Volume 9, Issue 22
May 31, 2009

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

Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

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

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

Relax. You don't have to fill your novel or screenplay with
140 characters to be a successful author! In this instance,
"characters" refer to single letters or numerals used in
each entry, or "tweet," on Twitter, the popular the micro-
blogging site. So what does tweeting messages only 140
characters long have to do with publishing success?
 
"Everything," says Shelley Lieber, The Wordy Woman, who was
recently named by Mashable.com as one of "70+ Authors to
Follow on Twitter," along with such best-selling authors
as Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Tim Ferris, Suze Orman,
Mariel Hemingway and Arianna Huffington.
 
The Wordy Woman will share her Twitter tips and strategies
that she used to gain recognition as one of the top authors
in her market in ONLY SIX MONTHS in a free tele-seminar.
This is a don't-miss event for every writer who wants to
get the word out about his or her book!
 
Free Call*: Twitter Your Way to Publishing Success
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2pm Eastern
(1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific)
Call-in Details: http://wordywoman.com
 
*The tele-seminar is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.
                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read newsletter online at: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
Read past issues at: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?fundsforwriters

=====

TOXIC FEEDBACK

Love that phrase. Without describing it, you know exactly
what I'm talking about. We've all experienced it, and
believe it or not, we've all delivered it, too.

Toxic Feedback is also the title of a book by Joni B. Cole,
published by the University Press of New England (www.upne.com).
I'm always game to reviewing new writing books, and since I'm
a critique group fan, I especially looked forward to this one.

I was not disappointed.

We've heard horror stories about caustic critiquers. We get
anxious and depressed when someone says "it's not bad,"
much less "this stinks." One nasty comment about how someone
ought to sling burgers instead of write can send him down
a wrong career path, robbing him of the talent that may have
enlightened others and empowered him to be a marvelous human
being.

I used to hate hearing negatives about my work. When I joined
my first serious critique group, a strong member ripped a hole
in my chest with his remarks. Later I learned he was highly
regarded in the group and knew volumes about writing. In this
situation, we instantly point fingers at the critiquer, bashing
him for being too harsh. In reality, we are half, if not most
of the problem. As the author, Jodi Cole, says, "It takes two
to create toxic feedback. Even people in love, especially
people in love, generate toxic feedback."

The definition of feedback:
"Any response to a writer or his work that helps him write
more, write better, and be happier."

Toughen up, people. You can't survive as a writer, let alone
thrive, if you don't look in the mirror and acknowledge your
role in creating that toxicity that damages the writing effort.

My children and I grew up in a household with a gung-ho
federal agent. One of the mantras my husband drilled into
everyone's head was, "Don't be a victim." Regardless of
what others try to achieve, do your best to avoid being
stepped on. It's all in the attitude.

I'm gobbling up this book. I've had it a few weeks, but
I wanted to read it all, not skim. It's empowering. It
gives internal authority to the writer. It's not common,
and it's not dry and academic. It's good sense with lots
of examples, anecdotes and positive support.

If you care about feedback for your writing, if you attend
a writers group, if you lead a critique group, if you've
ever had doubts about your work, you need this book.

TOXIC FEEDBACK
Helping Writers Survive and Thrive
By Joni B. Cole
ISBN: 1-58465-544-5
University Press of New England - www.upne.com
http://www.upne.com/1-58465-543-7.html

With summer just over the top of the trees, you probably
know of ten or more events in nearby communities---arts
festivals, weener dog races, farmers markets, county fairs,
horse shows, summer camp expos, home shows, outdoor dramas---
where you could effectively promote your book at low cost
and high impact. For more details, and lots more ideas on
how to ferociously promote your feisty little title, you'll
want a copy of Funds For Writers' new e-book.

Ferocious Promotion for Timid Authors - $7.95
www.fundsforwriters.com/ferocious.htm

=====

http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

=====

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF FUNDSFORWRITERS?

TOTAL FundsforWriters offers six times the information
contained in your freebie, weekly FundsforWriters. At
$12year, it's an economic bargain. Read more at:

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and
an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen."

-- Frank Lloyd Wright

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

 
Agents: Are They Hard to Find and Do You Need One?
By David Pereda
 
The answer to both questions is no. I had three agents in
2008 alone.
 
Lucky you, you may be thinking, with perhaps a dose of envy.
Please don't.

My first two agents were duds. Our brief relationships don't
even merit using a full sentence to describe: a waste of
my time. My first agent enthused about my talent as a writer
and then sent my manuscript to three of the top publishers
in the business - Ballantine, Bantam, and Berkley. After
three nice rejection letters, he dumped me with the following
words: "All have passed. No one seems to want to take on new
voices. I'm going to suggest to you that you, too, find a
smaller publishing house for your work and that you do it on
your own. You don't need an agent for this type of submission."

Need I say I was stunned?

Ah, but hope springs eternal in the hearts of writers. I sent
out a flurry of query letters; and within a couple of weeks,
I had found another agent. This one claimed to have
considerable experience in the business with writing credits
to her name. She absolutely adored my writing and wanted
exclusivity for all my manuscripts. I was flattered by her
comments and thrilled that she wanted to represent my work.

Against my wife's advice, who wanted to check the agent's
background, I said yes.

Can you blame me? After the disappointment of my last agent,
and the doubts gnawing at the inside lining of my stomach, I
was like a lovesick teenager on the rebound.

My first agent had been at least pragmatic. He had a plan,
albeit a lousy one. I understood his approach better when he
told me he loved baseball. He sent my manuscript to bat,
hoping for a home run or at least an extra-base. I got three
strikes. I was out.

I could understand him.

My second agent had no plan at all. Whenever we talked on
the telephone, our conversation invariably gravitated toward
what she was doing instead of what she was doing for me. Months
went by and nothing happened. When I started inquiring about
what she was doing on my behalf and where she was sending my
manuscripts, she became defensive.

"I never tell my authors where I send their manuscripts,"
she said.

"Why?" I said.

"Because most authors are crazy and will contact the
publisher directly," she said with a voice as warm as an
Alaskan blizzard. "Of course, not you."

After nine months of repeated requests from me to reveal
where she was sending my manuscripts, and continuous refusals
from her to tell me, I questioned whether she was actually
sending my work out.

That was the last straw. She dumped me.

This time I was disappointed with myself for not having
seen the truck coming.

Undeterred, I prepared another batch of agent queries to
send out, but not before I did two things: (1) I analyzed
my previous two experiences to see what I could learn from
them, and (2) I wrote on a piece of paper what I wanted in
an agent. Here's the list:

·  Good communication. I wanted someone who understood the
importance of picking up the phone and having a conversation.

·  Responsiveness to my needs. While an agent's personal
literary ambitions are wonderful, and I will support them,
I'm not hiring a writer but an agent to sell my work in
the marketplace.

·  Regular reports.  A good agent should be able to give
me regular reports where my manuscript has been and what
comments she/he received.

·  Time for me. Top agents are so busy with Grisham and
Patterson that they have no time for me, so I chose to
pursue a less established agent with a willingness to grow
with me.

·  Contacts. If an agent has no contacts in the marketplace
what good is he/she to me?

·  Reputation. Here I was more lenient: The agent could have
a growing or an established reputation.

·  Advice.  I wanted a professional who was plugged into the
industry and can tell me what's selling and what isn't.

Several agents showed interest, but this time I took my time
in making a decision - and I'm glad I did. My current agent
and I have a great, and open, relationship; we talk and e-mail
each other on a regular basis. She sends me regular reports
where my manuscript has been and the results. We discuss
future steps, and she gives me good advice.

What did I learn from my 2008 experience? I learned you
don't need an agent. What you do need is the agent that
satisfies your needs.
          

BIO
DAVID PEREDA is an award-winning author of thrillers and
mainstream novels. His latest thriller, Havana Top Secret,
published by Eternal Press, will be available in May 2009
as an ebook and in print. To find out more about Pereda or
his writing, please access his website: www.davidpereda.com.

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

2009 RROFIHE TROPHY
http://www.opencity.org/rrofihe.html
---
$10 ENTRY FEE
For an unpublished short story up to 5,000 words. Winner
receives $500 cash, trophy. publication in Open City.
Deadline October 15, 2009.

=====

HOUSTON WRITERS GUILD NOVEL CONTEST
http://www.houstonwritersguild.org/Contests.htm
---
$12 -$15 ENTRY FEE
Any genre. $500 first prize. Submit first ten pages of your
novel, book, screenplay plus a synopsis. English only. Opened
to all unpublished and not under contract novelists and
screenwriters anywhere in the world. Deadline July 30, 2009.

=====

WELSH POETRY COMPETITION
http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/
---
£3 ENTRY FEE
1st Prize - £300
2nd Prize - £150
3rd Prize - £75
The closing date for the 2009 competition Sunday, June 21, 2009.
Each poem must be no more than 50 lines in length. The entrant
may submit an unlimited number of poems, each to be
accompanied by a £3 entrance fee. We can only accept sterling.
Entries must be in English, not previously published in any
form (including appearing on the Internet).
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AMSTERDAM WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
http://www.writerinresidence.nl/
---
Residencies for three to five months. The University of
Amsterdam and Athenaeum Booksellers have made living space
available in the heart of the old city. The existing funds
do not cover the author's travel expenses, but do allow for
a maximum residence grant of 2,000 Euro per month. A fee of
250 Euro will be deducted for service costs. Active
assistance will be provided to the authors to help find
subsidies in their respective countries of origin in order
to finance the journey to Amsterdam. No specific deadline.

=====

ROBERT BOSCH FOUNDATION
http://www.transartists.nl/articles/robert_bosch_foundation.275.html
http://www.lcb.de/autoren/grenzgaenger/
---
If you are planning a publication in German about Central
and Eastern Europe or if you want to do research in this
region, you are invited to apply for this scholarship.
Scholarships are available for authors with a personal point
of view, who are interested in first-hand information and who
want to visit authentic places. The publications should be
for a big audience, should inspire discussions and open the
audience´s minds to Central and Eastern Europe. The Foundation
offers scholarships for literary prose, essays, screenplays,
radio and similar productions. The scholarship pays for the
research-fees (journey, accomodation, interpreters and
translators). If you don´t have a regular income, you can
also apply for additional allowance of 1,000 Euro per month.
Applications are possible every year by March 10 or September
10.

(NOTE: TransArtists.nl is a wonderful website with residency opps.)
 
=====

BALTIC CENTRE FOR WRITERS AND TRANSLATORS
http://www.bcwt.org/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=1361
---
An international residential centre for writers and literary
translators, located in Visby on Gotland, Sweden. BCWT is a
working and meeting place for literary professionals. The
Centre has eleven studios/rooms and is open all year round.
The Centre welcomes applicants from all countries - but
priority of residence is given to literary professionals
from the countries of the Baltic Sea region and Scandinavia,
i.e. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia,
Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
THE MEN'S BOOK
http://media.modernluxury.com/magazines_the_mens_book.php
---
With titles in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco,
The Men's Book is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively
to stylish, influential men in our most urban, metropolitan
cities. Each title caters to the tastes of our male readers,
highlighting everything from the most expensive rides to the
coolest travel destinations and more.

=====

SEARCH
http://www.searchmagazine.org/About%20Us/about-us.html
---
SEARCH is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian magazine
exploring the intersection of science, religion, and culture.
Our intellectually curious, educated readers have an interest
in how technology, faith, ethics, and the arts connect in both
global affairs and our everyday lives.

=====

YES!
http://www.yesmagazine.org/default.asp?ID=15
---
YES! is not interested in simply bemoaning the problems that
face our society. Instead, we highlight solutions in action
that address the roots of our deepest ecological, social,
and political problems. Each issue centers on a theme about
solutions to a significant challenge facing our world. The
website has back issues for your review, but you can only
receive the themes via email submissions@yesmagazine.org .
Features are generally 1,000-2,500 words in length, and
sidebars usually 100-250. We also accept queries for Signs
of Life (100-450 words), the Commentary section (500 words),
and In Review (200-1,000 words). Photos are encouraged.
Pays up to 50 cents/word.

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

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=81137255&aid=27015391-2359&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline June 19, 2009. Employing Agency: Federal Aviation
Administration. If you are the successful candidate selected
for this position, you will serve as Writer/Editor, strategist,
researcher and delivery facilitator for a variety of outreach
projects, including plans, reports, presentations, and exhibits.

=====

COPY EDITOR
Location Hilton Head, SC
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1054957
---
The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette, which serve
Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Bluffton, SC, are seeking
a copy editor/page designer. We're interested in candidates
who can creatively design pages, aggressively handle copy,
spot holes and inconsistencies in stories, write headlines
that are clear and crisp, and maintain accuracy on deadline.

=====

FIELD REPORTER
Location Anywhere
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Online%20Media&JobID=1046294
---
If you think you have what it takes to volley one-liners with
Maria Sharapova, kick it with Mia Hamm, and Q&A over cappuccinos
with Serena Williams, this is your dream job. Right now, we're
holding open casting calls for a Nike Field Reporter. You'll jet
set across the country to interview the most talented female
professional athletes. Get the dish on what they're into at
the moment, ask the questions no one else will dare to ask,
and get the last word with the biggest girls in the game.
All your on-the-job expenses (including travel and gear) will
be paid for by us. And best of all, your profiles will appear
every month on NikeWomen.com. Send us an audition video and
show us that you've got the skills. In 3 minutes or less, tell
us why you'd make the perfect Nike Field Reporter. Give us
insight into who you are and why you're right for the job.
Deadline June 15, 2009.

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

INSOMNIAC PRESS
http://www.insomniacpress.com/
---
Query first. Does not publish science fiction, cookbooks,
romance, and children's books. Not interested in poetry
at this time. We're now actively seeking commercial and
creative non-fiction on a wide range of subjects such as
business / personal finance; gay and lesbian studies; black
Canadian studies among others.

=====

LOFT PRESS
http://www.loftpress.com/guidelines/
---
Loft Press publishes books for both the business community
and the general reading public. Loft's business books specialize
in transportation loss and damage, logistics, warehousing, and
supply chain management. For the general reading public, Loft
Press publishes Poetry, history, philosophy, and memoirs.
Loft Press publishes very little fiction. We do not accept
science fiction, fantasy, feminist-, gender-, or women-oriented
works, or any manuscript with inappropriate coarse language.

=====

NEW DIRECTIONS PUBLISHING
http://www.ndpublishing.com/contact.html
---
Currently, New Directions focuses primarily on fiction in
translation, avant garde American fiction, and experimental
poetry by American and foreign authors. If your work does not
fall into one of those categories, you would probably do best
to submit your work elsewhere. We are not interested in
considering books from the following categories: juvenile or
young adult, occult or paranormal, genre fiction (formula
romances, sci-fi or westerns), art and crafts, and
inspirational poetry.

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

GET PAID TO WRITE: BECOME A FREELANCE WRITER!

Start Date: Monday, June 1, 2009 (Email Class)

=====

LAST CALL: Poets Contest Corner Poetry Competition.

Deadline for submissions: June 1, 2009.
1st Place winner will receive $200 cash prize.

For submission and guidelines visit our web page, www.poetscontestcorner.blogspot.com.  Good Luck!

====

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a
short story, 5 pages max., on any theme, single or double-
line spacing, neatly hand printed or typed.

Entry fees:
Poetry Contest: $5 per poem
Writing Contest: $10 per story

Writing Contest
First Prize: $500, 2nd: $250; 3rd: $100

Poetry Contest
First Prize: $250, 2nd: $125; 3rd: $50. 

Postmark deadline: July 31, 2009.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for details and to enter!

=====

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

NEA and NC Arts Council grants, 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/

=====

WOW! Women On Writing Online Workshops & Classes
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html 

Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on
your craft, we know that education is an important part
of a writer's career. WOW! offers convenient online e-
courses on a variety of subjects: freelance writing,
fiction and poetry, book proposal writing, online author
promotion, how to get an agent, screenwriting and more!
All of our courses are offered online--whether through
email, website, chat room, or listserv--and are taught
one-on-one with the instructor. Have a mentor guide you
through a charted course of learning!

Creating a Character Sketch (Starts June 1, 2009)

Short Fiction Writing (Starts June 2, 2009)

Publish that Book: How To Write a Nonfiction Book
Proposal that Sells (Starts June 8, 2009)

Poetic Passion: Image, Story, Line & Language
(Starts July 3, 2009)

Class sizes are limited. Early enrollment is recommended.

Find out more by visiting the WOW! Women On Writing Classroom.
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html

=====

=====

WRITE PROMOTIONAL LETTERS

Learn about the fun and lucrative world of writing
promotional letters for the $2.3 trillion direct-response
industry. These are the same letters you see in your
mailbox and get via the Internet every day. They do
everything from persuade you to buy a product or service
to donate to your favorite charity.

And, if you don't consider yourself a writer... that's even
better. If you can write like you talk and follow some simple,
yet powerful techniques, you can create a life where you'll
enjoy the kind of personal and financial freedom most people
only dream about.

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

=====

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

=====

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

=====

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

=====

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

-----------------------------