Volume 11, Issue 30
July 29, 2011


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

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

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

 

Well, I thought my zinnias were beautiful until I placed them next

to my tie-dyed shirt. Wow, I love the colors in that shirt! Relive 

the 70s, baby!

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.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

=====



CAUGHT UP IN THE MINUTIAE - AFRAID TO CHANGE


"If we open a quarrel between the past and the present,
we shall find that we have lost the future."

~ Winston Churchill (speech, House of Commons, June 18. 1940)

If you want to get slapped down in a room of writers, teachers,
doctors, or just about any profession, say the words,
"That's not how we're used to doing it."

Sticking blindly to habits demonstrates a closed mind to
change. . . and opportunity.

Traditional publishing at the Big Six level is a perfect
example of this mentality. While they are changing, they
do it reluctantly, slowly, and without excitement. The
market dictated they evolve. They treated the shift like
an arthritic individual, knowing the movement would not
be easy or pleasant.

While all around us, newer people step in, thrilled with
options to the large publishing houses, and clamor to
self-publish and indie publish. As with all change, they
are enamored with being trailblazers, making them also
experts in a bright, shiny, new world.

Now self-pubbing has been around long enough to be an
acceptable practice. Ebooks stepped in and altered that
paradigm a bit. Publishers like CreateSpace don't charge
the astronomical prices of vanity presses. Thus, self-
publishing experienced its own internal movement.

Still...and this really rankles me...each side chastises
the other. Each professes to be the perfect means to
publishing.

Don't tell me what's best for me.

If I want the Big Six prestige and distribution, I'll
set my sights on their acceptance.

Maybe I want a traditional press but don't want the
bureaucracy of the Big Six. I'll look for a smaller press
and still feel accepted and vetted.

If I want to write a book and throw it out to the world
without the delay that is traditional publishing, I'll
learn the ins and outs of designing a book and do it.

If I want a book, and don't want to learn how to format
or design it, and have the funds to pay someone else to
make it happen, I'll hire a press or company to do it.

But I refuse to stand on one side of a fence and profess
that I know what's best for all books. And I don't want
you to tout to me what you think I should do.

Old and new exist. Face it. Don't stick with the old
ways and ignore the new. Don't jump blindly on the
new method bandwagon and reject all the history and
success of the old.

Before long, your new way is old. Someone is calling
you out-dated, and you're arguing with someone who
used to be you.

Stay open to the past and the present, because it's
only by knowing both that you can walk intelligently
into the future.



Hope


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

=====

THE ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS CONTEST IS OPEN

The 10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest seeks nonfiction
submissions. First prize $400. Five additional cash prizes.
Zero entry fee and $5 entry fee categories. Theme: Diligence.
Limit 750 words. Email submissions only.

Guidelines at www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm 

NOTE:
Sponsorship of this annual contest reams amazing rewards.
Thousands of people read our newsletters and hundreds of
thousands visit the website. Your logo and ad can appear
in all places, for all to see.

Sponsorships at www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm 

=====

NOTE: KICKSTARTER.COM

I've spoken a few times about Kickstarter, a fundraising
organization that helps entrepreneurs raise funds for
their projects. Here's one, for instance, that caught my
eye.

"Santa's First Magical Ride"

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulscarr3/santas-first-magical-ride-christmas-questions-answ

It's simple, pure, magical and nostalgic all in one.
I personally donated to this project, because it's
just cool to me. Take a moment to sort through the
projects posted by writers. Find one to support, and
learn how to present your own project.


~~~~~~****~~~~~~

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Everyone should be praised
by the lips of his neighbor,
and not by his own mouth.
Everyone should be commended
by the work he has done,
not by what he wanted to do.

~ Mike Aquilina (Roots of the Faith)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Hope,

Every week I read your newsletters, when I get to Success Story
of the Week I wondered how long before I too qualified for this
section. It came much sooner than expected or took forever,
depending on how you look at it. Like many writers, I have
written forever, but getting published was an unattainable
dream.

It's not often best friends have four children that are also
best friends. Three years ago my best friend's 20-year-old
daughter was killed at the hands of another. Although guilty,
he still walks free. All the normal emotions go with this
story, but the real purpose for it is this; every one of us
made changes in the directions of our lives because of Gina's
death. We are taking risks and doing things we never thought
we were good enough to succeed at. We are living life because
that is what Gina's life was all about. She never said never.
She felt she could succeed at anything. She just had to try.

My goal was to write for children. I started classes with
The Institute of Children's Literature and before I had my
diploma I sold my first article to Faces Magazine. I saw it
in your Markets section. Training in Thailand will appear
in the January 2012 issue.

My dream of getting published took hold about 30 years ago,
but it wasn't until tragedy struck home that I decided to go
for it, then it happened fast. My message to all the others
out there wondering if this will happen to you, yes but only
if you try. Please, don't wait for your heart to be ripped
out to go after what you want.

I know Gina is proud of what we are all doing now, but if
we just followed our hearts and dreams sooner she could have
told us in person.

Thanks Hope for giving us the avenue in which to succeed,

Kathy Quatraro



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
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Back To Basics: Good Old Querying Vs Craigslist

By Christine Cristiano

Over the past year, I have become a victim of writing jobs
posted on Craigslist.org; jobs were plentiful and my thirst
for assignments kicked in. Moreover, I subscribed to various
writing websites that compiled Craigslist offerings and
delivered them to my inbox. To work smarter, I created a
'response' template that included a direct reply to the
writing request, my writing experience, contact information
and links to applicable published clips.

Sometimes I would receive a response acknowledging my
application or a form letter requesting an original
unpublished writing sample to assess my writing ability
based on the supplied criteria. Often, I was directed to
another site that required registration to get additional
information about the alleged writing assignment. More
often than not, I didn't receive a response whatsoever.

Eventually, I realized that my Craigslist 'response
addiction' had surpassed the time I spent creating and
submitting targeted queries to prospective publications
and the rate of return on my efforts was very low, but I
had an impressive track record with my targeted queries.

The Craigslist Controversy

Although Craigslist is a popular advertising media and has
hundreds of writing jobs posted on its sites, some of the
postings are questionable. Often, the posts are vague and
at times, even flagged by the administration which equates
to the post being bogus or questionable. In addition, the
majority of ads are blind ads so the respondent has no idea
who is receiving their application.

Craigslist Ads Reposted

Due to its popularity amongst job posters and employment
seekers, one advertisement can produce hundreds of responses
from professionals across the continent. Consider this,
Craigslist receives millions of page views per month and
one job advertisement has the potential to be viewed by
thousands of viewers and receive hundreds of responses
within a few days.

If the job seeker is unable to respond to an ad promptly,
it is possible that the job has been filled and the
application will be shelved. Likewise, several writing
sites post Craigslist writing ads in their blogs, newsletter
and list them on their website; however, quite often the
original ad was posted days early and consequently the
recipient has already received dozens of responses to the
original post.

Low Pay or Free Content

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Craigslist
team, some writing jobs are phony, and the posters are
looking for free content which explains why some advertisements
require the respondent to submit an original, unpublished
article. Likewise, some ads offer payment but it is not
until the respondent receives a reply that the poster
discloses that compensation for the assignment is
ridiculously low.

The Art of Querying

Although Craigslist is a popular platform in which to find
writing assignments, the good old fashioned query may yield
more success for your efforts:

You're in control because you choose your target market
based upon your research including the editorial needs of the
market, compensation, and response time.

Next time you're tempted to respond to a Craigslist writing
request, consider the time invested to respond and factor
in the odds of receiving a response; then think again and
pen an old fashioned query to increase your success.


BIO
Christine Cristiano hangs her in Ontario, Canada and shares
her world with her husband and two sons. She pens the blog,
Late Night Writer, at www.christinecristiano.blogspot.com



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
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100 WORDS OR FEWER CONTEST
http://www.100wordsorfewerwritingcontest.com  or hundredwordsorfewer@earthlink.net 
---
$15 ENTRY FEE ($23 or $55 FOR CRITIQUES)
Submit original fiction of not more than 100 words. Open theme
(no porn or gore). Prizes: $500, $150, $100, $50. Deadline
September 18, 2011.

=====

THE GALAXY PROJECT NOVELLA CONTEST
http://www.thegalaxyproject.com/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Deadline September 2, 2011. The contest to select one novella
or novelette will be judged in the spirit of H. L. Gold and
the great magazine of which he was founding editor. Galaxy
was open to all potential contributors in the 1950's and 1960's.
Only excellence mattered. The contest will be "open" and judged
on the same standards. The winner will be published in e-book
as part of The Galaxy Project collection, receive an advance
of $1,000 against royalties of 50% of net receipts to 2,500
copies and 60% of net receipts thereafter for world English
digital rights, and retain the copyright and all rights other
than the initial digital use (per Galaxy Magazine's policy).
Submit 15,000 to 20,000 words.

=====

CREATIVE FICTION TRUE CRIME CONTEST
http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/submittocnf.htm#truecrime
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
Deadline September 30, 2011. For an upcoming issue, Creative
Nonfiction is seeking new essays about true crimes--detailed
reports of premeditation, follow-through and aftermath,
whether gleaned from police blotters or the news, passed down
as small-town legend or family lore, or committed in cold
blood. Creative Nonfiction editors will award $1000 for Best
Essay. Limit 4,000 words.


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


SPECULATIVE LITERATURE FICTION TRAVEL GRANT
http://www.speclit.org/
---
SLF travel grants are awarded to assist writers of speculative
fiction (poetry, drama, creative nonfiction) in their research.
They are not currently available for academic research. We are
currently offering one $800 travel grant annually, to be used
to cover airfare, lodging, and/or other travel expenses.
Deadline September 30, 2011. If awarded the grant, the recipient
agrees to write a brief report of their research experience
(500-1,000 words) for our files, and for possible public
dissemination on our website. Travel may take place from any
country to any country, or internally within a country; the
grants are unrestricted. Funds will be disbursed in U.S.
currency (but can be sent through PayPal if that is more
convenient for international recipients).

=====

ILLINOIS ARTIST SUPPORT
http://www.arts.illinois.gov/grants-programs/iac-grants/individual-artist-support
---
The Individual Artist Professional Development track (IA-PD)
seeks to support professional development opportunities related
to an individual artist's career. Grant amounts for IA-PD are
$500 or $750 with no cash match required. The Individual Artist
Project track (IA-Project) seeks to support individual creative
artists in the production and presentation of an artistic
project. Grant amounts for IA-Project are $1,500 or $2,500,
with a 25% cash match required.

=====

OHIO ARTIST SUPPORT
http://www.oac.state.oh.us/grantsprogs/guidelines/SupportForArtists.asp
---
The principal funding program for individual artists is through
the Individual Excellence Awards, which provide grants to creative
artists for an exceptional body of work. Traditional master
artists and apprentices are supported through the Traditional
Arts Apprenticeship program. Project funding is available for
artists living in counties along the Ohio River through the Ohio
River Border Initiative, and for artists with disabilities
through the Artists with Disabilities Access program. Individual
artists receive commissions through the Percent for Art program
administered by the OAC. In addition to grants, the OAC provides
a wide range of resources and services that help individual
artists as they make important contributions to life in
communities across the state including the Ohio Artists on Tour
Directory and the Arts Learning Artist Directory.



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

SAVANNAH MAGAZINE
http://www.savannahmagazine.com/info_pages/contact-us
---
Themed magazine. We encourage writers to submit queries and
manuscripts for consideration. Savannah Magazine showcases
the region's very best -- its rich history, exquisite homes,
unique personalities and sophisticated lifestyles -- and opens
the door for readers to experience true Southern hospitality.
History, travel, news in Savannah, city tours, business,
the arts, backpage essay. Pays up to $450.

=====

RISE MAGAZINE
http://www.risemag.com/
---
ESPN magazine for high school students interested in sports.
The mission is to celebrate the lives of teen athletes: their
accomplishments, their passions, their lifestyle. No guidelines
given. Go to CONTACT US for editorial email and address.

=====

HOMEMAKERS
http://www.homemakers.com
---
Canadian-based magazine on food, nutrition, healthy lifestyles.
Pays up to 45 cents/word. No specific guidelines online. Accepts
queries for features up to 2,000 words.


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


PART-TIME INSTRUCTOR - COPYWRITING
Location San Antonio, TX
http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175541140
---
Documented expertise in advertising design. Expertise in
interpersonal and oral presentation/written communication
skills, as demonstrated by: data sheet, diplomas, degrees,
transcripts, certifications, CVs/Resumes, and in personal
interview. Bachelor's degree in Advertising, Media Studies
or Journalism required (Master's degree preferred). Minimum
of 5 years experience as an advertising copywriter required.

=====

SPORTS REPORTER
Location Birmingham, AL
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=7119
---
Minimum 1-2 years experience producing in a TV sports department
preferred. College degree in Journalism, Mass Communications,
or equivalent preferred. Able to shoot, report and edit sports
material.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
 Location Arlington, VA
 http://jobview.usajobs.gov/GetJob.aspx?JobID=101091830
 ---
 Deadline August 5, 2011. Department of Homeland Security.
 For new Federal employees, the starting salary will be at
 the Step 1 Grade selected (GS-11-$62,467; GS-12 - $74,872).
 Develop white papers, internal memorandums, external letters,
 senior management task responses, and status updates for the
 Identity Services Branch. Coordinate with other staff members
 to obtain required information or data to develop products.
 Review and edit all work products by Identity Services Branch
 staff before release for conformance with US-VISIT and
 government-wide regulations and policies.


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


BARRICADE BOOKS
http://barricadebooks.com/
---
We publish virtually no fiction. Furthermore, we do not publish
poetry or children's books. We look for quality non-fiction
manuscripts--preferably with a controversial lean. We are a
publicity-driven publisher, and only accept books with authors
committed to promoting themselves and their titles. We look
for authors who can talk, articulately, about their books on
radio, television, and to the press.

=====

LAWRENCE HILL BOOKS
http://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/about.cfm#manuscriptguidelines
---
Lawrence Hill Books specializes in mostly nonfiction on topics
of African American and Latino interest, progressive politics,
civil and human rights, and feminism.

=====

NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS
http://www.newsociety.com/Submissions
---
New Society Publishers is a progressive publishing company that
specializes in books for activists, books that contribute in
fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and
just society. We sell our books to a North America-wide market,
using trade distributors in both Canada and the United States,
as well as through direct mail and the Internet. Our mandate is
to work for broad social transformation toward sustainability,
through nonviolent means.



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



 NEW BOOK RELEASE:
 
 The Heart of a Ready Scribe by Melanie Stiles
 
 Are you ready to connect your passion for writing with your
 heart for God? We all have a message to be written for others.
 Are you working on yours?
 
 Take this one year journey of weekly encouragement, instruction
 and reflection that will enable you to connect your calling to
 action.
 
 Is it your time to take on the role of a Ready Scribe?
 
 Amazon link (including Kindle edition)
 
 Ebook link


=====
 

ONLINE BOOK MARKETING

If you're an author who really wants to sell books,
then you've got to create a platform that connects,
communicates and builds long-term relationships with
your readers online.

Online Book Marketing will show you how, providing
you with ideas and strategies you can use to effectively
brand and promote your book on the Internet (almost)
entirely for FREE. From blogging to article marketing,
from Facebook Page creation to thriving on Twitter, this
book has it all!

Find explanations and tips that will help you navigate,
decipher and select the best methods you can use to
generate online book buzz.

Available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and all major
book retailers. For more information please visit
www.onlinebookbuzz.com

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Barnes & Noble
 

 

 

 

=====

 

 

 

 

WOMEN WHO WRITE announces its 18th annual International Short Prose & Poetry Contest

=> Cash prizes for first, second & third places in prose and poetry
=> Publication in our annual anthology
=> Five author copies
=> Recognition at our annual awards ceremony

Deadline July 31, 2011. Entry fee $10 per entry.
For details see:http://womenwhowrite.com/contests.html



=====

 

 

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.

  

Contactrkwriter@gmail.com ,www.rkeditor.com

 

=====

 

 

COOL WELL PRESS - NEW PRESS
http://www.coolwellpress.com/pages/home
---
We offer a variety of genres including fantasy, mystery,
science fiction, suspense, historicals, Young Adult, and
non-fiction. We strive to bring you the best and brightest
authors and stories that will touch your heart, open your
mind, and keep you thinking long past The End. Cool Well
Press is a royalty-paying publisher of works for sale in
electronic format and trade paperback. We publish two
distinct lines - book-length Young Adult fiction across
all genres and non-fiction in a variety of genres.

=====

 

 

 

 

 

Chalet is once again welcoming submissions.

We're looking for well-written, fresh works with strong

storylines in Fiction, YA, Fantasy, Mysteries, Thrillers.

 

http://www.chaletpublishers.com 

 

Let Chalet consider your work. We're looking for the best!

  
 

=====


WHY ADVERTISE IN FUNDSFORWRITERS?

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 
 

 

=====

WORLDWIDE FREELANCE WRITER

We're in the business of writing. For 10 years we've been
helping freelance writers to find paying markets. Please
browse our free database of 750 markets or join Markets
Plus and have 2500 markets at your fingertips.

http://www.WorldwideFreelance.com

=====
 

 

 

ANOTHER FANTASTIC REASON TO ADVERTISE IN FUNDSFORWRITERS
 
 Chalet Publishers, LLC, ran an ad ONE TIME in announcing we
 were currently accepting submissions. It had been exactly 24
 hours since the newsletter and the ad were distributed. Queries,
 chapters, entire manuscripts --- the influx has just now slowed
 down. We received way over forty responses to our ad, and they
 are still pouring in.  (BTW, this is a very good problem!). Just
 wanted to let you know we think you and your newsletter rock!
 It's just amazing and let's us know just how loyal your fans are.
 
 Joyce Norman,
 Chalet Publishers, LLC
 http://www.chaletpublishers.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


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