Posing with the owner of Half Full Coffee and Wine Bar,
Christy Pomeroy, in Newberry, South Carolina. Had a lovely
book signing there with a dozen or more folks. Sold a few
books, had an intriguing chat (was asked if my mother had
read the book because it had so much sex in it!) and learned
about this great new place to grab good wine, unique snacks,
and relax. Just a few doors down from Books on Main - the
only Newberry bookstore. http://www.enjoyhalffull.com/
 

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BOOK PROMOTION

If you thought writing a book creates emotional upheaval,
wait until you try to market it!

Nope, people don't just step up and buy the book. You have to
subtly, tastefully, and skillfully remind them that this book is
a tremendous investment without saying, "Buy this book."

Do you know how hard that is?

It means chatting with people and mentioning you're an
author, then having all these great one-liner answers to
any questions they might ask . . . in the hope that those
answers convince them to buy.

It means being available for signing events, sometimes
driving hundreds of miles, only to sell eight books . . .
and smiling through it all.

It means answering every email with courtesy, cheerfulness,
patience, and enthusiasm . . . EVERY email.

It means suffering the doubt of bookstore owners that your writing
is worth a squat . . . smiling as you convince them that
this story is quality material for their shelves.

It means giving away more books than you expected,and spending
hundreds of dollars on postcards, posters, gas, business cards, website design and more, (much more if you self-publish) as you think maybe the next book will recoup that back for you
. . . and hopefully much more.

But it also means people gush over how the story resonated
with them . . . and you almost cry at each and every time
you hear a new person express their enjoyment.

It means you dive into the next book, and the next, anxious
to show how much better a writer you are now . . . because
now you have readers asking when the next book comes out.

It means you squeal when someone enjoys a phrase you
spent hours perfecting, fighting so hard to make it look easy.

There is no arrival in this journey of writing a book.
It's always an uphill climb. About the time you have a
momentous occasion, you're slapped with two stars instead
of five, or some bookstore owner who says, "Come back and
see me once you've published a second book," or you send
out review copies and the reviewer never delivers. About
the time family and friends give you great responses,
you learn of several who never find time to read it.

And you learn to laugh about it . . . laugh about it ALL.

You chose this path. Everyone told you it was difficult.
Yet you travel it anyway, because seeing your precious
stories born to the world is no different than having
children. Once you birth those babies you have to commit
to the good and the bad of the experience. Some are
easier to raise than others, and all of them cause you
angst sooner or later. But in the end, you love the
heck out of them. Mainly because they are a part of you.


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 

=====

YOU SAID IT!!!

THE LATEST COMMENT ABOUT LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE....

Damn you! (Winking smile) I read to chapter 11 before I HAD TO
close my eyes for the night and I haven't done a stitch of work
yet this morning. I'm on Chapter 18. GOTTA meet some deadlines
before I get back to it... GRRR!!!

What a ride!!! I'm a nervous wreck!

Good'un!

Kristine M. Smith



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

WORDS OF SUCCESS


"The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine."

~ Mike Murdock ~





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

Hi Hope,

I'm taking you up on your offer for a free 1-year of TOTAL
Funds For Writers with receipt of purchase of Lowcountry Bribe.
I'm attaching my Amazon.com receipt (PDF).

I also need to thank you--my first novel was released this
January with Dancing With Bear Publishing (it's called Corgi
Capers: Deceit on Dorset Drive). I heard of DWB Publishing
through one of your FFW newsletters, thank you :-)

Sincerely,
Val Muller

www.valmuller.com


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


Five Creative Ways to Court Today’s Client

By Jennifer Brown Banks

Competition in today’s market is fierce---whether you’re selling
“widgets” or words. All the more reason you should go the extra
mile to “woo” and retain your clients. Let’s face it: they have
many options. You’re not the only game in town. And it's the
little things that go a long way in keeping them satisfied and
keeping your business in the black.

I live in a big city. In my particular neighborhood, there’s
an array of major banks, with big reputations, and national
offices within walking distance. Instead, I opt to travel
about 45 minutes each way, to entrust my assets to a small
branch you’ve never heard of, and likely won’t see in TV
commercials. Why? Because they make me feel special.

Accomplished by what I call a winning “trifecta” combination:
they “woo” me by remembering my name when I arrive, by providing
extended hours, and through customer service that’s unsurpassed.

Since the average freelance writer offers services similar to
his competitor, he must be “above-average” in the way he
delivers those services. He must be able to distinguish
himself from the pack.

With this in mind, here’s how to court your valued clients,
stand above the rest, and protect your bottom line in the
process.

WHAT TO DO #1

Don’t take them for granted. Whether you’ve been together for
ten weeks, or ten years, show appreciation. Much like a romantic
courtship, you must show interest in their needs and strive
to meet them, or somebody else will.

HOW TO DO IT

Conduct satisfaction surveys and polls. Don’t assume just
because they paid you, they were pleased with your performance.
Consider a questionnaire with a simple rating system of 1-10
to simplify responses. Keep the lines of communication open.

WHAT TO DO #2

Listen. Not just to their directives, but to their objectives.
Have an “intimate” knowledge of who they are, where they’re
trying to go, their competition, and their strengths and
weaknesses. For example, freelancers who can go beyond general
guidelines to assess an editor’s strategic direction, or make
his job easier by having an in-depth understanding of the
magazine's industry, will be greatly valued.

HOW TO DO IT

Prepare written agreements that reflect the scope of the
project, your understanding of your role, any additional
resources required, and completion dates. Put together a
game plan that assures you are both on the same page and
poised for success.

WHAT TO DO #3

Remember special dates. When did you first “partner“? What’s
your business anniversary? What are some of the company's
milestones?

HOW TO DO IT

Send a card, or note (not the electronic version) to
acknowledge them and let them know they‘re in your thoughts.
For example, I love doing gift baskets and sending them to
my clients when they are local.

WHAT TO DO #4

Provide variety. Variety adds value to a partnership. The
more you offer, the less likely they’ll stray. Consider the
one-stop cleaners that not only dry cleans your apparel, but
also provides on-site tailoring and drop off laundry services.

HOW TO DO IT

Expand your services. Besides penning articles and interviews,
are you handy with a camera? A technical whiz? Good with
graphic design? These are things you’d do well to incorporate.

WHAT TO DO #5

Keep your word; it builds trust and breeds confidence.

HOW TO DO IT

Never over promise and under deliver; it’s professional
suicide. Instead, allow yourself “wiggle room” for things
like Murphy’s Law, life, and lengthy research. Never lie or
“embellish” and state you have the ability to do something
if you can’ t. Integrity goes a long way to ensure long-term
relationships.

Follow these timely tips to foster relationships that help
build your business and your bottom line. Though your clients
may not exactly experience a ”warm fuzzy feeling,” you‘ll at
least avoid the dreaded “Dear John“ letter.

BIO
Jennifer Brown Banks
Veteran freelance writer, Columnist, Pro Blogger
http://penandprosper.blogspot.com/
Managing Editor, Coffeehouse for Writers
http://Coffeehouseforwriters.com/
Columnist, Technorati.com



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

SALAMANDER FICTION PRIZE
http://salamandermag.org/contests/
---
$15 ENTRY FEE (includes subscription)
$1,500 and publication. Deadline June 15, 2012. All entries
will be considered for publication. Each story must not exceed
35 double-spaced pages in 12-point font.

=====

KOTA POETRY PRIZE
http://www.ladylazarus-press.com/#!kota-prize
---
$15 ENTRY FEE
Deadline August 31, 2012. The scope of this contest is a
never-before published, cohesive poetry collection from a
FIRST-TIME AUTHOR, whether formal, traditional, free verse,
experimental or prose with a minimum page count of one-hundred
(100 pages). All subject matter considered. You must be 18+
and a Resident of the USA to enter.

=====

THE 2012 HAZEL HILLES MEMORIAL SHORT FICTION PRIZE
http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/creative-writing-contest.html
---
$6 ENTRY FEE
1st $500
2nd $100
3rd $100

Deadline: September 18, 2012. Length: No minimum. Maximum 5,000
words. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older, but there are
no geographical restrictions. The contest is open to anyone writing
in English. Stories can be in any genre and address any theme.
All entries must be previously unpublished. Authors retain all
copyright to their work. However, Be-a-Better-Writer.com will
have first publication rights to the winning stories, which will
be published in Page 47 online anthology.


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


VERMONT STUDIO CENTER
http://www.vermontstudiocenter.org/fellowships/
http://www.vermontstudiocenter.org/apply/
---
Fellowship Deadline: June 15, 2012. The Vermont Studio Center
holds three annual fellowship deadlines, with new juries and
different awards each time. All of the fellowships listed
below are for 4-week residencies at VSC.

VSC Fellowships Open to All
Sixteen awards open to all artists and writers, based entirely
on merit.

VSC Diversity Initiative Fellowships
At this deadline, three awards are available to talented
minority artists and writers from the United States. These
awards include a travel stipend.

James Merrill Fellowships
Two awards for outstanding poets with demonstrable financial
need.

NEA Creative Access Fellowships
Two awards for artists and writers who are blind or have low
vision. These fellowships include a $500 travel stipend.

Displaced Artists Fellowships
Two fellowships are available through VSC's Fund for Displaced
Artists. One award is for a displaced visual artist from Japan
who was affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and
one award is offered to a Vermont visual artist or writer
displaced by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Awards include a
travel and materials stipend.

Cave Canem Foundation Fellowship
One award for a poet who is a current or former Cave Canem fellow.

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Fellowship
One fellowship for an artist or writer with a spinal cord
injury (SCI). This award includes a $500 stipend for travel
and expenses during the residency and, if necessary, a stipend
for room, board, and travel for a personal care assistant.

John Fitzpatrick Henry David Thoreau Fellowship
One fellowship for a poet whose work engages the environment
and embodies the life, work, and spirit of Henry David Thoreau.

Zoland Poetry Translation Fellowship:
One award for an outstanding translator of contemporary
international poetry, fiction, or non-fiction.

=====

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
http://www.irscl.com/grants.html
---
The Research Grant of US $1,000 encourages research by early
career scholars in children's literature. Applications are
welcome from postgraduate students or early career researchers.
It is necessary to be a member of the IRSCL to apply for the
grant. Eligible activities include literary, historical,
cultural, sociological, empirical and pedagogical research.

Prior to IRSCL Congresses, applications are invited for travel
grants of not more than US $1,000 each to be awarded to IRSCL
members in need of financial assistance to attend the Congress.

(**As a children's author, you might consider membership.)

=====

AMY CLAMPITT FUND
http://www.berkshiretaconic.org/Grantseekers/guidelines_clampitt.shtml
---
Applications are invited from poets or literary scholars of
poetry with professional standing in their fields as well as
emerging poets/scholars are eligible for residencies. The
level of accomplishment of the work submitted will be considered
as it is commensurate with the applicant’s age and/or experience.
The Amy Clampitt Fund Residency Program encourages individuals
from all backgrounds to apply.

The Residency award consists of the use of the Amy Clampitt House
free and clear for a six-month or twelve-month period beginning
on February 1, 2013 and ending on January 19, 2014. Grants for
travel to and from the Clampitt House are available in exceptional
circumstances. A monthly stipend of $2,500 is paid to the resident
fellow. It is expected that the resident fellow reside in the
house full-time and focusing exclusively on his/her creative work.
This is an opportunity for a person who can take full advantage of
unencumbered time with few distractions to bolster his/her writing.



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


FAITH AND FAMILY
http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/contactus
---
At Faith & Family Magazine and Faith & Family Live! our goal
is to be a source of support for Catholic women seeking
information, inspiration, resources, and encouragement as
they embrace their vocations to marriage and motherhood. Our
aim is to share personal struggles and triumphs, challenges
and joys, and also the lighter side of Catholic living.

Children’s books: $400 (1,000 words)

Features (Home, Adult Relationships, Raising Kids, Spirituality,
Marriage Matters): $400 each, (1,800-2,500 words)

What's Cooking: $450 (intro 300 words + minimum 6 recipes and
1-3 sidebars)

My Faith & Family: $400 (1,000 words)

The Quiz $150 (700 words)

=====

FAMILY DOG
http://www.akc.org/pubs/
---
From hands-on training techniques to solving common behavior
problems to inspiring and entertaining stories about our canine
pals, the experts at the AKC will help you provide the best care
for your best friend. Our helpful tips, how-to's, and feature
articles are written in an engaging and reader-friendly format.
Regular columns include information on natural therapies,
nutrition, health-care, and much more. Articles are 1,000 to
2,000 words. Pays up to $500. Columns are staff written.

=====

AMERICAN HISTORY
http://www.historynet.com/american-history
http://www.historynet.com/contact-historynet-and-weider-history-group
---
Presents the history of America to a broad spectrum of general-
interest readers in an authoritative, informative, thought-
provoking and entertaining style. Lively narratives take readers
on an adventure with history, complemented by rare photographs,
paintings, illustrations and maps. Query with a one-page proposal
and experience. Email to acw@weiderhistorygroup.com  . Articles
are 2,000 to 4,000 word. Departments vary in length. Pays 20
cents/word.


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


INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
Location Nashville, TN
https://www.meredith.apply2jobs.com/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=4581
---
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Broadcasting or related field,
or equivalent training. Five to seven years related reporting
experience. Investigative experience strongly preferred. Strong
understanding of undercover reporting - legal journalism, ethical
issues, strong writing.

=====

MULTIMEDIA WRITER
Location Beaverton, OR
https://www.meredith.apply2jobs.com/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=4604
---
Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or related
field, or equivalent training and/or experience. Two years
experience as a writer for commercial/public television or
commercial/public radio. Previous digital or online experience
preferred. Knowledge of how to blend words and pictures into
interesting news stories.

=====

COPYWRITER
Location
https://www.meredith.apply2jobs.com/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=4461
---
We need a talented mid-level copywriter to join the fray of
cool projects and fun people within our fast-paced creative
department. You’ll work closely with experienced art directors,
resourceful print producers and knowledgeable account teams.
You’ll be pushed to think, concept and write bright compelling
copy that is both inviting and rewarding to read. You’ll also
be asked to interact with clients, present your work and
multitask. We focus on one-to-one communication within the
automotive space. Experience in these areas, while preferred,
is not mandatory.


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

LUMINIS BOOKS
http://www.luminisbooks.com/submissions.html
---
Luminis Books publishes thought-provoking literary fiction as
well as young adult and middle grade fiction that explores the
intricacies of human relationships. We look for beautifully
crafted prose above all—writing that is compelling and thought-
provoking, stories that provide glimpses of insight, while at
other times challenging readers with concepts that prompt a
moment of reflection to discern. We will consider mysteries,
historical fiction and science fiction that have a depth of
meaning and go beyond the boundaries of typical genre fiction.
For consideration, please submit a 1-page synopsis telling us
about your book, along with a 10-page sample of the manuscript.
We accept only online submissions.

=====

BARKING RAIN PRESS
http://www.barkingrainpress.org/brpcorp
---
The BRP Publishing Group is a Washington State non-profit
publisher of books and eBooks. We are located in the greater
Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area, which is a hub of
thriving independent publishers and related venues.

We publish our titles using three imprints, which are:

Barking Rain Press — Novel and novella-length trade paperbacks,
eBooks and hardcover editions of contemporary literature and
fiction in a wide variety of genres;

Nitis Books — Non-fiction books and eBooks;

Virtual Tales — Short fiction and collections of short fiction,
sold only in eFormats.

=====

SILVER KNIGHT PUBLISHING
http://www.silverknightpublishing.com/index.php/about/
---
Silver Knight Publishing is a traditional publisher of quality
fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. We represent a broad
range of genres from both established and new authors. Our
acquisition editors are very selective in the books we accept
and each submitted manuscript is equally given consideration,
taking multiple factors into account.


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

THE HEAT OF A POEM - A POETRY WORKSHOP

The Heat of a Poem, 3-Day Poetry Workshop with Ruth Foley
at the Barred Owl Retreat in Leicester, MA.

We invite you to be part of this inaugural writers’ workshop retreat.
This 3-Day event will generate new material, help you learn new
techniques for revision, and offer help with publishing your poems.

The cost is $230 for the three days with continental breakfast
and lunch included each day. We have four rooms available for
lodging on a first come first served basis. We offer retreats
for individuals and groups year-round.

Visit http://www.barredowlretreat.com  or 
email Jessica at barredowlretreat@gmail.com 
or call 508 757-3375.

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


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