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Volume 15, Issue 25, JUNE 19, 2015 |
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Message from the Editor
Since I'll be en route when this newsletter goes out, I'm inserting a picture from the last time I presented at the Southeastern Writers Conference on St Simons Island, Georgia. I'm a SC Lowcountry girl, but this region of Georgia is so similar. It nourishes my soul to smell salt, pluff mud, and listen to the incessant song of insects and birds - very jungle-ish. I hope to see some of you there, and if not at St. Simons, I hope you're coming to Davenport, Iowa next weekend! Georgia is having me teach fiction, and Iowa has me teaching freelancing and making money. Talk about using both sides of my brain!
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
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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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North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books - Last Call!
Deadline: June 30. Sponsored by Winning Writers. Get funds and publicity for your self-published book. Three categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction. The top winner in each category will receive $1,500, a credit towards the high-quality publishing services at BookBaby, free advertising in our email newsletter, and expert marketing advice from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter. We'll award cash prizes of $6,000 in all, with gifts for everyone who enters. Entry fee: $50. Submit online or by mail. Judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche. Learn more at www.winningwriters.com/north
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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I HAVE THIS STORY TO TELL. . .
Wherever I appear in person, invariably someone comes up to me and asks how they can get published. I open the dialogue with questions such as:
1) Have you finished writing the story?
2) Have you edited the story with a vengeance a zillion times?
3) Have you gotten feedback from non-friends, non-family, critique mentors who understand the genre?
4) Have you studied indie versus traditional and understand the details of both?
Maybe I ask a few more questions depending upon the nature and interests of the person. We might delve into platform and online presence. But half those writers interrupt or divert back into a long explanation about the story; why they are writing it; what it's about; why it needs to be told.
I gently pull them back to the original question about publishing, and learning the craft well enough to be worthy of publishing. Some come back with me. Then there are those who, like a rubber band, launch back into a dissertation about the story. Inevitably we part, with nothing accomplished other than the writer is happy they were able to talk about their story. We didn't really discuss much about writing well or publishing smart. While the person said they wanted to know those answers, they were too wrapped up in the story. They didn't want to hear the hard part of the journey. They're too busy enjoying the dream.
I understand that to a point. They are living the story in their head. It's a great one to know, to tell. But all they want to know about the business after the writing is PUBLISH. They want a short cut from GOOD STORY IDEA to PUBLISH, without the details. The vast chasm that is writing, editing, developing a voice, and learning the business is considered a minor obstacle in the quest to get from point A to point B, not understanding there's a long journey of canyons, mountains, and hell/fire and brimstone in between.
Keep in mind that writing is more about the craft than about the subject matter. A beautiful writer can write about anything. A mediocre writer with a good idea rarely makes it off the ground. The best advice I can give you is to learn how to write (take classes, join writers groups, hire an editor) then write about your subject. Everyone has a journey, but not everyone takes the time to learn how to write it well. Fewer still learn how to put it into print so that the GOOD STORY IDEA can reach readers.
Fall in love with your story, but fall in love with the other parts, too.
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!
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WORDS OF SUCCESS
"The best fame is a writer's fame: Enough to get a table at a restaurant, but not enough that you get interrupted when you eat."
~Fran Lebowitz
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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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One of the things I like about TOTALFundsforwriters is that it often provides two things I need: a prompt and a deadline! In the last issue there was a call for creative work for a new multimedia journal, Stories of Music (https://storiesofmusic.submittable.com/submit) focused on writing about music, which (as a writer and a musician) is one of my passions. With the deadline looming on June 1, within just a few days I had written a poem, "If These Walls Could Sing," and recorded an audio version with my voice and original music, as this was one of the options for the submission. I submitted them both and just two days later learned that my poem and the recording would be included in the inaugural edition. So thanks for the prompt.
Steve Givens
www.givenscreative.com
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Sitting On Both Sides of the Desk
By Beth Brubaker
From my writer’s side of the desk, submission guidelines were just that - guidelines. Not rules - just an idea of what editors wanted. I felt I didn't have to follow all of them. After all, I did all of the basic work. For instance, why change the font and font size? Formatting to their specs was like painting a gray elephant gray. I write well, so my submission would get in by its merit alone. Editors change things anyway.
This was my mantra, at least until the rejections poured in, some unopened. A few editors issued warnings to follow the rules, but most never replied. Only after speaking to a few editor friends did this lesson truly hit home.
Editors will reject a submission faster than they’ll fix one, often without informing the writer of why. Several hundred pieces can cross an editor’s desk a day. They cannot reply to each one, not and keep their own deadlines. After speaking with my editor friends, I understood that by making an editor's jobs easier, I could increase my chance of getting my pen in the door.
Then my boss promoted me to Assistant Editor. Now I was staring from the other side of the desk. The view changed.
Immediately I noticed few writers followed guidelines. I spent my days being nice and fixing their shortfalls. Yet the same writer made the same mistakes over and over again. A few minutes spent fixing one project could turn into hours and days with hundreds of submissions each week.
When I had a deadline for eighty submissions and could only edit twenty because of guideline mistakes, the work backed up, jeopardizing my own deadlines (and my job).
Once in a while a project met the guidelines. Not only did I enjoy the writing, but I was more inclined to accept her future work and recommend her to other editors. Why? Because she didn't make me work as hard. Editors aren't lazy; they just have a lot to do in a limited amount of time. Every click matters.
I didn't do these writers any favors by fixing their guideline issues. So, to both improve their submissions and save me time and trouble, I edited the magazine’s submissions page so it was more understandable. Now when someone sends me a submission that’s trouble from the get-go (usually what’s required in the e-mail subject line), I don’t even look at it. I simply hit the reply button and send a note asking her to resubmit via our guidelines, with a link to the submissions page.
I don’t have to even do this. Frankly, most editors won’t. But if writers can’t get the first thing I request correct, I’m not going to open the email. After my reply, most writers resend their material, adhering to the rules, and I’m a happy camper.
You want your editor to be happy!
Being an editor has changed the way I submit as a writer. I follow the guidelines, because they are rules. Now editors ask me to write articles for them. My work is taken seriously because I follow guidelines and my work is polished. Both editor and I are satisfied, because she doesn't have to tinker, and I get paid!
BIO
Beth is currently Assistant editor at Ruby for Women Magazine. She is also a Christian humorist, poet, and songwriter. Her work has won awards at the West Branch Writer's Conference for every category she entered. Beth Brubaker’s biggest thrill is to make others laugh, but also come away with a little wisdom.
http://footprintsinthemudblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.bethbrubaker.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Brubaker-Inspirational-Humorist/325894520878841
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Footprints-In-The-Mud/288917434104
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COMPETITIONS
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BRIGHTHORSE BOOK PRIZES
https://brighthorsebooks.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE.
In addition to the $1,000 prize and publication in each category, the winning writers will split net profits on book sales 50/50. The editors reserve the right to offer to publish any manuscripts submitted to the competition in addition to the prize winners. Deadline August 16, 2015. All submissions are considered for publication. Authors writing in English, regardless of nationality, residence, or publication history may submit to the competition.
THE SISKIYOU PRIZE FOR NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LITERATURE
http://siskiyouprize.com/
$25 ENTRY FEE.
Award is $1,000, an offer of publication from Ashland Creek Press, and a four-week residency at PLAYA. The contest is open to unpublished, full-length prose manuscripts, including novels, memoirs, short story collections, and essay collections. Manuscripts should be approximately 40,000 to 90,000 words (i.e., please do not send novellas or individual essays or stories; please also note the contest is not open to poetry or children’s books). “New environmental literature” refers to literary works that focus on the environment, animal protection, ecology, and wildlife. Deadline September 1, 2015.
STILLHOUSE PRESS RINEHART NONFICTION CONTEST
http://www.stillhousepress.org/contest
$25 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline July 15, 2015. $1,000 and publication, 20 copies of book, and paid transport to a 2016 Fall for the Book event announcing publication. Submit a complete manuscript of narrative nonfiction, either a collection of linked essays or memoir, between 60,000-90,000 words. Manuscript should include a query letter and a synopsis with an overview of the work.
TETHERED BY LETTERS' SUMMER 2015 LITERARY CONTEST
http://tetheredbyletters.com/submissions/contest-submission
ENTRY FEE $15 per Short Story; $7 per Flash Fiction OR $15 for three Flash Fictions; $7 per poem OR $15 for three poems.
We are currently accepting submissions for our short story contest (1,000 to 7,500 words, open genre), flash fiction contest (55, 250, or 500 words), and poetry contest (max of three pages per poem). All winners will be published in F(r)iction. All finalists will receive free professional edits on their submission and be considered for later publication. The prizes are $500 for the short story winner, $150 for the flash fiction winner, and $150 for the poetry winner. Deadline August 31, 2015.
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GRANTS
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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
http://www.nps.gov/acad/getinvolved/supportyourpark/artist-in-residence.htm
The Artist-in-Residence Program at Acadia National Park offers professional writers, composers, and all visual and performing artists the opportunity to pursue their particular art form while surrounded by the inspiring landscape of the park. Location Bar Harbor, ME.
CHULITNA LODGE WILDERNESS RETREAT
http://chulitnalodge.com/artists
Chulitna Lodge Artist-In-Residence Program seeks to provide the time, space, clarity, and facilities for all forms of creative professionals to make and meditate. We encourage the gamut, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic hobbyists, to apply for our various programs. Location Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. No deadline.
ANCHORAGE MUSEUM POLAR LAB
http://polarlab.anchoragemuseum.org/make-art/
Polar Lab invites artists to engage the North through short and long-term projects and non-traditional residencies. Polar Lab places artists inside the Museum and inside the North to present insider views of relevant issues impacting northern people and places. Some residencies expand over multiple years and are research-based. Others offer audience engagement within or beyond Museum walls. Artists intervene with Museum spaces and exhibitions, providing contrasting perspectives, critical commentary, and performance and engagement. Location Anchorage, AK.
ANDERSON CENTER
http://www.andersoncenter.org
The Anderson Center provides retreats of two to four weeks' duration from May through October each year to enable artists, writers, and scholars of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment to create, advance, or complete works-in-progress. A rotating Peer Review Panel comprised of professional artists, writers, and scholars annually screens and selects all applicants. Location Red Wing, Minnesota. Deadlines in February and March.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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FREELANCEWRITING.COM
http://www.freelancewriting.com/conversations-literary-agents.php
Seeking experienced freelance writers to contribute to a new editorial feature called “Conversations with Literary Agents.” The new section will feature 15-20 interview-driven how-to articles that help both published and unpublished book authors obtain representation with a trusted literary agent. Each article will address a distinct topic and incorporate advice, suggestions, and strategies from five to 10 experienced, credentialed literary agents. The new editorial feature is designed to help authors overcome common and uncommon problems as they search for a suitable literary agent. This writing gig is open to U.S.-based part-time or full-time freelance writers who are skilled at writing top-notch, journalistic articles. Word length: between 1,500 and 2,000 words per article. Payment $150 per article issued upon acceptance via PayPal. Deadline: TBA.
OUTPOST
http://www.outpostmagazine.com/25-outpost-information/173-contributor-guidelines-contribute-to-our-t...
Travel and adventure stories. Columns and smaller stories range in length from 1,000 to 1,500 words. All payment rates for content submissions are negotiated with the publisher on an individual basis. Long-form journalism and travel writing, detailing a particular adventure travel experience you or someone else had: typical length is 3,000 to 5,200 words, but can be longer if the subject allows and when the prose is exceptional.
ALASKA AIRLINES
http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/guidelines/
Alaska Airlines Magazine is the monthly in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than 2 million travelers each month in nearly 100 destinations, including Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Hawai‘i, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico. Additional cities added in recent years include Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, St. Louis and San Antonio. The Journal department is the best way to break into Alaska Airlines Magazine. Journal is a collection of short pieces that range from business personality profiles to new museum exhibits in cities served by Alaska Airlines. We pay a kill-fee of one-third the contracted price. Rates begin at $150 to $250 for short articles in the Journal section (200 to 600 words); $150 for business shorts (500 words); $500 for columns (1,600 words); and $700 for features (2,000 to 2,500 words).
YOUNG DISCIPLE
http://www.youngdisciple.com/magazine/contributor-guidelines.aspx
Young Disciple magazine is a weekly publication dedicated to the preparation of young people for heaven. The target age group is roughly grades 5-8. Fillers to features, word count ranges from 100 to 1,200 words.
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JOBS
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EDITOR - MOTHER EARTH NEWS
http://www.ogdenpubs.com/human-resources/mother-earth-news-editor.aspx
Skills in editing and managing content about sustainable living, modern homesteading and environmental issues required. Interest in online media strongly preferred. Experience with renewable energy systems, hands-on country skills and/or DIY projects a plus. Job duties for this position will vary based on the editor's experience and talents. Specifics may include editing magazine articles, managing online content, multitasking various projects across departments, promoting and networking content through social media, and otherwise contributing to a fast-paced and highly engaged environment. Applicants are welcome from all levels of experience. This is a full-time position that requires working in our office in Topeka, Kan.
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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BEAU COUP
http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/manuscript-submission/
We strive to make Beau Coup a publishing house which offers quality books in multiple genres. Our authors will receive above and beyond support and service. We specialize in ebook sales, but we also offer print books. Beau Coup is always looking for talented authors to join our team. We are currently seeking books with a story length 50,000 words or greater. Interested in erotic romance, mainstream romance, and the occasional mystery, thriller, scifi, and new adult.
ENDEAVOUR PRESS
http://endeavourpress.com/submissions/
Endeavour Press are now accepting submissions from new and established authors. Endeavour Press are looking for works of at least 25,000 words in length, as well as full length books, both fiction and non-fiction, in the following genres: Crime Fiction and Thrillers, History and Historical Fiction, Romance and popular Women’s Fiction.
BLACK AND WHITE PUBLISHING
http://www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php/infopages/submissions
We accept both solicited and unsolicited manuscripts for fiction, non-fiction and young adult. We are currently NOT accepting poetry or short story submissions. Interested in YA and crime in fiction. Interested in True Crime, Food, Humor, Memoir, and Sports in nonfiction. Separate imprint Itchy Coo is open to children's books.
POST MORTEM PRESS
http://www.postmortem-press.com/Submission.php
We are not interested in zombies, werewolves, or vampires. We are interested in unique psychological horror, hard edged or supernatural mysteries, and fast paced thrillers. Post apocalyptic books need to be extraordinary with NO zombies. Sorry, no fan fiction or series books where other books in the same series have been published elsewhere.
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SPONSORS
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Early Bird Discount
From Author, Editor & Writing Instructor Stacy Juba of Crossroads Editing Services
Sept. 28 – Oct. 12, 2015 – How To Turn Your Author Blog Into A Powerful Marketing Tool – $10 if enrolled by 7/31. Will provide authors with resources to enhance their blog/web site and drive traffic toward their books.
Nov. 2 – 29, 2015 – Time Management Secrets for Authors: How to Balance Writing, Book Marketing, and Your Schedule While Igniting Your Creativity – $20 if enrolled by 7/31. Writers will take important steps to advance their careers while reducing stress. Whether you’re struggling to overcome writer’s block, beef up your book promotion, or get your writing career launched, this class will arm you with the skills to reach the next level.
Further information at: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/workshops/.
HIPPOCAMP: A CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITERS
Three days of creative nonfiction goodness in a city rich in arts and culture, Lancaster, Pa. Dozens of break-out sessions, panels with publishing professionals and authors, social events, and optional craft and query workshops. Keynotes: Lee Gutkind and Jane Friedman. Lancaster is 2.5 hours from NYC; 1 hour from Philadelphia; 90 mins from Baltimore/DC area. Amtrak station less than mile away. Brought to you by Hippocampus Magazine. Get all the details here: conference.hippocampusmagazine.com. Just for FundsforWriters subscribers, save $10 using code FUNDS upon registration.
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
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/
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.
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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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