Volume 9, Issue 25
June 21, 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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How to Publish Digital Books
 
If you're thinking about turning your manuscript or book into
digital form (and you should be), don't miss the next VIP Author
Talks with guest Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords.com, a site
for creating and selling digital books.

Topic: How to Publish Digital Books
Date: Wednesday, June 24
Time: 8pm Eastern (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific)
 
The tele-class will answer these questions:
-- What is a digital book?
-- How do you create one?
-- Can you take your print book and turn it into an ebook?
-- Do you need a specially prepared file?
-- Where do you sell ebooks?
-- How can you get your book on Kindle, iPhone and Sony eReader?
 
Have a question on a topic not listed here? There will be an
open Q&A at the end of the call. The class is free but you
must reserve a seat, so register right now, because "seating"
is limited to 99.
 
Register here: http://tinyurl.com/mfhrc5
                 
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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

=====

MY ADHD WRITING

Yeah, I admit it. I can't keep my writing fingers focused.
They have ADHD. In an hour at the keyboard, I check email,
write an editorial, edit two chapters and post on my blog.
If I see a potential market and feel an AHA! flash of an idea
for a query, I drop what I'm doing and write it. Then I go
back to reviewing Chapter 25.

Don't fuss at me about the ADHD reference. I hold no disrespect.
My ten-year-old nephew is a qualified genius, with ADHD. My
little sister might not be Einstein, but she's been diagnosed
as well. I, on the other hand, like my calm, simple life.
Confrontation and too many options act like teeth grinding
or chalkboard nail scraping in my quiet world. But put me
in front of a computer to write, and I'm all over the place!

Even when I shut off the email and ban myself to the novel,
I'm tempted to grab a drink, glance outside my window or
go to the bathroom, anything to make me move. I've even
edited two chapters at a time, to give me variety.

That's what the Internet has done to today's writer.
We have our blogs, forums, websites, music, videos,
Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook to maintain, not to
mention those of our friends and acquaintances to read.
We crave the instant gratification of production. Who
zones out and quietly writes?

I have to admit, when I shut down the rest of the world,
my best writing rises to the top. In this world of instant
publishers (there's a publisher with that name, by the way),
overnight online bylines, and flashes of fame on blogs,
we've become addicted to fast words, low edits and mediocre
material. I've been there myself.

Let's slow down and savor our words like dessert from a
five-star restaurant. Let those phrases sit and melt,
giving you time to weigh their taste, their value. I dare
you to take a one-day vacation to write . . . doing it
without the computer, or at least minus the Internet.

Slow down the ADHD. The world will wait.

    Hope

TOTAL FundsforWriters

Want more of FundsforWriters? Consider the paid
version, delivering 75 grants, markets, contests,
positions and publishing opportunities biweekly.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
"You are the only person who can forgive yourself.
Once that forgiving has taken place, you can then
console yourself with the knowledge that a diamond
is the result of extreme pressure... The pressure
can make you something quite precious, quite wonderful,
quite beautiful and extremely hard."

-- Maya Angelou

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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi Hope,

I must very strongly and with a burst of enthusiasm second
our claim that there are indeed funds out there!  I wrote you
last year and told you that my film, An Entrepreneur's Heart,
was a finalist in Cinema Prosperite's Global Film contest (http://www.sevenfund.org/cinema/videos/entrepreneurs-heart.html). 
My movie came in only a few points shy of the winner, "Tom's
Shoes."  Tom's Shoes has an international commercial on television,
so that means I must have done a doggone good job! 

Next, you listed The Haven Foundation ( http://www.thehavenfdn.org)
as a grantmaker offering grants for artists and writers who have
suffered an illness or catastrophic event.  It was listed on your
wonderful Total FFW newsletter.  I was awarded a grant by The
Haven Foundation in March, 2009. I was very grateful for their
generosity.

I am also proud to say that I'm one of five 1st Place winners in
the recent Knol for Dummies Contest, sponsored by Google(tm).  
I got the information for that contest from...drumroll, please...
YOUR website.  My article,  "Everything You Always Wanted to Know
About Getting A Grant (But Were Afraid to Ask)" can be found at
this address: http://tinyurl.com/pvq5ts.

So what I'm saying is, I'm living, WRITING proof that there are
indeed grants out there for individuals.  Of course, it takes
hard work and discipline to get them, but with your friendly,
down-to-earth tips and advice, writers just can't lose.

All best wishes for everything you do...you deserve it!

Your friend,
Rita Lorraine Hubbard
www.RitaHubbard.com

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ARTICLE
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5 Ways to Boost Your Word Count

By Tim Beyers

Most beginning writers I know want to write more. It's a
hand-to-mouth problem: No words, no food -- and yet they
still don't write as much as they'd like. I was the same way.

Our excuses vary. Some of us lack motivation. Others, time.
Still others suffer from a terminal addiction to the Web.
(Raises hand.) The good news? It's possible to cope with
each of these problems and still produce 1,500 to 2,000
good words per day. Here are five tips for boosting your
output.

1. Keep score.

Freelance writers are, by nature, competitive. We have to
be; we're competing for space: in magazines, in newspapers,
in the "up-and-coming writers" submissions pile at New
York's top literary agencies. Writers who don't sell their
work become janitors, or barflies, or maybe janitors who
moonlight as barflys. Either way, quenching your thirst
for competition can help you to write more. Set a daily
word count goal and track your progress in a cheap journal.
Mine is a 5 1/2 by 3 1/2 Mead notebook. You'll find yourself
waking up wanting to win the day.

2. Create a writing group.

Competing with yourself is good. Competing with others is
better. Challenge your writing friends to word count
contests and make it real by checking each other's work.
Your "wins" will be more meaningful.

3. Use tools that make you smile.

Most writing is typed and double-spaced on white bond paper
and ... Blah, blah, blah. Who says we have to write our
first drafts at our desks, on a computer? Too much exposure
to the radiated glow of a 17-inch monitor can make us look
creepy, like the raccoon-eyed skier who forgot to apply
sunscreen to his face. Only with us writers, there are no
stories of hanging out in the lodge by the fireplace with
the beautiful girl who needed help getting down the mountain.
Perhaps that's okay for you. I prefer being married to the
beautiful girl. I also prefer the comfort of a yellow pad
and a no. 2 pencil to the afterglow of my Mac for my first
drafts.

4. Ignore as much as you can.

If writing is a hand-to-mouth business for you, then you
must give yourself permission to ignore distractions that
impede your word count. Ignoring children, spouses and
editors doesn't count. Everything else is fair game. Need
a quick idea? Try cutting TV out of your life for all but
one hour a day.

5. Have a system of rewards.

All humans like recognition. Use this to your advantage as
a writer by hiring a rewards administrator. This is the
person whose job it is to make you feel good when you're
on a winning streak. Ideally, your rewards administrator
will (a) cost you nothing and (b) have a stake in your
success as a writer. See your better half over there? Meet
your new rewards administrator. Together, you'll create a
catalog of cheap goodies that will be yours if you win.
Meet your word count goal for a week straight? That'll be
a hand massage please. A whole month, you say? Here's your
favorite dinner; enjoy.

Writing is a mind job -- literally. Too often, our heads
get in the way of laying words as a mason lays brick. Help
yourself by keeping score, starting a writing group, using
tools that make you smile, ignoring as much non-writing work
as you can, and by establishing a cheap, reliable system of
rewards.

Now get to writing: that hand massage is just 2,000 words away.

BIO-
Tim Beyers is a Colorado-based freelancer whose work appears
daily at The Motley Fool and weekly at the Quicken.com blog.
Visit him online at http://timbeyers.com

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COMPETITIONS
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GREAT CANADIAN LITERARY HUNT
http://this.org/contribute/great-canadian-literary-hunt/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE - ONE SHORT STORY OR TWO POEMS
Each year, This Magazine publishes a special supplement of
short fiction and poetry from new, emerging, or undiscovered
writers in what we call the Great Canadian Literary Hunt.
This popular annual event attracts talented and ambitious
writers and poets who put their work in competition for
fame and fortune, the $750 cash prize for first place. The
top three entries in each category are published in the
magazine's November-December issue. Original, unpublished
poems of up to 100 lines and short stories of up to 3,000
words by Canadian citizens or residents are eligible.
First place in each category is $750 plus publication in a
special literary supplement to the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of
This Magazine. Second and third prize in each category is
a lovely This Magazine prize pack, plus publication in the
literary supplement. Entry fee includes a one-year
subscription to This Magazine. Deadline July 2, 2009.

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FRESH BLOOD CONTEST
http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?ID=2681
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Leisure Books is partnering with Rue Morgue magazine in
association with horror fiction web site ChiZine, to present
"Fresh Blood," a new writing contest specifically for
unpublished horror authors. The winner will receive a
contract for publication in Leisure's 2011 lineup, as well
as a contract from ChiZine Publications for a limited-edition
hardcover release, also in 2011. Leisure is looking for
finished horror novel manuscripts, either supernatural or
non-supernatural, of 80,000 - 90,000 words. Entries should
be sent to Submissions@dorchesterpub.com by September 30,
2009.  "Fresh Blood" must appear in the subject line of the
email.

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AMERICA'S NEXT BEST CELLER
http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?ID=2684
---
Dorchester Publishing and Textnovel announce their partnership
in an innovative writing competition for aspiring novelists. 
Authors ages 18 and older are invited to participate in
America's Next Best Celler, a literary challenge that pairs
the emergent cellular generation with the traditional publishing
model. The contest will award a guaranteed publishing contract
with Dorchester Publishing. The site encourages readers to
subscribe to developing works of fiction which are disseminated
in chapter-length installments via cell phones and email over
a period of time.  Subscribers offer direct feedback to authors
and vote for their favorite serials, fostering an intimacy
between artist and fan similar to reality television.
Dorchester is seeking contest entries in any of the following
romantic sub-genres: historical, paranormal, urban fantasy,
high fantasy, futuristic, romantic suspense or humorous
contemporary. 

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GRANTS
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ELIZABETH GEORGE FOUNDATION
Elizabeth George, Director
PO Box 1429, Langley, WA 98260
also
4111 Shorebreak Drive
Huntington Beach, CA     92649-2184
---
The foundation makes grants to unpublished fiction writers,
for unpublished and published poets, and for emerging
playwrights. There is no website, and you request assistance
through a well-written letter. Deadline July 1, 2009. Suggest
you emphasize the importance of your project, the marketability
of your work, a rough financial message about your situation,
and details on how you'd utilize funds. Keep requests
reasonable in light of these economic times. FROM HOPE: I doubt
they'll entertain requests in the five-figure range, but there
are no guidelines to confirm one way or the other. Think hard
about your proposal best suiting your needs and raising your
odds of acceptance.

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RAGDALE ALICE HAYES WRITING FELLOWSHIP
http://www.ragdale.org/hayesfellowship
---
This award is for writers who are working on a project
designed to bring awareness to a contemporary issue having
to do with peace, social justice, or the environment. The
work may be fiction or nonfiction. The fellowship is in
memory of Alice Hayes, who created the Ragdale Foundation
in what had been her family home. All her life she was
committed to working for a just and peaceful world. The
winner will be given 4 weeks residency at Ragdale free of
charge and a stipend of $500. Deadline September 15, 2009.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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NEVADA MAGAZINE
http://www.nevadamagazine.com/index.php/info/contact/
---
For more than 70 years, Nevada Magazine has been telling
the Silver State's story -- in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe,
and beyond. In print and online, we highlight urban and
rural travel, dining, people, history, gaming, events,
shows, and more. On our Web site, you'll find content from
our bimonthly publication as well as online-only material,
such as "Web Extras" and online bonuses. Stories are accepted
on speculation. Most stories range from 500 to 1,000 words.
Payment -- 40 to 50 cents per word -- is on publication and
varies with article length and quality.

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REGULAR BAPTIST PRESS
http://www.rbpstore.org/about/writefor.cfm
---
Interested in writing Regular Baptist Press Sunday School
papers and curriculum periodicals? Our mission is to glorify
God by providing church educational resources that are true
to God's Word and encourage maturity in Christ. Regular
Baptist Press was founded to produce distinctively Baptist
Sunday School curriculum.

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STRATOS MAGAZINE
http://www.stratosmag.com/aboutus.aspx
---
Targets and reaches an affluent niche market, specifically
those who utilize private jet aircraft to satisfy their travel
requirements. Published exclusively for these elite travelers,
the STRATOS is an in-flight book that reaches America's top
CEOs, senior corporate executives, institutional investors,
corporate directors, investors and wealthiest individuals.
Their lifestyle and financial achievements make them quickly
identifiable as the upper 1% of the overall U.S. population.
Pays up to 80 cents/word. Responds in one week. Offers kill fee.
 

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=81489205&aid=27015391-1369&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline June 26, 2009. Employing Agency Federal Aviation
Administration. Performs a variety of duties related to
editorial production and document quality control. Prepares
abstracts for ATO reports. Edits manuals prepared by ATO
groups for clarity and specifications. Advises and assists
authors during the writing stage to ensure conformance with
agency policy and technical editorial standards.

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PART-TIME/FREELANCE EDITOR
Location Dallas, TX
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Magazines/Publishing&JobID=1062581
---
Local parenting magazine group seeks part-time editor who
has 7+ recent years experience managing content in a fast-
paced, deadline-driven environment. We are looking for a
candidate with extensive print and online experience (writing
and editing for both) as well as having a strong vision for
the tone and direction of the magazine. This candidate will
be responsible for managing multiple versions of copy.

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NEWS EDITOR-REPORTER
Location Ogallala, NE
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1062541
---
The Keith County News seeks a news editor-reporter for its
twice-weekly newspaper publication. The successful candidate
should be prepared to report on major topics and meetings in
the area.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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TURTLE BOOKS
http://www.turtlebooks.com/
---
An independent publishing house specializing in illustrated
children's books. In most cases, they publish their books in
both English and Spanish.

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XYZZY PRESS
http://www.xyzzypress.com/
---
We are looking for books in the areas of; lifestyle, motivation,
religion, food, cooking, health, athletics, personal growth,
personal management, personal finances, leisure, travel,
entertainment, wellness, philosophy, general humor, art,
poetry, and politics.

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PARADIGM AGENCY
http://www.paradigmagency.com/about
---
Paradigm's select yet diverse client list allows it to effectively
compete with other large agencies while guaranteeing personalized
attention to every client. With offices in Los Angeles, New York
City, Monterey, California and Nashville, Tennessee, Paradigm
provides representation to clients across its motion picture,
television, music, comedy and personal appearances, theater,
books, new media, commercial and physical production departments.

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SPONSORS
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Frequently published author and optioned screenwriter Peggy
Bechko has just released her first E-book for new and young
writers. Out of Thin Air is packed with advice to new writers
in the first section and with online resources that run the
gamut from grammar and punctuation to world-building in the
second.

Here's just one recommendation -"Need something different from
the usual 'how-to' crowd of books? Something as encouraging
and inspirational as it is practical? Then this is the book for
you." L Brody, TV writing guru, writer and producer

Get your copy at www.newwriterguide.com

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SOCIAL NETWORKING CLASS FOR AUTHORS
Do you have the Twitter Jitters? Blog-phobia? Facebook freak-out?
Need help navigating online promotion possibilities on the web?
Want to increase your web presence but unsure what to do next?
This week long introduction to Social Media can help get you
started.
 
WHEN: June 22-26 OR July 13-17
COST: $75       (Private one-on-one lessons available too.)
WHERE: Online. Work at your own speed. Ask all the questions
you want.
DETAILS: http://www.susantaylorbrown.com/classes.html

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Get Paid $500-$1,500 to Fix Copy
That's Already Been Written for You!

Thousands of websites are in desperate need of web-savvy
writers. The kind of writers who understand how the search
engines work ... and how to write search-engine-optimized copy. 

It's a huge market. One that most writers don't know about.
Read on to find out how, in just six short hours, you could
be on your way to earning $500-$1,500 per page of web copy,
as an SEO copywriting specialist. 

http://www.awaionline.com/b8/seocopywriting

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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
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/

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LEARN FICTION'S MAGIC INGREDIENT
 
Online Class with Jordan E. Rosenfeld.

In this self-paced online class Jordan E. Rosenfeld, author of
Make a Scene and Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life will
teach the "magic" ingredient to creating powerful, page-turning
fiction. You'll take your writing to a whole new level. Begins
August 3rd, 2009. Four weeks. In this class you'll learn how
to: make your writing active and alive. Create a powerful
emotional punch. Design an easy to follow "map" for your plot
and much more. Each week you'll write new material and receive
feedback.

Register by July 15th for the incredibly discounted rate of $99.
After July 15th, the price goes up to $149.  Space is limited.
Participants will also receive a 50% discount on copies of
Make a Scene and Write Free purchased through the author.

E-mail: jordansmuse@gmail.com
www.jordanrosenfeld.wordpress.com

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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!

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

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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!
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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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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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