Volume 9, Issue 52
December 27, 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 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.

THE WELL FED WRITER

                 
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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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DARE TO STUMBLE

The year 2009 was wrought with mistakes, stumbles and plain
bad decisions on the part of politicians and CEOs. As a result,
the economy stank and all of us felt the aftermath. Few of us
had a record year, and most of us lost ground. Everywhere I
turn, folks are wishing each other a better year in 2010,
because it couldn't be worse than 2009.

So now we fall in one of two categories:

1. Those that jump onto ideas too quick and fail, or
2. Those afraid to jump at all.

After this past year, most of us fall into the scared bunch.
New periodicals rose and fell this part year, and I've heard
more than a few stories about writers not receiving payment.
Seems that contests paid better than magazine editors,
although a few contests reneged as well.

Most of us are afraid to think and decide for ourselves anymore.
With scams and economic woes abounding, we hesitate, waiting to
read about a method to keep us from making a mistake. We study
our peers through a window, fearful of opening the door.
 
Problem is, by the time the average person learns of a market,
publishing gimmick or marketing trick that works, it's old
hat. Like buying the latest fad, everyone already wears it.

Those who succeed create their own path to success. They study
the journeys others have made - not to follow their lead, but
to head in a direction untraveled by them.

But we are afraid. Untried ideas bring change, and that
frightens us. So, we stand frozen, fearful of losing money
or looking stupid.

Someone wrote me this week asking if her work was any good,
but she was afraid to submit. She wrote secretly, unwilling
to venture outside her bedroom as a writer. She wanted my advice.

I told her while she wrung her hands, worried about what others
thought of her, others sailed by winning contests, grabbing
contracts, earning clips. I told her I did not coax the
fearful; I equipped them, but they had to launch themselves.
I could enable her with ideas: join a critique group,
write everyday, or find a mentor. But nothing I said could
make her want to write and submit. I told her to do it or
don't, but quit wasting energy on the what-ifs. Such a waste!

We make bad decisions. At least it's moving forward. Be mature
enough to step back and analyze the choices and results.
Those writing fast and furious and submitting with passion,
stumble and fall a hundred times before landing that publishing
moment that warrants a mile-wide smile. Tons of paper lay
trampled and discarded behind that smile - tons of bad writing,
bad publishing choices and wrong marketing decisions.

You pan for gold, you dig for diamonds, you drill for oil.
None of it sits on the ground for the taking. But those who
seek those riches will search in wrong places, waste money
on hunches, and miss the mark multiple times. That's how
they learn what works and what doesn't.

Don't be afraid to try. Make 2010 your year of many bad
ideas. Those many trials will pave the way to a good
market that pays.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

     Hope

ANNOUNCEMENT - COME VISIT WITH HOPE IN NORTH CAROLINA

The Weathers Creek Writers' Series will continue in 2010
with workshops on songwriting, fiction and making money
with your writing. The sessions offer a one-day getaway
to a lovely farm located between Cleveland, NC and
Mooresville, NC. The Farm at Weathers Creek is a peaceful
spot with scenic views from almost every window of the log
home on the property.

The 2010 workshops will begin on January 9 with C. Hope Clark,
founder and editor of www.fundsforwriters.com, a well-known
writer's reference that reaches over 28,000 readers weekly
with motivational editorials and lists of grants and markets.
Her workshop, "Funding Streams: How Serious Writers Plunge
In," will help you determine where and how to take your
writing to the editors and websites that pay and that help
you reach your target audiences.

Sessions are $75 each. All sessions include a homemade lunch.
Deadline for registration for the January session is January
4, 2010. Registration for January, February and April is
limited to 12 people. Gift certificates - perfect for all
the writers on your Christmas list -- are available. All
sessions will start promptly at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
For a registration form, directions and other information,
go to our website, www.weatherscreek.net/.

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TWEETEBOOKS

Mini-ebooks. 20 markets in selective niches for $1.99.
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 JOINED FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark

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JANUARY SPECIALS COMING UP!

Watch for them beginning January 3, 2010.
 

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do
what they want to, when all they need is one reason why
they can."

-- Mary Frances Berry

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Dear Readers and Hope -

Back in October I had a one-hour phone consultation with Hope.
This was my first phone consultation and I was a bit timid on
spending money for advice, but I did it, and it was worth
more than the price of gold!

Hope gave me great ideas and insights for marketing my new
book A 30-Day Retreat: A Personal Guide to Spiritual Renewal
(Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2010). We talked about speaking
at local colleges, libraries as well as establishing a
professional web presence or blog. Well, after one-hour
I had 4 pages of single-spaced notes that were then augmented
by Hope's notes that she emailed me. I still have them and
refer to them again and again.

Since then I totally revamped my website,
www.williamcmills.com , started a blog called Walking With God www.williamcmills.blogspot.com , and went to Vista print and
ordered postcards for my book and new business cards. I also
took her advice and hired a freelance publicist to help with
book publicity.

If you are wary about spending money for a phone consultation,
don't worry, the results with Hope will be ten fold!!! Results
after a one hour phone call: a new website and blog, a freelance
publicist, marketing strategy and ideas, most importantly--
knowing that I am on the right track for the future!!!! Thanks
Hope for your advice and your newsletter!!!!!

Warm Regards,
Bill Mills, www.williamcmills.com

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ARTICLE
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My Chautauqua Experience
 
By Susi Walter

It was mid-February 2009. My husband, John, battled and won
against a serious case of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After six months
of chemotherapy, emotional and financial struggle, we were
ready to move on with our lives.

I applied for a scholarship for a week-long intensive children's
writer/illustrator workshop at Chautauqua Institution in New
York, sponsored by the Highlights Foundation. The deadline was
the next day, and I drove to the post office to overnight my
application. The clerk told me it would never make it in time,
but I sent it anyway. I prayed on the way home. After all John
and I had gone through with his illness, this was asking for a
small miracle.
 
On March 25, as I swooped dust balls out from between the fridge
and the cabinet, an old Chinese fortune cookie ticket whooshed
out. It said, "A vacation on sunny shores awaits you."
 
Later that day, I received an email from Highlights that read,
"All of our scholarships are committed to; however, this year
we do have some discretionary grant money from an entirely
different source." Highlights offered me a partial grant of $900.
I knew I was meant to go.
 
My manuscript reader for the workshop, Kim Griswell, an Editor
of Highlights Magazine, gave me thorough feedback. Kim showed
me how to improve my writing, how to sell the manuscript, and
market my work. I received all of the encouragement and
inspiration to believe in myself through those critique sessions.
 
Each day at Chautauqua was mystical. Every morning we gathered
at the Hall of Christ to listen to a different featured speaker.
After lunch, we stayed busy with three back-to-back sessions of
different workshops of our choice. We were treated to gourmet
meals. We mingled with Jerry and Eileen Spinelli, Harold Underdown,
Donna Jo Napoli, Peter Jacobi, Alvina Ling, Stephen Roxburgh,
Patti Gauch, and the many members of the Highlights family.
 
At the closing banquet, each speaker rose to the podium one at
a time and honored Kent Brown for 25 years at Chautauqua, for
helping aspiring writers and illustrators. Laughter roared and
tears were shed.
 
The Highlights Foundation and its contributors are very generous
with helping those in need. Of the 106 attendees, 30 of them had
scholarship or grant assistance. I felt so lucky to have been
one of those people.  For scholarship information to Chautauqua
go to www.highlightsfoundation.org. Enter their Annual Fiction
Contest at www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest. Entries
must be submitted between January 1 - January 31 of 2010.

BIO
Susi Walter is the assistant editor of the SCBWI-MI News, a
freelance writer, and workshop leader in Macomb, MI. Susi is
writing and collecting spiritual sign stories for a YA book.
Please visit her website at www.susiwalter.com . 

 
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COMPETITIONS
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ODD CON SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY PROSE POEM/FLASH FICTION CONTEST
http://oddcon.com/guide.html
---
$10 ENTRY FEE (ADULT); FREE (YOUTH)
Send 500 words or less of speculative (SF&F) fiction or prose
poetry (paragraph form). Deadline January 15, 2010. Adult first
prize $500. Youth first prize $50. Second and third prizes in
both categories receive books.

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SEVENTH GLASS WOMAN PRIZE
http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm
---
NO ENTRY FEE
The Seventh Glass Woman Prize will be awarded for a work of
short fiction or creative non-fiction (prose) written by a
woman.  Length: between 50 and 5,000 words.  The top prize
for the seventh Glass Woman Prize award is US $600 and possible
(but not obligatory) online publication; I will also award one
runner up prize of $100 and one runner up prize of $50, together
with possible (but not obligatory) online publication. Subject
is open, but must be of significance to women. My criterion is
passion, excellence, and authenticity in the woman's writing
voice.  Previously published work and simultaneous submissions
are OK.  Previous Glass Woman Prize winners are welcome to
submit again.  Copyright is retained by the author. Deadline
March 21, 2010.

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DIXON RYAN FOX MANUSCRIPT PRIZE
http://www.nysha.org/publications/history_prizes/dixon_ryan_fox_manuscript_prize
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Manuscripts may deal with any aspect of New York State history.
Biographies of individuals whose careers illuminate aspects of
the history of the state are eligible, as are manuscripts
dealing with such cultural matters as literature and the arts,
provided that in such cases the methodology is historical.
Works of fiction and works of article length are not eligible.
The deadline is January 20 of each year.  The prize consists of
$3,000 and assistance in publication.

 
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GRANTS
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THE FIELDING PROGRAMME
http://www.fieldingprogramme.com/index2.html
---
The Fielding Programme is a specialist residency programme
for new and early career writers. In spring and autumn each
year, it offers the opportunity to develop professionally in
spectacular and inspiring surroundings and to receive one-to-
one mentoring. One week: £395. For projects needing more time,
second, third and fourth weeks attract a discount of 10% off
the weekly fee. This is based on single occupancy Monday-Sunday
(giving you five whole writing days) and includes your mentoring
support, as well as one evening meal a week. The rest of your
stay is self-catering. Where an applicant is eligible and where
the project is suitable we are happy to support an application
for financial assistance to your local Arts Council Office.

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THE MISSISSIPPI ARTS COMMISSION
http://www.arts.state.ms.us
---
The Mississippi Arts Commission will host a series of free
grant writing workshops around the state targeting Mississippi-
based artists and arts organizations. The agency hopes to help
prepare grant applicants for the upcoming March 1, 2010 deadline.
First-time applicants are encouraged to attend. The workshops
will be held from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at all locations.

ALSO

The Mississippi Arts Commission invites you to attend an
artist seminar for visual, performing, and literary artists.
The seminar will address three components including hands-on
activities and discussions in marketing, teaching artist
training, and an open panel discussion. Thursday, January 21,
2010, 9:00am to 4:30pm, Mississippi Arts Center, 201 East
Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS 39201. RSVP to Diane Williams
at dwilliams@arts.state.ms.us or 601/359-6529

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COVE PARK WRITING RESIDENCIES
http://covepark.org/
---
Invites applications from individuals living in Scotland who
write in any form, including prose (fiction and nonfiction),
in poetry or drama. The Scottish Arts Council also funds a
three month residency for an international writer whose stay
will run concurrently with those of the Scottish writers, as
will residencies in crafts, performing and visual artists,
which altogether make up a community of ten people at any one
time. Each Scottish writer will be provided with a fee of £400
per week over 6 weeks (total £2,400 incl. VAT), accommodation
on site (which includes a workspace), the support of Cove Park's
staff and access to all of the organisation's facilities.
Deadline February 5, 2010.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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VENTANA MONTHLY
http://www.ventanamonthly.com/
---
Pays 20 cents/word. Ventana publishes nonfiction articles
on a variety of topics related to our tagline: "Fine Living
in Ventura County." We prefer stories that are sophisticated
and tightly focused. Our readership is comprised of relatively
affluent residents of Ventura County. Articles run from 400
to 1,500 words. Sections include Personality, Giving Back
(philanthropy), Culture, Nesting (home/architecture), Table
Talk (food/drink), Sporting, Shopping, and Travel (not
restricted to the local area). However, we are always open
to considering stories that don't fit any of these categories.

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TRAVELER
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/writer-guidelines.html
---
Each issue of the magazine contains five or more features,
roughly balanced between U.S. and foreign subjects. Generally,
we are interested in places accessible to most travelers, not
just the intrepid or wealthy. The types of destinations we
cover vary widely, from mainstream to adventure travel.
Most Traveler features range from 1,500 to 2,500 words,
depending on the subject. Traveler departments generally
run from 750 to 1,500 words. Buys all rights.

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EXECUTIVE TRAVEL
http://www.executivetravelmagazine.com/page/Writers+Guidelines
---
Executive Travel is published six times a year by American
Express Publishing. Readers are active business travelers.
The magazine is 95 percent freelance-written and when we
look for a freelancer for a story, we look for someone with
a strong background in the subject area. Writers with business/
financial writing experience are especially well suited for
the magazine. Online is a calendar of the cities and themes
we will cover in 2010. Unless you live in one of those cities,
please do not propose writing a story on it. Neither editors
nor contributors may accept free travel.

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JOBS
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WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE FOR HEXHAM BOOK FESTIVAL
Location: Hexham, England, UK
http://www.literaturetraining.com/metadot/index.pl?id=42182&isa=DBRow&op=show&dbview_id=2300
---
Hexham Book Festival and Queen's Hall Arts are looking for
an experienced writer or poet to take part in a week-long
residency in Northumberland (North Tyne area) in March 2010.

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VISITING LECTURERS IN CREATIVE WRITING
Location University of Greenwich, London
http://www.literaturetraining.com/metadot/index.pl?id=42183&isa=DBRow&op=show&dbview_id=2300
---
Seeks Visiting Lecturers to teach on the BA Creative Writing
in the fields of playwriting, performance writing, poetry,
fiction and screenwriting. Responsibilities would include
giving lectures, facilitating workshops, individual tutorials,
teaching preparation and marking. Teaching sessions are weekly
and are paid at the nationally agreed HE hourly rate. Applicants
should be practising writers and preferably have teaching
experience in Higher Education. Please send a CV and two
references to Alev Adil at A.Adil@gre.ac.uk.

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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Gaithersburg, MD
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=85169352&aid=27015391-18129&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline January 7, 2010. Employer the Department of Commerce.
The incumbent will serve as a writer-editor in the Public and
Business Affairs Office whose main responsibility is to
strengthen NIST employee communications. Writes, edits, and
coordinates production for employee publications and internal
Web site. Develops plans for internal audience awareness and
understanding and advises management on communication mechanisms
to encourage understanding and support of agency objectives.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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TENDRE PRESS
http://tendrepress.com/submissions
---
If you have written your spiritual autobiography and wish
it to be considered for publication by Tendre Press, please
contact us. We are looking for manuscripts that dynamically
describe the evolution of a soul through the arc of a lifetime.
Tendre Press will also consider shorter essays concerning the
soul's journey, for an anthology of such works.

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OPEN BOOKS PRESS
http://www.openbookspress.com/
---
We publish quality books that inform and benefit the reader
and serve the greater good. Open Books Press is an imprint
of Pen & Publish, Inc., an education and nonprofit specialist
dedicated to a win-win-win collaborative publishing model.
Our focus is nonfiction, but fiction serving our mission will
be considered.

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TEEN TOWN PRESS
http://teentownpress.com/submissions
---
To continue our tradition of excellence in publishing, we seek
high-caliber authors who produce original material that appeals
to our teen readers. We are interested in nonfiction books that
emphasize self-improvement, personal motivation, overall wellness
or mind/body/spirit integration.

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SPONSORS
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Write2Ignite! Conference for Christian Writers of
Children's Literature

Feb. 26 & 27, 2010 at North Greenville University,
Tigerville, S.C. $90 adults, $45 students.
Featuring a special Teen Track for young authors.
Scholarships available. For more information or to
register, visit www.write2ignite.wordpress.com
Or e-mail write2ignite@jeanmatthewhall.com

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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LAST 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!

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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