Volume 12, Issue 3
January 20, 2012


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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

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Visited my sister's city of Myrtle Beach and had to snap
a picture of one of the sand sculptures the city frequently
displays. The picture doesn't begin to show the size and detail.


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.


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PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID SHORT STORY CONTEST

20th year. Ten cash prizes totaling $5,550. Top prize $3,000.
Seeks short stories, essays and other works of prose, up to
5,000 words. All entries that win cash prizes will be published
on WinningWriters.com (over one million page views per year)
and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over
40,000 subscribers.

Both published and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry
is $15, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: March
31. Judges: John H. Reid, Dee C. Konrad. Submit online or mail
to Winning Writers, Attn: Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351
Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060.

Winning Writers is one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers"
(Writer's Digest, 2005-2011).

More information: www.winningwriters.com/tomstory



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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

=====

NOTE: I'm posting the same editorial in TOTAL as FundsforWriters
this week, something I've never done before. Once you read it,
you'll understand why. I wanted to reach you all. ~HOPE

---


LOVE IS A POWERFUL ENERGY

"Love is a powerful energy. It has hidden and magical and
wonderful powers. It can be trusted to open doors that we
hardly dare dream to be true, they seem so good."

~White Feather Farm blog

www.whitefeatherfarm.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/love-will-heal-the-world-and-a-contest/


My Meyers-Briggs personality identity is on the line between
INFJ and INTJ. Either one is in the minority - like 1.4% and
1.7% of the population, respectively. I'm focused, and
sometimes I don't understand when people can't focus. Over the
years, I've groomed a sense of patience in that regard,
because goodness knows my family understands my impatience at
life passing us by without accomplishment. As a result, also
over the years, I've learned that what drives me isn't
necessarily impatience at others, but a love of my writing life
that's so intense that I want to share it with others.

It's like, "Look at what we can do, people. Study this, like
this, OWN this. It's opportunity so grab it and grip it tight."
Sometimes it's hard to describe. Sometimes I think I'm simply
selfish wanting people to understand, that maybe I don't have
most of the answers, or even the right answers. I mean, who am
I to tell anyone else how to succeed in this ridiculous profession,
and oh my goodness, it's a profoundly stupid industry sometimes.

Then this happens:
http://beyondthemargins.com/2012/01/above-and-beyond-award-2012/

From the blog post:

"Like all of you out there, we have benefited from the generosity
of fellow writers. Many of us at Beyond the Margins met at Grub
Street Writers in Boston as members of an ever-shifting novel
workshop led, season in and season out for many years, by Jenna
Blum, author of the critically acclaimed and best selling novels
Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers. At least as important as
the writing education she offered was the lesson, by her own
example, of supporting fellow writers, building community, and
giving back. Not surprisingly, when we came up with the idea of
honoring a writer who goes above and beyond, Jenna-and mentors
like her-were our inspiration. In total, 26 writers were nominated.
Every member of the blog read all of the nominations before we
met and discussed them at length. Finally, we moved on to a vote."

Please understand, I'm not trying to impress you. On the contrary.
What I want you to gather from this post, which seems to be
wandering because I'm trying so damn hard to say it right, is that
with diligence, with love, with passion, with hard, hard, hard
work, comes writing success.

You don't have to set a goal and mark its progress on your
calendar. That's what's so fabulous about being in love with
your work. You just do it. You'll always do it. You can't
imagine NOT doing it. Then one day, somebody somewhere, tells
you that you've made a difference.

You wave it off, assuming the person overly imaginative,
dramatic even. You think that your "faking it" as a writer
is enough for your friends and family, but if your name and
your stories happened to slip into the mainstream, nobody would
care. Isn't that what we hear in all the blogs? That the
competition is tremendous, and we have to be remarkable in order
to receive the slightest nod from those who've succeeded? Or
some bestseller list? Or some esteemed group of writers?

People, if you stick to it, if you fight with claws bared to
shift your words the teeniest bit toward a better perfection,
you do rise up from the fray. Not that the fray is bad. We
have to learn from the fray and shuffle amongst the masses.
All of us start somewhere.

But the day someone compliments you, someone you never
expected to acknowledge your existence, or the moment someone
attributes her success to yours, you realize that love works.
Love of the craft makes you persistent, but it also makes
you want to aid others who've endured the same pains as you.
Tell them the scams to avoid, the doors to open, and the
chances to take.

I'm trying to say thanks, to anyone and everyone who've ever
opened my newsletters, visited my website, listened to my
chapters, commented on my blog, retweeted my Tweet, and
liked my words on Facebook. I'll continue to hold your hand
if you'll continue to hold mine. And we'll make this crazy
publishing business work for us . . . because we love it.




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 2012 BYLINES DESK CALENDAR IS BACK!

The 2012 Bylines Desk Calendar contains pieces from 53 writers
in 25 states, plus Ireland and the UK. If you've never seen a
Bylines Calendar, you're in for a treat. Each week contains a
short nonfiction piece from writers just like you. Even Hope has
a piece in this edition! This spiral bound week-to-week calendar
conveniently lies flat on your desk, for easy use. It's the
perfect size for . . . your desk, and since it's all about
writers, it's entertaining and educational as well as practical.

www.fundsforwriters.com/Bylines.htm



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

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around
you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase
it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within
you, no one can take it away."

~ Tom Clancy ~


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SUCCESS OF THE WEEK
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Dear Hope,

You have been so supportive over the years I had to take the
time to write. I just got another acceptance! Burnt Bridges
has taken one of my stories for the Jan 2012 issue.
Overmydeadbody.com took one of my stories for their Dec 2011
issue and Desert Breeze just signed me to a four book contract!
Thanks for all you do to encourage writers. Your FundsforWriters
keeps me motivated.

Thanks again.
Joan Leotta
Author and Story Performer
http://voicesintheglen.org/tellers/jleotta
www.joanleotta.com



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ARTICLE
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Don't Just Be a Writer

By Renee Roberson

As I recently scanned the spreadsheet I use to keep track of my
monthly writing assignments, I made an interesting observation
regarding the different types of work that have come my way in
the past year. While we all want to see our byline attached to
feature-length articles in magazines and newspapers, there are
many other areas of opportunities with local publications that
are often operating on a small staff. Here are just a few
places where a quick e-mail or phone call to an editor could
land you with an unexpected project or better yet, a monthly
contract.

Calendars. One of the publications I write for regularly has
trouble keeping a calendar editor on staff -- most likely because
it is an entry-level position requiring a lot of data entry. The
editor recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in
compiling the monthly calendar items and checking the e-mail
inbox designed specifically for that position. Because the job
allows me to work remotely and provides a monthly check that I
know I'll receive the same time each month, I'm happy to work
the regular gig even though it's not as creative as some of the
assignments I usually take on. Take a look at some of your
favorite local publications and you'll find that most of them
include a calendar of some sort. It's worth contacting the editor
to let them know you'd be happy to help them with that portion of
the magazine if they ever get short-handed.

Research and Compiling News Items. Another magazine that runs a
local column spotlighting working mothers in the community once
offered me $50 to research and come up with at least six
suggestions for women to feature. In less than an hour I had
zeroed in on potential candidates and sent e-mails gauging their
interest. It was the easiest $50 I ever made. Another newspaper I
worked for contacted me once asking if I wanted to take over
compiling the education notes from various schools in the area.
The job would allow me to access the newspaper's education e-mail
inbox and pull together the news items into a weekly column and
was a home-based gig. The position would have paid around $500 a
month, but unfortunately I had just taken a regular editing job
at a competing publication and had to turn the job down.

Fact-checking. These types of publications also often publish a
variety of annual publications (such as travel or education guides),
which are typically chock full of short articles, stock photography
and resource listings. This is where you come in. There is usually
one person in charge of updating all the resource listings and
other repeating information in the publication, and freelancers
are perfect for this. Keep an eye on the various guides your
clients publish and express interest at least six months ahead of
time. It can provide steady work and larger paychecks than merely
writing feature articles.

While these types of jobs aren't glamorous by any stretch of the
imagination and won't pay as much as an article in a national
consumer magazine, they can provide monthly contracts or
assignments that can help keep your writing cash flow in the
right direction with prompt payment terms. And by showing your
clients that you're not afraid to take on the occasional grunt
work and do it well, they'll most likely show their appreciation
by throwing a few extra writing assignments your way.

BIO
Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer who isn't
afraid to roll up her sleeves for her regular clients. Visit
her Web site at www.FinishedPages.com .


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COMPETITIONS
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NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS
http://www.IndieBookAwards.com
---
$75 ENTRY FEE ($50 for subsequent entries).
Open to all indie book authors and publishers - including small
presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses,
e-book publishers, and self-published authors. Entry Deadline
February 24, 2012.

$1,500 cash prize and trophy awarded to the best Fiction Book
and Non-Fiction Book

$750 cash prize and trophy awarded to the second best Fiction
Book and Non-Fiction Book

$500 cash prize and trophy awarded to the third best Fiction
Book and Non-Fiction Book

$250 cash prize and trophy awarded to the Best Design Book

$100 Cash Prize and a Gold Medal awarded to the winner of
each of the 60 categories

Finalist Medals will be awarded to up to four finalists in
each of the 60 categories

=====

TARCHER/PENGUIN NOVEL CONTEST
www.tarchertopartist.com/writing-competition-details/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Tarcher/Penguin is celebrating the continued success of Julia
Cameron's The Artist's Way by presenting the Seeking the Next
Top Artist Writing Contest. The top prize is $5,000 and a
manuscript review by a Penguin editor. Julia Cameron will
select the winning entry from among 10 semi-finalists.
Writers residing in the USA are invited to submit an
unpublished novel, novella-length fiction, or a work of
narrative nonfiction. (Limit one entry per person.) Deadline
March 2, 2012.

=====

AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL COMPETITION
https://www.createspace.com/abna
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Amazon.com, in partnership with Penguin Group (USA) and
CreateSpace, has announced the fifth annual Amazon
Breakthrough Novel Award, an international competition
seeking the next popular novel. The competition will again
award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for
Young Adult Fiction. The 2012 competition is also open to
novels that have previously been self-published. Each winner
will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which
includes a $15,000 advance. Open submissions for manuscripts
begin January 23 and continue through February 5, 2012. Don't
delay--only the first 5,000 entries will be accepted in each
category.



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GRANTS
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INDIANA GRANTS
http://www.in.gov/arts/individualartistprogram.htm
---
Indiana artists have until February 2, 2012 to apply for an
IAP grant in the following disciplines: crafts, design, media
arts, photography, visual arts, and folk arts as related to
the disciplines listed here. Individual artists living and
working in Indiana may apply for up to $2,000 from the IAP
grant, which requires no matching funds. The grants are
intended to assist artists with specific project-related
costs that will help them further their careers, and provide
public benefit through the completed project.

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LEF FOUNDATION
http://www.lef-foundation.org/NewEngland/MovingImageFundGrants/tabid/160/Default.aspx
---
The next Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline for requests to the
LEF Foundation's Moving Image Fund for Production and Post-
Production support is 5 PM on Friday, January 27, 2012. LEF
supports independent film and video artists creating new work
of documentary film. In-hand deadline: January 27, 2012.

=====

NOTE: SHORT DEADLINE


TWISPWORKS
http://twispworks.org/call-for-applications-artist-residency
---
TwispWorks seeks applications from artists who would like to
participate in the 2012 Artist Residency Program. Applications
for the winter session, February 10-April 10, 2012, are due
January 23, 2012. Residencies will be available to two artists.
Eligible artists include: visual artists of all media,
installation artists, sculptors, muralists, writers, audio/video
artists. Participants in the program will be offered: A
private room in a shared, co-ed house with a kitchen; Studio
space on site; A small materials stipend to assist in the
completion of a community service project. Location Twisp, WA.

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SUSTAINABLE ARTS FOUNDATION
http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/
---
The Sustainable Arts Foundation is a non-profit foundation
supporting artists and writers with families. Our mission is
to provide financial awards to parents pursuing creative work.
Too often, creative impulses are set aside to meet the wonderful,
but pressing, demands of raising a family. The foundation's goal
is to encourage parents to continue pursuing their creative
passion, and to rekindle it in those who may have let it slide.
Now accepting application for the Spring 2012 awards. Deadline
March 1, 2012. We'll offer 5 awards of $6,000 and 5 awards of
$1,000 to a mix of writers and visual artists (typically 50/50).


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FREELANCE MARKETS
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POSITIVE IMPACT MAGAZINE
http://www.positiveimpactmagazine.com/writers-guidelines/
---
POSITIVE IMPACT MAGAZINE ("PIM") wants to tell stories about
people creating a positive impact in and on our world.
Stories in Positive Impact Magazine are about people,
businesses and groups that are engaging in selfless acts to
improve the life of an individual, the welfare of a community,
the fate of a country or the world in general. We do not accept
stories or articles about for-profit or self-promoting acts.
Online Articles: 800 words or less, accompanied by 4 teaser
blogs of 100 words or fewer. These blogs will promote the
article on our website. The blogs should be written by you
the writer, not pulled from the main article. These blogs
will promote the main article. Sidebars: 100 to 250 words.
Query first.

=====

ALASKA MAGAZINE
http://www.alaskamagazine.com/contact/writers_guidelines
---
Majority of pieces freelance written. A story must have two
attributes before it will be considered for publication.
First, its focus must be on Alaska. Equally important, the
story must be an example of superlative writing, preferably
with a well-developed narrative at its core. Whether it's a
history piece on Aleut baskets or an adventure tale about
hiking in the Brooks Range, it should always have an "only
in Alaska" aspect. Main stories around 2,000 words. Several
columns available for smaller pieces. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

=====

AMC OUTDOORS
http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/contributor-guidelines.cfm
---
AMC Outdoors inspires readers to get outside and get involved
by providing high-quality coverage of outdoor recreation,
education, and conservation topics throughout the Northern
Appalachian region, from Maine to Virginia. Features range
from 2,000 to 2,500 words and often include sidebars. Our
editorial departments make up the front matter of AMC Outdoors.
They are designed to be short, in-depth articles that provide
readers with news and advice on a variety of outdoor recreation
and conservation topics. We generally pay $500-$700 for features
and $150-$400 for department columns.



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JOBS
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STAFF WRITER - GROUPON
Location Chicago, IL
http://www.jibe.com/jobs/staff-writer-groupon-chicago-il--4-0116-
---
Each day's Groupon features a write-up describing the deal
with thoroughly researched, informative selling points that
range from the straightforward to the whimsical and bizarre.
This position writes the paragraphs that explain the deal,
which is referred to as the details section. Staff writers
do not compile reviews, nor do they write the humor content
in the cat bubble. Salary is $37K.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/307171000
---
Deadline January 31, 2012. The incumbent serves as a Writer
Editor with the primary responsibility for planning, creating,
designing, maintaining, overseeing, and disseminating products
that communicate with the worldwide internal OIG audience and
a variety of customers and interested publics, to include
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget.

=====

STAFF WRITER / NEWS BLOGGER
Location New York, NY
http://www.jobfox.com/Web/Seeker/Landing/AppJobDetails.aspx?AppJobId=f1f7a39f-1bb2-4bae-bee1-7f331875d57b
---
The Village Voice has an immediate opening for a full-time
blogger at our news blog, Runnin' Scared. We are looking for
an experienced reporter with excellent writing skills and
the news sense for nimble and creative blog coverage of the
city in multiple stories a day. We offer competitive salaries
and benefits. Qualified applicants should send a cover letter,
resume, and recent clips to: NY-staff-writer@villagevoicemedia.com 


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PUBLISHERS/AGENTS
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BLACK LYON PUBLISHING
http://www.blacklyonpublishing.com/guidelines.html
---
Four categories of romance accepted: contemporary, paranormal,
historical, and general literary fiction romance. Length
65,000 to 85,000 words. The novellas follow the guidelines of
the full-length novels above - only shorter! Currently accepting
contemporary and paranormal romances, as well as inspirational
romances. (Note: Especially interested in novellas with holiday
settings and themes, i.e., Christmas, Halloween, Independence
Day...). Length 20,000-40,000 words.

=====

HIGHLAND PRESS PUBLISHING
http://www.highlandpress.org/
---
Offering quality novels and anthologies that capture the heart.
Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Fantasy, Paranormal, Men's
and Women's Fiction, Inspirational, Young Adult, Children's.

(Thanks to http://www.cindimyersmarketnews.wordpress.com )

=====

EAKIN PRESS
http://www.eakinpress.com/
---
Eakin Press publishes Texas histories and biographies, books
about the Old West, children's books, both fiction and non-
fiction.



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SPONSORS
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