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Volume 15, Issue 7, March 6, 2015 |
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Message from the Editor
Gorgeous day even if it was 45 degrees. Had to go outside and absorb some of that pre-Spring sun with the pups, and Winnie graced us with a second of her non-hyper behavior to give us a pretty pose. On the way back inside, I noticed weeds popping up in a few flowers beds, and if I've learned anything about gardening, it's that weeds know what they're doing when it comes to seasons, sunshine, and water. Yep, sometimes it's the non-flashy, common sense plants that know best how to grow. Somehow I think that's a lesson in writing, too.
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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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest - No Fee! Final Month!
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
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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WHAT TO DO WITH A BAD BOOK
We've all read them.
The books not edited well enough.
The books that probably shouldn't have been published.
The books that made you scratch your head wondering what the author was thinking.
“Life is too short to read books that I'm not enjoying.”
~Melissa Marr
“Be as careful of the books you read, as of the company you keep; for your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter.”
~Paxton Hood
Many of my friends say they cannot put a book down without reading it all the way through, in hopes the book redeems itself. Others say they read at least half the book, giving the author the chance to find the story. Sorry, I don't have the time.
It frustrates readers when we spend our hard-earned spare time, as well as the money, only to feel we've wasted both. That's why we often wait until someone we trust has vetted it, or it hits some best-seller list - because we invest.
It's why we read the sample pages on Amazon or Kindle.
But I have a suggestion.
If you indeed are a writer with goals to improve, if you hope one day to publish a story of your own, then next time a bad book falls into your lap, read it anyway. And as you go, mark it up. You don't care if you write in a bad book. You won't pass it on anyway. Note the bad dialogue, lack of internal monologue, poor flow, shallow characterization. Cross out the character that really didn't propel the story, and embellish the setting. Add scent where there is none, and chop out the words that stood in the way of a crisp point.
Highlight, write, cross out, bend pages. The book is no good anyway, right? This is where you learn more about how to edit . . . and how to write. You take this piece of crap and you make it worthy. It's difficult to edit your own work, so why not hone your skills by giving someone else's an in-depth going over? Better yet, have a group of writing friends all mark up the same book and compare notes.
We learn from good writing, but we can learn from the bad if we take the time to understand the reasons the bad did not make the cut.
P.S. TOTAL FundsforWriters is the extended version of this newsletter, with 70 markets, contests, grants, etc. and still at the ten-year-old cost of $15 for 26 issues. A great way to find opportunities to make money, without the hours of searching. Some subscribers have been around since TOTAL's origin a decade ago...they swear by it that much.
P.P.S. On Saturday March 7, 2-5 PM, at the Irmo, SC Library, come meet regional authors at a meet-and-greet affair and ask questions about how authors make their dreams happen and what's next on their agendas. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
-Hope Clark
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
March 7, 2015 - Multi-author signing, Irmo, SC Library - 2-5 PM
March 18, 2015 - Edisto Beach Book Club - 4 PM - ??
March 21, 2015 - Palmetto Chapter Sisters in Crime, Grecian Gardens, Columbia, SC - Speaker Gary W. Clark, Sr (yes, hubby is speaking)
March 22-24, 2015 - PubSense, Charleston, SC, Francis Marion Hotel
March 29, 2015 - 7-9 PM - WritersChatroom.com - Live forum
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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WORDS OF SUCCESS
Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don’t get it you will nonetheless get something that looks remarkably like it.
~Jack London
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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?
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
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Dear Hope,
I have some good news to share and it's because of a link you posted on your wonderful site. Among 107 entries, I tied for second place in the John A. Hartford Foundation family caregiving story contest.
I've been a professional journalist and writer for more than 35 years, and I've won journalism and creative writing awards in the past, including inspirational essays for three years in a row in the Writers Digest Annual Writing Competition.
But this award is especially meaningful.
My dad had a stroke two years ago and since then, I haven't been able to write a word. It's not only because of the busy-ness of caregiving, but something emotionally inside me felt blocked. It took much from me to write this essay.
When the deadline to announce winners approached, and I felt I hadn't won -- and the rejection was all too familiar -- I really thought I might give up writing. I asked God or my Higher Power to give me a clear sign about going forward. And then I placed.
Thank you for posting the link to the contest. And many thanks for your wonderful FundsforWriters, the encouragement I need on this curious journey as a writer.
Here are the links: The first, announcing the winners. And the second link, my essay.
http://www.jhartfound.org/blog/prize-winners-in-better-caregiving-better-lives-story-contest-answer-the-challenge/
http://www.jhartfound.org/images/uploads/stories/2nd_Prize_TIE_-_Sitting_with_Raymond.pdf
With gratitude,
Marielena Zuniga
www.mezuniga@comcast.net
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Tactics and Tips for Selling Your Books on Consignment
By Peggy Williams
Whether you’re indie or traditionally published, placing books into stores on consignment can be daunting. Here are some tactics and tips to help you through the process.
Tactic: Approach the owner/manager with professionalism. Most independent book stores are supportive of local authors and love books set in or near their locale, so don’t be shy. However, do email or call ahead. Speak with the manager and ask for the best time to drop by the store with the books and paperwork.
Tip: Be prepared to give a short summary of the book if asked. Offer to provide signed copies.
Tactic: When deciding what to charge, expect a 40/60 split on the selling price of the book: The store keeps 40 percent, you get 60 percent. However, the base cost of the book and any shipping expenses come out of your 60 percent, so you’ll want to factor in those costs.
Tip: Take the manager's advice. Book stores generally let you set the price, but the manager knows her customers and if she recommends something lower or higher, go with it.
Tactic: Get it in Writing. When you drop off your books, take along a consignment agreement. Many stores will already have one with the terms they prefer and will be happy to email or fax it to you ahead of time. Busy store owners appreciate when the paperwork is filled out in advance. Keep a copy for yourself.
Tip: You can find sample agreement forms online in case you need to make your own.
Tactic: Create an invoice. A typical length of consignment is 90 days, but you can invoice and expect payment for any books sold every 30 days. Specify in advance what should be done with any unsold books after the agreed time — will you let the store keep them longer or will you pick them up?
Tip: Take invoices along with you when you deliver the books for the rare store that is willing to pay you up front (this is more likely to happen with stores that sell your books regularly and with whom you have a relationship already established).
Tactic: Keep good records. Use Excel or a similar spreadsheet system to keep data on:
=> The store name, owner/manager’s name, address, phone number and email;
=> Date of delivery, number of books, and selling price;
=> Date of payment, invoice number, and number of outstanding books (those still unsold)
=> When to make follow up contact.
Tip: Create a separate spreadsheet page for each store; you can put multiple books on the same store page.
Tactic: Promote your books! Unless the store manager is willing to feature your books in the front window or in a special “regional authors” section, the books won’t sell themselves. Get the word out about where people can buy your books using social media like Facebook. Include information on where to buy your books on your website and in newsletters. Send email notices to anyone you know who lives near the stores and ask them to forward your email to friends and relatives.
Tip: Offer to do a book signing at the store. However, know that the most successful book signings happen when the author puts time and effort into promoting the event.
One final tip: Want to increase your book’s exposure? Think outside the box—do you have a connection with a neighborhood coffee or gift shop? Does your book have a theme such as quilting or chocolates that would make it attractive to a specialty store? Contact them too! With a little creativity and organization, success can be yours.
Bio: Peggy Williams is co-author of the On the Road mystery series, written under the pen name M. J. Williams. She has successfully placed her first book, On the Road to Death’s Door, into 11 book stores (and one quilt store) throughout Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is gearing up to offer the new, On the Road to Where the Bells Toll, to those same stores along with a slew of new outlets. Peggy lives in Madison, Wisconsin. You can read her blog at MadCityWriter.blogspot.com.
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COMPETITIONS
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THE HILLARY GRAVENDYK POETRY PRIZE
https://inlandiaaliteraryjourney.submittable.com/submit/37899
$20 ENTRY FEE.
An open poetry book competition for all writers regardless of the number of previously published poetry collections. One National and one Regional Winner will each be awarded $1,000 and book publication, and additional books may be chosen for publication by the editors. The manuscript page limit is 48-100 pages, and the press invites all styles and forms of poetry. Deadline April 30, 2015.
MID-AMERICAN REVIEW'S FINELINE COMPETITION
http://casit.bgsu.edu/midamericanreview/fineline-competition/
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline June 1, 2015. First Prize: $1,000 and publication in MAR Volume XXXVI, Number 1. Ten finalists are given notation and possible publication. Word limit 500 words.
LASCAUX PRIZE IN FLASH FICTION
http://lascauxreview.com/2015/01/lascaux-prize-flash-fiction/
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline: March 31, 2015. $1,000 prize and publication in the journal along with publication in the 2016 Lascaux Prize Anthology and two copies of the anthology. 1,000 words maximum. All genres and styles are acceptable. Will consider previously published work.
PLOUGHSHARES
http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2015/02/27/ploughshares-emerging-writers-contest-2015/
$24 ENTRY FEE.
Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest 2015 is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. The winning story, essay and poems from the 2015 contest will be published in the Winter 2015-16 issue of Ploughshares, and each writer will receive $1,000. The contest is open to fiction and nonfiction pieces up to 6,000 words; poetry entries must be between three and five pages. Deadline May 15, 2015.
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GRANTS
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YEATS INTERNATIONAL LITERARY RESIDENCY
http://www.kulturresidens.com
Location Tranås, Jönköping, Sweden. Deadline March 15, 2015. With the support of University of Wales Trinity Saint David six writers shall gather for three weeks in a spirit of inter-cultural exchange, debate and collaboration. During the three weeks residents writers will be invited to join a structured programme of informal networking and work-shopping and events that will enable engagement with the community of Tranås, regional communities and national literary organisations and publishers. The residency is open to Swedish and international writers working in any genre.
GREEN OLIVE ARTS - MOROCCO
http://greenolivearts.com/art-residency/art-residency-general/
Our mission is to resource creative individuals of both emerging and established artistic talent from around the world in seasons of inspiration, production, collaboration and cultural exchange here in Morocco. We invite artists from a wide range of disciplines and mediums to apply for residencies of 2-12 weeks during most months of the year. We accept visual artists, writers, filmmakers, poets, curators, scientists, choreographers, puppeteers, and more. Deadline January 1, 2016. Shared Studio, 1 - 5 weeks - $240 (180€) per week. Private Studio, 1 - 5 weeks - $360 (270€) per wk with reduced rates for longer residencies. These fees are for non-Moroccan artists. We offer a reduced fee for our Moroccan artists in residence since they are fluent in both language and culture.
LES FIGUES PRESS / KATHY ACKER FELLOWSHIP
http://www.lesfigues.com/kathy-acker-fellowship-applications/
The Kathy Acker Fellowship provides a part-time, nine-month appointment for an emerging writer/artist, literary editor, or arts curator/organizer. The Kathy Acker Fellow will learn the ins-and-outs of small press publishing while also completing a curatorial project in the City of West Hollywood. This part-time fellowship begins in March 2015 and ends in November 2015. The stipend is $4,600 for the term of the fellowship ($12.50/hour, estimated at 10 hrs/week for maximum of 368 hours).
HBO ACCESS FELLOWSHIP
http://deadline.com/2015/02/hbo-writing-fellowship-diverse-writers-1201381330/
Seeking emerging writers from diverse backgrounds. Applications for the program will be accepted beginning March 4. Participants will attend a week of master classes at HBO’s Santa Monica campus that will focus on character and story development, pitching ideas and projects, securing an agent, and networking. Each participant will then go on to an eight-month writing phase where he/she will be paired with an HBO development executive and guided through the script development process. At the conclusion of the program, HBO will hold a reception and staged reading for industry professionals where the writers will be introduced to the entertainment industry. The HBOAccess Writing Fellowship is open to writers 21 and older who must be able to work in the U.S. Prior to the application, the writer must not have been staffed on a network or cable series in excess of 13 episodes and/or had more than one feature film or more than two plays produced.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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ALBEDO
http://www.albedo1.com/submission-guidelines/
Our definition of what constitutes science fiction, horror and fantasy is extremely broad and we love to see material which pushes at the boundaries or crosses between genres. All authors receive a complimentary print and PDF copy of the issue their story appears in. Our payment is six euro/ per 1,000 words (i.e. six cents/word), up to 8,000 words. We hope to improve our rates gradually in the future, and purchasing the magazine is the way to help us achieve that! Our preferred length is between 2,500 and 8,000 words.
FANTASTIC STORIES OF THE IMAGINATION
http://www.fantasticstoriesoftheimagination.com/submission-guidelines/
We want stories that cover the entire science fiction and fantasy spectrum. We love everything from magic realism to hard SF, up to 3,000 words. Pays 15 cents/word on acceptance for original stories or $25 flat fee for reprints.
ISO MAGAZINE
http://www.theisomagazine.com
Covers lifestyle, entertainment and spiritual subjects. We desire to be a different kind of magazine with emphasis on helping our readers live a healthy, fulfilling, socially responsible lifestyle. We are founded on Christian faith principles, but we desire to delve into varying points of view and remain as objective as we can in our approach. If we talk about faith or God in an article, we want our writers (whether you be Christian or not) to comment from the presupposition that being a Christian is not for the weak willed, narrow-minded nor the self-centered heart. We want the articles to be hard hitting, but practical, even matter-of-fact. The goal is to help our audience make better everyday choices by giving them a broader perspective. Pays 15 cents/word.
THE FICTION DESK
http://www.thefictiondesk.com/submissions/short-story-submission-guidelines.php
We pay £15 per thousand words for stories we publish. (eg, £75 for a 5,000 word story, etc.) Contributors get two complimentary copies. Stories published are also eligible to enter the Writer's Award, a cash prize of £100 for the best story in each volume, as judged by the contributors. Although we're based in the UK, we accept submissions from authors all over the English-speaking world. Most of the stories we publish are between about 2,000 and 7,000 words.
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JOBS
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ART JOURNALISTS
http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/02/26/21792093/attention-professional-arts-journalists-we-have-the-job-youve-been-looking-for
Do you like writing? Are you smart? Do you know and love the arts (music/film/TV/performance/books/comics)? Do you know and love Seattle? Do you have professional experience that differentiates you from the drooling hordes? OR, if you lack that professional experience, do you have talent, promise, and a burning ambition to elevate the cultural conversation instead? Do you thrive on the collaborative energy of a newsroom? Have you cultivated a degree of social media knowhow? Seattle’s Only Newspaper is currently seeking applicants for a variety of writing positions in the arts department, ranging from salaried full-time staff to cherished freelance contributors. Please send cover letter, clips, and anything else you think might be of interest, to artsjob@thestranger.com
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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EVERNIGHT TEEN
http://www.evernightteen.com/submissions/
Evernight is seeking fresh teen fiction that is raw, gritty, and real. We want teen romance, coming=of=age stories, and cutting=edge fiction that today's young adults can relate to. The stories should have real issues, a strong emotional punch, and a plot to keep the reader turning the pages. Evernight Teen caters to the 14+ age market, so we will not accept books intended for an adult, children's, or middle-school market.
BLACK & WHITE PUBLISHING
http://www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php/infopages/submissions
Black & White Publishing is now one of the leading independent book publishing companies in Scotland. We currently have more than 250 titles in print, plus more than 30 titles from award-winning children’s imprint Itchy Coo and a variety of B&W classics. We produce an extensive range of titles, including general non-fiction, biography, sport and humour, as well as selected fiction, Young Adult and children’s books. We are currently NOT accepting poetry or short story submissions.
JOFFE BOOKS
http://www.joffebooks.com/submissions/
Joffe Books is a leading independent publisher based in Shoreditch, London, close to the creative and digital communities which inspire it. We're delighted to be working closely with talented authors to help them develop successful careers with thousands of copies of their books being sold, film and foreign rights sales, and buoyant positions in the bestseller charts. Send us your whole manuscript as a word document or PDF with a short (no more than three paragraphs) synopsis. Thrillers, Mysteries, Detective, Romance, Horror, Suspense, and Literary Fiction are favorite genres.
FIRESHIP PRESS
http://www.fireshippress.com/author_information/
Fireship Press accepts submissions for manuscripts (90,000-150,000 words) in the broad category of Nautical and Historical Fiction and Nonfiction.
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SPONSORS
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The Nebraska Writers Guild presents Spring Conference 2015.
Make Contacts! Meet Agents! Learn Mad Skills!
April 10th and April 11th.
Speakers:
Literary Agent Deidre Knight, from the Knight Agency;
Literary Agency Michael Carr, from the Veritas Literary Agency;
Editor and Online Community Manager of ScriptMag.com, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman;
Career Coach for professional and emerging screenwriters, Lee Jessup.
More information at www.nebraskawriters.org
Taught by freelancing gurus Linda Formichelli and Carol Tice!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ~Hope
Are you looking for a great writing workshop?
Join us at the Southeastern Writers Workshop, Epworth-by-the-Sea, St. Simon’s Island, GA
on June 19-23 (Fiction June 20-21 & non-fiction June 22-23). Attend both for maximum benefit!
Get the details at southeasternwriters.org. Register today.
NOTE: I'll be teaching fiction on June 20-21. Any chance I'll see you there? ~Hope)
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.
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/
NOTE: I'll be on several panels, none of which will be snoozers as we challenge mindsets on publishing and promotion. ~Hope
NOTE: This is my web designer, and I recommend Shaila highly. ~Hope
Winner of several AEP and Marcom design awards, Shaila Abdullah has over 20 years of experience as a graphic and web designer. She has assisted over 50 authors and writers with their design needs ranging from websites, books, marketing materials, social media banners, ads, to email campaigns (newsletters and announcements). Being an award-winning author herself, Shaila understands the industry, and will provide you with designs that reflects your unique style, genre, and personality.
MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF (NEW CLIENTS ONLY)
EXISTING CLIENTS EARN 8% REFERRAL FEE FOR SENDING IN NEW CLIENTS
“After months of collaborating on my vision of a website as a place to showcase my published essays and offer writing and editing services, Shaila Abdullah turned out a site design that is my dream come true. —Kate Meadows, writer and author
"Superb work, excellent customer service. Just marvelous overall.” —C. Hope Clark, FundsforWriters
“Nothing stands in Shaila’s way. From my design requests to technological needs–Shaila had a creative solution to offer at every turn. I value her design services as a trusted part of my business plan.” —Yvonne Pesquera, writer
"Shaila helped us redesign the website for our writers' conference. She went above and beyond, looking through thousands of our pictures to choose the best, and often wrote chunks of content for us to fill in gaps. Shaila was wonderful to work with and it was worth every penny." —Amanda Murphy, Managing Director of the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway
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Fine print
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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 2000-2015, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326
**Note that FundsforWriters.com places paid advertising in this newsletter, ALL ads being related to writers and the business of writing, screened by FundsforWriters to make sure the information is suitable for writers and their endeavors to improve their careers. But the mailing list is not sold to third parties. You will not receive this newsletter without your permission. It's physically impossible since recipients must opt-in, giving us permission to send the newsletter. If at any time you no longer with to receive the newsletter, click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each newsletter. We want you to enjoy this newsletter at your pleasure, not be forced to read anything you do not wish to receive. The website is not advertised using unsolicited messages by Aweber, affiliates or other third parties. Direct any complaints, suggestions, and accolades to Hope Clark at hope@fundsforwriters.com. We are an anti-spam site.
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