Volume 10, Issue 5
January 31, 2010

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

THE WELL-FED WRITER

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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.

                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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TREAT EVERY PERSON AS A MENTOR

I read that phrase in a blog this week. It wasn't the major
point of the message, but it was the piece that caught my
attention.

It's human nature for us to compare ourselves, our talents,
our looks, to those around us. We catch ourselves being smug
as we recognize poor writing on a cheap website. Or we feel
demoralized as an opening hook in a story puts ours to shame.

But what if we quit making comparisons and started seeking
the take-away value of everyone in our writing path?

One reader placed me on her newsletter list. Her voice was
clean, her message multi-layered and intellectually
challenging. She shamelessly tackled social issues in her
region, often recommending action others wouldn't have the
guts to stand up and endorse. Months later I learned she
lived on a fixed income in a trailer, struggling to make
ends meet.

I know another lady who lost her job and opened a writers'
retreat. I purchase articles from writers for FundsforWriters,
and many of them amaze me at their knowledge. A new writer
can teach you how to be daring and disregard some of the
old rules we think we can't break. An established writer
can show us the ropes.

As my sons grew up, as they compared themselves to their
peers as all boys do, I told them that all of us have
the same amount of talent. Imagine me holding my hands
in a bowl fashion, as if holding that talent.

Some people use all their talent in one area, becoming gifted,
even genius. They might perform their talent without effort,
but they can't balance a checkbook, keep a job or find a
girlfriend. Then there are others who distribute their
talents across the realm, spreading it out and becoming
known as a Jack-of-all-trades. They perform decently at
almost everything they touch, but aren't exceptional at
anything. Then there are all those in between, utilizing
their bowls of talent in different directions and venues.

My point is that everyone is talented. No one can be
grand at everything, meaning they have shortfalls and
assets. That writer who critiqued your work might get
under your skin, but a night's sleep might make you
realize she was right on your page two. It doesn't matter
if she's published, where she's published or whether
she's self-published. Her voice deserves to be heard.

That editor that declines your work and makes a suggestion
might not understand the point of your story, but he
might have a firm grasp of marketing to his readership.
He isn't wrong because his opinion isn't yours.

Everyone you run into has something to offer you as
a writer, as a person. In them you find your best
stories, and your best opportunities.

     Hope

FIRST SPECIAL FOR 2010 !!!

Order TOTAL FundsforWriters, our paid subscription
newsletter containing 75 markets/grants/contests,
for only $9 through January 31, 2010.

We've featured TOTAL for six years at the rate of $12.
We are raising the regular rate beginning in February,
but to give you one last chance, we're offering this
low rate of $9 for the first month of the new year.

Now's the time to start that New Year's resolution
with a subscription to TOTAL.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm

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BYLINES DAILY DESK CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE!

Many have asked when the calendars would be ready.
This year's Bylines features writers from 26 states and
4 foreign countries (Ireland, Great Britain, Australia
and Canada). This is the 7th edition.

This is the calendar Hope has used for five years.
See why so many FundsforWriters readers can't wait
for it each year. Sells for $14.95.

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

MOBILE WRITERS GUILD WORKSHOP - MOBILE, ALABAMA

Hope Clark will lead as the first of three writers in
a weekend workshop on Saturday, March 13, 2010 with her
presentation Funding Streams: How Serious Writers Plunge In.
Also presenting will be Author Nancy Swan on Developing a
Writer's Platform and Dr. Sharee Broussard on What Grantors
Look for When Reviewing Applications.

Cost: $35, lunch included
Time: 9AM - 4PM
Location: St. Luke's School, 3975 Japonica Lane, Mobile, AL

To register or request information, email
mobilewritersguild@gmail.com of call 251-751-2519

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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 JOINED FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
 

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write
every time you have a free minute. If you didn't behave
that way you would never do anything.

~John Irving (1942 - )

 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hope,

About this time of January last year, my Mom had surgery. 
I spent a week with my parents to help out. Since Mom could
not get to her computer the first couple of days, she asked
me to check her email and print anything important and let
her friends know she was okay. One of them had forwarded a
post you wrote about a writing opportunity.  Intrigued, I
looked at your website.  I'd thought about getting back into
writing, but hadn't quite made it.  I subscribed to your
newsletter, bought some of your e-books, and started looking
forward to your posts. Over the last year I gradually got my
act together. I wrote two magazine assignments, have one
article sitting at a magazine for consideration, and (drum roll
please) today I signed a contract for a 65,000 word nonfiction
book. I am excited and a little apprehensive, but figure if I
got my dissertation finished I could finish this. Thank you for
your support and advice. I always look forward to your newsletters.

--
Stephanie S Smith, Ph.D.
Hunt County, Texas, USA
www.lambdafarm.mysite.com

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ARTICLE
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ART AT THE HANDS OF AN EDITOR

By Richard Krawiec

I recently saw a statistic that claimed the number of self-
published books, including print-on-demand,  increased by
over 100% last year, while the number of traditionally
published books declined.  What the numbers effectively mean
is that there are more writers now in this country than
readers. This is not a good situation for writers.

I have no problem with the concept of self-publishing, but
the reality is self-published books rarely get reviewed or
are ordered by bookstores. While there are some self-published
books that deserve attention, in over two decades of reviewing
and editing books, I have found very few self-published books
that deserved to be published. Too often authors rush into
print without taking the time to completely revise their work
and make it as good as possible. Too many writers will spend
hundreds, even thousands of dollars on publishing their work,
attending conferences where their primary aim is to market their
manuscripts, but are reluctant to spend any money working with
an experienced editor to develop their manuscript to the best
of their ability.

I was fortunate to have had good editors work with me. 

My first editor, Pat Mulcahy at Viking Penguin, after she
accepted my book 'Time Sharing' for publication, wrote me a
5-page, single-spaced letter detailing what she thought I was
attempting to do with my novel, and what parts failed to come
up to her standards. She had a lot of suggestions, both general
and specific, about how I needed to change my novel to make it
work.

I spent a month frantically revising, under her guidance. She
helped me reconnect to my original vision. While she didn't
actually write any sentences, she was insistent about what
scenes and chapters worked, which ones didn't, and offered
suggestions on how I might refocus and revise it to make the
work accomplish what I'd intended.

Mulcahy was an editor who saw her job as helping writers
attempt to turn promising work into literature.

I also had the good fortune to work with Gordon Lish, Ray
Carver's editor, who accepted a story of mine for his magazine
'The Quarterly' which, for the better part of a decade, was
one of the more important literary magazines out of New York. 
Lish, who was once Knopf's top editor, showed me how to cut
my story by almost one half and make it deeper. He worked
with me to eliminate flaccid scenes and tighten what remained
to enhance the suspense.  I learned from him the difference
between an ending and a coda, the importance of a conduit of
knowledge, how less can truly be more. By the time I was done
editing, under his guidance, my story succeeded so well it
earned the coveted lead story slot in his magazine. 

Not all editors, however, take their work this seriously. 
Truth be told, there are a lot of editors out there who are
simply interested in your money, and will offer you praise
and promises, but can't help you do the essential work of
revision.

Editors are, or should be shapers, visionaries, people whose
job it is to take the raw material of someone's talent and
move it towards publication.  A good editor understands what
each writer is attempting to do - write a romance novel, a
family history for the grandkids, a detective story, sci-fi,
a novel that will withstand the test of time, a poetry book. 

A good editor will take just as much pride in your success as
his own. Like all good editors, I have my success stories,
small though they may be.  I've been fortunate to have worked
with dozens of good writers, some of whom have seen their work
in print. I have had writers self-publish books for families
and friends, including one woman who wanted a book published
before her sister died, another who wanted a book to hand out
to her patients with breast cancer. Those are worthy goals for
a self-published writer. 

On the professional end, a poet I worked with over and over
again had her manuscript published by one of the finer small
presses. I'm currently working with a story writer whose work
has been accepted by a literary press - but, instead of sending
in his manuscript as is, he is working to make it better before
it gets published. A female client had one of the few legitimate
super agents in New York ask to see her book of essays - and she
is still working to make them better. 

Editors are essentially midwives. We can tell you when to breathe,
when to push, when to hold back, but the writers are the ones
ultimately doing the hardest work. It's not our own baby, but
the writer's that we're helping to coax forth. Yet the joy I
receive when I watch someone deliver, after months of struggle,
a new literary life into this world - well, that's worth far
more than any payment I receive.

BIO
Richard Krawiec has published 2 novels, a collection of short
stories, a book of poetry, 4 plays and numerous stories, poems,
essays, and feature articles. He has won fellowships from the
National Endowment for the Arts and the NC Arts Council. He
teaches writing to people in homeless shelters, literacy
classes, housing projects, prisons, public schools and elsewhere. 
He teaches Beginning and Intermediate Fiction Writing for UNC
Chapel Hill. He is the recipient of the 2009 Excellence in
Teaching Award from UNC for these courses. His poetry book,
Breakdown, was a Finalist for the 2009 Indy Awards in Poetry.
His work appears in, among other places, Shenandoah, Sou'wester,
Witness, many mountains moving, 2Rivers, Houston Literary Review,
NC Literary Review, Artful Dodge, etc. He is also a professional
editor and can be reached at http://home.mindspring.com/~rkwriter/

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COMPETITIONS
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THE "SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF US" SHORT STORY CONTEST 2010
http://clarklibraryfriends.com/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
First prize, $1,000 and a trophy.
Second prize, $500 and a ribbon.
Third prize, $250 and a ribbon.
Junior contest prize $250 and a trophy.

The contest is a Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library
fundraiser and is privately funded. All entry fees go to
the Friends and are used for library projects. The contest
is open to published and unpublished writers alike. The ghost
story must be 5,000 words or less, in English, and typed
double-spaced. Deadline October 1, 2010.

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CUP OF COMFORT FOR COUPLES
http://www.cupofcomfort.com/GeneralMenu/
---
The top 50 (or so) submissions will be published in A Cup of
Comfort for Couples. Deadline April 20, 2010. Adams Media,
the Cup of Comfort publisher, will award one $1,000 grand
prize as well as three runner-up prizes of $150 each. The
grand-prize winner and runners-up will also receive a full
run of all Cup of Comfort books, including A Cup of Comfort
for Couples. The remaining stories selected for publication
in A Cup of Comfort for Couples will receive the standard
$100 stipend, plus a complimentary copy of the book.

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WARREN ADLER SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.warrenadler.com/writing-contest.shtml
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
The stories must be no longer than 2,500 words. Subject matter
is completely open to the author. The goal of the contest is
to encourage and publicize the short story as a viable and
quality literary form. First Prize: $1,000. People's Choice
Prize: $500. Three remaining finalists: $150 each.

 
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GRANTS
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FUND FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
http://www.fij.org/
---
The Fund's Board of Directors meets regularly throughout
the year to consider grant applications. It is Fund policy
to pay the first half of approved grants to successful
applicants, with the second half of the grant paid on evidence
of publication of a finished project in accordance with the
original proposal. Second half grants are not guaranteed if
projects are not completed in a timely fashion or if the
projects are published in a different form or in a different
outlet than originally proposed. The projects financed by
the Fund are in print, broadcast and Web media and concern
both domestic and international topics.

The applicant must write a letter outlining the story, what
he or she expects to prove, how this will be done, and the
sources for the proof. The letter must be supported by a
resume, a detailed budget to justify the size of grant the
application is seeking, no more than two writing samples or
one sample chapter in the case of a book applicant, and a
letter of commitment from an editor or publisher or an
executive of a broadcast news operation or online news outlet
stating that the project will be considered for publication or
broadcast if completed according to the proposal.

A letter of commitment is required for all applicants and is
a non-negotiable requirement. In the case of individuals
seeking grants for books, a signed copy of an agreement with
a publisher is required and can be substituted for the
commitment letter.

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GRANTS FOR CHILDREN'S WRITING
From Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/WIP-Grant
---
In any given year, an applicant may apply for: the General
Work-In-Progress Grant OR the Work-In-Progress Grant for a
Contemporary Novel for Young People OR the Work-In-Progress
Nonfiction Research Grant. The Grant for a Work Whose Author
has Never Had a Book Published may not be applied for -- it
will be chosen from all the entries in the other Work-In-
Progress categories. The Grants are available to both full
and associate members of the SCBWI. They are not available
for projects on which there are already contracts. Four Grants
of $1,500 will be awarded annually, one in each category. Four
Runner-Up Grants of $500 will also be awarded, one in each
category. Applications accepted between February 15 and
March 15, 2010.

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CANDY MAIER SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR WOMEN WRITERS
http://www.clarityworksonline.com/links
---
The Candy Maier Scholarship Fund for Women Writers is a
nonprofit established to help Western North Carolina women
attend writing workshops, retreats, and classes. Up to 50%
of program costs (not including transportation and other
personal expenses) can be applied for. The deadline for Candy
Fund applications is the 5th of each month.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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OLD HOUSE JOURNAL
108 E. Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Editor-in-Chief: Patricia Poore ppoore@oldhouseinteriors.com
http://www.oldhouseonline.com
---
Old-House Journal is the premiere resource for restoring old
houses. Find articles, products, and services for homes built
before 1950 and everything you'll need for your old house
restoration projects. When proposing a story, know how it
should be illustrated. You don't have to provide professional
photography, but you do have to give some thought to the visual
aspect of the story. This includes sending scouting pictures
with your proposal. Pays up to 75 cents/word. Features are
up to 1,200 words. Query first with scouting pictures.

Old-House Interiors is a sister, bimonthly magazine that
offers interior designers and restorers expert advice on
decorating and furnishing homes from the modest to the
extravagant.

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DRAFT MAGAZINE
http://draftmag.com/submissions/
---
DRAFT does not accept pre-written stories of any kind. Writers
interested in contributing to DRAFT must submit a formal pitch/
query, and all freelance work must be pitched to, accepted and
assigned by a DRAFT editor. Formal pitches should be no more
than a page, and should include your story idea, a basic outline
of what you'd cover, sources you plan to include, and any
additional pertinent information you think we may want to know
when considering your pitch for an assignment. All queries
should be accompanied by a link to or PDFs of two published
writing samples. Unpublished samples will not be considered.
DRAFT does not consider previously published works of any kind.
Aside from beer, we happily accept pitches on topics ranging
from sports (both professional and leisure), travel, food-really,
any subject our readers may have an interest in. Whatever the
topic, it must appeal to DRAFT's audience, and should cover a
new idea or story, or provide a unique angle on a topic that's
already received media attention. Pays up to $1/word.

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GO
http://www.airtranmagazine.com/contact
---
Go is an inflight magazine published on behalf of AirTran
Airways. The title includes engaging features, essential
product information, fabulous vacation ideas and an extensive
business section. Pays up to $1/word and has a 50% kill fee.
Query first with published clips. You are open to pitch for
features or columns.

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JOBS
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STAFF WRITER
Location Norfolk, VA
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6220
---
The Virginian-Pilot is looking for a reporter who can do it
all. That includes writing about entertainment, nightlife
and pop culture, and producing narratives about places in
Hampton Roads and about people and how they spend their free
time. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university. Three (3) years of experience at a daily newspaper.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Location Phoenix, AZ
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=85832264&aid=27015391-23110&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline February 5, 2010. Employing Agency: Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI). Responsible for maintaining continuing
relationships with the local media, as well as, the national
and international news media; responds orally or in writing
to requests for information by the media, researchers, and
the public regarding priorities, programs, jurisdiction,
mission operations, statistics, and accomplishments of
the FBI.  Writes and disseminates news releases. 

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WRITER
Location New York, NY
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/detail/10640/
---
Recognized as the #1 Best Company To Work for In New York,
YAI Network is an award-winning, nationally acclaimed network
of not-for-profit health and human services agencies dedicated
to building brighter futures for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. We
serve individuals, families, and communities in the NYC
metropolitan area, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland,
Orange, and Sullivan Counties within New York State. The most
recent additions to our network include services to New Jersey
and Puerto Rico. Bachelor's degree and three years' experience
in writing, communication or journalism.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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BICK PUBLISHING HOUSE
http://www.bickpubhouse.com/
---
The mission of Bick Publishing House for Teens/Young Adults
is to relate modern science and its ethics, communications
arts, philosophy, psychology to the teenager's world, so they
can make their own responsible decisions about their own lives
and future. The Life Sciences books in the series are presented
with accessible texts, with glossary of terms, illustrations,
index, resources, bibliography,and websites. The mission of Bick
Publishing House for Adults is to bring professional information
to the general audience in mental illness and recovery, addictions
and recovery, in the art of living with disabilities, and in
wildlife rehabilitation.

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FITHIAN PRESS
http://www.danielpublishing.com/fithian.htm
---
FITHIAN PRESS is a small-press publisher in McKinleyville,
California. We specialize in trade paperback editions, although
we occasionally publish hardback books as well. Our print runs
range from 500 copies to 2,000 copies. For this reason, we
seldom publish long books--books over 100,000 words. We are
currently publishing four titles a month. Our goal is to publish
one book each month in the following categories: poetry, memoir/
autobiography, fiction (novel or story collection), and general
nonfiction.

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DAWN PUBLICATIONS
http://www.dawnpub.com/about-us/
---
Dawn publishes nature awareness titles for adults and children.
Our titles are distinctive because they not only educate but
also inspire about nature, and feature high quality art and
literature. We also strive to make it easy for teachers to use
the books in the classroom. Our offices are located in amongst
the fields and forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills, just
outside of Nevada City and Grass Valley, California.

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

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://www.rkeditor.com/

=====

 

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We polish your writing to perfection at an unbeatable price.

We help authors succeed!
For more information please visit: http://pacificbookreview.com

=====

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 2000-2010, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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