FundsforWriters - August 29, 2014 (With Live Links)

Published: Fri, 08/29/14

Volume 14, Issue 34 | august 29, 2014

Message from the Editor

In case you cannot tell, this is me doing the #ALSicebucketchallenge this past week. My one-year-old grandson challenged me with the cutest picture of himself emptying his piggy bank. He challenged his uncle's dog and both his grandmothers. Who can pass that up? For the full video, see: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154541607440593&set=vb.526905592&type=2&theater

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.

WEBSITE - http://www.chopeclark.com

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

SOUNDCLOUD - https://soundcloud.com/hopeclark

iTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/c.-hope-clark/id885577265

Read the Newsletter Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?fundsforwriters

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Click here to visit Book Design Templates.- Instead of trying to decide what your books should look like, we've made all the decisions for you. Just follow our friendly instructional guide, pour in your text and your book will be ready to go. All your styles and formatting needs are coded into our templates for easy use. Enthusiastically endorsed by Hope!

ALSO - Our cover templates are out! The template actually comes with 3 different files, one each for CreateSpace, Lightning Source/Spark, and a generic template for other printers. We've also packaged the template with 20 fonts to make using it even easier.

Editor's THOUGHTS

HOW DO I FIND READERS?

This is one of the most common questions, these days, and the answer is not simple. A lot depends upon your goals, your book, whether you work full time or part time, and how mobile you are. There is no one path to finding readers, and each writer works the marketing circuit in a different fashion.

Here's a list of ideas that point directly at finding readers. Some take longer than others, but you know your regimen, available time, and financial means better than I do, so let's just throw these out there for you:

=> Hire a publicist. Can't afford one? Decide how professional a splash you want to make and save up, if possible. A good one starts in the four-figure range. They'll give you a good jump start, because they know where to spread the word better than you do. A publicist like: www.maryglenn.com

=> Freelance in periodicals. They almost always include a bio after your piece, so of course you can broadcast about your marvelous novel release.

=> Saturate your local area with appearances. No overnight travel or motel rooms. Check out your local churches, social halls, conference centers, libraries, schools, and bookstores and see where you might fit in. But selling five thousand copies in your town is even better than the same number across the country. People support a hometown person much more readily.

=> Guest blog with a fury. Pitch to blogs like you would a magazine or agent, only with a proposed guest post. Use someone else's following to make a name for yourself. I made a goal to write 50 guest posts in 2014 and completed them in six months. If you're working daily, it's easier than you think. Where can you find blogs? Just do keyword searches for your genre or subject matter and see what comes up. Subscribe to the blogs and follow them to understand their themes.

=> Develop a street team. Light a fire under those people who love your work and have them work for you in return. Offer rewards. Here are a few links on how to start a street team:

http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/street-teams-why-you-need-one-and-how-to-create-one/
http://www.angelinekace.com/p/street-teamawesomes.html
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=8202
http://rachelintheoc.com/2013/11/balancing-act-author-street-teams-guest-k8tilton/

There you go! You ought to find at least one idea that works for you. And when you make it big, please send me a success story so we can use you as an example.

-Hope Clark

The final days of Lowcountry Bribe at $1.99 on Kindle.

"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."

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"The Muse visits during the process of creation, not before."

~"I Think I'm Musing My Mind" Roger Ebert's Journal, October 24, 2008

The Carolina Slade Mystery Series

http://www.chopeclark.com/

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

Success Story

If you've enjoyed some success from reading FundsforWriters, let me know!
Send to hope@fundsforwriters.com

featured article

Tips for Book Launch Parties: With or Without Books

By Margo L. Dill

When I worked as an elementary school teacher, one mantra stuck: "Be flexible." It turns out that's been the same mantra I've used in my career as a writer, too. Whether there are changes in schedules at writing conferences or working with novel students who turn in pages late, I've learned to roll with it. But this spring, the writing universe threw one more punch during my young adult book launch party: the books weren't there. I thought, Let's just have a bookless book launch. We've got the restaurant; the people are coming; so, let's sell books.

Here are a few tips for having a bookless book launch. Of course, these tips will also work for book launch parties with books, too.

Announce What Will Happen Before the Party

When I first scheduled the book launch, I sent e-vites and created a Facebook event. I made a free online flyer at www.smore.com and posted it on social media sites, my blog and craigslist. With each of these invitations, I told guests what they could expect at the book launch. Originally, this included the chance to buy autographed copies, but then the party turned into a bookless book launch. I thought it was important to let people know there would be no books to purchase, so I sent out a message, playing on the theme of the book -- curses! I said, "The curses have struck the printer! There will be no books at the party, but you can still buy one, and we'll get it to you next week." Over 50 people showed up, and many had a good laugh over the message.

Create Ways To Keep Guests Interacting

I already had several activities planned for the launch, so there were reasons to come even if guests couldn't leave with a book. I provided snacks, and the restaurant was inexpensive, so several people stayed to eat supper, too. I also had an art project for kids 2 to 92, a trivia quiz based on places and people from my book, prizes and cake! Most people stayed for an hour or longer, interacting, eating, buying book vouchers, and talking with me and each other.

Provide Inexpensive Freebies

Your goal as a writer is to make a living. So, don't spend a lot of money on swag, prizes or the place to have the book launch. I found a local, popular restaurant with a free room, and I gave away large bookmarks with my book cover and contact info. People could also make reading posters with my scrapbook supplies, and my publisher had cake. I gave gift cards as prizes and used reward points to purchase these. One author I know, who wrote a novel with a music theme, provides guitar picks at signings. Have fun, but don't spend a lot of money.

Make it Easy and Convenient

We had the party for four hours (again the room was free) during happy hour time after work and school on a Friday night. It was a place where people could bring their kids and get a drink for themselves. My publisher and family helped sell books. The restaurant was in a central location, where many of my friends and family had a short drive.

In the end, I sold 42 book vouchers at the bookless launch party and 5 more online that night. I had fun, visited with friends and family, and celebrated the publication of my latest novel. Who needs books? Curses beware!

BIO
Margo L. Dill is the author of Caught Between Two Curses, (March 2014, Rocking Horse Publishing) a young adult light paranormal novel based on the Curse of the Billy Goat (Chicago Cubs). Seventeen-year-old Julie Nigelson is cursed. She has to figure out how to break both curses before her family loses one more loved one, and her own love life is ruined. To find out more about Margo and her books, please check out http://margodill.com/blog/.

competitions

Y.E.S. FESTIVAL - PLAYS
http://artscience.nku.edu/departments/theatre.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
Submissions must be full-length and should include a one-page synopsis and a cast list with brief character descriptions. Entry form required. Selections made December 31, 2014. Returnable scripts will be mailed back after the winners have been notified. $500 awarded to each selected playwright as well as travel expenses and housing while attending the festival. Deadline September 30, 2014.

LUNAFEST
http://www.lunafest.org/submit-a-film
$20 ENTRY FEE. $15 STUDENTS.
They seek unique stories in short film format created by, for and about women. Winners receive $2,500. If chosen it will also be screened by audiences at more than 190 venues throughout North America and serve as vehicle for raising awareness and funds for women's causes that women care about. Open September 14, 2014 to April 1, 2015.

LONDON MAGAZINE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://shortstops.info/2014/08/24/the-london-magazines-short-story-competition/
£10 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline October 31, 2014. We welcome entrants from across the world and there is no limit to the amount of short stories you can submit. The winner is published in a future issue of The London Magazine. The runners up will be published on our website. 1st Prize: £500. 2nd Prize: £300. 3rd Prize: £200. The winners will also be announced at a champagne reception at the House of Commons in early 2015.

JANE LUMLEY PRIZE
http://www.hermeneuticchaosjournal.com/contest.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
The Jane Lumley Prize will only be awarded to writers who have not published a full length book. However, they may have published a chapbook, and/or found a home for their works in other literary journals. We also invite unpublished writers to submit their poems for consideration. Deadline November 30, 2014. The winner, selected by our editor, will receive a prize of $300 and will be featured in Issue 6, to be published in January 2015. Publication will also be awarded to the first two semi-finalists. In addition, all the entries will be considered for publication. Each poem should not exceed 2 pages.

TALKING WRITING PRIZE FOR NONFICTION
http://talkingwriting.com/contests
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline October 1, 2014. Two categories of nonfiction: flash nonfiction and advice writing. Category one: We're looking for very short, very powerful nonfiction work on any theme -- be it creative nonfiction, an essay, or a tiny memoir. The key here is "flash." Length: 500 words or less. Category 2: We're looking for great -- and unusual -- advice pieces, especially those that focus on writing craft and career dilemmas. These nonfiction features (also known as service or "how-to" articles) can range from the very practical to the inspirational. Each winner will receive a prize of $250, to be presented in December 2014.

GRANTS

HAWTHORNDEN CASTLE
http://www.transartists.org/air/hawthornden-castle
Location Midlothian, Scotland. International one-month retreats for creative writers of all types from anywhere in the world to work without disturbance. Residency provides individual room/study in shared house and meals. Artist responsible for travel. Must be published. Contact them for application instructions. No deadline.

BERTON HOUSE WRITERS' RETREAT
http://bertonhouse.ca/retreat.html
Professional Canadian writers who have one published book and are established in any creative literary discipline(s) - fiction, non-fiction, poetry, playwriting, journalism - are all encouraged to apply. The writer will be housed in the Berton House at no cost in rent or utilities. A monthly honorarium is provided to help cover food and other living expenses. The writer is responsible for their own telephone bill. Travel costs to and from Dawson will be covered.

TABLE 4
http://www.table4.org/grants/
The Table 4 Writers Foundation was conceived to honor and commemorate the legendary New York restaurateur Elaine Kaufman, whose passion was nurturing creative people. The foundation's goal is to provide financial support and mentoring to promising writers. The grant upholds this spirit by supporting promising writers aged 21 and older with grants of $2,500. Applicants must provide an unpublished writing sample that somehow addresses New York City and an explanation of how the grant will further their latest project. Deadline is usually in the fall.

SPIRIT OF WRITING GRANT
http://crystalspiritinc.com/grantopps.html
The purpose of the Spirit of Writing Grant Program is to provide funding to assist with projects that will enhance ones writing and assist individuals with furthering their desire to write, perform, or publish. The project must serve multiple individual participants or a collective group. There were two grant cycles in 2014, January and July. Grants may range between $500 and $2,500.

ARTS KANSAS CITY
http://artskc.org/artsservices/forartists/inspirationgrants/inspirationresources/
Inspiration Grants from the ArtsKC Fund are an investment in human capital, providing direct support to individual artists and arts professionals for projects and activities that have the potential to advance their careers and build their capacity for future work. Next deadline for new applications is November 3, 2014. Inspiration Grants to a single individual applicant range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $2,500. A team of artists or arts professionals working together may request up to $5,000. To be eligible, an applicant must be an adult resident of the Kansas City metropolitan area with an established record of professional achievement in the arts.

FREELANCE MARKETS

SIXPENNY
http://www.sixpenny.org/
We want literary fiction that keeps a reader engaged and excited from the first word to the last. Each story should be a six-minute read - 1,000 words, give or take (just a little). The six stories selected for each issue will be illustrated before publication in SIXPENNY. Deadline October 31, 2014. Writers will be paid $100 for each story published in SIXPENNY.

BOULEVARD
http://www.boulevardmagazine.org
Publishes the finest in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. While we frequently publish writers with previous credits, we are very interested in publishing less experienced or unpublished writers with exceptional promise. If you have practiced your craft and your work is the best it can be, send it to Boulevard. We pay $50-$500 (sometimes higher) for accepted work.

CAPILANO REVIEW
http://www.thecapilanoreview.ca
The Capilano Review publishes new and established Canadian writers and artists who are experimenting with or expanding the boundaries of conventional forms and contexts. International writers and artists allowed to submit, too. The magazine continues its original mandate to publish the literary and visual arts side by side while favouring the risky, the provocative, the innovative, and the dissident. Contributors are paid $50 per published page to a maximum of $300.

FLASH FICTION ONLINE
http://www.flashfictiononline.com
FLASH Fiction Online aims to serve flash fiction readers and writers with a professional, sustainable market for flash fiction stories. We pay $50 per story.

THE NEW QUARTERLY
http://www.tnq.ca/magazine/
A magazine of Canadian fiction, poetry, and conversation, primarily about the writer's craft. We nurture emerging writers by publishing and promoting their work alongside that of well-established writers we admire, and to provide an editorial context in which both can be read. We try to balance serious consideration of matters literary with playfulness and invention. We pay, on publication, $250 for a short story and $40 per poem or "postscript" story.

JOBS

BASE 22 - WEB WIKI WRITER/EDITOR
http://base22.com/wps/portal/home/about-us/work-here
http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Base22/jobs/Web-Wiki-Writer-0e99f2f1cadd78da
If hired, (full or part time) you will work half at home, half in the office of large Houston area organizations creating wiki content, translating corporate jargon to english, and enforcing and teaching web strategy best practices (which we will teach you). The ideal candidate is wicked smart; can interview experts; learn fast; transform bad powerpoint files and PDFs into context-rich, nicely formatted HTML pages. Likes to interact with people and has some experience teaching people how to create web pages. He or she knows about SEO, what makes a good blog post title, and can explain how (and why) wikipedia works. Bonus points for project management skills, web design, military clearance, willingness to travel, and/or a good sense of humor. Pay starts at $30/hour and only goes up from there.

INSTRUCTIONAL WRITER
Location Lake Buena Vista, FL for Disney
http://www.job.com/my.job/jobdisplay/page=jobview/pt=2/exl=1/key=248170506/#.U_35L2Ag-DY
The Instructional Writer assists and supports instructional designers in the development of learning experiences which leverage a variety of approaches to deliver learning, including: instructor led, blended, experiential, media based, performance support, and other emerging technologies. This role is responsible for writing/developing, reviewing, and editing hard and electronic copy of materials associated with learning experiences, including facilitator guides, participants guides, and other supporting materials.

publishers/agents

HELM PUBLISHING
http://www.publishersdrive.com/submissions.html
Helm Literary Publishing specializes in fiction, and non-fiction genres. Our books cover a broad range of subjects and styles. We also publish in the Young Adult, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Memoir, Speculative/Science Fiction, Horror, Romance, Cookbook, Self Help, or Business genres.

IGNITE
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/submission-information/entangled-suspense-submission-guidelines/lines/
Ignite, Entangled's sexy category romantic suspense imprint, pairs smart, resourceful heroines with romance's hottest heroes, burning up the pages with the rush of adrenaline and sizzling attraction. Our books contain twists on classic tropes, bold voices, and compelling stories that draw readers into a page-turning world of romance and intrigue.

CAMEL PRESS
http://camelpress.com/submissions/
As a small press, we are always looking for the next star and are willing to take chances on daring new stories that might otherwise be overlooked by bigger houses. We publish romance, mainstream fiction, mystery/suspense, thrillers, horror, westerns, science fiction, and fantasy.

BLACK BED SHEET
https://downwarden.com/blackbedsheetstore/submissions
We're accepting submissions for 2014/2015 releases - full-length novels, novellas, short story collections, horror genre-related but will look at Science Fiction/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy and the like. We are also accepting submissions for our EBOOK.

DARK HOUSE PRESS
http://www.thedarkhousepress.com/
Neo-noir, fantasy, science fiction, horror, literary, magical realism, transgressive, crime, surrealism, and the grotesque. Everything we like has an elevated perspective, a literary voice, so whatever the genre, avoid the expected, the formulaic, the same old stories and voices. Memoir and poetry will be a very hard sale but we're not saying 100 percent no yet -- the same for YA/NA. We are currently looking for short story collections of at least 40,000 words (with 10-20 percent unpublished) and novels that are around 60,000 words, no more than 80,000.