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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
Editor's THOUGHTS
LETTING LOOSE OF YOUR WRITING
I chose the weekly quote for this newsletter to make a point.
"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. "
~ Maya Angelou
Many writers, especially new writers, are fearful about losing rights. They've drunk the Kool-aid that says you're better off keeping your rights than getting published. That saddens me tremendously. It also tells me they don't understand rights.
On Facebook recently, someone posted a call for submissions for Chicken Soup. Fine. It's a solid anthology that pays $200 and ten copies for your slice of life experience. Yet someone posted that she would never submit to them because she "heard" they took all rights.
I've published several times in Chicken Soup books. I liked the check. People saw my name and learned something about me. I still have a lot of the books. I had to look up what rights they took because, frankly, it didn't matter to me. Where else am I going to sell those types of stories for that kind of money?
It's not like I can't rewrite the story. Write another story. Recreate the event. Geez, I am a friggin' writer. I am an endless fount of words, phrases and tales. Why would I want to hold only that story, written that way, that length, in that voice . . . JUST IN CASE I find another place to publish it?
And in the meantime, you hoard your story, and nobody knows you're a writer.
There are places worthy of selling your rights. There are times when you can write a story and sell all rights to it. It's not a sin. It's not the end of the world. If you cannot write tons and tons of articles, short stories, poems or tales, then why are you writing? You are supposed to get better with every word you put on paper. Each step forward makes you more of a professional.
As Ms. Angelou says so wisely, you cannot use up your creativity. The more you tap it, the better the quality. I've sold all rights to several articles and stories and never looked back. They are not gold. They are fuel. You can stock-pile your stories, or you can send them into the world. If I want to use a market to catapult my name into the universe, and I find out they take all rights, I don't shut the door. I weigh giving them a piece of me . . . to use a piece of them.
It isn't an all-or-nothing choice.
-Hope Clark
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Come see Hope at the Pelion Peanut Party all day on August 9, 2014, in beautiful Pelion, South Carolina. She'll be at the main peanut tent signing copies of Palmetto Poison, a Carolina Slade mystery set in the Pelion community. Peanuts, politics, murder, drugs, and plots to make your head spin.
"While this character and her adventures are irresistible, what really carries these books is Clark's writing talent. The author packs her books with a vivid storyline you can't help but become invested in, dialogue that uniquely showcases her Carolina roots, and a narrative voice that speaks to the reader as if she's sharing the story over whiskey on the porch. Slade has made me a C Hope Clark fan for life." |
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WORDS OF SUCCESS
You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
~ Maya Angelou
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The Carolina Slade Mystery Series
On Palmetto Poison. 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
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 |
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Success Story
Hi Hope,
I just wanted to share a little success with you. My story Back To School was accepted for publication in Chicken Soup: Rebooting My Life and will be in bookstores in September. This is my second publication in a major anthology, the first was A Cup of Comfort for Mothers, but I'm thrilled beyond measure to be featured in a Chicken Soup book. Thank you for all the writing opportunities you post on your blog and for encouraging us to keep on trying even when it looks like nothing is happening.
Angela Joseph
http://quildonwrites.blogspot.com
angelasfreelancewriting.com
featured article
Five Things the Pulps Can Teach Us About Making More Money as a Writer
By James Palmer
From the early 1930s to the late 1950s, hundreds of writers churned out thousands of stories in cheap magazines printed on yellow "pulp" paper for a hungry audience craving action, adventure, mystery, romance and thrills. Writing for often less than a penny a word, these writers produced the equivalent of two or three 40,000 word manuscripts per month! And that work ethic can help today's writers be more productive and profitable. Here are five things these famous (or sometimes infamous) writers from the golden age of the pulps can teach us about making more money as a writer in today's changing publishing industry.
Thing #1. Write faster
When guys like Walter Gibson (creator of The Shadow) and Lester Dent (creator of Doc Savage) needed 40,000 words turned in every month, they didn't mess around. They learned how to write fast, because the faster they could write, the more fiction they could churn out, and the more they could get paid. Traditional publishing, with its long time to market for books, used to punish writers for being fast, but thanks to self-publishing, those attitudes are changing. Your readers are out there starving for what you write. If you make them wait, they'll just go read somebody else, and they might forget about you. Don't give them that chance!
Thing #2: Write more books
I know what you're thinking. You probably have a day job, a family, and other time commitments, and you're doing good to finish one book a year. But you don't have to already be a bestselling author free of the day job before you can churn out more work in a calendar year. I've met plenty of writers who were able to put out three books a year, with very demanding full time jobs. You can do it too. Just try to work up to writing 1,000 words a day, seven days a week, and in a year's time you'll have amassed at least three novels' worth of first drafts!
Thing #3: Write shorter books
Admittedly, this is a bit harder to get away with than it used to be, depending on the genre you write. To charge the purchase prices big publishers need to turn a profit on each of their titles, they've demanded more and more words from their authors over the years. But thanks to self-publishing and ebooks, word count isn't as important as it once was. Your readers won't feel short-changed if the story they just read was 50K or 180K words, as long as they enjoyed it.
Thing #4: Write different genres
Writing the same thing all the time gets old pretty quickly, so branch out. If you've been writing period romance for a while, give a mystery a try. Genre hopping will keep you fresh and your work feeling new. Worried about alienating your readers? Use a penname for the new genre.
Thing #5: Write a series
Publishing today has only rather recently latched on to the notion that pulp hacks -- and pulp readers -- have known for more than a century: People love a good series. A stroll down the aisle at your local bookstore reveals dozens of series in every genre, from epic fantasy to paranormal romance to thrillers. Readers just can't get enough of characters like Easy Rawlins, Jack Reacher, or Sandman Slim. Writing a series lets you really get to know the characters, making them easier to write.
There you go, a few tricks of the pulp trade that can help you be a writing success today. Now go write!
BIO
James Palmer is an author, editor and publisher, and member of the growing New Pulp movement. For more info on his work visit www.jamespalmerbooks.com.
competitions
NCW POETRY CONTEST
http://northerncoloradowriters.com/upcoming-events-mainmenu-133/writing-contests/307-2012-writing-contests
$20 ENTRY FEE.
Northern Colorado Writers is hosting its 4th annual Poetry contest, open to everyone. Prizes are 1st: $1,000; 2nd: $250; 3rd: $100. Winners and honorable mentions of this and the other two contests in the series will be published in and receive a free copy of the winners' anthology, POOLED INK. In addition, one winner (or editor's pick) will win tuition to the 2015 NCW Conference. Deadline: September 30, 2014.
CINNAMON PRESS DEBUT NOVEL OR NOVELLA PRIZE
http://www.cinnamonpress.com/competitions/annual-debut-novel-or-novella-prize/
£12 ENTRY FEE.
£1000 first prize plus publishing contract. Stephen May is the judge. Open to those who have not had a previous novel published. Deadline July 31, 2014. Submit first 10,000 words.
GLIMMER TRAIN VERY SHORT FICTION AWARD
http://www.glimmertrain.com/veryshort.html
Deadline October 31, 2014. Open to all writers, this category welcomes stories that have not appeared in any print publication. Maximum length: 3,000 words. 1st place wins $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue. 2nd place wins $500 (or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies). 3rd place wins $300 (or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies).
FLASH 500 NOVEL OPENING CHAPTER AND SYNOPSIS COMPETITION
http://www.flash500.com/index_files/novel.htm
£10 ENTRY FEE.
We are looking for an opening chapter up to 3,000 words, plus a one page synopsis outlining the balance of the story. First: £500. Runner up: £200.
CUTTHROAT COMPETITIONS
http://www.cutthroatmag.com/contest.html/index.html
$17 ENTRY FEE.
Submit up to three unpublished poems (100 line limit each) or one unpublished short story (5,000- word limit), any subject, any style, postmarked by October 20, 2014. First prize in each genre: $1,250 and publication. Second prize in each genre: $250 and publication. Honorable mention publication.
GRANTS
SUSTAINABLE ARTS FOUNDATION
http://apply.sustainableartsfoundation.org/
Deadline September 8, 2014. Sustainable Arts Foundation Award: $6,000. Sustainable Arts Foundation Promise Award: $2,000. We typically offer five of each award in each application round. To be eligible, the applicant must have at least one child under the age of 18. The foundation offers awards in two major categories: visual arts and writing. We encourage writers working in fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and poetry to apply.
GRANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL CANADIAN WRITERS
http://canadacouncil.ca/en/council/grants
The Grants for Professional Writers program covers subsistence, project and travel expenses. The Creative Writing Grants component gives Canadian authors (emerging, mid-career and established) time to write new literary works, including novels, short stories, poetry, children's and young adults' literature, graphic novels, exploratory writing and literary non-fiction. $3,000 to $25,000 depending on level of experience. Deadline October 1, 2014.
TRAVEL GRANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL CANADIAN WRITERS
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/en/council/grants/find-a-grant/grants/travel-grants-for-professional-writers
Travel Grants enable writers, translators, literary performers, spoken word artists and storytellers to respond to invitations to specific international literary events that are important to their artistic development and career, or within Canada, participate in a writer's residency. No deadline. $500 to $2,500.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
http://arts.gov/grants-individuals/creative-writing-fellowships
The NEA Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. The NEA Literature Fellowships program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. For FY 2015, which is covered by these guidelines, fellowships in poetry are available. You may apply only once each year.
FREELANCE MARKETS
CENTRAL COAST FARM AND RANCH
http://www.farmbureauvc.com/
Central Coast Farm & Ranch is a quarterly magazine circulated in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. It is distributed as a benefit of membership in the Santa Barbara and Ventura County Farm Bureaus, and its primary audience is members of the Central Coast agricultural community. But it also contains stories and photographs that appeal to supporters of local food, fans of local restaurants that feature local food, and members of the general public interested in learning about the past, present and future of the region's signature industry. Each issue includes several features on topics specific to Central Coast agriculture, as well as departments devoted to local history, edible gardening, agri-tourism destinations, and industry news briefs. Length varies: 1,000-1,500 words for a cover story or feature, 500-700 words for departments, and 300 or fewer words for news briefs. Pay ranges from 50 cents to $1 a word for features, depending on placement and other factors, and is a flat $350 for departments. Pay rate for feature photographs is $75-$150 per assignment, with a bonus of $300 for cover art.
COASTAL REVIEW
http://www.nccoast.org/Content.aspx
Coastal Review Online is always looking for talented freelance writers who are knowledgeable about the North Carolina coast. Coastal Review Online (CRO) is a daily, online publication that contains news, features and commentaries covering a wide variety of environmental and conservation issues and events along the N.C. coast. It also contains features about the coast's natural history and culture, profiles of its noteworthy people and green travel stories about its places. Articles are generally 800-2,000 words. We are a non-profit and our scale is below market rate, but we typically pay $75-$200 for articles.
FARMING MAGAZINE
http://www.farmingmagazine.net/How%20to%20Submit.pdf
Farming Magazine celebrates the joys of farming well and living well on a small ecologically-conscious scale. It explores the intricate bonds connecting people, land, and community and it offers a hopeful vision for the future of farming in America. The magazine is created in the spirit of stewardship for the earth and regard for its inhabitants. Pieces in Farming Magazine range in length from 300 words to approximately 3,500 words.
HIGHLINE MAGAZINE
http://highlineonline.ca/print-magazine/contributor-guidelines/writers/
Highline Magazine is a connection to the unique mountain environment and culture of Canada's Rocky Mountains. We feature a wide range of topics - from summer and winter sports to environmental issues, local heroes, health, humor and more. Based in the gateway to the Rockies, our content is largely local and has a distinctly authentic Bow Valley flavor.
MOUNTAIN LIFE
http://www.mountainlifemag.ca/
The words "Coast Mountains" are right there in our masthead so it goes without saying that the majority of our articles need to be related to the BC Coast Mountains, specifically the Vancouver to Lillooet region. We do run stories on epic trips to places near and far but usually only one per issue. The best time to send in ideas or queries is well in advance. We plan the summer issue in February, the November issue in July, and the February issue in August. The earlier we know about you and your awesome idea, the better. Many columns of many sizes, but pays 30 cents/word.
JOBS
NO JOBS THIS WEEK
publishers/agents
PINEAPPLE PRESS
http://www.pineapplepress.com/manuscripts.html
Most of our books are Florida nonfiction. We also publish a few literary novels and some general nonfiction. Almost all of our fiction is set in Florida. We also publish books about lighthouses. Our only children's books are on Florida topics for Florida schools. We publish a few Florida-related cookbooks. We do not publish genre fiction (mysteries, romances, science fiction, action/adventure, Westerns) unless they are strongly Florida-related.
ARTE PUBLICO PRESS
http://artepublicopress.com/
The nation's largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovered literature by U.S. Hispanic authors. Its imprint for children and young adults, Piñata Books, is dedicated to the realistic and authentic portrayal of the themes, languages, characters and customs of Hispanic culture in the United States. Based at the University of Houston, Arte Público Press, Piñata Books and the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage project provide the most widely recognized and extensive showcase for Hispanic literary arts, history, and politics.
THE POISONED PENCIL
http://thepoisonedpencil.com/author-submissions/
The Poisoned Pencil publishes young adult mystery in trade paperback and ebook editions. We have full distribution to the trade through IPS. Our advance is $1,000.
POISONED PEN PRESS
http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/
As one of the largest mystery book publishers in the world, we are proud of the high quality mysteries we offer and of our many talented mystery authors.
POSSIBILITY PRESS
http://possibilitypress.com/about/authors/default.html
We're committed to providing quality books, creatively written, to help people lead happier, more successful lives. We promise to publish books that are easy to read, understand, and apply -- with covers that inspire and excite people into action! Our mission is to help people grow and become the best they can be, and make a difference in the world as they help others.
SPONSORS
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ALSO - Our cover templates are out!
The template actually comes with 3 different files, one each for
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it even easier.
MarketingNewAuthors.com WRITERS' GROUP is open for individuals who love the written word.
Group Members receive:
=> availability to all MANA Specials regarding marketing and self-publishing plans and an additional percentage discounts
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=> every two months a newsletter for club members
=> $10 for every referral
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Club Fee: $49.95 for every 6 months or $80 for a year.
MANA is committed to those committed to becoming a writer!
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you for the gift of your creativity, insight, and problem-solving as I
threw you question after question. The site captures my spirit and
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who are in the market for a new site." --Lyn Fairchild Hawks, author, http://lynhawks.com/
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A few client sites:
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 Copyright 2000-2014, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326
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