FundsforWriters - December 4 - Are We Backing Away form the Screens

Published: Fri, 12/04/15

FundsForWriters: Tips and Tools for serious writers to advance their careers!
  Volume 15, Issue 49, december 4, 2015  
 
     
       
  Message from the Editor

Was going through old pictures for a project and found this one from 1992. Wow what time does to us. Just thought you'd like to see a younger, fresher me, before writing took its toll - LOL. 

Hope you're having a great week and weekend. As for me, I'm awaiting the arrival of a new grandson. He'll be here this weekend, we think, and right here in town. Can't wait!

Hope Clark
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.
 
 

 
 
 
  Read this isue online
   
  Read past issues
 
       
     
 
     
 

_______________________________________________________________________

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
_______________________________________________________________________

 


Get Feedback For Your Writing and Enter Writing Contests
At
FanStory.com


What you'll get:

Learn from feedback that will be written on everything you write. Share your poetry, stories and book chapters.

Enter fun writing contests with cash prizes. Choose from over 50 writing contests every month. View our contest listing.

Be a part of a community for writers of all skill levels. Make connections and friends.

Upcoming Contest Deadlines

Palindrome Poetry
A palindrome is a word (or sentence) that reads the same backwards as forward. So "Radar" is a palindrome. For a palindrome poem you incorporate it into your poem but do so with the sentences. See an example in the announcement.  A $100 cash prize!  Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 6th

Alouette Poetry
Create a poem that has two or more stanzas. Follow specific rules to create a unique and fun poem. See the announcement for the rules and an example.  Cash prize. Deadline: Dec. 11th

Acrostic New Arrival Poetry 
New to FanStory - this one is for you.  Write an acrostic poem. That's a poem where the first letter of each line spells out a word (downwards).   $100 cash prize.   Deadline is Dec 13th.

Share A Story In A Poem
Write a poem that tells a story. Deadline: Dec 20th. Cash prize to the winner!

Christmas Poetry and Christmas Story 
Share your poem and story for this special time of the year! Cash prizes! Deadline: Christmas Day.

Not sure how FanStory works? Watch our new video here.  Start getting feedback in five minutes! To find out more about FanStory click here.
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
EDITOR'S THOUGHTS
_______________________________________________________________________



ARE WE BACKING AWAY FROM THE SCREENS?
 
The business is changing, no doubt about that, but it's not just about whether to traditionally or indie publish. It's about layers of traditional publishing, a wide diversity of options in indie publishing, and a whole world of hybridization in between. It's no longer an either/or. 

I've mentioned The Hot Sheet before. It is a publishing industry newsletter for authors delivered every other Wednesday via email. It was created by Jane Friedman and Porter Anderson, who interpret the most important publishing news and distill it to the information you need to know. I was a beta reader, uncertain whether I wanted another newsletter in my email box. But now I'm hooked. http://hotsheetpub.com/

It's smart, and if you want to understand the publishing industry, in order to best decide your future, this is a newsletter you might consider. I'm an extremely fast reader, but this is one publication I do not skim. I save it for the end of the day when I want to truly understand what's going on in the publishing world.

For instance, I grabbed this from a recent edition:
 
•Decline of Facebook traffic to top 30 publisher websites since January: 32%
•Decline of Facebook traffic to top 10 publisher websites since January: 42.7%
•Decline to Huffington Post: 60.1%
•Decline to Fox News: 48.2%
•Decline to Buzzfeed: 40.8%

People are sick and tired of online reading material. When you read the articles about ebook sales being down as well, you realize that a lot of people are backing away from screens. But it's not so good for ebook-only authors, or those earning a living online. Many people are backing away from Facebook as well. We've been overdosing and appear to be self-correcting. And what's funny to me is that we no longer trust the big names to take care of us anymore, regardless of which way we lean politically. 

What does this mean for you and your books? My advice is not to knee-jerk your decisions. Be informed, but most of all choose what seems to fit you best. In the same edition of The Hot Sheet, they covered using Facebook to sell books, which is the way author Mike Dawson made his millions (and currently makes more millions selling his how-to classes). 

Choose your bed and lie in it. Decide how you'll produce your work and disseminate it, and own what you did. Capitalize on every angle and delve into every corner of whatever you choose. There is success to be had in all publishing arenas, but where most people fail is doing whatever they do . . . half-assed.
 
= = =


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!

Murder on Edisto (ebooks) are featured by Amazon (and therefore B&N) in a monthly holiday special. $1.99 for December only.




BDT-Square-200x200
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.




 
 
  Upcoming Book Signings and Classes! 
  
  Dec 19 - Palmetto Chapter Sisters in Crime, Private Residence - 2PM
  Jan 14 - Calhoun County Library, SC - The Habits of Successful Writers - 6:30 PM
  Jan 26 - Darlington Library, SC - The Habits of Successful Writers - 6:30 PM
  Feb 1 - Night Harbor Book Club, Chapin, SC - 7PM
  Feb 11 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Plot Development - 6:30 PM
  Feb. 13 - Workshop - Georgia Writers Assoc, Kennesaw, GA
  Feb 23 - Darlington Library, SC - Plot Development - 6:30 PM
  Mar 10 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
  Mar 22 - Darlington Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
  Apr 14 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  Apr 26 - Darlington Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  May 12 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Getting Published - 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!

 
 
 

WORDS OF SUCCESS
 
"All writing problems are psychological problems. Blocks usually stem from the fear of being judged. If you imagine the world listening, you'll never write a line. That's why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone."

~Erica Jong


 
       
       
 

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.

 
 
  Amazon / Kindle
Google
Kobo
B&N / Nook
Paperback
 
  Learn more and order
 
       
     


__________________________________________________________________

SUCCESS STORY
__________________________________________________________________



Hope -

I can't thank you enough for turning me on to Grammarly. One of my primary difficulties is deciding where to correctly place a comma. Grammarly makes the decision for me, allowing me to continue with my ideas while they are still fresh in my mind. I'm the sort of person who can forget that I need sugar while walking from the coffee aisle to baking supplies.

I have just completed the second book in a series of four, that I am doing for a pit bull rescue. All proceeds are going to help indigent pit bulls receive needed medical care, including spays and neuters. My service dog, Bonnie, who portrays herself in the series, was saved by an emergency fund when she was attacked by a dog and required major surgery early on a Sunday morning. This series is my way of repaying them so they can continue to help others.

I also have a second short story being considered by Chicken Soup for the Soul. I would not have known about the call for stories without the help of Funds For Writers. You have helped me far more than you realize and, I'm certain that you have done the same for many other writers.

Thank you again,
Kate Bales

 
__________________________________________________________________

FEATURED ARTICLE
__________________________________________________________________
 
 

Why Crowdsourcing Sometimes Works for Writers

By Stephanie Faris

Years ago when someone needed a writer, that person went through a marketing firm or relied on queries received after a call for submissions. In today’s “sharing economy,” writers can be found on the Internet easily, alongside people offering to design a company’s logo for $5 and manage entire marketing campaigns for $20. Unfortunately, this has led professionals to assume that the sharing economy is for amateurs. 

As someone who earned half her income last year through Elance, I’m here to tell you that professional writers do have a place in crowdsourcing. Businesses of all sizes use these sites to find talent and some of those businesses are eager to pay professional rates. If you’ve dismissed crowdsourcing as a way to supplement your freelance writing income, here are three reasons to reconsider:

It’s a Great Supplement

Even the busiest freelancer has slumps. One week your inbox is full of assignments and the next, you’re wondering if you’ll ever work again. Crowdsourcing gives you an option when it feels like all the editors have flown off to a tropical island somewhere. You can place a few proposals and maybe land an assignment or two. A couple of those assignments may even lead to ongoing work. The cost to join these sites and start bidding on jobs is minimal, so the only real cost is the time you’ll put into searching through all the requests for bids.

Experts Can Be Choosers

Before you sign up and begin searching for jobs, be aware that if you command a high per-word rate, you must learn to be selective. You’ve probably already discovered how to identify the low payers through their use of terms like, “Great opportunity to build your portfolio” and, “We don’t have a big budget, but we promise plenty of work.” Many of your proposals may be met with complete silence. But if you’re willing to put in the time, you can find clients who will pay your rate.

Finding Your Niche

Many freelancers learn that having a niche allows them to set themselves apart from others. Medical writers can command top dollar, as can those willing to write about science and technology. In the crowdsourcing arena, you’ll likely find that postings for articles and blogs are highly competitive, which means clients can pay ridiculously low rates. However, clients are willing to pay far more for important content, and you’ll discover that you can bid top rates for landing page content, sales copy, and press releases. Focus on these areas and you’ll avoid wasting time bidding on jobs requesting 20 articles about wedding dresses.

Due to the competitive nature of crowdsourcing, many freelancers quickly get frustrated with the work required to successfully bid on jobs. However, when funds are low and jobs are scarce, crowdsourcing can provide a valuable source of income and possibly lead to regular, reasonable-paying, maybe even long-term work.

If you’re ready to get started with crowdsourcing, here are some of the best sites to find writing gigs:

Bio
Stephanie Faris is the Simon & Schuster author of two middle grade novels, 25 Roses and 30 Days of No Gossip, as well as the upcoming Piper Morgan chapter book series. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, she worked in information systems for 13 years. Her work is regularly featured on a wide variety of blogs and websites, both under her own name and as a ghostwriter. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Neil. Visit her at http://www.stephaniefaris.com/.




______________________________________________________________________

COMPETITIONS
______________________________________________________________________



NEOVERSE SHORT STORY WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.neoglyphic.com/neoverse-writing-competition
NO ENTRY FEE.
Deadline December 20, 2015. 1st prize $2,000. 2nd prize $600. 3rd prize $200. 4th-10th prizes $100. Entries should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. They can be from any literary genre (History, Fantasy, Young Adult, Crime, Science Fiction, etc); however, we exclude and will disqualify entries that are obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, pornographic, racially or ethnically offensive, or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or violate any law.  Entries must be appropriate for reading and viewing by the general public. We welcome all authors from the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec).  



CHRISTOPHER DOHENY AWARD
http://www.centerforfiction.org/awards/the-christopher-doheny-award/christopher-doheny-award-submission-guidelines
NO ENTRY FEE.
The Center for Fiction and Audible, Inc. are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for the third annual Christopher Doheny Award. The award recognizes excellence in fiction or creative nonfiction on the topic of serious, life-threatening physical illness. The winner of the award must demonstrate high literary standards while exploring the impact of illness on the patient, family and friends, and others. With generous support from Audible, Inc. and the Doheny family and friends, the award includes a $10,000 prize and production and promotion of the book in an audio edition, with the option to pursue print publication with the assistance of Audible, Inc. Writers must have previously published in literary journals or magazines, or have published a book with an independent or traditional publisher. Self-publication does not meet this guideline. Deadline December 15. 2015. 



WILLA AWARDS
http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/pdffiles/WWW%202016%20WILLA%20Aplication.pdf
$50 ENTRY FEE.
The WILLA Literary Awards is a nationally recognized award given annually to writers for books featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the West. Women Writing the West, a nonprofit association of writers and other professionals writing and promoting the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the awards. Only books initially published and copyrighted in 2015 (in any form) are eligible. Deadline February 1, 2016. Seven categories. Awards include a plaque and $500 cash awards in each category. Stickers are provided for inclusion on winning books.



2016 PRESS 53 AWARD FOR SHORT FICTION
http://www.Press53.com 
$30 ENTRY FEE.
Awarded to an outstanding, unpublished collection of short stories. Award: $1,000 advance, 1/4-page color ad with author photo in Poets & Writers magazine announcing our winner, and publication of winning short story collection. Submit online with Submittable or by mail from September 1–December 31, 2015. Press 53 founder and Editor-in-chief Kevin Morgan Watson will serve as the only judge. Winner and finalists announced no later than May 1, 2016; advance review copies sent to major reviewers and outlets; publication in October 2016. 
 
_______________________________________________________________________

GRANTS
_______________________________________________________________________
 
 
PEARL HOGREFE FELLOWSHIP IN CREATIVE WRITING
http://www.engl.iastate.edu/creative-writing/mfa-program-in-creative-writing-and-environment/
The fellowship offers a talented writer one academic year to study creative writing full time at Iowa State University and focus on his/her creative work without distraction. The fellowship is granted for a nine-month academic year and currently carries a stipend of $1,800 per month ($16,200 total), in addition to full payment of university tuition and fees during the fellowship year. Applicants to the Hogrefe Fellowship may major in any discipline at Iowa State University. However, the Fellowship is designed for students interested in studying creative writing in the MFA Program in Creative Writing and Environment. Hogrefe Fellows are required to maintain full-time graduate status and take a minimum of six semester credits of graduate work in Creative Writing during the fellowship year. Fellowship support is contingent upon the student maintaining satisfactory grades. Deadline January 5, 2016.



WOODCOCK FUND
http://www.writerstrust.com/Programs/Financial-Grant/Woodcock-Fund/Program-Guidelines.aspx
The Woodcock Fund is a quick-access emergency resource that aids established Canadian writers who face an unforeseen financial crisis. Help is given to writers in many different situations providing them momentary relief, a period of financial stability, and the opportunity to complete their current writing projects. It is the only program of its kind available to writers in Canada, and is often the last place authors can turn for help.



HISTORIC JOY KOGAWA HOUSE
http://kogawahouse.com
Administered by volunteers involved with the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society and the Land Conservancy of British Columbia, this residency is available to writers in the early stage of a book project. Applicants must have published two books and have previous teaching and public speaking experience. Writers are expected to devote 40 percent of their time to public engagement. Residents receive a $2,500 per month stipend and typically stay at the house for three months. The residency is open between September and March. 



AL PURDY'S A-FRAME
http://www.alpurdy.ca
The Al Purdy A-frame Association offers writers the opportunity to live and work in a space and place of inspirational literary and historic significance and resonance. Residencies range from one to three months with writers receiving a $2,500 per month stipend. Travel is also provided. Applications from writers at all stages of their career are accepted, with strong consideration given to writers in the early stages of their careers. Location Ontario, Canada. 
 
 
__________________________________________________________________
 
FREELANCE MARKETS
__________________________________________________________________


 
COSMOPOLITAN
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=P%2bTI3UALB1rlCBgvlYElag%3d%3d
Send us an essay of no more than 800 words about a memorable, crazy, hilarious, or touching college experience. Stories about friends, class, dating, partying, studying, working, interning — anything that happened to you or around you in college is fair game. (Or: Tell us why you didn't go to college, why college is bullshit, what you're doing instead... ) If we publish your essay on Cosmopolitan.com, we'll pay you $100 — and hit you up for future assignments.



THE ESTABLISHMENT
http://www.theestablishment.co/pitchus/
The Establishment is looking to unearth overlooked stories, produce original reporting, and provide a platform for voices that have been marginalized by the mainstream media. And yes, we want your humor, wit, and good old-fashioned satire, too. We publish originally reported features, interviews, long-form journalism, personal essays, and multimedia of all shapes, sizes, and creeds. We pay $125 for features (800-1,500 words) and $500 for long-form (3,000 words). 



EVERYDAY FEMINISM
http://everydayfeminism.com/get-involved/apply-contributing-writer/
Everyday Feminism is seeking Contributing Writers who have a strong intersectional feminist analysis and excellent writing skills for online readers. To achieve this, our articles are written in a down-to-earth, emotionally reflective, and easy-to-read style and are normally 1,500-1,700 words long. $75 payment per post and additional bonus for high traffic posts. The Modern Love column pays up to $300.



GUIDEPOSTS
https://www.guideposts.org/writers-guidelines
Guideposts publishes true stories about people who have attained a goal, surmounted an obstacle or learned a helpful lesson through their faith. A typical story is a first-person narrative with a spiritual point that the reader can apply to his or her own life. The story may be your own or someone else’s. Payment for full-length stories (about 1,500 words) is made when the story is accepted for publication. Pays up to $250.
 

____________________________________________________________________

JOBS
____________________________________________________________________

 
 
CONTENT EDITOR
http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Expertise.com/jobs/Content-Editor-Fast-Growing-Startup-f70e1859506ac766
Expertise.com is a Seattle-based startup that is changing the way people connect with local experts. We have an incredible product, a proven business model, a rock-solid team, and are well-funded with impressive backers. We are looking for a full-time content editor to join our team in a contracted role.

__________________________________________________________________

AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
__________________________________________________________________
 

 
JOFFE BOOKS
http://www.joffebooks.com/submissions/
Mysteries, Romance, Thrillers, Detective, Suspense, are favourite genres. Great books which say something interesting about the world as you see it. We want full-length fiction. 



TYRUS BOOKS
http://www.tyrusbooks.com/submissions
Tyrus Books publishes about a dozen books per year in the crime and literary genres. Our books get award consideration and are reviewed in major trade and consumer publications. We’ve established a pretty good reputation for publishing exceptional books. We aim to keep that reputation.



ABDO
http://abdopublishing.com/connect/submissions-and-employment
Children's book publisher, specializing in educational books and products. Focuses on ages four to twelve. They publish series, preferably. 



ABSEY & CO.
http://www.absey.biz/submission.php
We accept mainstream fiction and nonfiction, poetry, educational books, especially those dealing in language arts. 
 
________________________________________________________________

SPONSORS
________________________________________________________________








Are you looking for feedback on your writing? Do you want to develop and deepen your craft? Joining a Writer Workshop is your right next step.

Join Gregory A. Kompes (MFA, MS Ed.) for a 4-week, craft-themed, MFA-style online writer workshop for writers serious about improving their craft.

The Writer Workshop (limited to 8 writers) includes: Feedback & critique; Craft development through lectures and videos; Learning from a diversity of writing; Discussion and Q&A; and Inclusion in a community of writers.

Register Today at WriterWorkshop.org









Enter the Gold Boat Journeys Mind Trips for Writers Contest!

Write 250 words (in any form) about a place that moves you. 
Odds are 1 in 50 you'll win a 2-night stay in your dream destination, 
on any date you choose.

https://littlegoldboat.submittable.com/submit/47795

Gold Boat Journeys (Creative Cultural Travel Tours)
Where do you want to go? Picture it and set sail. 

http://www.gold-boat.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. 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


 
 

=====


POTENTIAL SPONSORS:
www.fundsforwriters.com/advertising

 
 
 
____________________________________________________________________
 
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.

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.