Volume 9, Issue 33
August 16, 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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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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REFERENCE TO LAST WEEK'S EDITORIAL:
Received information from an Edgar Allan Poe specialist
that Poe was not an opiate user. I confirmed this with the
Edgar Allan Poe Society. He was an alcoholic, not a drug user.

NOTE RE: MARKETS:
PLENTY Magazine went out of business earlier this year.

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WHEN UPHILL ISN'T SO BAD

We tend to compare our trials and tribulations as uphill
or downhill, with the occasional plateau. But when we
describe our current ordeal as uphill, the world gets it.
We're struggling, pumping harder, fighting gravity. We
also understands that once the uphill is over, we hit
that plateau of a breather or we graduate to the downhill
run.

Downhill isn't always a good thing.
Uphill isn't necessarily bad.

Uphill is very controlled. Mentally place yourself in a
struggle to ride your bike up a San Francisco-sized, steep
street. Each pump of the bike takes you three feet. Ahead
you see five hundred feet to go. You feel like you barely
move, and often contemplate parking the damn thing and
walking. Or worse, you consider throwing the bike in the
trunk of your car and going home.

But let's say you are determined to get to the top of that
hill. You might take a short break to catch your breath
or rub the cramps out of your legs, pace yourself, but
you keep creeping up that hill knowing that reward waits
at the top.

Frankly, you are in control. You determine how fast or
slow you tackle that hill and when you reach the top.
It's a long, sweaty haul, but it's all you.

Then you reach the top. You complete the book, earn
the degree, or turn in the assignment. You bask a
little while in the pleasure of accomplishment, but
then you face that downhill slope. Other forces become
involved. Editors, agents, judges, publishers and clients
become the gravity that initiates the momentum.

The problem is this: the better the conditions, the more
things fall your way, the faster the speed down that hill.
The downhill run isn't without its catastrophes. Potholes,
curves, other bikers and slick pavement can make what you
thought was an easy ride into a horrific fall to a crash
at the bottom.

Downhill isn't always a slick, laid-back moment. Uphill
isn't always a pain. But the trip is less dramatic if
you make it eyes wide open, recognizing who, what and
when are your obstacles so you can maneuver and cross
the line a winner.
 

     Hope

  

Theme: Invisible Writing
Compose 750 words or less addressing this theme in essay form.
Deadline October 31, 2009.

Pay $5 or don't pay anything. You have a choice with FFW.
First, second and third prizes in each category, ranging
from $10 to $200.

NEW: FundsforWriters is featuring Tweetebooks. Yes, you
read right. In this day of social networking in spurts,
FFW has created abbreviated ebooks with abbreviated prices.
Enter the $5 entry fee category of the contest and receive
one free. Or buy one. They are only $1.99.

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/tweetebooks.htm

=====

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

TWITTER ME
http://twitter.com/hopeclark

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

I JUST JOINED FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark

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

www.fundsforwriters.com/ferocious.htm
 

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

"If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today.
As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work."

-- Thomas J. Watson

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi Hope,
Just a quick note to say many thanks to you and the April
19th "TOTAL FundsforWriters" issue for directing my attention
to a freelance market I normally wouldn't have thought of,
"Trains Magazine." Although this magazine primarily covers
railroading as a business, it also includes a section for
1st person recollections.  With some rather unique remembrances
from growing up as the daughter of a long time railroad
employee, I was delighted when they recently offered to
purchase a 1st person piece I had written about those times.

I continue to closely read every issue of "FundsforWriters"
and thank you for your insights, excellent information, and
encouragement.  Now, if I could just find an agent for my book!

Sincerely,
S. Elaine Nelson
Editor, Abbey Hill Literary
www.ahliterary.com

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ARTICLE
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Increase Your Income with Resume Writing

By Christine Cristiano

With the downturn in today's economy and new lay-offs being
announced weekly, a talented freelance writer with an interest
in the job market may discover a new niche for their writing
skills. More job seekers are realizing the benefits of having
their resume professionally prepared by a talented resume
writer and are willing to pay good money for it. The beauty
of a resume writing service is that it can be started from
the comforts of your home. As long as you have a telephone
and access to the internet, most often it is not necessary
to meet with your customers face to face. Most of the
background information needed to create the resume can be
emailed or faxed to you by the customer or if need be,
obtained with a few phone calls.

The Going Rate

Some freelance writers fall into resume writing after
preparing resumes for family, and friends and then go on
to secure work from referrals. Uncertified resume writers,
meaning writers who haven't taken the necessary courses
recognized by the governing body of certified resume writers,
can expect to earn $50 or more for rewrites to $125 and up
for a complete resume from scratch. A certified resume writer's
rates are much higher. There are other factors that can affect
the chargeable rate per resume including the complexity of the
content, the length and the client's profession and/or
industry. A resume for an entry level administrative position
will be easier to create than one for an IT Specialist so your
chargeable rate would be adjusted accordingly.  Most
professional resume writers offer additional services including
the creation of covering letters, bios, curriculum vitae(s),
and occasionally job searching.

Getting Certified

Some writers choose to pursue certification with the National
Resume Writers Association in order to boost their knowledge
in resume creation and add some clout to their credentials.
In order to be certified, you must enroll in the specific
courses available through the association and follow the
criteria outlined. The resume writing certification can be
somewhat costly but in the end, the certification will pay
for itself by attracting more customers with your professional
accreditation. Various resume courses and workshops are also
offered through local colleges, universities, and online.
Your best bet is to enroll in a course where there is
interaction with an instructor who can offer feedback on your
work and suggestions on how to improve your skills.  If you
are unsure if resume writing is your forte, there are many
online ecourses you can take to get an idea of what is
involved and your writing compatibility.

Practice! Practice!

If you have done some research and decided that resume
writing is a good fit with your current writing endeavors,
create a new resume for yourself to use as a sample. Study
as many resumes and formats are possible to get accustomed
to the lingo, and different formats and their purposes.
Like all types of writing, each resume writer has their own
style and tone and you can benefit from analyzing the work
of others. The key to effective resume writing is to learn
how to showcase a client's skills and qualifications with
the best possible presentation.

You can hone your skills by offering to help your family
and friends with their resume needs pro bono. The experience
alone will provide you with some before and after samples
that you can use to attract paying clientele.

Attracting Clients

Like any service, referrals and advertising will be the
key to generating customers. There are many inexpensive
advertising options to choose from including an advertisement
in your local newspaper, your blog or website, or post
notices on the community bulletin boards. Likewise, the
internet is home to many free online classified sites that
can help expand your service outside your local area and
promote your services nationwide.  If you live close to a
college or university, contact the institution's job placement
office and inquire if they would refer your services to the
students.

If you are successful in attracting customers from other
parts of the country, do invest in a long distance calling
plan or purchase prepaid phone cards to reduce your long
distance phone call costs.

Resume writing can compliment your current writing
accomplishments and be a lucrative addition to your
freelance writing efforts.

To get started, enroll in a free online resume course
targeted for beginners:

Resume Writing Tutorial
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1574

Blue Sky Resumes Online Resume Course
http://www.smartsearchsystem.com/

Associations:

Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches
http://www.parw.com/home.html

National Resume Writers Association
http://nrwaweb.com/index.asp

Career Professionals of Canada
http://www.careerprocanada.ca/certificationCertifications.xpg

BIO
Christine Cristiano hangs her hat in Ontario, Canada and
shares her world with her husband, two sons and a beagle
named Tessie.

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COMPETITIONS
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SECOND LIGHT POETRY CONTEST
http://www.secondlightlive.co.uk/downloads/compsln.pdf
---
ENTRY FEE £3
SECOND LIGHT is a network for older women poets, set up to
promote greater appreciation of women's poetry. Prizes
£300 first, £100 second, £50 third, honorable mentions receive
Second Light book of choice. Poems may be on any subject,
must be the unaided work of the writer and not more than
80 lines in length. They must not have been previously
published in book form but may have appeared in magazines.
Deadline October 1, 2009.

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WRITELINES CONTEST
https://writelines.net/uploads/Contest_Rules.doc
---
Submissions may be essay, fiction, memoir, or creative
nonfiction. Word count maximum is 2,000 words. Contest
ntries must be received between the dates August 1 - 31, 2009.
All submissions must be sent as Word attachments to
ontest@writelines.net . Winning prize is free tuition to
the Marco Island Writing Retreat October 9 - 11, 2009,
7:00 PM Friday through 9:00 PM Sunday which includes three
meals on Saturday and three meals on Sunday. Transportation
to and from the airport is included. Lodging is not included.
Transportation other than to and from the airport is not
included. Location Florida.

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THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS/NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL
ONE-ACT PLAY CONTEST:
http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/contest
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
Grand Prize $1,500, staged reading of the winning script at
the 2010 Festival (March 24-28,2010), full production of the
winning script at the 2011 Festival (March 2011), publication
in Bayou literary magazine, and VIP Festival Pass for both
2010 and 2011 ($1,00 value). Submit one-act plays, written
in English, up to one hour in length. Deadline: November 1,
2009 (postmark).

 
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GRANTS
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CULINARY WRITING FELLOWSHIP
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships/
---
The Duncan Eat-Write Fellowship Fellowship will be awarded
to an author writing a cookbook or work of fiction or
nonfiction that involves a love of food or healthful eating.
This Fellowship provides a residency in the Writers' Colony
Culinary Suite equipped with full test kitchen. This Fellowship
will be awarded on a rolling entry basis, so applicants are
encouraged to apply early. Final application date for entry
to be postmarked is September 10, 2009. Fellowship
applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable $35
application fee.

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CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT WRITING FELLOWSHIP
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships/
---
The Kid Lit! Fellowship will be awarded to an author writing
a work of fiction or non-fiction for children or young adults.
It provides a two-week fellowship entitling the recipient to
free residency at the Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow in the
historic arts village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Fellowship
applications and a non-refundable $35 application fee are due
January 20, 2010, with winners announced February 20, 2010,
for fellowships to be scheduled March 10 - December 10, 2010.

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CRYSTAL BRIDGES ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN WRITING FELLOWSHIP
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships/
---
The Fellowship is open to a range of architecture & design
writing genre, criticism, history, regionalism, globalism,
public art, museum practice, and biography; as well as to
artists compiling a presentation on a body of work. A
Fellowship entitles the recipient to free residency at the
Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow, in the historic arts
village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Deadline for submissions
is February 1, 2010. Residency to be scheduled March 10 -
December 10, 2010.

 
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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RIDER MAGAZINE
http://www.riderreport.com/output.cfm?id=30709
---
For more than 35 years Rider magazine has catered to an
elite audience of touring, sport touring and street motor-
cyclists. Ridermagazine.com is the on-line companion to
Rider, providing one-stop shopping for motorcycling
entertainment and information. Our team of editors will
bring you latest industry news, bike and gear reviews,
touring information, and message boards.

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CAMPING LIFE MAGAZINE
http://www.campinglife.com/about/
---
Camping Life is dedicated to providing readers with
nformative articles about interesting destinations, products
and activities to enhance their outdoor lifestyles. In the
pages of Camping Life readers will find stories on topics
ranging from day-hiking, fishing and bicycling to photography,
canoeing and kayaking. The magazine empowers readers with
accurate and up-to-date information that can be used to make
decisions about where to go camping, what types of facilities
will be found there, what equipment is most appropriate for
their use, and what activities are available once they've
arrived at their campsites.

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ATV MAGAZINE
http://www.atvnews.com/sitemap.cfm
---
ATV Magazine informs its readers on new model introductions
and tests, as well as product testing. Each issue also focuses
on ATV uses in real-life agricultural, hunting, recreational
and working situations. ATV Magazine is published six times
per year. (Free sample issue available.)
 

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR (FINANCIAL)
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=82724299&aid=27015391-1089&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline August 21, 2009. Employing Agency: The United States
Mint. Develops reports and publications that interpret and
explain important, highly complex, and potentially controversial
information concerning the organization's programs, policies,
activities and performance in a manner that is clear and
meaningful to intended audiences.

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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Bethesda, MD
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=82751414&aid=27015391-1189&WT.mc_n=125
---
Employing Agency: National Institutes of Health. Deadline
August 25, 2009. The incumbent of this position performs
complex writing and editing assignments that contribute to
the development and coordination of a comprehensive program
of public and professional information.
 
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REPORTER
Location Moscow, ID
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1085188
---
Reporter The Moscow-Pullman Daily News is looking for a self-
starting reporter who is passionate about journalism and
regards accuracy as an absolute pillar to good reporting.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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INTREPID TRAVELER
http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/writers-guidelines.html
---
The Intrepid Traveler is actively looking for new books and
new authors. We like offbeat, well-written, in-depth guidebooks
on topics that haven't been done to death. We welcome books
about the travel industry, what it is, how it works, its
history, how to break into it, and so forth. If you are a
seasoned travel industry professional (anything from a flight
attendant to a CEO) with a story to tell, we'd like to see your
manuscript. This is an amorphous category with which we have
had some success. Past titles we have published in this
category include "Home-Based Travel Agent," "Take Your RV
to Europe," "Air Courier Bargains" and "Fly Cheap." We'd be
interested in seeing others.

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WHEREABOUTS PRESS
http://www.whereaboutspress.com/
---
Unlike guidebooks written by professional travel writers, our
books feature stories written by literary writers -- all of
whom who have lived in the places they write about. Most were
born there, or grew up there, or lived there for many years.
And they didn't write specifically for travelers. They wrote
because they had a good story to tell.

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CAROUSEL PRESS
http://www.carousel-press.com/company.html
---
Carousel Press is based in Berkeley, California and specializes
in books related to travel.  Our most popular title is the
award-winning Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern
California , now in its 8th edition.  Our well-reviewed Dream
Sleeps provides a comprehensive guide to castle and palace
hotels of Europe, and Miles of Smiles is designed to entertain
traveling families.  Camping Europe makes it possible to plan
an inexpensive European vacation. 

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SPONSORS
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GIVE ME YOUR NEEDY MANUSCRIPT            

August is the best time to become a VIP Author! It's our
Annual Membership Drive and we're giving new members the
chance to catch up on what they've missed so far this year!
 
Join now and get immediate access to all  VIP Author Talks
teleclasses with industry experts and monthly Coaching Call
recordings recorded from January through July 2009.
 
That's 7 months of Inncr Circle  exclusive educational
material PLUS the 12 months of benefits you receive as
part of your membership for a total of 19 Months of Benefits.
Review class descriptions at: http://tinyurl.com/96akbo
 
The sooner you join, the sooner you can start enjoying the
benefits. But, this opportunity is good only during August.
Don't delay!
 
Read all about it at http://vipauthors.com.

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PROFESSIONAL EDITING/PROOFREADING FROM JUST 1 CENT PER WORD!

With agents and publishers receiving hundreds of manuscripts
a week, it's not surprising they often dump anything with
spelling or grammatical errors in the trash, no matter how
brilliant the story! It's harsh, but it's how they separate
professionals from amateurs.

You've spent a lot of time creating your manuscript. Let
me help you give it the best chance to get noticed. And
if you're publishing yourself, you don't want any typos
to ruin the finished product. From a technical Proofread
to a Light Edit, pick the service that works for you. 

See Editing101.com for full details and glowing references.

http://Editing101.com

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Winner of the 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award from
UNC Chapel Hill, Richard Krawiec has published novels,
story collections, plays, memoirs, 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. He was a Finalist for the 2009 Indie Book
Awards for Poetry.
 
It's hard to publish these days. 
Let someone who knows what they're doing help
you prepare your work for publication.

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

=====

In just 6 hours, you could be on your way
to earning $500-$1,500 for writing a single page of web copy ...
 
If you love writing but just haven't figured out how to make
money with it, listen closely ...

There are literally millions of websites that need writers
who understand how to write for the search engines (like
Google, for example). What this means is, re-writing existing
content, so that it becomes more visible to the search engines. 

And in just 6 hours, you can learn all you'll need to know
to get a jumpstart in this lucrative and highly rewarding
market. Read on to find out how becoming an SEO copywriter
could be just the ticket you've been looking for ...

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

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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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