Speaking on platform in Oklahoma. Platform . . . one of my favorite topics!
People are so afraid of it! (Don't you love that poster? Go to Vistaprint, y'all.

 

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

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

=====


JUST GETTING STARTED

Put down that pen! Don't you even think about starting off
your writing career with a book. Why? Because you haven't
become a writer yet.

In all my conference classes, the first thing I tell people
is this . . . BECOME A WRITER FIRST.

A lot of people skip that part of the career - the educational
process, the word order, the flow, the friggin' VOICE that so
many people ignore.

That's why so much writing just muddies together. One big mass
of earthworms, tangled together in a Kindle world.

I just finished reading a short book about a ghost in a small Georgia town.
The writer has great potential. She's even educated. Some comment
she made on a blog made me buy the book. (Let THAT be another
lesson for you.)

However, she head hopped. She switched characters, disassociating
pronouns. She skipped descriptions. It was so obvious that the
material was in her head, but somewhere between her gray matter
and her fingers, it got waylaid.

So now, I associate her name with less-than-stellar writing.

Premature writing is like a bad marriage. It's always in the
background--always a reminder. Sure, after enough years it's
remembered less, but seriously . . . do you want to wait years
for a bad piece of work to fade away?

Magazines. Start with magazines. No matter what you write,
there are magazines you can write for. Yes, you'll be rejected,
as you should. Yes, you'll get frustrated coming up with
unique ideas, as you should.

But magazine writing is the jumping off point for all
writers, in my opinion--that and/or newspapers. No, I'm
not belittling either profession, but your opportunities are
more and you learn lessons faster when you have to meet
deadlines, or have to eat from the articles you sell.

Romance, mystery, sci-fi, nonfiction, all exist. But write
about anything . . . everything. Test yourself. If you
think you have the guts, um, prowess, to write anything
book-length, then magazine articles should not be daunting.

Reasons to start with magazine writing:

1. You learn how to carefully choose your words in a small space,
i.e., writing tight.

2. You learn how to adhere to an editor's needs.

3. You learn how to write faster.

4. You learn how to research, and cull what's useful to you from
that research.

5. You earn money--always a good thing.

6. You earn clips, which actually show that . . . you are a writer.

Tough love time. If an editor sees your bio (and I'm speaking
for thousands of them out there), and you've written nothing
before the book, or received no formal writing education, or
held no writing position, he's going to wonder who you think
you are. But having a string of magazine clips under your belt,
starting small and rising to bigger publications, will make
people take you seriously.

Just think about it. I want you to succeed.



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 going great!

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

=====

YOU SAID IT!!!

THE LATEST COMMENT ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE....

Hope--it's your fault that I'm so groggy as I work at my desk today.
I was up until 5:00 a.m. reading LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE. Yes, Ma'am. I had
to make myself put it down so I could get a little sleep--had writing
assignments I had to get up and do this morning. I'm spreading the
word. You nailed, it, lady, so congratulations. I'm telling my local
library friends about you as well. Just promise me that ol' Wayne
makes it into the second book.....!!!

~R'becca Groff





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

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.
Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go
wrong."

~ Ella Fitzgerald



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

Dear Hope,

While recently sorting through my mail, I nearly threw away
an envelope from Reader's Digest that looked like a solicitation
for magazine sales. Thankfully I opened it instead, because inside
was a letter and check for $250. They were publishing an essay of
mine in an upcoming issue of one of their affiliate magazines
called Country. I first learned about both the magazine and the
submission opportunity from your newsletter, and wanted to share
my success and thank you.

Not only am I branching out into new markets that I never knew
existed, but I'm also checking my mail more thoroughly now!

Thanks again for your work supporting writers!

Enjoy the day,

Pamela Jorrick
www.PamelaJorrick.blogspot.com



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

How to Find Expert Sources for Articles

By Cindi Myers

Quotes from experts on a topic lend authority to your articles,
and can make the difference between a sale to a magazine and
another rejection slip for your collection. What kind of
experts should you look for? Doctors are the number one expert
for any sort of medical topic. If you’re covering legal matters,
talk to a lawyer. A professor or scientist who has published
research on a subject is an expert, as is anyone who teaches
the subject, works in a field related to the subject, or who
has written a nonfiction book on the topic. Interviewing these
people and including their thoughts and comments in your
article gives readers – and editors – the information they’re
looking for.

So how do you find these experts? One or all of the following
should yield you multiple authorities you can interview on
almost any topic:

1. People you know. Your personal doctor, the lawyer who is
your neighbor and the fitness instructor who goes to your
church are all potential experts you could interview. These
people are often the easiest for you to contact, but their
knowledge may not always be the best, and after very many
articles your small circle of acquaintances won’t yield
enough experts to sustain your writing career.

2. Any large University. Universities have media liaisons
whose primary job is to connect the professors, research
fellows, doctors at the university hospital, and others with
journalists who are eager to hear what these professionals
have to say. Call the University’s main number, ask for the
media relations department and explain what you’re writing
about. Chances are the liaison will find you an expert to
interview.

3. Profnet ( http://www.profnet.com ). This is my personal
favorite. Register for free as a journalist with Profnet,
then post your query. You can select the type of people you
want to interview (professors, doctors, book authors) etc.
and Profnet will send the query out to thousands of colleges
and universities, large corporations, public relations firms
and individuals who will contact you by email if they feel
they have the information you’re seeking.

4. Help a Reporter Out. ( http://www.helpareporter.com ) Like 
Profnet, this is a service where you can post a query and
receive responses from people all over the United States who
are willing, even eager, to help you.

If you think these experts won’t want to talk to little old
you, think again. People like to talk about themselves and
their interests. If you can possibly get their name in a
magazine one day, so much the better.

Tips to keep in mind: Have a list of questions prepared for
your interview. Some sources want to see these beforehand.

Always ask “Who else should I talk to about this subject?”
I’ve gotten some terrific leads to other experts this way.

Say thank you. Send a follow-up email or written note. And
be sure to send a copy of the article when it’s published.

BIO
Cindi Myers is a novelist and journalist who has written for
dozens of magazines, from Ladies Home Journal to Texas Highways
to Popular Mechanics. Her most recent novel is The Woman Who
Loved Jesse James.

www.CindiMyers.com  and www.romanceofthewest.com



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


WRITE INTEGRITY PRESS MANUSCRIPT CONTEST
http://www.writeintegrity.com/
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
Deadline June 15, 2012. Seeking books in series of three, and
winners could receive a three-book publication contract! The
series of books can be fiction or nonfiction, but must carry
a message of HOPE in some form or fashion. Be creative. Give
us characters we can love in the novels, and issues we can
care about in the nonfiction.

One First Prize FICTION Winner will receive a $500 Cash Prize
and our standard publication contract for the three-book series.

Two runners-up in fiction will receive our standard publication
contract for at least one book, and perhaps all three.

One First Prize NONFICTION Winner will receive a $500 Cash Prize
and our standard publication contract for the three-book series.

Two runners-up in nonfiction will receive our standard
publication contract for at least one book, perhaps all three.

Submit a one-page, single-spaced synopsis of the entire three-
book series. Submit a 100-word blurb for each book of the series.
Submit the first chapter of Book 1 (length should be 2,500-5,000
words.)

=====

ROOM MAGAZINE CONTEST
http://www.roommagazine.com/contest
---
ENTRY FEE $30 (Canada) / $42 (International) includes a one-year
subscription to Canada's oldest literary journal by and about women.
Calling all women writers: Room magazine is currently accepting
submissions for its 2012 annual Fiction, Poetry, and Creative
Non-Fiction Contest. First prize in each category is $500, 2nd
prize $250, plus publication in the summer 2013 issue of Room.
Judges: Cathleen With (fiction), Miranda Pearson (poetry), and
Kathy Page (creative non-fiction). Deadline: June 15, 2012.

=====

THE WRITER 2012 TRAVEL ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.writermag.com/travelcontest
---
$10 ENTRY FEE
Have you learned something surprising about another culture –
or your own? Met a memorable character who altered your world
view in some way? Seen something monumental or simple that left
an indelible impression? It’s time to write about your unforgettable
experiences as a traveler, whether your travels took you to an
exotic destination or a hometown treasure. We’re looking for
unpublished personal stories of up to 1,200 words that convey
readers to distant lands – or the park around the corner – to
share the traveler’s experience and insight. Prizes: $1,000,
$300, $200; Gotham Writers’ Workshop classes; subscriptions to
The Writer magazine; and publication in The Writer for the winner.
Deadline: June 15, 2012.



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


MAGAZINE INTERN GRANT
http://www.ed2010.com/2007/09/apply-win-1-000
---
Can’t afford to live in New York City? Don’t have a trust fund?
Ed2010 knows what it’s like to be an unpaid intern in the City—
eating ramen noodles every day, temping for cash, scrounging
just about anything from the giveaway tables at work just because
it’s “free.” To combat the incredible expense of the City, Ed’s
gonna give awesome unpaid mag interns a thousand bucks to use
for living, travel and whatever other expenses. Assuming Ed can
raise the dough, there’ll be one lucky whippersnapper each fall
and spring semester and two recipients in the summer.

Summer 2012 Deadline Wednesday May 30! (Emailed applications must
be received by 11:59 p.m., no exceptions!)

=====

PEN EMERGING VOICES
http://penusa.org/programs/emerging-voices
---
Emerging Voices is a literary fellowship program that aims to
provide new writers, who lack access, with the tools they will
need to launch a professional writing career. Over the course
of the year, each Emerging Voices fellow participates in: a
professional mentorship; hosted Q & A evenings with prominent
local authors; a series of Master classes focused on genre; and
two or more public readings. The fellowship includes a $1,000
stipend. Participants need not be published, but the program is
directed toward poets and writers of fiction and creative
nonfiction with clear ideas of what they hope to accomplish
through their writing. Not open to writers who work in academia
and publishing. No open to B.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. graduates in
Creative Writing or students currently enrolled in B.A., M.A.,
or M.F.A. programs. Deadline August 15, 2012.

=====

NATIVE ARTS AND CULTURES FELLOWSHIP
http://www.nacf.us/2013_Grants
---
The Native Arts & Cultures Foundation, a philanthropic
organization dedicated exclusively to the revitalization,
appreciation, and perpetuation of indigenous arts and
cultures in the United States, is accepting applications
for its 2013 Artist Fellowships. Through the fellowship program,
the foundation seeks to foster the creativity of Indigenous
artists, allowing the opportunity for study, reflection,
experimentation, and discovery. Awards will be made in six
disciplines — visual arts, filmmaking, music, dance,
literature, and traditional arts. Deadline June 21, 2012.
Fellowships provide $20,000 in support.


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


DELICIOUS LIVING
http://newhope360.com/contact-delicious-living
---
Educates readers on nutrition, disease prevention, integrative
medicine, healthy cooking, personal care, and ecofriendly
products. Up-to-date information in a clear manner. Only
wants fresh new angles. Features 1,000 to 1,200 words.
Departments vary widely from fillers of 50 words to columns
of 800 words. Send queries and clips to deliciousliving@newhope.com

=====

YOGA JOURNAL
http://www.yogajournal.com/general_customer_service/about/editorial_subs_guidelines/
---
Pays up to $2,000 for features. As little as $50 for fillers.
Articles are up to 3,000 words. The magazine explores yoga
in its form and practice. It involves integrating yoga in
all aspects of life as well as on the health, nutrition,
exercise and concepts that broaden its understanding. Big
publisher of freelance articles.

=====

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=259
---
Adoptive Families is the leading information resource for
families before, during, and after adoption. The award-winning
national bimonthly magazine provides independent, authoritative
adoption information in an accessible and reader-friendly format.



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


TECHNICAL WRITER
Location Kirtland AFB, NM
https://my.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/315880200
---
Deadline May 30, 2012. Responsible for the following duties:

* Possess advanced writing skills to develop and write internal
directives and to articulate, interpret and explain important
agency policies and programs.

* Utilize Adobe Suite (Frame Maker, Illustrator, Photo Shop)
computer programs to produce publications.

* Collect and compile technical information related to Nuclear
Weapons.

* Produce documents such as technical and source manuals,
reports, spreadsheets, databases, and various types of graphics.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
Location St. Maries, Idaho
https://my.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/316016400
---
Writes and edits materials for content, such as reports,
regulations, news, newsletters, magazines, news releases,
training materials, brochures, interpretive handbooks,
pamphlets, guidebooks, scholarly works, reference works,
speeches, or scripts. Works for the Forest Service. Deadline
May 29, 2012.

=====

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Washington DC
https://my.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/316104900
---
This position is located in the National Center for Ethics
in Health Care (NCEHC), Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Develop key messages and communications materials appropriate
for different target audiences. Write and edit text for various
communications vehicles including reports, presentations,
brochures, video, newsletters, posters, web pages, etc. Deadline
May 29, 2012.



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


IVY HOUSE
http://www.martinsisterspublishing.com/?page_id=152
---
Ivy House Books is our literary and mainstream fiction imprint.
Under this imprint we seek to publish books of a literary nature
which show the reader something about themselves they didn’t
know before they turned our pages. The characters under this
imprint are real flesh and bone and our authors who work under
this imprint are experts in their craft.

=====

MARTIN SISTERS BOOKS
http://www.martinsisterspublishing.com/?page_id=175
---
Under our main imprint Martin Sisters Books, we publish non-
fiction, self-help, short story collections and cook books.
Our writers come from all walks of life and are eager to share
their experiences with our readers. These books include both
humorous and serious memoirs and non-fiction narratives.

=====

MUD FOOT BOOKS
http://www.martinsisterspublishing.com/?page_id=169
---
Mudfoot Books is our young adult imprint. From high adventure
to coming of age and a sweet little romance sprinkled here and
there Mudfoot Books will keep young adults reading. Our Authors
are anxious to open the minds of these young readers and show
them they are not alone in how they think, feel and act.

=====

RAINSHOWER BOOKS
http://www.martinsisterspublishing.com/?page_id=167
---
Rain Shower Books is our Christian Fiction and Romance imprint.
Martin Sisters Publishing saw a need for wholesome messages
about love and life from a Christian perspective. Our writers
under this imprint see the importance of Christianity in
everyday life in a very natural and enlightening way.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPONSORS
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=====


 

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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


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