Volume 9, Issue 41
October 11, 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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Jack Canfield Shares Strategies for Authors

Free teleseminar Thursday, October 15, 2009.

Learn the mindset and success strategies he's used to sell
over 100 million books.

http://www.MillionDollarAuthorClub.com/call493

                 
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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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I DON'T HAVE TIME

When I hear that from writers, I want to scream. I said it
once upon a time. I wished for 30-hour days and dodged sleep
in order to get "things" done, but never having enough time
to get all those "things" done.

No, you don't have time. Time has you.

I have belonged to a small online critique group for almost
six years now. One of our members died one year ago this
week - October 7. Tom was like me. He wrote at night as everyone
slept. He received his critiques and dove into his chapters as
if he didn't have tomorrow. Truth was, he didn't. He went in
the hospital for gallbladder surgery, and didn't come home.

I often think about his character Hunter Dunn and his book
"Little Systems." His book, while fiction, covered an underlying
theme that little systems control our lives, when in truth, we
have more control over our lives than we care to admit. Hunter
fought internal demons, finally facing them, realizing he was
his own worst enemy. He had options. He just never exercised them.

Tom's book, incomplete, now sits in his desk.

I don't care if you want to be a writer or a plumber, a doctor
or a teacher. You need to establish your path and lay out
benchmarks to reach those personal goals. The television, the
movie and the dust mop can go to hell.

The only time you have is now.

Don't know how to venture into this writing circus? Search
online. Read books. Attend conferences. Take a class. It's so
darn simple to learn, y'all. It only takes time, and the longer
you wait, the less time you have.

     Hope

EIGHTH ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST
Sponsored by VIP Authors

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

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.

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Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites is now accepting nominations for next
year's list. If you appreciate our website, please consider nominating
Writer Gazette for the 'Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites of The Year'!
To nominate Writer Gazette for 2010, please send your nomination to:
writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Websites" as the subject line. January
1, 2010 is the deadline.

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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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TWEETEBOOKS

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

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

It is the ultimate wisdom of the mountains that we are
never so much human as when we are striving for what is
beyond our grasp, and that there is no battle worth the
winning save that against our own ignorance and fear.

~James Ramsey Ullman

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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I have success to share. One of my stories appears in CHICKEN
SOUP FOR THE SOUL: WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE CAT, released
9/22/09. "A Feline Wonder," chronicles how Teddy -- a
homeless cat we adopted from the local animal shelter --
restored delight and possibility in our household. My husband
and I had recently tackled some serious health issues and then
one of our two beloved cats died. Teddy transformed into a
furry angel of wonder who taught us through his gentle and
curious ways to once again celebrate each day's joys.

Another success occurred earlier in the summer, also CHICKEN
SOUP FOR THE SOUL. The TOUGH TIMES, TOUGH PEOPLE collection
included, "Laughs, Prayers, and Every Bloomin' Thing," a story
detailing how my husband and I coped with his diagnosis and
treatment of mantle cell lymphoma.

Thanks, Hope, for listing CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL in your
newsletters. Keep reminding writers to polish their work and
find suitable markets for it. Persistence and patience pay
off; they did for me.

Happy Writing,

Ronda Armstrong
ronda.armstrong@gmail.com

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ARTICLE
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SPEED WRITING--THE INDEX CARD WAY
By Gilda V. Bryant
 
Non-fiction freelancers need to produce articles quickly,
because "time is money."  Outlines intimidate some writers
and for creative personalities, it's time-consuming and
frustrating to tackle the correct structure. Without a
"roadmap," it's too easy to omit vital information and quotes,
or to insert them in the wrong spot, creating a poorly
organized piece.
            
Why not try the speed writing method using 3 x 5 index cards?
For the past six years, I have successfully used this method
to produce non-fiction articles. After I've finished my
research, transcribed interviews, and reviewed my query letter
to make sure I'm on target, it's time for the next step. As I
review my research notes and interviews, I jot down one idea
or supporting quote per card. 

That one word, short sentence, or quote will later be developed
into a paragraph.   Depending on the material covered and
article word count, I might have ten cards or more than twenty-
five.  Once I have my complete card collection, I place them on
a flat surface and arrange each idea or quote in the order I'd
like to read them.  If I get stuck, I walk away, wait an hour
or so, then with a fresh perspective, return to the cards and
place them in an order that works for me.
 
I find easy-to-correct flaws in my articles with this method,
too.  Recently, I wrote a piece about preserving wetlands for
a ranching publication.  After spreading out my cards, I
realized I had omitted vital facts that readers needed to know. 
In a jiffy, I filled out additional cards, adding them to the
batch. I stacked my cards in order, from beginning to end, and
went to work writing the article. In only two hours, I finished
a 1,000-word article, including a 300-word sidebar that needed
very little editing.

There's another plus with this system.  Cards that don't quite
fit in the article might become sidebars for my current project
or ideas for other queries.

If I cover the same subject for another magazine, I need only
to rearrange the cards, adding new topic cards, then write using
different quotes, and viola, I have a fresh, new article, with a
different slant.

Using this method, I've written and sold over one hundred
articles with great success. No matter what topic I'm covering,
my articles are well-organized and quickly written.  This system
has enabled me to cover diverse subjects ranging from pasture
management to genealogy to quilting.  I've penned parenting
issues, equine events, and arts and crafts for various
publications. Profiles of ordinary folks doing extraordinary
things are easy to write using this 3 x 5 index card method.

My writing buddies, who prefer fiction, also find this method
helpful as they organize their characters, settings, and story
lines in each chapter. Many creative writing software packages
include such a feature of dropping ideas into boxes or on pretend
sticky notes to allow simple rearranging. My index cards, however,
have an easier learning curve and cost much less.

What are you waiting for?  Grab a few inexpensive packages of
3 x 5 index cards and get busy on those articles--the efficient
and speedy way.
 
###
 
 
BIO
Gilda V. Bryant writes non-fiction articles for regional and
national magazines such as, Working Ranch Magazine, Texas
Longhorn Journal, Ag Journal, Quilter's World, For the Love
of Quilting, Quilt, The Lutheran, Family Tree, Metro-Parent
Magazine, and Dog & Kennel.

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COMPETITIONS
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WRITING CONTEST FOR STUDY ABROAD
http://lowres.uno.edu/contest.cfm
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
The University of New Orleans, the pioneer in writing programs
abroad, is pleased to announce the sixth annual writing contest
for study-abroad, Summer, 2010. This year the contest is co-
sponsored by The Normal School, who will judge the entries and
publish the winners. Full fee waivers, including housing allowance,
will be granted to one writer each in the genres of poetry,
fiction, and creative nonfiction. Partial awards and honorable
mentions may also be granted. Winners may attend any of UNO's
2010 study-abroad writing programs:

Writing Workshops in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Writing Workshops in Montpellier
The Ezra Pound Center for Literature, Dorf Tirol, Italy

Deadline: January 31, 2010. Open to anyone writing in English
who has not yet published a book of 45 pages or more in the
genre of application. Prose submissions should not exceed
4,500 words (about 15 pages double spaced). Poetry submissions
should not exceed 5 pages and may include a maximum of 3 poems.
The submitted work must be unpublished at the time of submission.

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KUNDIMAN POETRY PRIZE
http://www.kundiman.org/[CLB]_Brightside/1.Source/prize.html
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
Kundiman and Alice James Books will be accepting submissions
of poetry manuscripts for The Kundiman Poetry Prize postmarked
between November 15 and January 15, 2010. The Kundiman Poetry
Prize welcomes submissions from emerging as well as established
Asian American poets. Entrants must reside in the United States.
The winner receives $2,000, book publication and a feature reading.
Manuscripts must be typed, paginated, and 50 - 70 pages in length
(single spaced).

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WAG'S REVUE - FICTION, POETRY, NONFICTION
http://www.wagsrevue.com/submit.php
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$20 ENTRY FEE
Wag's Revue invites you to enter its second round of biannual
contests in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.
Submissions of electronic writing are also encouraged in any
of the above genres. First prize in each category receives
 $500 and publication in Wag's Revue, and all submissions are
considered for publication. The contest deadline is November 30,
and winners will be announced December 21. Submissions of
poetry may include multiple poems but should not exceed 10
pages. Fiction and nonfiction submissions should not exceed
8,000 words.

 
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GRANTS
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ARTIST CLINIC - SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
http://www.artisttrust.org/pro_resources/ArtistClinic
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The artist clinic offers health care vouchers up to $150
for artists/writers to assist with health expenses. Location
Seattle, WA.

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK RESIDENCY
http://www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/artist_in_residence.htm
---
The Artist-In-Residence program at Rocky Mountain National
Park offers professional writers, composers, and visual and
performing artists the opportunity to pursue their artistic
discipline while being surrounded by the park's inspiring
landscape. Selected artists stay in a historic, rustic cabin
for two-week periods from June through September. No stipend
is provided. Deadline: December 1, 2009.

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BUSINESS JOURNALISM GRANTS
http://www.businessjournalism.org/2010/JanuarySeminars/index.cfm
---
The Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
is offering fellowships worth $2,000 for four days of study
in business journalism Jan. 5-8 in Phoenix. Fellowships cover
training, lodging, materials and most meals. Fellows receive
a $500 stipend to offset travel and other costs. The seminars
will occur during Reynolds Business Journalism Week at Arizona
State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and
Mass Communication.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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PASTE MAGAZINE
http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4214/writer_guidelines
---
Paste magazine is a monthly publication focusing on music,
film, books and other forms of arts and entertainment. Focuses
on a variety of musical genres---rock, singer/songwriters,
alternative country, Americana, indie rock, world music,
electronica and whatever else we think will grab music-lovers.
Queries should include proposed subject, length, applicability
and writer samples. Cover stories - 3,000 to 4,500 words;
Features - 1,500 to 4,000 words; front of book pieces - 50 to
800 words; Film Reviews - 200-500 words; Book Reviews - 200-
500 words; CD reviews - 100 to 800 words.

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COWBOYS AND INDIANS
http://www.cowboysindians.com/contact/
---
An international magazine of the highest quality, Cowboys
& Indians encompasses everything exceptional about the
American West: history and legend, hardworking people,
dramatic vistas, enduring values. Travel, profiles, film
fashion, food, entertaining, books, business and culture.
No guidelines available online. Can write for detailed
guidelines. Article lengths vary from 600 to 2,000 words.
Note: cannot publish articles without excellent artwork or
photography. Pays up to $1.75/word.

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TODAY'S PARENT
http://www.todaysparent.com/corpinfo/article.jsp?content=20030416_171629_4196
---
Today's Parent is a Canadian consumer magazine for parents
with children up to the age of 14. Today's Parent offers a
mixture of straightforward service articles and more
philosophical or issue-oriented stories. Columns pay up
to $1/word for around 1,200 words. Features pay the same
up to 1,500 to 2,500 words. 
 

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=83648791&aid=27015391-3099&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline October 20, 2009. Employer: Defense Intelligence Agency.
The incumbent serves as a Writer-Editor and as such, exhibits
a high level of expertise in writing, editing, research
techniques and methods to develop and prepare written products.
Reviews all outgoing correspondence and final products prior
to submission for printing and distribution. Writes abstracts
based on finished products and performs comprehensive editorial
reviews. Serves as a technical authority in journalism and
publishing technology, and participates in workflow management.

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COPYWRITER
Location St. Louis, Missouri
http://www.woot.com/Jobs.aspx
---
Inexplicably successful ecommerce site seeks sharp-tongued, St.
Louis-based workaholic for the weirdest copywriting job this
side of the carnival-barker industry. Unlike the usual vanilla
adspeak, our long-form, humorous copy sells products by amusing,
engaging, disgusting, confusing, or otherwise entertaining our
audience by any means necessary. And it has to be fresh, every
single day.

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COPYWRITER
Location Blue Bell, PA
http://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175393175#
---
This individual will research, write and edit press releases
and related materials in a variety of media, and coordinate
photographs and illustrations where applicable. Also, serve on
the editorial staff and as a contributing writer to the alumni
magazine. Bachelor's degree required with a minimum of two years
relevant experience with a background in journalism or related
field. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications, Internet.
Exceptional written communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with Associated Press stylebook. Employer
Montgomery County Community College.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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ABERDEEN BAY PUBLISHING
http://www.aberdeenbay.com/submission.aspx
---
Aberdeen Bay is a traditional, mainstream, and independent
publisher that strives to publish the best books. We publish
mainstream fiction, memoirs, self-help, and travel guides.
We only publish manuscripts that are of professional quality.
It's not necessary for a prospective author to have an agent
or any publishing history in order to submit their manuscript
to us.

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ABINGDON PRESS
http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?pageid=517&id=98
---
Abingdon Press provides resources that meet the needs of all
those who seek and would serve God. We produce and deliver
hundreds of thousands of resources that people want and use
for their ministries. Among these products are books, supply
items, music resources, curriculum resources, and a host of
other print and non-print media, including audio and video
cassettes, computer software, and periodicals such as Circuit
Rider and Newscope.

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BENBELLA BOOKS
http://www.benbellabooks.com/authors.php
---
BenBella Books is a publishing boutique that publishes about
twenty books a year, is very selective in what it acquires,
and works with great diligence to publish each book to its
maximum potential. We are actively acquiring strong nonfiction
manuscripts. We are not looking for fiction at this time.

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SPONSORS
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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
$500.00, 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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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/

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EDITOR JENNIFER'S EDITING SERVICE

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!

  

 

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!

 

Featured courses by starting date:

 

Advanced Writing for Magazines (ongoing)

 

An Introduction to the Craft of Screenwriting (ongoing)

 

Online Author & Book Promotion (ongoing)

 

Writing for Children: Everything You Need to Know About Short Stories, Articles, and Fillers (ongoing)

 

Theme Power! Poetic Explorations: Poetry Workshop (ongoing)

 

Creating a Character Sketch (ongoing)

 

Magazine Writing Success (October 15, 2009)

 

Get Paid To Write: Become a Freelance Writer! (October 20, 2009)

 

Short Fiction Writing (November 3, 2009)

 

Writing "Real Life" Stories for Magazines (November 9, 2009)

 

Class sizes are limited. Early enrollment is recommended.

 

Find out more by visiting the WOW! Women On Writing Classroom.

GIVE ME YOUR NEEDY MANUSCRIPT            

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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