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Volume 15, Issue 21, may 22, 2015 |
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Message from the Editor
This past weekend was the SC Book Festival, the largest literary event in the state. I'm a member of the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and we scheduled our monthly meeting at a nearby restaurant, inviting several of the authors from the festival. While there were thirty plus people in the room, here's a picture that caught my side of the table. Say hello to Cathy Pickens, Raegan Teller, and C. Hope Clark (left to right). A room full of mystery and suspense writers. How fun is that?
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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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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NO MORE SOUR GRAPES
Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
~ Voltaire
 Accept the fact you think it. An author you know lands a contract or sells an article. She achieves this great promo on a big blog or gets invited to speak at an event that overlooked you. And you feel sorry for yourself . . . and start rationalizing why they were not as worthy as you. Or that you are a better writer. I know you do, because I've stumbled into that mindset. . . as recently as last week.
And I slap myself. I believe in being happy for those enjoying success for the following reasons:
1) You feel better.
2) You can make the other person feel good with a compliment, which makes you feel better.
3) You can study what they did and learn from their success.
4) You can bring attention to yourself by bowing to their success.
5) That big karma in the sky can come around later and pat you on the back when this successful individual you once supported in their early days becomes able to thank you in return.
When you stop and think about it, there's nothing to be gained from begrudging someone else for making a splash. You negate yourself all the above benefits I listed. There is absolutely no good reason whatsoever to look at a winner and not like him.
One day - and if you keep at it that day will come - you will achieve commendation from an editor, a contest, a publisher, an agent, or some group that applauds your efforts. At that time, you would hope that others would bask with you in the glory. You love these people, and surprise, you want to reach out to them and help them in their struggles. It's called reaching back.
Writers are connected. Sure, some are higher on the ladder than you. Sure, you wish you were on their rung. But you gain nothing disliking their status. Instead, be thrilled for them. Offer applause and verbalize support. Not only does this make you a better human being, but you also feel a more positive urge to try harder. You hope harder to meet your goals. And the universe eventually rewards you for it.
((Grapes ID: 139686 © Robert Lerich | Dreamstime Stock Photos)
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.
-Hope Clark
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
May 29, 2015 - Meetup Savannah Book Club, Savannah, GA - 6 PM
June 25-27, 2015 - Freelance Writing, Midwest Writing Center, Davenport, IA
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WORDS OF SUCCESS
Each person who ever was or is or will be has a song.
It isn't a song that anybody else wrote.
It has its own melody, it has its own words.
Very few people get to sing their song.
Most of us fear that we cannot do it justice
with our voices, or that our words are
too foolish or too honest, or too odd.
So people live their song instead.
~ Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys)
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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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Hi Hope,
I wanted to thank you for continuing to issue Funds for Writers. Because of the leads found in your magazine, I have had another article accepted. I would not have known about You and Me if it had not been for FundsforWriters!
Thank you again!
Rachel Carrington
www.rachelcarrington.com
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Building a Marketing Budget:
How much is too much or too little?
By Jennifer Fusco
Often, I’m asked by writers, “how much money should I set aside for marketing my book?” I wish there were a magic number. There’s not. If you are traditionally published, the publisher does expect you to use some of your advance (if you receive one) toward marketing. If you are self-published, no doubt you’ve figured out by now it takes money to make money. However, it’s important for you to properly research the funding needed for your budget.
The reason behind the research is two-fold. One, it allows you to know the cost needed to reach your intended audience. Two, should you need to cut your budget, you can make an informed decision.
One marketing piece every writer should have is a website. It’s a must! Aside from a website and the costs for keeping it reliably hosted, you may also want to consider researching the costs for the following:
- Advertisement placement (print, digital, or both)
- Advertisement creation
- Listing in BookBub, if book is free or discounted.
- Contest prizes for readers
- Author photos
- Travel
- Book Trailers
- Book release parties
- Freelance publicity (publicist) services
- Virtual assistant fees
- Promotional items (bookmarks, pens, giveaways, et al)
- Social Media (boosting posts, sponsored tweets, advertising)
- Fan club/ Street team rewards and supplies
- Mailing/Shipping
A rule of thumb when building a budget is to research all of the costs for the above items you intend to use. Add them together. Then add an additional 20 percent to the total. The added percentage will allow for and offset unexpected expenditures.
Researching any and all free places to promote is to your advantage and can help you defer money to other line items in your marketing budget. Some ideas for free promotion are:
- Create a hashtag on Twitter for your book
- Upload a chapter of your book to Wattpad
- Encourage friends, fans and readers to post reviews online
- Leave your book name/website address on all voicemail and email messages
- Offer to meet with book clubs via Skype
- Solicit radio show interviews
- Create and submit press releases to local newspapers
- Celebrate your release with a Facebook party (ask fellow authors to join in)
- Submit articles to writers’ associations
- Submit for a listing on addictedtoebooks.com
- If this book is currently available for free, submit the book to be featured on Free Book Friday and/ or fill out the submission form for a free listing on Digital Book Today.
No matter which promotional efforts you choose to promote your book, try to focus on discoverability rather than sales. When readers discover you, read your work and like it, they are more apt to tell their friends thereby creating “word-of-mouth buzz.” The buzz created by someone telling their friends to buy your book is the best publicity an author can ask for.
 BIO
Jennifer Fusco is the author of Market or Die, a marketing book for writers, and the owner of a publicity services company.
A three-time winner of the Advertising Excellence Award, Jennifer has launched successful print and digital ad campaigns. She has served as a member of the ANA (Association of National Advertisers) and believes that brand building is a key to professional success.
Ms. Fusco also writes contemporary romance. Her debut novel, FIGHTING FOR IT, a sports romance, will debut September 15, 2015 from Penguin Intermix.
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COMPETITIONS
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WRITING MAPS
http://www.writingmaps.com/pages/contest
$5 ENTRY FEE (approx £3).
We hold a monthly Writing Maps Writing Contest to coincide with the launch each month of a new Writing Map product. We challenge you to write and share a 150-word piece in response to our Prompt of the Month. Each month's two winning entries will be published in The A3 Review, the new Writing Maps Journal, a fold-out literary magazine to be published every six months. The contest closes at midnight (GMT) on the fourth Saturday of the month. There is no restriction on theme or style. We encourage prose, poems, prose poems, graphic stories and hybrid forms. First prize £150, second prize £75, third prize £50.
AMBIT SUMMER WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.ambitmagazine.co.uk/ambit-summer-writing-competition-2015/
£5 or £7 ENTRY FEE.
Entry fee entitles writers to a one-year subscription. The first place prize in each category will be £500, second place £250, and £100 for third. Deadline July 15, 2015. The three winning poems and three winning stories will all be published in Issue 222 of Ambit, and the poets and writers will be invited to read with judges Dan O’Brien and Alison Moore at the launch on October 22, 2015 in London. The competition is open to anyone, of any age of any nationality, aged 16 or over. There is no minimum line requirement, but poems must not exceed 42 lines and short fiction must be under 1,000 words.
SATURDAY EVENING POST GREAT AMERICAN SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest
$10 ENTRY FEE.
The winning story will be published in the January/February 2016 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive a $500 payment. Five runners-up will each receive a $100 payment and will also have their stories published online. Stories must be between 1,500 and 5,000 words in length. Deadline July 1, 2015.
TISHMAN REVIEW POETRY CONTEST
http://tishmanreview.com/submit-your-work/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Open to all writers, worldwide, from new to established. Deadline June 15, 2015. Send between three and five poems per entry. There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject. Please, no translations for the contest. First place wins $500 and publication in the July 15th issue of The Tishman Review. Second place wins $100 and Honorable Mention wins $50. All submissions will be considered for possible publication in either the July 2015 or the October 2015 issue of The Tishman Review. By submitting you give consent to publish selected poems in the July or October issue.
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GRANTS
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CAMBRIDGE WRITERS WORKSHOPS
https://cww.submittable.com/submit
Deadline May 25, 2015. Two $500 Diversity scholarships will be offered to men and women of color who show a commitment to creative writing. Two $500 Student scholarships will be offered to students (both undergraduate and graduate, full or part time) who show a commitment to creative writing. Two $500 Writers & Parents scholarships will be offered to men and women who are parents of children under age 18, who show a commitment to creative writing. These amazing scholarship opportunities are to be applied to one of our 2015 summer writing retreats in Paris (July 22-30) or Granada (August 3-10).
MID ATLANTIC ARTS FOUNDATION
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/funding/artists_programs/fellowships/state_fellowships.html
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation administers Individual Artist Award and Fellowship programs on behalf of the state art agencies of Maryland and New Jersey. Applications are now being accepted for both programs.
The categories for 2016 Maryland Individual Artists Awards are Fiction, Theater: Solo Performance, Media/Digital/Electronic Arts, Visual Arts: Painting, and Visual Arts: Works on Paper. The application deadline for the 2016 Maryland Awards is July 23, 2015. New Jersey Individual Artist Fellowship categories for 2016 are Interdisciplinary Performance, Media/Digital/Electronic, Painting, Prose, and Works on Paper. The application deadline for the 2016 New Jersey Fellowships is July 15, 2015.
KENTUCKY WOMEN WRITERS CONFERENCE
http://womenwriters.as.uky.edu/postgraduate-scholarships
Five postgraduate merit scholarships to attend the 37th annual Kentucky Women Writers Conference on Sept. 11-12, 2015, will be offered to women enrolled in graduate school — any age, residing in any state, attending any school, in any degree program, though typically an MFA. To apply, please submit a five-page writing sample postmarked by June 1, along with a cover letter that describes your interest in our event and mentions the writing workshop in which you would like to enroll. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of the director plus one advisor, and awards will be announced by June 15, 2015.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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VERMONT LIFE
http://vermontlife.com/guidelines-for-contributors/
We seek stories that have to do with contemporary Vermont culture and the Vermont way of life. Standard department rate is $600, feature rate $800.
OUR HOMES
http://www.ourhomes.ca/contributors-guidelines
OUR HOMES is a premium homes, real estate and decor magazine featuring beautiful photography and top-notch writing. We currently publish in select regions of Ontario. The magazine offers a strong marketing slant for each region with coverage of the people, trends and issues that make each area special. This information is provided through a series of short pieces and longer features that range between 200 and 900 words.
DESOTO MAGAZINE
http://www.desotomagazine.com
DeSoto Magazine, produced by DeSoto Media, is an upscale lifestyles publication focused on stories about life in Mississippi, Memphis and the Southeast. Features – 900 to 1000 words. Essays – 500 to 600 words. Departments – 600 to 800 words. DeSoto Magazine pays $.15/word.
THIS MAGAZINE
http://this.org/contribute/
A good This Magazine article offers background and context to ongoing national issues, 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. Our readership is Canada-wide, so local issues are only covered when they have national interest or implications. International stories must have a strong Canadian angle.
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JOBS
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TECHNICAL WRITER/EDITOR
Location Picatinny Arsenal, NJ
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/403144500
Empployer U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. Performs research, reviews specifications, and uses "hands-on" approach in the preparation, amendment, change or revision of publications in commodity fields such as, weapons and ammunition, as required to produce technical manuals for one-of-a-kind, end item systems.
WRITER
Location Washington DC
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/404370600
Research and gather appropriate information and prepare speeches and written products for senior level officials on complex issues relative to the IG. Write news releases; articles and other material based on speeches and IG communications. Provide advice and guidance to the IG and other senior level officials on matters impacting HUDOIG public relations efforts and its overall public relations programs.
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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CAMEL PRESS
http://camelpress.com/
Camel Press publishes genre fiction: romance, mystery/suspense, science fiction, fantasy and horror. We publish the books that grab you and hold you in their grip long into the night.
COFFEETOWN PRESS
http://coffeetownpress.com/submissions/
Coffeetown Press publishes nonfiction – including memoir – literary and historical fiction and some academic books. Most of our memoirs concern growing up in other cultures (Between the Two Rivers/Sirocco) or have a strong theme that will appeal to a specific audience (One Gay American). We only consider literary fiction with a strong story and a distinctive voice. It also helps if the author has a developed author platform.
BAKER PUBLISHING GROUP
http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/contact/submission-policy
We will consider unsolicited work only through one of the following avenues. Materials sent to our editorial staff through a professional literary agent will be considered. In addition, our staff attends various writers' conferences at which prospective authors can develop relationships with those in the publishing industry. You may also submit your work to one or both of the manuscript submission services Authonomy.com and Christian Manuscript Submissions, an online service of the Evangelical Christian Publishers' Association. These organizations serve as liaisons between publishers and prospective authors. Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers. Several imprints available to cover many genre.
EVE PORINCHAK - JILL CORCORAN LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/new-literary-agent-alert-eve-porinchak-of-jill-corcoran-literary
Eve has eclectic literary tastes and is open to everything from picture books to adult novels. Specifically looking for edgy, psychological thrillers, gang-lit, realistic contemporary. Please send a query letter with a synopsis and the first ten pages of your work (or entire picture book manuscript) to eve@jillcorcoranliteraryagency.com.
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SPONSORS
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T o write a best-seller, you need to know the bestsellers' tricks.
Mystery writers need to know why Dan Brown succeeds.
Fantasy writers need to know why J.K. Rowling succeeds.
Comedy writers need to know why the Farrelly Brothers succeed.
Thriller writers need to know why Chris Nolan succeeds.
Romance writers need to know why Nora Ephron succeeds.
Drama writers need to know why The Sopranos succeeded.
Horror writers need to know why Saw succeeded.
Learn the tricks of bestsellers in every genre . . .
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Award-winning multi-genre writer with 25 years experience teaching undergraduates,
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I’m looking forward to working with you.
David R. Collins Writers’ Conference, June 25-27, 2015
St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
Presented by Midwest Writing Center
Celebrating the 10th anniversary with special events in addition to the three-day workshops on novel, poetry, freelancing, and more, along with pitches and critique sessions. Faculty includes C. Hope Clark and award-winning novelists and poets. Early bird and volume discounts offered. For details and registration, visit http://www.mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/david-r-collins-writers-conference/
NOTE: 30 percent off for FundsforWriters readers for a short time. Click here.
Grammarly sucked me in and owned me after only ten minutes of using it on my latest manuscript, Edisto Jinx. Though my grammar skills are solid, Grammarly pointed me toward flow issues, awkward wording, repeated wording, and yes, the occasional grammar oversight. I caught myself changing sentences and enjoying the second set of eyes. Grammarly is truly one of the simplest and most useful editing tools I've ever experienced. ~C. Hope Clark, award-winning mystery author, www.chopeclark.com, and editor of FundsforWriters.com
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)
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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.
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“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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