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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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THE DAILY DRUDGE, AKA WRITER'S BLOCK

Usually my mind runneth over with editorial thoughts...
sometimes so much I make a list of them so I'm surrounded
with ideas for future use. My list runs dry this week.

For three days, I opened the screen to write an editorial
only to find email to read, an ebook to research or a
consult to attend to. I folded clothes and changed sheets
on the beds.

Finally I sat down...and tied myself to the chair. I wasn't
allowed to get up until I wrote two editorials. Then it hit
me. If I were working a full-time job, what would I do if
the momentum wasn't there?

Wow, history rushed in with memories and rising at 6 AM,
preparing the family breakfast, walking the dogs, feeding
the cats and finding panty hose without runs. Not being a
morning person, I usually arrived at work at 8:10 AM (never
could get there on time), grabbed coffee, and worked. No
matter how groggy, grumpy or crumpled I felt, I cranked
out the duties of the job.

Now was no different.

I refuse to recognize writer's block and muses.

Writing is work. If it's a hobby, you have the luxury of
waiting for better moments when the stars and moons are
aligned, the house is quiet and no one calls your name.
But when you write for a living, you write eight hours
a day or forty hours a week whether you feel like it or not.

Sure, it seems romantic to ponder Poe and his opiates,
Emily Dickinson and her depression, Hemingway and his
alcoholism. How they struggled with their muses and blocks
and fought to be the creative geniuses they were. You might
insert yourself in their company, identifying with their
personal obstacles to achieve magic.

I'd missed five days writing something original. I felt
empty. I envisioned my writing drawing away, its little
hands reaching back to me like a poltergeist horror movie.

I deduced the difficulty to write was self-inflicted.
Yes, I'd had guests. Yes, I chopped my fingertip off
pruning bushes. But yes, I'd started to write and stopped,
making excuses.

So I write. It might be crap or could be diamond-studded,
but it's my writing, performed in spite of myself. And
reaching the end of it proves that writing is a mechanical
crank to bring the mind to life.
 

     Hope

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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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

NOTE:
Shelley Lieber and VIP Authors is our Platinum Sponsor this year.
We still have openings for gold and bronze sponsors. See the
deal you can buy for advertising in sync with the FFW annual
essay contest.

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

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

Writing is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent endeavor.
It's a job and has to be approached as a job. Writers
write; they don't wait for it to be fun.

~Elizabeth George, novelist, teacher, grantor

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Greetings Hope,

Thank you for being on the lookout for new and LEGITIMATE
writing contests and submission sources. Thanks to your
newsletter, I recently won author Mark Budman's promotional
contest, called "My Life at First Try." He asked for a semi-
autobiographical sentence, and since I love to play with
grammar, my 1,000-word sentence made the cut, won me fifty
dollars, and a signed copy of M. Budman's book, also entitled
"My Life at First Try." Not Bad!  Here's a link to the contest
results: http://markbudman.net/contestMLAFT.html

But there's more! I learned about Unsent Letters
(ourunsentletters.com) from your newsletter, and decided to
craft a story to my theoretical brother, who does not in fact
exist. Not only are they publishing it on their blog (sometime
in the next 30 days), but my piece was chosen to be part of a
collection of letters in print as well! It is an honor to know
that I will be a published author in print form, and these
accomplishments have only helped to make me that much more
determined as a writer. So thanks, and keep it coming!

Best,
Stacey Small
E-mail: staceymsmall@gmail.com
http://www.staceysmall.com

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ARTICLE
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5 Tricks for Tracking Down an Editor

By Susan Johnston

Most writing books and blogs will tell you that you should
address your query letter to a specific person, rather than
opening generically with "Dear Editor." That's all well and
good, but sometimes it's hard to find an editor's name, much
less his email address.
 
With magazines, the names are usually listed on the masthead,
but sometimes the masthead is outdated by the time the mag
hits newsstands. And websites, even those with good content,
often omit the editor's name or contact info to shield them
from spam.
 
But that doesn't mean it's impossible. Here are some strategies
for sleuthing out an editor's info:

Search the site (and beyond). First stop on a publication's
website should be any pages labeled "About us," "Contact us,"
or "Our team." Often one of these pages will lead you to an
editor's name and potentially their email address. If not,
check out the site map to see if that information might be
buried. Also try searching through the website's internal
search feature and on Google (sometimes their own search
function is buggy, so definitely try Googling with "XXXX
monthly" AND editor). MediaBistro's Revolving Door is another
place to check. And if the website or publication is put out
by a custom publisher or parent company, you should check out
the main website, too.

Try LinkedIn. Next try an advanced search on LinkedIn. Here
you can search for people based on their job title (editor,
content manager, etc) and company name (be sure you're
searching for people who are currently in that job), but
don't ask them to join your network at this stage. Once you
have a name, you can usually figure out the email address
based on common email formulas, but some editors will find
it a little too forward if you ask to connect with them before
you've worked together (then again, some won't).

Pick up the phone. If you can find a phone number somewhere
on the website, you could try calling the main number and ask
who handles freelance queries. Then confirm the spelling of
their name and ask how they prefer to receive queries. Most
of the time you'll talk to a receptionist or editorial
assistant, but you should be ready with a few ideas in case
the right person actually answers the phone.

Ask around. If steps 1-3 have failed, then you can always
call on your network of freelancers for help. Ideally, you
might know someone who already writes for the publication
and ask him who to contact (they may even let you use their
name, but always ask first). I've done this on more than one
occasion. Alternatively, you could post on a writer's forum
or even use Twitter. Be sure to thank anyone who gives you
suggestions and make it clear that you'll gladly reciprocate
if they ever need help.

When all else fails, use the online contact form. I hate
contact forms, because it feels like my message is going
into a giant black hole in cyberspace, but sometimes I do
get a response. So it's possible that your message will get
forwarded to the right person and land you an assignment, too.

BIO
Susan Johnston is a freelance writer who has contributed to
The Boston Globe, DailyCandy.com, Self magazine, and
WomenEntrepreneur.com, among other places. She blogs at
UrbanMuseWriter.com.

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COMPETITIONS
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THE FIRST ANNUAL TENNESSEE WILLIAMS/NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL
WRITING CONTEST
http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/contest
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Grand Prize $1,500, VIP Festival Pass ($500 value) for March
25-29, 2010, publication in the New Orleans Review, domestic
airfare and accommodations to attend the Festival in New Orleans,
and a public reading. Submit short stories, written in English,
up to 7,000 words. Deadline: November 15, 2009 (postmark).

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SCARLET STILETTO AWARDS - AUSTRALIA
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~sincoz/scarlet.htm
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$10 ENTRY FEE
Women's crime and mystery short story competition. Length
5,000 words. Deadline August 31, 2009. First prize $750,
second prize $400, third prize $300, young writers award
$400. Various other awards from $150 to $500. Open to women
residents in Australia. One category for under 18, another
for 50+.

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MEMOIRS INK ELEMENT (Earth, Wind, and Fire) WRITING CONTEST
http://www.memoirsink.com/contests
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$10 ENTRY FEE
Submit a short personal essay, creative non-fiction, poemoir
or vignette that has to do with one of these elements--fire,
earth, or air/wind/space. It can be about anything, but the
element must be an important part of the story. You may submit
as many as you like. 750 words max. Prizes: $500, $250, $125 +
publication. Each element has a different deadline: fire -
October 15, 2009; earth - January 15, 2009; air/wind/space -
April 15, 2010. 

 
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GRANTS
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ARAB CULTURE FUND
http://www.arabculturefund.org/
---
Grants are given to support artistic and literary work that
employs contemporary artistic sensibilities and addresses
Arab common social issues. Support is also granted towards
research aimed at improving cultural policies, cultural
management and the marketing of culture. Proposals to write
and publish literary works such as novels, short story
collections, poetry books and diaries are considered.
Deadline August 31, 2009.

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JENTEL ARTIST RESIDENCY
Location Banner, WY
http://www.jentelarts.org
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Residencies average one month for visual artists and writers,
including playwrights and screenwriters, who are 25 and older
and live in the U.S. (citizenship not required). Organization
provides housing, studio facilities, and a $400 stipend toward
the cost of food and travel. Artists are responsible for travel,
materials, and deposit ($100). Deadline: September 15, 2009.

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KENTUCKY FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
http://www.kfw.org
---
Grants for feminist artists and arts organizations to enhance
their abilities and skills to create art for progressive social
change in Kentucky. Grants range from $1,000 - $7,500. Applicants
may request funds for a range of activities including artistic
development, artist residencies, the exploration of new areas
or techniques, or to build a body of work. Open to individual
artists and nonprofit arts organizations. Applicants must have
resided in Kentucky at least one year prior to application.
Deadline: September 4, 2009.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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SOMETHING BLUE CAROLINA
http://somethingblueonline.com/
---
Something Blue Carolina, the newest bridal magazine
incorporating the latest trends with the timeless tradition
and grace of Southern weddings.

NOTE: BRAND NEW MAGAZINE

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SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN/NORTHPARK NEWS/ WEST COAST CRAFTSMAN
http://tinyurl.com/lm5p4x
---
Publications are under new ownership. Seek experienced, published
freelance writers. Business Writers needed for San Diego
Metropolitan, Community News Writers needed for North Park
News that covers Kensington, North Park, South Park, Normal
Heights and Golden Hill. Architectural and Interior Design
Writers needed for West Coast Craftsman. Also, writing
assignments may be considered for Coronado Lifestyle Magazine.
Please apply to Kris Grant, editor. Pay to be determined on
length and complexity of story assignment and writer's
credentials. This is a contract job.

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ENTREPRENEUR
http://www.entrepreneur.com/entmagwg.html
---
Entrepreneur reports on innovative methods and strategies
to help readers improve their business operations. Features
are 1,700 words, including sidebars, charts and/or boxes.
Entrepreneur's upfront section, "Edge," features brief,
punchy articles on news and trends affecting small-business
owners. Purchases short (250-400 words) articles for $1/word.
 

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JOBS
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WRITER/REPORTER
Location Buffalo, WY
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=807788
---
The Buffalo (Wyo.) Bulletin, a national award-winning weekly
newspaper, seeks a creative, aggressive, articulate writer/
photographer to be a part of our energetic, progressive news
team.

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LOCAL REPORTER
Location Somerville, NJ
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1080963
---
The editors at New Jersey Local News Service are looking for
an eager and tenacious reporter to join our newsroom. Cover towns
in six counties across Central and North Jersey.

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TAHOE DAILY TRIBUNE
Location South Lake Tahoe, CA
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?Media=Newspapers/Wires&JobID=1080994
---
The Tahoe Daily Tribune in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, Calif.,
is looking for a community editor to write features and manage
press releases, stories, photos and other content submitted by
our active readership -- both in print and online.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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QUARTET PRESS
http://quartetpress.com/
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Quartet Press is currently accepting queries for all genres
of romance fiction, including erotic romance. We will also
consider other genre fiction, provided the story contains a
strong romantic plot thread. These books are digital format only.

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CELLAR DOOR PUBLISHING
http://www.cellardoorpublishing.com/submissions.htm
---
Cellar Door Publishing specializes in the publication of
high-quality illustrated literature and graphic novels.
We are looking for all genres and age groups. We encourage
creators to experiment with format and content, though it
is not required. We do accept a limited number of
submissions for books without illustrations. This is
generally reserved for books that are either unique in
content or controversial in nature, or literary projects
that can be released in a serialized format.

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GAUTHIER PUBLICATIONS
http://www.gauthierpublications.com/Submissions.html
---
Gauthier Publications is always looking for new talent. Now
considering the following areas: YA, mystery/thriller/suspense,
romance, short stories and story collections, horror/thriller
stories for a new collection.

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

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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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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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