FundsforWriters - July 22, 2011
Published: Sat, 07/23/11
Volume 11, Issue 29
July 22, 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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taking time out Friday night to meet friends at Hooters for
dinner.
Just didn't feel like cooking with 100 degrees outside. (And
yes,
we love the chicken wings.) We enjoy chatting with the girls,
and
we feel the asst. manager is like a daughter to us. Been
going there
every 4-6 weeks since early 1992. Wow, that seems eons
ago.
Double wow, a couple of the girls weren't even born yet!
Editor: C. Hope Clark
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
=====
DILIGENCE
When I started writing seriously, I read every piece of
advice I could find. Successful authors repeated the same
school of thought - diligence required. Diligence, I thought.
That's just trying hard to get what you want. I don't think
I quite understood the real meaning of diligence.
Twelve years later, I'm close to publishing my novel. I
quit counting the times I almost changed my mind. The times
I debated with writing friends over a stinging critique.
The times I figured I wasn't any good. The times I put the
manuscript on the back burner while I tried to decide if
the effort was worth the sweat.
Diligence is when you're taken to the end of your rope,
you want to let go and quit with the grief and heartache,
but you don't. Writing part-time for a year isn't it.
It pains me when I see writers unsubscribe to the newsletter,
and they give a reason like, "Gave up writing." I sigh.
Maybe they just dabbled with it only to realize it was a
tough gig. Maybe they wrote well but their other side of
life wouldn't allow writing to have a voice.
Then I think of those who manage to publish. I see authors
on Twitter releasing first books and want to cheer. They
know diligence. I know they do.
So, with all the changes in publishing, all the quick-fix
and instant do-it-yourself mixed into the business these
days, how do you maintain diligence in your career? That
very question prompted me to label the theme for the 10th
Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest as DILIGENCE.
No, it doesn't have to be about writing. Diligence may have
saved your marriage or taken you to the end of your first
marathon run. Diligence may have saved you from breast
cancer or driven you cross country to be with a saddened
friend.
This theme is powerful.
As always with the FundsforWriters Essay Contest, you have
the choice of entering via the $5 entry fee or the zero
entry fee category. The difference is in the prize amounts.
Don't enter right away. The deadline is Halloween,
October 31, 2011. Ponder it. You can't forget it. Heck,
it's only one word. But it's a word packed with meaning.
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
-AND-
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
One platinum position open.
Five gold positions open.
Be seen in newsletters that span the globe. 40,000 readers.
Hundreds of thousands of hits per month on the website.
Imagine your logo and ad in both newsletter and website,
plus all the perks of Hope's blog, Facebook and Twitter
followers. Go to the contest website and see the opportunities
that comes with sponsoring the 10th Annual FundsforWriters
Essay Contest.
~~~~~~****~~~~~~
WORDS OF SUCCESS
Plotting is like sex. Plotting is about desire and satisfaction,
anticipation and release. You have to arouse your reader's
desire to know what happens, to unravel the mystery, to see
good triumph. You have to sustain it, keep it warm, feed it,
just a little bit, not too much at a time, as your story goes
on. That's called suspense. It can bring desire to a frenzy,
in which case you are in a good position to bring off a
wonderful climax.
~COLIN GREENLAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Hope,
In so much as you and your newsletter have appreciatively
helped to keep my spirit, energy and creative juices aflow
over the past few years; perhaps you might like to know the
news about my grant award of $3,185 from The Center for Cultural
Innovation (CCI) for Los Angeles County artists. Of the 18
current grantees, mine was the only one issued in the literary
arts category.
Best as ever,
Howard Edelman
PS:
You might be interested to know that one of your recent
contributors, Shaila Abdullah, the Web designer, will be
working with me in redesigning and reorienting my Paris When
It Sizzles website as a literary/fine art platform.
http://www.pariswhenitsizzles.com/
This web site has been conceived and dedicated to all who
share my affection and fascination for the Culture and
impenetrable artistic enigma of the French Nation, the City
of Paris in particular and the remarkable men and women who
over the Centuries, have made it so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So You Want to Write Résumés, Do You?
By Jack Mulcahy
In today's economy, résumé writing can be a lucrative field
for those with the proper expertise. Note I said, "with the
proper expertise." What do I mean by "expertise"? In terms
of a résumé, expertise means more than knowing how to construct
a readable, grammatically correct sentence. If that were all
there was to it, résumé writers would be falling all over
each other. But your résumé expertise must begin by
understanding exactly what a résumé is; and what it is not.
Simply put, a résumé is a marketing document. It's a commercial
for the jobseeker, whose object is to get that jobseeker past
the HR department and in front of a hiring manager. There's an
easier way to understand what a résumé is, if we recognize what
a résumé is not: It is not a bone-dry description of what that
jobseeker did at each job. A résumé is a living thing, a
representation of who that candidate is, and what kind of job
she/he will do for the prospective employer.
Let's skim over the obvious: the need for the candidate's name,
address, phone, fax, e-mail, etc., to be placed prominently
right at the top of the résumé. We'll look at a résumé for Mr.
John Q. Public. Let's say he's answering an ad that calls for
an administrative assistant with MS Office expertise. His
résumé probably starts as most résumés do, this way:
I am a hardworking, self-directed person who needs minimal
supervision. Seeking a full time position where I can put my
talents and skills to use and grow with the company.
At first glance, this looks like something an employer might
want. John is self-directed and has talents and skills, right?
And growing with the company seems like something an employer
would want.
But the ad specified that the employer was looking for someone
with expertise in MS Office. This statement doesn't mention
that. And not only does it use clichés (self-directed,
hardworking), it could apply to about three-quarters of the
job seeking population. And about three-quarters of John's
competition will use almost those exact words. Worst yet, it's
all about JOHN. It says nothing about what he will do for the
company. The reader will shunt this résumé to the "NO" pile
without reading any further.
Here's a guiding principle for résumé writing, borrowed from
Dr. Phil: "The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."
Following that principle, what this opening statement has just
told the employer is that John Q. Public knows every cliché
in the book and that he's too lazy (or too disconnected) to
come up with something that relates how he can help the
employer. This opening statement is baloney, and the reader
will recognize that right away.
Here's a better opener:
I am seeking a full time administrative assistant position with
ABC Co. As this résumé shows, I have created winning bid
proposals with MS Word, tracked expenses and forecasts for 20
account managers with Excel, and used PowerPoint to develop
strong visual presentations that won over prospective clients.
I can help ABC achieve its objectives.
This objective speaks to needs of the company that placed the
ad. It explains what John will do for them. This objective
says, "I understand your need. Here's how I filled that need
elsewhere. I'll fill your need the same way."
The first rule of résumé writing, then, is drop the boilerplate
and tailor the résumé to the needs of the specific employer.
If you keep that in mind, you'll get your clients in front of
hiring managers.
BIO
Jack Mulcahy has been a writer all his life. He has written
freelance articles for newspapers and magazines, and has sold
fiction to Pulp Empire, Abandoned Towers, Shadow Sword, Lesbian
Short Fiction, Lost Worlds, Sorcerous Signals, Flashing Swords
and The Fringe. Jack is also a résumé writer, a job for which
his fiction expertise is the ideal qualification. He and his
wife Pat live in suburban Philadelphia, by the grace of their
two cats, the real homeowners. E-mail: resumejack@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TROUBADOUR INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE
http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes
---
ENTRY FEE £5/6/$8 per poem.
1st £2,500, 2nd £500, 3rd £250, and 20 prizes of £20 each
plus a spring 2012 coffee-house-poetry season-ticket and
a prizewinners' coffee-house poetry reading with Susan Wicks
and David Harsent on November 28, 2011. Deadline October
17, 2011. Poems must be in English, must each be no longer
than 45 lines.
=====
WRITER'S DIGEST SCI-FI SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.writersdigest.com/science-fiction-competition/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
The First Place-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's
Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Entry Deadline: September 15, 2011. All manuscripts must
be 4,000 words or fewer.
=====
WRITER'S DIGEST THRILLER SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.writersdigest.com/thriller-competition/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
The First Place-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's
Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Entry Deadline: September 15, 2011. All manuscripts must
be 4,000 words or fewer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE WINCHESTER WRITERS' CONFERENCE
http://www.writersconference.co.uk/friends.htm
---
This independent group of writers works together to raise
funds that are awarded as a limited number of bursaries to
writers who wish to attend the Winchester Writers' Conference
but who need partial support.
Those who wish to apply for a bursary award should write a
letter specifying the following:
Your writing experiences
Classes you have attended
Writing organisations to which you belong
Writing successes
Your objectives for the future and your reasons for applying
Deadline to receive your application is in May. Successful
applicants will receive a £50 voucher that they can apply
to defray the expenses of the Winchester Writers' Conference
weekend.
=====
UCROSS FOUNDATION RESIDENCIES
http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/
---
The Ucross Foundation Residency Program offers the gift
of time and space to competitively selected individuals
working in all artistic disciplines. The Foundation strives
to provide a respectful, comfortable and productive
environment, freeing artists from the pressures and
distractions of daily life. Deadline October 1, 2011.
Location Wyoming.
=====
VIRGINIA FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.arts.virginia.gov/
---
The Virginia Commission for the Arts invites Virginia-based
writers of fiction to apply for its 2011 - 2012 Artist
Fellowships. Applications are due Monday, October 3, 2011.
Four Artist Fellowships of $5,000 are awarded annually by the
Commission to recognize the creative excellence of individual
artists and to support their pursuit of artistic excellence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITER'S MARKET
POET'S MARKET
http://www.writersmarket.com/cms/open/2012wmcallforsubmissions
---
Currently accepting pitches for articles in the 2013 editions
of Writer's Market and Poet's Market. Please send them to
Robert Brewer via e-mail at robert.brewer@fwmedia.com (and not
by any other e-mail or communication channel). If you're
pitching for Writer's Market, please use the subject line:
Pitch for 2013 Writer's Market. If you're pitching for Poet's
Market, please use the subject line: Pitch for 2013 Poet's
Market. For Writer's Market, we're looking for business- and
submission-related pieces. If you're in doubt about your topic,
go ahead and pitch. For Poet's Market, accepting pitches for
articles that cover craft and business topics. Also interested
in anything that helps poets get their work out to a larger
readership.
=====
AMERICAN FORESTS MAGAZINE
http://www.americanforests.org/who-we-are-about-us/contact-us/
---
American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation
organization in the country, advocates for the protection and
expansion of America's forests. Half written by freelancers.
Query with clips. Snail mail or email to smcvicar@amfor.org
or kmarland@amfor.org . Articles are up to 1,750 words. Pays
up to $1/word.
=====
AMERICAN CAREERS
http://www.carcom.com/Site/Contact_Us.html
---
Founded in 1990, Career Communications, Inc., publishes
American Careers programs for high school, middle school and
elementary classrooms that integrate academics and careers.
Our programs and supplemental publications are trusted
educational resources. They meet accepted academic and school
counseling standards, career development guidelines and career
cluster knowledge and skills statements. Query with resume
and writing samples. Offers assignments based on your
qualifications. For $4 and SASE ($3.08) you can request a
sample copy, guidelines and editorial calendar.
NOTE: I've written for them. Good organization.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITER-EDITOR
Locations: Chula Vista, CA; El Paso, TX; Tucson, AZ
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=100741065
---
Deadline July 27, 2011. Work for Customs and Border Protection.
This is a multi-faceted position that requires the incumbent
to serve as a writer, editor and composer of various articles
on agency activities.
=====
CONTENT PRODUCER
Location Atlanta, GA
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=7108
---
This position requires excellent skills in verbal communications,
writing, producing, editing, multitasking, organization and time
management. It will also require the individual to take part in
the strategy to develop content for the organization. Individual
must be creative and technically proficient in the development,
production and distribution of content across all of Public
Broadcasting Atlanta's (PBA) platforms.
=====
WEB CONTENT WRITER, EDITOR, PROOFREADER
Location Lafayette, LA
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=1772565
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
CALL FOR ENTRIES!
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: $500.00, 2nd: $250; 3rd: $100
Poetry Contest First Prize: $250.00, 2nd: $125; 3rd: $50.
Postmark deadline: July 31, 2011.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for details and to enter!
=====
=====
=====
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
=====
=====
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
-----------------------------
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
=====
DILIGENCE
When I started writing seriously, I read every piece of
advice I could find. Successful authors repeated the same
school of thought - diligence required. Diligence, I thought.
That's just trying hard to get what you want. I don't think
I quite understood the real meaning of diligence.
Twelve years later, I'm close to publishing my novel. I
quit counting the times I almost changed my mind. The times
I debated with writing friends over a stinging critique.
The times I figured I wasn't any good. The times I put the
manuscript on the back burner while I tried to decide if
the effort was worth the sweat.
Diligence is when you're taken to the end of your rope,
you want to let go and quit with the grief and heartache,
but you don't. Writing part-time for a year isn't it.
It pains me when I see writers unsubscribe to the newsletter,
and they give a reason like, "Gave up writing." I sigh.
Maybe they just dabbled with it only to realize it was a
tough gig. Maybe they wrote well but their other side of
life wouldn't allow writing to have a voice.
Then I think of those who manage to publish. I see authors
on Twitter releasing first books and want to cheer. They
know diligence. I know they do.
So, with all the changes in publishing, all the quick-fix
and instant do-it-yourself mixed into the business these
days, how do you maintain diligence in your career? That
very question prompted me to label the theme for the 10th
Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest as DILIGENCE.
No, it doesn't have to be about writing. Diligence may have
saved your marriage or taken you to the end of your first
marathon run. Diligence may have saved you from breast
cancer or driven you cross country to be with a saddened
friend.
This theme is powerful.
As always with the FundsforWriters Essay Contest, you have
the choice of entering via the $5 entry fee or the zero
entry fee category. The difference is in the prize amounts.
Don't enter right away. The deadline is Halloween,
October 31, 2011. Ponder it. You can't forget it. Heck,
it's only one word. But it's a word packed with meaning.
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
-AND-
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
One platinum position open.
Five gold positions open.
Be seen in newsletters that span the globe. 40,000 readers.
Hundreds of thousands of hits per month on the website.
Imagine your logo and ad in both newsletter and website,
plus all the perks of Hope's blog, Facebook and Twitter
followers. Go to the contest website and see the opportunities
that comes with sponsoring the 10th Annual FundsforWriters
Essay Contest.
~~~~~~****~~~~~~
WORDS OF SUCCESS
Plotting is like sex. Plotting is about desire and satisfaction,
anticipation and release. You have to arouse your reader's
desire to know what happens, to unravel the mystery, to see
good triumph. You have to sustain it, keep it warm, feed it,
just a little bit, not too much at a time, as your story goes
on. That's called suspense. It can bring desire to a frenzy,
in which case you are in a good position to bring off a
wonderful climax.
~COLIN GREENLAND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Hope,
In so much as you and your newsletter have appreciatively
helped to keep my spirit, energy and creative juices aflow
over the past few years; perhaps you might like to know the
news about my grant award of $3,185 from The Center for Cultural
Innovation (CCI) for Los Angeles County artists. Of the 18
current grantees, mine was the only one issued in the literary
arts category.
Best as ever,
Howard Edelman
PS:
You might be interested to know that one of your recent
contributors, Shaila Abdullah, the Web designer, will be
working with me in redesigning and reorienting my Paris When
It Sizzles website as a literary/fine art platform.
http://www.pariswhenitsizzles.com/
This web site has been conceived and dedicated to all who
share my affection and fascination for the Culture and
impenetrable artistic enigma of the French Nation, the City
of Paris in particular and the remarkable men and women who
over the Centuries, have made it so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So You Want to Write Résumés, Do You?
By Jack Mulcahy
In today's economy, résumé writing can be a lucrative field
for those with the proper expertise. Note I said, "with the
proper expertise." What do I mean by "expertise"? In terms
of a résumé, expertise means more than knowing how to construct
a readable, grammatically correct sentence. If that were all
there was to it, résumé writers would be falling all over
each other. But your résumé expertise must begin by
understanding exactly what a résumé is; and what it is not.
Simply put, a résumé is a marketing document. It's a commercial
for the jobseeker, whose object is to get that jobseeker past
the HR department and in front of a hiring manager. There's an
easier way to understand what a résumé is, if we recognize what
a résumé is not: It is not a bone-dry description of what that
jobseeker did at each job. A résumé is a living thing, a
representation of who that candidate is, and what kind of job
she/he will do for the prospective employer.
Let's skim over the obvious: the need for the candidate's name,
address, phone, fax, e-mail, etc., to be placed prominently
right at the top of the résumé. We'll look at a résumé for Mr.
John Q. Public. Let's say he's answering an ad that calls for
an administrative assistant with MS Office expertise. His
résumé probably starts as most résumés do, this way:
I am a hardworking, self-directed person who needs minimal
supervision. Seeking a full time position where I can put my
talents and skills to use and grow with the company.
At first glance, this looks like something an employer might
want. John is self-directed and has talents and skills, right?
And growing with the company seems like something an employer
would want.
But the ad specified that the employer was looking for someone
with expertise in MS Office. This statement doesn't mention
that. And not only does it use clichés (self-directed,
hardworking), it could apply to about three-quarters of the
job seeking population. And about three-quarters of John's
competition will use almost those exact words. Worst yet, it's
all about JOHN. It says nothing about what he will do for the
company. The reader will shunt this résumé to the "NO" pile
without reading any further.
Here's a guiding principle for résumé writing, borrowed from
Dr. Phil: "The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."
Following that principle, what this opening statement has just
told the employer is that John Q. Public knows every cliché
in the book and that he's too lazy (or too disconnected) to
come up with something that relates how he can help the
employer. This opening statement is baloney, and the reader
will recognize that right away.
Here's a better opener:
I am seeking a full time administrative assistant position with
ABC Co. As this résumé shows, I have created winning bid
proposals with MS Word, tracked expenses and forecasts for 20
account managers with Excel, and used PowerPoint to develop
strong visual presentations that won over prospective clients.
I can help ABC achieve its objectives.
This objective speaks to needs of the company that placed the
ad. It explains what John will do for them. This objective
says, "I understand your need. Here's how I filled that need
elsewhere. I'll fill your need the same way."
The first rule of résumé writing, then, is drop the boilerplate
and tailor the résumé to the needs of the specific employer.
If you keep that in mind, you'll get your clients in front of
hiring managers.
BIO
Jack Mulcahy has been a writer all his life. He has written
freelance articles for newspapers and magazines, and has sold
fiction to Pulp Empire, Abandoned Towers, Shadow Sword, Lesbian
Short Fiction, Lost Worlds, Sorcerous Signals, Flashing Swords
and The Fringe. Jack is also a résumé writer, a job for which
his fiction expertise is the ideal qualification. He and his
wife Pat live in suburban Philadelphia, by the grace of their
two cats, the real homeowners. E-mail: resumejack@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TROUBADOUR INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE
http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes
---
ENTRY FEE £5/6/$8 per poem.
1st £2,500, 2nd £500, 3rd £250, and 20 prizes of £20 each
plus a spring 2012 coffee-house-poetry season-ticket and
a prizewinners' coffee-house poetry reading with Susan Wicks
and David Harsent on November 28, 2011. Deadline October
17, 2011. Poems must be in English, must each be no longer
than 45 lines.
=====
WRITER'S DIGEST SCI-FI SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.writersdigest.com/science-fiction-competition/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
The First Place-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's
Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Entry Deadline: September 15, 2011. All manuscripts must
be 4,000 words or fewer.
=====
WRITER'S DIGEST THRILLER SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.writersdigest.com/thriller-competition/
---
$20 ENTRY FEE
The First Place-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in
Writer's Digest, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and
the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's
Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
Entry Deadline: September 15, 2011. All manuscripts must
be 4,000 words or fewer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRANTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE WINCHESTER WRITERS' CONFERENCE
http://www.writersconference.co.uk/friends.htm
---
This independent group of writers works together to raise
funds that are awarded as a limited number of bursaries to
writers who wish to attend the Winchester Writers' Conference
but who need partial support.
Those who wish to apply for a bursary award should write a
letter specifying the following:
Your writing experiences
Classes you have attended
Writing organisations to which you belong
Writing successes
Your objectives for the future and your reasons for applying
Deadline to receive your application is in May. Successful
applicants will receive a £50 voucher that they can apply
to defray the expenses of the Winchester Writers' Conference
weekend.
=====
UCROSS FOUNDATION RESIDENCIES
http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/
---
The Ucross Foundation Residency Program offers the gift
of time and space to competitively selected individuals
working in all artistic disciplines. The Foundation strives
to provide a respectful, comfortable and productive
environment, freeing artists from the pressures and
distractions of daily life. Deadline October 1, 2011.
Location Wyoming.
=====
VIRGINIA FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.arts.virginia.gov/
---
The Virginia Commission for the Arts invites Virginia-based
writers of fiction to apply for its 2011 - 2012 Artist
Fellowships. Applications are due Monday, October 3, 2011.
Four Artist Fellowships of $5,000 are awarded annually by the
Commission to recognize the creative excellence of individual
artists and to support their pursuit of artistic excellence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREELANCE MARKETS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITER'S MARKET
POET'S MARKET
http://www.writersmarket.com/cms/open/2012wmcallforsubmissions
---
Currently accepting pitches for articles in the 2013 editions
of Writer's Market and Poet's Market. Please send them to
Robert Brewer via e-mail at robert.brewer@fwmedia.com (and not
by any other e-mail or communication channel). If you're
pitching for Writer's Market, please use the subject line:
Pitch for 2013 Writer's Market. If you're pitching for Poet's
Market, please use the subject line: Pitch for 2013 Poet's
Market. For Writer's Market, we're looking for business- and
submission-related pieces. If you're in doubt about your topic,
go ahead and pitch. For Poet's Market, accepting pitches for
articles that cover craft and business topics. Also interested
in anything that helps poets get their work out to a larger
readership.
=====
AMERICAN FORESTS MAGAZINE
http://www.americanforests.org/who-we-are-about-us/contact-us/
---
American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation
organization in the country, advocates for the protection and
expansion of America's forests. Half written by freelancers.
Query with clips. Snail mail or email to smcvicar@amfor.org
or kmarland@amfor.org . Articles are up to 1,750 words. Pays
up to $1/word.
=====
AMERICAN CAREERS
http://www.carcom.com/Site/Contact_Us.html
---
Founded in 1990, Career Communications, Inc., publishes
American Careers programs for high school, middle school and
elementary classrooms that integrate academics and careers.
Our programs and supplemental publications are trusted
educational resources. They meet accepted academic and school
counseling standards, career development guidelines and career
cluster knowledge and skills statements. Query with resume
and writing samples. Offers assignments based on your
qualifications. For $4 and SASE ($3.08) you can request a
sample copy, guidelines and editorial calendar.
NOTE: I've written for them. Good organization.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOBS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WRITER-EDITOR
Locations: Chula Vista, CA; El Paso, TX; Tucson, AZ
http://jobview.usajobs.gov/getjob.aspx?JobID=100741065
---
Deadline July 27, 2011. Work for Customs and Border Protection.
This is a multi-faceted position that requires the incumbent
to serve as a writer, editor and composer of various articles
on agency activities.
=====
CONTENT PRODUCER
Location Atlanta, GA
http://www.journalismnext.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=7108
---
This position requires excellent skills in verbal communications,
writing, producing, editing, multitasking, organization and time
management. It will also require the individual to take part in
the strategy to develop content for the organization. Individual
must be creative and technically proficient in the development,
production and distribution of content across all of Public
Broadcasting Atlanta's (PBA) platforms.
=====
WEB CONTENT WRITER, EDITOR, PROOFREADER
Location Lafayette, LA
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=1772565
---
Acadian's Public Relations/Marketing Department has an
immediate opening for a Web Content writer, editor, and
proofreader who can produce high-quality, effective Web site
copy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHISPERS PUBLISHING
http://www.whispershome.com/submissions
---
Whispers Publishing is seeking science fiction books up to
75,000 words. Stories must be well-written, as polished as
possible, and surround the reader in the world of science
fiction. No romance is required. Pays 40% royalties (gross
from website and net from 3rd party distributors). Electronic
publishing only.
=====
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.
=====
BICK PUBLISHING
http://www.bickpubhouse.com/contact.html
---
The mission of Bick Publishing House for Teens/Young Adults
is to relate modern science and its ethics, communications
arts, philosophy, psychology to the teenager's world, so they
can make their own responsible decisions about their own lives
and future. The mission of Bick Publishing House for Adults is
to bring professional information to the general audience in
mental illness and recovery, addictions and recovery, in the
art of living with disabilities, and in wildlife rehabilitation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPONSORS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A FREE Master Class in Writing Success
Enroll FREE in a 14-part 'mini course' in short story
writing success. This highly acclaimed Writers' Village
'Master Class' helps you step-by-step to get published
and win cash prizes in fiction awards.
Discover how to open a chapter with 'wow' impact, add
new energy to a scene, build a character in moments,
sustain page-turning suspense even through long passages
of exposition... plus 97 further powerful ideas you can
use at once.
Enjoy the course without charge now at:
=====
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
=====
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
=====
=> 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
=====
CALL FOR ENTRIES!
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: $500.00, 2nd: $250; 3rd: $100
Poetry Contest First Prize: $250.00, 2nd: $125; 3rd: $50.
Postmark deadline: July 31, 2011.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for details and to enter!
=====
AWARD-WINNING WRITER,
PUBLISHER WILL EDIT YOUR NOVEL, MEMOIR, POETRY
Have your writing edited by an award-winning,
professional
writer, editor, and publisher, one who knows
how to help
you prepare your writing for publication.
Richard Krawiec
has published novels, biographies, text
books, plays, and
a story and poetry collection. He won the
2009 Excellence
in Teaching Award from UNC Chapel Hill. His
essays, feature
articles, and reviews have appeared in major
newspapers and
magazines across the US. The NY Times, LA
Times, Publishers
Weekly have reviewed his work. Awards include
National
Endowment for the Arts and NC Arts Council
grants, as well
as nominations for the National Book Award,
Best American
Short Stories, and Pushcart Prize. He is
founder of Jacar Press.
Contact
rkwriter@gmail.com ,www.rkeditor.com
=====
Chalet is once again welcoming
submissions.
We're looking for well-written, fresh
works with strong
storylines in Fiction, YA, Fantasy,
Mysteries, Thrillers.
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
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
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
-----------------------------