SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

PASSION FOR POETRY POET

Contest sponsored by MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA)

MANA has extended its deadline to submit to November 25. Requirements:

1) a collection of 50 or more poems. 2) on a Microsoft Word file

The winner will receive:

1) a published work with professionally-designed color colors 2) a web page on the MANA web site 3) digital marketing 4) 10% royalty 5) no charge for shipping and handling and any other distribution and marketing services

How to Enter:

1) pay $5 entry fee 2) Send file to: info@marketingnewauthors.com

Editor’s THOUGHTS

IT TAKES TOO LONG TO BECOME KNOWN AS AN AUTHOR

In a recent thread on my Facebook page (it gets interesting, folks, in case you don't follow me at https://www.facebook.com/chopeclark), talk started about binge publishing, where self-pubbed writers toss out four, five or six books a year. Of course, that level of production cannot be withstood for long, and odds are the quality goes lacking.

You can imagine the back and forth that took place, a small piece of it sour grapes, and a lot of it addressing the big names in the business who hire a team of writers to write under their names (Patterson and such). But what warmed my heart was the fact my publisher jumped in and had the following to say:

"...a lot of success is based on writing well-crafted and smartly packaged books for a receptive audience, whether the books meet anyone else's standards of crap or non-crap. Also, success is based on patience and the willingness to devote decades of your life to building an audience. Something a lot of new self-pubs don't seem to understand. Nora Roberts, Stephen King, etc. slogged their way up through the trenches for the past thirty years."

We forget about the painstaking climb up the ladder that all of these writers made to make a name for themselves. I once mentioned that it took fourteen years for Lowcountry Bribe to reach bookshelves. I actually had a man in the audience tell me, "But I don't want to take that long, How can I do it quicker?" I don't expect to see him get very far in his writing.

My publisher went on to say: "Many of the bestselling authors served long-term apprenticeships writing romances, mysteries, westerns, etc. under the not-so-fun rules of imprint series and often for the not-so-fun money. I put in my time in those trenches, and I'm glad--it's the best training a commercial fiction writer can get."

All of the slugging along that you are doing right now is your training. You don't decide to write books and immediately make money. One of the most common questions I get is: "I published a book, but can't figure out how to get it in front of people."

That's because it takes time. Time that includes daily attention to promotion . . . for years. Even Amanda Hocking didn't become a sensation overnight, though a lot of people mistakenly give her credit to doing so.

Are you a writer first? Or are you writing for money first? If you are writing for immediate income, whether it's a desire or a fiscal necessity, then go after the writing that pays quicker: magazines, copywriting, resume writing, grant writing, teaching writing, etc. But if you are wanting an income from books, then give it the time it deserves.

Every other profession requires an internship, a journeyman level, then eventually a master of expertise. Why not writing?

~HOPE

WEBSITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
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
PINTEREST - http://www.pinterest.com/chopeclark

TOTAL FUNDSFORWRITERS! A reminder that the expanded TOTAL FundsforWriters, that normally goes for $15/year (STILL a great deal), is free with the purchase of any of Hope's books, ebook or print. Send receipt via email to hope@fundsforwriters.com

WORDS OF SUCCESS

A new idea is first condemned as ridiculous, and then dismissed as trivial, until finally it becomes what everybody knows.

~ William James

THE SHY WRITER

Introversion may seem like a major obstacle to building a successful writing career, but this wonderful “covers-all-the-bases” book handily debunks the notion. ~Peter Bowerman, Author “The Well-Fed Writer” series

Hope has solutions in The Shy Writer Reborn that let you make the most of who you are instead of asking you to change your personality. ~Linda Formichelli, The Renegade Writer

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!!!

THE SHY WRITER REBORN is a great Christmas gift for your writing friend. Try this special for your holiday gift giving!

==> Buy a print copy of The Shy Writer for yourself or friend from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and send a receipt to hope@fundsforwriters.com to receive a FREE electronic copy!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shy-Writer-Reborn-ebook/dp/B00DAMP9UQ/ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shy-writer-reborn-c-hope-clark/1115679550

==> Or order an autographed copy straight from Hope and receive the free copy. http://www.chopeclark.com

	The Carolina Slade Mystery Series http://www.chopeclark.com/ On Tidewater Murder: Terrific. Smart, knowing, clever…and completely original. A taut, high-tension page-turned—in a unique and fascinating setting. An absolute winner! ~Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity winning author On Lowcountry Bribe: With a story that moves so fast you are sure to get a case of literary whiplash, LOWCOUNTRY BRIBE is almost impossible to put down. Written with grace and ferocity, I for one can hardly wait for a second helping of this unpredictably un-pretentious and hard-scrabble down-home gal. ~Rachel Gladstone, Dish Magazine Purchase any of Hope's books and receive a one-year subscription to TOTAL FFW free. Send receipt to hope@fundsforwriters.com

Success Story

Hi Hope~

Last summer you listed Chicken Soup for the Soul under freelance markets. I did a NaNoWriMo Camp event and spent the month writing short stories for Chicken Soup. I submitted several to Chicken Soup, one of which they bought a week after I submitted it. It was my son's story, which I wrote from his point of view, so I put his name on it, but I was still excited. This past week I got another email from Chicken Soup. They have taken another one of those stories! This one was my mom's story, so I put her name on it. But, as before, I'm still excited.

Thanks so much for what you do. I'm sure for every one of us you hear from, you've helped ten.

R. Muchow

featured article

ONE FREELANCE WRITER'S SURPRISING STRATEGY FOR A REVVED-UP CAREER

By Pinar Tarhan

If you want to start a career as a freelance writer, you have two options:

You can quit your day job, dedicating yourself to writing full time. Or you can build your portfolio slowly, while keeping that office job.

Or so I thought. It didn’t occur to me there was a third option, until I failed to make either of those options work for me. Here’s how I found the perfect solution through trial and error:

Freelancing on the Side

I had an office job when I decided I wanted to be a writer. So I first tried freelancing on the side. Unfortunately, my job required me to work (and commute) six days a week. I was left with little time and energy to learn about freelance writing and marketing, much less time for actually sitting down to write. It didn’t help matters that I didn’t like my job. So I quit.

Freelancing Full-Time

Feeling euphoric, I started writing full-time. But soon, I was lost in all the stuff I had to do and learn. When my initial queries failed me, I started applying to job ads and trying out content mills. The highest- paying job I landed was $35 for a long travel article. I was starting to panic as my savings melted away. Soon, I was producing a lot of articles for low pay. I wasn’t happy, and I wasn’t exactly making a living.

Freelancing with a Twist

After months of hard work and no tangible results, it hit me. I didn’t have to choose between a full-time job (which left me with little time, energy and motivation) and full-time freelance writing (where I was under constant pressure to make money quickly). I could take a flexible, part- time job I would enjoy to pay the bills. So I started teaching English as a second language.

This part-time job brought me more than just a regular paycheck.

Benefits of my Part-Time Job

Happiness: I make money doing something I love, so I no longer have to take unsatisfactory writing assignments to make ends meet.

Time: I only teach 14-18 hours a week. Not only do I have enough time for all my writing-related activities, I am also able to have a busy social life.

Peace of mind: A regular paycheck motivates me to research markets more thoroughly, craft professional queries and send them to my dream publications.

Inspiration: As I meet so many diverse people through my teaching, I’m not stuck for story ideas.

Exercise: I live in a big city, and the commute on my part-time job is far less than I had with my full-time job. That leaves me with time to hit the pool.

Broader network: Because I meet new people, the potential for new gigs increases. I also gain more readers for my blogs.

Better time management skills: I have a tighter schedule than when I freelanced full time, but a lot more time than I had with my office job. I manage my time better because time isn’t spent working at a job I hate, or worrying about the bills.

These benefits enabled me to finally put a red velvet rope around my work by rejecting content mills, low-paying jobs and unreliable clients. I can now refuse to take an assignment unless I am satisfied with the conditions.

I am happier, I make more money freelancing and I feel more confident pitching to the publications I’ve been following, such as Freelance Switch and FundsforWriters.

What’s the right balance for your writing career?

BIO

Pinar Tarhan is a freelance writer and blogger who is absolutely addicted to writing: fiction and non-fiction. She is also a firm believer in big dreams and realizing them. Her work has been published in Freelance Switch, Make a Living Writing, and Write Your Revolution among others. You can share her passion on her blog, Addicted to Writing, and catch her @zoeyclark on Twitter.

competitions

J.F. POWERS PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION https://dappledthings.submittable.com/submit/24212 --- NO ENTRY FEE. Word limit 8,000 words. Winner receives $500. Deadline November 29, 2013.

DRIFTLESS REVIEW ANNUAL FLASH FICTION CONTEST http://driftlessreview.org/contest/ --- $15 ENTRY FEE. Each short-short story limited to 500 words. $500 prize. Deadline December 31, 2013.

TOP OF MOUNTAIN BOOK AWARD http://www.northerncoloradowriters.com/upcoming-events-mainmenu-133/writing-contests/374-top-of-mountain-book-award.html --- $25 ENTRY FEE. Fiction and Creative nonfiction categories. Finalists and winners will be announced on March 28, 2014 during dinner at the NCW 9th Annual Writers Conference. Attendance at the conference is not required. First Place: Framed certificate and $1,000. Finalists: Certificate. The contest is open to unpublished novel-length fiction of any genre. (MS does not need to be completed.) Authors may be previously published, as long as the submission is an unpublished work (self published included). Submit first 25 pages and the synopsis or book proposal together in second document.

CRAB ORCHARD OPEN POETRY COMPETITION http://craborchardreview.siu.edu/conpo.html --- $25 ENTRY FEE. Submit a minimum of 50 pages up to 100 pages of original poetry. First place $2,500. Second place $1,500. Deadline November 18, 2013.

MONA SCHREIBER PRIZE FOR HUMOROUS FICTION AND NONFICTION http://www.bradschreiber.com/mona.htm --- $5 ENTRY FEE. Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry, shopping lists and other forms are invited to submit. Works up to 750 words in length should be typed, double-spaced. All entries must be postmarked by December 1 for a December 24 announcement of three winners. First place $500. Second place $250. Third place $100. Winners will have their entries posted on www.brashcyber.com. All other rights belong to the authors. Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged.

GRANTS

JM KAPLAN GRANTS http://www.furthermore.org/ --- The J.M. Kaplan Fund's Furthermore program supports nonfiction book publishing related to the urban experience; natural and historic resources; art, architecture, and design; cultural history; and civil liberties and other public issues. The program seeks work that appeals to an informed general audience; demonstrates evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production; promises a reasonable shelf life; might not otherwise achieve top quality or even come into being; and "represents a contribution without which we would be the poorer." Individual grants range from $500 to approximately $15,000 and may be used to support writing, research, editing, design, indexing, photography, illustration, and/or printing and binding. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations. Trade publishers and public agencies may apply for grants in partnership with an eligible nonprofit sponsor. Individual authors can team with nonprofits. Deadline March 1, 2014.

KENTUCKY PEER ADVISORY NETWORK http://artscouncil.ky.gov/Opportunities/kpan_about.htm --- Arts professionals on the KPAN roster are available to provide three- or six-hour consultancies to assist eligible organizations and individual artists with board development, grant writing, marketing and promotions, strategic planning, festival planning and other activities. Consultancy fees are paid by the Kentucky Arts Council.

BUNNELL STREET ARTS CENTER OLD TOWN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE http://bunnellarts.org/ --- Location Homer, AK. Seeks visiting artists from Alaska and the United States to galvanize the community around Homer’s Old Town neighborhood through the creation and presentation of artwork that activates the Arts Center’s space and surrounding outdoor neighborhood sites. The one month residency allows teams of artists to develop artist-led projects focused on community engagement through murals, poetry, new media, landscape design, music, ephemeral art, dance, painting, theater, installation, creative writing, or sculpture. The one-month program includes a $3,000 stipend, up to $1,000 in project costs, round-trip travel, and lodging. Deadline December 1, 2013.

McCOLL AWARD (NORTH CAROLINA) http://www.artsandscience.org/gforganizations/mccoll-award --- The purpose of the McColl Award is to invest in the creation of an original work. Opportunities must occur between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2016. One grant of $25,000 will be awarded. The following are eligible to apply. An individual or an unincorporated group of individuals who: 1. Are professional artist(s); scientist(s); historian(s) 2. Have resided in Mecklenburg County for at least the past 12 months; 3. Are not enrolled as a student in higher education; 4. Do not serve on the staff or board of directors of any organizational partner of the project. You must attend a December 3 workshop.

MESA REFUGE http://www.mesarefuge.org/ --- The Refuge offers two and four-week residencies to writers who need the solitude essential to creative work. Essayists, journalists, economists, naturalists, screenwriters and authors of memoirs -- all are welcome. Location: Point Reyes Station, California. Deadline December 2, 2013. $25 application fee.

FREELANCE MARKETS

MEMPHIS MAGAZINE http://www.memphismagazine.com/Memphis-Magazine/Contact/ --- Colorful and informative magazine about the people, places, events, lifestyles, businesses and culture of Memphis and the surrounding area. Pays up to 30 cents/word.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE http://www.tpwmagazine.com/editorial/ --- Each issue of this award-winning magazine is packed with outstanding color photos and articles about every facet of outdoor recreation: fishing, hunting, camping, birding, boating, traveling and more. We bring you information about state parks, environmental issues and events taking place all across the state. Texas Parks & Wildlife truly is a magazine for all outdoors. Pays around 50 cents/word.

PUGET SOUND MAGAZINE http://www.pugetsoundmagazine.com/info/about.php --- Puget Sound Magazine is dedicated to providing readers with ideas for enjoying the magnificent waterways, islands and shorelines of the greater Puget Sound region. Our editorial content ranges from shoreline destination reviews and water oriented vacation planning to environmental issues and social concerns that shape the region. Pays 10 cents/word. Accepts a few pieces of fiction, length 800 to 1,000 words, paying 10 cents/word.

MADISON MAGAZINE http://www.madisonmagazine.com/Madison-Magazine/About-Us/ --- With a long history of providing interesting coverage of local people, area events and home related edit, Madison Magazine continues to grow. Building on the existing strengths of arts, dining, habitat, business and health, the magazine prides itself on providing award winning service journalism that informs its readers on what to do, where to go and the how-to in managing their daily lives. Pays up to 30 cents/word.

CATHOLIC FORESTER http://www.catholicforester.org/servicecenter/catholicforestermagazine/WriterandArtistGuidelines.aspx --- Nonfiction topics appealing to our members include health and wellness, money management and investing, parenting and family life, senior issues, inspiration and nostalgia. Although we are more interested in nonfiction topics, we also like to entertain our readers with humor and light fiction. Manuscripts should have a good lead, style and rhythm to hold reader interest. Look for ways to project personal experiences into informational topics. Fiction should move at a rapid pace, capturing reader attention from beginning to end. We like short pieces, 500 to 1,000 words, but occasionally accept manuscripts up to 1,500 words. Payment for First North American Serial Rights is approximately 50 cents/word, reprints $50 per article, depending on writing quality and amount of necessary editing. For photos and art illustrations, we pay one-time publication rights. Depending on size, payment ranges from $50 to $250 for inside use, $500 for a cover.

JOBS

TEACHING ARTIST
Location New York
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/b4H9DwmmN8Np
---
Urban Arts Partnership is currently accepting applications for Music
Production, Film, Poetry, Music, Visual Arts and Theatre Teaching
Artists for the 2013-2014 school year. Urban Arts hires highly
talented and motivated teaching artists with at least 2 years
experience working with inner city youth in grades 9-12 (experience
teaching in the NYC public school system required). Must be able to
travel to Far Rockaway and Jamaica, Queens.

PUBLISHERS

SEVEN FOOTER PRESS http://www.sevenfooterpress.com/pages/submissions --- Things we publish: humor books, gift books, high concept books geared towards Adults and/or Kids, children’s books with a twist, educational books with a twist, pop culture books, things that are irreverent, things that are unorthodox, things that transcend the print medium.

Things we do not publish: novels, poetry, basic children’s books, collections of short stories.

Things we're on the fence about: card decks, games / toys, travel books, cookbooks, photo books, graphic novels.

SEVEN STORIES PRESS http://www.sevenstories.com/contact/ --- Seven Stories Press publishes works of the imagination and political titles by voices of conscience. While most widely known for its books on politics, human rights, and social and economic justice, Seven Stories continues to champion literature, with a list encompassing both innovative debut novels and National Book Award–winning poetry collections, as well as prose and poetry translations from the French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Italian, Greek, Polish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, and Arabic.

SEVERN HOUSE http://severnhouse.com/ --- Severn House is a vibrant independent publishing house, which produces a broad range of titles, from Crime & Mystery, Thrillers and Romance, to Sagas, General and Historical fiction.

SHAMBHALA PUBLICATIONS http://www.shambhala.com/submissions --- Our main acquisitions interests are on the topics of Buddhism, yoga, mindfulness, martial arts, natural health, crafts, creativity, and green living. We publish very few works of contemporary poetry or fiction, and we do not publish children's books.

SHEARSMAN PRESS http://www.shearsman.com/ --- Shearsman Books is a very active publisher of new poetry, mostly from Britain and the USA, but also with a very active translation list.

SPONSORS

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Prepare to put that plan on layaway today!

SABLE BOOKS

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GET PAID TO WRITE: Become A Freelance Writer!

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GET WEBSITES THAT ROCK, BOOK COVERS THAT SIZZLE

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A few testimonials from happy clients:

"Superb work, excellent customer service. Just marvelous overall.” —C. Hope Clark, author, founder of FundsforWriters, http://chopeclark.com | http://www.fundsforwriters.com

"Since working with Shaila I now have a beautiful book that hit #1 one on Amazon, 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." —Carolyn Brent, author of Why Wait? http://www.caregiverstory.com/

"When I first saw Shaila’s work, I was struck by the fact that each site she designs is not only beautiful but also perfectly reflects the personality of the business it represents. Her suggestions, insight, and artistic talent made the final product much better than what I’d envisioned on my own.” —Jacqueline Adams, writer, http://jacqueline-adams.com/

Fine print

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 2000-2013, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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