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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
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JOIN US IN THE WINNER CIRCLE!
Where Writers Win - Use Code VIPW20
Normally $59.95, this special code will get you a full year's access to Where Writers Win's popular Winner Circle for only $39.95. What is the Winner Circle? We "shrink the web" for authors, to get you to those all-important influencers who can shout about your book to the widest audience. You'll enjoy access to vetted book reviewers and book bloggers by genre, interactive map of hundreds of live book clubs,
indie bookstores, interactive calendars of festivals, conferences and competitions, plus tools, tutorials, PR templates, discounts on partner services and more!
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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
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WHICH TOOLS IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES?
Whether you are freelancing or penning the next great American novel, these days the Internet slings hundreds of tools, clubs, databases and short-cuts at you, all filled with promises. They claim to make your journey easier, more profitable, give you access to people you'd never meet otherwise. What you don't realize is that many of them are simply attempting to make a buck off your eagerness.
Writers crave publication with a passion. So much so that they often lose the ability to judge efficiency. Writers also crave camaraderie, and all too often these groups give writers a sense of membership. I-feel-your-pain type of stuff. These online tools prey on both of those urges. They can steal your goals, making you focus more on the tool than the prize.
Oyster is shutting its doors. So is Authonomy. I just watched two publications change from paper and electronic to purely electronic, all in the name of "we meant to from the start" or "it's to save the environment." Any tool out there exists to make a dollar, just like you.
There's nothing wrong with some of these tools, if you accept them as working for you, not vice versa. You should feel you get what you pay for, not feel that the tool will sculpt you into something you're not.
You also don't need all those tools. A handyman may have a warehouse full of tools, but the majority of those he needs fits in his truck. Why should he invest into so many tools if he cannot see where they improve his productivity, success, and income?
Nothing beats hard work and research. Or word-of-mouth from those who've gone before you. Don't become so entrenched in tools, clubs, and services that if they disappeared tomorrow, you'd feel unable to continue. Recognize them for what they are. Choose the few that nurture your goal but don't distract you from it, and then strike out.
Write and submit. Promote and publish. And be able to trek on no matter what tool decides to fold because it's nary more than a tiny wrinkle in your pursuit of your craft.
= = =
Now . . . take a peek at the video trailer for Edisto Jinx. It was created by Jerome McCain, from BookFrenzyStudios.com I'll never try to make a trailer on my own again, and it won't take the whole minute of this trailer for you to see why.
Thanks
- Hope
 SILVER FALCHION AWARDS
Palmetto Poison and Murder on Edisto are entered in the Silver Falchion Awards affiliated with the glorious Killer Nashville Mystery Conference. One of the awards is the Reader's Choice, and I'd be honored if you'd consider voting for either or both of these books. You'll find one under Cozy/Traditional Mystery and the other under Private
Detective/Procedural Mystery. Bless you if you do! (And bless you if you don't.) http://www.killernashville.com/vote-for-the-silver-falchion-readers-choice-award/
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
Oct 17 - Class on Dialogue - Greenwood Arts Center (Room 102), Greenwood, SC - Open to public with small entrance fee - 10 AM to Noon
Oct 29-Nov 1 - Killer Nashville Con, Nashville, TN
Nov 9 - Habits for Writing Success - Calhoun Co. Library, SC - 6:30-7:30 PM
Open to public
Check out all of Hope's books
For the most up-to-date information about Hope, contests, writing industry information and giveaways, keep up with Hope on Twitter and Facebook. Things get more interesting in real time!
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WORDS OF SUCCESS
"Failure has been my best friend as a writer. It tests you, to see if you have what it takes to see it through."
~Markus Zusak
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EDISTO JINX
Is it a flesh and blood killer -
or restless spirits?
According to Sophie, the resident yoga mistress and psychic, beautiful Edisto Beach becomes a hotbed of troublemaking spirits every August. But when a visitor dies mysteriously during a beach house party, former big-city detective Callie Morgan and Edisto Beach police chief Mike Seabrook hunt for motives and suspects among the living. With tourists filling the beaches and local business owners anxious to squelch rumors of a murderer on the loose, Callie will need all the help she
can get - especially once the killer's attention turns toward her.
COMING OCTOBER 1st!
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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Let Hope know how FundsforWriters has aided you in your journey and see it posted here for all others to learn from! Send to: hope@fundsforwriters.com
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Earn More Money by Artful Negotiation
By Devyani Borade
Want more money? Don't hesitate; negotiate! Whether you are looking for higher salary at work, greater price on a house or better paying freelance assignments, the principles of negotiation remain the
same.
1. Assess yourself.
How long have you been in business? You can command a higher price if you're a veteran than if you're a novice. While some magazines welcome the fresh approach that new writers bring, many prefer to work with established writers for their experience and professionalism.
2. Assess the market.
What is the magazine's budget? Where do they get their funding from? How large is their subscriber base? What are their advertising rates? A privately-owned corporate publication will pay more than a
department journal run by college students. Who is holding the purse-strings? The editor may not have authority to release or liberty to negotiate payment.
3. Keep your finger on the pulse.
What are the current rates for your type of work? Ask around in writer's groups, associations or online forums. What do the editors of your chosen target market seek? Check Duotrope for interviews
indicating likes, dislikes and tips. Then tailor your work to align to them. The less revision your work requires, the more favorable your image, the stronger your bargaining position.
4. Have a holistic view.
Where is the magazine based? New York publications pay more than Wyoming ones. Is it boom time or bust? Recession can drag overall rates down, so raise your expectations reasonably.
5. Check your budget.
What have you put in to get your work out? Monitor writing-related expenditure - advertising, writing material, home office with a broadband connection, library membership, subscription to a writers' forum - and factor in these deductions from your income to determine your asking rate. Keep in mind currency conversions, bank charges and other hidden transaction fees and ensure payment covers a percentage of it.
6. Consider the complexity.
What type of article is it? What level of commitment is necessary? Researching, collecting supplementary material like photographs, arranging expert interviews, and including sidebars requires extra effort. Writing personal memoir doesn't.
7. Learn the legalese.
Understand what rights are being requested. Moving heaven and earth for an extra $10 for one-time electronic rights is not worth the hassle. Asking 50 percent more for all rights is.
8. Be principled.
Principles are any guiding rules we live by. Every person has different ideas about what is important to them and there is no one-size-fits-all. Be clear about what you want and what you are willing to forgo. Then stick to your principles.
9. Compromise.
Are you starving? Are you getting a chance to do something different that may offer new opportunities in future? Compromise on the money for non-monetary benefit-in-kind.
10. Be honest, persuasive and professional.
The best type of negotiation is a win-win situation for both parties. You want the editor to feel they have gotten a good deal while ensuring you don't get the raw end of it either. Be courteous, honest,
respectful and not defensive. Never be rude, threatening, sarcastic, argumentative or pushy.
After you receive an offer, put your request as an open-ended question like, "Is there any wiggle room in payment?" Don't mention specific amounts, let the editor re-consider and come back with a
revised figure. Be ready to walk away from the deal if expectations don't match.
Once you have settled the deal, honor the terms. Reneging on contracts can be expensive in terms of money as well as reputation. Uphold your integrity. It may pay off when you least expect it.
Negotiate and let your income appreciate.
BIO-
Devyani Borade writes on the humor and pathos of everyday life. Her articles on the craft, business and heart of writing have been accepted/published by nearly all writing-related publications in the
USA and UK. She likes to eat chocolates, read comic books and try her husband's patience! Visit her website Verbolatry at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com to contact her and read her other
work.
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COMPETITIONS
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HAMLIN GARLAND AWARD FOR THE SHORT STORY
https://www.beloit.edu/bfj/news/?story_id=443327
$20 ENTRY FEE.
$2,000 and publication to the top unpublished story on any theme. One story per entry, multiple entries acceptable. Maximum 7,000 words. All entrants will be considered for publication. Deadline December 1, 2015.
MAGIC OXYGEN LITERARY PRIZE
http://www.magicoxygen.co.uk/molp/prize-rules/
£5 ENTRY FEE.
Accepts short stories up to 4,000 words (not including the title). Poetry up to 50 lines (not including title or lines between stanzas). The theme is open. Electronic uploads are preferred but written entries are also accepted. The competition is open to writers all over the world. Entrants must be 16 or over at the time of submission. Entries must be written in English. Deadline December 31, 2015. Short story: 1st prize £1,000, 2nd prize £300, 3rd prize £100, Highly
Commended 2 x £50. Poetry: 1st prize £1,000, 2nd prize £300, 3rd prize £100, Highly Commended 2 x £50.
MEUDT AND KAHN POETRY AWARDS FOR COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATES
http://www.nfsps.com/CUP.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
Two winners will be chosen for the College Undergraduate Poetry (CUP) Competition, one receiving the Edna Meudt Memorial Award; the other receiving the Florence Kahn Memorial Award. For each winner, prizes include: $500 prize, publication of the manuscript as a perfect-bound 6"x9" chapbook, to be marketed through Amazon.com, 75 free copies of the chapbook, invitation to read from winning work at the 2016 NFSPS Convention, to be held June 9-13 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Also $300
travel stipend, if attending the convention and complimentary registration for the entire convention. Submissions open the first minute of December 1, 2015, and close automatically at midnight, Pacific Standard Time, on January 31, 2016.
PERUGIA PRESS
http://www.perugiapress.com/contest/
$26 ENTRY FEE.
For a First or Second Book by a woman. $1,000 and publication. Poet must have no more than one previously published book. Chapbooks and books in other genres do not count. Translations and previously self-published books are not eligible. Individual poems may have been published previously in magazines, journals, anthologies, and chapbooks of fewer than 48 pages, but the collection as a whole must be unpublished.
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GRANTS
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BITCH MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS FOR WRITERS
https://bitchmedia.org/article/announcing-bitch-media-fellowships-writers
Bitch Media, for almost 20 years an independent, nonprofit feminist media organization, is pleased to announce the Bitch Media Fellowships for Writers, a series of three-month intensive writing fellowships whose goal is to develop, support, and amplify emerging, diverse voices in feminist, activist, and pop-culture media. We are pleased to add four three-month fellowships to our offerings, each of which pay a stipend of $1,500 for the three-month period. We seek fellows who are passionate,
engaged, and interested in developing their unique voices. (Thanks erikadreifus.com)
COVE PARK
http://covepark.org/apply-or-book
Cove Park is a Scottish artists’ retreat located on the Rosneath peninsula, an hour’s drive west of Glasgow. In 2016 Cove Park is offering a minimum of three literature residencies. The residencies are open to writers around the world. The 2016 literature residencies will take place between May and September and last for between one and three months. Applications are invited from established writers of short and long fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and memoir, work that
crosses these genres and also writers who have made their reputation in one field and wish to develop in another. To be eligible for consideration, writers must have published at least one full-length book in their field and must not be enrolled in full or part-time education. Deadline December 7, 2015.
NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL ARTIST DIRECTORY
http://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/artists/artistdirectory/title/artists-how-to-apply-for-the-artist-directory
Artists who have an interest in working with the public are invited to apply for NAC's Artist Roster as either a teaching or touring artist. Applications will be accepted beginning September 1 and close Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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COUNTRY
http://www.country-magazine.com/contributor-guidelines/
We pay $250 for story submissions that run a page or more. Contributors published in Mailbox or Little Humor receive a gift certificate for a one-year subscription, or subscription extension, to Country Extra. Most other contributors will receive an authentic hand-forged iron dinner triangle. In our Just for Fun section, photos garner a dinner triangle; jokes and short items earn payment of $25. Country and Country Extra magazines celebrate the breathtaking beauty, engaging people,
enduring values and spiritually rewarding lifestyle of the American countryside.
WANDERLUST
http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/aboutus/writers
The vast majority of our articles are commissioned specifically for the magazine, and written by experienced journalists, guidebook authors or travel experts. Wanderlust aims to cover all aspects of independent, semi-independent and special-interest travel. We do cover soft adventure but leave the crampons and adrenalin stuff to other magazines. Off-the-beaten-track destinations, secret corners of the world and unusual angles on well-known places are always of particular interest. Pays
£220 per 1,000 published words.
WRITER'S MARKET 2017
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/call-for-submissions-writers-market-2017
Until 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on October 31, 2015, they’ll be accepting pitches for articles in the Writer’s Market 2017. Sometime in November, they’ll start making assignments. Previous articles have tackled queries, book proposals, taxes, record keeping, business management, and more. If you’re an experienced source and can interview other sources, that is ideal. However, they're unlikely to assign featured interviews with writers. Also not
interested in articles on the craft of writing.
POET'S MARKET 2017
http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/call-for-submissions-poets-market-2017
Running until 11:59 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on October 31, 2015, They’ll be accepting pitches for articles in the 2017 Poet’s Market. Sometime soon after, they’ll start making assignments. If you’re interested in pitching an article idea or three, read on. Interested in instructional articles for the following three categories:
Craft of Poetry: Articles on creation, revision, meter, etc.
Business of Poetry: Articles on submitting poems, reading poems, etc.
Promotion of Poetry: Articles on finding and connecting with readers.
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JOBS
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EDITOR - BOOKBUB
Location Cambridge, MA
https://www.bookbub.com/positions?gh_jid=101596
Do you know your Agatha Christie inside and out? Are you addicted to big, doorstop biographies? Look no further! BookBub seeks a talented individual with knowledge of mysteries, thrillers, and/or nonfiction to help curate and produce content for our fast-growing community of book lovers.
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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THE POISONED PENCIL
https://thepoisonedpencil.submittable.com/submit
The Poisoned Pencil publishes young adult mystery in trade paperback and ebook editions. We have full distribution to the trade through IPS. Our advance is $1,000.
AYESHA PANDE LITERARY
http://pandeliterary.com/about/
We have broad-ranging eclectic interests and we welcome submissions of all kinds. However, we don’t represent science fiction, romance, poetry, religion or inspirational books, business books, screenplays, illustrated children’s books or middle grade fiction. Always on the lookout for young adult fiction.
BARRICADE BOOKS
http://www.barricadebooks.com/index.php/about/single/submission_guidelines/
We publish very little fiction. And we do not publish poetry or children's books. We look for quality non-fiction manuscripts - preferably that lean toward the controversial. We are a publicity-driven publisher and look for books with authors who are committed to promoting themselves and their titles.
CENGAGE LEARNING
http://solutions.cengage.com/AuthorPartnership/Start-Now/
Cengage Learning is always looking for fresh new ideas to improve our current learning solutions. We would like to hear from you about how we can develop new materials to address the continual evolution of each discipline as well as meet current and future teaching and learning styles. We welcome your ideas for new textbooks, media projects, or fully online learning materials.
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SPONSORS
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Au revoir FundsforWriters.com, Debora's bowing out.
Now Debora and her Pen have their own kickass newsletter!
Within its virtual pages, these delightful cartoons continue as Debora
wrestles with the strange, weird and wonderful in the life of a
writer.
Laugh and sigh, grin and grumble, sulk and smirk with her as she
navigates the pleasures and pitfalls of the writing world, where
chuckles and chagrin abound.
Subscribe now (it's free!) at
http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html
LITERARY TECHNIQUES FOR GENRE WRITERS
Want to move from encouraging rejections to actual acceptances?
Cat Rambo's "Literary Techniques for Genre Writers" can help you
take your writing to the next level. This on-demand class can be
taken at your own pace, letting you work through sections and
exercises when time permits.
Rambo, a Nebula and World Fantasy Award nominee with over
200 fiction credits, is a clear and compelling teacher who mixes
lecture, annotated examples, and exercises to help you learn how
to write selling fiction. Find out more about Rambo's on-demand
classes at http://catrambo.usefedora.com/
BookFrenzy Studios provides professional video marketing services for authors including Cinematic Book Trailers, Promotional Videos and Social Media Video Ads. To learn more, visit their website at www.bookfrenzystudios.com
They did mine for Edisto Jinx! ~Hope
Mediabistro is a bastion of creative professional development for people at any level of learning. We offer classes across all disciplines, from Novel Writing to Marketing, to Public Relations and Social Media.
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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
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NOTE TO POTENTIAL SPONSORS:
FundsforWriters advertising rates will be rising come November 1, 2015. Any ads purchased before that time, regardless of when you wish them published, will be honored at the old, lower rate. www.fundsforwriters.com/advertising
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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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