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VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3 | JANUARY 16, 2015
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Message from the Editor
Coop 1 (we have Coops 1, 2A, and 2B, like a duplex) now contains 15 young Buff Orpingtons, five months old today. They eat a lot, but so far no eggs. Like our writing, chickens have to be fed and kept healthy until they grow large and mature enough to produce.
The process cannot be forced. While I tire of hauling 50-pound bags of food for birds that give nothing in return, I know that downstream, when the time is right, I'll be loaded with eggs, and I'll know that the early work was worth the effort.
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.
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New! North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books
It's easier than ever to self-publish your book, but how can you stand out? Which services are worthwhile? Who can you trust? Winning Writers has developed the North Street Book Prize to help. Three winners will each receive $1,500, a credit towards the high-quality publishing services
at BookBaby, free advertising in our email newsletter, and expert marketing advice from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter. We'll award cash prizes of $6,000 in all, with gifts for everyone who enters. Enter now through June 30. Judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche. Learn more at www.winningwriters.com/north
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“After all,” Anne had said to Marilla once, “I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like
pearls slipping off a string.” ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
Over the holidays, my son was watching a show called EPIC HOMES about these phenomenal houses with remarkable features located in breathtaking locales. Grinning slyly, he turned to me and said, "Why weren't you more accomplished so we could be living like that?"
I rolled my eyes at his humor. He and I both know that I enjoy the simpler life. It's why I left the rat race
to write. It's why I live in the country. It's why I walk away from controversy, carefully choosing my fights. It's why my family jokes about winning the lottery, saying they'd have to watch me, because I'd be giving most of it away to causes.
I like a simple, soothing life. "...like pearls slipping off a string."
As a writer, I'd also like to be remembered for how a story infiltrated a reader's life than how many books I sold. To
some, that may sound like a cop-out excuse for not selling100,000 books. While selling gobs of books would make my publisher ecstatic and allow my husband to build that beach house he wants, it's not a driving force for me.
We often let pressure from others convince us what we want, when in reality, we haven't analyzed what we want, or how we'd like to be remembered. In reality, it's the simplest,smoothest, easiest concepts that make their marks on the world and make
people feel wonderful. A thought to consider as you write. A thought to consider as you decide how to live.
It doesn't matter whether you write books, articles, commercial copy, magazine articles, or poetry; we all know that it's the simplest lessons addressed in the cleanest prose that capture the most attention. We've all had that feeling..."wow, that's so simple...why didn't I think of that?" And you remember it. So does everyone else. It's because the author
thought simply, finding a universal concept that everyone can relate to, and spent time writing it well.
Many famous souls have penned a version of the advice, "The easiest reading is the hardest writing." The simplest pleasures in our lives do not come easily. They take time, attention, and priority-setting, but the bliss that comes after is memorable. Maybe 2015 needs to be about defining our simple pleasures, to include those in our writing
world.
-Hope Clark Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
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
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Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it’s a letdown, they won’t buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.
~Mickey Spillane
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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/ |
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Hi
Hope,
Here’s a success story, thanks to you and FundsforWriters. Under “Freelance Markets” I saw that “Chicken Soup for the Soul” was accepting submissions. I thought, what have I got to lose. So following the guidelines, I sent in my story and surprisingly, it was accepted! My story, “Against All Expectations” will appear in Chicken Soup for the Soul; Hope and Miracles. It’s available February 10, in bookstores and on the internet. And I actually get paid for
it!
Judy Buch
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By Trisha Faye
I write about dead people. And get paid. But I didn’t set out to write about dead people.
Mitty Ann Medlin captured my attention at a local historic cemetery. She arrived in Texas in 1848, at the age of 18, in a covered wagon train from Missouri. She married here and
died in childbirth in 1850. I was intrigued. I wanted to write her story. I researched. And researched more. Yet, I didn’t feel ready to write the book.
But, as with most writing, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing venture. Mitty Ann, and a Texas full moon, was the inspiration for a blog hop a few years ago. That blog led to are quest from the city of Trophy Club for an article. Medlin Memories: Winds of Change appeared in Discover Trophy Club. A few months
later, Guardian Angel Kids published Sarah’s Journey in their ezine. I chose Mitty’s younger sister, Sarah, to tell the story to a younger audience.
Another month, Guardian Angel Kids' had an Aviation’ theme but it stumped me. Story ideas were fleeting. But … I had a list of remarkable Texas women from another project. Katherine and Mary Stinson, two sisters, had numerous flying records in aviation’s early days. Sisters with Wings was born. I got
paid - again - for writing about dead people.
A set of 1934 quilt squares I acquired at a yard sale ten years ago filled another niche.The blocks had names embroidered on them. I discovered their origins - a small, now nonexistent, town in Iowa. Calico Connections appeared as another children’s story. With some supplemental quilting information, the story was reborn as Doris’s Christmas Legacy for Quilters World. (A follow up about delivering the quilt squares to Iowa will appear in the Summer 2015 issue.) Queries are out to other publications, such as Our Iowa, and Iowan. Short stories were also submitted to Ladies Home Journal and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Writing about people from the past is more than biographies and genealogies.
Make a few little tweaks here and there.
Shorten it. Lengthen it. Add some details. Change the focus, such as from a children’s story to an adult inspirational. Tweak it for a local venue magazine. One story idea can be turned around to many different markets. All about the same people – even if they’re dead.
Biographies are only one avenue. They can be written for diverse audiences: adult, YA, middle grade, chapter books, or picture books.
Search for local geographical possibilities associated with this person from the past. Check for city, county or state publications. All are possible payment sources.
Is there a hobby component associated with this person’s past? Were they an artist? Or a builder? A butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker?
Can you use this as a children’s story? A YA tale? A middle grade or chapter book? Can you enter a
contest with this story?
Does it fit with any anthologies?
Hold this person from the past up and examine their life. Twist them around, turning this way and that. Examine their life from different angles.
These people from the past hold the key to new stories. Honor them and the lives they once lived. The reward may be a few more coins in your pocket.
BIO: When not rescuing kittens, Trisha spends
her time in the DFW Texas area writing – mostly about dead people. Telling their tales and honoring the lives of these people from the past is her passion. Visit her at www.trishafaye.com.
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DZANC SHORT STORY CONTEST
$25 ENTRY FEE. Dzanc is currently holding its fifth annual contest for all authors wishing to submit a short story collection to Dzanc Books. The winning author will be published by Dzanc in late 2016, and will receive a $1,000 advance. Entry to the Dzanc Short Story Collection Contest requires a $25 reading fee and the submission of a full manuscript. The contest deadline
is January 31, 2014.
WINTER WONDERLAND POETRY COMPETITION
ENTRY FEE £3 (FREE TO MEMBERS).1st Prize: £150. 2nd Prize: £100. 3rd Prize: £75. Deadline February 2, 2015. Craft a beautiful poem that captures the spirit of a winter landscape. Whether it's snow-capped
mountains, misty rivers or frost-laden fields...we don't mind, just paint the scene with your words. You can use the online photo for inspiration or, be inspired by a wintry landscape close to you. It's your choice.
65 LITTLE WORDS WRITING COMPETITION
ENTRY FEE £2 (OR FREE TO MEMBERS).1st Prize: £260. 2nd Prize: £195. Deadline February 10, 2015. You have just 65 words or less including the title to write a complete story. It's a tough one, but you can do
it,and we look forward to receiving your submissions. You must use the photo published online.
THE PARK BENCH WRITING COMPETITION
£3 ENTRY FEE (FREE TO MEMBERS).1st Prize: £195. 2nd Prize: £150. 3rd Prize: £100. Deadline February 28, 2015. Using the photo for inspiration, you have just 1,000 words (including the title) to write a complete story that
captures the imagination of the reader. To be in with a chance of winning this writing competition, you must include the park bench in your story.
CSU ESSAY COLLECTION COMPETITION
$28 ENTRY FEE.The winner will receive $1,000, publication, and a standard
royalty contract. Deadline March 31, 2015. All essay collections are welcome, regardless of author’s previous publications; manuscripts should be approximately 100-300 pages in length. The CSU Poetry Center reserves the right to consider all entrants for publication; a listing of all winters and finalists will be posted on the Poetry Center website.
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HELENE WURLITZER FOUNDATION
The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, established in 1954, is one of the oldest
artist residence programs in the country. The Foundation keeps a low-profile and serves as a haven for painters, poets, sculptors, writers, playwrights, composers, photographers and filmmakers. We are located on eighteen acres in the heart of Taos, New Mexico, a four-hundred-year-old multicultural community renowned for its popularity with artists. The Foundation fellowship offers three months of rent-free and utility-paid housing to grantees. Our eleven guest houses, or casitas, are fully
furnished and provide residents with a peaceful setting in which to pursue their creative endeavors.
TENNESSEE INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS
Deadline January 26, 2015. Fellowships provide monetary awards to outstanding professional artists, i.e. those
individuals who by education, experience, or natural talent engage in a particular art form or discipline, and live and work in Tennessee. To qualify, an artist must be financially compensated for his or her work, and this compensation must be a significant source of support for their livelihood. No matching funds are required and no specific project has to be carried out with the funds. The Commission anticipates that each fellowship will be awarded
$5,000.
INDIANA INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS
Individual artists in selected performance disciplines of dance, literature, music, theatre, and folk arts related to these disciplines have until February 6, 2015 to complete their application for
career development grants.
JAMES MERRILL HOUSE WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE
Offers one 4-1/2 month residency between mid-January and the end of May, and three or four shorter residencies of 2 to 6 weeks during the months between Labor Day and
mid-January.The Writer-in-Residence program includes a $5,000 stipend for an extended term. Smaller stipends will be offered for the brief residencies.
KENTUCKY FELLOWSHIPS
The Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships are unrestricted $7,500 awards given to Kentucky
artists who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work. Who’s eligible? Professional Kentucky artists (writers, composers, choreographers, and visual and media artists) who are responsible for creating their own work, not interpreting the work of others. Deadline February 15, 2015.
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CHICKEN SOUP: THINK POSSIBLE
Using a positive attitude to improve your life. We are looking for true stories of no more than 1,200 words about how you changed your life, solved a problem, or
overcame a challenge because you used your positive thinking and put your best efforts into achieving your goals. Pays $200 and ten copies of the book. Deadline April 30, 2015.
PLANNING
Planning is published 10 times a year by
the American Planning Association. It offers news and analyses of events in planning (including suburban, rural, and small town planning,environmental planning, neighborhood revitalization, economic development, social planning,and urban design). Under 500 words for news stories. Up to 2,500 words for feature stories.500-700 words for book reviews. Pays $100-$1,000 per article, depending on length, quality,and topic.
UPSTREET
Accepts poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction for its eleventh issue. Pays $50 to $150for poems. Pays $50 to $250 for short stories or essays. Each author will also receive one complimentary copy, and may purchase more copies at a reduced rate.
CANADA'S HISTORY
Canada’s History publishes well-written, well-researched, and informative articles about Canadian history that focus on all parts of the country and all areas of human activity.Subject matter covers the whole range of Canadian history, from
social history, politics,exploration, discovery and settlement, to aboriginal peoples, war, culture, business and trade. Articles run various lengths: long features (from 1,500 to 3,000 words) that provide an in-depth look at an event, person, or era; short features (from 600 to 1,200 words) that provide a more narrow focus. Pays up to 50 cents/word.
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TEXAS MENTOR
Location San Antonio, TX
Texas MENTOR is looking for experienced home study writers. The contracted individual will interview prospective foster parent family
members utilizing a Home Assessment screening tool and from the interviews conducted, produce a thorough and quality home study assessment.
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FELONY &
MAYHEM
At present, we publish only mystery fiction. There may come a time when we will publish other genres, but we do not currently have any plans to do so. Additionally, we are not equipped to publish novellas or short stories; our minimum length is about 75,000
words.
HOT KEY BOOKS
Looking for great books for young readers? We are Hot Key Books, a brand new division of Bonnier Publishing, publishing books for 9 to 19 year olds.
DZANC BOOKS
Dzanc Books publishes innovative and award-winning literary fiction, including short story collections and novels by accomplished and award-winning writers. Dzanc Books is looking for literary fiction that takes chances and does so through great writing.
DAW
DAW accepts unsolicited submissions of science fiction and fantasy novels. We do not publish short stories, short story collections, novellas, or poetry. The average length of the novels we publish varies, but is almost never fewer than 80,000 words. A literary agent is not required for submission. We will not consider
manuscripts that are currently on submission to another publisher unless prior arrangements have been made with a literary agent. It may require up to three months or more for our editors to review a manuscript.
SEVEN STORIES PRESS
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.
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Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest - No Fee!
14th annual free contest sponsored by Winning Writers. $2,000 in cash prizes, including a
top prize of $1,000. Submit one humor poem by April 1 deadline. No fee to enter. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 50,000 subscribers. Final judge: Jendi Reiter.
See guidelines, past winners, and enter online at www.winningwriters.com/wergle
MARBLE HOUSE
Explore the many genres of nonfiction writing in a week long retreat at Marble House. We are located close to several ski resorts so bring your pens and poles!
Joan Didion wrote
about her migraines; Nora Ephron wrote about the wrinkles in her neck. Norman Maclean wrote about the mystery and wonder of fly-fishing. We write what we think we know, but in writing about it, we learn more about the world and about ourselves.
Whether you want to write for business or for pleasure or just to open a window into your soul, this course will expose you to the many genres of nonfiction writing, ranging from memoir and personal essay to travel, food and
business writing. As Flannery O’Connor wrote, “I write to discover what I know.”
This workshop provides an overview of nonfiction writing from idea to execution. Prerequisite: a burning desire to see yourself in print.
Enjoy a FREE Master Class in Creative Writing Success
Enroll FREE in a 14-part 'mini course' in short story writing success. This highly acclaimed Writers' Village 'Master Class' shows you how to get published -
profitably - plus win cash prizes in fiction awards.Discover how to open a chapter with 'wow' impact, add new energy to a scene, build a character in moments, sustain page-turning suspense even through long passages of exposition... plus 97 other powerful ideas you can use at once.
Join a great group of serious aspiring and professional writers who are already engaged in this course. We’re working on novels, memoirs, essays, articles, young adult fiction, sci-fi, academic manuscripts, and more. Master ten essential tools to give your writing precision and energy. Learn how to strip out unnecessary words for vigorous, lean writing.
“After taking the course I noticed that
I approached the manuscript very differently, looking at the sentences themselves with a more critical awareness and clarity. Joan Dempsey is an amazing educator, and this course is beautifully designed.”~ Current participant, MFA grad, non-fiction manuscript scheduled for 2015 publication.
Hey folks! Remember the Charleston, SC
conference I raved about last year? I've never been so excited about a conference in my life than I was with that one. I will be there. Will you?
FundsforWriters readers can use code FFW2015 when signing up for the conference. That will entitle them to a 10% discount off VIP or Basic registration. Discount will be reflected at check-out. http://www.pubsensesummit.com/
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!
Joel has created coupon code FFW35 for FFW readers. When you use FFW35 at BookDesignTemplates.com shopping cart, it will give you a 35% discount on anything on the
site.
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GET WEBSITES THAT ROCK, BOOK COVERS THAT SIZZLE
Shaila Abdullah has over a decade of experience designing websites for authors. Being an award-winning author herself, she understands the industry, and will provide you
with a content management website that reflects your unique style, genre, and personality. Other design services such as book covers & interiors, marketing materials, and email campaigns (newsletters, announcements, etc.) also available. MENTION CODE FFW2014 AND GET 10% OFF (NEW CLIENTS ONLY) EXISTING CLIENTS EARN 8% REFERRAL FEE FOR SENDING IN NEW CLIENTS
A few testimonials from happy clients: "Thank you for the gift of your creativity, insight, and problem-solving as I threw you question after question. The site captures my spirit and passion, and it honors my dream since childhood. I feel blessed to have come across you (thanks C Hope Clark!) and will recommend you to those who are in the market for a
new site." --Lyn Fairchild Hawks, author, http://lynhawks.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
A few client sites:
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