FundsforWriters - May 16, 2014

Published: Fri, 05/16/14

Volume 14, Issue 20 | May 16 2014

Message from the Editor

Continuing with Indie Publishing Month with a great guest, Joel Friedlander. So honored to have him with FundsforWriters! If you are inclined to indie publish at all, you need to check out his site The Book Designer, because his practical knowledge and tools for putting your book out there are awesome and spot on!

Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
FFW has proudly been on the Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers list every year since 2001

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.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Sports Fiction & Essay Contest - Last Call!

Now in its third year. $3,000 in cash prizes, including $1,000 for the best story and $1,000 for the best essay. Submit published or unpublished works of prose on sports-related themes, up to 6,000 words per entry. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 50,000 subscribers. Fee is $16 per entry. Submit online by May 31. Final judge: Jendi Reiter. Winning Writers is one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2013). See guidelines, past winners, and enter online at www.winningwriters.com/ sports

Editor's THOUGHTS

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

===

I'VE WATCHED AGENTS LAUGH

Having been to my fair share of conferences, I've picked up a habit that started during a frustrating conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I noted that the sea of agents in attendance tended to cluster. They whispered to each other, stealing glances at other attendees. As a shy writer, I truly understood partnering with a like soul at a strange event, and assumed that was their motive.

But at the banquet, the agents filled a couple of tables en masse, not sitting with any of the writers who paid to brush elbows with these professionals. They texted, emailed, chuckled, and passed notes to each other as the keynote was delivered. I recall writing down all their names, vowing never to submit to them (Ha! Showed them, huh!?), but better yet, never placing them in my newsletter. To this day I study agents at events, watching to see if they are taking the conference seriously, or if they seem to be just putting in their hours until they can fly back to New York.

But a BIG however goes right here.

Not all agents are like that. I've met some quite pleasant ones. And diligent ones. And ones that believe to the tips of their toes that their authors are grand. Just like not all self-published books come up lacking, not all agents are arrogant.

We cannot afford to lump self-publishing, traditional publishing, agents and publishers into walled boxes of stereotypes. Each and every category has its shining stars . . . and its flawed participants.

That's why you do your homework to learn the facts, not the rumor and opinion, of each tentacle in this octopus we call publishing. I've already been chastised this month by one reader for not giving traditional its due, emphasizing self-pubbing too much . . . seriously? It's Indie Month. Traditional has had its glory for decades.

But you have to know what you are doing. You can't self-publish and expect other people to do it for you. You have to be resilient and innovative, doing the things that a traditional publisher usually does . . . what an agent usually does.

Accept the responsibility and do it right. Use the proper rules and tools to make your work professional, not homespun. Not jerry-rigged. Not amateur.

What if I told you never to paint your bedroom, grow your garden or fix your car? What if I told you the only way to deal with these do-it-yourself tasks was to hire a professional? You'd balk, because some of us are very equipped to handle DIY ventures. I just painted my bedroom and my garden is glorious. But I'll hire a mechanic. It's all in knowing our strengths and weaknesses - capitalizing on our skills yet recognizing when to fall back on the skills of others.

NOTE:
Our guest writer today has a great 35% discount for all FFW readers, especially good for you indie authors who are struggling to format a beautiful book. Read through the feature article and copy the discount code to use at the site. Marvelous tools. I've purchased several of his templates and can't praise them enough. This is one example of using the proper tools.

~HOPE

WEBSITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
BLOG - http://www.chopeclark.com/blog
TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark

WHERE TO FIND HOPE IN MAY:

May 20 - Tues, 2:30 PM - Newberry, SC Literary Social Club, Newberry Library
May 21 - Wed, 6:30 PM - SC Writers Workshop, Library, West Columbia, SC
May 31 - Sat, 1-2:30 PM - Books on Broad, Signing, Camden, SC

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."

~William Faulkner

TOTAL FUNDSFORWRITERS

TOTAL is the paid subscription to FundsforWriters. 70+ grants, contests, markets, publishers and more for the serious writer. $15 annual subscription for 26 biweekly Friday issues to your email. www.fundsforwriters.com - Or receive a free subscription with the full-price purchase of a Carolina Slade Mystery or The Shy Writer Reborn - ebook or print. Email your receipt to hope@fundsforwriters.com

The Carolina Slade Mystery Series
http://www.chopeclark.com/Book Three is out!!!!!Carolina Slade is the real deal - Southern charm, a steely determination, and a vulnerability she'll never admit to. Slade is at her absolute best in C. Hope Clark's Palmetto Poison so hold on for the ride! ~Lynn Chandler-Willis, best selling author and winner of the 2013 Minotaur Books/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Competition

Clark's intensely lush and conversational writing will keep you...turning the pages faster than you can read them. ~Dish MagazineAutographed copies available: see www.chopeclark.com

Success Story

Hello Hope--

You don't know this, but you have been my virtual cheerleader. You have also been my writing mentor and advisor. First, I found FundsforWriters.com. I pounced on it, scrolling down to the "good stuff" -- the submission and contest leads. After my husband kindly pointed out that without an online presence my writing was going nowhere, I woke up. I started paying attention to the content devoted to the business behind writing that I wanted to ignore. I realized I couldn't write successfully if I held on to my protective shell and shunned social media and marketing. I soaked up your blog content including podcasts, interviews and posts. I realize that I needed to sit up straight, hold my head high and start putting myself out there. It was through FundsforWriters.com that I submitted to The Briar Cliff Review Nonfiction Competition and was named a finalist. Through the Sand, A Driving Lesson from Dubai has just been published in Volume 26.

Thanks for the lead and even more, the encouragement!

Kathryn Streeter

http://www.kathrynstreeter.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.streeter.54
https://twitter.com/streeterkathryn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynstreeter

featured article

7 Formatting Errors That Make Your Book Look Unprofessional

by Joel Friedlander

More and more writers are taking advantage of the new tools of publishing to create and publish their own books. This has led to an explosion of creativity, as writers are able to move their own books to market without the long delays and uncertainty of trying to get a traditional publisher to offer a contract.

Of course, there are also lots of authors who publish some of their books with traditional publishers, but still want to issue backlist, experimental, or non-commercial books themselves.
This is all good news for authors. But one of the consequences of authors becoming "do-it-yourself" publishers has been the proliferation of books that don't look quite right.

Although our books may be self-published, we sure don't want them to look sub-par, do we?
For many years I've helped authors get their books produced so they can compete with the books coming from traditional publishers. And while many authors hire professional book designers to create their books for them, this isn't practical or desirable from some people.

Some of the errors I see when reviewing self-published books are very easy to correct, if you only know how. So to help out, I've compiled here a list of the most common book formatting errors.

If you're doing your own formatting, make sure you pin this article up near your workstation. You'll be needing it.

7 Formatting Errors to Avoid

1. Putting page numbers on blank pages.

Blank pages have no text or images on them, and that means they should be truly blank. If you think about it, having a page number on a blank page really doesn't make sense, since there's nothing for the page number to refer to.

2. Using running heads on chapter opening pages or blank pages.

This is probably the most common formatting mistake of all, and I see it often in books from do-it-yourselfers. Just like page numbers, running heads (the type at the top of a page that shows the book title, author name, or chapter title) have no place on a blank page, just leave them off so the pages are truly blank.

3. Using "rag-right" typesetting.

Sometimes authors think they can make their pages look better by using rag-right typesetting. But if you walk over to your bookshelf and start looking at your own books, you will soon discover that virtually all books outside of art books or poetry, use fully justified composition. This means that the left and right margins of your page are straight and all lines except the last line in a paragraph are all the same length. This is what your readers expect to see in your book, so make sure you give it to them.

4. Double spacing between sentences.

Many of us learned to type quite a while ago, and many typing instructors told us to hit the space bar twice after a period. This is perfectly fine for business reports or memos, but it has no place in a book and can potentially cause problems when your book is typeset. So only one space between sentences.

5. Using both indented AND block style spaces between paragraphs.

Since we've started reading so much on web pages, we've grown accustomed to the block style of paragraph formatting. This is when paragraphs are separated by a line space instead of indenting the first line of a paragraph, as is usually done in books. Both work, but you have to pick one and stick to it. If you add spaces between your paragraphs, make sure you don't also indent the first line.

6. Putting the odd numbered pages on the left.

When you open a book, it just makes sense that the first page is page number 1, and that has to be a right-hand page. This rule is absolute, and you should never, ever number your pages with even numbers on right-hand pages.

7. Making super small margins to save pages.

Lots of authors who use print on demand services like CreateSpace know that they will be charged based on how many pages are in their book. But that's no reason to shortchange your readers by making your page margins too small just to save money. If your book is too long, reduce the type size a tiny bit or use a more space-efficient font. Small margins will make your book hard to hold and difficult to read, never a good result.

Paying attention to these details of book formatting will help ensure that your books look and work the way they are supposed to. Your readers will thank you for that, and it's your readers you should keep in mind throughout the publishing process.

Another way to solve a lot of these formatting problems while also getting a well-designed, industry-standard book is to use one of our book templates. They will save you an amazing amount of time and frustration, while making sure your book looks the way it should. You can find out more and see the available designs at: BookDesignTemplates.com.

BIO:
Joel Friedlander (@JFBookman) is an award-winning book designer and blogger. He's been launching the careers of self-publishers since 1994 from his book design and consulting practice at Marin Bookworks in San Rafael, California. Joel also writes TheBookDesigner.com, a popular blog on book design, book marketing and the future of the book, and he is the founder of The Self-Publishing Roadmap, a training course for authors, and BookDesignTemplates.com, where he provides tools and services for authors who publish their own books. Joel is a past president of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association. Connect with him on Google+.

NOTE TO READERS:
Joel has created coupon code FFW35 for FFW readers. When you use FFW35 at TheBookDesigner.com shopping cart, it will give you a 35% discount on anything on the site. Coupon expires on June 10.

competitions

HIDDEN RIVER ARTS AWARDS
http://hiddenriverarts.wordpress.com/2014guidelines/
$17 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline June 30, 2014.
WILLIAM VAN WERT MEMORIAL FICTION AWARD -Any previously unpublished short story or novel excerpt of 25 pages or less. All novel excerpts must include a synopsis and outline of the whole novel, and an explanation of where the submitted portion fits into the overall structure of the work. $1,000 prize.

HIDDEN RIVER ARTS PLAYWRITING AWARD -Eligible: Any previously unpublished and unproduced full-length play. (And yes, full-length musical plays are also accepted!) The full script should be submitted, along with a synopsis and character breakdown.

NEW AMERICAN FICTION PRIZE
http://www.newamericanpress.com/contests/current.php
$22.50 ENTRY FEE.Winner receives a publication contract, including 25 complimentary copies, promotional support, and a crisp check for $1,000. Deadline June 15, 2014. All full-length fiction manuscripts are welcome, including novels, novellas, collections of stories and/or novellas, novels in verse, linked collections, as well as full-length collections of flash fiction and short-shorts. Full-length fiction manuscripts tend to be at least 100 pages. There is no maximum length.

BLUE EARTH REVIEW FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://blueearthreview.submittable.com/submit/24696
$2 ENTRY FEE. 750 words or less. Limit two stories per entry. First place $500. Second place $250. Third place $100. Winners will be published. We also may publish other admirable submissions. Blue Earth Review is the literary magazine of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Deadline August 1, 2014.

PRESS 53 AWARD FOR POETRY
http://www.press53.com/Award_for_Poetry.html
$30 ENTRY FEE.The winner of this contest will receive publication by Press 53, a $1,000 cash advance, travel expenses and lodging for a special reading and book signing party in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attendance to the 2015 Press 53/Jacar Press Gathering of Poets, and ten copies of the book; all prizes will be awarded upon publication. Deadline July 31, 2014. Manuscripts should be no less than 60 pages and no more than 120 pages in length.

LONDON MAGAZINE POETRY COMPETITION
http://thelondonmagazine.org/tlm-competition/the-london-magazines-poetry-competition-2014/
£5 ENTRY FEE. For the first time since its resurgence, The London Magazine will be hosting a worldwide poetry competition which will be open for all ages. Deadline June 30, 2014. This will be a chance to get published in the most prestigious literary journal in the UK which has been home to the likes of Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes, Christopher Reid and many more, along with winning a cash prize. First Prize: £200. Second Prize: £150. Third Prize: £100. The winning poem will be published in an issue of The London Magazine, both in print and online. The runners up will be featured on the website.

GRANTS / CROWDFUNDING

SPECULATIVE LITERATURE FOUNDATION GRANTS
http://www.speculativeliterature.org/Media_Kit/Release_2014_05_02.html

Deadline July 31, 2014. The Diverse Writers Grant is intended to support new and emerging writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups, including writers of color, women, queer writers, disabled writers, working-class writers, and those whose marginalized identities may present additional obstacles in the writing and/or publishing process. The Diverse Worlds Grant is intended for work that best presents a diverse world, regardless of the writer's background. Writers may apply for either or both grants; however, one's writing sample does not need to center on identity issues. The Speculative Literature Foundation is looking for writing that offers deep characterization, complex cultural landscapes, and strong literary quality overall - not token characters or roles. Currently, we are offering one $500 Diverse Writers Grant and one $500 Diverse Worlds grant annually. Limit 5,000 words.

GRUB STREET GENERAL SCHOLARSHIPS
https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/scholarships/general-scholarships/

General scholarships are awarded for artistic merit and financial need. Recipients may use their scholarship for any class within the term for which they are applying. Scholarships may not be used for Muse and the Marketplace tuition or manuscript consulting. There are four application deadlines throughout the year, one per term.

NYC EMERGING WRITERS FELLOWSHIP

http://www.centerforfiction.org/forwriters/grants-and-awards

Applicants must be current residents of one of the five boroughs, and must remain in New York City for the entire year of the fellowship. Students in degree-granting programs are not eligible to apply. This program supports emerging writers whose work shows promise of excellence. Applicants can be of any age, but must be in the early stages of their careers as fiction writers and will not have had the support needed to achieve major recognition for their work. A grant of $4,000. Space and time to write in The Center's Writers Studio, available 24/7. The option to engage in a mentorship with a selected freelance editor. The opportunity to meet with agents who represent new writers. Guidelines announced in the fall.

IDAHO QUICK FUNDS

http://www.arts.idaho.gov/grants/indquick.aspx

QuickFunds supports professional development and new or exemplary arts projects. Open to emerging and established artists who have attained a certain level of proficiency as represented by work samples, the grants provide timely assistance for projects, activities, or travel to seminars, workshops, and conferences. QuickProject requests for up to $1,500 and require a cash match of 1:3 (example: request $1,500 cash match, $500). Professional Development requests for up to $750 and require a cash match of 1:1. Reimbursement is for direct expenses only.

OREGON CAREER OPPORTUNITY GRANTS
http://www.oregonartscommission.org/grants/career-opportunity
Career Opportunity Grants support individual Oregon artists by enabling them to take advantage of unique opportunities to enhance their careers through the development of arts, business or professional skills; expanded marketing capacity and/or the further development of the nature or quality of their artwork.

FREELANCE MARKETS

CHICKEN SOUP: CHRISTMAS IN CANADA
http://www.chickensoup.com

The stories do not have to be specifically about Canada or Canadian traditions -- our goal is just to have the book be filled with wonderful stories about Christmastime and the entire holiday season, but with all stories written by RESIDENTS OF CANADA, BY CANADIANS living in Canada, the U.S. or elsewhere, or by tourists to Canada who share a special anecdote about their visit at Christmastime. Please write in the first person about yourself or someone close to you. If you ghostwrite a story for someone else we will list his or her name as the author. If a story was previously published, we will probably not use it unless it ran in a small circulation venue. Deadline May 30, 2014. Payment is $200 and 10 copies of the book.

HOME BUSINESS MAGAZINE
http://homebusinessmag.com/community/writers.html

HOME BUSINESS Magazine ONLINE is loaded with content to help you start-up and succeed in a home-based business. HBM ONLINE is an advanced community for home-based entrepreneurs and business owners; people who work from home; and telecommuters. Pays up to 20 cents/word for assigned pieces.

ADBUSTERS
https://www.adbusters.org/about/submissions

We publish the most provocative, emotionally stirring and heretical ideas in the geopolitical, environmental, psychological, activist and social arenas. We're looking for the radical transformations needed for a collective future - a future that computes at an economic, ecological and spiritual level. Critical perspectives on the fate of modernity, the spell of reason and mental environmentalism are encouraged. Writing with a right cortex spark and a broad stroke of irrationality is given extra close attention. Essays, poems, rants, articles, features, spoofs, art, photos, designs, graffiti, scribbles, jams and mindbombs - all forms welcome. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

BUST
http://www.bust.com/info/submit-to-bust.html

Many different columns and feature-lengths to submit to. As short as 150 words up to 2,500 words. With an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female, BUST provides an uncensored view on the female experience. BUST tells the truth about women's lives and presents a female perspective on pop culture. BUSTing stereotypes about women since 1993.

JOBS

CALL FOR WRITING COURSE DEVELOPER AND ONLINE WRITING TUTOR (2 POSITIONS)
http://www.CreativeWritingInstitute.com

Two Job opportunities: Creative Writing Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is looking for a traditionally published novelist to create a novel writing course. Pays $150. Also have job opening for online tutor of same course. Work from home and name your own hours but diligence is a must. Pays $104 per student. Inquire within for details. Write to: DeborahOwen@CWinst.com

FINANCIAL NEWSLETTER WRITERS
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/wrg/4467427780.html

We are seeking individuals with an investment research interest/background to be contributing writers for our newsletter. Assist principals in idea generation, analysis, reading of Wall Street research, and ad hoc original research projects. Don't worry, we're smart about how we spend our time, expect the same from you and will provide direction. Attend conferences, take detailed notes, and contribute opinions and new ideas to writing effective, persuasive articles with great investment ideas! Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business, or Finance preferred. Pays $200 per day.

ORIGIN MAGAZINE OPENINGS
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/4458761191.html

We're looking for the perfect person, who can work from home. Professionally trained, strong work ethic, crazy-detailed grammar skills (Chicago Style), common sense to let us know when an article makes no sense, and exceptional organizational skills, meticulous with content, professional and would never dream of sending an email unedited. Excellent communication skills in relaying information is a must. Must have extensive experience with Gmail, Google Drive (documents), and some Dropbox knowledge. You will not only edit, but you will organize content on a Google Spreadsheet and organize articles into documents and check corresponding photos. We have 4 national magazines and organizing content for each/preparing for our second copy editor is $1500 each issue (about 60-70 hours). If you're interested in working beyond the 1-2 issues a month (we're bimonthly), you can also join our team and help our editor return emails, at our direction, at $20 hour. We also have a copy editor position for $400, checking 120 pages of PDFs before print.

PUBLISHERS / AGENTS / SELF-PUB PROFESSIONAL

SCHOOLWIDE, INC.
www.schoolwide.com/publishing

Schoolwide, Inc. is a leading provider of educational services and is now creating a new digital classroom library that will encourage independent reading. It is seeking fiction and nonfiction of all lengths for K-8 children. Of interest are fiction and nonfiction picture books, concept books, early readers, chapter books, middle-grade and early YA books, articles, essays, short stories, poetry, and plays. Fiction may be contemporary, realistic, historical, multicultural, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure, fairy or folk tales, verse novels, or rhyming books. Nonfiction sought includes informational/ expository, biography/profile, how-to, creative nonfiction, personal narratives, essays, primary sources/references. Categories include science, history, social studies, geography, sports, health, language and literature, transportation, math, careers, holidays, traditions, family, community, and any topic that will engage young readers. No preK or older YA, and no materials addressed to teachers. Schoolwide will accept (1) previously published materials to which the author holds the rights; (2) complete manuscripts of original, unpublished work. Acquires digital rights only. Royalty paid under a digital licensing agreement. Responds in six months, if interested.

NEW WORLD LIBRARY
http://www.newworldlibrary.com/SubmittingWorkstoNewWorldLibrary.aspx

We presently focus on high-quality books in the following categories: spirituality, personal growth, women's interest, religion, sustainable business, the human-animal relationship, Native American interest, the environment.

NORTH ATLANTIC BOOKS
http://www.northatlanticbooks.com/store/submissions.html

We are most interested in holistic and alternative health, bodywork, somatics, healing practices, raw food, healthy eating and nutrition, sustainability, ecology, spiritual practices, new consciousness, and martial arts. We also publish some social sciences, lifestyle, and political titles, but these generally have to overlap with one of our other categories. We prefer books that focus on a single practice or tradition, rather than general overviews of a broad subject area. For our martial arts imprint, we are most interested in documentations of specific lineages, translations of historical documents, and in-depth examinations of specific techniques and practices.

NORTIA PRESS
http://www.nortiapress.com/home/#about

Nortia Press (nor-TEE-ah) is a boutique publisher based in Orange County, California. We focus on literary fiction and nonfiction with a global affairs bent. Our catalog is handpicked and nurtured from inception to provide readers, booksellers and libraries with a select list of timely and engaging titles.