Volume 9, Issue 15
April 12, 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, 2009

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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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The Seventh Annual Ten Minute play festival
www.FireRoseProductions.com
---
$5 Entry fee
First Prize (the Merce Award) $200.

The festival is an opportunity for playwrights to have their
works mounted in a professional setting using professional
actors and directors. The goal of this Festival is to seek
original and innovative works by playwrights committed to
furthering their craft in a supportive and creative environment. 
Deadline: April 30, 2009.

                 
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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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WHAT GOES ON A BLOG?

All the how-to newsletters and expert advisors tell you to
start a blog. Everyone needs a blog. It's how you share a
piece of yourself with the public and how the public learns
to crave you (and therefore, anything you write). So, what
goes on your blog?

Most blogs act as a diary of sorts. People write about fixing
their children's dinner, the movie they saw with a college
friend, the fury they feel about the Stimulus Package or
the plan they have to simplify their lives. In other words,
anything and everything, something and nothing. No rhyme or
reason. They have cute titles like: "One Day I'll Arrive"
or "Living on the Wild Side" or even "Remember the Moment."

Some writers use their blog to post their poetry, short
stories or beginnings to novels, even novel series. Some
flaunt their attitude, hoping to snare readers. As a writer,
however, your blog should ENHANCE your writing, not BE your
writing. Don't give away what you should sell for a living.

Freelance Switch is one of my favorite blogs because it
addresses the freelance world with humor, enlightenment and
common sense. It's not all about writing, but most of the
subjects touch our trade. A recent one talked about Blogging
Without Giving It All Away. In a nutshell, these are the
points:

1. Give advice. The advice doesn't have to be about writing.
It can be about what you learned while researching your latest
feature. It can be about what struck you as smart at a
conference. Learn something? Pass it on as word to the wise.

2. Behind-the-scenes. Give insight into how you made a story
come together, landed a difficult interview, or found an
agent.

3. What I'm Reading. Give mini-reviews of the books you're
reading. Direct your readers to great stories and references,
or save them the trouble of picking up a bad book.

4. Meta-journalism. Current events, people. Talk about the
new hydrogen cars if you write sci-fi. Talk about politics
if you wrote a political thriller. Find real time news
stories and relate them to your world.

5. Experimentation. Try your new material, unique style or
odd haiku with your blog readers.

Just don't give it all away. Trust me, agents rarely pick
up novels and short stories posted on blogs. They have,
however, picked up clients from the humor, savvy and brains
posted on a personal blog. Keep it sharp and focused, and
don't forget to laugh.

    Hope

CHAT AT WRITERSCHATROOM.COM

Time for the quarterly chat with Hope at
www.writerschatroom.com

Sunday, April 12, 7PM Eastern time.

The topic is anything and everything writing related.

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HOPE MADE THE SEMI-FINALS AT AMAZON

Hope's mystery novel HOG-TIED, has made the semi-finals at
the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. That's the top 500
out of 10,000 entries! You can read the opening chapter
of the story I've talked about forever. Please consider
leaving a review:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG39AG

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GRACIOUS...A NEW EBOOK!

FEROCIOUS PROMOTION FOR THE TIMID AUTHOR

Emphasizing the self-publishing author, the joint authorship
of Gwynne Spencer and C. Hope Clark penned a 64-page ebook
packed with ideas on how to make those sales. With an emphasis
on selling locally and regionally, the book gives you hope
and savvy advice through the occasional sprinkling of cute
weener dog paws throughout.

Being small doesn't mean you can't be ferocious.

www.fundsforwriters.com/ferocious.htm

 
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WEEKEND RETREAT - FREELANCE HOPE COMES TO KENTUCKY

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

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WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
"Before beginning a hunt, it is wise to ask someone what
you are looking for before you begin looking for it."

-- Winnie the Pooh

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hope:

You've done it again. I followed one of your leads from
your newsletter, the Abbey Hill Challenge (www.ahliterary.com)
and, lo and behold, I won second place ($200) for one of the
first short stories I have written in recent years. I don't
usually write short stories, this is a new genre for me. I'm
more children's fiction, novels (literary fiction stuff),
essays, and memoirs. But I wrote a short story for their most
recent challenge and it took a prize! I'm so tickled. This is
the second prize I've won from a lead I followed from your
newsletter. In my book you are as wonderful as a warm puppy.
Thanks again for all that you do.

Amy Wachspress -- Grant Writer and Author of award-winning
children's fantasy adventure "The Call to Shakabaz"
http://www.wozabooks.com
Read Amy's Sunday column on her blog at
www.viewfromamysworld.blogspot.com

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ARTICLE
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Rejection Rebound

by Jacqueline M. Vick

One of the most frustrating things about a rejection letter
is that you have to start your marketing process over again.
Sorting through guidelines takes time, and your frame of mind
is not at its most optimistic when you're holding a shredded
return envelope in your hand. You can take the sting out of
rejections by preparing for them before you make your first
submission.

The next time you research magazines and web sites, don't
stop when you find the best market. Research the best three
markets. If your story is rejected by your first choice, you
can have it back in circulation the same day. The faster
you get your writing in front of another editor, the quicker
you can make a sale!

For example, check out these flash fiction markets:

From the Asylum (http://www.fromtheasylum.com/interior2.htm)
Burst (http://www.terra-media.us/burst/about_us.html)
Flash Me Magazine (http://www.wingedhalo.com/guidelines.html) .
If your story is accepted by your first choice, you haven't
wasted time. By researching the top three markets for one
story, you now know at a glance the type of submissions all
three like to receive. If your 500 word "Baked to Death"
fell under the guidelines for Markets X, Y and Z, you'll
know right where to send the next short who-done-it you write.

Since you'll be juggling several markets for each submission,
you'll need a way to stay organized. You can use your own
handwritten list, maintain spreadsheets, or try one of several
submission tracking softwares available on line at no cost.
These programs allow you to enter your works and relevant
information into a database and then add markets and
guidelines. When you are ready to submit, you can link the
market to the submission and track where your writing is
at any time.

I've used Sonar3, a free submission tracker located at http://www.spacejock.com/Sonar.html . The program follows
the submission history of each piece and it's easy to
navigate. Being able to list all of the submissions that
I've made to each individual market allows me to track my
hit ratio.

Some other free submission tracking programs are:

http://www.sandbaggers.8m.com/samm.htm S.A.M.M.
From the feature screen shots, it appears that you can track
each step of the submission process in detail-- from query
letter to acceptance to thank you notes sent to the market.
Note that the programmer has come up with a Mac version.

http://www.owlroost.com/slush/ Slushomatic
The sight says it is specifically for magazine submissions,
but it looks as if Slushomatic could be used for anything.
In addition to being a submission tracker, this program will
also format your document in the standard style and auto-
create cover letters using the fields entered in your
database. This program still is in test mode.

http://www.simonkewin.co.uk/
Simon Kewin's Writer's Database

http://www.write-again.com/ Write Again
Register for the free trial period. When your time is up,
you automatically will be registered as a Light Edition
user, which means the software is still free.

http://www.luminarypub.com/services/writersdb/
Luminary's Writers Database: Market & Submission Tracker.
This Program includes optional community actions such as
sharing databases with other writers.

Many of the programmers are authors who decided to share
their tools with other writers. If you can afford it, please
make a donation to the generous folks who offer these writing
goodies. There is usually a Donate button on each site.

Whichever method you choose, having your three markets in
place before you submit will give you added confidence.
Instead of ruining your day, your next rejection letter
simply will be an opportunity to try a new market.

BIO
Jacqueline Vick, when not marketing short stories and
articles, writes mystery novels and children's books.
E-mail: jacquelinevick@hotmail.com

 
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COMPETITIONS
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FIRST ANNUAL MARICK PRESS POETRY PRIZE
http://www.marickpress.com/index.php?/marick-press-poetry-prize
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$15 ENTRY FEE
The award consists of a $1,000 cash award and publication
by Marick Press. Manuscripts must be between 48 and 80 pages
in length. The competition is open to all poets writing in
English. Deadline October 15, 2009.

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QUICK LIT CHALLENGE - ABBEY HILL LITERARY
http://www.ahliterary.com
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$12 ENTRY FEE
Review the writing challenges posted on the website and write
a story of up to 1,500 words incorporating those challenges. 
Prize List ($US):  1st-$500, 2nd-$200, 3rd-$100, and Evolving
Talent-$50. Electronic entries preferred; snail mail also
accepted from U.S. authors.  Most genres accepted, international
entries written in English accepted with entry fee via PayPal. 
Current deadline May 31, 2009, with results the 1st week of July. 
Winning entries, including author's name and a brief bio, will
be posted for up to 180 days. Contact  Editor@ahliterary.com. 
When visiting Abbey Hill Literary, be sure to read the short
stories written by our previous winners!

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GREAT LAKES NOVEL PRIZE
http://smithdocs.net/GreatLakesNovelPrize.pdf
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Writing must be set in the Great Lakes Region by an author
presently living in the Great Lakes Region. We are defining
that region as including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois, Ohio, Western New York State, and Western Pennsylvania
as well as the Province of Ontario. Submission must be an
unpublished work of fiction, written in English, either a novel
or composite novel (collection of interrelated short stories).
Length: 40,000 - 80,000 words (150 to 300 pages). The contest is
open to all writers in English, published or unpublished, who
live within the defined region. The winner will be announced
on February 15, 2010; book published that spring. All authors
who enter will receive a copy of the published book. Entries
must be postmarked during the months of September and October
2009.
 

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GRANTS
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WRITERS IN THE HEARTLAND
http://www.writersintheheartland.org/Home/
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Writers in the Heartland is located in Gilman, Illinois,
approximately two hours from Chicago.  The residency is
situated on a secluded lake surrounded by 32 acres of peaceful
woodlands and tranquil farmland. Deadline April 15, 2009.
The finalized dates for the 2009 residencies will be September
4-11 and October 2-9. Lodging and food are covered by the
residency.

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AUTHORS LEAGUE FUNDS
http://www.authorsleaguefund.org
---
The Authors League Fund was established by the Authors League
of America, Inc., to help career authors and dramatists in the
United States in financial distress. The Fund makes interest-
free loans to professional writers in need; for example,
writers with health problems and inadequate health insurance,
or older writers whose income has ceased. Loan-seekers must
show need and documentation of their professional status.

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TRAVEL GRANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITERS - CANADA
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/writing/wd127217018955000000.htm
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Travel Grants enable writers, translators, spoken word
artists and storytellers (individuals) to respond to
invitations that are important to their artistic
development and career, such as: being a keynote speaker
at an international conference or convention, participating
in a large international festival, being the guest of honour
at an important book fair, receiving official international
honours or prizes, attending a book launch by a foreign
publisher, attending a residency in an artist colony.
This program covers international travel only. At the
national level, only the participation in residencies is
eligible. Promotional tours and literary readings abroad
are eligible only if they are tied to a book launch. For
promotional tours or book launches in Canada, eligible
publishers can receive support from the publishing
support programs of the Canada Council for the Arts.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS
http://www.australiancatholics.com.au/content/view/145/8/
---
Stories that describe the faith and life of Australians,
both those well known and those less familiar are our stock
in trade. Australian Catholics is also interested in stories
about social justice, and about initiatives that foster an
awareness of social justice in schools and communities. In
short, we are looking at 'good news' stories. We do not
usually print abstract theological articles or stories about
church politics. Try to stay within 1,000 words.

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WALL STREET JOURNAL
http://www.opinionjournal.com/guidelines/
---
Your article should be a strong argument about an issue in
the news, and it should not be a response to a Journal article.
We prefer that the submission be between 600 to 1,200 jargon-
free words. Responds within ten days.

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FINE SCALE MODELER
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/objects/pdf/manuscriptsubmissionguide.pdf
---
FineScale Modeler serves approximately 70,000 builders of
nonoperating scale models worldwide. Many of FSM's model
subjects are military - including aircraft, armored vehicles,
and naval vessels - but our readers also build automobiles,
historic figures, trucks, and spacecraft, among other subjects.
Articles should be brief; most range from 750 to 3,000 words.

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JOBS
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ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR AND NEWS STAFF WRITER
Location Clinton, Iowa
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1040845
---
The Assistant Sports Editor is responsible for reporting
and design/layout of the daily Sports section. Will be
proficient in Quark and Photoshop. Coverage area includes
high school and college sports, as well as a Class A Seattle
Mariners minor-league baseball team, the Clinton LumberKings.
Sharp writing, layout skills and AP style knowledge are a must,
and multimedia experience is a plus.

The News Staff Writer position is responsible for covering
local beats that could include area city councils, school
boards, businesses and timely features. This position is an
entry-level opening and the qualified candidate must be a
proficient writer, typer and possess excellent people skills.

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REPORTER
Location Lumberton, NC
http://www.robesonian.com
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1040959
---
The Robesonian, a daily award-winning newspaper in Southeastern
North Carolina, is looking for a general assignment reporter.
Weekend and evening assignments. A journalism degree is
preferred but experience is a good substitute.
 
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REPORTER
Location Virgin Islands
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1041074
---
A leading Caribbean weekly seeks a general assignment
reporter, interested in investigative journalism. The island
is home to one of the largest offshore financial jurisdictions
and has recently exprienced an unprecedented period of growth.
The ideal candidate should have professional journalism
experience, and good investigative reporting skills, although
recent graduates with a strong background and internship
experience are encouraged to apply.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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THE RIGHTS FACTORY
http://www.therightsfactory.com/index.html
---
The Rights Factory is an agency that deals in intellectual
property rights to entertainment products, including books,
comics & graphic novels, film, television, and video games.

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KIDS CAN PRESS
http://www.kidscanpress.com/US/WritersGuidelines.aspx
---
We do not currently accept unsolicited manuscripts from
children or teenagers, or from authors outside of Canada.
At Kids Can Press we are interested in reading quality
fiction and non-fiction manuscripts for children or YA.

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WHIMSY LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/whimsy/
---
Whimsy Literary Agency, specializes in books and authors
that educate, entertain and inspire people. Reference,
biography, computers, business, finance, history, mind/body/
spirit, health, travel, lifestyle, cookbook, self-help, pop,
humor, personality, gift books.

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

GENIE AKIN & CURTISWOOD FARM
Cordially Welcomes C. HOPE CLARK, of FundsforWriters
to the First Annual Writer's Retreat at Curtiswood Farm

July 17-19, 2009

"A Weekend of Freelance Hope in Kentucky"

Limited to 35 writers.

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

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IT'S TIME TO TURN YOUR BOOK IDEA INTO A MEGA SELLER

Mark Victor Hansen, the founder and co-creator of the Chicken
Soup for the Soul series, has made millions in book sales and
information products. He has established the Mega Book
University event for passionate authors with great ideas, a
manuscript or published work. This is a rare opportunity to
connect and mingle with top literary agents, publishers, and
other experts sharing their immense knowledge and insider
secrets with you.

Event Date: June 5th-7th '09. 

Details: https://mvhansen.infusionsoft.com/go/MBook/kajendra/

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ANHINGA WRITERS' STUDIO 2009 SUMMER WORKSHOPS

Join us from July 29-August 1 in Gainesville, Florida,
for The Anhinga Writers' Studio 2009 Summer Workshops!

Coursework in general fiction, romance, mystery, poetry,
and narrative nonfiction. Guest of Honor Charlaine Harris,
author of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries on which HBO
series TRUE BLOOD is based. One-on-one agent, editor, and
instructor meetings are available, as well as manuscript
evaluations. Full tuition:  $395, $375 through May 15.
Single-day rates available. info@anhingawriters.org

http://www.anhingawriters.org/

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AWARD WINNING NOVELIST, STORY WRITER WILL EDIT YOUR WORK

Winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award from UNC Chapel Hill,
Richard Krawiec has published novels, story collections, plays,
poetry, feature articles, and Young Adult biographies. He's won
national awards and regional awards, been nominated for the
National Book Award, and Pushcart Prize.

It's hard to publish these days. 
Let Mr. Krawiec help you prepare your work for publication.

http://home.mindspring.com/~rkwriter/id2.html

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CROWE'S FEET TYPING

After 20 years as an administrator for top companies,
I am excited to open my doors to you!
I type 100 wpm with 0 errors and provide speedy delivery.
Proofreading and spellchecking service is always free.
$20/hour but $15/hour to first 10 to respond.
As Associate Editor for a top fiction magazine,
My services come with a free critique upon request.
Please contact me for details or with inquiries.
Liz Crowe: (513) 254-3199 or ecrowe@crowesfeet.com

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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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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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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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WORLDWIDE FREELANCE MARKETS - Serving the freelance writing
community for 10 years. Come and try our searchable database of
writing markets from North America, Europe and around the world. 

http://www.worldwidefreelance.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
$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 

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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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