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Volume 15, Issue 52, december 25, 2015 |
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Message from the Editor
Gosh, it's 80 degrees here in South Carolina on Christmas, and it thundered last night. You know what that means. When it thunders in the winter, expect snow ten days later. I could take a little of that. Just a little, mind you. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and if you do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you all the joy that comes with a glorious day. Happy 2015 and here's to wondrous writing in 2016.
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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COURAGE
In this, the last newsletter of 2015, the best gift I would give you for 2016 is courage.
The most common concern I receive from writers is how to weather the insecurity and fear of putting yourself out there in the world. I dare say it stops many from submitting, and many others from submitting seriously.
Lack of courage keeps us writing for free (or two cents per word).
Lack of courage keeps us from attending a conference and asking questions.
Lack of courage keeps us from joining a critique group.
Lack of courage keeps us from pitching an agent.
Lack of courage keeps us from entering contests.
Lack of courage keeps us from speaking to groups.
Lack of courage keeps us from writing daily, for fear the investment is for naught.
In making your plans for 2016, set a plan for becoming courageous.
Decide to step out with your writing. I know. It sounds easier than it is. I understand. Having written The Shy Writer Reborn from personal experiences, fears, and misgivings, I have experienced most anything you can throw at me. Speaking stumbles, pitch embarrassments, submissions rejected with debasing phrases.
List some steps you'll take to be courageous with your writing next year, such as:
Pitching a local magazine.
Speaking locally to a small group.
Submitting to presses in your town or state.
Entering a small contest once a month instead of the national big ones.
Reviewing someone else's book on Amazon in a serious, thought out manner (shows your writing skills without being direct).
Joining a writers group.
Introducing yourself to the librarians in your area.
Attending a one-day writers conference or retreat locally.
You don't have to go national with your work. Selling 5,000 books within thirty miles of your house is just as great as selling across the country. The number is the same. Less travel, less stress, less stranger-danger feeling.
Can you imagine how creative we'd be if we were fearless? That gives me shivers just thinking about it. But that's what I wish for you . . . more courage in 2016. I'm not asking you to tackle the universe; just be bolder doing little things, so that you then become bolder about the middle-sized things. Baby steps turn into marathon runs, just one step at a time. It's when we stop stepping that we fail.
Take a moment to listen to the podcast interview I did with Dorit Sasson about this very subject. It was a fun session and might help you in your journey. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.
Giving Voice to Your Story podcast - How to Overcome Fear.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/givingvoicetoyourstory/2015/12/10/the-courage-to-promote-your-book-with-c-hope-clark
Thanks
- Hope
Holiday savings!
Murder on Edisto (ebooks) are featured by Amazon (and therefore B&N) in a monthly holiday special. $1.99 for December only.
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.
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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 FROM HOPE: I've used these templates for ARCS, review copies for Edisto Jinx and fell in love with them!
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Upcoming Book Signings and Classes!
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 4 - McCormick County Library, SC - Plot Development - 6:30 PM
Feb 9 - Judy Foster McNeely Book Club, Charleston, SC - 6:30 PM
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 3 - McCormick County Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
Mar 7 - Ann Carlson Georgetown, SC Book Club - 3:00 PM
Mar 10 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
Mar 14 -21 - EDISTO BEACH, SC!
Mar 22 - Darlington Library, SC - Character Development - 6:30 PM
Apr 7 - McCormick County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 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 5 - McCormick County Library, SC - Getting Published - 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!
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WORDS OF SUCCESS
"Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public."
~Winston Churchill
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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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Hey Hope,
I just wanted to tell you what an inspiration you've been to me. Because of you, despite my teaching (and commuting) and working a 50+ hour-a-week job, you've made me put my butt in the seat and get it done (and have the novel almost finished). Because of you, I have had 14 book signings this year, three radio interviews and two television appearances.
Speaking for all who read your Funds for Writers e-newsletter, YOU are OUR Muse.
Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Theresa
www.TJensenLacey.com
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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Creative Business Planning for Writers
By Michael Falcone
Samantha graduated from her writing program several years ago. With high marks and big dreams, she found herself working a department store instead. On some nights she compensated by setting plots to paper, but, in truth, her writing aspirations never took off. Procrastination settled in and, with that, a major loss in time and enthusiasm.
 Writers like Samantha usually diagnose the problem as a lack of creativity. Little do they know that dreams aren't always fueled by imagination. Sometimes you need to work the business angle before the writing one. A business plan is a good place to start.
Creative writers often overlook the value of a business plan. They believe it's all about money and don't want to get involved with the facts and figures of it. They shy away from financial planning because it's considered too left-brained for the artist. But even the simplest career layout will do. Not all big dreams have to start with dramatic origins.
Basic preparation can make a big difference. With a little time and effort, small, but specific plans can transform writing ambiguity into a clearer sense of success. Good planning will mitigate self-doubt which, in turn, could minimize distractions. Setback won't turn into months of procrastination. A handy overview, such as a business plan, keeps a writer on track and financially stable in the long run.
Here are four specific examples to show how the elements of a simple business plan could help Samantha – and writers like her – move towards success:
(1) A business plan enhances self-image. Every business plan contains an executive summary which defines the endeavour. Writers could use this statement to define a sharper self-image which will bolster self-confidence and enthusiasm. By knowing their "about section", they can feel more confident in decision-making and time management. This definiteness of purpose also sends the signal that she is the real thing because she's got a real plan of action to back her
up.
(2) A business plan encourages social connections. A good plan helps determine how you will market to  potential mentors and publications alike. It defines your social circle too. A writer isn't born overnight and certainly not alone. Support is essential for success. A business plan challenges the writer to define which
influences and niche excites her the most as well as where to focus her work.
(3) A business plan doubles as a funding manual. A writing aspiration needs real money to back it up. It is a sign of commitment and self-trust. A writer willing to budget for dreams will show that she's willing to walk the walk and talk the talk. Whether it be for contests, paper clips or new software, writers stand a better chance when they have money to spend. It not only makes sense for the pocketbook, it keeps the writer's ego alive and healthy too.
(4) A business plan marks important dates and deadlines. A writer is nothing without her deadlines. Procrastination runs rampant in the community and following up on one's goals is crucial to success. A business plan gives a bird's-eye view of what needs to be done and at what time. A writer in control is a strong writer; she will be focused during tough times and wiser during good ones.
Creative writers, like Samantha, aren't always the first to admit they're in business. But the art needs to be supported by a real commitment and what better commitment than to invest real time and money into the dream. A business plan blends resources, time and faith into one document that's handy to read and change as the journey unfolds. It is the writer's career bible, so to speak, a clear guide towards writing happiness.
Samantha doesn't have to waste time any more. She can set down a simple business plan which will transform her attitude and goals towards a real path towards success. Without doubt, opportunities await her prepared mind.
Bio:
Michael Falcone is a professional writer and creative life coach living in Ottawa, Canada. He specializes in writing online content for topics such as self-help, entertainment and spirituality. His life coaching practice focuses on realizing fulfillment through a mindfulness and self-compassion approach.
Michael Falcone, Creative Life Coach:
http://michaelfalconecreativelifecoach.blogspot.ca/p/home-page.html
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COMPETITIONS
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WERGLE FLOMP HUMOR POETRY CONTEST
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flomp-humor-poetry-contest-free
NO ENTRY FEE.
Deadline April 1, 2016. Limit one poem with a maximum of 250 lines. First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $250.
Honorable Mentions: 10 awards of $100 each. Top 12 entries published online.
STRINGYBARK SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.stringybarkstories.net/competition-info/the-stringybark-short-story-award-2015.html
A$9.95 ENTRY FEE.
The Stringybark Short Story Award is our annual open themed award and will be presented to the writer whose story entertains the judges the most. You have a maximum of 1,500 words in which to achieve this feat. International entries are most welcome. The story must have a connection, no matter how incidental to Australia (eg the protagonist might dislike Tony Abbott). First Prize - A$400 cash + publication + e-book + paperback + choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (other than
the Stringybark Short Story Award anthology). Second Prize - A$175 cash + publication + e-book + paperback + choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (other than the Stringybark Short Story Award anthology). Third Prize - A$75 cash + publication + e-book + paperback + choice of any two Stringybark anthologies (other than the Stringybark Short Story Award anthology). Deadline January 31, 2016.
WENLOCK INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
http://www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org/competitions/
£5 ENTRY FEE.
1st prize: £500. 2nd prize: £200. 3rd prize: £100. One poem will be judged as Highly Commended. Deadline March 7, 2016. Open to anyone over the age of 17. Poems should be titled and not exceed 40 lines, excluding title.
2016 PSYCHOPOMP MAGAZINE SHORT FICTION AWARD
http://psychopompmag.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline January 31, 2016. As with our regular submissions, we ARE open to realist fiction and work that may veer towards the hard genre but are most interested in stories that work between these realms and/or is innovative in the way a story is told. First Place Award: $500 and issue publication. All finalists will be considered for publication on our site as “special contest features.” Submit up to 6,000 words.
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GRANTS
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WORKSPACE
http://lmcc.net/program/workspace/
Workspace is a nine-month studio residency program for emerging artists working across all disciplines. The program offers 25-30 artists more than just free, dedicated studio space to create and develop their work and practice. It also provides artists a chance to engage with peers and arts professionals, present their work to the public, and participate in career-advancement opportunities. Deadline January 28, 2016. Location Lower Manhattan.
NEA LITERARY PUBLISHING GRANTS
https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/literature
Literary publishing projects are those that support print and/or digital literary magazines and independent and university presses that primarily publish poetry, fiction, drama, and/or creative nonfiction by contemporary writers and translators. Projects may include but are not limited to: Publication and distribution of books and magazine issues. Payments to writers (e.g., royalties, honoraria). Marketing and promotion efforts to increase book sales or magazine circulation and expand
readership. Digitization of publishers' backlists and other endeavors to make work available in new and emerging markets. Innovative experiments or technologies that deepen audiences' engagement with literature and/or provide writers with new platforms and tools to create work. Collaboration within and/or across fields to advance literary publishing in the digital age and reach new audiences for literature. Deadline February 18, 2016. NOTE: This may need to be a collaborative effort on
your part with a press if you are an individual author and do not have a publishing arm.
NEA AUDIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/art-works/literature
Audience and professional development projects are those that support national and local activities designed to promote and develop audiences for literature. (Projects that are primarily focused on publishing and/or distributing books or journals should be submitted under the other Art Works deadline.) Projects may include but are not limited to: Residencies, readings, author tours, writing workshops, conferences, and literary festivals. Podcasts, radio, video, and/or media endeavors that
promote literature. Innovative uses of technology, media, or new models to provide readers with access to writers and literature. Efforts to maintain or augment America's literary infrastructure and provide services, advice, and technical support to writers, translators, and literary organizations. Collaboration within and/or across fields to reach new audiences for literature. Deadline July 14, 2016.
BARBARA DEMING MEMORIAL FUND - GRANTS FOR WOMEN
http://demingfund.org/apply-pd-11.php
Open to citizens of the United States and Canada with primary residence in these countries. Deadlines December 31 for Fiction, Mixed Genre, and Visual Art; and June 30 for Nonfiction and Poetry. They award small artist support grants ($500-$1,500) to individual feminist women in the arts.
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FREELANCE MARKETS
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MODERN DRUNKARD
http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/submissions.htm
We accept all manner of fiction, though experimental fiction is less likely to be published. Short poetry entertained. We're looking for stories with a positive view of drinking - if we wanted boo-hoo ballyhoo we'd go to an AA meeting. The story should be imbued with drinking. If alcohol doesn't rear its lovely head on the first page, you're submitting to the wrong magazine. But nonfiction articles are most in demand, and the range is broad. It could be historical (Drinking
in Colonial America, Ancient Greece, etc.), humorous, or instructional. Our present rate of payment is ten cents per published word for articles and short stories. Prose length is 1,000 to 4,000 words.
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. Payment for full-length stories (about 1,500 words) is made when the story is accepted for publication. Please do not send essays, sermons or fiction. We almost never use poetry and do not evaluate book-length material. Expect
roughly ten to twenty words/word.
RANGE
http://www.rangemagazine.com/guidelines/index.htm
RANGE magazine is an award-winning quarterly devoted to the issues that threaten the West, its people, lands, and wildlife. Known for its powerful photos and straight talk, RANGE portrays "The Cowboy Spirit on America’s Outback." It exposes a land in crisis and shows how daily challenges are being met with grit, determination and humor. No stranger to controversy, RANGE is the leading forum for opposing viewpoints in the search for solutions that will halt the depletion of
a national resource - the American cowboy. We use a lot of freelance material. Regular features, tightly written, run 1,200-2,000 words; mini-features 600-1,200 words. Columns and "Confessions of Red Meat Survivors" (great nostalgia about people over 80) run 500-650 words. Payments are from $50 to $400 per article. RANGE buys First North American serial rights.
ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/about-us/writers-guidelines/
Adoptive Families is the leading information resource for parents before, during, and after adoption. The award-winning quarterly digital magazine and website provide independent, authoritative adoption parenting advice and real families’ stories. We want to hear your stories. We encourage you to share your insights and experiences with other adoptive families. And we’re always looking for great writing. We consider all submissions on a speculative basis.
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JOBS
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KOHL'S DIGITAL MERCHANDISING WRITER
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs2/view/94877641?trk=jobs_biz_prem_srch
Responsible for writing compelling, feature/benefit-focused copy for all products for sale on www.Kohls.com. This involves conducting competitive and vendor research to identify industry best practices and develop copy standards. Merchandise-specific content includes: product descriptions, product guides, size charts and other product-specific copy, brand, trend and gift descriptions and product video scripts, as well as feature editorial and promotional copy. Location Menomonee Falls,
Wisconsin.
AGENTS / PUBLISHERS
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BEACHWALK PRESS
http://beachwalkpress.com/submissions/
Beachwalk Press is accepting submissions of all subgenres of romance. We are only accepting works with a rating of "sensual" or higher. Submissions must be no less than 15,000 words and no more than 75,000 words. We are not accepting "sweet" romances or young adult romances.
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/submit
We are seeking ROMANCE fiction in the following sub-genres: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Historical, LGBTQ, Multi-cultural, New Adult, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense/Thrillers, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult.
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING
http://www.evernightpublishing.com/pages/Submissions.html
Romance publisher. All sub-genres of romance need to have a HEA or HFN ending. Regular submissions 15,000 words to 100,000 words. Romance on the Go 8,000 to 14,000 words. Naughty Fairy Tales 15,000 to 35,000 words. Planet Alpha 25,000 to 50, 000. Anthologies 5,000 to 10,000 words.
OMNIFIC PUBLISHING
http://omnificpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=2&zenid=7743dfd91adcc1cd490c0beb32f89568
Categories: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Erotica, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult Romance, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Omnific "O" (Erotic Contemporary Short Story 10,000-40,000 words).
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SPONSORS
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A new software program automates scheduling and tracking tasks for book projects, particularly great for indie authors. It's called Book Planner, another Joel Friedlander product, so that alone sells me on it. ~Hope
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
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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!
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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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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
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