Volume 12, Issue 17
April 27, 2012


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FUNDS FOR WRITERS

Chosen for Writer's Digest's
101 Best Websites for Writers
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

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

Don't we look focused in this picture? After a presentation,
I signed books, and there's always this awkward moment when
they are waiting to see what you're writing to them, and
you're trying your damnedest to be creative about it!

 

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.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PAID SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





 

GET ALL YOUR BOOK PUBLISHING QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

At the 4th annual Self-Publisher's Online Conference (SPOC) May 8-10, 2012
http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com

This year's SPOC speaker line-up includes 16 expert speakers -
Dan Poynter, Chris Garrett, Peter Bowerman, Joel Friedlander, Dan Janal, Sandra Beckwith,
Susan Daffron, James Byrd, Dana Lynn Smith, Penny Sansevieri, Joshua Tallent, Carolyn McCray,
Roger C. Parker, Andrea Vahl, Gary Barnes, and Kathy Goughenhour.

http://www.selfpublishersonlineconference.com/Agenda.aspx 

The best part is that SPOC is a virtual conference, so you can
attend in your bunny slippers if you like. Over 3 days, you'll
learn from the best and brightest folks in publishing and marketing
all from the comfort of your home or office. Attend educational
sessions, ask questions at the live Q&A calls, network on discussion
boards, browse the Virtual Exhibit hall, and download all the
handouts, and recordings. Each day costs less than a lunch out with
your friends and offers an incomparable publishing education.

Early bird pricing is in effect through the end of April.
Plus, enter the coupon code FFW12 at checkout and you'll save 10%!




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

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

=====


STRAP ON THAT BOOK

Went to the community recreation center to walk the track,
and I noticed a new children's book on the counter where
we check in. The rec center has allowed authors to put
children's books up there before, since so many kids are
involved in the programs. I flipped through it, to see if
it was self-published or traditional (it was self-pubbed).
I asked about it, and the director said a retired school
teacher wrote it. The illustrations were nice. A pretty book.

"I just published my book recently," I said.

"Oh, what kind?"

"Mystery. The setting is in the Lowcountry, on Edisto," I said.

"Do you have one with you? I LOVE mysteries. So does my mother,"
she said.

There I stood in workout clothes, no make-up and straight hair,
and I caught myself selling my book. I promised her one the
next day. (Which meant I had to return to workout, you know.)

So I gave her the book the next day and went to the track (love
that air-conditioned track, nine laps equals a mile). When I
came down, she handed me the money. Her co-worker piped up.
"You wouldn't by chance have another copy?" And I had to promise
her I'd bring another copy the next day (and workout - LOL).

On another day, I went to get my hair cut. I carried the book
this time, and my hairdresser bought it. And wouldn't you know
it . . . the shop owner wanted a copy too, and I'd only brought
one. I returned that afternoon with eight, and they put them
on sale to customers, in exchange for giving the owner one free.

What's cool is that these people will tell other people about
the author THEY KNOW, who writes this great mystery set in
their HOME state. It's all about connections . . .

and having a book available.

From that point on, I decided to keep books in the proverbial
trunk of my car, only mine are in a dry cooler in the back of
an SUV, so the sun doesn't cook them.

One thing you learn once you publish a book . . . it needs to
be with you at all times. You're talking it up to everyone, so
why shouldn't it be handy?

When budgeting for your promotional efforts, whether traditionally
or self-published, be prepared to sell or give away a good number
of books at inopportune moments. Don't get caught empty-handed,
because those precious moments of opportunity might not come
back around.

If you're an author, that means you write books, and the public
takes it for granted you have one in your back pocket.




Hope



AUTHOR SITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
THE BLOG - http://www.chopeclark.com/blog
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
ABOUT.ME - http://about.me/hopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark 

=====

 

LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE is out!

The Carolina Slade Mystery Series is live with its premier
book Lowcountry Bribe. Welcome to the world of Carolina Slade.

She's a simple government employee offered a bribe.
She follows the rules and tells the authorities.
Then all hell breaks loose because she did.

Learn more at http://www.chopeclark.com

Available at: Amazon, Bell Bridge Books, B&N, and Kobo

=====


GET TOTAL FUNDSFORWRITERS FOR FREE ???

TOTAL FundsforWriters is our largest newsletter - 75 markets,
contests, grants, publishers, agents and jobs for writers.
Just envision FundsforWriters, only five times larger.
Delivered every two weeks to you by email.
Only $15/year for 26 issues.

Send proof of purchase of Lowcountry Bribe, ebook or paperback.
and receive a TOTAL subscription for free.
Email - hope@fundsforwriters.com

Or simply subscribe at www.fundsforwriters.com/total.htm

=====

 

IOWA WRITERS - COME TO BETTENDORF ON MAY 1

The Bettendorf Library features an evening with C. Hope Clark.
7-8:30 PM on May 1, 2012. Come get your writing questions answered.

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=588751

=====

WELCOME TO THE 2013 OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE

May 3-5, 2012 at Embassy Suites, 1815 South Meridian, Oklahoma City, OK .

Hope will be presenting on funding streams and platform.
Would love to see you there!

http://www.owfi.org/conference.php


=====



NITTANY VALLEY WRITERS NETWORK (NVWN) PRESENTS C. HOPE CLARK

The Nittany Valley Writers Network (NVWN) will host C. Hope Clark
at Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S. Allen Street, State College,
Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 28 from 10 am to 4 pm.

Seating is limited. Registration is $20 through
April 21, and $25 at the door if any spaces remain.

Contact Karen Dabney, NVWN workshop coordinator
Email: greywing228@verizon.net  or 814-861-1463
http://nvwn.wordpress.com



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

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"How rare, men with the character to praise a friend's
success without a trace of envy."

-Aeschylus


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


Hi Hope,

I'm primarily a children's writer and poet, but I do write some
poetry for adults, too. One of my goals I keep falling short on
is to submit my poems for grown-ups to various markets. I read
about the Franklin-Christoph Poetry Contest in one of your November
newsletters and submitted two poems.

I recently got an email saying one of my poems had been named one
of ten Merit Award poems, out of more than 3,000 submissions. And
then I got my $75 check in the mail, too. And the poem is published
online somewhere other than my blog, reaching a few different people
than it would have otherwise.

Thanks for the tip! I never would have known of the contest otherwise.

Best,
Laura Purdie Salas

A LEAF CAN BE... (Millbrook Press, 2012)
BOOKSPEAK! (Clarion, 2011) NCTE Notable; Finalist, 2012 Minnesota Book Award
STAMPEDE! (Clarion, 2009) Finalist, 2010 Minnesota Book Award
and many other books for young readers
www.laurasalas.com



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARTICLE
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And a Happy ________to you!

by Ginger Farry

As an ex-full-time greeting card writer for the once third
largest greeting card company in America - Norcross (Hallmark
being #1 and American Greeting #2), I thought I'd pass on some
info on this market from my years in the "humor" department.
It was fun being paid to sit and fold white paper from 9-5
everyday and come up with clever (and nice) ways to wish people
happiness and well-being. Even though Norcross is now defunct,
the rules for writing greeting cards haven't altered much through
the years. Yes, more risqué humor has entered the market, as well
as controversial subjects (such as divorce cards) but the basics
haven't changed.

The most important basic is to keep it conversational: write as
if talking to a friend. Never invert words or force a rhyme.
Some companies still buy rhymes, but greeting card verse is NOT
poetry since it is always conversational in style. Rhyming can
work when it's used with familiar figures of speech that are
popular in everyday language. However, the main ingredient in
a card is a wish, a greeting, a compliment or an expression of
appreciation. Always keep the message informal. i.e. don't say:
Just like flowers, our friendship blooms... rather say: It means
a lot to have you as a friend...

The more natural the verse, the more marketable the card, so if
you wouldn't speak it out loud, don't write it. Keep it sounding
genuine.

A good idea before attempting greeting cards is to read and study
the market (just like in any other market). Once you become
familiar with what's published (without borrowing anything you see),
jot down some of today's popular expressions. You can pick these up
from TV, conversations, or hit songs. Then, think about what you
would want to say to a friend or loved one on his birthday,
anniversary or when they're ill. The ability to put yourself in
the other person's shoes is a successful tactic in writing a greeting
card wish.

Of course, you'll find it easier to be funny and nasty than funny
and nice! But most companies are looking for a pleasant wish to
pass along. In submitting ideas, try to limit the number to no more
than 10 at one time. Nowadays, depending on the company, you either
submit one idea per page with SASE or type your ideas in the body
of an email (no attachments allowed).

Set up the card like this popular onc I once wrote for Norcross:

The very best thing about the Old Days is...
Inside: They were the YOUNG Days!
Happy Birthday!

Or this rhyming verse for "Our Anniversary"
I always knew that we would share
A happiness beyond compare
Through ups and downs, through thick and thin
Inside: I'm with you Baby, Sink or Swim!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WITH LOVE!

Though both these verses have been around awhile, they are
still viable for today's market because the sentiment is sincere
and the language colloquial. Also, while greeting cards are sent
mostly to celebrate an important sentimental or emotional occasion,
don't get too sappy or you could embarrass the one receiving it.
And lastly, do limit the personal pronouns (me, I, we) because their
usage could limit sales (of course, that does not include Special
Title cards for Wife, Husband, Sister/Brother or Sweetheart).

In closing may I say:

May your verse be sweet and funny
And bring you lots of extra money!

Seven Current Greeting Card Markets

Avanti Press   -  http://www.avantipress.com/#/contact

Blue Mountain - Pays well, sometimes asks to test market first
http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html                 
  
Designer Greeting - http://designergreetings.com/

Moonlighting Cards - Pays $25.  Looking for "love" cards -                    http://www.moonlightingcards.com/catalog.php/

Oatmeal Studios - Looking for humor - http://www.oatmealstudios.com/

Caddylack Graffix -  funny and sarcastic cards -  http://caddylakgraffix.com/

BIO
In addition to her greeting card expertise, Ginger Farry is
the author of four Christian books, more than 120 newspaper
articles and about a dozen magazine stories (some for children).
She was also an advertising copywriter with Doubleday in New
York for 13 years. She has just finished her first secular
novella (LOVE LETTERS TO A SCOUNDREL) and is searching
for an agent, a publisher or an e-book deal. Pray for her.


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

THE FABRI PRIZE
http://boazpublishing.tumblr.com/fabriprize
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Deadline for entry is June 15, 2012. Submit the first 50 to 100
pages of your unpublished novel in pdf or Word file format.
There is never a fee to enter. The 2012 prizewinner will receive
a publishing contract with a $7,500 advance and a $5,000 marketing
budget. The winning novel will be published in the Spring of 2013
in a hardcover or trade paperback edition by Counterpoint/Softskull
Press and distributed to the book trade by Publishers Group West.
The contest is open to American novelists. Submitted manuscripts
must be unpublished and written for educated adults with broad
interests. Excluded from consideration are books for children or
young adults and books that are focused on the religious market.

=====

PINT AND PEN
http://bukowskitavern.net/cambridge/events
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Submission deadline Monday, June 18, 2012. Announcement Party Tuesday,
June 26, 2012. Stories must include the words: PINT, PEN, BUKOWSKI,
and HARPOON. 500-750 words in any form of prose (short story, poetry,
screenplay, etc...) Entries must be typed. Contestants must be 21
years of age or older. You can't work here. And you gotta drop it
off here or at Bukowski Boston. First Prize: $2,500. Second Prize:
$1,000.

=====

CHICKEN HOUSE CONTEST
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/competitions/article3375938.ece
---
£15 ENTRY FEE
Your full-length manuscript (no more than 80,000 words, with a
suggested minimum of 30,000 words), suitable for children aged
between 7 and 18, must be received by the closing date of October
26, 2012. The prize is the offer of a worldwide publishing contract
with Chicken House, with a royalty advance of £10,000, subject to
a signed contract.


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


BETTERARTS RESIDENCY - LOCATION REDWOOD, NY
http://www.betterarts.org/#/residency-info/4547750760
---
Open to visual artists, writers, and musicians. Offers a rural
living experience. Residency includes private bedroom, food, linens,
wifi, parking, and field trips. Artists are expected to participate
in farm activities for several hours a week, and must pay a
residency stipend ($400 for 2 weeks, $550 for 3 weeks, $650 for 1
month).

=====

PLATTEFORUM - LOCATION DENVER, CO
http://www.platteforum.org/residency.php
---
$25 APPLICATION FEE
6-10-week residencies for artists working in all disciplines to
advance their works by taking risks and exploring new possibilities.
Each resident dedicates time to groups of youth in Learning Labs or
intensive workshops that build upon the ideas and forms of the
resident artist. Residency provides housing with adjacent studio,
weekly stipend ($250), public and private receptions for the artist,
and access to a broad network of established artists. Deadline
May 11, 2012.

=====

MONTANA CULTURAL & AESTHETIC PROJECT GRANTS
http://art.mt.gov/orgs/orgs_ca.asp
---
Applications must be for cultural and aesthetic projects
including, but not limited to, the visual, performing,
literary and media arts, history, archaeology, folklore,
archives, collections, research, historic preservation and
the construction or renovation of cultural facilities.
Applications are encouraged for applicants serving rural
communities, racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities,
institutionalized populations, youth and the aging. The deadline
for applications to the FY 2012 - 2013 Cultural and Aesthetic
Grants Program is now past. The next application deadline will
be August 1, 2012.


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


CREATING KEEPSAKES
http://www.creatingkeepsakesblog.com/submit-your-work/
---
We're always looking for fresh, never-before-published scrapbook
pages and tips. If you've always wanted to be published, e-mail
your pages and ideas to editorial@creatingkeepsakes.com . 
Seeks original and creative ideas for scrapbooking enthusiasts.
Pays $350 to $600 for articles up to 1,200 words. 50 percent
kill fee.

=====

DOLL READER
http://www.dollreader.com/articles/23-contact-doll-reader
http://www.dollreader.com/articles/100-contribute-to-doll-reader
http://www.dollreader.com/articles/99
---
For doll collectors, from novice to advanced. Covers antique,
vintage and modern dolls. Profiles, events, trends, market
values, repair and preservation. Pays 20 to 30 cents/word
for articles of 750 to 1,000 words.

=====

DRAFT MAGAZINE
http://draftmag.com/new/submissions/
---
Pitches need not be beer-centric, but those that are should
focus on beer/brewery news, trends and ideas, rather than the
technical aspects of brewing and/or profiles. Aside from beer,
we happily accept pitches on topics ranging from food, sports
(both professional and leisure), travel, and many other topics.
Whatever the focus, it must appeal to DRAFT's audience, and
should cover a new idea or story, or provide a unique angle on
a topic that's already received media attention.



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


FREELANCE SCIENCE WRITERS
http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1350108
---
The American Association for the Advancement of Sciecne (AAAS)
seeks a San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston-based freelance
writer to write profiles for http://membercentral.aaas.org.
Please have experience writing profiles and science content for
a broad audience. A background or degree in journalism is
preferred. A degree in science with proven writing skills will
also be considered. We pay $.75/word at a maximum length of 800
words. You are required to submit a high-res digital photo (good
enough for web publication) of the profile subject with your story.
We pay $5 for every photo you take that we publish with the story.
We accept but don't pay for photos the profile subject gives you/us permission to use.

(Thanks http://www.erikadreifus.com/ )

=====

STAFF WRITER
Location Bloomington, IN
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?IPath=QHKCV0A&APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHV1G277HHQ1S30ZKD5
---
Position will write original product copy and thematic material
for publication. Position will also edit and proof copy, documents,
and other scripts before final publishing. Associate's Degree in
Journalism, Creative Writing, English or associated field required;
in lieu of this requirement, a degree in similar field(s) together
with applicable 1-2 years related experience acceptable.

=====

MARKETING COPYWRITER
Location Schamburg, IL
https://www.theladders.com/job/jobboard?cr=3731384&pl=sz-2
---
We are currently searching for a qualified, interested and available
Marketing Copywriter. The Marketing Copywriter is responsible for
copywriting, editing and proofreading, and creative concept development
for branding and positioning in solutions-based marketing communication
for direct and partner channel audiences.



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


LYRICAL PRESS
http://www.lyricalpress.com/submissions.php
---
Lyrical Press is actively acquiring all genres of erotic romance,
romance, and works containing romantic elements only. Word count:
20,000 - 100,000 words. A current and professional website, along
with an active online presence, are expected of all Lyrical Press
authors.

=====

RED DEER PRESS
http://www.reddeerpress.com/
---
The Red Deer Press publishing program produces quality picture
books, junior, juvenile, YA fiction and non-fiction, and adult
non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy, travel and biographical
titles. We have a national focus and address the growing need
for cultural diversity.

=====

RUNNING PRESS
http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/runningpress/about_us.jsp
---
Running Press creates more than 200 new titles a year under four
imprints: Running Press, Running Press Miniature Editions^(TM),
Running Press Kids, and Courage Books. Titles cover a broad
range of categories, including: general non-fiction, science,
history, children's fiction and non-fiction, food and wine, pop
culture, lifestyle, photo-essay, and illustrated gift books.
Running Press is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, with
additional offices in New York City and London.



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

 

Affordable National Publicity for Authors

Need intervews or your book reviewed by national media,
but are horrified by expensive publicists?

Read our important letter at
http://www.1waypr.com/WriterAuthor-1A.html

 

 

=====

 

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


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUSINESS STUFF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint
any editorials, contact hope@fundsforwriters.com  for permission.
Please do not assume that acknowledgements listed in your
publication is considered a valid right to publish.



C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com

140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036

http://www.fundsforwriters.com

Copyright 2000-2012, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326


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