Volume 11, Issue 21
May 27, 2011

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FUNDS FOR WRITERS

Chosen for Writer's Digest Magazine
101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

 

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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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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NOTE: Earth Island Journal
http://earthisland.org/journal/index.php/guidelines/
A reader recently pitched them and was asked to write for free
due to budget issues with the magazine. Their guidelines
state 20 cents/word.

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AMAZON VS. THE BIG SIX

Oh wow. Amazon is opening its own publishing house. I'm
talking traditional publishing, people. In case you've missed
the news this week, they selected former Time Warner Book
Group CEO and current literary agent Larry Kirshbaum to rev
up the Amazon publishing arena.

Amazon sure picked the right name for itself, didn't it?
It's taking over the world!

No, it's not bad. No, it's not grand. It is what it is.
Amazon has the platform to sell the books, why not get into
publishing them? They've been highly successful with Create
Space and Kindle, so why not show the big boy publishing
houses that they can compete traditionally as well?

Okay, what I don't want people to do is what happened when
AuthorHouse opened, when CreateSpace opened, when Smashwords
and all other ebook companies opened. I don't want to see
people turn like a school of fish, all in one direction
toward the new kid on the block.

I hate it when that happens.

JA Konrath convinced everyone that they could make a killing
in ebooks. Then suddenly I see a post from him this week
that resembles a recant of that mantra - "Why You Won't Succeed."
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-you-wont-succeed.html

I'm tickled to see it. In my eyes, it puts him back amongst
the rank and file, infusing a common sense to the self-pubbing
ebook conversation. He tells you it ain't just about throwing
a book into a computer file on Amazon's server.

In JA Konrath's May 20 post, "Indie Bookstores Boycott Konrath?,"
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/05/indie-bookstores-boycott-konrath.html
he speaks about publishing with Amazon's new Thomas & Mercer
imprint, the first of many more imprints to come.

An online group of indie booksellers called for a ban of his
books. Because he aligned himself with Amazon. While I run hot
and cold about JA Konrath, in this situation I believe Indie's
are shooting themselves in the foot. Konrath is a huge indie
supporter and sang the praises of brick-and-mortar bookstores
when he performed his legendary marathon trek cross-country
to promote himself. He connected with bookstore employees more
than the readers, because bookstore employees are the best
book and author advocates.

From Konrath:

"They're (Amazon) the new publisher on the block. But they're
already doing it better than anyone else.

Amazon will continue to publish more and more authors, because
the major publishers are making a lot of major mistakes and a
lot of writers are getting hurt by the Big 6.

So my question to indie bookstores is: When other authors sign
with Amazon, and they will, are you going to boycott them as
well? What happens when it is a major, bestselling author? Is
this how you service your customers, by limiting the amount of
choice they have?"

And...

"I'm not the enemy. Neither is Amazon. The threat to bookstores
is a technology that is rapidly being embraced by readers.
I didn't invent ebooks. But for the first time in my writing
career, I'm making a comfortable living because of them. So
are many other authors. This doesn't make us bad. It doesn't
make us anti-bookstore. It just makes us human."

He almost makes my point. There isn't one right way for all
writers. Do NOT follow other authors in how they publish.
Instead, study all the options. An author who makes five
figures on Kindle might have an online presence you don't.
A traditional author might write better than you. Another
author might enjoy the casual relationship of a small press
so his book can remain active longer, giving him more time
to make sales.

No two situations are alike. Don't be a sheep, a fish, or
anything else that darts and follows the group who shoulder-to-
shoulder fight to publish and get famous like everyone else.

You know why?

Because that group is not getting famous.
Or haven't you noticed?

     Hope

THE BLOG - http://www.hopeclark.blogspot.com
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark

  ~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge
is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination
embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know
and understand."

~ Albert Einstein ~
 

 
 
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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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I receive your newsletter and it has continued to give me
energy to continue my search for a publisher. At long last,
All Things That Matter Press took me and now Bled Out is
published. Info about me and the book can be found at my
website - www.laughathorror.com and on Amazon and my publisher's
website - www.allthingsthatmatterpress.com. Thank you.

Glenn Parkhurst
E-mail: phurstone@msn.com
www.laughathorror.com

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ARTICLE
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Part 2: YOUR ONLINE HOME:
Why an Author Needs an Impressive Website

By Shaila Abdullah

This is the second half of the article on the elements of
a robust author site.
 
Engage and Interact

In today's world, where social media can make or break an
entire nation, an author needs website elements that offer
visitors a chance to interact and chat with them in real
time. Authors would benefit from having an additional six
items on their website:

An active blog where you post once a week or at least twice
a month

An e-mail subscription form allowing visitors to get on the
author's mailing list

Recent comments from the author's Facebook page

Recent feed from the author's Twitter account

Link to Red Room, Goodreads and/or other book networking sites
 
Social media bookmarking on each page enabling visitors to
quickly reach, post or share their favorite pages
 
If I were forced to choose only one item from the list above,
I would go for the e-mail subscription form. Just from having
that one form on my site, my fan list experienced a 400%
increase over a two-year period. Having a freebie associated
with signup helps engage visitors quickly. Besides, e-mail
campaign managers like Vertical Response make it virtually
pain-free to generate a form and manage subscriptions. You
only pay when you send out a mailing, and the cost of the
service is minimal.
 
Search Engine Optimization

Hidden behind your website are codes that, when programmed
correctly by your website designer, contain keywords and
description of your site. These meta elements help search
engines categorize your website accurately. Don't forget to
submit your site to search engines after it has been launched.
A professional designer will take care of that without being
asked. Have Google Analytics installed on your site to help
you see how many visitors visit your site, where they come
from, how long they stay, and which search terms they used
in order to reach your site.
 
Media Kit

A media kit is essential to have on your website if you want
reporters to gather information on you quickly and effortlessly.
A good media kit contains an author's bio, a sell sheet for
each book, links to press releases and book reviews, a Q&A
or link to interviews, and high-resolution pictures of the
author and book covers.
 
Contact Information

The jury is out on this one. There are pluses and minuses to
having your complete contact info readily available on your
site.
 
The upside is that those looking to engage you for interviews,
events or speeches will be able to contact you easily. One
client of mine had a top-notch agent contact her unasked
thanks to her online contact information.
 
The downside is being inundated with fan (or even hate) mail,
especially, if you are a famous author or have recently caused
a stir.  You might not wish to receive midnight phone calls
from an overzealous fan. Famous authors often opt to post the
contact information of publicists and agents. At the very least,
an e-mail address or a contact form should be available on the
websites of new or mid-range authors.
 
Remember, your website is your online home. Invest in it wisely
and demand a look that highlights your best. You are worth it.
 
BIO
Shaila Abdullah is an award-winning designer and author and
has created numerous websites, marketing materials, and email
marketing campaigns for authors. She can be reached at
shailaabdullah@gmail.com or www.shailaabdullah.com/houseofdesign.

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COMPETITIONS
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THE RAFTERY AWARD FOR POETS
http://www.rafteryfestival.com/en/therafteryaward2011
---
ENTRY FEE € 5 per poem

1st Prize € 750
2nd Prize € 500
3rd Prize € 250
 
There will be 10 shortlisted entrants who will be notified
by the end of September 2011. Shortlisted entrants will
receive free accommodation plus 50 euro expenses. It is a
condition of entry that all finalists will be available to
read their work in Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo, on the night of
Friday, November 11, 2011, during which the winners will be
announced. In certain circumstances, the Coordinator and
judges may consider an alternate reader. Maximum 80 lines.
Deadline August 31, 2011.

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ROOM MAGAZINE'S 2011 FICTION, POETRY AND CREATIVE NON-FICTION CONTEST
http://www.roommagazine.com/contest/
---
ENTRY FEE $30 (CANADA) / $42 (U.S./INTERNATIONAL)
Room is currently accepting submissions from women for its
2011 Annual Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Non-Fiction Contest.
First prize in each category: $500, 2nd prize: $250, plus
winners will be published in the summer 2012 issue of Room.
Entries will be judged by: Amber Dawn (fiction), Elizabeth
Bachinsky (poetry) and Susan Juby (creative non-fiction).
Entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Canada's oldest
literary journal by and about women. Online submission option
makes entering quick and easy. Deadline: July 15, 2011.

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EMERGENCY PRESS INTERNATIONAL BOOK CONTEST
http://www.emergencypress.org/contest.html
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
We are now accepting submissions of book-length manuscripts
for our 2011 contest. We are especially interested in books
that are cross-genre or multimedia. To be considered,
manuscripts should be written in English, but may be submitted
by writers from any nation or tribe. The winner will receive
a prize of $1,000 and publication of their book by Emergency
Press. Deadline July 1, 2011.
 

 
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GRANTS
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ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW ORLEANS - MONEY MANAGEMENT SEMINARS
FOR ARTISTS AND WRITER
http://www.artscouncilofneworleans.org/article.php?story=Money_for_Creatives_mlc050211&query=mlc050211
---
The Arts Council's first two webinars on Money for Creatives
are now available on demand for free streaming from your
computer. Presented by Angie Green of Fresh Money Studios,
each webinar runs about 20 minutes. Topics include:

Learning sound money habits.
Living on a variable income.
Setting up your books.
Basic bookkeeping and recordkeeping
Creating a financial outline for your business
Hiring professional help.
Working with a balance sheet
Pricing your artwork

To view part one please click here -
http://artscouncilofneworleans.adobeconnect.com/fresh_money_101/.

For Part 2 of Money for Creatives, please click here -
http://artscouncilofneworleans.adobeconnect.com/money_201_presentation/ .

Look for Money For Creatives 301 premiering June 9, 2011.

These webinars are presented in part with support from the
Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation.

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MID ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATION GRANTS

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation will again administer the
individual artist award programs on behalf of the states
of Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey in 2012.

DELAWARE
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/fellowships/de.html
---
Delaware Individual Artist Fellowships provide funding for
creative artists from that state working in the visual,
performing, media, folk, and literary arts. Deadline August
1, 2011. 

MARYLAND
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/fellowships/md.html
---
Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards categories
for 2012 include non-classical music composition and solo
performance, playwriting, crafts, and photography. Deadline
July 28, 2011.

NEW JERSEY
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/fellowships/nj.html
---
New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist
Fellowships categories for 2012 include crafts, photography,
playwriting, poetry, and sculpture. Deadline July 15, 2011.

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CALIFORNIA STORY FUND
http://www.calhum.org
---
Funds genuine and compelling stories from and about
California's diverse communities and ensures that those
stories can be shared widely. Open to proposals for story-
based projects that are informed by humanities perspectives,
methods and content, that reveal the realities of California
and its cultures, peoples, and histories, and that will be
of interest to local, statewide, and potentially national
and global audiences. Applicants must have tax-exempt status
or a fiscal sponsor with tax-exempt status. Grants up to
$10,000; must be matched by at least an equivalent
contribution of non-federal funds or in-kind services.
Receipt Deadline: Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 5:00 pm.

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FREELANCE MARKETS
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CREATESPACE SEEKS BOOK EDITORS
http://www.createspace.com
http://portland.craigslist.org/yam/wri/2392898660.html
---
CSP is currently recruiting freelance editors to join our
outsourced team. Potential applicants must be detail-oriented
self-starters comfortable working independently, while
adhering to strict deadlines and specifications. The most
qualified candidates will have at least five years book-
editing and will be familiar with current industry standards.
All applicants must be comfortable with Chicago Manual of
Style 15th ed., proficient in Microsoft Word's track changes
feature, and comfortable with using the Internet. Payment is
based per assignment, per word count and is processed monthly
with the option for direct deposit or check. For details
about the design services that CreateSpace offers, interested
applicants should review CreateSpace Service offerings at
www.createspace.com, focusing on Basic Copy Editing and
Comprehensive Copy Editing services. To be preselected
candidates will submit samples of book covers and interiors,
their portfolio, and current resume to
vendorhiring@createspace.com using the subject line:

Freelance Editorial Application for CreateSpace - 312POR

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HEALTH MAGAZINE
http://www.health.com/health/service/about
---
Unbiased, accurate information issues--not just the clinical
facts--on a wide range of health issues. Accurate, trusted,
up-to-date health and medical information, for consumers.
We focus on problem-solving content to help you make
decisions during complicated, stressful times. We write in
plain English, using real-life examples. Query with resume
and writing samples. Email ask@health.com . Features vary
in length while columns are around 800 words. Email for
detailed writers guidelines. None on website. Pays $1-$1.50/
word. 33% kill fee. Practical, service-oriented ideas are
best to break in.

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MADCAP PLAYERS
http://www.madcapplayers.com
---
NO FEE
Theatre in Washington, DC seeks plays of any length for
consideration for future productions. Plays of all styles
and genres are welcome; unproduced plays preferred.
Deadline: May 31, 2011.

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

 
WRITER-EDITOR
Location Boise, ID
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=99590543
---
Deadline May 30, 2011. Agency Bureau of Land Management.
If selected, your duties will include: performing final
editing reviews of materials including letters and briefing
papers, manuals, handbooks, prepared by specific staffs and
deputy areas to ensure clear expression on intent and
consistency with goals and guidance issued; participating
in preparation of reports and briefings representing the
Project Managers views and policy; maintaining correspondence
files; preparing and maintaining reports and electronic files
on status of project correspondence.

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FREELANCE COPY EDITOR
Location New York, NY
http://www.ed2010.com/jobs/whisperjobs/2011/05/new-york-weddings-freelance-copy-editor
---
New York Weddings, a biannual publication of New York
Magazine, is seeking a freelance copy editor to work on
its Winter 2012 issue. The position demands approximately
30-40 hours per week (or as needed), from July 6-Sept. 15.
The ideal candidate will have between 1 and 3 years' copy-
editing experience, although we will consider entry-level
candidates who demonstrate an exceptional knowledge of and
interest in copy editing. On a side note: There are
opportunities to write, should the copy editor also wish
to secure clips.

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STAFF WRITER
Location Brookhaven, MS
http://www.mspress.org/jobbank.cfm
---
We are looking for talented individuals wanting to sink their
teeth into community journalism while living in one of
Mississippi's best small towns. Our five-day daily is a
consistently top award-winning publication with a history
of community building. Our staff writers are involved in
all aspects of the business, from covering city and county
government to police beats to good ole human-interest stories.

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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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SCRIBE AGENCY
http://www.scribeagency.com/submissions.html
---
We are open to most fiction genres and nonfiction. 18 percent
are new authors. Nonfiction interests: cooking, diet, nutrition,
ethnic, gay/lesbian, humor, memoirs, pop culture, satire,
women's issues. Fiction interests: detective, erotica, fantasy,
experimental, feminist, gay, horror, humor, lesbian, literary,
mainstream, mystery, psychic, sci-fi, thriller.

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VICTORIA SANDERS & ASSOCIATES
http://www.victoriasanders.com/
---
Victoria Sanders & Associates LLC represents writers of
both fiction and non-fiction. We are always interested
in new material and welcome all genres to the fold. We
approach each work that stirs us, whether memoir,
commercial women's fiction, socio-political nonfiction,
thrillers, humorous, or self-help/motivational just to
name a few, with enthusiasm and excitement. The agency
endeavors to represent writers of diverse styles,
thoughts and viewpoints, and stories which capture the
flavors of all cultures.

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SAGALYN AGENCY
http://www.sagalyn.com/about-us
---
We are a literary agency based outside of Washington, D.C.
and represent journalists, academics, thinkers, business
writers, and novelists. We work primarily with the large
New York houses, focusing on upmarket nonfiction, business
books, and commercial fiction.

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

PERSONALIZED BOOK EDITING SERVICES!

KATHERINE DON, "THE BOOK DON"

Show Your Book Who's Boss

Writing a book can be a lonely and intimidating process

With The Book Don as your editor, you'll gain invaluable guidance and editorial insight

Content editing, line editing, book proposals, partial manuscripts, full manuscripts

The Don works with both first-time authors, and experienced authors who have agents and in-house editors

Visitwww.yourbookdon.com for more information

WRITING AWAY RETREATS

Named as one of the top-ten creative retreats in the world,
Writing Away Retreats is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
connect with and receive feedback from the very best in the
industry. Every writer gets a 10K word detailed MS consult
with each staff member (3 editors: Kevin Doughten: Penguin,
Anica Rissi: Simon and Schuster, Katie Gilligan: Thomas Dunne,
1 agent: Scott Hoffman, Folio Lit. and 1 NYT bestselling author:
David Corbett) during their 5 day/4 night experience in the
Rocky Mountains. This unprecedented access allows for an
experience that can truly forward your writing career in the
right direction.

For further information go to the website:
www.writingawayretreats.com

Contact Cicily and let her know how she can help you attend
this event. E-mail: creativelivesworkshop@hotmail.com

=====

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.

Contactrkwriter@gmail.com,www.rkeditor.com

 
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Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a
short story, 5 pages max., on any theme, single or double-
line spacing, neatly hand printed or typed.

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: July 31, 2011.

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

For my first advertising for my fledgling 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

An epublishing revolution is sweeping the industry.
We explain what is happening and show you how to
self-publish your own ebooks.

http://www.PublishYourOwnEbooks.com

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

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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

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