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

 

 

SIGN UP FOR MORE FUNDSFORWRITERS. . .

TOTAL FundsforWriters is our largest newsletter - 75 markets,
contests, grants, publishers, agents and jobs for writers.
Just envision FundsforWriters, only five times larger.
Delivered biweekly to you by email.

Only $15/year for 26 issues. That's 1950+ opportunities.

www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm 



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

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"It's simply a matter of doing what you do best and not
worrying about what the other fellow is going to do."

~ John R. Amos ~




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


Dear Hope,

I volunteer for Mighty Writers, a youth writing center in
Philadelphia, PA ( www.mightywriters.org ). Last year, I
forwarded their development director information about the
Elizabeth George Foundation that I read about in the June
3, 2011 issue of a Funds for Writers newsletter. I learned
today (January 10) that their grant proposal has been funded.

Thanks to you and Funds for Writers, some mighty writing will
be happening in 2012.

Mary Scherf


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


Kickstart Your Art: Using Fundraising Websites to Buy Valuable Writing Time

by Laura Roberts

"Fundraising" isn't a word most writers think of when pondering
the business of writing. While we know we have to market and sell
our words, fundraising is sometimes viewed as begging for money.

First of all, banish that thought! Fundraising is about finding
the money to follow your dreams, and it can be a full-time job,
so put the image of a street corner huckster out of your head.
Whether you're interested in attending a literary conference,
enjoying a writing retreat, or just want to give yourself a
daily paycheck while you hammer out your novel, finding that
funding is a perfectly legitimate goal. Why else would such
respectable characters as Shakespeare have engaged patrons?

With the rise in popularity of websites like Kickstarter
( www.kickstarter.com ) and IndieGoGo ( www.indiegogo.com ),
writers can now send out worldwide calls for funding, where
people can decide to fund all or part of your project. Instead
of limiting yourself to applying for official grants (which can
be lucrative, but difficult to procure), why not open the door
to the exciting possibility of having your latest literary
project funded by loyal fans?

I recently launched a modest Kickstarter campaign to raise
funds for my participation in the annual 3-Day Novel Contest.
With a $55 entry fee and the desire to cover food and caffeinated
beverages for the duration of the marathon, I set up an account
and listed my goal as $120. Within a week of publicizing the
campaign on my social networking profiles, I had achieved my
goal and began working on the outline for what ultimately became
my pirates vs. ninjas entry, Rebels of the 512.

As Hope notes in her blog ( http://tinyurl.com/7wylara ), the key
to running a successful fundraising campaign is engaging your
audience with a well-crafted proposal. Make sure you spend plenty
of time honing your elevator pitch, explaining why someone should
support your literary endeavor, and don't forget to give them
unique incentives to do so. For my campaign, I offered the chance
to name a character in my novel to anyone pledging $25 or more.
This piqued a lot of interest, as people love to be involved in
the writing process. And while their chosen names may be challenging
to work into your story, they also help keep your creative engine
running as you work on your novel.

A bulletproof budget, to account for the final figure you're
requesting, is also a great idea. If people think you have pulled
a number out of thin air, they will be less likely to contribute
to your million-dollar campaign. If, on the other hand, you can
give exact figures for your expenses, this will lend a professional
edge to your campaign.

Naturally, a social media presence is vital to getting your message
out. Be sure to keep tweeting and posting updates about your
campaign and how much you have achieved as events progress. People
like to procrastinate, so gently reminding them that you have a set
time limit ("Just 3 days left to contribute to my campaign!") is
worth the effort. Some people also like to be the hero, swooping in
with the last $5 to save the day, so the more you spread the word
about how close you are, the better your chances of getting funded.

Most importantly, don't forget to thank each of your supporters
with a friendly note as their pledges come in. Everyone likes being
graciously acknowledged, even if they send as little as one dollar
to support your goal--and all those dollar bills do add up!

--

BIO:
Laura Roberts is a 3-Day Novelist currently working on edits for
her 2011 submission, Rebels of the 512. You can follow her
progress on this manuscript, as well as her nearly-finished
novel, Naked Montreal, on Twitter @originaloflaura or on
website at http://buttontapper.com 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMPETITIONS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


PLOUGHSHARES EMERGING WRITER'S CONTEST
http://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest.cfm
---
$20 ENTRY FEE INCLUDES SUBSCRIPTION
We define an "emerging writer" as someone who has yet to
publish a book, including chapbooks, eBooks, and self-published
works. Deadline April 2, 2012 (received by noon). Submit 3-5
poems. Fiction or nonfiction should be under 5,000 words.
Writers are allowed to submit only one entry to the contest
per year. The winning story, essay and poems will be published
in the Winter 2012-13 issue of Ploughshares.

=====

AWEL AMAN TAWE POETRY COMPETITION
http://www.awelamantawe.co.uk/
---
ENTRY FEE
Adults: £3 per poem or 4 for £10
Children: £1 per poem or 4 for £3
(PayPal makes the currency conversion)

Topic: Climate Change - for adults and children. Deadline
March 31, 2012. Copyright of each poem remains with the
author, but Awel Aman Tawe has the unrestricted right to
publish the winning poems in an anthology, on its website,
and on related material for PR purposes. Awel Aman Tawe is
a community energy charity (charity no: 1114492 ) committed
to tackling climate change.

Adult prizes for each language:
1st £500, 2nd £100, 3rd £50

Children's prizes for each language:
1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20

=====

PIRATE'S ALLEY FAULKNER CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.wordsandmusic.org/2012%20Guidelines.html
---
Deadline May 1, 2012. Seven categories:

1-Novel - prize $7,500. Entry fee $40 for novels under
100,000 words, $75 for novels up to 175,000 words, and
$125 for novels over 175,000 words. Novels over 225,000
words must pay $200.

2-Novella - prize $2,500. $35 entry fee.

3-Novel-in-progress - prize $2,000. Limit 12,500 words
and a one-page synopsis. $35 entry fee.

4-Short Story - prize $1,500. Fiction no more than 10,000
words. $30 entry fee.

5-Essay - prize $1,000. Limit 2,500 words. $30 entry fee.

6-Poetry - prize $750. Limit 750 words. $25 entry fee.

7-Short story by a high school student - prize $750 for
student and $250 for sponsor teacher. Limit 5,000 words.
Entry fee $10 paid by school or teacher.



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


A STUDIO IN THE WOODS RESIDENCIES
http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/sitw/?p=1078
---
Four six-week residencies which include a stipend and supply
budget are to be offered between September 2012 and April
2013. The deadline for submissions is May 18, 2012. Ebb &
Flow is a 6-week residency based on the premise that Southern
Louisiana can be seen as a microcosm of the global environment,
manifesting both the challenges and possibilities inherent in
human interaction with urban and natural ecosystems. We ask
artists to describe in detail how the region will affect their
work, to propose a public component to their residency and to
suggest ways in which they will engage with the local
community. Residents given $3,000 stipend and $2,000 for
materials, plus full room and board including food, utilities
and studio space. $30 application fee.

=====

NICKELODEON WRITING FELLOWSHIPS
www.nickwriting.com/home/
---
Operating in a three-phased structure, the Program provides
a salaried position for up to one year and offers hands-on
experience writing spec scripts and pitching story ideas in
both live action and animation television. This three-phased
structure allows writers an opportunity to nurture
relationships with creators, network executives, line
producers, head writers, show runners and story editors.
Although professional writing experience is not necessary
(i.e. having worked as a writer), a strong writing background
is encouraged. Deadline February 28, 2012.

=====

CREATIVE CAPITAL
http://creative-capital.org/apply/
---
Creative Capital, a national nonprofit organization that provides
integrated financial and advisory support to artists pursuing
adventurous projects, has announced guidelines and the
application schedule for its 2012 grant cycle. This year's
program is open to artists working in emerging fields, literature,
and performing arts. Emerging fields may include architecture/
design, digital arts, gaming, interdisciplinary, new genres,
and sound art. Literature may include fiction, genre-defying
literary work, nonfiction, and poetry. Performing arts is
focused on the live performing arts and may include dance, dance-
theater, experimental music performance, interdisciplinary,
multimedia performance, music-theater, non-traditional opera,
performance art, puppetry, spoken word and theater. Deadline
March 1, 2012.



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


TEACHER CREATED MATERIAL FREELANCERS NEEDED
http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/careers/#fsw
---
There are many opportunities with our company for educators
to author lessons and other teacher/student materials. If
interested, please contact us at jobs@tcmpub.com to receive a
relevant writing sample test. Note that it is essential that
our authors be knowledgeable in current educational trends, and
expertise in a particular content area (especially science,
mathematics, and social studies) is a plus. Prior editorial/
writing experience is also a plus.

=====

FREELANCE WEB WRITER
Location New Rochelle, NY
http://www.simplyhired.com/the-college-of-new-rochelle/jobs
---
The College of New Rochelle Office of College Relations seeks
an experienced web writer on a freelance basis for a short term
project revitalizing the College website. In this role, you will
work closely with the Manager of Web Communications to develop
sitemaps and create and edit copy for the site.

=====

WATCHDOG REPORTER
Location Wausau, WI
http://www.jobs.net/jobs/gannett/job/watchdog-reporter/J8C3NX6YXPY0YSHB7R1/
---
The Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald seeks a self-motivated, resourceful
and tenacious hard-news reporter with strong communication and
organizational skills and the ability to work as part of a team.


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


FREELANCE COPYEDITORS/PROOFREADERS
Location Virtual
http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/careers/
---
Teacher Created Materials is looking for freelance copyeditors/
proofreaders for educational manuscripts. Applicants must
possess strong grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills;
be able to follow company style for consistency across product
lines; read for style, usage, and clarity; be proficient in
Microsoft Word and have a working knowledge of Quark or InDesign.
We need freelance copyeditors/proofreaders willing to proofread
educational manuscripts in all content areas including language
arts, math, science, social studies, and technology. 2+ years
experience in copyediting or proofreading is preferred.
Some applicants will be sent a test manuscript to complete.

=====

ASSISTANT EDITOR
Location Columbus, OH
http://www.zaner-bloser.com/jobs/assistant-editor
---
Write, edit, and proofread copy for textbooks utilizing appropriate
tools, including digitally based tools for task management, content
development, and soft proofing. Submit assignments to selected
reviewers, correctly evaluating and incorporating reviewer comments.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Chicago, IL
http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/308625300
---
Review all assigned audit reports and other written materials
for consistency of mechanics and expression, logical organization
and development, and general readability. Revise draft text while
working with the author by recommending changes, obtaining
information for revisions, and ensuring mutual agreement.
Deadline February 17, 2012. Employer - Railroad Retirement Board.




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



TEACHER CREATED MATERIALS
http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/careers/
---
We are proud to publish materials that have been written by
credentialed professionals and successfully used in the classroom.
When submitting a resource, please follow these guidelines:

10 to 12 sample pages (minimum)
A tentative outline or table of contents
A one page summary describing the intended audience, content,
and objectives of your manuscript
A self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage if you would
like your material returned

Mail the above items to:

Editor-in-Chief
Teacher Created Materials
P.O. Box 1040
Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Responses will be mailed when a final decision is made.
Please note we do not accept electronic submissions at this time.

=====

INCENTIVE PUBLICATIONS
http://www.incentivepublications.com/contact.asp
---
Incentive Publications, Inc. publishes teacher resource materials.
We publish no fiction. If you have a manuscript that you think
would be suitable for our needs, you may send: a letter of
introduction; a table of contents; a sample chapter; and a self-
addressed stamped envelope. If you would like your materials
returned to you, please include an envelope large enough to hold
the materials and with sufficient return postage. We make every
effort to reply within 6-8 weeks.

=====

GRYPHON HOUSE
http://www.gryphonhouse.com/authors/authorGuidelines.asp
---
If you have an idea for a book, we'd like to hear about it. At
Gryphon House, our goal is to publish books that help teachers
and parents enrich the lives of children from birth through age
eight. We strive to make our books useful for teachers at all
levels of experience, as well as for parents, caregivers, and
anyone interested in working with children.





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

 

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

 

 

 

 

HIRE AN AWARD WINNING DESIGNER/AUTHOR TO DEVELOP YOUR WEBSITES

Shaila Abdullah has over a decade of experience designing
websites for authors. Being an author herself, she understands
the industry, and will provide you with a website that reflects
your unique style, genre, and personality.

Other design services such as book covers & interiors, marketing
materials, and email campaigns (newsletters, announcements, etc.)
also available.

E-mail Shaila: info@myhouseofdesign.com
View portfolio: http://myhouseofdesign.com/

Testimonial from Carolyn Brent, author Why Wait?
( http://www.caregiverstory.com/ ):

"I thank Shaila for her expertise, knowledge, creativity, and
her ability to turn ordinary into extraordinary. Since working
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a monthly newsletter that captures the attention of my valued
readers, and a beautiful website that has generated a tremendous
amount of interest in my subject matter with over 245,000 hits.
I am truly grateful to her for helping turn my dreams into reality."
 

 

 

 

 

WRITING AWAY RETREATS:

An all-inclusive destination vacation for you and your muse.
Join staff from major publishing houses like Penguin, Harper Collins
and Random House, NYC Literary Agents & award winning authors.

Meals, beautiful scenery and 10k MS consults in one place.
Retreats held in May, September and October 2012.

This will be one week that will change your writing career forever.

Payment Plans Offered.
Discounts for students, military and hardship cases provided.

Sign up now. Spaces limited.

www.writingawayretreats.info

"This was the best week of my life." ~B. Pedas (Colorado, USA)


 

 

HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK

Course offering from writer Alexis Grant

Want to accomplish big things in 2012? Hoping to make this
the year you finally figure out how to use social media to
grow your blog or reach other writing goals?

If you've joined Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook but aren't
sure how to make them work for you, check out my exciting
new online course, Make Your Own Luck.

I'm capping this course at 30 participants, so sign up now
if you want a spot!

Alexis Grant
Writer, social media strategist and a Problogger Blogger to Watch in 2012

http://alexisgrant.com/make-your-own-luck