SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

ALL-INCLUSIVE WRITING VACATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents
LIVE FREE AND WRITE
August 14-19, 2016, Dexter's Inn, Sunapee, NH

Join us in New Hampshire for a supportive writing retreat. Spend a week working on your memoir or poetry chapbook. Enjoy the refreshing New England summer with plentiful writing time, encouraging workshops, homemade meals and time to relax. Scholarships available.

Workshops include: "Reimagining Memoir" with Mimi Schwartz and "Poetry Chapbook Workshop" with Lois Marie Harrod; retreat hosted by Peter Murphy.

"I've never done an overnight writing retreat before and was amazed at how much writing happened just being away from home. The atmosphere was perfect: open, honest, sincere and so encouraging. Definitely worth the money, the drive and the time!" — Anne, Belmont, MA

Register by July 1 and save: www.stockton.edu/murphywriting 


 

Editor’s THOUGHTS

CONTESTS AND JUDGING

In the same week I received critiques from the judges of the RWA Kiss of Death Daphne du Maurier Mystery Contest, I also received notice that Murder on Edisto had been selected to represent South Carolina for the Route One Reads Initiative. The only title chosen from SC. The theme was mystery and the book had to represent physical location(s) in the state.

"The diverse reading list created by Route One Reads highlights each individual State Center for the Book while celebrating the East Coast as a whole. By participating in Route One Reads, readers can travel across 15 states and the District of Columbia without taking a single footstep, or load selected books into the car for a literary road trip." http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/news/sc-center-book-selects-murder-edisto-2016-route-one-reads-initiative

The problem was that the judges' critiques were good, bad, and in between, with the three judges unanimously positive in two main points, setting and dialogue - but all over the place in other aspects. Try reading such comments on the heels of being told your book was highly respected.

Yes, the judges' comments stung, and I made myself read them several times and glean the positive. Yes, there were many positives as well, but the overall score of one judge told me she hated the book. As long as I write, I cannot deny that reading or hearing negative still smarts a bit. However, I made myself remember what they said. Why? Because I will double-check myself even more, making sure what I wrote was the best I could write.

No two people think alike. No two judges judge alike. Some judges rate better in the morning, or your submission was reviewed after the judge was brain dead for the day. However, all the comments plant seeds for me to consider in future books. Critiques can do your book a world of good . . . once you let the sting subside, collect your writing wits back together again, and realize there's good in all of this. 


 

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Take a look at our Resources page at the FundsforWriters website. Hope has read each and every one of these books, and most are still dog-eared and highlighted on her book shelf and come highly recommended. 



 

WORDS OF SUCCESS

Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.

~Ernest Hemingway

Success Story

If you've had any sort of success from receiving FundsforWriters, we want to hear about it. Toot your own horn and ours, too!. Send no more than 150 words to hope@chopeclark.com with SUCCESS STORY in the title.

 

featured article

BREAKING INTO FEATURES

By Alex J Coyne

Tired of the “1,000 words for $5” markets? Break out of them and into writing features. Editors pay good money for excellent writing. All it takes is solid ideas and unique angles. 

FEATURES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Hard news is a magnifying glass, and features are an aerial view (i.e. CAR ACCIDENT CLAIMS 5 vs. CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS SPEAK OUT). They present a different look at a topic with a unique spin. Word count varies, from 500 to 5,000 words, and there are many types. Interview pieces, profiles, how-to pieces and testimonials are all features.

Your main market will be magazines (print and online), so your first step is research. As a practice exercise, pick out a feature piece and familiarize yourself with the topic, the content, the general style of the author and publication, the side-bars as well as the ads on the page accompanying it.

Deconstructing another piece is a great way to learn to find out what makes a feature tick, or doesn't.

Pick up a magazine and leaf through it, go online, or go here for a list of Pulitzer-winning features: (http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Feature-Writing)

Have a look at the Writers Market guide to find out who takes features. http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Market-2016-Trusted-Published/dp/1599639378

GETTING STARTED

As feature writers, you are essentially selling ideas.

When pitching, keep it to the point. Pitches should run no more than 250-700 words. An editor wants to know what you want to cover, how you want to cover it (including the facts and numbers!) and why you should be the writer to do it. 

Spell-check before hitting send (nothing worse than ending with "kind retards"), and learn the editor's name and general style of the publication before you pitch. The writer's guidelines, which are usually on the publication's website or can be requested from the editor, should tell you everything you need to know. 

Don’t overdo it, and avoid trying to be “fancy”. Samples and ideas should speak for you.

If you impress the editor, you’ll receive a brief, including your word count, rate (usually per word, and always better than a “content mill”), topic and deadline. Make sure that you and the editor are on the same page. Get everything in writing before you start. If you aren’t sure, ask!

THE PROCESS

My first feature was for the Afrikaans women’s magazine Vrouekeur (on endometriosis, an important topic for readers), and it was the first time I paid the rent with my writing. I pitched everywhere until I got it right, and when I did, writing was finally worth something. No more content mills! I went on to write many more features – including for Moneyweb, The Investor, People Magazine SA and Writers Write.

The writing process differs, but here’s what works for me:

•    Pre-search
Do your research first. Who can you interview, quote and source? Make sure your sources are reliable; cross-reference facts. Double-checking now is always better than an apology later.

•    Pitch
Tell the editor more about you and your idea. Include examples, research and consider the famed“Five W’s (and one H).

•    Putting it together
Start off with an introduction that grabs the reader, then lead into the body. Stick to the word count; make sure it flows. 

•    To the editor
Send it to the editor who believed in it. Your article could be rejected, sent back for changes or accepted. Once your article gets accepted for publication, you can send your invoice. Congrats! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex J Coyne is a South African freelance journalist, author, translator and language practitioner. He is available for hire through his blog. http://alexcoyneofficial.wordpress.com

 

Ompetitions

WINCHESTER POETRY PRIZE
http://www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/#!poetryprize/ac4ks
£5 ENTRY FEE.
First Prize: £1,000. 2nd Prize: £500. 3rd Prize: £250. Deadline July 31, 2016. In addition to receiving cash prizes winners will be invited to read at a special prize-giving event at Winchester Poetry Festival on Sunday, October 9, 2016. Winning and commended poems will also be published in a competition anthology to be launched at Winchester Poetry Festival. Limit 40 lines per poem.



GEMINI MAGAZINE FLASH FICTION CONTEST
http://www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html
$5 ENTRY FEE.
Knock us out in 1,000 words or less. $1,000 grand prize, $100 second prize, four honorable mentions of $25. Deadline August 1, 2016. 



THE CATHY SMITH BOWERS CHAPBOOK CONTEST
http://03c9c48.netsolhost.com/WordPress/contests/cathy-smith-bowers-chapbook/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline: June 15, 2016. $1,000 and 50 copies of published book to winner. Length: 28-40 pages of poetry. 



PRESS 53 POETRY AWARD
http://www.press53.com/Award_for_Poetry.html
$30 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline July 31, 2016. Award includes publication by Press 53 of the winning poetry collection as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection, $1,000 cash advance, and a 1/4-page color ad in Poets & Writers magazine. The Press 53 Award for Poetry is awarded annually to an outstanding, unpublished collection of poems. This contest is open to any writer, regardless of his or her publication history, provided the manuscript is written in English and the author lives in the United States.

 

GRANTS

MARYLAND GRANTS
https://www.msac.org/programs/individual-artist-award
The Maryland State Arts Council's annual Individual Artist Award (IAA) recognizes the importance of artists and their works of excellence to the cultural vibrancy of Maryland. Each year, awards of $1,000, $3,000 or $6,000 go to Artists from across Maryland who are selected through an anonymous process by an out-of-state jury on the basis of artistic merit alone. Deadline July 22, 2016.



THE MILLAY COLONY FOR THE ARTS
http://www.millaycolony.org/programs/the-residency-experience/apply/
Next Application Deadline: October 1, 2016. Each year Millay Colony invites over 64 visual artists, writers and composers to our campus for a residency inclusive of private bedroom and studio as well as all meals. No fees are charged for these residencies. Residents are chosen anonymously by a panel of jurors. The application process is competitive and The Millay Colony accepts residents solely on the basis of artistic merit. Our admissions policy does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, sexual preference, religion, marital status, disability or nation of origin. We do not require references.



PLAYA
http://www.playasummerlake.org/apply.html
PLAYA, in south central Oregon, is a retreat for creative individuals who are committed and passionate about their work and who will benefit from time spent in a remote location. PLAYA offers seclusion and quiet in a natural environment and the opportunity for interaction, if desired, with a cohort of residents and the local rural community. A residency provides the time and space to create substantive work or to research and reflect upon one's creative or scientific processes. PLAYA's residencies are open to artists, scientists, naturalists, and individuals engaged in forms of creative research. Residencies are awarded for two to eight weeks and include housing, work or studio space, and twice weekly group dinners at no cost. There is a $35 application fee for individuals ($70 for collaborative teams). Deadline September 1, 2016.



NEW JERSEY ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/grants-for-artists/#state-fellowships
Individual Artist Fellowships are awarded to practicing New Jersey artists through an anonymous, competitive application process to help them pursue their artistic goals. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation provides administrative support and organizes application review for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships program. Deadline July 15, 2016. 
 

FREELANCE MARKETS

GEORGIA
http://georgiamagazine.com/contactus.asp?menu=7
GEORGIA Magazine is the most widely read magazine for and about Georgians. Each issue celebrates the Georgia lifestyle in word and photo, revealing the spirit of its people and the flavor of its past in a friendly, conversational tone. As a nonprofit publication, fees, including expenses, start at $500 for features (first-time North American rights), and photography support is required either by providing actual slides, prints or digital images (minimum 300 dpi) that serve as illustration or as examples for photo shoot possibilities. Shorter articles and departments range from $400 to $500, depending on subject matter or time involved. Second-use rights pay one-half the usual fees. Fees are paid upon publication.



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. Operating generally from within a Christian realist perspective, we have a strong focus on presenting the classic just war tradition as an alternative to pacifist idealism; on presenting moral claims as real claims as an alternative to cynical realism and therefore on expanding the definition of national interest to include more than security and economic, cultural, or political well-being. 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.



THE TRAVEL SECTION NEW YORK TIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/SUBMISSION.html
The Travel Section will not publish articles that grow out of trips paid for or in any way subsidized by an airline, hotel, tourist board or other organization with an interest, direct or indirect, in the subject of an article. We buy all rights to articles and will not purchase a piece that has been published elsewhere. The date of the trip on which an article or query is based should be given on a separate line at the top of the manuscript. A brief resume should accompany both articles and proposals. No submission should exceed 1,500 words. Backpage essays should be between 1,200 and 1,400 words.



ONEARTH
http://archive.onearth.org/about/writers
Although the majority of OnEarth content comes from staff writers and freelancers with whom we have long-standing relationships, the print magazine and OnEarth.org will consider narrative features, groundbreaking news stories, and thoughtful opinion pieces about important environmental issues. Our publication covers the full range of the contemporary environmental landscape, including science, public health, technology, culture, business, food, and politics.

 

JOBS

CONSERVATIVE NEWS WRITER
http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Gravitas-Works/jobs/Conservative-News-Writer-c0ebb8d819ac4dc4
Your duties will include assisting our senior editor to produce high-quality content for our magazine-style website. Furthermore, it will be very beneficial for you to have a strong background in politics. Does this mean you need to understand the fine workings our out government's political process? Absolutely not. However, you will be served well by having concurrent knowledge on the state of politics in the country. Additionally, you must identify as a Conservative. The more Conservative that you consider yourself, the better. This will make it much easier for you to develop strong articles. Salary: $45,000 /year. Location Las Vegas, NV.



COMMUNICATIONS AND CREATIVE SERVICES STAFF WRITER
http://www.crosscatholic.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=332112
As a member of our Communications & Creative Services team, you will supply in-house clients with inspirational marketing materials in a variety of formats, such as blogs, letters, speeches, fundraising proposals, donor updates and press releases. You will have opportunities to travel to developing countries to gather stories about our life-changing work and share those stories with our donors. Location Boca Raton, FL.

publishers/agents

GALLIT AND ZACKER LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/marietta-b-zacker/
At the Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency we represent people, not projects, and we focus solely on writers and illustrators of children's books (Young Adult to books for the youngest of readers). Although we make every attempt to reply to each submission, please know that if you do not hear from us after six weeks, we have decided that we are not the right agency for you and your work.



BARRY GOLDBLATT LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.bgliterary.com/
Specializes in picture books, chapter books, middle-grade, and YA. Your email query should include the following within the body of the email: your query letter, a synopsis of the book, and the first five pages of your manuscript. We will not open or respond to any emails that have attachments. If we like the sound of your work, we will request more material from you. Our response time is four weeks on queries, six to eight weeks on full manuscripts. If you haven't heard from us within that time, feel free to check in via email.



AYESHA PANDE LITERARY
http://pandeliterary.com/
We have broad-ranging eclectic interests and we welcome submissions of all kinds. However, we don't represent poetry, religion or inspirational books, business books, screenplays, illustrated children’s books or middle grade fiction, although we are always on the lookout for young adult fiction.



AARON M. PRIEST LITERARY AGENCY
http://aaronpriest.com/
Mainstream and literary fiction, thrillers and narrative nonfiction are all represented on our shelves. Highly respected by writers, editors and publishers alike, the Aaron Priest Agency has earned its superior reputation through its commitment to talented authors and the successful management of their careers.
 

SPONSORS

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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
http://www.fundsforwriters.com

Copyright 2000-2016, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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