Volume 10, Issue 48
November 28, 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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Enrollment in the 12-week, online course begins in just
two weeks and we will sell out quickly.

If you're a serious, aspiring writer and want to overcome
your resistance, conquer your self-doubt, control your time,
and create your unique writing life,

sign up today!
 

Find out more at www.literaryliving.com

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

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WHY DREAMS DON'T SOAR

What we often attribute to fate and the hand of others is
more the fault of grounded dreams - dreams we weighed down
ourselves, not allowing the wings to spread and take flight.
The change isn't a sudden slam of a door or quick reversal
of speed, but more of a slow easy slide into nothing. And
we assume it isn't our fault.

We have to assume some of the responsibility. Whether we
admit it or not, we abetted the demise by:

--Letting others dissuade us. It's amazing how people who
  haven't succeeded tend to be the loudest naysayers. While
  writers are known for having some mighty big hearts,
  those who don't understand the craft still tend to believe
  anyone can pull off a bestseller. We hear far too many
  negatives, and we start to believe the words.

--Letting past disappointment control us. We've failed in
  other arenas. We've had close calls with contracts.
  We've submitted to 72 agents, been rejected 42 times and
  ignored 32. We've divorced, endured physical restrictions,
  and weathered disease.

--Letting that inner editor tell us that we've done fine
  considering the odds. We'd be better off NOT knowing the
  odds. That way we don't settle for less than our best.

--Letting the hard work stop us from tackling another hurdle.
  We get tired, and our confidence weakens.

--Locking up our imagination. Like dancing in front of people,
  we fear cutting loose and letting our inner child free.
  We grip what's comfortable instead of jumping on the dance
  floor under the spotlight, where people can easily judge.

Sometimes the odds stack up against us, but face it, our
attitude about how we deal with our dreams is completely
in our hands. Maintain control. After all, it's your dream,
and no one else's.

     Hope

THE NATIONAL CREATIVE SOCIETY
BARNES & NOBLE CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER
FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

This is an organization whose goal is to encourage students'
creativity as well as their participation in the creative arts. 
This year among our other outreaches we will be funding seven
separate scholarships for college-bound high school seniors.
 
As part of our annual fund drive, we are having a book fair
from Dec. 2 through Dec. 5. IF you were going Christmas shopping
during those dates anyway, and IF you were planning on buying
some books as gifts, and IF you were going to make those
purchases at any Barnes and Noble Bookstore or online at BN.com,
THEN please consider using one of our coupons when you make your
purchase.
 
The National Creative Society will receive a donation from
Barnes and Noble equal to 10% of your purchase. You will
receive a warm feeling deep down inside because you did the
right thing, and it won't cost you a penny more than you were
going to spend, anyway. It's a win-win situation, and you
don't even have to print out the coupons in color.

http://www.nationalcreativesociety.com/homepage.html
Click on "2010 Barnes and Noble Book Fair"
 
Thanks.
 
PS: If you get to the store and have forgotten your coupon,
just mention the National Creative Society book fair and
the salesperson can take it from there.

====

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

"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very
silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

- Henry Van Dyke

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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Dear Hope,

It's about time that I wrote to say thank you. Your blog has been a
part of my writing life in a few significant ways, especially
recently. It was your post about having an online presence that
spurred me to get my own site set up at www.vickilynnwilson.com. Just
recently, your listing for the Hint Fiction contest at Gotham Writers'
Workshop led to me being a runner up. And last year, I was the second
place winner in Family Circle magazine's fiction contest. You
mentioned the contest on your blog.

These accomplishments were especially important to me because I had my
first child, a boy named Jack, in March. I wasn't sure how his arrival
would change my writing life. It turns out, with your help, that it
hasn't changed all that much. Life in general got better because of my
son, and I just got a little more creative finding writing time.
Thanks so much for your help.

Sincerely,
Vicki Wilson

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ARTICLE
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5 Tips for Article Source Success
By Renee Roberson
 
All your well-researched queries and perseverance have paid
off and you've now landed some of your first assignments.
Congratulations! Your next step is to find the appropriate
sources to help bolster your articles and give them substance.
Here are some ideas for how to find the best sources, the best
way to work with public relations agencies and how to ward off
any source disasters before they derail a promising assignment.
 
Where should you find your sources?

Profnet.com is a great resource to find experts on any number
of subjects, as is Peter Shankman's "Help a Reporter Out"
service. Search Amazon.com in your subject heading and see if
you can find any recently published non-fiction books whose
authors might make great experts. Keep contact information for
every source you interview (and make a note of a particularly
positive or negative experience) so you can contact these
subjects for any future articles where they could be a good fit.
You can also find specific experts and research for your related
topic by contacting the communications departments of places
such as the American Cancer Society or Autism Speaks.
 
Always double check quotes and obtain permission from article sources.

When you conduct an e-mail or phone interview, always double
check your source is okay with her personal information and
anecdotes going into print. Send your source any quotes you plan
to use from the interview for verification (not necessarily the
whole article) and keep all e-mail correspondence. Sources do
sometimes have a change of heart, later, and may tell your editor
they no longer wish to be quoted. You may need to have evidence
to back yourself up.
 
Work with public relations agencies wisely. PR reps can be great
to work with. They recognize when a client is a great fit for an
article topic and swiftly coordinate an interview time that
works for both parties. But there are instances where a rep
presents a great source for your article topic but then find out
their client is going to be out of the country for the next year.
If you counted on that expert to provide the bulk of research for
your interview, you're out of luck. Which leads me to my next point . . .
 
Don't wait until the last minute to find sources. Always find
two to three more sources than you'll actually need for the
article. Once, I had planned to interview an obstetrician-
gynecologist for an article and she had to cancel at the last
minute. The public relations agency she worked with provided me
with another source, in a time zone three hours behind me. I
stayed up late the night before the article was due to interview
the source on the phone, only to find out she really didn't think
my article topic had merit and refused to give me any pertinent
information. I hadn't lined up enough sources to cover me after
that bomb of an interview and struggled to complete the piece
on time. I now know having more sources is better than having
none when it comes down to the wire.
 
Make sure your source is the right fit for your subject matter.
When a source contacts you, make sure they have the proper
expertise to act as an expert source and aren't just promoting
their latest book, blog, or Web site. For example, a personal
trainer with an exercise blog may not be the best expert for an
article on children's nutrition. I typically find experts who
will include facts, anecdotes and research in their initial
correspondence with you particularly promising. Over the years,
I've learned how to comb through "dud" sources and spot which
experts and anecdotal subjects will be the best fit for my
articles. In time, you will too.
 
BIO
Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer whose work
appears regularly in newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Visit her website at www.finishedpages.com.

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COMPETITIONS
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WAGS REVUE WRITING CONTEST
http://www.wagsrevue.com/submit.php
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Wag's Revue invites you to enter its Winter 2011 Contest in
fiction, poetry, and essays. Submissions of electronic writing
are also encouraged in any of the above genres. First prize
receives $1,000 and publication in Wag's Revue; second prize
is $500, third is $100, and all submissions are considered for
publication. The contest deadline is January 15, 2011 and winners
will be announced with the publication of Issue 9 in April 2011.
Submissions of poetry may include multiple poems but should not
exceed 10 pages. Fiction and essay submissions should not exceed
10,000 words.

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BOATING WRITERS INTERNATIONAL WRITING CONTEST
http://www.bwi.org/tag/writing-contest/
---
$35 ENTRY FEE FOR NONMEMBERS.
NO ENTRY FEE TO MEMBERS - MEMBERSHIP IS $35.
BWI is accepting entries to its 18th Annual Writing Contest
that recognizes excellence in boating, fishing and travel
journalism. There are 17 categories that each will award
$500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third
place winners. The newest category, "Original Online
Content," recognizes the best blogs, articles, videos,
photos, podcasts, and social media streams. The Contest
is applicable to the broadest spectrum of boating, outdoor
and travel writers, and offers $17,000 in cash awards
during the first round of judging that will be paid to
51 winners in 2010. Entries must be received at BWI
headquarters (not postmarked) by December 15, 2010.

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SPOON RIVER POETRY REVIEW
http://www.litline.org/Spoon/contest.html
---
$16 ENTRY FEE, INCLUDES ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION.
One winning poem will be awarded $1000 and two runners-up will
be awarded $100 each. Winning poem, runners-up, and honorable
mentions will be published in the 2010 fall issue. Submit two
copies of three unpublished poems, maximum of ten pages total.
Deadline April 15, 2011.

 
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GRANTS
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ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL WIP GRANT
http://www.arts.on.ca/Page3966.aspx#wip
---
The Ontario Arts Council's Literature Office created the
Writers' Works in Progress program (WIP) as a "buying-time"
grant for professional writers engaged in book-length literary
projects. Over the years, the WIP program has supported many
established and emerging Ontario writers and has provided the
financial footing for many a published book. Deadline
December 3, 2010. Only professional writers from the northeast,
northwest and far north regions are eligible to apply to this
deadline. See OAC's maps of geographic regions to locate your
area.

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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK RESIDENCIES
Location Maine
http://www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm
---
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists, photographers,
sculptors, performers, writers, composers. Application deadline:
November 1 to January 1 (received). Residency period: May, early
June, September, October. Five to six residencies offered of
three weeks each.

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THURBER HOUSE RESIDENCY IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
http://www.thurberhouse.org/childrens-writer-in-residence.html
---
The Thurber House Residency in Children's Literature offers
talented, emerging writers a month-long retreat in a lovely,
quiet living and working environment in James Thurber's home
in Columbus, Ohio. Besides having time to focus on his/her
own writing project, the resident will teach writing-based
activities to middlegrade children in a variety of community
settings, including the Thurber Summer Writing Camp. Deadline
December 10, 2010.

Requirements:

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BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER RESIDENCIES
Location Arkansas
http://www.nps.gov/buff
http://www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm
---
Residencies open to: Two-dimensional visual artists,
photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, video/filmmakers,
composers. Application deadline: January 31 (postmarked).
Residency period: March - November. Four residencies of up to
three weeks each.
 

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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MOTHERING
http://www.mothering.com/submission-guidelines
---
We are more likely to publish your article if you are a Mothering
reader and are familiar with the issues we discuss. Think about
the subjects you know well, and those that are not over-exposed.
The "Your Letters" section of the magazine is a good place to
find topics of interest to our readers. We recommend that essays
run 1,500 to 2,500 words. Longer, researched articles can be up
to 3,500 words. We pay between $200 and $500 for a magazine article.

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YES!
http://www.yesmagazine.org/about/writers-guidelines
---
Each issue of YES! includes a series of articles focused on a
theme--about solutions to a significant challenge facing our
world--and a number of timely, non-theme articles. Our non-theme
section provides ongoing coverage of issues like health, climate
change, globalization, media reform, faith, democracy, economy
and labor, social and racial justice, and peace building. We
highlight solutions in action that address the roots of our
deepest ecological, social, and political problems.

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NORTHWEST COAST
http://www.nwcmagazine.com/writers-guidelines/
---
Northwest Coast is always on the lookout for new, skilled
freelancers interested in writing about the greater Columbia-
Pacific region. Feature Articles (1,500-3,000 words) are the
centerpiece of the magazine. Writers have a much better
chance of getting their feature article published if it is
accompanied by high-quality photographs. Payment, $200-$450.
Featurettes (600-1,500 words) are snapshots of some particular
person, place, or thing on the Northwest Coast and may appear
in any section of the magazine from Nature to Food to History.
Photographic support is strongly encouraged. Submit complete
manuscripts. Payment, $100-$200. Off The Shelf (1,200-1,500
words) is a section that highlights a classic work (fiction
or non-fiction) from the Northwest literary canon that
inspires you. Submit complete manuscripts. Payment, $200.

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JOBS
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WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Location Washington DC
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=93750438&aid=27015391-181110&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline December 1, 2010. Civilian position with the Army.
Stars and Stripes has reported first-hand on military conflicts
since the Civil War and continuously since World War II by
reporting information and news of interest and value. We offer
the military community a choice of media to assure access by
service members, their families, veterans civilian employees,
and other interested readers. Our news gathering and publishing
activities are guided by the principles of a free press and are
free of any and all outside control.

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DINING EDITOR
Location Columbus, Ohio
http://www.ed2010.com/jobs/whisperjobs/2010/11/dispatch-printing-company-dining-editor
---
The Dispatch Printing Company seeks a Dining Editor to lead our
coverage of Columbus' vibrant restaurant scene, managing all
editorial content for a daily website and new quarterly magazine.

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PROFESSIONAL WRITER
Location West Caldwell, NJ
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/detail/11622/
---
Community Educations Centers (CEC) is a leading provider of
community corrections programs, in-prison treatment programs
and offender management services. CEC is seeking an experienced
professional with journal writing experience within the Criminal
Justice industry to write a book about the success of Community
Education Centers. Duties will include developing a detailed
prospectus, outlining the goals, scope, audience, etc. This
individual will synthesize this information after meeting with
key executives, treatment staff and security staff to develop
the book contents.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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VISION PAPERBACKS
http://www.visionpaperbacks.co.uk/editorial.php
---
Our editorial team is always on the lookout for authors
with fresh and innovative ideas. We negotiate with British
and overseas authors and publishers alike, whose ideas and
outlook match ours, and who are producing manuscripts on
subjects that deserve a much wider audience.

Wants investigative journalism and current affairs. The more
internationally important the issue, the better, although
titles specifically relating to UK events are also welcome.
The more controversial the proposal, the more we'll want it,
as long as it's not libellous. Whistleblowers are most welcome.

Also wants general science and environmental topics. Mostly
looking for science stories with an investigative flavour -
again, controversial and far-reaching and most definitely
for the general reader is what we are after.

We do not publish fiction, poetry, illustrated, photography
or children's books, nor do we publish technical or purely
academic books. We are no longer publishing cookery titles.
We will not publish books that glamorise or encourage
violence and warfare. We are also opposed to publishing books
that encourage discrimination or prejudice on the grounds of
race, gender, disability or sexuality and we do not support
books that condone non-consensual activities.

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FUSION PRESS
http://www.visionpaperbacks.co.uk/editorial.php
---
A sister press to Vision Paperbacks above. Same standards
and same restrictions on no fiction, poetry, photo or children's
books. Subject matter includes:

Sexuality, alternative lifestyles and drug culture

Seeks authoritative, reliable and safety-aware writing on sex,
sexuality and drug culture that breaks new ground in an original
and, where possible, controversial way. While not slaves to
political correctness, they will not publish books that encourage
non-consensual activities or that encourage prejudice/discrimination.

Likes exciting biographies about controversial, infamous,
political, unusual or inspirational figures, dead or alive.

Enjoys intelligent and informed comment on the state of our
society and media today, whether you choose to focus on the
positive or more troubling aspects of life today. Looking for
the rare and exciting alchemy of original, contemporary titles
that are off the beaten track but also have a viable market.

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MUNDANIA PRESS
http://www.mundania.com/index.php
---
Mundania Press is a royalty paying traditional publisher offering
extraordinary books by talented authors.  Our books are available
in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, and eBook formats.  We publish
Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery/Detective/Thriller,
Romance (all subgenres), Histories, Westerns, Mainstream, War/Spy,
and Anthologies.  We accept both new authors and previously
published works.  No inquiry is needed and submissions are
always open.

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SPONSORS
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CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest.

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

Writing Contest First Prize: $500. 2nd: $250. 3rd: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize: $250. 2nd: $125. 3rd: $50.

Postmark deadline: December 31, 2010.

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

AWARD-WINNING WRITER, PUBLISHER
WILL EDIT YOUR NOVEL, MEMOIR, POETRY

Have your writing edited by an award-winning, professional
writer, editor, and publisher, one who 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. 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. 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. He is founder of Jacar Press.

 
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WHY ADVERTISE IN FUNDSFORWRITERS?

For my first advertising for my fledging business I needed to
make strategic choices within a very limited budget. I chose
to advertise in two places:  the Funds for Writers (FFW)
newsletter and a major writer's magazine (circulation of 100,000).
FFW far outperformed the magazine! From my first FFW ad I got an
immediate and enormous spike in traffic to my web site and within
24-hours had more than 100 people sign up on my website. And that
was just the first ad! Over the course of the six-week ad campaign
I saw a noticeable spike in traffic after each ad hit people's
inboxes and in total garnered at least 500 new sign-ups.

If you're thinking about advertising in FFW, do it!
    
Joan Dempsey, Founder & President
http://www.literaryliving.com

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MARKETS PLUS: 2500 WRITING MARKETS

For 10 years Worldwide Freelance has been helping freelance
writers to find paying markets. Search or browse the free
database of 750+ markets. Or join Markets Plus and you will
have 2500+ markets at your fingertips.

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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