Volume 11, Issue 5
February 4, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          
FUNDS FOR WRITERS

Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

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

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

=====

---

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

When we see these words, our minds usually dart to the source,
attempting to identify who holds those high expectations of us.
High expectations scare us. After all, what if we can't meet
them? What if we fail? What if someone thinks ill of us?

But what it YOU are the person with the high expectations . . .
of yourself? Whoa - why would you do that?

Because you do not succeed without expectations.
You are your best ally . . . or your worst enemy.

Jane Friedman, editorial guru of all things writing and blogger
on the Writer's Digest site "There Are No Rules," recently
addressed how writers should behave to "beat back low
expectations and live an audacious life."

"Too many people think they have to go through a long, arduous
process of "working" on themselves, or that they have to prove
to others they've changed. It's our own fear or lack of self-
confidence that prevents us from taking ownership TODAY of who
we want to become--or who we want to BE from this moment onward."

Jane Friedman's blog post:
http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2011/01/13/HaveHighExpectationsForYourself.aspx

Not that we can decide today to be a NY Times Bestselling Author,
but we can tack that goal on our bulletin board and refrigerators
and go for it.

It's an internal attitude. It's convincing yourself that you
can do whatever "this" you put on your plate. The biggest
crash-and-burn killer of this attitude, however, comes from
the need for instant gratification. You decide what you want
it today, and six months from now you decide it can't be done.
Yep - now you have crash, fire, ashes, maybe a few tears,
and a self-defeating death of a dream. And you did it to
yourself.

Editors don't kill your dreams. Neither do agents. Nor does
the traditional industry, the self-publishing industry,
people who didn't promote you well enough, your spouse, or
your mother. Nope. Un-uh. Zip.

I attend conferences. I attend three writers' groups.
Nothing gnaws at me more than for someone to say:

"Writing is on the back burner for me right now."
"When I finish my flying lessons." (seriously, I heard that.)
"When the kids are in school."
"When the holidays are over."

Then when they actually submit a piece for critique, they
begin with:

"I haven't had time to rework this."
"It's not much, but here it is."
"I don't like this, but figured you'd fix it for me."

Oh my gosh, people, take your own reins! Take responsibility.
If it needs work, work on it. If it stinks, make it smell
sweet. If it doesn't sell, find a way to improve it and make
it sell.

Look at your writing journey as a constant, positive step
forward. If you envision being stepped on, you write accordingly.
Strong writing comes from strong people. I'm not saying you
barge into a room and command attention. I'm asking you to
take command of your own head!

You will write daily.
You will write better.
You won't let someone take away your dream to publish.

But that also means you accept what's wrong, improve it,
and keep on keeping on. Nobody can put you down and make
you stay there. Only you decide to get back up and
keep moving.
 

HOPE'S 2011 CONFERENCES

CAPE FEAR CRIME FESTIVAL (NORTH CAROLINA)
Feb 4-5, 2011
http://capefearcrimefestival2.com/Home_Page.html

THE BEAUFORT PROWRITERS
Common Grounds on Bay Street (BEAUFORT, SC)
Feb 8, 2011
Contact:  Katherine Tandy Brown, ktbrown@prodigy.net

BLUE RIDGE WRITERS CONFERENCE (GEORGIA)
Apr 1-2, 2011
http://glendacouncilbeall.blogspot.com/search/label/Blue%20Ridge%20Arts%20Association

MISSOURI WRITERS GUILD (ST LOUIS)
Apr 8-10, 2011
http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/

VILLAGES FOLK WRITERS CONFERENCE (IOWA)
Sept 23-25, 2011
http://www.villagesfolkschool.com/

=====

FUNDSFORWRITERS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Interested in writers who can cover a 600-word feature
on any of the following topics:

=> How to make money with a blog (at least $500/month)
=> Breaking in and writing for the government
=> How to be a speechwriter

====

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

TWITTER- http://twitter.com/hopeclark

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

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

I think that, for all of us, as we grow older,
we must discipline ourselves to continue
expanding, broadening, learning,
keeping our minds active and open.

~ Clint Eastwood

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you've been viewing blogging as a vehicle for merely
venting or connecting with friends, it's time for a paradigm
shift. That was so 90's!
 
Today blogging has gone from a recreational activity to an
art form with major players and endless opportunities for
writers to earn pay, percs, and serious platforms. Seriously.
And I should know. About a year and a half ago, I reluctantly
got on the band wagon when a New York agent reviewing my
relationship book proposal sent a rejection that read, "You
have obvious talent as a writer, but not a big enough platform."
Ouch.

I've been on a mission ever since. Though I still don't have
an agent, I do have several good paying, monthly blogging gigs,
much greater name recognition, a greater awareness of
"professional" blogging, and online blogging buddies that offer
great support, exchange of ideas and networking avenues. And you
can too.

Here are a few insider's tips on how to use blogging to build
your writing business, your platform, and your bottom line:

How to get started...

Establish an impressive online presence. Ideally through your
own website or blog. Make sure your spot boasts your best
writing samples, a killer bio, and quality, consistent content.
Distinguish yourself. Blogging has become as competitive as
professional sports. Bring your "A" game and a unique voice
that stands out amidst the chatter.

Guest post at prominent award winning blogs in your niche. For
example, in writing it would be Daily Blog Tips, Men With Pens,
Technorati, Copy Blogger, and Freelance Folder. In fact, any
blog with a Google ranking of five or better or "Top 10" list
should be targeted. To quote a famous expression, "we are judged
by the company we keep."

Study what other successful bloggers are doing. What separates
them from the pack? What's their appeal? Their approach? Take
note, then take action.

Do your homework. Just like magazines, every blog has a
particular tone, target audience, and culture. The greater
your awareness, the greater your odds of success.

To pitch an editor as a guest blogger or paid writer, follow
the instructions, (to the "T"), provided at their site. Basically,
you want to be brief but substantive. Think Twitter. In as few
words as possible, identify to the editor who you are, what you
have to offer, why you'd like to write for him, and any related
experience you might have. If you're pitching outside of your
primary niche, a resume and a few writing samples would be
required.

Now that you know the what, how, and why's of blogging, here's
where you'll find good paying gigs and important resources:

www.workawesome.com/
Pays $50 per post for pieces related to productivity and career
advice.

www.freelanceswitch.com/
As the name implies, this site is dedicated to freelancers from
creative and professional fields---from musicians, to writers,
to designers. Pay is $50 and up.

www.bloggingpro.com/
Provides a weekly job board that features positions for bloggers,
editors, graphic designers, and techies. Pay varies.

www.samswebguide.com/
Here you'll discover a wide variety of opportunities for bloggers,
writers, and technical people covering regional and national job
posts.

Take a page from my experience. Follow these guidelines, and who
knows, in 2011 you might beat me to a blogging book deal!

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

PLAYBOY COLLEGE FICTION PRIZE
http://www.playboy.com/articles/playboys-college-fiction-contest-2011/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
First prize $3,000 and publication in Playboy Magazine. Second
prize $500. Third prize $250. Open to college students, no
age limit. Manuscript must be 25 double-spaced pages or less.
Deadline February 15, 2011.

=====

SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF US GHOST STORY WRITING CONTEST
http://www.clarklibraryfriends.com
---
ENTRY FEE $20 ADULT/$5 STUDENT
The Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story writing contest
for 2011 is entering its third year. First place prize of
$1,000, second place prize of $500 and third place prize of
$250 will be awarded this year for the best original, previously
unpublished ghost stories of 5,000 words or less. For younger
writers, The Junior Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story
contest, which follows the same rules, offers $250 for first
place for writers aged 12-18. This contest is a fundraiser
for the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart,
Texas. The main contest requires a $20 entry fee and the Junior
contest a $5 entry fee. The contest is privately funded. All
entry fee money goes directly to the Friends where it is
donated to the library for library projects. Entries are
accepted beginning July 1, 2011. The contest postmark deadline
is October 1, 2011. No publication is involved. Writers retain
full rights to their stories. The contest is open to published
and unpublished writers, and to local, national and international
writers.

=====

WILLOW SPRINGS FICTION PRIZE
http://willowsprings.ewu.edu/contests.php
---
$15-$20 ENTRY FEE
Every entrant receives a one-year subscription to Willow
Springs. The winner of the contest will receive a prize of
$2,000, plus publication in Willow Springs. Open to international
submitters. No word limit. Deadline March 1, 2011.
 

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ALABAMA FELLOWSHIPS
www.arts.alabama.gov
---
The Council is now accepting applications for fellowships.
Individual artists working in crafts, dance, design, media/
photography, music literature, theatre and visual arts are
eligible to apply. Recipients may use funds to set aside
time to create art, improve their skills or to do what is
most advantageous to enhance their artistic careers. Also,
Arts administrators are eligible to apply for a fellowship
to improve their skills and ability to serve their organization
and community. Applications MUST be submitted electronically
via eGRANT. Access to eGRANT is available from the Alabama State
Council on the Arts website.

=====

HUMBER LITERARY FESTIVAL GRANTS
http://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/jobs-and-opportunities/humber-mouth-literature-festival-commissions.html
---
Humber Mouth Literature Festival invites applications for
special commissions of up to £1,500 for:

Cross-arts events (music, film etc that recognize the
festival's focus on text/language)

We are looking for original and exciting ideas and welcome
proposals from individuals, groups and organisations based
in Hull or nationally. All special commissions are to take
place during Humber Mouth 2011 (25th June - 10th July) in
the city of Hull. We are looking for projects that offer
something special to the Hull audience. Please note that
while £1,500 is our maximum grant, we value applications
which represent value for money. In the past, many awards
have ranged from £150 to £1,000. Deadline February 10, 2011.

=====

MONTANA ARTISTS REFUGE
http://www.montanaartistsrefuge.org/residencies.html
---
Location Basin, Montana. To apply for an Art Fueling Art
Scholarship, please fill out the scholarship request section
of the application form. Please indicate the amount of
financial aid needed. If you are requesting a scholarship,
please indicate how you will participate in raising money
for the Artists Fueling Artists Scholarship Fund. Each artist
that comes to MAR is expected to donate something of value to
MAR's Fueling Art with Art Scholarship Fund for incoming
artists. Our expectation is that each artist will transform
their time or art form into a $200 - $1,000 contribution to
the scholarship fund and, in this way, fuel the work of a
future resident. The Refuge offers affordable short and long-
term living and studio spaces for artists of all disciplines.
Deadline February 28, 2011.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
FLIGHT JOURNAL
http://www.flightjournal.com/Me2/Default.asp
---
Flight Journal presents aviation-oriented material, for the
most part with a historical overtone, but also with some
modern "history in the making" reporting. Many articles have
an "I was there" or "from the cockpit" human-interest emphasis,
typically in a manner that is not being done in other magazines.
Average article length is 2,500-3,000 words. Base pay for a
full-size article is $600 and builds for later submissions.

=====

TRAVELLER
http://www.wexas.com/travelguides/travelguides/contributorguidelines.html
---
Traveller is the UK's original travel magazine. The following
slots are open to freelance contributors:

Eyewitness/Visions: A destination-based narrative telling
your own unusual journey or adventure. 800-1,000 words.

Portrait Of A City: An impressionistic pen-portrait, not a
factual guide for visitors. 800-1,000 words.

Inspirations: An article based upon an adventurous or exciting
activity for travellers, such as sailing, skiing, walking,
kayaking, wildlife watching. Ideally in an unexpected location.
800-1,000 words.

Picture This: A 2-page photo-story: emotive images, colour or
b/w, powerful or topical theme, no words.

Reportage/Changing World/From The Front: These slots are for
more serious and thought-provoking stories, based on political,
environmental or cultural topics that travellers encounter:
must be based on personal experience of this issue overseas.
800-1,000 words.

Text: £200 per 1,000 words printed (calculated per words
printed, not per words submitted).

=====

COUNTRY
http://www.country-magazine.com/guidelines.asp
---
Country is for people who "live in or long for the country."
Our content reflects the rural lifestyle with relaxed,
conversational writing and top-quality photography. We showcase
the benefits and pleasures of country life, the beauty of rural
America and folks with interesting tales to tell. All freelance
material is considered on a speculative basis unless a specific
assignment is made. We pay, upon publication, $250 for any
story that runs a full page or more. The only exceptions are
"God's Country," an 8- to 10-page text-and-photo feature, for
which we pay a flat rate of $2,000, and poetry, which appears
only in Country EXTRA; we pay $50 for each published poem.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EDITOR
Location Pentagon, VA
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=96162446&aid=27015391-28111&WT.mc_n=125
---
Deadline February 10, 2011. Edits highly sensitive politico-
military documents before they are considered by the Chairman
and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director
and Vice Director, Joint Staff. Material edited covers all
subjects of interest.

=====

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA COORDINATOR
Location Oakland, CA
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/32Ttx3W32BPFP/
---
Founded in 1989, Urban Habitat (UH) builds power in low-income
communities and communities of color by combining policy,
advocacy, research, leadership development, and coalition
building to advance environmental, economic and social justice
in the Bay Area. This individual is responsible for the creation
and dissemination of a broad spectrum of communications assets;
for managing media and public relations; and for coordinating
and supporting the communications work of UH's complex program
mix.

=====

ADMINISTRATIVE CORRESPONDENT
Location Montgomery, AL
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6818
---
The correspondent will be the lead reporter in Alabama and
direct reporting by the general news reporters, and work with
a sports reporter and a photographer to assure strong all-format
coverage of the most important news and to make the AP a news
leader in the state.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOTE: ALL THREE OF THESE PUBLISHERS ARE LOCATED IN THE
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA AREA.

ARCADIA PUBLISHING
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/index.html
---
Arcadia Publishing is the leading local history publisher
in the United States, with a catalog of more than 6,000
titles in print and hundreds of new titles released every
year. Creates high-quality historical publications in small
local niches. Arcadia Publishing has expanded its focus on
preservation efforts and is now the country's first major
book publisher to achieve the use of 100 percent Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper across its entire
book publishing program.

Arcadia Publishing will be hiring additional acquisitions
editors in 2011. Acquisitions editors are responsible for
contracting approximately 40 new titles per year in Arcadia's
established and formatted series of local history books.
This is NOT a traditional editing/writing position, and
candidates with sales and marketing experience are
encouraged to apply.

=====

JOGGLING BOARD PRESS
http://www.jogglingboardpress.com/
---
Joggling Board Press is a Charleston-based independent
publishing company dedicated to the production of fiction
and non-fiction books of quality that amplify the history,
culture and character of the American southeast.

=====

SYLVAN DELL PUBLISHING
http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/index.php
---
Sylvan Dell Publishing publishes educational award-winning
picture books that integrate Science, Math, and Geography
through literature. The picture books that they publish are
usually, but not always, fictional stories that relate to
animals, nature, the environment, and science. All books
subtly convey an educational theme through a warm story
that is fun to read and that will grab a child's attention.
Each book has a three to five page "For Creative Minds"
section to reinforce the educational component of the book
itself. This section will have a craft and/or game as well
as "fun facts" to be shared by the parent, teacher, or other
adult. 

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

 

 

 

CALL FOR SUMISSIONS - PENTIMENTO MAGAZINE

Seeking submissions for Pentimento Magazine, a new literary
magazine for the disabled community.
 
Submissions can be by a disabled individual or an individual
who is part of the disabled community, such as a family member,
educator, therapist, etc. We are a paying market.
 
For more information, please visit www.pentimentomagazine.org

 

 

 

 

Affordable Coastal Retreats for Women by Women

 

WRITE BY THE WATER offers 5 day retreats for aspiring and
published writers in all genres. Work w/In-house author,
Skype w/NYC agent/editor, meet like-minded women.

We provide bed, breakfast & lunch, plus time, space and
motivation to write. Don't put it off any longer.

 

Apply now for 2011 coastal retreats:

February 18-22, 2011  North Carolina 
June 3-7, 2011  New Jersey 
October 7-11, 2011 Vancouver

 

5 days for $899, 3 day weekend $599, Early Bird discounts

Call 678-777-9618 Or online: http://writebythewater.com

 

 

 

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.

Contact rkwriter@gmail.com, www.rkeditor.com

 

 

  
 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

-----------------------------