FundsforWriters - May 15, 2015 - The World is So Big, Yet So Small
Published: Fri, 05/15/15
Volume 15, Issue 20, may 22, 2015
Message from the Editor
Pulled out a picture of Roo and myself. Last night she slipped a disc in her back and we spent three hours in the doggie emergency room. She's on pain meds and it looks to be a minor slip as far as slipped discs go. She's on bed rest (i.e., crate or lap) for three weeks. She's also on a diet to lessen the strain on her back. Her buddy Winnie is wondering what's going on, but grateful she's getting some separate attention of her own to compensate! Thanks for the good wishes that have already started pouring in from my Facebook readers.
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.
We sit in our chairs behind desks or at the kitchen counter on our laptops, and feel protected from the world yet a part of it. The shy parts of us try to convince us that we are just as connected as if we were on tour. The web has joined us all together.
Then we wonder why we don't have followers, or why we aren't selling books.
Anyone can throw up a blog. Anyone can buy an ad, and goodness knows anyone can toss a book on Amazon. All of that does little for your platform. That is . . . unless you have a blog that knocks the socks off people thanks to your controversial way of presenting things, or your works wax ridiculously lyrical. Blogging about your life, your day, your thoughts on writing . . . how is that different from the next one hundred blogs by writers? I delete those all day long, ever praying for that spicy or spot-on blogger who snags my interest with a jerk and holds it tight in a grip. They are very few and far between, and are becoming fewer and farther apart.
What I'm trying to say is there is nothing magical about putting yourself out on the web. Followers don't suddenly find you because you purchased a domain name and hired someone to build you a Wordpress site. You aren't Kevin Costner, and people don't come to your blog because you built it.
If I've learned anything in the book side of my profession, it's that people want to see you. I've spoken to a room of three hundred or as few as two. Some appearances are more predictable than others, but the truth is you present with the same quality and passion. These folks are there to see you, experience you, learn from you. You might be amazed at how much they appreciate you putting yourself out there, with some of the most loyal fans coming from small events.
Most of my strongest supporters have met me. From a library in Bettendorf, Iowa to a writer's conference in a rec center cafeteria in Wadesboro, North Carolina. From the basement of a bank in Black Earth, Wisconsin to the sun porch of a home in Newberry, South Carolina. When you meet people, make eye contact, and read their body language, you form a more memorable bond. The writer becomes real, more worthy of endorsement because they took the effort to be there in the flesh. That took planning, driving, the cost of travel.
Be willing to genuinely meet people. Don't hide in a string of twenty authors. Be willing to smile and share a minute with a stranger. Don't forever hide behind your screen.
Yes, the world is huge, but making the effort to shrink it and stretch your social skills with a handshake and real conversation forges long-time fellowship. That's the strongest platform you can create.
And you don't have to travel the globe to find it. Your hometown venues work just fine
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
Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
May 29, 2015 - Meetup Savannah Book Club, Savannah, GA - 6 PM
Is it so small a thing
To have enjoyed the sun,
To have lived light in the spring,
To have loved, to have thought, to have done.
~ Matthew Arnold (Empedocles on Etna)
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?
SUCCESS STORY
__________________________________________________________________
Hello Hope!
I use your emails probably once or twice a month to select poetry competitions to enter my work into. I'm an undergraduate student in Michigan and have just recently begun the oftentimes fruitless process of submitting my work. When I stumbled across your newsletters, I rejoiced! Finally, someone was willing to save me the hours of Googling variations of 'poetry contest' in hopes of finding journals currently seeking submissions.
I received fantastic news last week - my work received an honorable mention in The Maine Review! This is the first time I've had a poem published. Thank you for your persistence in finding contests and journals that the average college student can take advantage of. It has paid off for me, and I'm sure it has helped other writers too! Keep doing what you do, Hope!
FEATURED ARTICLE
__________________________________________________________________
Pinterest Tips for Freelance Writers
By Behlor Santi
Like many people, I used to see the social-networking site Pinterest as merely a place to show pictures of pretty clothes and yummy food. Yet the more I learned about the marketing possibilities of Pinterest, the more I realize that I (and you) can use Pinterest to boost freelancing income.
First, understand the demographics. You'll reach lots of women. In fact, 80 percent of Pinterest users are women, according to Digital Marketing Ramblings. That means that if you write stuff popular with women, such as romance novels and health articles, you stand first in line.
Then, use the boards to show facets of your career and life. For example, even though I have a board for my freelancing, I also pin pictures of food, fashion, cute male celebrities. If you head to my Pinterest account, you'll see that I adore the actor Justin Theroux. I also like cupcakes.
Pinterest Analytics, like Google Analytics, generates comprehensive statistics on a specific website's traffic, helping marketers in their campaigns. It collects data on the percentage of change within a specific time, determining whether a product becomes more or less popular, and it guides marketing agencies towards changing strategies to gain more popularity. Oftentimes, marketing agencies change the visual content of their pins to appeal to the Pinterest community.
While only certain companies such as Salesforce and Hootsuite are given access to Pinterest Analytics data, you can use a rough version of analytics to figure out the popularity of your content. So if you start a board showing pins of your published writing, create pins that show writing that appeal to the mostly-female community. You'll become more popular pinning about a traditional recipe for chocolate-chip cookies than pinning about sports or other stuff that appeals mostly to men.
Like Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest uses “following” and messaging to connect users to each other. In 2014, Pinterest introduced instant messaging, a faster way to share content. When one of your followers repins or like your pin, contact them directly. Your follower will appreciate your personal response and will potentially make your boards more popular among her own followers.
You'll also find boards of fellow freelance writers. For example, I went to Google and typed in “Pinterest freelance writing boards.” One of the many results was a board for breaking into regional parenting magazines. I studied the content of this board and gained potential markets for my parenting articles. I also found boards on freelance writing tips, resources. To attract more traffic to your Pinterest platform, start a board full of your own tips. Repin and like the freelancing pins that you especially connect to.
In 2015, Pinterest celebrates its fifth anniversary. It's grown from a home business with 5,000 users to a valuable resource for companies such as The Gap and political wives such as Ann Romney and Michelle Obama. Use some tactics from content strategists to take your freelancing to another level.
Enclosed are several resources for freelance writers who also use Pinterest:
AKRON PRESS COMPETITION IN POETRY http://www.uakron.edu/uapress/akron-poetry-prize/
$25 ENTRY FEE.
Each year, The University of Akron Press offers the Akron Poetry Prize, a competition open to all poets writing in English. The winning poet receives $1,500 and publication of his or her book. Submit 48 to 90 pages. Deadline June 15, 2015.
SKYROCKET REVIEW SHORT STORY & POETRY CONTEST http://www.skyrocketpress.com/
ENTRY FEES $15 Short Stories / $8 Poems (1 to 3).
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $200. In addition, first place for both poetry and short story categories will each receive $50. Winners will be published in the inaugural issue of SKYROCKET REVIEW. All entries will automatically be considered for publication. Published entries will receive a complimentary copy of the review, which will be published on or before January 15, 2016. All writers, whether previously published or not, are eligible to enter. However, submissions should be unpublished. Submissions must be in English. All genres are welcome. Deadline August 31, 2015. Winners will be notified by November 30, 2015.
HUMMINGBIRD PRIZE FOR FLASH FICTION http://pulpliterature.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE. ($10 BEFORE MAY 15)
Deadline June 15, 2015. Winners published in: Pulp Literature Issue 9, Winter 2016. First Prize: $300. Runner up: $75. Entry fees include a 1-year digital subscription to Pulp Literature. This contest is for previously unpublished short fiction up to 1,000 words in length. Multiple entries welcome. Total entries limited to 300.
2015 ARIZONA MYSTERY WRITERS CONTEST http://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=1449
$10 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline June 1, 2015. First prize $200. Second prize $100. Third prize $75. We are accepting mystery, suspense, or thriller stories. 2,500 word maximum length.
UCROSS FOUNDATION http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/residency-program/
The Ucross Foundation provides living accommodations, individual work space, and uninterrupted time to approximately 85 individuals each year. Residencies vary in length from two weeks to six weeks. Residents are responsible for providing their own working materials and for their travel to Sheridan, Wyoming. There is no charge for a residency.
FOX DIVERSITY WRITER'S INITIATIVE
http://web.archive.org/web/20131225100052/http://www.fox.com:80/audiencestrategy/foxwritersintensive/
Writers selected will be able to attend master classes with a wide range of FOX showrunners, writers, directors, screenwriters and creative executives. The goal of the FOX Writing Fellowship is to provide the accepted finalists with intensive creative and professional development, exposure and opportunity that would best equip him or her to succeed. Up to ten applicants selected. Submission period September 2015. Open solely to referred writers with professional writing experience in film and/or television, as well as theater and other literary mediums, having an interest in expanding their professional opportunities to include broadcast, film or new media.
KENYON REVIEW FELLOWSHIPS http://www.kenyonreview.org/programs/fellowship/
This two-year post-graduate residential fellowship at Kenyon College offers qualified individuals time to develop as writers, teachers, and editors. Fellows will receive a $33,150 stipend, plus health benefits. Fellows are expected to undertake a significant writing project and attend regular individual meetings with faculty mentors as well as teach one semester-long class per year in the English Department of Kenyon College, contingent upon departmental needs. Also, assist with creative and editorial projects for The Kenyon Review and participate in The Kenyon Review Summer Programs. Deadline September 15, 2015.
WYOMING INDIVIDUAL ARTIST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS http://wyoarts.state.wy.us/wac-grant/individual-artist-professional-development/
This grant category provides funding for individual artists who want to take that next step in their career. Successful applicants have received grants to attend conferences, go overseas to install an art exhibition, record a music CD at a professional studio, show a film at an indie film festival, attend an artist residency program or to work with an out-of-state mentor. Many requests are for travel costs. A number of artists, writers and performers have used IAPD funds to hire a contractor to build a professional web site.
FLIGHT JOURNAL http://www.flightjournal.com/contributors-guidelines/
Flight Journal presents aviation-oriented material, for the most part with a historical overtone, but also with some modern “history in the making” reporting. Many articles have an “I was there” or “from the cockpit” human-interest emphasis, typically in a manner that is not being done in other magazines. We are trying to “. . . sing the note no one else is singing.” Base pay for a full-size article is $600 and builds for later submissions. In certain situations and with well-published authors the rate is negotiable. Base pay for a full-size article is $600 and builds for later submissions.
SKIMAG http://www.skinet.com/ski/article/contributors-guidelines-skimagcom
Skimag.com is the ultimate resource for the latest news on ski destinations, winter travel, the mountain lifestyle, gear and instruction. Keep the story short (500 words or less), and if you can include pictures or show us where to get them, even better.
UP! MAGAZINE http://cdn1.upmagazine.com/pdf/up_writersguidelines.pdf
up! magazine, WestJet’s inflight magazine, is a Canadian travel-lifestyle magazine
designed to reach WestJet passengers each month. Dedicated to inspiring travel and
enriching trip experiences, up! appeals to a global market that is passionate about the
world. With prongs into 71 destinations and a focus on WestJet destinations in Canada,
United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, up! explores destinations through people,
places and ideas that excite us.
ZOZ! http://www.jobscore.com/jobs2/zozi/contributing-writers/caB_Uan5Kr5ji_iGalkWKP?Board=Indeed&PID=2285736
Our standard rate is around $80-$250 per post, depending on amount of reporting required.
ZOZI is looking for outdoorsy writers to regularly contribute to our new editorial site, the ZOZI Journal. You don’t need years of reporting experience to apply, but you do need to know how to write in a fun, conversational voice without sacrificing smarts. Contributing writers will produce three to four posts a month. We don’t have hard and fast word limits, but most of our stories are 500-1,500 words long. Our standard rate is around $80-$250 per post, depending on amount of reporting required.
JOBS
____________________________________________________________________
STORE WEB CONTENT EDITOR
Location Columbia, SC https://www.smartrecruiters.com/MuscleStrength/82769014-store-web-content-editor
Muscle & Strength is looking for a new in-house Store Web Content Editor to join the team at our offices in Columbia, South Carolina. The primary duty of the Store Web Content Editor is to add new products to the muscleandstrength.com online store and to keep product information updated using Muscle & Strength’s eCommerce software. This entry-level position in a growing company may be of particular interest to those looking to begin their career in web editing/management and eCommerce.
ONI PRESS http://onipress.tumblr.com/post/117029040489/oni-press-open-submissions-guidelines-on-may
Graphic novels/stories only. Oni Press opens submissions to the public. We are on the hunt for new stories from new creators, featuring characters that reflect the diversity of the world around us. The submission periods will operate on a two-months open, two-months closed schedule. Our first submission period will be open from May 1st to June 30th.
FIVE STAR http://www.gale.cengage.com/fivestar/about.htm
The primary focus of Five Star is the library market. Considered manuscripts 65,000 to 120,000 words. Primarily romance, women's fiction and mystery.
ADAMS LITERARY http://www.adamsliterary.com/
Adams Literary is exclusively dedicated to representing the finest children’s book authors and artists. While we have an established client list, we do seek new talent — and we accept submissions from both published and aspiring authors and artists.
ALLEN O'SHEA LITERARY AGENCY http://allenoshea.com/
Marilyn Allen and Coleen O'Shea focus on core nonfiction categories and featured fiction projects. Site lists their recent and major contract sales as well as what each individual agent requests.
Get unlimited live feedback on your stories - and sample us without charge!
Welcome to Story PenPal... and gain unlimited friendly feedback on your stories from fellow members - including top-selling authors - in our exclusive PenPal Forum.
Enjoy:
* Brilliant ‘how to’ writing tips and strategies. Ideas you can grasp in a moment that will make your stories glow.
* Free videos, helpful links and valuable gifts to enhance your story writing skills.
* Private access to a lively, helpful community of fellow writers world-wide who give you constructive advice to help your stories succeed.
To 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.
Award-winning multi-genre writer with 25 years experience teaching undergraduates,
MFA candidates, and published writers is now accepting a limited number of new clients.
With over a dozen novels, a prize-winning story collection, a “Best of the Year” book of narrative nonfiction, a dozen stage plays and three screenplays under his belt, he has helped writers of every genre improve their work. A full bio and rates sheet can be requested at writingcoachmentor@gmail.com.
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!
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
“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
Fine print
____________________________________________________________________
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.
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.
First, understand the demographics. You'll reach lots of women. In fact, 80 percent of Pinterest users are women, according to Digital Marketing Ramblings. That means that if you write stuff popular with women, such as romance novels and health articles, you stand first in line.
