FundsforWriters - January 2, 2015

Published: Fri, 01/02/15

Volume 15, Issue 1, january 2, 2015

Message from the Editor

Hoppin' John is a traditional New Year's dish mostly fixed in the South . . . and I burned ours. Hopefully that's not an omen for 2015. But I'm up for the challenge regardless. Happy New Year to all of you. Bless you all for being so supportive, for opening the newsletters, for sending sweet messages as if you knew that day had been a rough one for me, and for reading my books. I feel as if I know you all, and I hope the relationship stays that way. Good luck . . . and . . . we're off and running in a brand new year.

Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
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Editor's THOUGHTS

LETTING GO A LITTLE BIT

If I described 2014 in one word, it would be FRANTIC. Never have I seen writers in such a frenzy to throw books to the world. In return, those who pandered to those writers went nuts coming up with new ways to entice them. Many writers published, most of them disappointed with the return.

All of the publishing world made less profit this year than previous years. Why? It's spread too thin. Whether you write or provide services for writers, you had serious competition that diluted the industry. Everybody writes a book, or edits a book, or formats a book, or . . . just name anything related to the book world, and too many people are doing it. The result is less income.

The bubble has burst. But that should not matter.

As is always the case, a point we have to remember, is that our job is to take our time and write our best. Too many think they have to write fast, publish five books a year, and turn into a book machine. Any machine constantly ground at high speed burns out - writers included.

Let's slow down. But let's also let go a bit, letting creativity wander. We're too busy writing to what's selling, to what's expected, to what others seem to be doing well. The result is tension, pressure, and fear we're falling behind.

We want to be in control, but creativity is not something you can cage. It can't be leashed. It has to be allowed to roam to work in your writing. There's nothing more freeing and empowering than that creative thought that totally belongs to you, tapped when you throw off the shackles and let your mind explode without limitation.

"Anything you strive to hold captive will hold you captive and if you desire freedom you must give freedom." ~ Peace Pilgrim

We can be exceptional, but it's hard to release what is expected of us to do so. The great artists, the well-known writers, and the beautiful philosophers allowed themselves to let go.

"We struggle against most of our exceptional qualities until we're about forty and then, too late, find out they compose the real us." ~Gertrude Stein

Let 2015 be your year to be you and write what connects with your heart. The only way to do well is to publish your best, however long it takes you to write it. As Bob Mayer stated in a recent article, "slow down and have a long vision."

http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/16-thoughts-for-authorspublishing-for-2015-aka-winners-dont-quit/

-Hope Clark

Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!

January 12, 2015 - Summerville Book Club, Summerville, SC - 6-8 PM

January 25, 2015 - Friends of the Library, Newberry, SC

March 3, 2015 - Story Structure Class, Irmo, SC Library - 7 PM

March 7, 2015 - Multi-author signing, Irmo, SC Library - 2-5 PM

March 22-24, 2015- PubSense, Charleston, SC, Francis Marion Hotel

April 7, 2015 - Chapin Women's Club, Lake Murray Sailing Club, Chapin, SC

April 25, 2015 - One-day Fiction Class, HawksNest Writers, Madison, WI

May 29, 2015 - Savannah Book Club, Savannah, GA - 6 PM

June 20-21, 2015 - Southeast Writers Conf, St Simons Island, GA

June 25-27, 2015 - Freelance Writing, Midwest Writing Center, Davenport, IA

WORDS OF SUCCESS

The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.

~Arthur Miller

MURDER ON EDISTO

A big city detective

A Lowcountry crime

When her husband is murdered by the Russian mob, Boston detective Callie Jean Morgan suffers a mental break and relinquishes her badge to return home to South Carolina. She has no idea how to proceed with her life, but her son deserves to move on with his, so she relocates them to the family vacation home.

But the day they arrive on Edisto Beach, Callie finds her childhood mentor and elderly neighbor murdered. Her fragile sanity is threatened when the murderer taunts her, and the home that was to be her sanctuary is repeatedly violated. Callie loses her fight to walk away from law enforcement as she becomes the only person able to pursue the culprit who's turned the coastal paradise into a paranoid patch of sand where nobody's safe. But what will it cost her?

http://www.chopeclark.com/

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,

Just a note to let you know that I recently received my author copies for my story in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Forgiveness. Although it's my second Chicken Soup story and my seventh published story, the thrill never goes away. :)
Thanks for all you do.

Linda Bruno

featured article

Break into the Parenting Magazine Market
By Devyani Borade

You know you are a writer when, instead of wondering whether you're expecting a boy or a girl, you wonder which magazine you can sell your parenting stories to. Conversations with my husband often went astray:

I: What about Elle?
Hubby: I like it, but maybe Audrey is better.
I: There's also Marie Claire.
Hubby: Er--
I: Actually, Cosmopolitan would be perfect!
Hubby: What kind of girl's name is Cosmopolitan?!

More than 250 magazines in English are devoted to family and parenting topics. Month after month, issue after issue, they print material for readers who, millennia after millennia, have borne and raised children, dealing with issues that others before them have faced and others after them will face. They always have fresh readers - new parents struggling with changing diapers or where to take baby for the summer holidays, and veteran parents faced with unusual changes, even relatives seeking gift ideas and help. Parenting magazines also offer good breaks into publishing for novice writers.

Pay is usually $50-200 per article for first rights, based on research required and interviews included. Bigger publications like Parents Canada pay between $200 and $500. Reprints run $35-50. All magazines require market exclusivity in the month in which the article runs.

Topics abound, such as: conception, pregnancy, birth, feeding, sleeping, health, parenting styles, child care, development and milestones, summer fun and activities, routines and schedules, disciplining, social interactions, work/life balance, finance, food and diet, and everything from Newborn to Empty Nest.

Focus on one aspect of any topic. Bullying is a popular subject encompassing a variety of issues, impacts, reasonings and strategies, but one 1,500-word article cannot cover them all. Slanting the piece toward tweens, approaching it from the teacher's point of view and limiting the scope to the playground gives you a unique combination.

Lead features range upward to 1,500 words, secondary features and columns stay within the 800 to 900-word range. Text is balanced with imagery, so these magazines are a good outlet for photographers, too.

Parenting magazines are often tied to a location, containing names of regions within their titles. Simply search for "Family"/"Parent" and "Magazine", along with the location of interest. "Canada Family Magazine" gives Canadian Family, Canadian Military Family, Parents Canada, Today's Parent, Focus on the Family, Oh Baby, Canadian Living, Eco Parent and City Parent. Similarly, "Metro" + "Family" + "Magazine" gives MetroParentMag.com, MetroFamilyMagazine.com, MetroKids.com, MetroParent.com, Metro-Parent.com, MetroParentMagazine.com.

With the number of big states, cities and towns in USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and other English-speaking countries, opportunities are limitless. There's something for everyone --short blog posts, long personal essays, humor pieces, in-depth reporting/journalistic pieces, opinion and criticism from the teaching and education community. Many general interest, lifestyle or women's magazines also include sections on family life.

Some magazines consider work from local writers only. Others accept national and international submissions as long as they are relevant and useful to their readers.

With a fresh approach to an evergreen idea, a clear understanding of the magazine's style, and a decent skill with the pen, you can make your parenthood work for your writing career!

BIO
Devyani Borade's work has been accepted by 29 parenting magazines across the world. When she can make the time, she likes to read comic books, eat chocolates and try her husband's patience! Visit her website Verbolatry at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com to contact her and read her other work.

competitions

92Y DISCOVERY / BOSTON REVIEW POETRY CONTEST
https://92ndstreetydiscovery.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE.
Four winners are awarded a reading at the Poetry Center, publication in Boston Review and $500 each. The contest is open to poets who have not published a full-length poetry collection. Poets who have published chapbooks of less than 42 pages or in editions of less than 500 are still eligible to apply. Limit ten pages. Deadline January 23, 2015.

CWA MARGERY ALLINGHAM SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://thecwa.co.uk/debuts/short-story-competition/submit-your-entry/
£10 ENTRY FEE.
Celebrates the short story and Margery Allingham's contribution to crime writing. The competition is open to all - both published and unpublished authors - and is for UNPUBLISHED short stories of up to 3,500 words. Deadline March 16, 2015. The winner will receive £1,000 and we are very grateful to the Margery Allingham Society for sponsoring this prize.

HARTFORD CAREGIVING STORY CONTEST
http://www.jhartfound.org/get-involved/caregiving-story-contest/
NO ENTRY FEE.
This year, the second Hartford story contest will gather a range of stories that reflect the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences of spouses/partners, children, friends, and other "family" caregivers of older adults, as told by them or their health care providers. These stories should bring to light the challenges (emotional, family, employment, and others) of those who care for older adults, demonstrate their often valiant efforts, and offer insights into how to overcome difficulties and obstacles. Deadline January 15, 2015. Written stories must be 1,200 words or less. Illustrations, graphics, and visual images in written submissions are encouraged, but not required. Videos must be 3 minutes or less. Photo essays must contain 6 or fewer photos, with captions of 200 words or less per photo. First prize: $3,000. Second prize: $1,000. Third prize: $500.

WILLIAM MATTHEWS POETRY PRIZE
http://www.ashevillepoetryreview.com/
$20 ENTRY FEE.
First Prize: $1,000, publication in Asheville Poetry Review, and a featured reading in Asheville. Second Prize: $250, publication, and a featured reading in Asheville. Third Prize: Publication and a featured reading in Asheville. All submissions will be considered for publication. Deadline January 15, 2015. Send 1-3 poems, any style, any theme, any length.

SAN FRANCISCO BOOK FESTIVAL CONTEST
http://sanfranciscobookfestival.com
$50 ENTRY FEE.
The 2015 San Francisco Book Festival has issued a call for entries to its annual program celebrating the best books of the spring. The San Francisco Book Festival will consider non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, compilations/anthologies, young adult, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, business, history, wild card, gay, photography/art, poetry, unpublished, technology and spiritual/religious works. There is no date of publication restriction. Grand prize for the 2015 San Francisco Book Festival winner is $1500 cash appearance fee and a flight to San Francisco for our gala awards ceremony in May 2015. Deadline April 25, 2015.

GRANTS

TENNESSEE INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
http://www.tn.gov/arts/grants/how_to_apply.shtml
The Individual Artist Fellowship are $5,000 awards for professional artists who have exhibited excellence in their discipline of choice. Applications for Fiscal Year 2016 are due Monday, January 26, 2015 by 4:30 p.m. (CST).

MID-ATLANTIC FELLOWSHIPS FOR RESIDENCIES
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/creative_fellowships/index.html
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through its Creative Fellowships program annually supports residencies for writers, composers, and visual artists at the Millay Colony for the Arts (Millay) and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). Starting in 2015, the Foundation will support residencies at VCCA for artists currently residing in New York in addition to Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia. The application deadlines for VCCA are January 15, May 15, and September 15, 2015. Residents of the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania as well as Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands may apply for support at Millay. The application deadlines for Millay are March 1 and October 1, 2015.

IOWA ARTUP!
http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/programs/artups/iaartups.shtml
ArtUps are free professional development events presented by the Iowa Arts Council for Iowa's artists, arts organizations and communities. ArtUps provide online and in-person learning and networking opportunities to enhance the quality and capacity of the arts field in Iowa.

FRACTURED ATLAS
https://www.fracturedatlas.org/site/fiscal/
Fractured Atlas wants to help you raise money for your artistic work. As the country's largest arts fiscal sponsor, we provide accessibility, efficiency and affordability. We work with thousands of artists and arts organizations to provide education and support for raising funds. We want artists to spend time making art, not filing paperwork. With fiscal sponsorship, you can solicit tax-deductible donations and apply for grants without going through the onerous process of launching a 501(c)(3).

WASSAIC ARTIST RESIDENCY
http://residencyunlimited.org/opportunities/2015-summer-art-and-writing-residency/
Costs/Support: $900, up to $300 off based on need (work exchange), $300 off merit based scholarship, two fully funded education fellowships. Location Wassaic, NY. Deadline January 15, 2015. The Summer Residencies are for individual or collaborating artists interested in spending between one to six months in Wassaic.running from May 2, 2015 - October 31, 2015. Artists receive an adaptable raw studio space in the historic livestock barn, as well as living accommodations.

FREELANCE MARKETS

AVALON TRAVEL
http://travelmatters.com/freelancers.php
Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group, is always looking for experienced, deadline-oriented freelance copy editors to help us produce our high-quality travel books.

THE ELKS MAGAZINE
http://www.elks.org/elksmag/WritersGuidelines.pdf
The Elks Magazine is published 10 times a year for the nearly one million
members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Each year, the editors buy 20 to 30 articles. These articles consist of previously unpublished, informative, upbeat, entertaining writing on a variety of subjects, including science, technology, nature, Americana, sports, history, health, retirement, personal finance, leisure-time activities, and seasonal topics. Articles should be authoritative (please include sources) and appeal to the lay person. They should be between 1,200 and 2,000 words long. Does not need political or religious articles or poetry. We usually do not publish first-person pieces. Pays 25 cents/word.

LION MAGAZINE
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/news-and-events/lion-magazine/news-magazine-howto.php
We're looking for articles, preferably accompanied by photos, which explain in detail the successful completion of a service project or fundraising activity. Because a story must be of interest to the majority of the magazine's readers, we don't publish accounts of a club's social activities such as anniversary or charter celebrations. Pays up to $750 for up to 2,000 words.

SCOUTING MAGAZINE
http://scoutingmagazine.org/contact/story-idea/
Scouting magazine fills its pages with stories that make you say, "My guys would love to do that!" Now, you can inspire that same feeling in others. We're sure that your unit has some fun-filled adventure planned. Help your pack, troop, crew, or ship appear in a story that more than a million Scouters will read. Tell us about any activity -- large or small. Anything involving Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Venturers having fun and growing as young adults is fair game. Mountain-biking at Mount Mitchell? Rafting the Rio Grande? Camping in Colorado? Or maybe you're just putting a clever spin on an outing closer to home. We want to hear the details: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Short pieces are 500 to 700 words. Longer features up to 1,200 words. Pays $300 to $800.

VFW MAGAZINE
http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Magazine/Submissions/
Manuscripts are usually 1,000 words, depending on the subject. Simultaneous submissions are not considered. Recognition of veterans and military service is paramount at the VFW. Articles related to current foreign policy and defense along with all veterans issues are of prime interest. Topics pertaining to American armed forces abroad and international events affecting U.S. national security are particularly in demand. Articles dealing with military history must take a fresh approach. (Over the last 20 years, the magazine has covered WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and all subsequent wars extensively.) Some national political and social issues also qualify for inclusion in the magazine, especially if covered by VFW resolutions. And, of course, we are always looking for up-to-date stories on veterans concerns.

JOBS

AMACOM POSITIONS
http://www.amacombooks.org/freelance-inquiries.htm

Freelance Editorial Development
For inquiries regarding freelance editorial development work or reader reports, please send an e-mail with résumé attached to: Barry Richardson, Senior Development Editor, brichardson@amanet.org

Freelance Editorial
For inquires regarding freelance copyediting, proofreading and indexing, please send an e-mail with résumé attached to: Andrew Ambraziejus, Managing Editor, aambrazi@amanet.org

Freelance Design
For inquiries regarding freelance jacket design, please send an e-mail with samples to: Cathleen Ouderkirk, Art Director, couderkirk@amanet.org

publishers/agents

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
If you love small towns and cowboys, you'll love Harlequin American Romance. Our stories are heartwarming contemporary tales of everyday women finding love, becoming part of a family or community -- or maybe starting a family of her own. Word count of 55,000-60,000 means stories must be fast-paced and plot-driven.

HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Wholesome contemporary romances that celebrate traditional values, strong communities, family connections and true love. No explicit religious or Christian content

Word count of 70,000 to 75,000 allows for breadth and complexity of story, and development of compelling sub-plots.

HARLEQUIN HQN
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Harlequin HQN is proud to publish outstanding mainstream romance fiction for readers around the world. HQN is the home for full-length romance novels in all subgenres - historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal, erotic - as long as the story's central focus is romance. Length 90,000 words.

HARLEQUIN NOCTURNE
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Dark, sexy, atmospheric paranormal romances that feature larger-than-life characters struggling with life-and-death issues. Fast-paced, action-oriented romances in which characters struggle with life-and-death issues in a paranormal world. Word count of 80,000 to 85,000.

HARLEQUIN TEEN
https://harlequin.submittable.com/submit
Fresh, authentic teen fiction featuring extraordinary characters and extraordinary stories set in contemporary, paranormal, fantasy, science-fiction and historical worlds. We're looking for commercial, high-concept stories that capture the teen experience and will speak to readers with power and authenticity. All subgenres are welcome, so long as the book delivers a relevant reading experience that will resonate long after the book's covers are closed. We expect that many of our stories will include a compelling romantic element. Length: 50,000-100,000 words.