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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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T om Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest - Final Month!
23rd year. Now with $4,000 in cash prizes, including $1,500 for the best story and $1,500 for the best essay. Send prose submissions up to 6,000 words each. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 50,000 subscribers. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry is $16. Deadline: April 30. Judge: Arthur Powers. See guidelines, past winners, and enter at www.winningwriters.com/tomstory
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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YOUR OPINION AND MINE
In every wood in every spring
there is a different green.
~ J. R. R. Tolkien (The Fellowship of the Ring)
A few weeks ago the bru-ha-ha started over Goodreads. About how readers and authors don't mix. How authors don't like a lot of the reviews and threaten reviewers, and about how reviewers feel the latitude to crucify writers without ramifications. And I shook my head at the squabble amongst children.
There are trolls out there. I've banned them myself.
"Oh, you don't want my opinion?" I was asked. "This is just about siding with Hope Clark?"
I did not answer. I don't believe in arguing with children. As the person escalated, demeaning me and others, feeling free and unchecked, I just blocked her. No drama, no explanation, no last retort.
When you have a Facebook or Twitter account, or blog, or write op-eds anywhere, you are entitled to your opinion. You expect to hear from those who disagree. But it crosses the line of maturity when one side or the other demands to be heard, demands to be right, and curses the other for thinking differently.
You cannot win arguing with those people. You can't win arguing period. Because when you reach the level of arguing, which means you ditched adult debate, you are flexing your muscles saying "my dad is bigger and can whip your dad." That sounds like just what it is: playground banter. Unfortunately, lately we're hearing about adults taking this squabble to the point of threats.
I want to pinch their heads off, on both sides. Nobody able to keep their bloody mouths shut. So many wanting to snap and win. Tell me this: What do you win if you indeed best the other side? You don't, because you've exposed your ass to the world and you can't unsee what's been seen. Asses are rarely pretty.
I've received some silly reviews, silly in my opinion. I let them stand, mainly because I recognize that a reviewer has an opinion, too. I don't ask for explanation. Why? The majority of my reviewers love the books. That's my focus, not the oddities, not the anomalies, not the folks who feel empowered at a keyboard. I'll let the numbers speak. Obsessing over the one bad review undermines all the good ones. Frankly, the good reviews prove that the bad review holds less value.
All without arguing. I repeat, all without arguing.
I'll respect your right to review as you please, and you respect my right to write as I please. My stories may swear, bleed or have sex. You may not like stories that swear, bleed or have sex. But I don't believe in the reviewer slashing the author, her life, or her beliefs over how she tells a tale. And I don't believe in an author doing the same against a reviewer.
"I know where you live," has no place in this profession, from either side. When you make it personal, you show the world you have a thin skin, and that your focus is not where it should be . . . on reading and writing good books.
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.
Come to WritersChatroom.com for Hope's quarterly chat about the writing life!
www.writerschatroom.com - Sunday, March 29, 7PM Eastern - no password needed.
-Hope Clark
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
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
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”
~Rudyard Kipling
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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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Contact us at hope@fundsforwriters.com if you've achieved success through the newsletters. We want to share your news and congratulate you!
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Finding a Paying Market in Homeschoolers
By Ruth O'Neill
Most writers are always on the lookout for ways to earn a little extra cash with their craft. One of those ways kind of fell into my lap, and I face-palmed myself for not thinking about it before. A friend asked if I would teach a writing class at her homeschool co-op. I homeschooled my own children for 18 years, and it never occurred to me to offer my knowledge to other homeschoolers.
Here are a few things you need to know to break into a local homeschool group.
==They plan classes for the following year in January. September of one year isn’t too early to approach them with your class ideas for the next year.
==Co-ops have wish lists to include their course needs and requests from parents. Many of those wishes go above and beyond what most homeschooling curriculums offer. For example, most parents teach grammar at home, but can’t teach their children how to write a novel. Perhaps a journalism class, with a bimonthly printed newspaper, would be a good addition to the co-op’s class list, or teaching a freelancing class where students could actually submit stories and articles to magazines that accept writing from kids.
http://www.theclaremontreview.ca/#!writing-submissions/c1bm7
http://kidspiritonline.com/help/
http://www.newmoon.com/content/?id=1006&type=1
http://polyphonyhs.com/submit/
http://www.skippingstones.org/submissions.htm
http://www.stonesoup.com/stone-soup-contributor-guideline/
http://www.teenink.com/Submissions/guidelines.php)
==Offer different ideas, reaching different age groups. While they may already offer a journalism class for high school age students, maybe teaching elementary students how to write and illustrate a picture book would complement the co-op’s needs. Many groups use IEW for creative writing classes. You can find out more about that curriculum at their website (http://iew.com). Study it and come up with an idea that is different, a need that isn’t already met.
==Write course descriptions and be specific. You don’t necessarily have to have your lessons planned out for the entire year, but you do need to know, and be able to communicate, what your plans are for the class. Create a syllabus to give students at the beginning of the year.
==Some parents want grades for their children to add to transcripts. Depending on what the parents are doing at home with their children, they may need you to grade, even if it just a pass/fail type of grade. Talk with the homeschool co-op to see what they require.
==Some co-ops will allow you to charge an extra fee for printing or supply costs. For example, when teaching a picture book class, you may need fancy paper, markers, stencils, and other art supplies for the children to use. This is a one-time fee for the year that allows you to purchase what is necessary for the benefit of the class.
==Expect a wide range in class number. You may only end up with a few students or up to as many as twenty, depending on the size of the co-op, scheduling conflicts, or simply the number of students interested in taking your class.
==Don’t be surprised if they require a background check. After all, you are working with their children.
Teaching writing to homeschool students can be fun and exciting as well as profitable. To find a homeschool co-op in your area, visit
http://a2zhomeschooling.com/regional/regional_worldwide_homeschooling/ or http://www.home-school.com/groups/ for list by region.
BIO
Ruth O’Neil has been a freelance writer for 20-plus years. She sees everything as a writing opportunity in disguise, whether it is an interesting character, setting, or situation. You can find her book series “What a Difference a Year Makes” on Amazon or her website (http://ruthoneil.weebly.com/).When she’s not writing or homeschooling her kids, Ruth spends her time quilting, reading, scrapbooking, camping and hiking with her family.
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COMPETITIONS
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EYELANDS INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.eyelands.gr/site/index.php
ENTRY FEE 8 €.
Theme ON THE VERGE. The contest is open to unpublished stories of any genre up to 2,500 words. The winner receives a one-week holiday on the island of Crete and the top three entrants will be published in anthologies in both Greek and English. Deadline April 20, 2015.
MARK FISCHER POETRY PRIZE
http://www.telluridearts.org/mark-fischer-poetry-prize
$6 ENTRY FEE.
The prize is open to poets of any style residing west of the Mississippi. The judges will make decisions based on these three criteria: originality, linguistic skill and wit.
The Mark Fischer Prize comes with an award of $1,000. Winners are expected to attend the prize ceremony in Telluride May 16, 2015 and read their winning poem.
ROUNDEL POETRY PRIZE
http://www.roundelpoetrytonbridge.com/competition.html
£3 ENTRY FEE.
First Prize: £200. Second Prize: £100. Third Prize: £50. Deadline May 31, 2015. Open to anyone aged 18 or over. Poems are welcome on any subject. There is no limit to the number of entries per person. Must be written in English and no longer than 40 lines.
BEECHER'S
https://beechersmag.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE.
Our contests in nonfiction, poetry, and fiction are now open until April 15, 2015. The first place winner in each category will receive $200 and publication in the print edition of Beecher’s 5. Runners-up may also be considered for publication in Beecher’s 5. Fiction and nonfiction submissions must be 4,000 words or less. Poets may include up to three poems per submission. All writers are welcome to submit more than once, but only one story or up to three poems per submission. All entrants will receive a copy of Beecher’s 5.
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GRANTS
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ARTS COUNCIL NEW ORLEANS
http://www.artsneworleans.org/grants/
Decentralized Grants deadline May 18, 2015. Guidelines, webinars and online user manual for its online granting system are available on the Arts Council website. Grants will be awarded for arts activities in Assumption, Lafourche, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and Terrebonne Parishes. Activities must take place October 1, 2015 - September 30, 2016.
INKSHARES - CROWDFUNDING
https://www.inkshares.com/
March was a big month for the Inkshares community! We launched new features (Inkshares Credits), announced new partnerships (Girl Friday Productions), redesigned our homepage, and saw some incredible books hit the platform. We hope you're enjoying the crowdfunded book publishing journey as much as we are. Our model is simple: Authors pitch, readers fund, we publish.
THE PARIS REVIEW/STANDARD HOTEL WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/03/02/a-room-of-ones-own-with-someone-to-make-the-bed/
Deadline: April 8, 2015. Three weeks in a hotel at no cost. For the month of July. Applicants must have a book under contract. Applicants judged by editors of The Paris Review and Standard Culture. Open to prose or poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. (Thanks http://www.erikadreifus.com/newsletter/current )
INDIEGOGO - CROWDFUNDING
http://www.indiegogo.com
The second largest crowdfunding resource on the web. Has a category like Kickstarter, with less fees, where it's an all-or-nothing agreement in which you receive enough pledges for what you budgeted, or nothing. Another category lets you receive all the pledges regardless, with a higher administrative fee.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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NEWWEST
http://newwest.net/main/article/writers_guidelines/
We’re always looking for good pitches from good writers. We pay by the story and payment ranges from $50 for smaller, local stories to up to $500 for more complicated, regional pieces. We’re also always on the hunt for big, investigative stories and projects and on occasion break the bank if we think it’s worth it. New West is a digital guide to news, analysis, and culture for the Rocky Mountain region: Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico. The new media publication specializes in stories and ideas about the evolving West. Its focus areas include wildlife, energy, politics, development and the innovators that make the Rockies a frontier for technology and entrepreneurship. New West also documents the literature, photography, film, outdoor recreation and local food movement that define the region’s vibrant culture in the 21st century.
THIS MAGAZINE
http://this.org/contribute/writers-guidelines/
A good This Magazine article offers background and context to ongoing national issues (Canadian), a challenge to the mainstream media perspective, or an important story that hasn’t been told elsewhere. Subject matter includes politics, culture, the arts, social issues, labour, feminism, indigenous issues, and sexuality, with a focus on quality writing and in-depth reportage.
TODAY'S CHRISTIAN WOMAN
http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/help/writers-guidelines/todays-christian-woman-writers-guidelines.html
Today's Christian Woman's mission is to encourage, equip, and inspire Christian women to live out their faith fearlessly in the grit of everyday life. All articles should be between 800 and 1,500 words, with optional but suggested sidebars with "how-to" tips and/or suggested resources relevant to topic addressed.
ADIRONDACK LIFE
http://www.adirondacklifemag.com/blogs/magazine/writers-guidelines/
Describes the history, culture, recreation, wildlife and personalities in the Adirondacks. For new contributors, the best way to break into the magazine is through departments, which run from 1,000 to 1,800 words. Features run from approximately 1,500 to 3,500 words. We are not interested in poetry, fiction or editorial cartoons. Payment is $.30 per published word approximately 30 days after publication.
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JOBS
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NBC UNIVERSAL CAREERS
http://www.nbcunicareers.com/writers-verge
Writers on the Verge is a 12-week program focused on polishing writers and readying them for a staff writer position on a television series. We are looking for writers who are "almost there" but need that final bit of preparation with their writing and personal presentation skills. We particularly encourage writers of diverse backgrounds to apply. Interested writers will need to submit an application online between May 1 and May 31, 2015 consisting of a TV spec screenplay (30 or 60 min. length), an essay, and a current resume.
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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EDUCE PRESS
http://educepress.com/2013/09/05/submissions/
We accept book-length submissions of literary fiction and nonfiction, as well as short story/essay collections. Please submit a query which addresses the scope of the work, and attach the first chapter (50 pages) or two stories/essays. We accept book-length submission of poetry in any style. Please submit a cover letter and attach a complete manuscript.
RIPTIDE PUBLISHING
http://riptidepublishing.com/call-for-submissions
Riptide is happy to announce that we're accepting new submissions for completed LGBTQ manuscripts between 15,000 and 115,000 words! You no longer have to be invited or represented by an agent to submit your manuscript. All manuscripts should be complete, and edited and polished to the best of your ability. In addition, we have specific, themed calls for submissions, sometimes for standalone pieces, and sometimes for collections or anthologies. Please view the "Open Calls" tab at the website to learn more about those calls.
LYRICAL PRESS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/page.aspx/LyricalSubmissions
We are looking for fresh stories in a variety of categories including all romance genres (specifically suspense and historicals with unique settings), compelling psychological suspense fiction, thrillers, women’s fiction, YA, new adult, and cozy mysteries. Ultimately, we’re hoping to find edgy and daring voices. We welcome novellas, serials, and full-length novels as long as they tell a satisfying and well-written story!
JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHING
http://www.jkp.com/jkpblog/2015/01/comic-and-graphic-novel-submissions/
We publish books for professional and general readers in a range of subjects. We are well known for our long established lists on the autism spectrum, on social work, and on the arts therapies. More recently we have published extensively in the fields of mental health, counseling, palliative care, and practical theology. Now we've combined with Singing Dragon to develop a new line of comics and graphic novels.
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SPONSORS
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Starts Monday!
Don't miss this three-week online retreat that guides and inspires through daily discussions, meditations, and exercises to help you heal and let go of what doesn't nurture you, embrace your writer-self, find your voice, and be the writer you were meant to be. Invest in yourself with an experience participants are calling "illuminating," "nurturing," and "life-changing."
"Retreat for the Writer's Soul” starts April 6.
Scholarships are available. Sign up now >>
Transform your unique story or book into a quality motion-picture screenplay. An experienced screenwriter & theatrical producer will ghost-write your screenplay for $1495. The standard Screenplay Ghost-Writing Service gets you a feature length screenplay in .doc and .pdf formats. Pitch and submission services are available in select cases.
* A manuscript, draft screenplay, detailed outline, or treatment is required at this price; may not be available for research intensive projects. Additional compensation is contingent upon production financing. Credits and biographical information are available on request. J.C. Foy. For more information, visit http://21stcenturyfoy.blogspot.com/
WRITE TO THE FINISH 2015: Online Course For Writers Working on a Book Project
Led by Award-Winning Authors - Starts May 2
A 9-month, online course by email and phone so you can take part wherever you are. Nobody can write your book for you, but you don’t have to be alone in the process. This small group course supports you with craft, community, focus, and feedback. Includes a full manuscript critique, online seminar days, craft lessons, monthly mentor calls with professional authors. Open to fiction and nonfiction/memoir writers, whether starting your book idea from scratch or finishing a work in progress.
Led by authors Tania Casselle ( http://taniacasselle.com) and Hemingway Award winner Sean Murphy ( http://www.murphyzen.com/events.htm). Info and testimonials from previous participants on our websites, or email wordworkers@juno.com for dates, details & course outline.
Call for Entries: Poets & Writers!
Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest.
Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject and/or write a short story,
5 pages maximum length on any theme, single or double line spacing,
neatly hand printed or typed.
Writing First Prize: $500.00, 2nd: $125; 3rd: $100
Poetry First Prize: $250.00, 2nd: $125; 3rd: $50.
Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story.
Postmark deadline: July 31, 2015
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and enter!
REFRESH YOUR WRITING SKILLS THIS SPRING WITH WOW!
WOW ! Women On Writing offers online courses in fiction, nonfiction, short story, personal essay, poetry, screenwriting, freelance, editing, author platform, self-publishing, and more. Work with our award-winning instructors one-on-one and get personalized feedback on assignments.
Here’s a sampling of some of our classes starting soon:
Become an SEO writer in Just 4 Weeks (April 6)
Go Ahead—Make a Scene: Techniques for Complete Engagement (April 6)
Writing a Children's or YA Novel (April 15)
How to Publish a Short Story Workshop (April 15)
Crafting the Short Story (April 17)
Copywriting with Heart: Jumpstart Your Copywriting Career (April 30)
Visit the WOW! Classroom for a full list of classes and workshops:
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html
Here's a free checklist of tasks and tools for successfully marketing your book. This site is full of cool tasks, tools, lists, and instruction to make this crazy writing gig work. 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.
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 wish 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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