Volume 10, Issue 32
August 8, 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.

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PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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 Want To Make Your Book A Bestseller -
Even If You're a Marketing Novice?

Discover how to sell more books in a week than
most authors sell all year.  Free telephone
seminar Thursday, August 12th. Go here now to
register: http://www.freeauthortips.com/call871
                 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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ALL PLANTS LOOK ALIKE

My husband, bless his heart, does anything I ask of him in
the yard. Keep in mind my yard is three acres and we live in
South Carolina, which means 95 degrees and air with enough
humidity this time of year that you drink it instead of breathe.
Yesterday, he was digging yet another hole in one of my many
beds, preparing to plant a fig tree. I had ten plants in various
sized pots.

"Hand me the fig," I asked, as I knelt to plant.

"Which one's the fig?" he asked. "They're all just green
plants to me."

We're all green plants to an agent or editor. Writers look
alike in that mile-high slush pile of mediocrity. Yes, that's
how they see us . . . except for those with personality.

All of us feel we have exceptional stories to tell. If we
didn't, we wouldn't write. However, when it comes to pitching
those stories, we not only have to write well, but we also have
to sell well, flashing our character in that so-important
query letter.

I've consulted many writers about queries. The majority of them
have the story idea in their head, but it never makes it to the
query letter. We pour our hearts into the story itself, but don't
quite find a way to voice it just as interestingly into the letter
that makes or breaks the deal.

Same goes for your platform. As you attempt to design your online
personality, stop trying to be what others have already created.
Like the query letter, the blog has to demonstrate how unique
you are without being garish or neon commercial.

If you are a fiction writer, consider these questions:

1. Why are you different from other writers?
2. How is your material different?
3. How relevant are you?
4. What is unique about your writing voice?
5. Why would anybody care what you wrote?

If you are a nonfiction writer, consider these questions:

1. Who are you?
2. Why are you qualified to write this material?
3. Who would endorse you?
4. Why are your ideas relevant?
5. What problem does your material solve?

Good writers are a dime a dozen. What makes you appealing?
Why would an agent or editor look twice at your query, or
read your blog to determine if you are marketable?

Name five of your favorite writers - columnists, feature
writers, novelists or nonfiction authors. Doesn't matter.
Why are they your favorites? What characteristic about them
makes their efforts stand out in a green jungle of other
writers?

Then stop and think. In a garden full of green plants, how
does someone identify you?

     Hope

 9TH ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST

FundsforWriters.com and Literary Database.com team up to
co-sponsor the 9th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest.

Theme: Writing that made a difference.

Both entry fee and no entry fee categories. First place
winner receives $300. Six awards given. Limit 750 words.
Deadline October 31, 2010. Winners announced December 1, 2010.

TWEETEBOOKS

 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. 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 - http://twitter.com/hopeclark

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

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

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WORDS OF SUCCESS

Most people work hard to find artful ways to say very little.
Instead of polishing that turd, why not work harder to think
of something remarkable or important to say in the first place?

~Seth Godin

 
 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Hello Hope!

As a fan of your newsletter, I wanted to share with you one
of own my stories of "Hope"...

A couple of years ago I entered a writing contest sponsored by
my local newspaper (called The Cuffer Prize). My only goal,
besides hoping to win, was to get my work out there and get
noticed. Well, I'm proud to say, my wish came true.

I may not have won but my story appeared in the local paper as
part of a weekly tribute to some of the best entries. It was
an honour indeed to be among the best. My story also went on
to be published (by Creative Books) in an anthology (called the
Cuffer Anthology) a year later among the best selections of this
contest! Quite a thrill for me as I had never been published before.
But it didn't stop there...

After appearing in the paper, a local school asked my permission
to use my story in a Grade 7/8 final exam! They were so impressed
with it and thought it was a wonderful example of the theme of
their exam (which was "point of view"). Of course I agreed and
once all that excitement died down, I thought the fun was over.
Until the other day...

Out of the blue, I get an email from someone from Creative Books
requesting permission to give my email address to Nelson Education.
Nelson wants to publish it in a Grade 7 Anthology text book! I
was ecstatic! This would be my first paying job as a writer! Who
knew that little story would make such an impact? I can only hope
that this is the beginning of a fruitful career as a writer.

I felt I should share that with you. Your newsletter has inspired
me to not give up and that opportunity can knock anytime... anywhere.

All the best!
And keep doing what you do!

Heather Lane
St. John`s, Newfoundland

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ARTICLE
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Marketing! Marketing! Marketing!

By William Mills

Publishers require authors to perform a lot of the marketing
themselves. Marketing does not come naturally to most authors
since many of us are introverts, like me. We would rather spend
all day in libraries or taking long walks in the woods mulling
over plot or character development than hawking our stories.

Below is a list of what I did for marketing A 30 Day Retreat:
A Guide to Spiritual Renewal. I continue to spend at least one
hour per day marketing my book. A 30 Day Retreat deals with
Christian spirituality and is written for a wide ecumenical
audience.

When reading think of your book and how you can approach
your marketing plan with your particular themes in mind.
My list:

1. Contracted to have a professional website created with
Novelwebsite Design, www.novelwebsitedesign.com. Cost = $600 plus
$90 per year for service (includes free email account, monthly
updating, and a blog link).

2. Contacted Vista Print, www.vistaprint.com , to have color
4x6 postcards with the cover of my book on the front and my
website URL and a short blurb on the back; great for bookmarks
or for promotional handouts. Had color business cards made, too. 

3. Created a short "intro email" which I personalized each time
I used it. I included my name, one or two sentences about me, my
website URL, and my book title and publisher information. This
letter became the foundation for the rest of my contacts.

4. Contacted every library in the county system as well as my
alma mater college library and the two college libraries where I
teach part time. I received very positive responses. Libraries
want to carry books by local authors.

5. Contacted every Independent Bookstore within a 400-mile radius
of my home after visiting the Independent Books website,
www.indiebound.com. Results? Three author readings/book signings
lined up from June-Oct in NC and four other stores are stocking
my book.

6. Contacted Christian retreat centers in NC, SC, VA, TN, and GA.
Many retreat centers also have bookstores/gift shops. I received
very positive replies and several have agreed to stock copies of
my book. Since they know that I also lead retreats for Christian
groups, they may ask me to host a retreat later on.

7. Contacted everyone on my email address list, Christmas card list,
former friends, classmates, dentist, doctor, CPA, and insurance
agent. Yes, you may laugh, but they may not know you are an author.
Even if they do not buy your book, they pass on the info to friends
and family.

8. I could not do everything myself so I hired a freelance publicist.
Cost = $1,000. Freelancers range between $1K-$5K per project
depending on marketing plan. What did I get for that money? A color
Press Kit (which is on my website--check it out!!!), 100 contacts for
print, radio, and blog; and a three-month follow-up for book reviews
or author interviews. 

9. Contacted Christian-based blogs that I read and asked if they
would review my book. Results? You betcha, five agreed to review
the book. It's free PR.

10. Four years ago my wife and I traveled to England and Scotland,
and I noticed that every Cathedral has a bookshop or gift shop.
Online I found a Cathedral directory for the UK and used the same
"intro email" that I used for my other contacts. Results? You bet.
Six Cathedrals agreed to stock copies of my book.

All of you new authors out there, get out your address books,
lists, and contacts and start marketing. It's not overwhelming.
In fact, it's simple common sense. 

Good luck.

BIO
William C. Mills - Author of A 30 Day Retreat: A Personal Guide
to Spiritual Renewal (Paulist Press, 2010)
www.williamcmills.com
www.williamcmills.blogspot.com Walking with God blog

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COMPETITIONS
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CANADIAN TALES OF THE FANTASTIC SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.redtuquebooks.ca/RTevents/ShortStoryCompetition.pdf
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
For writers of short fiction. To be considered, a story must
have two things. First, it must contain an element of the
Fantastic; second, it must be identifiably Canadian. If the
story is written by a Canadian, or written about Canadians, or
takes place in Canada, then it meets the 'Identifiably Canadian'
condition. First place pays $500. Second place pays $150 and
the third pays $100. Ten Honourable mention prizes of $25 will
also be awarded. All winning entries will be published by Red
Tuque Books in the upcoming anthology, 'Canadian Tales Of
Fantastic'. Winners will receive a complimentary copy of the
anthology in addition to the prize money. Deadline December
31, 2010.

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CANADIAN SHORT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
http://screenplay-competition.com/
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
Open to writers of any nationality from any country worldwide.
Screenplays must be: written in the English language, industry
standard format, no more than 15 pages in length. Deadline
September 30, 2010. First place: this screenplay will be produced
by Year of the Skunk Productions. The "Grand Prize" title also
comes with an option and purchase agreement for CAD $2,500
prize, an Electronic Publishing Agreement, accreditation to attend
the 2011 Yorkton Film Festival (including complimentary shuttle
ground transportation from Regina airport to Yorkton and one (1)
ticket to attend the Golden Sheaf Awards gala event), an Apple
iPad, Writer's Block crystal award and additional prize package
TBD and subject to availability from competition sponsors.
Excellent second, third and finalist prizes as well.

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THE CHARITON REVIEW SHORT FICTION PRIZE
http://tsup.truman.edu/chariton/guidelines.asp
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Deadline September 30, 2010. An annual award for the best
unpublished short fiction on any theme up to 5,000 words in
English. The author will receive $1,000, and the winning story
will be published in The Chariton Review. Three finalists will
also be published in the Spring issue. All U.S. entrants will
receive a complimentary copy of the Spring prize issue.

 
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GRANTS
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SAN FRANCISCO FILMMAKING GRANTS
http://www.sffs.org/filmmaker-services/grants-and-prizes/sffskrf-filmmaking-grants.aspx
---
A total of $170,000 for Spring and a total of up to $225,000
for Fall will be disbursed in 2010. SFFS/KRF Filmmaking Grants
are open to independent filmmakers and film projects. Applicants
or film must have a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area and
uplift the Bay Area film community in a professional or economic
way. This may include living and working in the Bay Area; the
hiring of local crews; using Bay Area production facilities;
and/or purchasing local materials.

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OREGON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
http://www.racc.org/grants
---
Professional Development Grants (Cycle 2) assist artists or arts
administrators in Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington Counties with
opportunities that specifically improve their business management
development skills and/or brings the artist or the arts organization
to another level artistically. Visit for more information.
Deadline for Intent to Apply: September 22, 2010.

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KIPLINGER FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.KiplingerProgram.org
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AWB9EBB7P
---
Want to learn the latest digital reporting skills? The journalism
field has radically shifted. But when you're working endless hours
and juggling two or three beats, it can be tough to make sense of
it all. That's why the new Kiplinger Fellowship teaches you
innovative digital tools and approaches -- all at no cost to you.
This March 9-16, fifteen journalists will spend an intensive, hands-
on week at Ohio State University, using social media to build a
following, develop sources and cover their beats. We'll talk
Twitter, deep web searches, digital footprints, SEO, the
backchannel and more. Tools you can use to get a step ahead in
the constantly evolving digital world. Then, back in the newsroom,
you can log in for coaching sessions--getting tips and ideas from
renowned journalists. And there's more--your editor has the option
to attend our three-day condensed version of the training in June.
And thanks to the generous support of the Kiplinger Foundation,
all of this will be free-of-charge--plus we'll cover lodging and
give you a travel stipend. Deadline: November 30, 2010.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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LION MAGAZINE
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/news-and-events/lion-magazine/contact-lion-editors/news-mag-guidelin

es.php
---
LION Magazine welcomes freelance article submissions
with accompanying photos that depict the service goals
and projects of Lions clubs on the local, national and
international level. Contributors may also submit general
interest articles that reflect the humanitarian, community
betterment and service activism ideals of the worldwide
association. Article length should not exceed 2,000 words.
Pays up to 50 cents/word.

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MAC LIFE
http://www.maclife.com/article/about_us
---
Written for both new and veteran users, Mac|Life provides
exclusive, authoritative information and advice for readers
who want to get the most out of their Macs, iPods, and third-
party hardware, software, and services. The magazine also
delivers informative feature articles showcasing the latest
hardware and software, an expanded "how-to" section, and
candid reviews of the latest gear. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

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ADVOCATE MAGAZINE
http://www.outtraveler.com/writers/
---
Sister publication to OUT TRAVELER. Included in this 6 to 10-
page publication are four sections: Travel Advocate (what's new,
hot and happening); 'big picture' (what we are talking about
right now); 'unconventional travel' (a weekend planner for a
gay business person taking a couple of extra days); 'vantage
point' (an essay and a round up related to that essay). Pays
up to 50 cents/word.

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JOBS
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WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=89616481&aid=27015391-27710&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline August 24, 2010. Employer US Department of Agriculture.
Serves as writer/editor for the Chief Information Officer
organization and works as a direct report to the Assistant
Chief Information Officer.  Researches, writes, and edits a
variety of materials, including management materials, monthly
updates, special articles, publications, news articles/releases,
and other products on the information technology (IT) investments,
program mission impact, operations, objectives, interests,
viewpoints, and needs of the organization. SALARY RANGE: $51,630
- $81,204/year

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TECHNICAL WRITER
Location Charleston, SC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=87855671&aid=27015391-31710&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline August 30, 2010. Employing Agency: Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command. Develops technical documentation in
concert with applicable policy and procedures. Prepares technical
documents and deliverables into final format for printing and
publication. Advises other personnel during the writing stage
including gathering and verifying facts.

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CULTURE EDITOR
Location West Palm Beach, FL
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6472
---
The Palm Beach Post is looking for a dynamic, creative,
progressive editor to lead its Features department. We need
an idea person who connects with our target audience -- readers
35 to 65 -- on topics from pop-culture trends to relationships
to in-depth profiles.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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SUNBELT PUBLICATIONS
http://www.sunbeltbook.com/submission.asp
---
We specialize in regional travel and reference, guidebooks,
natural science, and outdoor adventure in California, Baja
California, and the Southwest U.S.

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DYSTOPIA PRESS
http://www.dystopiapress.com/Writings.html
---
We publish post-apocalyptic (what happens after the world/
civilization collapses) and dystopian (what happens after the
world/society veers off in some disturbing direction) trade
paperback novels. The average length of the books we are
interested in publishing varies but is typically 80,000 to
100,000 words. We only want original works that have not been
previously published elsewhere.

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LEAPFROG PRESS
http://www.leapfrogpress.com/submissions.htm
---
We are looking for that rare book that combines dark and light,
satire and honesty, emotional range and pure joy of invention.
We like books on the edge of avant guarde. We are particularly
interested in works that are quirky, that fall outside of any
known genre, and of course are well written and finely crafted.
Although we have a small number of popular fiction titles, our
focus is literary fiction. We publish mainly adult fiction, and
occasionally nonfiction. We do not publish children's picture
books. We are not currently looking for poetry.

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SPONSORS
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MANUSCRIPT CONSULTATION

Pro novelist (with literary agency background)
published with Penguin Group and Grand Central
(same publisher as Stephenie Meyer & Nicholas Sparks)
offers critique AND marketing/positioning strategies.

Specialization: women's fiction, romance (all genres),
historical, mainstream, literary lite, and literary.
Sorry! No thrillers, horror, or westerns.

I only take on projects I love--chemistry is important!

Visit www.LisaDaleBooks.com/writers.

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PUBLISHED WRITER WILL EDIT YOUR NOVEL, MEMOIR, POETRY

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

USE SYNDICATION TO BOOST YOUR FREELANCE CAREER

This how-to manual covers all the nitty gritty details of
self-syndication: finding sources, building relationships,
creating name recognition, Internet presence, what not to
post on your website, managing addresses, getting a good
headshot, dealing with fans, the terrors of public speaking,
when to break the rules of syndication, getting paid and more.
 
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.
 
Available online (print and e-book) through booklocker.com
http://booklocker.com/books/4693.html.

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Get This Free Publicity Tool

Reporter Connection is a free service that tells you about
opportunities to get publicity in magazines, newspapers and
on radio/TV.
 
http://www.reporterconnection.com/joinfree/?11855

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October 9-10, 2010  Houston Writers Guild

FALL GENRE CONTEST

NOVEL/SCREENPLAY CONTEST

Dead N line September 3

Seven first place winners

By genre

Winners announced at our

Fall Conference October 9

Featuring Sam Havens,  Michael Larsen, Elizabeth Pomado, Jon Sternfeld, Nicholas Croce, & Jennifer Mattson

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 

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