FundsforWriters - January 28, 2011
Published: Fri, 01/28/11
Volume 11, Issue 4
January 28, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FUNDS FOR WRITERS
Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mailto: Hope@fundsforwriters.com
Website: http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. Use
information listed at your own risk. FundsforWriters gives
no warranty to completeness, accuracy, or fitness of the
markets, contests and grants although research is done to
the best of our ability.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read newsletter online at: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/FFW.htm
Read past issues at: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?fundsforwriters
=====
NOTE:
Several authors have contacted me about their issues with VALOR
PUBLISHING GROUP. As with any publishing company, ask many
questions and reach a comfort level with them before signing.
Since we posted Valor a week ago, they have also changed their
site to state they are not accepting submissions at present.
http://www.valorpublishinggroup.com/submissions.php
====
STATISTICS FROM SISTERS IN CRIME CREATE A STIR
Sisters in Crime < http://www.sistersincrime.org/ > is a
support group for women who write mysteries. It was founded
by famous mystery author Sara Paretsky in 1986, and currently
touts 3,600 members worldwide.
Recently, Sisters in Crime-commissioned a 47-page report on
the book selection habits of the mystery book buyer. The study,
titled "The Mystery Book Consumer in the Digital Age, provides
an overview of the mystery/crime fiction book-buying environment.
Among the findings of the study:
The majority of buyers tend to be women over 45.
68 percent of mysteries are purchased by women.
More than half of mystery buyers are more than 45.
Buyers 18 to 44 years of age purchase 31 percent of mysteries sold.
48 percent of buyers live in suburban areas.
27 percent reside in rural areas.
25 percent live in urban areas.
35 percent are purchased by individuals who live in the South.
26 percent are purchased by people in the West.
20 percent are purchased by those in the Midwest.
19 percent are purchased by individuals in the Northeast.
39 percent are obtained through in-store purchases.
19 percent are borrowed from libraries.
17 percent are purchased online.
Online purchases in the mystery genre top all types of fiction.
Ever since this study came out, people have freaked. Mystery
writers are dissecting this study, micro-analyzing how to
manage these numbers into a marketing plan. Some are using
this report to decide whether to e-publish or not.
First, polls and reports often lag behind current day.
This one covered 2009 and the first half of 2010. That's
pretty recent, but when you are analyzing today's publishing,
particularly e-publishing, trends change in a matter of
months, if not weeks. The report admitted in its summary that
ebooks rose from 1.7% of purchases in second quarter 2009 to
7% of purchases in second quarter 2010. I think you'll see
an even bigger percentage today.
Kindle drove 2009. A mixture of e-readers drove the market
in 2010. No telling what will happen in 2011. Smashwords is
up and growing, and people are e-reading on every kind of
device imaginable.
Do not let reports, polls, and cable news networks drive
your ambition. Get ideas from them, but do not let them
deter your drive. Do your own research. Whether you are
writing mystery or romance, sci-fi or westerns, be aware
of your market.
Everyone wrote vampire stories because of Twilight. Now
they are stale as two-week old bread, and agents run
screaming away from such queries. Trends can't drive what
you want to write.
I'd rather drive than be driven, so I know where I'm going.
That goes for my writing, too.
Hope
RETURN TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME!
======
AWAI - American Writers & Artists Inc.
AWAI's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting
How to break into copywriting.
http://www.thewriterslife.com/awi/b8a1
=====
THE BLOG - http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
~~~~~~****~~~~~~
WORDS OF SUCCESS
"Obstacles are necessary for success . . . as in all careers
of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and
countless defeats. Yet each struggle, each defeat, sharpens
your skills and strengths, your courage and your endurance,
your ability and your confidence and thus each obstacle is a
comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better . . . or quit.
Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from
them, avoid them, and you throw away your future."
~ Og Mandino ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Hope,
I love getting your wonderful newsletter every week. From you,
I got the idea to submit a story to the Chicken Soup for the
Soul anthologies, and my story "Soul Food" was published in
the newly released, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping the New
You (1/2/11). Then Saturday night (a week ago), I read your
listing about the Sullivan Maxx Literary Agency. I submitted a
manuscript to them that night, and signed a contract with them
the next morning!
I'm the author of fourteen Jewish picture books, including
Remarkable Park, What Do You See in Your Neighborhood? and
The Invisible Book, but now, with help from the Soul of Souls -
and you - I am venturing forth into the mainstream world as
well. Your resources, your insights, and your encouragement
are such valuable tools for growth.
Sincerely,
Bracha Goetz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Writing myths that keep you from moving forward and making money!
By: Jennifer Brown Banks
When most writers think of obstacles to success, they think of
common culprits like writer's block and time constraints.
What many don't realize is having the wrong approach to writing
and falling for myths can be just as detrimental to ones' bottom
line.
Advice is abundant. Some good, some bad. The savvy writer knows
to weed through this wealth of information, extract what makes
sense for his career, based upon his writing style, career goals,
and strengths and weaknesses, and devise his own path.
In my travels along the path to success, I have had a few stumbles,
detours, and missteps from buying into the wrong "expert advice".
The truth is that through some trial and error and proper
discernment, we become our own "experts" if we heed important
lessons along the way.
Here are five long-held practices and principles that may have
prevented you from making money in the past, that you may need
to reconsider.
Myth # 1
In order to be successful you must write everyday.
Not true. I have written over 500 articles, commentary pieces,
columns and poems over my writing career, and have never missed
a deadline. But I don't write everyday. I'm not always mentally
"motivated" to write, and forcing myself to do so would make
writing more of a chore. On days when I "choose" to be expressive,
I feel I have something worthy to say. On days that I don't write,
however, I do read, research and rejuvenate.
Myth # 2
To be taken seriously as a writer and blogger, you must have a
domain name that ends in dot.com. Not necessarily. Noted authors
and bloggers like Hope Clark, Kelly James-Enger and Erika Dreifus
have had great success and fierce followings via spots at
blogger.com. Additionally, I have blogged for, and been paid by
award-winning sites such as Daily Blog Tips, Blogging Pro,
Technorati and Search Engine Journal, without the benefit of a
fancy domain name. Regardless as to where you blog, or what
name it goes under, make sure your content is of the utmost
quality, and that your site is professional in design and
appearance. That's what matters most to editors, potential
clients and fans.
Myth # 3
You can't make money at blogging. I beg to differ. Blogging has
transitioned from a recreational way to rant, to an art form
and powerful medium with major players. In fact, depending upon
the project, you can actually earn more cash through blogging
than writing articles. For example, I have one client that pays
me 50 bucks per blog post, (which usually takes an hour or two).
Though it won't pay my mortgage, it will definitely finance a
little "unbudgeted" shopping.
Myth # 4
Queries are an absolute essential to publishing success. Don't
believe the hype. Though you'll need to master them in order to
break into some of the major big glossies, quite a few writers
have been able to carve out impressive careers without adhering
to this cardinal rule. I am one of them. For more info on query
free techniques and tips, see www.queryfreefreelancer.com/
Myth #5
Writing is not competitive. Think again. Don't be fooled by the
fact that fellow writers can be some of the most supportive,
friendly folks you'll ever encounter. Like it or not, the very
nature of what we do is competitive. There are only so many gigs
and creative projects to go around. A troubling economy has now
added to the mix. Study your competition. Find out what they're
doing, or not doing, and be strategic in your efforts. This doesn't
mean that you should be cut-throat, unethical, or envious. Instead
let this knowledge keep you on your toes and always aiming higher!
Dispel these five common myths and you'll have true success and
make more money in 2011 and beyond!
BIO
Jennifer Brown Banks
Veteran freelance writer, Columnist, Pro Blogger
http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
Managing Editor, Coffeehouse for Writers
http://Coffeehouseforwriters.com/
Columnist, Technorati.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REDIVIDER'S FIRST ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST
http://www.redividerjournal.org/submit/
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
Submissions must be 8,000 words or less. Submit a brief cover
letter with the first 300 words of the submission. Deadline
March 1, 2011. The winner will receive $1,000 and publication
in the Spring 2011 issue. Second place receives $250 and
possible publication. Third place receives $100 and possible
publication.
=====
THE NICK BLATCHFORD OCCASIONAL VERSE CONTEST
http://tnq.ca/contests
---
ENTRY FEE: $40 for up to 2 unpublished poems.
This contest is for poems written in response to an occasion,
personal or public-poems of gratitude or grief, poems that
celebrate or berate, poems that make of something an occasion
or simply mark one. We are interested in light verse and in
verse more sober, in the whole spectrum of tones and occasions.
We will award a grand prize of $1,000 to the poem judged most
worthy. Another $1,000 in prize money will be distributed as
the judges fancy. However the prize money falls, the best of
what we see will be published in The New Quarterly, at our
usual rates, and posted on our website. Submissions include
a one-year Canadian subscription (or subscription extension)
to The New Quarterly, and may be accompanied by a brief
paragraph describing the event that occasioned the poem.
Deadline: February 28, 2011. Entrants must be Canadian
residents or citizens.
=====
THE NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARD
http://www.IndieBookAwards.com
---
$75 ENTRY FEE ($50 FOR ADDITIONAL ENTRIES)
Calling all indie book authors and publishers - including small
presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses,
e-book publishers, and self-published authors who have a book
written in English released in 2010 or 2011 or with a 2010 or
2011 copyright date. Award consists of 67 monetary prizes
totaling more than $10,000 in cash, including $1,500 cash prizes
plus trophies for best fiction book and best non-fiction book,
$750 cash prizes plus trophies for second best fiction book and
non-fiction book and $500 cash prizes plus trophies for third
best fiction book and non-fiction book. Deadline - March 2, 2011.
Presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group
(IBPPG) in conjunction with Marilyn Allen of Allen O'Shea
Literary Agency.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COVE PARK RESIDENCIES - APPLICATIONS OPEN
http://www.covepark.org/Residencies/Opportunities.aspx#guidelines
---
Application guidelines for Cove Park and Creative Scotland's
2011 Visual Arts Crafts and Literature residencies are now
available. Cove Park will award a minimum of one residency in
each discipline of up to three months during May and August 2011.
Applications welcome from UK and international artists. Deadline
for applications for literature residencies: Friday 4th February 2011.
=====
OSAGE ARTS COMMUNITY
http://osageac.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx
---
Emerging and advanced visual artists of all disciplines, as
well as writers, and composers, are encouraged to apply for
residency at Osage Arts Community. We also invite collaborative
teams to apply. However, students are not eligible. At this
time, we do not accommodate for performance or production crafts.
Our primary criteria is the quality of your body of work and
your ability to work in an extremely isolated environment.
Although preference is given to new applicants, we look forward
to seeing artists at Osage on a regular basis as alumni! Feel
free to update and resubmit your application for review.
OAC is located on a 152-acre farm in an isolated rural
mountainside setting in Central Missouri bordered by a mile
of the Gasconade River.
=====
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, FAYETTEVILLE, NC ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS
http://www.theartscouncil.com/grants.php
---
Regional Artist Project Grant funds are intended to provide
financial support to a broad range of exceptionally talented
visual, performing, literary and inter-disciplinary artists by
funding a project that will have a significant impact on the
advancement of their professional artistic career. The
applicant may be an emerging or established artist. A
deserving applicant will have a strong record of artistic
accomplishment appropriate to the stage of his/her career.
Regional Artist Project Grants are intended to fund a
particular project that will take place between November 1,
2010 and October 31, 2011. While no specific limits have
been established, awards may range from $500 - $2,500.
Applicants may receive full or partial funding.
NOTE:
You'd be amazed at how many counties and towns have arts
grants for their population. Local grants are always the
easiest to reach. This is just an example of one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BREATHE
http://www.readbreathe.com/contributors-guidelines/
---
We're looking for content that's both informative and
entertaining for active women who value a healthy lifestyle.
A "healthy lifestyle" encompasses everything from how we
treat our minds and bodies (nutrition, fitness, health,
beauty) to how we treat our planet (green living, social
responsibility, eco-friendly products and practices). Our
print edition is available throughout the Mid-Atlantic and
Southeast, and we aim to keep our content relevant to these
regions, through both sources and subject matter. This can
mean national and universal stories with a regional spin
as well as region-specific stories. Our features vary in
length from 800-2,500 words, and relate in some way to each
issue's theme. We publish profiles, guides, non-fiction
personal essays, and more in-depth stories about issues
relevant to our readers' interests. We do not accept fiction
or poetry. In addition to features, we have department pages
in every issue: Fitness, Nutrition, Green Living, Breathe In
(the latest in beauty, gear and style), Family and Breathe
Out (outdoor adventure). Department pages generally run 500
words.
=====
THE COTTAGER
http://www.thecottager.mb.ca/contact_us.php?ID=contributors_guidelines
---
Four times a year The Cottager delivers features that inform,
entertain or help cottagers in Manitoba and Northwestern
Ontario explore lakeside living and the great outdoors. We
profile unique cottages and cottagers, and the issues -
environmental, social or financial - that affect cottage
communities and lifestyles. The Cottager focuses on issues
that matter to owners of summer residences as well as full
time cottage country residents. We cover everything from
real estate trends to building and renovations at the cottage,
as well year-round recreation - on and off the water - with
articles devoted to boating, fishing, water sports, hiking,
cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
=====
SCOUTING
http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/about/contributors/writers.html
---
Many of our best article ideas come from volunteer and
professional Scouters, but most stories are written by staff
members or professional writers. We seldom publish
unsolicited manuscripts (the exception being inspirational
accounts or successful program ideas by individual Scouters).
We rely heavily on regional writers to cover an event or
activity in a particular part of the country. A query with
a synopsis or outline of a proposed story is essential.
We buy short features of 500 to 700 words; some longer
features, up to 1,200 words, usually the result of a definite
assignment to a professional writer. We do not buy fiction
or poetry. We pay on acceptance. We purchase first rights
unless otherwise specified (purchase does not necessarily
guarantee publication). Photos, if of acceptable quality,
are usually included in payment for certain assignments.
Payment rates depend on the professional quality of an
article. Payment is from $300 to $500 for a short feature,
$650 to $800 for a major article, and more for quality
articles by frequent contributors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPYEDITOR
Location Atlanta, GA
Job # BRDG2340
http://www.meredith.com/meredith_corporate/careers.html
---
The Copy Editor gathers and enters changes to copy instructions
and materials on multiple log streams as directed by his or her
manager. Gathers materials and material Instructions; attaches
to appropriate orders with correct dates and days. Maintains
contact with agencies, advertisers and Account Executives to
ensure timely changes are made. Monitors spot delivery services
for spots and instructions and fax machines for material
instructions. High school degree required, 4-year degree preferred.
=====
INTERACTIVE STAFF WRITER
Location Des Moines, Iowa
Job # PUBL2370
http://www.meredith.com/meredith_corporate/careers.html
---
The Interactive Staff Writer organizes and writes stories,
slide shows and newsletters for the Crafts CEO division
including bhg.com/crafts, Scrapbooksetc.com and Allpeoplequilt.com.
This position responds to editorial-based user inquiries. The
Interactive Staff Writer facilitates the production of additional
online materials under the direction of the Creative Director.
Minimum one year experience writing and editing magazines, books,
or newspapers, or directly related field. Internship or apprentice
experience, particularly in Web-content creation, will be accepted
in lieu of formal career experience.
=====
SENIOR WRITER
Location San Diego, CA
http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?joid=110729&page=1
---
The Senior Writer will be responsible for writing and editing
Web and e-mail newsletter content about health and wellness
topics. The writer will need to be adept at strategy, able to
think about the role of individual pieces within the larger
mosaic of existing RealAge content. Minimum of 4 years of full-
time professional writing experience in fields related to health,
wellness, nutrition, disease prevention, and fitness. At least 3
years experience writing for the Web or e-mail newsletters.
B.S. degree in biology, health sciences, or a related field, or
B.A. in English, communication, journalism, or a related field.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JILL GRINBERG LITERARY MANAGEMENT
http://www.grinbergliterary.com/
---
Covers nonfiction and novels. Fiction includes commercial,
fantasy, historical, juvenile, literary, romance, sci-fi,
women's, YA, MG.
=====
LAURA GROSS LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.lauragrossliteraryagency.com/
---
Handles nonfiction, fiction and scholarly books. Fiction
includes historical, literary, mainstream, mystery, suspense,
thriller.
=====
HALYARD LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.halyardagency.com/
---
Handles nonfiction and novels. Fiction consists of fantasy,
historical, juvenile, sci-fi, YA, mainstream, paranormal.
Nonfiction includes autobiography, biography, history,
science, technology.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPONSORS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Houston Writers Guild
Spring Contest Now Open
$1,000 First Prize
$25 entry fee
($20 for 2nd/3rd entries)
Submit one-page synopsis and first 10 pages of
a Novel or Screenplay (send 2 copies)
Deadline March 3, 2011.
Winners announced April 15, 2011.
www.houstonwritersguild.org
TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST
19th year. Ten cash prizes totaling $5,550. Top prize $3,000.
Seeks short stories, essays and other works of prose, up to
5,000 words. Winning entries published online. Both published
and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry is $15, payable
to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline March 31, 2011. Early
entries encouraged. Judges: John H. Reid, Dee C. Konrad.
Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, ATTN: Tom Howard
Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton,
MA 01060. Winning Writers is proud to be one of the "101 Best
Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2010).
More information: www.winningwriters.com/tomstory
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.
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
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
=====
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 2000-2011, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326
-----------------------------