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Volume 15, Issue 46, November 13, 2015 |
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Message from the Editor
Killer Nashville Noir's first anthology Cold-Blooded was a big hit at its release at the Killer Nashville conference. This was my first attempt at a serious short story, and "Rich Talk" was chosen alongside some pretty awesome mystery names like Anne
Perry, Robert Dugoni, Jeffrey Deaver and Steven James. I'm thrilled. This short form challenged me, and I was amazed at how much time it took to hone a short piece to its proper zing. I might have to enter more shorts in contests and anthologies. This was loads of fun!
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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LONG HAUL
I can't count the crash-and-burns that come across my email, and I hate to imagine the ones so destitute they don't even speak. Writers come to me so downtrodden, seeking answers. I reply to them, saying such things as:
"It takes diligence."
"Keep trying to improve."
"Write every day."
"Maintain an online presence."
"Keep your eye on the horizon."
"Sometimes it takes six, eight, ten books to see much income."
"Freelance in-between books to have some money coming in."
"Saturate your local market, each day making a contact to spread your name and build platform."
All the suggestions are tried and true, but none of them lead to overnight success. Very few get very excited at my response. I can hear their collective sighs as they feel they can't do something right because they wrote a book and it did not sell. You'd be amazed at how few copies book sells these days - regardless who the author is or who published the book. What used to sell for 10,000 copies now sells for 5,000. While the average book used to sell 500 copies, now
you're lucky for 100 if you have no platform.
But the book is not the point. Many of these people aren't writers. They want to have written. They want to see their name on a book. But they aren't writers.
Writers write. It's what they do. They want to do it daily. If they never published, they'd write. They just keep on keeping on. They journal, blog, write shorts, pen novels, record memoirs . . . with no expectation of becoming well-known or rich at the craft. Writers love to write, and those that channel that enjoyment, with an eye on the horizon of improvement, eventually do something with their writing. That's the reason indie publishing is so popular - because a writer
can write and publish and keep writing without the gatekeepers keeping 90 plus percent of the proceeds.
“Sometimes I can feel my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living.”
—Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
If you want to write, do it. Do it hard. Do it with passion. While Amazon rankings and awards are nice, they are not the goals. The goal is to live a fulfilled life thanks to writing, because that's what you love to do.
= = =
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
Holiday savings galore!
Lowcountry Bribe and Tidewater Murder (ebooks) are featured by Amazon (and
therefore B&N) in a monthly holiday special. $1.99 for November only.
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
Nov 21 - Palmetto Chapter Sisters in Crime, Grecian, West Cola, SC - Noon
Dec 19 - Palmetto Chapter Sisters in Crime, Private Residence - 2PM
Jan 26 - Darlington Library, SC - The Habits of Successful Writers - 6:30 PM
Feb 1 - Night Harbor Book Club, Chapin, SC - 7PM
Feb. 13 - Workshop - Georgia Writers Assoc, Kennesaw, GA
Feb 23 - Darlington Library, SC - Telling the Story - Plot Development - 6:30 PM
Mar 22 - Darlington Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
Apr 26 - Darlington Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
May 24 - Darlington Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
Jun 23-25 - Midwest Writers Center Conference - Davenport, IA
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
"You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page."
~Annie Proulx
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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.
http://www.chopeclark.com/
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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If you've had a success thanks to FundsforWriters, please share.
Send to hope@fundsforwriters.com with SUCCESS STORY in the subject line.
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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The Power of Little Free Libraries (and What They Can Do for Indie Authors)
By Amanda Zieba
As I reflect on the launch of my most recent book, I noticed that many aspects of sharing my words with the world remained the same. The typical author paranoia was present. The prolific social media posting was also there. And of course there was the incredible sense of
accomplishment that overshadowed all the worries as I held the finished product in my hands.
Little Free Libraries are not a new phenomenon. Started in the great state (my state!) of Wisconsin, this grassroots literacy movement to get books in the hands of children and adults alike has swept not only our nation, but the world. Little Free Libraries, with their philosophy of “take a book, leave a book”, now reside in over 70 countries. Individuals and businesses can build their own, or purchase a kit, to create a free standing, weather resistant, library to sit on
their boulevard, outside their storefront or even on a bike path. What is more amazing than the access to the books is the community of readers and neighbors that grows around these ingenious creations.
So, how, is my self-published book connected to this fabulous, book loving and sharing endeavor? How, as an indie author, can it help build up your name, readership and reviews? It’s simple.
As I took orders for my new book, a common statement kept popping up. “I’ll take one for me, and one for my Little Free Library.” At first I thought, “Excellent! More sales!” But as the orders for Little Free Library copies continued to roll in, I began to see there were bigger possibilities than just a few more books sold.
I started to think about my books, being read and shared and circulated in communities far from my own - for free. On the inside cover of each book I sell to a Little Free Library Steward (owner/operator) I will glue an insert, displaying all of my books and how to order them. I will also leave a short note asking for an honest review on Amazon and information about my school visit presentations.
So much of an indie author’s success depends on word of mouth referrals. Little Free Libraries is a thriving book loving community. The people who operate them and visit them love books, and love to talk about them. Entire Facebook pages and websites are dedicated to the love of Little Free Libraries and feature book reviews, pictures of Little Free
Libraries and engaging conversations about books.
This is where the book lovers are. It’s where I plan for my books to be. This is where your book needs to be. During my first week of this new book launch, I sold approximately 172 books, 14 of them to Little Free Libraries. Fourteen people I do not know will encounter my work. Fourteen people who could like my Facebook page , leave me a review, join my eNewsletter or decide to buy the rest of my books off of Amazon . Those 14 people will return the book to another Little Free Library and it will be picked up by another reader, and another and another. These libraries may be small, but they have a lot of power, especially in the indie author world.
Bio 
Amanda Zieba is the author of five children's and young adult novels. She has also written many lifestyle articles for yahoo.com and regional print magazines. When not teaching full time, or hanging out at home where she is outnumbered by boys three to one, she squeezes in her writing time. In October Amanda is releasing a new book unlike anything she has written before. Combining her 10 years of teaching experience, her writing skills and the contributions of six other authors, she
has created and is proud to introduce: Under Construction: A Young Writer's Workbook. Email her or message her on Facebook to order your copy. Amanda.zieba@yahoo.com / Facebook page
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COMPETITIONS
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MONADNOCK ESSAY COLLECTION PRIZE
http://www.bauhanpublishing.com/the-monadnock-essay-collection-prize/
$30 ENTRY FEE.
Bauhan Publishing is a New Hampshire independent publishing company that has just introduced a new annual writing contest: The Monadnock Essay Collection Prize. The prize will be awarded for a book-length collection (120-160 pages or 50,000-60,000 words) of nonfiction essays. The essays can take any form: personal essays, memoir in essay form, narrative nonfiction, commentary, travel, historical account etc. as long as they have not been previously published as a collection. Deadline
January 15, 2016. Winning manuscript receives $1,000, publication of their collection, 100 copies of the published book, distribution with our other 2016 fall titles through our partner UPNE (University Press of New England).
MONICA SCHREIBER PRIZE FOR HUMOR - FICTION AND NONFICTION
http://www.bradschreiber.com/mona.htm
$5 ENTRY FEE.
Limit 750 words. Deadline December 1, 2015. Genre humor - either fiction or nonfiction. Prizes $500, $250 or $100.
SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/firstnovel/
$35 ENTRY FEE.
The winning author will receive a book contract with Hub City Press, an award-winning independent press in Spartanburg, S.C. Upon successful execution of the contract with Hub City, the winner will receive a $1,000 advance against royalties. Hub City will publish at least 2,000 copies of the book, which includes a book for every public library branch in the state. The winning author will also receive invitations from The Humanities Council SC and the South Carolina State Library to appear
and sign books at significant events. Deadline March 15, 2016. Only manuscripts between 150 and 400 (single-sided) pages are eligible; submission must be an original work of which the applicant is the sole author; self-published books are ineligible, including e-books.
BLUE MOUNTAIN ARTS POETRY CARD CONTEST
http://www.sps.com/poetry/index.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
Deadline December 31, 2015. 1st prize: $300. 2nd prize: $150. 3rd prize: $50. In addition, the winning poems will be displayed on our website. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.
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GRANTS
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SU-CASA
http://lmcc.net/program/su-casa/
SU-CASA is a community arts engagement program that places artists and organizations in residence at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. The program provides selected artists with a stipend in exchange for the creation and delivery of arts programming for seniors. The program has two components: 1) artists will engage participating seniors in an art project or series of cultural programs over the course of the residency, and 2) the residency will include a public
program component – exhibits, readings, performances, open houses or other cultural interactions open to the surrounding community. The program will support a total of 101 residencies for individuals and organizations at senior centers across the City’s 51 Council districts, with 20 of those residencies based in Manhattan. Deadline November 30, 2015.
AZULE RESIDENCIES
http://azule.org
AZULE, as an emerging art and community-based organization, is developing a retreat and residency program for artists and craftsmen, writers, architects, builders and environmentalists, academics, educators, social workers or researchers, or anyone who wish to enjoy Appalachia and Azule way of life or wishes to get involved. In the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Hot Springs is seven miles away; Asheville is 50 miles away.
BANFF CENTRE
http://www.banffcentre.ca
Arts programs are at the core of The Banff Centre. Programming supports the commissioning and creation of new work by individual artists and arts collectives, and provides resources for collaboration and applied research. Training and professional development is offered at the post-graduate level in more than a dozen art forms including, music, theatre, dance, opera, Indigenous arts, literature, ceramics, print-making, painting, papermaking, photography, sculpture, audio engineering,
digital film and video, and new media. The Centre also partners with national and international arts institutions to bring art incubated in Banff to stages and concert halls around the world. Deadlines February 15, 2016, May 15, 2016, and September 15, 2016.
BRIDGE GUARD RESIDENCIES
http://www.bridgeguard.org
Located in Štúrovo in south of Slovakia, on the shores of Danube. It is a small town with 12,000 inhabitants that doubles in the summer season. Host pays accommodation, phone and internet basic fee plus up to 50€ and public presentation expenses. Grant of 350€ per month. Centre supports artists, scientists or any other professionals working on projects with the idea of bringing together, connecting, bridging. Intriguing idea of each resident having a time to
"guard" the bridge.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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THE IOWAN
http://www.iowan.com/about/contributors/how_to_contribute__writers.cfm
Each issue offers readers a collection of shorts — articles of 500-750 words — that cover timely issues, current trends, interesting people, noteworthy work, enticing food, historical and historic moments, captivating arts and culture, beckoning recreational opportunities, and more. Tackling a smaller piece is a good way to introduce yourself and your skills to us, and to try your hand at speaking to The Iowan’s audience. Features generally range from 1,000–1,500
words (some longer, depending on subject matter and depth) and cover every topic imaginable with only two primary rules: 1) solid storytelling and 2) great photography potential.
A LIST APART
http://alistapart.com/about/contribute
We accept submissions for original, feature-length articles only (not blog posts or columns). These typically run between 1,500 and 2,000 words. We do not publish anything that’s been published elsewhere (including on your blog). We pay $200 per article, typically within a month of publication. We’re always looking for new authors. If you’ve got an idea that will challenge our readers and move our industry forward, we want to hear about it. But you don’t need to
wait for an idea that will redefine web design. Just aim to bring readers a fresh perspective on a topic that’s keeping you up at night.
ADDITUDE
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/writers-guidelines.html
We're always looking for great writers and great stories about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, and related conditions. Articles are usually 2,000 words or less and payment varies according to the article length, the experience and expertise of the author, and other factors.
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JOBS
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ASSISTANT EDITOR
http://miel.ohbara.com/wordpress/want-to-edit-for-miel
MIEL, a micropress based in Belgium, is looking for an assistant editor for 2016. Responsibilities include editing, limited admin, and the possibility of design (an anticipated six-eight hours per month); compensation is a €200 honorarium, books, training, and support. Writers of color, LGBTQ writers, and women writers are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants may be based anywhere in the world as long as they have a reliable Internet connection. Deadline November 30, 2015.
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AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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BEAU COUP PUBLISHING
http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/manuscript-submission/
We are accepting submissions for the following genres:
Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, BDSM, Western Romance, Historical Romance, Menage Romance, GLB Romance, Motorcycle Club, Mainstream Romance, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Historical Romance, Sweet/ Inspirational Romance, Science Fiction Romance. We also accept books in the following categories: (Right now we are currently welcoming but limiting acceptance in these areas) Mysteries, Thrillers, New Adult.
BLACK & WHITE PUBLISHING
http://www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php/infopages/submissions
Fiction - commercial women’s fiction, especially chick lit, saga and romance, crime and psychological thrillers, contemporary YA and New Adult crossover books, children’s fiction. Non-fiction - memoirs, sport (UK and Ireland in particular), humour, food and drink, activity books. Black & White Publishing is happy to read material from potential new authors and accept unsolicited manuscripts for both fiction and non-fiction from the UK, Ireland and further afield.
BLACK, INC.
http://www.blackincbooks.com/submissions
Black Inc. is happy to consider proposals for general non-fiction, including history, current affairs, biography and memoir, and for fiction. Black Inc. does not accept unsolicited proposals for poetry or children’s books. Please take a look around our website to get a sense of the range of books we publish.
BLUE TULIP PUBLISHING
http://bluetulippublishing.com/submissions/
Blooming Tulip is our sweet romance line. Basically, these types of stories are ones that you wouldn’t mind letting your twelve year old read, or even your great grandma.
Blushing Tulip is our sensual romance line. The story lines are heavy on the sensual tension, plot driven, but can include sex and some swearing.
Traveling Tulip is our time-travel and fantasy line. We want stories that take the reader to another time and place. These books do not have to be romance driven at all.
Broken Tulip is our New Adult line of works. These stories are heavy on the angst and drama.
Young Tulip is our YA and Children’s line. These stories can include anything from 5 years of age to 18.
Living Tulip is our non-fiction and autobiographical line. A non-fiction should teach things, be soul searching, and want to cause change.
These are the genres and subgenres that Blue Tulip Publishing is currently accepting submissions for. We are looking for authors that understand the importance of marketing and are motivated put in the hard work!
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SPONSORS
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Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents the 23rd Annual
WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY
January 15-18, 2016, Stockton Seaview Resort, Atlantic City, NJ area
Treat yourself to a writing getaway that will advance your craft and energize your writing. Enjoy challenging and supportive workshops, insightful feedback and an encouraging community. Choose from fiction, memoir, screenwriting, songwriting and poetry. Scholarships available.
"I had a more enriching experience at the retreat than in the book-writing group I attended for a year. Our workshop leader was at the top of the scale, keeping the workshop intensive, genuine, supportive and inspiring." — Juliet, Aspiring Novelist, Philadelphia, PA
Explore the world's most advanced story coaching program - without charge
Here's how to look over the shoulder of one of the world's top story writing coaches, an Amazon top-rated author and PhD in Creative Writing – at no charge. Let me show you all the strategies and tactics I used to coach more than 2000 students to win awards and see their fiction published, distilled into easy-to follow checklists and templates. And your first BIG sample of the program - no fewer than 57 brilliant writing ideas - costs you nothing at all. Discover more
at: http://www.writers-village.org/wva-plus-ffw.php
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
NOTE: This is the company for Jerome McClain who did my book trailer for Edisto Jinx. You should have seen the jaws dropping open as authors, agents, and editors alike saw the quality of the video trailer for Edisto Jinx on a screen at Killer Nashville. AWESOME!
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.
For a limited time, we are offering new students 10% off any course! Visit our online course catalog to find the course that is right for you and register today.
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
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.
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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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