Volume 9, Issue 43
October 25, 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 Association of Professional Business Writers represent
people that write for business in a fee for work or freelance
capacity. Contact us at www.apbw.us 

(FundsforWriters readers can use promo code FFW001 for
membership and a 20% discount)

 
                 
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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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WHEN WRITERS SPEAK

I'm not trying to pitch you a copy of THE SHY WRITER, but I
do wish to talk about a key subject of the book. Writers,
particularly the introverted, are not natural speakers just
because they can write. The only connection between writing
and speaking is the fact words are used to make a point.

Readers have wanted to savor the talent of famous writers
from the beginning of time. Readings make the reader feel
closer to the genius. But no reader will ever be able to
crawl into the head of a writer. The process is personal,
internal and harnessed only in the quiet audience of one.
We can't duplicate that by asking a writer to speak. It
involves a different part of the brain.

Essayist and columnist Arthur Krystal wrote a wonderful
piece about "When Writers Speak." I love this quote:

"Like most writers, I seem to be smarter in print than in
person. In fact, I am smarter when I'm writing. I don't
claim this merely because there is usually no one around
to observe the false starts and groan-inducing sentences
that make a mockery of my presumed intelligence, but
because when the work is going well, I'm expressing opinions
that I've never uttered in conversation and that otherwise
might never occur to me."

In his New York Times article of September 25, 2009, he
cites Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. "Pinker likens
this to mathematicians thinking differently when proving
theorems than when counting change, or to quarterbacks
throwing a pass during a game as opposed to tossing a
ball around in their backyards."

I cringe when someone asks me to speak. I do it, though,
just to challenge myself. However, most of the time I
have the entire session pre-written in case I need to
resort to it. Why? Because it's well-worded, thought out,
and created from a deeper place. I know it's right. It's
the adlib, shoot-from-the-hip, answering questions aspect
of speaking that makes me question my own intelligence.
 
But sooner or later we have to speak. Just understand
that those in attendance want to experience a teeny bit
of you, the part of you that writes in the quiet. They
don't understand that the writer at his desk is entirely
different than a writer behind a podium. The best you can
do is prepare, make notes, give it your all.

Be glad that your writing life isn't open to the world.
It's yours. All to yourself. Be selfish with it, and it'll
reward you back.

The NY Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/books/review/Krystal-t.html

The Shy Writer: An Introvert's Guide to Writing Success
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/shywriter.htm

     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

VIP AUTHORS SUPPORTS YOUR WRITING!
Get our FREE 53-page PUBLISHING SUCCESS ebook, loaded with
insider tips and resources to help you launch and skyrocket
your writing career at http://vipauthors.com.

=====

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

=====

TWEETEBOOKS

Mini-ebooks. 20 markets in selective niches for $1.99.
www.fundsforwriters.com/tweetebooks.htm

OUR REFERENCE PAGE IS UPDATED!

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/References.htm
These are the books we swear by to aid your writing career.

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

" People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise."

-- W. Somerset Maugham, playwright and novelist

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hi Hope,

I bought your "Ferocious Promotion" and have found it helpful,
partly because it urges, and frames as 'normal and necessary'
a lot of the things I have a hard time doing. As a quintessentially
timid author/self-promoter it was terribly difficult to push
myself or my newly self-published book. ("Ssylka; exiled to
Siberia" by Anne Campbell. What surprised me was that once I
took the plunge it became easier and easier. I still have qualms
('who do you think you are to be promoting yourself or something
you have written?') but faint.
   
So far I've lined up three book-readings, have the book on
consignment at four book-stores and have been asked to talk
to a book club group. I'm amazed that coffee-shop managers,
bookstore owners, and the local library manager all take my
word for it that I can do a reading successfully. The first
one, at a local jazz bar went swimmingly.

Thanks.
(Shirley) Anne Campbell

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ARTICLE
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Annual Reports = Annual Income

By Jessica McCann

Year-round work, year-over-year work, and four-figure projects:
these are just a few significant benefits to annual report
writing. Establishing yourself as a freelance annual report
writer can help secure long-term income, even in uncertain
economic times.

Corporations and nonprofits operate on different fiscal years
(Jan. - Dec. vs. July-June). If you can land a couple annual
report clients in each sector, you will have year-round
writing work. Meeting all deadlines, generating creative copy
and presenting a professional attitude will help ensure the
reports become annual assignments. Perhaps the most enticing
benefit of writing annual reports is the pay scale. This work
garners higher pay than article writing and many other
freelance markets (expect between $2,000 and $8,000 or more
per report, depending upon the company or organization).

Getting your foot in the door is the hard part, of course.
It takes preparation, professionalism and persistence. Here
are a few key points to consider if you decide to go for it:

Understand the market: Readers of annual reports range from
investors and market analysts to employees and industry
journalists. Thus, companies essentially publish two annual
reports - the "back of the book," which is written by the
financial experts and which details the nitty-gritty of the
financials; and the "front of the book" or "fluff," which is
designed to present a company's best qualities to its many
constituencies. Freelancers write the fluff.

The so-called fluff must pack a punch in spite of its name.
It must engage the reader and accurately represent the company.
Study annual reports in the industry or sector you want to
target. Become familiar with the typical style and tone, as
well as the prevailing design themes.

In-depth financial expertise isn't necessarily a requirement
(unless you're writing for companies in the financial industry).
In fact, a layperson's perspective can be a strong selling
point when marketing annual report writing to many organizations.
Still, it's important to know the basics. Make sure you
understand the definition of financial terms and acronyms
like earnings, losses, net vs. gross, adjusted earnings,
EBITDA, price per share, ROI, dividends and shareholders/
stakeholders.

Be positive and creative. In challenging economic times, many
companies struggle with whether to publish the "fluff" portion
of their reports this year ("We have no good news to report."
"We don't want to make light of a difficult economic
environment."). To counter this rejection, emphasize the
benefits of maintaining ongoing communications with one's
constituencies in both good times and bad. The recession
won't last forever. It's important to hold the attention of
your shareholders or donors (depending on whether you're
talking corporate or nonprofit).

Make sure to pitch creative concepts and design approaches.
For example, more than one nonprofit organization created a
12-month photo calendar as their annual report this year.
Brief copy each month highlighted their good work in 12
distinct areas. It was a piece likely to be kept and
displayed by stakeholders all year long (presumably after
the economy begins to rebound), rather than filed away or
recycled after only a few weeks. Unique approaches like this
can bring a greater return on the company's investment in
the annual report production.

The following Web site includes PDF links to nonprofit
annual report samples.

http://www.nonprofitannualreports.net/annual_report_samples.htm

This link will lead you to a list of award-winning corporate
and nonprofit annual reports.

http://www.mercommawards.com/Astrid%20pages/Winner%20pages/astrid_2009_winners.htm

Be sure to request a few hard copy samples by mail in
addition to viewing reports online. Unique design, trim
size and paper treatments will often factor into the
copywriter's job.

BIO:
Jessica McCann is a full-time professional writer based in
Phoenix. She works for both corporate and nonprofit clients
on a variety of freelance writing projects.
www.jessicamccann.com

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COMPETITIONS
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2010 EDGE POETRY AWARD
http://www.tahoewritersworks.com/EDGE-poetry-contest.html
---
$15 ENTRY FEE FOR THREE POEMS
Submit your best work exploring the edge: life on the edge,
or what keeps you from going over. Deadline November 15, 2009.
The winner will receive $500 and publication in EDGE IV. Five
honorable mentions will be listed, and will receive a copy of
the journal.

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2010 NEW NOVELS COMPETITION
http://www.roseandcrownbooks.com/comprules.html
---
£18 ENTRY FEE
Deadline February 28, 2010. Winners to be announced end May
2010. 1st Prize £200; 2nd Prize £100, plus guaranteed publishing
contract offers for both (and for all entries that we deem to
be of high enough standard). Your book must never have been
published in any form and you must own all rights to the work.
The competition is open to anyone of any age worldwide.
Manuscripts must be a minimum of 40,000 words and a maximum of
150,000 words, on any subject as long as they are in keeping
with the described aims of the Rose & Crown Books imprint:
Christian Inspirational Romance.

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CARPE ARTICULUM LITERARY REVIEW NOVELLA COMPETITION
http://www.caliteraryreview.com/index.php
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
Must be between 26 and 150 double-spaced pages. Deadline
January 7, 2010. First place $1,000. Second place $300.
Third place $100.

 
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GRANTS
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FISHTRAP SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.fishtrap.org/scholarships.shtml
---
They have a few SCHOLARSHIPS available for Winter Fishtrap,
which happens on February 19-21, 2010. Presenters will be
Ursula Le Guin, Molly Gloss, and Tony Vogt, on the theme of
"Learning from Women." Download the application via PDF with
complete instructions. Receipt deadline November 15, 2009.
The Bryn Lunde and Frank Conley scholarships are for people
under 30 years old. The Sally Bowerman Scholarship is for
working women. If you do not fit into either of these categories,
you can still request financial assistance by following the same
submission guidelines, and including a special note about your
situation.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK - COLORADO RESIDENCIES
Contact: Artist-In-Residence Coordinator at 970-586-1206 MST
Artist-In-Residence Program, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park
Colorado USA 80517
---
Residencies open to professional two-dimensional visual
artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers,
video/filmmakers, composers. Deadline December. Residency
periods are early June through late September. Offers up to
eight residencies of two weeks each.

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SLEEPING BEAR DUNES ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAM
http://www.nps.gov/slbe/parkmgmt/upload/2009_AIR_Brochure_LR.pdf
---
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in the
northwest corner of Michigan's lower peninsula. The Artist-
in-Residence program is open to professional American writers,
composers and visual artists, whose work can be influenced
and enhanced by this superb Michigan scene. Two 3-week time
blocks are available each year: one in September and one in
October. The artist is asked to donate an original piece of work,
representative of their media, produced during the residency,
and to contribute to the advancement of the park's mission.
This is done by sharing knowledge with the public during the
final week of the residency through a demonstration, reading,
slide talk, etc. In addition, the artist must be willing to
interact with park visitors when contacts are made in the
field while working.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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QUILL & QUIRE
http://www.quillandquire.com/
---
Guidelines under FAQs. Quill & Quire is the monthly magazine
of the Canadian book trade, reaching an audience of primarily
publishers, booksellers, librarians, and writers. We publish
both short (300- to 1,200-word) and long (up to 3,000-word)
news and feature articles about the business of writing,
publishing, and bookselling in Canada. We also publish author
profiles (generally of about 1,800 to 2,000 words), and brief
reviews of Canadian books. Pays 45 cents/word Canadian.

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MULTI-MEDIA SCHOOLS
http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/forms/authors.shtml
---
MultiMedia Schools is a magazine written for and by library
media specialists and other school professionals who use
electronic resources everyday with their students. We're
looking for stories that emphasize Internet, multimedia,
and other electronic resources, plus technology-based tools,
and how to integrate them into the library media center and
the entire school curriculum. We particularly want stories
that demonstrate how these resources and tools are improving
student learning. Limit 1,500 words.

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INFORMATION TODAY
http://www.infotoday.com/online/authors.shtml
---
ONLINE: Exploring Technology & Resources for Information
Professionals is written and edited for librarians and other
professionals who routinely use online services for information
delivery, research, and knowledge management. Articles are
directed to the "hands on" searcher and to managers of
information resources in business, professional, government,
and educational environments. ONLINE stresses practical, how-
to advice on the efficient and effective use of electronic
information.

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JOBS
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CONSERVATION WRITER
Location San Francisco, CA
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/354901-222
---
Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, or related field
and four years related experience or equivalent combination.
Experience writing and editing one or more of the following:
for main-stream media outlets, popular consumer outlets,
newsletter, magazine, annual report, and web-site articles/
stories; donor profiles, presidential acknowledgment letters,
campaign brochures, funding proposals, fact sheets, and
presentations; or equivalent.

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EDITOR/WRITER
Location Silver Spring, MD
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/354804-325
---
The Editor/Writer is responsible for technical editing and
writing at the Association of Public Health Laboratories
(APHL), the professional organization representing the
governmental laboratories charged with protecting the public's
health.

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WRITER-EDITOR (FEDERAL CAREER INTERN - SEVERAL VACANCIES)
Location Washington DC
http://tinyurl.com/yz9xtm9
---
Employing Agency: Office of the Inspector General, Dept.
of Transportation. Deadline December 30, 2009. As a Writer-
Editor in the Federal Career Intern Program, you will receive
training designed to develop your skills for performing work
in a Federal audit environment. You will work with Auditor,
Management and Program Analyst and Criminal Investigator
writing, editing, and coordinating technical materials and
testimony associated with producing technical reports. 

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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ROSE & CROWN PUBLISHING
http://www.roseandcrownbooks.com/
---
Rose & Crown is an exciting new imprint: intelligent Romance
with a Christian Inspirational flavour! With locations around
the world, some will be contemporary, others historical. They
will vary in style from straight romance to humour, travel,
adventure, crime/detective, Western, military, etc. As long as
they have a romance at their heart and a Christian worldview,
no gratuitous sex, violence, or foul language etc, they fit
what we are looking for.

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GRAPHIC ARTS CENTER PUBLISHING (GACP) - SEVERAL IMPRINTS
http://www.gacpc.com/editorial/aknw_guidelines.htm
---
GAB is known for its excellence in publishing high-end photo-
essay books. Alaska Northwest Books® , established in 1959,
is the premier publisher of non-fiction Alaska books on
subjects ranging from cooking, Alaska Native culture, memoir,
history, natural history, reference, biography, humor, and
children's books. WestWinds Press® , established in 1999,
echoes those themes with content that focuses on the Western
States.

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SEVEN FOOTER PRESS
http://www.sevenfooterpress.com/pages/submissions
---
Publishes cutting-edge nonfiction--innovative humor, gift, and
high-concept books--including the enormously successful Would
You Rather...? series. Seven Footer Kids is the children's
publishing imprint of Seven Footer Press. Seven Footer Kids
is dedicated to publishing books that, together, children and
parents can learn from and enjoy. Things they publish:
humor books, gift books, high concept books geared towards
Adults and/or Kids, children's books with a twist, educational
books with a twist, pop culture books, things that are irreverent,
things that are unorthodox, things that transcend the print
medium. 

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SPONSORS
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NEW BLOG

Are you a new writer? Just starting out can be overwhelming.
Writing Pays is a blog made just for new writers. It's all
About getting you on the track to becoming successful, full
or part time freelance writer! Free giveaways every week!

http://www.writingpays.biz

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 THE WELL-FED WRITER

In less than four months, Peter Bowerman built a lucrative
"paying-all-the-bills" commercial writing practice:
writing for businesses, large and small and for hourly
rates of $50-$125+ (and did so with NO industry contacts,
previous paid writing experience or writing training.

No, this isn't a huge course on how to get rich writing.
It's a reality story, condensed in a book that teaches
you how to do the same. For less than $20, grab the
know-how that many pay hundreds of dollars to learn.

 

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.

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Dream Quest One Writing Contest is now accepting short
stories, 5 pages maximum length on any subject or theme,
single or double line spacing, neatly hand printed or
typed. Entry fee: $10 per story. First Writing Prize is
$500, 2nd: $250; 3rd: $100. All contest winners will
be published online in the Dare to Dream pages.
Postmark deadline: December 31, 2009.

Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com
for details and to enter!

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Editing Packages:
Plot doctoring, proofreading, full manuscript critiques,
and everything in between!

Six Months to a Novel Program:
For first time novelists. Not sure where to start? Want to
finish your novel this time? Get personalized coaching to
see you through.

Editor Jennifer's Six Month Novel Boot Camp:
Has your novel been turned down by agents, editors, or
publishers? Together we can turn it around.

Visit www.EditorJennifer.com to sign up now!

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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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