FundsforWriters - April 15, 2016 - Return on Investment...for Your Time

Published: Fri, 04/15/16

Volume 16, Issue 16 | April 15, 2016

Message from the Editor

So, how do you like the fresh look? I felt it time to upgrade FundsforWriters and brighten the image. We are updating data and sprucing the website as well. I'm curious what you think. Like it?

Also, for those of you who didn't know, FundsforWriters made the 2016 Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers for the 16th year. Proud cannot begin to describe the feeling. Such an honor.

And for fun, I used a picture from the SC State Library when they filmed me for three videos on writing and critiquing. Such a fun experience. And I'm teaching classes in five counties in South Carolina - talking about How to be a Success, Plotting, Characterization, Editing, and Publishing. If you're in SC and want to attend, scroll down and see the schedule.

It's spring, it's warm, and life is grand!

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 2000

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.

TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
AUTHOR SITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark
BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Editor’s THOUGHTS

RETURN ON INVESTMENT . . . FOR YOUR TIME

I touched on this subject in another post earlier this year, but I want to hammer it here. You are a writer. Your time is torn between the keyboard and marketing yourself (not to mention your private life and whatever job is subsidizing your endeavors). Your time is money. It's ALWAYS money, so don't throw it away. So when you decide to get involved in any writing activity, you must be able to measure the return on investment. What's it worth in terms of your annual income for you to get involved?

Conferences - Don't go without a mission. What will you bring home from this event? While you'll make friends the purpose isn't social. It's business. What will you achieve here that makes it worth your money AND the time away from your writing? Is the conference too large for your taste? Do they provide answers to exact topics you need? Do you need an agent and do they provide one that fits your genre? Measure a conference from all angles before attending.

Signings - Will you be the only person at a poorly advertised event, selling three books in as many hours? Or is it well-advertised with expectations of good sales? Yes, it is controllable and predictable. If it isn't, someone isn't doing their job.

Mass signings - There's a trend to gather as many authors as possible together and meet in some venue to sign. However, if there are as many authors as attendees, or even 30 authors and 200 attendees, will you sell enough books in that day (or two) that will justify the travel and cost? What are the genres represented? How much advertising has been done? How many books have sold at these events in the past? How much percentage of your sales do you have to pay for the privilege?

Book Fairs - These little events can net huge rewards, or reap nothing. Know the event. Keep it as local as possible, both diminishing expense and capitalizing on the homegrown author reputation.

Classes - What are the teacher's credentials? What do previous students say about the class? How much is the fee and how much time will you have to invest? How will you specifically implement this class into your writing plans?

Webinars - What are the presenter's credentials? What are they selling? Does the program fit into your schedule AND your writing plan? Be wary of impulse-to-buy deals.

Book Clubs - Believe it or not, these little gems often pay for themselves. Not only does the club choose your book (meaning sales to the members), but they may pay you an honorarium to attend. And since the members already read one of your books, you have the chance to promote your others in person...and offer to autograph them while you're there! Ask the club what they expect to learn more. They love to talk about themselves.

Advertising - Know before purchasing advertising how others have fared. Are you better off paying for advertising or writing twenty guest blog posts and stealing your writing time? What is the net profit for each of your books so you can determine how many books you must sell to justify the expense. Don't play if you don't know.

To know how to calculate your investment, to determine whether to participate or not, you do your homework, and that's where most writers fall short. They listen to what's said on Facebook or in chatrooms and don't actually research the events/activities themselves, thinking they don't have the time. There is no excuse for not doing your homework. Not with all the information readily at your fingertips as you sit so comfortably at your desk. To say you can or cannot afford to do something should mean you have the knowledge of why, to include the pros and cons of how it accurately can aid or inhibit your career . . . or pocketbook.

–Hope Clark

WE HAVE 2 NEWSLETTERS - THE FREEBIE and THE PAID SUBSCRIPTION . . .

Remember that FundsforWriters, this newsletter, is free. Send it to whomever you like and share it liberally. But if you are serious about writing income resources, and your time is limited, consider subscribing to TOTAL FundsforWriters. It comes out biweekly, with 70 contests, markets, grants, retreats, publishers, freelance gigs, magazines and more, It's huge, but it saves you a lot of time searching. It's $18.75 for a year, or 26 issues. To subscribe, simply go towww.paypal.me/chopeclark/18.75 . It will be sent to the email you used unless you specify otherwise.

(NOTE TO THE WISE: Send a receipt for one of Hope's books at other than a $1.99 or $2.99 price, and receive TOTAL for free.) (**and feel free to steal this graphic for your own site!)

Upcoming Book Signings and Classes! (All times in Eastern.)

  Apr 26 - Darlington Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  Apr 28 - Anderson County Library, SC - Successful Editing - 6:30 PM
  May 2 - St. Stephen's Library, SC - Habits of Successful Writer - 5 PM
  May 3 - Daniel Island Library, SC - Plotting - 5:00 PM
  May 4 - Timberlake Book Club, Chapin, SC - 1:00 PM
  May 5 - McCormick County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 9  - Goose Creek Library - Characters - 5:30 PM
  May 10 - Hanahan Library - Editing - 6:30 PM
  May 12 - Calhoun County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 16 - Moncks Corner LIbrary, SC - Publishing/Marketing - 6:00 PM
  May 17 - Sangaree Library, SC - 5:30 PM
  May 24 - Darlington Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  May 26 - Anderson County Library, SC - Getting Published - 6:30 PM
  Jun 7 - Ida McCaskill Book Club - St Andrews Shepherd Ctr, Cola, SC - 9:30 AM
  Jun 11 - Hartsville Book Fair, Darlington, SC
  Jun 23-25 - Midwest Writers Center Conference - Davenport, IA
  Aug 1 - Batesburg Library Mystery Club, Batesburg/Leesville, SC -6PM
  Aug 18-21 -Killer Nashville Conference, Franklin, TN
  Sept 18 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Sept 25 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Oct 2 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM
  Oct 9 - Columbia County Library, Evans, GA - 2:30 PM

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

~Winston Churchill

THE EDISTO ISLAND MYSTERY SERIES
http://www.chopeclark.com/

"A sparkling Edisto Island setting, a flawed heroine, a riveting mystery, and the hint of a paranormal twist makes EDISTO JINX the book for your beach bag. Author C. Hope Clark brings to life the uniqueness that is Edisto, peppering the island with endearing and strong-minded characters that linger in your mind long after the last page is turned." --Karen White, New York Times Bestselling Author, www.karen-white.com

On MURDER ON EDISTO - “A taut, high-tension page-turner—in a unique and fascinating setting. An absolute winner!”
–Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Macavity winning author

Purchase any of Hope's books and receive a one-year subscription to TOTAL FFW free. Send receipt to hope@fundsforwriters.com

For an autographed version, click here. Email or leave comment in order on preference for autograph.

Success Story

Hi Hope,

I wanted to thank you for listing the Indiana Authors Award several weeks ago. I had no idea the award existed, but I am now a nominee in the nonfiction category.

Thanks again,
Tim Link
Talking with Dogs and Cats Book by Tim Link
http://www.talkingwithdogsandcats.com/

featured article

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Entering Writing Contests

By Cathy Bryant

Naturally you'd love to win a prize for your writing. Most writers crave affirmation and reward, and like everyone else, you need money. You proof your work, read the guidelines, and submit by the deadline, so you're a step ahead of many entrants, right?

Well - yes and no. Things aren't quite as simple as that, and here are some pitfalls to avoid. I've made pretty much all of these mistakes over the years - and when I stopped doing them, I won 20 writing contests.

DON'T:

1. Read only How to Enter page - but not the Terms and Conditions and FAQs pages.
On the How to Enter page you've been told to write a story up to 2,000 words on the theme of Whatever, and email it. Who could blame you if you do just that? Unfortunately vital information often hides on other pages. In the Terms and Conditions, for instance, you may find that entries have to be in a certain font. In the FAQs you may find that stories containing profanity will be disqualified. Check every page on the site that pertains to the competition. It's a pain, but it saves wasting your time.

2. Proof your piece in too short a time.
You've proofread your work. In fact you've read it through six times! Great, but did you read it six times one after the other? If there's time before the deadline, leave the piece for a week or longer so that you can proofread with fresh eyes. Even then there's a danger of seeing what you meant to write rather than what you actually wrote. Ideally you're fixed up with a writing comp buddy, and you proof each other's comp entries.

3. Forget to check the time zone.
You know the deadline, but make check the time zone. If it's GMT and you're on EPT, find out when exactly you need to get your entry in. It's very frustrating to miss out by a few hours. To be on the safe side, enter a day or two before the deadline.

4. Send your elegant sonnet to a competition that likes heartwarming tales of people who overcome life's obstacles, or vice versa.
If it's the inaugural year of the competition you may have no precise theme or detailed instructions to go on. In that case, gauge the tone and style of the website and research the judges. If the competition has run in previous years, read the winners. You're unlikely to win with a clone of a winning piece from last year, but you'll understand the type of writing the judges like.

5. Logic yourself out of entering.
You've written the piece, followed the guidelines, and read the rules and FAQs. You've proofed your entry. Then you have a thought sequence that goes something like this: There will be thousands of entrants. Is it really worth it?

Logically, it's a waste of time entering. You don't enter, convinced that you've been sensible. Have you, though? If there's an entry fee and you can't afford it, then yes. If you know of a better home for your piece, then yes. Otherwise, no. Your piece may not win, but you don't know how many entries there will be in even a free competition. One that I won had just 20 entrants. And you never know how you compare to the talent of the other writers. You just might be the cream of the crop!

BIO
Cathy Bryant has had three books published and won 20 literary awards, including the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Prize and the Wergle Flomp Humorous Poetry Contest. Cathy's listings for cash-strapped writers are at www.compsandcalls.com, updated on the first of every month. She lives in Cheshire, UK.

competitions

THE TISHMAN REVIEW SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://tishmanreview.com/contests/tillie-olsen-short-story-award/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Entries should consist of unpublished (including online and personal blogs) short stories not longer than 5,000 words in length. Deadline April 25, 2016. The winner will receive $500 and publication in the July issue. First runner up will receive $100 and possible publication and one honorable mention $50 and possible publication. All entries will be considered for publication.

FINDING MR. RIGHT
https://findingmrrightsite.wordpress.com
ENTRY FEE $5.
FINDING MR. RIGHT, an upcoming anthology, is seeking true story essay submissions from female writers worldwide. In addition to paperback publication, cash prizes of $200, $100 and $75 will be awarded to the top three authors that win our judges’ hearts in the categories of “Love At First Sight,” “Near Mrs.,” “Stupid Stuff I Did For Love,” “Were You There Along?” and “Table For One.” Deadline May 15, 2016.

RACHEL WETZSTEON CHAPBOOK AWARD
http://www.mapliterary.org/rachel-wetzsteon-chapbook-award.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
Submit a manuscript of fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, or prose poetry of about 7,000-12,000 words. The manuscript may be a collection of mixed pieces - short stories, flash fictions, prose poems, essays, or a stand-along excerpt from a longer work - but should be unified by a common theme. Deadline July 30, 2016. The winner will receive $250 and 25 copies of the winning chapbook, which will be printed and sold on Amazon.com.

HUMMINGBIRD FLASH FICTION PRIZE
http://pulpliterature.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Wow us with your most economical and brilliant storytelling. Want feedback on your story? Get a professional critique from one of the Pulp Literature editors for only $15 more. Deadline June 15, 2016. $300 prize. This contest is for previously unpublished works of fiction up to 1,000 words in length. Total entries limited to 300.

TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID FICTION & ESSAY CONTEST
Final Month

24th year. $4,000 in cash prizes, including $1,500 for the best story and $1,500 for the best essay. Submit short stories, essays, and other works of prose on any subject, up to 6,000 words each. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter, with over 50,000 subscribers. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Fee per entry is $18. Submit by April 30. Judge: Arthur Powers. Winning Writers is one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest). See guidelines, past winners, and enter online at www.winningwriters.com/tomstory

GRANTS

GREAT RIVER WRITERS RETREAT
http://www.mwcqc.org/contests/writers-retreat/
The Great River Writers Retreat winner is selected from an applicant pool of writers from Iowa and Illinois across multiple genres, and allows the winner to spend a week working on a specific writing project they have underway. The winning Iowa or Illinois writer will receive a 7-day/6-night residency, from September 3-9, 2016, at the Benet House Retreat Center in Rock Island, Illinois, a travel stipend, and an invitation to read to the literary community of the Quad Cities. The public reading of their original work will take place on September 7, 2015 at the Midwest Writing Center at 7 p.m.

MY TIME FELLOWSHIP FOR WRITERS WITH CHILDREN
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships-1/
A two-week residency is being offered by The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow for writers with children under 18 living with them. Thanks to a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, this Fellowship is designed to support parents who are also writers. The Fellowship entitles the recipient to a two-week stay at the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, in beautiful and charming Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Each resident has a private suite with writing space, private bath, and wireless Internet. The residency provides uninterrupted writing time, with a European gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room. Deadline for applications is June 1, 2016, and the residency can be used up until June 1, 2017.

MOONDANCER FELLOWSHIP FOR WRITING ABOUT NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships-1/
The Moondancer Fellowship is awarded to an author who expresses their love of and concern for the environment through their writing, whatever the genre. This fellowship provides for two weeks of free residency at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in the historic arts village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Each resident has a private suite with writing space, private bath, wireless hook-up, uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch. Final application date for entry to be postmarked is June 31, 2016.

FELLOWSHIP AT DAIRY HOLLOW - FOR NONFICTION PROJECT DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
http://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships-1/
The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow is offering a fellowship to an emerging or established writer working on a nonfiction project concentrating on mental health issues, focusing particularly on recovery from, and reconstructing aspects of a healthy life while living with, mental health challenges. The Fellowship entitles the recipient to a two-week stay at the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, in beautiful and charming Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Each resident has a private suite with writing space, private bath, bedroom and wireless Internet. The residency provides uninterrupted writing time, with dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room. Residents also share the camaraderie of other professional writers and artists when they want it and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch. Final application date for entry to be postmarked is July 31, 2016.

FREELANCE MARKETS

CORAL AND AMAZONAS
http://www.reef2rainforest.com/contributor-guidelines/
Payments range from about $100 to $500 per article, depending on length, complexity, the author’s experience, and whether or not images are included with the text. CORAL is the world’s leading marine aquarium magazine, read in English in more than 100 countries. Available in high-quality print and digital editions, published six times per year, bimonthly. AMAZONAS is the world’s leading freshwater-only aquarium magazine. Available in high-quality print and digital editions, published six times per year, bimonthly.

PROVIDENCE
https://providencemag.com/guidelines/
Providence publishes widely on matters intersecting Christian faith and theology with national security and foreign policy, international relations, political theory, defense, war, terrorism, global economy, energy, etc. Website: We prefer to publish 500-1.000 words but are willing to publish longer pieces so long as they are highly readable. Print journal: Book Reviews: 800-1.200; Essays: 1,500-3,000; Lead features: 3,250-4,000. Website pays $100 per post. For print journal we pay $250 for book reviews and $500-$1,000 for essays and features.

VFW
https://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Magazine/Submissions/
VFW magazine is published by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at its national headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Articles related to current foreign policy and defense along with all veterans issues are of prime interest. Manuscripts are usually 1,000 words, depending on the subject. Payment runs $500 to $1,000 for assigned articles and $500 to $750 for unassigned.

VIRGINIA QUARTERLY REVIEW
http://vqronline.org/about-vqr/submissions
Poetry: All types and length. Short Fiction: Length is from 2,000–8,000 words. We are generally not interested in genre fiction (such as romance, science fiction, or fantasy). Nonfiction: Length is 3,500–9,000 words. For poetry, we pay $200 per poem, up to four poems; for a suite of five or more poems, we usually pay $1,000. For short fiction, we generally pay $1,000 and above. For other prose, such as personal essays and literary criticism, we generally pay $1,000 and above, at approximately 25 cents per word, depending on length. Book reviews are generally 2,000-2,400 words and are paid at a flat rate of $500. Online content is generally paid at $100-$200, depending upon genre and length.

JOBS

COLLEGE BEAT WRITER/BLOGGER
Location Atlanta, GA
http://www.recruit.net/job/blogger_atlanta-ga_jobs/3DA8B7F7E32D4A97
Cox Media Group is seeking a seasoned, aggressive reporter to cover college football, breaking news, trends, issues and policies as well as to blog. The candidate should have 7-10 years experience covering a major college beat and have sufficient reporting muscle to be able to write deep enterprise as well as breaking news and have a knack for opinion blogging and for all forms of social media interaction. This reporter may also be assigned to cover recruiting.

publishers/agents

NOSY CROW
http://nosycrow.com/contact/submission-guidelines/
We’re on the lookout for exciting projects by both new and established authors, illustrators, paper-engineers, designers and other creative talent. We buy from agents, and sometimes directly from authors and illustrators. We publish books for children from 0 – 14. We mainly focus on books for children up to the age of 12. We’re looking for “parent-friendly books”, and we don’t publish books with explicit sex, drug use or serious violence, so no edgy YA or edgy cross-over. And whatever New Adult is, we don’t do it. As a rule, we don’t like books with “issues” that are in any way overtly didactic. We are aiming for distribution throughout bookshops in the UK and beyond, so we can’t easily publish things with a niche and/or a local interest.

PICADILLY PRESS
http://piccadillypress.co.uk/about/
We publish quality, family-friendly stories for young readers, engaging novels for teens and nonfiction books about young people.

STRIDENT PRESS
http://www.stridentpublishing.co.uk/submissions/
At present we are only accepting submissions for the following:
Illustrated children’s fiction for ages 5-8. We are particularly keen on humorous stories. (We usually commission illustrators separately, but we will consider self-illustrated work.) Shorter fiction for ages 7-10. This can be illustrated or non-illustrated. By shorter we mean typically 15,000-40,000 words. Mid-length fiction for ages 8-12. Any genre. We love humour, jeopardy, excitement and anything thought-provoking. Twee and traditional is not our cup of tea. Young Adult fiction.

CANDLEWICK PRESS
http://www.candlewick.com/about_faq.asp
Candlewick Press publishes hardcover and paperback books for children of all ages: outstanding picture books, easy readers, middle-grade and young adult fiction, poetry collections, nonfiction, novelty, and activity books.