Volume 9, Issue 51
December 20, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          
FUNDS FOR WRITERS

Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read newsletter online at: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
Read past issues at: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?fundsforwriters

=====

THE FINE PRINT OF CONTESTS

A FundsforWriters reader contacted me this week about a contest
run by a literary publication. The contest required an entry fee
of $25 for a short story, nonfiction story or poem. The prizes
were advertised as: "First Prize (US) $3,000 in each category
with a Matching Grant to the Charity or University/College
Department of your choice." Second Prize was $1,500, third prize
$500 and honorable mention $200 in each category plus the matched
donation as mentioned above.

This reader was a second prize winner. She received $150, not
$1,500, and an email apology about the economy. But she had no
recourse. Item 14 in the rules stated, "If for any reason the
(Name) Contest does not reach expected response, the total prize
money may be adjusted accordingly." I just learned that a first
prize winner was also a FundsforWriters reader, and she received
$350.

One might expect $1,000 instead of $1,500, but $150? $350 in lieu
of $3,000? The economy was bad when this contest started, so
how did the sponsor predict the $3,000, $1,500 and $500 prizes?

The reader in question asked what she could do and I told her
to learn from the experience and move on. She said the journal
apologized profusely and asked her to enter the next contest.
She asked me what to do.

I told her to forget about them. The mistake was irresponsible
and a sign that the publication struggled managing its affairs.
Sure, in the future, she needed to read the fine print. But so
many contests exist these days that she didn't need to revisit
a bad experience.

Contests posted in FundsforWriters show a brief glimpse of the
details. Make sure you read all the guidelines. Make sure you
know:

1. What rights a contest takes when you submit. Some are trying
   to collect enough material to publish a journal. Some want
   to pad a website or blog. Some take all rights. This was a
   new venture and while they said the property rights belong to
   the writer, the sponsor said they had the right to use
   whatever you submitted in their journal, website and
   advertisement.

2. The prizes. Are they subject to change? In this situation, I
   doubt this FFW reader would have paid the $25 to enter a
   contest that paid $150. In most cases, FFW suggests you
   avoid those contingent upon the number of entries. This
   loophole allows the sponsor to alter what they pay and you'll
   never know if they are telling the truth on the number of
   entries received.

3. Check the age of the contest. Every contest has to start
   somewhere, but be leery of first time contests unless the
   sponsor is established or you just want to give it a go.
   First timers haven't worked out the bugs of contest management.
   In this case, the sponsor was so far off base it was
   ridiculous. And it was a first-time contest.

4. Is the entry fee reasonable? $25 was great for an attempt
   at $3,000, but what if the prize is reduced to ten percent
   as in this case? Is $25 worth the prize of vying for $300?
   In the fine print, the sponsor stated no entry fees would
   be returned, and Item 16 stated they assumed no liability
   if the contest was cancelled.

Yes, this contest was virgin. The sponsors stumbled. But
remember the old adage, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me
twice, shame on me." Read the guidelines before entering.
The devil could be in the details.

     Hope

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

=====

TOTAL FundsforWriters

Our paid subscription is $12.
Biweekly with 75+ markets, contests, grants, and
opportunities for your writing sweat and blood.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm
 

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about
originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply
try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often
it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten,
become original without ever having noticed it.

C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope.

I just wanted to tell you that with the mail today, came a check
for $250. I had entered a contest on creativewritingcorner.com ,
and yes, did pay $15 to enter it. This was their inaugural
contest, I sent my work there in June. In September I found out
I was one of five finalists. In October, I found out I'd won
2nd place.

I had everything written down on my record card except the $$$
for winners. I thought it was $50 for 2nd place. But, to my
surprise, 2nd place paid $250! Again, thank you for all you do
to help writers.

Thanks,         
Nancy Purcell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Work At Home And See The World for Free - House Sitting

By James Robert Daniels

If you're a freelance writer you enjoy a major benefit:
working at home. You also need to get away sometimes.  So
what's the problem?  Can't afford to travel?  Don't want to
miss work for two weeks?  Fear of crowded tours? Don't worry,
there is a way to go.  You will experience the world from
another point of view and work at home without the stack of
bills on the desk.  You are a professional writer.  You are
a perfect match to be a housesitter.

A housesitter (or house sitter) is something like a property
caretaker, except that this is a living situation, not a
position for hire.  The usual arrangement is that you take
care of somebody's home - personal property, plants, pets too
sometimes - in exchange for living there rent-free.  It's like
finding a retreat or a residency, except that you don't have
to work on a specific project, subject your draft and self to
critique, read to audiences or teach workshops.  You just have
to be around!  The advantages to you, says Margaret Breuer,
include "free rent and a chance to see another part of the
world.  Plus it's always fun to be with dogs and other animals." 
Breuer has been house sitting since friends asked her to stay
6 weeks while they were off to Europe.  Then she took care of
a black Lab "and his big house" and started getting referrals.
She says, "From 2000 to 2002 I put all my things in storage
and just house and pet sat from one place to another.  I had
no idea it would go on that long.  I still dog sit for that
black Lab."

Animal lovers love to pet sit, so they get not only a home
away from home, but companions as well.  This is just a bonus,
if you like a cat on your lap while you write your whodunit.

Randy Mayer says, "I plan on making housesitting/caretaking
into a fulltime second career over the next few years. 
Housesitting suits my type of travel - slower pace, getting
to know the local area, etc. instead of doing the usual tourist
activities."  As for the etc. stuff, Randy says, "One of my
favorite pet/housesits is on a sixty acre farm in Ireland
that I've been to three years in a row and I'm in the midst of
coordinating another visit this year.  I feel totally immersed
in Ireland, more like a native than some people who live in
Ireland, sitting in front of a peat fire with the cat in my
lap after a long day in the outdoors."

Susan Holtham, a former production editor at Lonely Planet,
started up a "little mom and pop business" at home in New
Zealand with her webmaster husband - online at
http://www.mindmyhouse.com - to bring home owners and
house sitters together.  The website has members from the USA,
UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland,
New Zealand and elsewhere.

Mrs. Holtham says, "In my experience, the meetings brought
about through this service bring out the very best in human
nature.  It's all about the trust." If you can trust and you
can be trusted, you can work your way around the world, working
at home, free.

References

Mind My House provides lots of information, advice and
assistance - http://www.mindmyhouse.com

Sabbatical Homes is a great fit: academics' nice houses
near college resources - http://www.sabbaticalhomes.com

Search the web for house sitter, housesitter and caretaker
for other helpful websites and resources.

BIO
James Robert Daniels, freelance writer and author, has
traveled and exchanged services as a housesitter for a
private home life across the USA and in Mexico over the
past 2 years.  He recently moved into a house of his own
on a Caribbean island.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOMELAND SECURITY ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.chds.us/?essay/overview
---
NO ENTRY FEE
According to the National Strategy for Homeland Security,
the objectives of homeland security are to prevent terrorist
attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability
to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks
that do occur. The purpose of this competition is to promote
innovative thinking that addresses these objectives. This
year's essay question: "How can, or should, the United States
make homeland security a more layered, networked, and resilient
endeavor involving all citizens?" Contest is open to anyone.
The essay should be no more than five pages, single-spaced, in
twelve point type and in Word or PDF format. Deadline January
31, 2010. The winner will receive a $1,500 cash award and an
invitation to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security
located at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California
where he/she will be recognized at the CHDS Forum. Additionally,
the winning and four top finalist's essays will be considered for
publication by Homeland Security Affairs, the online journal
published by the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for the
Homeland Defense and Security.

=====

VAIKE AND ERICH RANNU FUND FOR WRITERS OF SPEC LITERATURE
http://chizine.com/sandrakasturi/rannufund.htm
---
$10-$15 ENTRY FEE
The Fund offers two awards per year of $500 CDN each, one for
fiction, one for poetry, granted to two writers of speculative
literature (i.e., science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic
realism, surrealism, etc.), of any nationality/place of
residence, at any stage of his career. Deadline December 31,
2009. The winners will be announced April 30, 2010. For poetry,
submit up to 5 poems (unpublished work), not to exceed 10
single-spaced pages. For fiction, submit one short story or a
novel excerpt (unpublished work) of no more than 7,000 words on
double-spaced pages.

=====

THE LAINE CUNNINGHAM NOVEL AWARD
http://www.blotterrag.com/contest%20rules.pdf
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
The Blotter's long form fiction contest for novella and novel-
length works. First prize is $500, plus a "library" of books
selected by The Blotter (many signed by the authors). Second
prize is $125, again with a "library" of recent releases. Third
prize will be just the "library." Submit no less than 10 pages,
no more than 20 pages of the opening of your novel or novella,
typed & double-spaced, without your name. Deadline January
31, 2010.

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANTELOPE VALLEY CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.avwriters.com
---
Scheduled for May 14-15, 2010. What is it that inspires you
to write? Is it history, or romance, or theology, or mystery?
Do you enjoy writing sci-fi, or fantasy? Don't be misled by
the name of our conference: We are believers who write, but
most of us don't write about religious themes. If you'd like
to learn how the publishing business works, you are welcome
to attend. A special reduced price is offered for teens, age
12-18. Volume discounts are available for any church or school
sending ten or more. A handful of partial scholarships will be
available. If you have a special need, let us know.

=====

PEN AMERICAN CENTER WRITERS FUND
http://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/251
---
The PEN Writers Fund is an emergency fund for professional--
published or produced--writers with serious financial
difficulties. Depending on the situation, the fund gives
grants or loans of up to $1,000. The maximum amount is given
only under especially dire circumstances and when monies are
available.The PEN Fund for Writers and Editors with HIV/AIDS,
administered under the PEN Writers Fund, gives grants of up to
$1,000 to professional writers and editors who face serious
financial difficulties because of HIV or AIDS-related illness.
The Writers Fund does not exist for research purposes, to
enable the completion of writing projects, or to fund
publications or organizations. The Writers Fund Committee
meets approximately every two months to review applications.
For an application or further information, please contact:
Andrew Proctor, Coordinator PEN Writers Fund, (212) 334-1660,
ext. 101, or email: aproctor@pen.org

=====

CANADIAN LITERARY READINGS AND AUTHOR RESIDENCIES
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/writing/pn127227360029687500.htm
---
The Literary Readings and Author Residencies Program increases
knowledge and appreciation of Canadian authors and writing by
providing opportunities for authors to read from their works,
be in contact with an audience or public, and contribute to
the quality of life of a community by their presence. The
program has two components: Literary Readings, and Author
Residencies. Deadlines March 1, 2010 and September 1, 2010.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
LACROSSE MAGAZINE
http://www.laxmagazine.com/information/aboutLM
---
Lacrosse Magazine is the flagship publication of US Lacrosse,
a 300,000-member nonprofit organization that serves as the
sport's national governing body. Now in its 31st year of
production, LM has the distinction as the first feature
magazine dedicated to the fastest game on two feet, and is
the most widely-read lacrosse publication in the world.
Unsolicited story ideas, articles and photographs are welcome,
as are "Letters to the Editor."

=====

TORONTO MEN'S MAGAZINE
http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/wri/1512532917.html
---
National men's magazine seeks talented writers to craft feature-
length stories on topics of interest to Canadian men. Previous
features have included personal memoirs, interviews with Canadian
Forces home from Afghanistan, stories about Canadian politics
and true crime stories. If it would look at home in Esquire or
GQ and has a Canadian angle, it's probably good for us. Stories
should be 2,000-2,500 words in length, and our rate is $1,500.
Please send pitches, along with samples of your writing
(unpublished is fine).

=====

ZING
http://www.zingmag.net/index.php/Writers-Guidelines.html
---
ZiNG is the inflight magazine for LIAT, the Caribbean Airline.
Its mission is primarily to entertain passengers while they
are on LIAT flights, but it seeks to do so well enough that
customers will take it home and share it with friends. ZiNG
seeks to convey the excitement of all things Caribbean through
vivid writing and inspiring photography, backed up by solid
facts, expert advice and the very latest news.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Arlington, VA (several vacancies)
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=85038902&aid=27015391-10129&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline December 31, 2009. Agency: U.S. Marine Corps
(civilian). The incumbent assists the program manager with
initiatives designed to transform agency directives processes
from a paper based system to an electronic "knowledge based"
solution; ensures effective use of state of the art communication
techniques incorporating efficient business practices in an
electronic age; and performs editorial reviews of new or
revised directives for proper format and preparation of Marine
Corps Orders.  

=====

SPORTS REPORTER
Location
http://alleghanynews.com/
---
The Alleghany News, an award winning weekly newspaper located
in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina
has an opening for a sports reporter. This is a one person
department. This fulltime position includes covering the
various sports for the local high school as well as other
community sporting events as necessary. Also some coverage
of spot news events and related newspaper activities as
needed. A knowledge of digital photography, Photoshop,
QuarkXPress and Mac computer experience necessary. Knowledge
of AP style helpful. Some night and weekend work required.
Residency in Alleghany County will be required. We offer
competitive salary and benefits. Send resume and clips to:
Ron Brown, General Manager, The Alleghany News, P.O. Box 8,
Sparta, NC 28675 or email to manager@alleghanynews.com

=====

MARKETING WRITER
Location San Francisco, CA
http://www.idealist.org/en/job/361313-226
---
American Conservatory Theater, one of the country's leading
regional theaters and actor training institutions, seeks a
full-time Marketing Writer to work with busy Marketing
Department to develop and further A.C.T.'s branding and voice.
Minimum 3 years of full-time writing experience. Portfolio
that shows range, versatility, and talent in crafting consumer
marketing copy and contains both short-form and long pieces.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FONT LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.fontlitagency.com/
---
Font Agency, based in Dublin Ireland, offers representation
to writers of fiction and nonfiction internationally. The
agency does not charge reading fees.  Our standard commission
is 15% of royalties negotiated in the writer's home territory.
Does not represent writing for children, drama, sci-fi, erotic,
technical or poetry.  Neither do we accept short stories,
articles, textbooks, television pilots or film shorts.

=====

FUTERMAN ROSE ASSOCIATES
http://www.futermanrose.co.uk/submissions.html
---
If your work comes into the category of commercial or literary
full-length fiction or non-fiction, we would be pleased to
receive the first two chapters and a synopsis - double-spaced,
please. Also, a few biographical details. Location London.

=====

THE HANBURY AGENCY
http://www.hanburyagency.com/submissions/
---
The first thing to note is that we do not represent: film
scripts, plays, poetry, children's books, fantasy, horror or
DIY. If your material does not fit into one of the categories
above please send a letter of introduction together with a
brief synopsis and the first chapter (or opening 25 pages).
Location London.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPONSORS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

A Holiday Gift for Writers

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

=====

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/

=====

Do you need your book endorsed?

We give quality book reviews to both published and
unpublished books.

Why wait? Take advantage of our Express Review Service.
 
Let us promote your book at a very affordable rate. 
Get your book noticed fast and see results immediately.

Do you need your manuscript edited and proofread?
We polish your writing to perfection at an unbeatable price.

We help authors succeed!

For more information please visit:
http://pacificbookreview.com

NOTE FROM A FFW READER WHO USED PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW:

Dear Hope: I love your newsletter and I was really happy
to see Pacific Book Review listed. I just wanted to tell
you about my experience with them. Their CEO is named Nicole
and she is simply passionate about reading. She and her group
not only read and rate the book but discuss it at morning
meetings with other reviewers. As an author, you walk away
with a powerful piece of information. Either your book is
great or it's not. If not, you receive at least a page of
suggestions. They are the best reviewing service I have had
experience with. Kirkus was as cold as a cucumber even though
they gave my work a great rating, I might have well been working
with robots. Pacific Book Review is kind, compassionate and
constructive. They are an especially good choice for the writer
who has never had their worked critiqued professionally.
Regardless of their rating, you are left with a sense of
respect and hope. I simply cannot recommend them enough.    

~Best regards, Dr. Reece W. Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM, 
www.SpiritThinking.net  

=====

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

=====

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS STUFF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

-----------------------------