SSigning at the Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference.
Sitting there with my one little book, but hey, I think
you can see I'm proud of that baby!
 

Editor: C. Hope Clark
Website: http://www.fundsforwriters.com
Email: Hope@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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3RD ANNUAL WORLD-CHANGING WRITING WORKSHOP

Do you long to get your words out of your heart and into the world?

In the World-Changing Writing Workshop, you'll do exactly
that. Taught by an all-star cast of world-changing writers,
you'll learn exactly what you need to get your words to
flow, from a trickle to a firehose. It's entirely online and
phone-based, so you can learn it all in your pajamas!

This year's speakers include Julia Cameron, author of
The Artist's Way, and Barbara Sher, author of Wishcraft.

Click here to find out more!


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

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

=====

WHY DO I NEED AN AGENT?

A reader recently asked me to write about the advantages and
disadvantages of having a literary agent. She didn't think she
wanted an agent, but wasn't sure whether that was a good decision
or not.

If I did write about agents, it was a long, long time ago. I'm
all for them, but the downside is that it slows things down as
you land one, and they do take a cut of your profits. But . . .
they know more about the business than we do. They have connections
we don't. They open doors we never thought of. They make us step
up our writing to a higher calibre.

Some writers have placed the nickname "gatekeeper" to agents
and editors who send rejection letters; like gatekeeper is a
bad thing. Anytime someone is in a position to reject you, you're
tempted to take it personally and become inclined to dislike them.

However, if you are selected by a gatekeeper, it becomes a
treasured moment. You were vetted and found favorable in the
eyes of an expert. You become a more marketable commodity.
Like winning contests, landing grants, and grabbing great
bylines in reputable magazines, having an agent represent you
can make a positive difference in your writing career.

What does an agent do for you?

1. Help edit your work. Of course your work has to be pretty
great to start with, but an agent can make suggestions from
experience and know-how of the marketplace that will take
your writing to a higher level.

2. Target editors and publishers. Other than study a Writers
Market or search websites, how do you know what a publisher
seeks these days? They don't readily shoot desires out on
Twitter or alter their guidelines webpage weekly. Agents,
however, groom relationships with these editors. They
understand what editors seek in the short term and the long
term.

3. Negotiate a contract. What do you know about rights?
Print rights, electronic, audio, foreign, film, the list is
long. As a lone artist, do you understand how to negotiate
all these rights? If you don't have an agent, do you know
the logistics, pros and cons of holding or signing over
these rights? While giving up rights sounds scary, in
reality, you could be placing your work in hands that know
what they are doing and can greatly increase your chances
of landing an audio book or a television show. Do you know
what are good ebook royalty rates?

4. Problem solving. If the publisher gets hung up on a bad cover
or wants editorial changes that infuriate you, an agent can
play middle man and help smooth out wrinkles.

5. Marketing consultation. Agents may be able to recommend
great venues for your promotional efforts. They might know
what works and what doesn't. They might make introductions
to opportunities you never imagined. They have been in this
business to earn a living and have been around the block
more than most of us. Use that expertise.

Nathan Bransford has a nice clear blog post on what an agent does.
http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/09/what-do-literary-agents-do.html

Here's another post on why an agent is needed, from a sci-fi
author. http://www.spacejock.com.au/LiteraryAgent.html

And here's yet another from the Jane Chelius Literary Agency,
which applies to all agents across the board.
http://janechelius.com/what-we-do

Author Scott Nicholson explains why you need an agent.
http://www.fictionaddiction.net/Agents-Editors-and-Publishers/i-need-literary-agents.html

When you may NOT need to seek an agent?

1. When self-publishing.
2. When seeking a smaller press.
3. When familiar with rights and contracts.
4. When writing short stories.

I used an agent for a smaller press, to improve my odds for
a contract. I was fairly familiar with rights, but wasn't
completely grounded in the knowledge. I also wanted that
buffer between the publishing house and me, using someone who
had a firmer grasp on the industry, who could spot a deal and
a scam with no hesitation.

Yes, I am a fan of agents, but it depends on your goals,
experience, knowledge base, and desires whether you use one
or not. No, they aren't easy to land, but having one can
improve your odds . . . depends on what you're gambling on.


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, B&N, Bell Bridge Books and Indie bookstores

NOTE:
I have a personal stash of books leftover from my recent touring.
If you wish an autographed copy of Lowcountry Bribe, you can
purchase one for $18 (includes shipping) via PayPal (use
hope@fundsforwriters.com) or send check/money order to:
C. Hope Clark, 140A Amicks Ferry Road #4, Chapin, SC 29036.

=====

YOU SAID IT!!!

THE LATEST COMMENT ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE....

C. Hope Clark's first Carolina Slade mystery novel is a treat
to read. I only put the book down once; read it in two sittings.
Her characters are very realistic, especially Carolina Slade.
Carolina is a tough woman, but also a loving mother who has
her doubts. The twists and turns by Clark come out of nowhere.

~Lyle Ernst

=====

LEARN ABOUT PLATFORM, THE BACK DOOR WAY
Presented by C. Hope Clark

Live Writer's Digest webinar is set for May 24, 1PM EST.
http://www.writersdigestshop.com/platform-the-backdoor-way

Each registration comes with access to the archived version
of the program and the materials for one year. You do not
have to attend the live event to get a recording of the
presentation.

=====


SIGN UP FOR MORE FUNDSFORWRITERS. . .

TOTAL FundsforWriters is our largest newsletters - 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 

(NOTE: Send a receipt for Lowcountry Bribe to
hope@fundsforwriters.com  and receive TOTAL free.)




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

WORDS OF SUCCESS

I find out what the world needs. Then, I go ahead and invent it.

~Thomas A. Edison



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


Dear Hope,

Congratulations on the release of LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE. I'm looking
forward to reading it after all your thoughtful FundsforWriters
posts.

Thanks to seeing a listing on your site, my poem "Waiting for
the Monsoon" is currently a public poetry/art exhibit on the 7th
Avenue Streetscape in Phoenix: http://phoenix.gov/recreation/arts/069544

I never get tired of reading your posts about persistence and
enthusiasm for writing—keep em' coming.

All the best,
Torran Anderson


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


Occasional Verse – Poetry Tailored to Fit

By Elizabeth Creith


Weddings, birthdays, new babies, graduations–-any occasion
can be celebrated in poetry.

I've written custom poetry, also called occasional poetry,
for most of my life, usually for friends' birthdays. A couple
of years ago I decided to see if it was actually a marketable
skill. To my surprise, I discovered that people will happily
pay for poetry or verse specifically written for their occasion.

While you probably won't make a living on custom poetry alone,
if you love to write verse it can provide good money for
relatively little time and work.

Rhyme Time: I recommend writing rhyming poetry, which is
clearly recognizable as poetry to everyone. You're writing
for people who want a poem to give as a gift or to read at an
occasion. Count on the fact that it will be read again and
again. Unless you're a household name, save the free verse for
other pursuits. You can offer it as an option, but be prepared
to write rhyme. Rhyme also gives you the possibility of humorous
or lighter-toned verse in addition to serious poetry.

Hit the Books: Two indispensable tools are a thesaurus and a
rhyming dictionary. My thesaurus is the large Roget's, heavy
enough to qualify as a blunt instrument. Get a rhyming dictionary
and use it. I use the Penguin paperback rhyming dictionary, but
there are many good ones out there. I've found online rhyming
dictionaries less useful.

Research: Avoid boilerplate. We all know those books that are
"personalized" for your child with the child's name inserted. A
custom poem needs to make your clients feel that this was written
just for them. Information is key. Inside jokes, favourite movies
or books, habits and quirks are all great ways to personalize a
poem. I ask a client what they want to say, and some details about
the occasion or the person that they think are important. Then
those details become the core of the poem, essential to the rhythm
and rhyme. One birthday poem began:

"It’s your sixtieth birthday, so you can tell Don
and your daughters it’s your day to be waited on."

Using the husband's name as a rhyme makes this poem unique to the
recipient from the very beginning. One client plays golf with his
girlfriend; I researched golf terms and used them throughout the
poem he commissioned.

Sample the Goods: Samples and testimonials count; people want to
see your work and hear from your happy customers. I started by
soliciting commissions from friends and requested testimonials
as payment. Those poems and testimonials are on my "Poet for Hire"
page. I have a steady client who found me by googling my site
(which comes up sixth if you google "Poet for Hire").

Lead Times, Deadlines: Set a deadline you can absolutely meet. I
ask for two weeks to write a poem. If the deadline is shorter, I
add 50% to the cost of the poem for hurrying the Muse.

What to Charge: To set a price, I looked at the word count in
several four-line poems I'd written. They varied from 25-40 words.
I decided on $12.00 per four lines, a base rate of 30-48 cents a
word.

Practice, Practice, Practice: Write verse for everything: thank-
you notes, birthday cards, invitations, sick notes for your kids,
whatever you need to write. Try to write one practice poem per week.
After forty years of practice, a sixteen-line poem from the client's information is ninety
minutes' work for me.

Occasional verse is challenging and lots of fun, and it pays –
on every occasion.

BIO
Elizabeth Creith writes non-fiction, fiction, poetry and
occasional verse. Her occasional poem "House Blessing" was
shortlisted in the New Quarterly's 2010 Nick Blatchford
Occasional Poetry contest, and appears in the autumn 2010
issue.

Poet for Hire can be found at http://ecreith.com/poet-for-hire


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

HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL AWARD
http://historicalnovelsociety.org/hns-award/
---
ENTRY FEE: $25 for non-members, $15 for HNS members.
£5,000 ($8,000) prize plus e-publication (to include professional
copy-editing and cover design) for an unpublished novel that is
neither under contract nor option. International and open to all
(previously published or unpublished authors). HF of any kind
admissible. Initial submission of synopsis and first chapter(s)
up to 5,000 words by September 30, 2012.

=====

SOUTHERN SIN
http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/submittocnf.htm#southernsin
---
Deadline: July 31, 2012.

Creative Nonfiction (CNF) and the Oxford Creative Nonfiction
Writers Conference & Workshop are looking for essays that
capture the South in all its steamy sinfulness--whether you're
skipping church to watch football, coveting your neighbor's
Real Housewife of Atlanta, or just drinking an unholy amount
of sweet tea. Confess your own wrongdoings, gossip about your
neighbor's depravity, or tell us about your personal connection
to a famous Southerner headed down the broad road to Hell.
Whether the sin you discuss is deadly or just something that
would make your mama blush we want to hear about it in an
essay that is at least partially narrative--employing scenes,
descriptions, etc.

Your essay can channel William Faulkner or Flannery O'Connor,
Alice Walker or Rick Bragg; it can be serious, humorous, or
somewhere in between, but all essays must tell true stories,
and must incorporate both sin and the South in some way.

Usually the wages of sin is death, but this time we're making
an exception. The selected essays will be published in Creative
Nonfiction #47, and CNF and Oxford will be awarding $5,000 for
Best Essay. Creative Nonfiction #48 will be launched at the
2013 Oxford Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference & Workshop
(March 2013).

=====

THE JEFF SHARLET MEMORIAL AWARD FOR VETERANS
http://iowareview.uiowa.edu/veteranswritingcontest
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
This writing contest for U.S. military veterans and active
duty personnel is hosted by The Iowa Review and made possible
by a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–1969), a Vietnam
veteran and antiwar writer and activist. The contest is open
to veterans and active duty personnel writing in any genre
and about any subject matter. Judge: Robert Olen Butler.
Prize: $1,000 plus publication in The Iowa Review. Deadline:
June 15, 2012. Submit in any genre, up to 20 pages.



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

OREGON LITERARY FELLOWSHIPS
www.literary-arts.org/wp-content/.../12/2013OLFapplication1.pdf
---
Intended to help Oregon writers initiate, develop, or complete
literary projects in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction,
drama, and young readers literature. Writers in the early
stages of their career are encouraged to apply. Deadline
June 29, 2012.

=====

WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION CALL FOR ARTISTS
http://www.artisttrust.org/index.php/for-artists/opportunity/apply_for_listing_on_the_roster_of_teaching_artists_washington_state_arts_c  
---
Deadline June 11, 2012. We post the roster publicly on our
website to identify and promote experienced teaching artists
who are especially well-qualified for work with public schools,
kindergarten through 12th grade. We are seeking applications
from teaching artists working in all disciplines, in all areas
of the state. Application guidelines and forms available on
website.

-also-

2012 grants for artist projects (GAP) - GAPs provide support
for individual artist projects up to $1,500 per project. GAPs
support a spectrum of artist projects including (but not limited
to) the development, completion or presentation of new work;
publication; travel for artistic research or to present or
complete work; documentation of work; and advanced workshops
for professional development. Deadline May 20, 2012.
http://artisttrust.org/index.php/for-artists/money#grants_for_artist_projects

=====

ELSEWHERE STUDIOS RESIDENCIES
Location Paonia, CO
http://www.elsewherestudios.org/residencies
---
A unique and intimate Residency on the western slope of the
Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Time spans are individually based –
1 to 6 months. The residencies are partially subsidized. The
cost to the artist is between $500 and $600 per month (see
website), utilities and WiFi included. (Our cost is $1,600/
month per artist). Please inquire about additional scholarships.
Deadline June 1, 2012.


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


RANGE
http://www.rangemagazine.com/guidelines/index.htm
---
An award-winning quarterly devoted to the issues that threaten
the West, its people, lands, and wildlife. We use a lot of
freelance material. Regular features, tightly written, run
1,200-2,000 words; mini-features 600-1,200 words. Columns and
"Confessions of Red Meat Survivors" (great nostalgia about
people over 80) run 500-650 words. Payments are from $50 to
$400 per article. RANGE buys First North American serial rights.

=====

NEW YORK FAMILY
http://www.newyorkfamily.com/newyork/flex-161-contact-us.html
---
New York Family is a monthly family lifestyle magazine focused
on the interests, needs, and concerns of New York City parents.
The print publication, which is free, is primarily distributed
in Manhattan and Brooklyn (for now) at more than 1,000 locations--
including schools, pediatricians offices, retail locations,
children's stores and apartment buildings. New York Family
magazine has several key components, including a monthly print
edition, a monthly digital edition that is published at
www.newyorkfamily.com , a weekly e-newsletter, this website, and a
live events division. Articles are up to 1,200 words, departments
up to 800 words. Pays up to $300.

=====

OC FAMILY
http://www.ocfamily.com/contact-oc-family.aspx
http://www.ocfamily.com/t-media-kit.aspx
---
A magazine distributed throughout Orange County, CA. Covers
general parenting topics as well as child-related information
pertinent to Orange County. Editorial calendar available.
Articles are up to 2,500 words. Topics include education,
health, nutrition, travel, food, sports, recreation, child care.
Also has departments on advice, book reviews, fashion, beauty.
Pays up to $500.


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


COPYWRITER
For JC Penney
Location Plano, TX
http://jobs.jcp.com/job/Plano-Copywriter-Creative-HomeJewelry-Job-TX-75023/1893429/
---
Develops and writes retail advertising copy designed to stimulate
consumer interest in purchasing Company merchandise and services,
induce sales, and create a favorable Company/brand image. College
degree in journalism, English or related area preferred. Proficient
in InDesign and other MAC based applications and design programs.
Experience: Minimum of 2 years’ experience in sales promotion
copywriting, direct mail, ROP or any combination of these.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
https://listings.jobs.vt.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=479644
---
The successful candidate will have a Degree in journalism,
communications, public relations or a related field or equivalent
level of experience; experience writing, editing and proofing a
variety of materials such as press releases, brochures and
articles; knowledge of Associated Press stylebook guidelines;
excellent proofreading skills; demonstrated ability to work in
a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines; ability to
work independently and manage multiple projects; excellent
communication and interpersonal skills.

=====

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR AND WRITER
Location Pasadena, CA
http://tinyurl.com/7vdren3
---
Responsible for coordinating, writing and editing communications
for external purposes including: press releases, company reports,
web sites and interactive/social media, presentations, and
other senior executive materials.



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

WINDWARD PUBLISHING
http://www.finneyco.com/windward.html
---
Windward Publishing covers topics of natural history and science,
outdoor recreation, and children's literature. Its principal
markets are book, retail, and specialty stores. While primarily
a nonfiction publisher, we will occasionally accept fiction books
with educational value.

=====

CHESTER BOOK COMPANY
http://chesterbookco.com/
---
Chester Book Co., founded in 1983, merged with Finney Company
in 2002. Created by a professional craft artist, CRAFTBOOKS™
is a highly respected source for all who create, collect,
teach, and love craft. Chester Book Co. offers the finest
books on craft by searching for titles from U.S. and foreign
publishing houses, art museums, craft organizations, and books
self-published by studio craft artists.

=====

ECOPRESS
http://www.finneyco.com/ecopress.htm
---
Ecopress produces books that enhance environmental awareness,
offering high-quality titles covering subjects such as rivers,
hiking, plants, and environmental guides at affordable prices.


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

=====

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


-----------------------------