defined
and measured - Measurements are one of the most important
factors in an application. Regardless of your grant request,
be prepared to define exact measurements on how you determine
successful use of the grant funds.

Description of other partners or sources of funding -
Leveraging funds attracts other funds. Leveraging means
using several financial resources to pave the way to your
goal. State your personal financial investment, any
scholarships, possibly other grants, work-in-kind you
intend to invest where you work in exchange for assistance.
Whatever you do, don't say this grant is your sole resource.
Show that you're doing all you can to acquire the tools and
funds necessary to perform your writing project. They want
to see you are a hard worker.

While you may not qualify for the Mayer Foundation grant,
you now have the basic idea of what a grant giver needs to
know in order to provide you with a grant. The more organized
you are, the more diligent you appear, the better your chances.

BIO
C. Hope Clark spent 16 years in lending and grant approval
with the federal government. She now serves as editor of
FundsforWriters.com .

DISCLAIMER: The Mayer Foundation operates on a budget like
any other entity, and the mention of their grant in this
article does not mean you can easily obtain a grant through
them. Inquire to determine if they are readily accepting
applications or if funds are available.

 
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COMPETITIONS
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HOT METAL PRESS CHAPBOOK CONTEST
http://www.hotmetalpress.net/PoetryPrize.html
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Our prize is $350 and 20 free copies. We also want to send
every entrant a copy of the winning collection. Page Limit:
32 pages. Deadline May 31, 2009.

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WILLOW SPRINGS FICTION PRIZE
http://willowsprings.ewu.edu/contests.html
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
Deadline April 1, 2009. Story submissions must be 7,000 words
or fewer. $1,000 plus publication in Willow Springs.

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SECOND 100 WORDS OR LESS CONTEST
http://www.100wordsorfewerwritingcontest.com/
---
$15 ENTRY FEE (ADD $16 FOR CRITIQUE)
First Prize $500, Second Prize $200, Third Prize $100.
We welcome whimsy, allegory, mystery, romance, fable, humor,
love, fantasy, even horror. And it doesn't matter whether the
story is in past or present tense, in first person, third
person, or even second person. We hope to receive every kind
of story except non-fiction. No letters, poems, essays,
anecdotes, or any writing that is not a complete, fictional
narrative. Open internationally. Deadline May 14, 2009.

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GRANTS
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THE JEROME FOUNDATION MEDIA ARTS GRANTS
http://www.jeromefdn.org
---
Grant program for individual media artists who are residents
of New York City (any of the five boroughs). Open to emerging
film and video artists working the genres of experimental,
narrative, animation, or documentary production, who make
creative use of their media and whose individual artistic
voice is clear.

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MASSACHUSETTS HUMANITIES GRANTS
http://masshumanities.org/?p=glance
---
The standard grant supports public programming in the humanities
in Massachusetts, including film-, lecture-, reading-, and
discussion series; exhibits; media pre-production and
distribution; and other public activities. The standard maximum
award is $5,000, though some thematic and media grants can be
as high as $10,000.

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ARKANSAS INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.arkansasarts.com/newsletter/fullpage.asp?ID=65#3
---
Arkansas Arts Council artist fellowships are unconditional
awards that recognize individual artistic ability. The three
categories for this year are contemporary and traditional
crafts, short stories and film and video. The Arts Council
will award up to nine $4,000 fellowships in FY 10. The
deadline for receiving applications is Friday, May 8, 2009.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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GREEN FUTURES
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/greenfutures/contribute
---
We aim to inspire our mainstream audience that the pursuit
of sustainable development is feasible, practical, profitable
and life-enhancing! We try to be engaging and entertaining as
well as authoritative - to be a "want to read" as well as,
we hope, a "must read", too. Green Futures often includes
articles on energy, travel and transport, food, health,
business, entrepreneurs, finance, cities, countryside.
Features pay up to GBP 800.

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AGRA INFORMA
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newsletters&JobID=1021207
---
Weekly trade publication covering science, regulation,
legislation, and other developments in pesticides and toxic
chemicals seeks freelance writer for regular assignments.
Science writing background, especially familiarity with
pesticide and toxic chemical regs and/or related concepts,
is a plus but not required. Flexibility on topic coverage
as well as ability to handle both spot news and features
also preferred. Our readership includes execs at food processing
companies, environmental scientists, consumer advocates and
attorneys to name a few. Send resume and three writing samples
to Managing Editor Larry Pearl at larry.pearl@informa.com with
the heading "Freelancer Application" in the subject line.

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WASATCH JOURNAL
http://www.thewasatchjournal.com/editorial.html
---
The Wasatch Journal seeks passionate stories about Utah's arts,
culture, and outdoors. We select articles based on the quality
of the idea and on the quality of the writing. With that in
mind, be prepared to pitch not only your story or essay idea
but why you should write it. All stories must have the
possibility of stunning visual imagery. Features will tend to
be 2,000 to 2,500 words in length. We pay $75 per poem.
Accepts fiction. Department stories should be about 1,000 to
1,500 words. Pays 35 cents/word.

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Twin Falls, ID
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=79399863&aid=27015391-1829&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline March 11, 2009. Agency: Bureau of Land Management.
The incumbent prepares plans and environmental analysis
documents in support of field project implementation. 
Collaborates with interdisciplinary (ID) team members and
other resource specialists to complete projects.  Reviews
team/individual environmental analysis documents for
consistency in terms of content, organization, format, clarity
of messages, and suitability for proposed audience. 

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EDITOR-WRITER
Location Richfield, OH
http://www.octoberresearch.com
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Trade%20Publications&JobID=823801
---
October Research Corp., a high-energy newsletter publishing
company in the Cleveland-Akron area, is seeking an editor/
writer for our print and online publications. Responsibilities
include: Daily writing of shorter news pieces; longer feature
assignments; laying out 12-page, biweekly print newsletter;
phone interviews and online research; taking charge of overall
content direction. Experience in trade publications is welcome,
but we're open to any talented individual who can demonstrate
strong journalism skills, leadership experience, commitment
and a desire to succeed.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Location Ft. McPherson, GA
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=79540284&aid=27015391-2729&WT.mc_n=MKT000125
---
Deadline March 19, 2009. Agency: Army Installation Management
Agency. Serves as editor of the Sentinel, managing a weekly
civilian enterprise military newspaper which reports on and
provides information concerning a variety of military and
civilian subjects for the Soldiers, civilian employees,
military retirees and family members of each who work or live
at, or are serviced by, the staffs at Fort McPherson and Fort
Gillem.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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FLUX
http://www.fluxnow.com/submission_guidelines.php
---
Please also be aware that Flux is a YA fiction imprint.
We do not publish picture books of any kind, nonfiction,
or books for readers younger than twelve or older than
eighteen (this means we do not publish "middle grade"
fiction). Flux publishes novel-length works of fiction
(typically not fewer than 35,000 words). Please do not
send individual short stories or poetry.

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A.M. GREEN PUBLISHING HOUSE
http://www.amgreenpublishing.com/bookswepublish
---
Below you will find the books that we are most interested in
publishing in 2009 and 2010. If your book fits into one or
more of these topics we would love to take a look. Please note
that due to the stressful economic times non-fiction, how-to
and self help books are more in demand than fiction.

Environment
money/ finance
business
politics
fashion
new angles on widely known topics
self-help
cook books
how-to
children's "learn to read" books
children's story books (full art)
religion
culture
comic books/ graphic novels
non-fiction books aimed specifically at teenagers
biographies/ autobiographies
fiction (adult and YA)

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10 TO 2 CHILDREN'S BOOKS
http://www.10to2childrensbooks.com/6201.html
---
Moving into 2009, 10 To 2 Children's Books Publishing is
looking for new ideas based on our existing works, using
existing characters to develop new books. We have
established a following for these characters at this point
and are looking to work with new writers to develop fresh
story lines. Everyone wants a chance for doors to open for
them and this is a great opportunity for you as a writer
to get published and for your talents to get noticed. If
you are interested in collaborating with us and think you
have some fresh ideas, contact Steven Mills.

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SPONSORS
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www.winningwriters.com/tomstory

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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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WORLDWIDE FREELANCE WRITER - Download a free list of writing
markets if you subscribe this week. Our database has almost 2,000
writing markets from USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia.

http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

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ATTENTION POETS!

Are you searching for poetry markets and contests?
Then check out The Poetry Market Ezine and
The Poetry Market Ezine - Premium Edition.  Both
newsletters are catered exclusively to poets featuring
poetry markets and contests.  Publishing since 2001,
The Poetry Market Ezine has been listed as one of Writer's
Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2007 and
2008.  Subscribe to the free newsletter by logging onto
www.thepoetrymarket.com and using the sign up box,
or send any email to:  poetrymarket-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For general info, send any email to tpme@thepoetrymarket.com

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Advertise with FundsforWriters !!!
Advertise with FFW Small Markets!

ADS FOR $12 AND UP!

$12 - one week in FFW Small Markets
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$30 - one week in both FundsforWriters & FFW Small Markets
$90 - 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 2000-2009, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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