Volume 10, Issue 22
May 30, 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, 2010

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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.

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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ARE YOU EMPOWERED?

If you have to think about that answer, you aren't quite there.
As a writer, you have empowerment at your fingertips. Empowerment
coats your life. The sooner you recognize this dynamic force and
embrace it, the sooner you make a difference.

As the Creator

As a writer, you determine how deep you want to dig, how
intensely you edit or how remarkable you pen your prose.
Ever said this? "I'll never expect to write like Jodi Picoult,
Stephen King, --insert author--." My bet is that you thought
something more on the line of, "I'll never BE like --insert author."

We often envision these authors in terms of their success or
public acclaim instead of the particulars of their writing
talent. Those authors empowered themselves to write well
through time, study, practice and emotional investment. When
you decide that your writing development is equivalent to
three meals a day or finding the perfect mate, you empower
yourself to bust loose and create.

As the Promoter

Does your gut burn with the desire to put your stories in every
reader's hands? Do you ponder all angles of reading potential
customers? Do you lie awake at night designing yet another
campaign to advertise your new release?

Writers moan and groan about promotion, but the fact is that
the savvy, diligent, even excited marketers make the sales.
If you move into your promotional duties tentatively, dipping
your toe in the waters of the Internet instead of diving in
head first and stroking through that water toward success,
you fall shorter than you are capable of achieving. Promotion
is less about luck and more about empowering yourself to feel
explosive in informing the world about your work.

The Reader

Your work should empower a reader. Whether your beautiful
turn-of-phrase leaves an indelible mark on his mind or your
promotional campaign makes him eager to jump on your train,
your efforts make a reader feel empowered to belong to your
entourage. As you write, as you market your work, as you
wonder how your effort entices readers to feel good about
you and your stories.

It's not a trick thing. It's a smart ability to connect with
readers. Every entrepreneur seeks that conduit between the
company or the product with the consumer. Sometimes it's
savvy advertising, snappy jingles or sharp humor. At other
times it's pure quality of the item being sold. Then again,
a fad can materialize, as the seller taps a vein in the public's
eye that leads to huge success. The bottom line is that your
reader needs to feel fulfilled and empowered once exposed to
you or your work product.

Allow yourself to cut loose, take the leap, or dare whether
it's in your writing, promotion or mastering a fan base.
The spark is there, hiding, waiting for you to fan it into
a flame. 

     Hope

JUNE SPECIAL!

Our Tweetebook library contains 20+ niche markets. Romance
Publishers, Children's Markets, Outdoor Markets, Seniors Markets,
you name it!

Purchase one or two to try them out - they're only $1.99.
 
Purchase all the Tweetebooks, all 35, for the discounted price
of $50 . . . AND get a subscription to TOTAL FundsforWriters,
a $15 value. That's a $35+ savings.

Last month we offered Airline Magazine Markets Tweetebook for free.
This month it's Poetry Markets.

Tweetebooks are like potato chips! You can't stop at one.

www.fundsforwriters.com/tweetebooks.htm

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THE BLOG
http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com

TWITTER ME
http://twitter.com/hopeclark

CONSULT WITH HOPE
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/ConsultHope.htm

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

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MAKE TOTAL TOTALLY YOURS

If you enjoy our free newsletters, you'll LOVE our paid
subscription. TOTAL has all the flavor of FundsforWriters,
except with 75 grants, contests, markets, publishers and jobs
instead of 15. It's immense, it's exciting, it's chocked full
of opportunity. Take your freelance writing seriously and
consider the largest newsletter in the FundsforWriters family.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm
 

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged;
it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly
in color and content according to the circumstances and
the time in which it is used."

~OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Dear Hope,

You were right to have me get back to you about being short-listed
for the Strokestown International Poetry Festival--which I first
discovered in Funds for Writers--because I have just returned
from Ireland with the festival's FIRST PRIZE of 4,000 euros (over
$5,000), which is for one poem! Thanks for putting me onto this one!

It's a great poetry festival, which I highly recommend to the
poets on your Funds for Writers list. In fact, the director,
Merrily Harpur, asked if I could help publicize the festival
in the U.S., because they'd love to have more submissions from
this side of the pond. It's a wonderful festival just to attend
as well, because it's in a lovely location, Strokestown Park
House, and the estate surrounding it, the quality of the readings
is uniformly high, and the Irish people are gracious, appreciative,
and generous. (Factoid: the Irish buy more poetry books per capita
than any country in Europe.) Here is a link to my poem at the
website:

http://www.strokestownpoetry.org/Shortlist%20poems%202010,%20English%20lang.htm

Amazing, huh? I'm still in shock... Thanks for apprising me of
such a wonderful contest!

Lawrence Kessenich

NOTE: This contest reopens in July with a deadline of January 2011.

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ARTICLE
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Connect, Reconnect and Keep Swatting Those Gnats

By Dawn Goldsmith

The phone message light blinked in the bedroom. I dropped
the bags of medical detritus that my husband accumulated
during his almost two week stay in the hospital. I pushed
the play button hoping I would not hear his officious boss's
voice. We call her The Gnat, always darting into people's faces,
annoying, complicating, infuriating and spreading frustration.
She had been haranguing me throughout my husband's illness.

An unfamiliar, but friendly voice with a strangely familiar
New England accent spoke from the machine. "I hope you
remember me...."

I did!

We had had such a great working relationship -- editor and
writer -- while she and another talented editor ran one of my
favorite writing markets. I knew that the two had been forced
out of a magazine after they had built it to a well respected
publication. Now some member of the Gnat sisterhood had begun
undoing everything. I saw the latest issue.

But the voice was saying something about working for another
publication and she wants me to write for her again. She wants
me to write the kind of articles I so enjoy. AND she wants me
to pitch ideas that she will happily assign to me and pay me a
decent wage. AND she wants me to begin with one of my favorite
fabric artists.

Today I began preparing interview questions by reviewing online
entries about and by the artist. One site said she was influenced
by Alfonse (sic) Mucha. Turns out he is a Czech Art Nouveau
painter best known for his images of women. Just about anyone
who has ever seen any Art Nouveau has seen his work.

I mention this trivia because one look at Alphonse's life and
I realized that he had Gnats, too. His father found him a job
as a church clerk. But Alphonse had other ideas and applied to
the Prague Academy of Fine Arts in 1878. He was rejected with
the recommendation: "Find yourself another profession where
you'll be more useful".

Not only today's writers receive rejection with a twist of
malice and elitist intent. But, Alphonse didn't give up. He
became a scene painter. When that job ended, he painted
portraits. There he met a wealthy sponsor who paid him to
decorate a whole castle. In 1885, Alphonse began studying at
the Munich Academy of Art.

I feel a connection to Alphonse. He believed in his doodlings.
If he hadn't persevered, believed in himself and his 'need' to
paint, he would have frittered away his life in a 'job' rather
than follow his calling. He wouldn't have become a famous artist
who influenced a whole art movement and who now inspired a famous
fabric artist. And I would not be writing this article. Of course
if I had not believed in myself, taken the steps I have taken
with my meager little writing career and had not written that
first (now rather pathetic) query to the magazine years ago, I
would not be sitting here preparing questions for an unexpected
assignment.

Notice that Alphonse did not travel his path alone. There were
people who hired him, mentored him, sponsored him, and believed
in him. Maybe the Gnats of the world are simply the things that
make us stronger so that we can lift our chins, square our
shoulders and prepare to fight for our words, our lives, our
birthright.

Enough about Gnats. I have a profile to write! If your phone
isn't ringing, take time to reach out today and say hi to those
favorite editors. You never know what they'll reply.

BIO
Dawn Goldsmith, freelancer since Reagan was president, has
seen a lot of Gnats in her time and is getting much better
at swatting them. She's also the lead stitcher at the blogsite
Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles and is working
on a book by the same name. You may have seen Dawn's writings
in a variety of publications including the Washington Post,
Notre Dame Magazine, and Quilters World - she's quite eclectic
when choosing writing markets.

www.subversivestitch.blogspot.com
www.wordsogold.blogspot.com

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COMPETITIONS
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SEFTON WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.seftonarts.co.uk/uploads/file/entry%20form.pdf
---
ENTRY FEE £2 FOR ADULTS / NO ENTRY FEE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE CATEGORY.

Deadline October 22, 1020. The theme is "IF". Poetry first
prize £250. Four runners up of £50 each. Other writing pays
first prize £250. Four runners up of £50 each. Writing by young
people pays first prize of £50 and five runners up of £10 each.
Poems limited to 40 lines. Other writing is considered short
texts, stories, essays, dialogues, mini-dramas, monologues,
none of which can exceed 500 words. Age limit for young people
category is 14. Young people's work must be illustrated as well.
Open to amateur and professional from throughout the UK.

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2010 HAPPY HOUR POETRY AWARDS
http://www.alehousepress.com/
---
$15 ENTRY FEE FOR THREE POEMS
$1,000 for best poem. $100 for four runners-up. Contest open to
all poets across the country and around the world. Maximum length: 
40 lines per poem. Any topic. Any form. All entries considered for
publication in the 2011 issue of Alehouse. Deadline July 1, 2010.

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GEMINI MAGAZINE FLASH FICTION CONTEST
http://www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html
---
ENTRY FEE $4
Grand prize $1,000. Second Place: $100. Four honorable mentions.
Deadline August 31, 2010. Length 1,000 words. All six finalists
published in the October 2010 Issue of Gemini.

 
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GRANTS
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VILCEK FOUNDATION PRIZE FOR CREATIVE PROMISE IN ARTS AND HUMANITIES
http://vilcek.org/pdfs/Arts_Guidelines.pdf
---
$25,000 awarded to a foreign-born writer who demonstrates
outstanding early achievement. Accepts poets, novelists,
short fiction writers and short creative nonfiction writers.
The mission of the foundation is to recognize extraordinary
achievements of immigrants to the US. Must be more than 38
years of age. Must be a naturalized citizen or permanent
resident. In addition, four finalists will receive $5,000.
Submit up to 30 pages of your best work. Deadline July 30, 2010.

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MILLAY COLONY FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.millaycolony.org/residencies
---
The Millay Colony for the Arts offers one-month residencies
to six visual artists, writers and composers each month between
the months of April and November. We have a seven-acre campus
with meadows and forest in Austerlitz, New York, adjacent to
the former Millay home and gardens and the exquisite Harvey
Mountain State Forest. Deadline October 1, 2010.

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ELSEWHERE RESIDENCIES
http://elsewhereelsewhere.org/programs/residencies
---
Deadline May 31, July 31 and September 30, 2010. Elsewhere
residencies invite creatives of all kinds to experiment with
context, process, and collaboration within a former thrift store
turned living museum. Location Greensboro, NC. Now accepting
applications from artists, curators, writers, musicians, designers,
gardeners, makers, builders, scholars, producers, and creatives
across media for residencies in 2010.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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CIGAR AFICIONADO
http://www.mshanken.com/cigaraficionado/
---
Every issue immerses our readers in topical editorial features
including celebrity profiles and interviews, political perspectives,
great golf, hot cars, the wide world of sports, big stakes gaming,
articles on the best places to travel, fine wines and spirits, the
latest men's fashion, the coolest watches, and trends in consumer
electronics and gadgets, and of course the most respected cigar
reviews and ratings trusted by 1.9 million readers. Pays up to
50 cents/word.

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CIO
http://www.cio.com/staff
---
For IT and business executives interested in using information
technology for their businesses advantage. White papers,
case studies, profiles, trends and new discoveries. In essence,
IT solutions provided for CEOs, COOs, CFOs and CIOs. Pays up
to 35 cents/word. Articles are brief, rarely exceeding 1,200
words.

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DEEP SOUTH
http://www.deepsouthmag.com/?page_id=484
---
Deep South is an online magazine connecting the Southern
states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and parts
of Texas and Florida. Through stories on travel, dining,
shopping and events, as well as a "Southern Voice" literary
section, Deep South aims to help readers rediscover their
South, while also looking back on the history and traditions
that got us to where we are today. New publication only
six months old.
 

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JOBS
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CONTENT WRITER, SOCIOLOGY
Location Belmont, CA
http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175436774
---
Aplia, a Cengage Learning product, is revolutionizing how students
learn. We create online, interactive learning solutions that
increase student effort and engagement in their high school and
college courses. We have helped 1,000,000 students at more than
1,300 institutions since product inception in 2002 and are looking
for eager and like-minded individuals to join our brainy, creative,
and lively group! The Content Writer will create new Sociology
content and shape our Sociology online tools to best serve students
and professors alike. This is a full-time, on-site position located
in our Belmont, CA office.

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WRITING CENTER COORDINATOR
Location Conway, SC
http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175437367
---
Manage and supervise the daily activities of the Writing Center
including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and assessment; teach
University 110 First-Year Experience Course and/or UNIV 105 Academic
Improvement Hour; hire, train, supervise, and evaluate performance
of student tutors as well as provide ongoing training and support
for tutors; plan and conduct writing workshops for students;
provide direct tutoring services related to writing; maintain
familiarity with trends and changes in writing pedagogy as well
as courses taught at Coastal Carolina University. Masters
Degree required.

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COPY EDITORS
Location Arlington, VA
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6252
---
POLITICO seeks talented, detail-oriented and experienced copy
editors to join its stellar copy desk full time. One position
will be a Saturday-to-Wednesday shift. Must have at least 10
years' experience editing for a newspaper, magazine, wire
service or news website and must demonstrate a strong command
of grammar, familiarity with AP style and an ability to work
swiftly and efficiently under tight deadlines.

Also seeking a Weekend Web Editor:
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6299

A Deputy White House Editor:
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6300

And a Senior Policy Editor:
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6242

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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BENREY LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.benreyliterary.com/
---
Benrey Literary represents commercial and general fiction for
adults, including most genres except science fiction, fantasy,
and erotica. In genre fiction, we're especially interested in
mystery, suspense, romance, historical fiction, and women's
fiction. We don't represent children's fiction or young adult
books. We don't market short stories, screenplays, scripts, or
poetry.

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KNEERIM & WILLIAMS
http://www.kwlit.com/theagency.html
---
We welcome both first-time writers and well-established authors.
Over the years, our client list has grown to include New York
Times best-selling novelists, prize-winning historians, scientists,
and journalists. Open to all good writing.

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THE BLUMER LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/BillBlumer/
---
Interested in: General fiction, Mystery, Reference, Biography,
Business/investing/finance, History, Health, Travel, Lifestyle,
Cookbooks, African-American, Memoir, Self-help, How-to.
NOT interested in: romance, science fiction, fantasy, academic,
military fiction, men's action adventure, children/young adult,
poetry, or screenplays.

GET PAID OVER AND OVER FOR THE SAME ARTICLE WITH SELF-SYNDICATION

Jill Pertler has touched people's hearts and funny bones with
her well-loved column, Slices of Life, since 2002. In her quick-
witted, conversational style, Pertler shares the step-by-step
process she followed (and a few secrets she discovered) when
self-syndicating her column, which is published in over 75
newspapers (and counting!).
 
This how-to manual covers all the nitty gritty details of
self-syndication: finding newspaper sources, building
relationships with editors, creating name recognition,
Internet presence, managing addresses, getting a good headshot,
dealing with fans, the terrors of public speaking, getting paid
and more.
 
Available online (print and e-book) through booklocker.com
http://booklocker.com/books/4693.html .

Or, Check it out at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
 
Jill's website: http://marketing-by-design.home.mchsi.com/

If you're going to work with an editor, work with the best.
Have your writing edited by an award-winning, professional
writer and editor, someone who actually knows how to help you
prepare your writing for publication.  Richard Krawiec has
published novels, biographies, text books, plays, and a story
and poetry collection.  He won the 2009 Excellence in Teaching
Award from UNC Chapel Hill for his online writing courses. His
essays, feature articles, and reviews have appeared in major
newspapers and magazines across the US. The NY Times, LA Times,
Publishers Weekly have reviewed his work. His awards include
National Endowment for the Arts and NC Arts Council grants, as
well as nominations for the National Book Award, Best American
Short Stories, and Pushcart Prize.

Email: rkwriter@gmail.com  
Web - www.rkeditor.com

DREAM QUEST ONE POETRY & WRITING CONTEST

Call for Entries:

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is now accepting
poems, 30 lines or fewer on any subject and short stories,
5 pages maximum length on any theme, single or double-line
spacing, neatly hand printed or typed.

Entry fees: $5 per poem/$10 per story.

Prizes:
Poetry: $250, $125, $50.
Writing: $500, $250, $100.

Postmark deadline: July 31, 2010.

All winners will be published online in the Dare to Dream
pages, on August 31, 2010. Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com 
for details and enter!

THE WORLD-CHANGING WRITING WORKSHOP

Find your voice. Change the world.

I believe that it's possible to change the world. I don't think
it'll be done by doing more of the same, though. I think it'll
be done by spreading new ideas. Who's in a perfect position to
spread new ideas? Writers. That's why we created the
World-Changing Writing Workshop.

Now I'm all out of room to talk about the actual contents of
the workshop, so I'll have to send you on over to:

http://worldchangingwriting.com

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WORLDWIDE FREELANCE MARKETS - Serving the freelance writing
community for 10 years. Come and try our searchable database of
writing markets from North America, Europe and around the world. 

http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

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

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BUSINESS STUFF
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C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com

140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036

http://www.fundsforwriters.com

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

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