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Editor’s THOUGHTS

USING PRESS RELEASES...TO FIND WORK

Ever wonder where some authors get their ideas to pitch to magazines, blogs, and online sites? I rarely hear of this trick being used anymore, but I consider it a tried and true habit that will land you article after article in your freelance career. 

Read press releases. We hear about creating press releases, but we never hear about reading other press releases. But each and every morning, when you sit down to your computer and report to work, all you have to do is open your email to the press release services you've signed up for, and the ideas come bubbling out. 

How do you sign up for press releases? You go to the same places you'd post a press release:

www.prnewswire.com 
www.prweb.com
www.pr.com 
www.ereleases.com
www.24-7pressrelease.com 
www.newswire.com 

You can also find press releases at:

Tourism sites (state, city, regions) 
Government sites (FBI, USDA, IRS, State Dept)
International sites (European Union, the UN, NATO)
Corporate sites (Microsoft, Apple)
University sites

I pulled a random one off a site to set an example:

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Joins Home Country of Costa Rica in Participating in International Day of Yoga - http://www.pr.com/press-release/676097 

From that one press release, in seconds, I thought of five story ideas for publications. Topics about International Yoga Day, practicing yoga on vacation, Costa Rica holidays, a profile of the resort's owner and her affiliation with yoga, retreats that specialize in yoga. 

I once met a freelance writer who opened her day reading press releases then pitching magazines . . . and that was her full-time living. Sounds so uncomplicated, doesn't it?


 

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 to www.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 and receive TOTAL for free.    
(**and feel free to steal this graphic for your own site!)




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


"My advice to writers of mysteries, or any writer for that matter, is to remember that a story is not about what happens; it's really about the people things happen to."

- William Kent Krueger 

Success Story

Hi Hope,

Thank you so much for your dedication to the writing community in sharing, not only information and inspiration, but activation, too! I'm happy to share that my article, Tithing Time as a Spiritual Practice and a Healthy Approach to Life, was accepted for publication in the November 27th issue of Lookout Magazine, which I found thanks to the "Freelance Markets" portion of your newsletter. Proof positive that if we keep pitching and keep working on our craft between outings, we'll become closers.

I split my writing time between the Kinestheticchristian.com and Fit2Finish.com where I also feature my book, Fit 2 Finish: Keeping Your Soccer Players in the Game, published in 2015 by Morgan James, Inc.

Thanks again for all of your efforts on our behalf! 

Wendy R LeBolt, PhD

featured article

Need Motivation? Stop Writing

(Enter a Writing Contest Instead)

By Devyani Borade

The most assiduous writer comes face to face with writer's block occasionally. The hand tires of embellishing the 59th promotional copy for Kirk's Paving and Tiling Solutions Ltd, the soul wearies of deconstructing the 16th time Joe Hero battles sundry demons. Creative juices dry up, creative muses leave the building, inspiration imitates a certain 1985 DeLorean and vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only the dusty smoldering ashes of a burned-out freelancer or novelist.

So you seek a jump-start. Because you are a writer, and write you must.

Disregard everything vague you've ever heard about writing competitions. "Oh, tt's just a lottery . . . mumble . . .  mumble . . ." What? Don't let the fear of scams and swindlers hold you back. Not all contests are created the same. As long as you've done your homework by researching the organizers, judges, and rules, and budgeted your money sensibly, embrace the idea of a challenge. It's a whole different mindset.

Here are seven solid reasons why participating in a writing contest could be the smartest move you make for your freelance career this year:


1. That winning feeling . . . is such a confidence booster! The high you get when your work is acknowledged to be better than others' is a kick like no other. Drugs couldn't do it justice. It's like orgasming on words. Reluctant to approach that high-profile agent with your debut manuscript? To hell with hesitation! Drunk on your contest success,
you can achieve anything.

2. The tangible benefits . . . include cold hard cash, certificates, trophies and merchandise. That fresh brew definitely smells and tastes better in your new winners' coffee mug.

3. The reverberations . . . can range from a hooked agent and a baited publisher, to a public reading, a slew of interested offers of representation, an invitation to a residency, a place on a coveted workshop or course program, an interview on the local radio show, and ultimately a shiny new book on the shelf with your name on it. The effects of winning a contest can be far-reaching and long-lasting. That writer's conference you've been requested to attend as a finalist? Guess who will be first in line to pitch their new book to a host of agents and publishers also in attendance? You, that's who.

4. The street cred . . . establishes your bonafides irrevocably. Call it platform or portfolio, you earn the title of "serious writer." You increase readership, build relationships, gain prestige. A glowing testimonial from an impressed editor can add stars to your limelight. An eager advertiser keen to give you his dollars can raise your game to a whole new business stratosphere. More exposure equals more sales.

5. The practical advantages . . . are not far behind. Submitting exclusively to a contest at a time allows you to "rest" a piece, and review it with fresh eyes later and make improvements. Working under a tight deadline, to a strict word limit, can hone your self-editing skills to a fine razor-edge, allowing you to cull words and cauterize verbiage at a moment's notice.  All that practice makes perfect. Save on hiring editing services much?

6. The feedback . . . from judges can be invaluable. You can revise a short story all the way into a novel. A well-analyzed critique from a respected and experienced doyen of the literary industry is worth its weight in entry fees.

7. The motivation . . . obligingly returns. Ideas come flocking back in droves when you're presented with a theme, prompt or topical challenge. Writer's block, begone!

So the next time you feel like putting up an "Out of Order" sign on your mind's doorstep and fleeing the whole sorry scene, stop writing. Start competing instead.


Bio:
Convinced yet? Professional writer and cartoonist Devyani Borade suggests you start--or pick up the pace--with the fun, friendly, free (and entirely legit) Verbolatry Laugh-a-Riot Contest 2016 for humorous essays and cartoons about writing/publishing, offering £150 in prizes along with publication. Get recognition from respected judges and prestigious backers. It's an unmissable opportunity! Details at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com/p/contest.html

 

COmpetitions

RACHEL WETZSTEON CHAPBOOK AWARD
http://www.mapliterary.org/rachel-wetzsteon-chapbook-award.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
This year the award will focus on prose. Using our Submittable portal, 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 a $250 honorarium and 25 copies of the winning chapbook, which will be printed and sold on Amazon.



I MUST BE OFF TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
http://www.imustbeoff.com/p/blog-page.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
We want to read about that place that changed you.We want to read about the experiences you can't wait to share with other travelers. Whether your work is humorous, informative, quirky or profound - we want to read it. Maximum 1,200 words. Deadline July 31, 2016. The Top essays will be published at I Must Be Off! (Authors retain copyright.) First place prize: $200. Second place prize: $50. Readers' Choice Award ($50) based on unique hits and comments tallied on September 30.



MSLEXIA CHILDREN'S NOVEL COMPETITION
https://mslexia.co.uk/competition/novel-competition/
ENTRY FEE £25.
Open to unpublished women novelists, this competition welcomes books written for children (who are able to read for themselves) and young adults – in every genre imaginable. First prize: £5,000. Five finalists will receive an invitation to a special networking event with literary agents. To enter, please submit the first 3,000 words of your completed children’s novel. To qualify, your book must total at least 15,000 words. Deadline September 19, 2016. 



WASAFIRI NEW WRITING PRIZE
http://www.wasafiri.org/wasafiri-new-writing-prize.asp
£5 ENTRY FEE.
Submissions are welcome in three categories: Poetry, Fiction and Life Writing. Ensure that you submit your entry/entries by the deadline: 5pm BST on July 15, 2016. Winners will receive £300 and their entries will be published in Wasafiri. 

 

GRANTS

NATIONAL PARK RESIDENCIES
http://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/#!about-our-residencies/c40p
National Parks Arts Foundation realizes the historical and future importance of artistic interpretation to the Parks missions. That is why we have started the National Parks Arts Foundation Artist-in-Residence Program, as well as workshops and museum loans through the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). See below for each residency:

1) GETTYSBURG
http://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/#!apply-gettysburg-national-military-park/cdlr
Deadline August 10, 2016. Looking for any sort of art work, from traditional landscapes, photographers, to performers, installations, films and video, as well as as writers. Virtually any approach can find a place at Gettysburg -- what matters is vision and talent. The park consists of the main battlefields, memorials, cemeteries, and historic buildings, support areas of the most famous battle of the American Civil War. A lovely, idyllic Pennsylvania pastoral setting that is starkly evocative of the living history of the bitterest American conflict, but also a potent symbol of reconciliation. Let it inspire and nurture your next art project at our residencies. Includes a $1,000 stipend.

2) CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
http://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/#!blank/zq7fw
Deadline July 20, 2016. The residencies is open to all Classic & New Media Artists. So, Video Art, Installation, Collage, Photo-manipulation, Sound Sculpture, Performance, Dance, Screendance, are encouraged, anything that can free the mind, widen experience and still connect people to the Park experience in tangible and intangible ways. Comprising 11 beautifully preserved pueblos or ceremonial structures, Chaco Canyon is the premier site to experience the amazing and mysterious Chacoan culture in New Mexico.

3) FORT UNION NATIONAL MONUMENT
http://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/#!apply-fort-union-national-monument/c1w0t
Fort Union National Monument, located in Mora County near Watrous, New Mexico, was the hub of commerce, national defense, and migration at the final stretch of the Santa Fe Trail. Deadline August 1, 2016. On-Site residence in the monument in the fall of 2016.



SCRIPTAPALOOZA FELLOWSHIP
http://www.scriptapalooza.com/fellowship/
The 2017 Scriptapalooza Fellowship recipient will receive a Writer’s Retreat in Costa Rica for five days (all expenses paid), and six-month mentorship. Five additional writers will receive a 3 month mentorship and an online writing course. Everyone that applies to the Fellowship gets feedback on their screenplay. (Four to five pages of notes.) Fellowship applications accepted from August 1 - September 30, 2016.


 

FREELANCE MARKETS

THE EAST BAY EXPRESS
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/WritersGuidelines/Page
At the moment, we run freelance stories of various lengths in the news, arts and culture, and music sections. We focus our coverage on the following cities or areas: Albany, Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Hayward, Kensington, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo. We publish freelance news items and short features ranging from about 750 to about 1,200 words. News stories range in price from $120 to $240. 



PRAIRIE FIRE
http://www.prairiefire.ca/submit/contributors-rates/
Fiction: short fiction, excerpts from longer works: maximum fee $350. Articles, creative non-fiction, editorials, essays, memoirs: maximum fee $250. Interviews, profiles: maximum fee subject: $100; interviewer: $150. Other prose: correspondence, notes, plays, scripts, etc.: maximum fee $50. Canadian literary journal.



COMPELLING SCIENCE FICTION
http://compellingsciencefiction.com/submit.html
At Compelling Science Fiction, we have two main goals: to find, publish, and promote the best science fiction stories, and to support and encourage the authors who write them. We currently pay six cents/word for accepted stories (these rates are considered professional by SFWA).



MAKE A LIVING WRITING
http://www.makealivingwriting.com/why-i-pay-writers/
Paying $75-$100 and up for select, longer assigned posts on specific topics as related to writers trying to earn a living. In general, I only accept guest post proposals from current and former Freelance Writers Den members, and from students or graduates of Jon Morrow’s blog mentoring program. Occasionally, I hold an open pitch time. If you’d like to pitch me, but you haven’t been through one of those two programs, like my Facebook page to stay in touch — I post there when I’m open to pitches from all comers.

 

JOBS

CONTENT WRITER
http://www.indeed.com/job/content-writer-096187e813b3f8da
Location Greensboro, NC. You will write all kinds of content for clients in a wide range of different industries. You’ll receive assignments to write websites, emails, blogs, social media content, sales collateral and more. If you’re a writer who craves variety, you will not be disappointed. We’re looking for writers who thrive on the challenge of writing on just about any topic, creating vibrant copy that captures and holds the readers’ attention. Your work informs, persuades and entertains. Four to five years experience writing copy for marketing, advertising, PR or promotion. Examples include blogs, website copy, social media posts, and ads.



WRITER/ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
https://univision.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=1034
Locaton Teaneck, NJ. Univision WXTV-41 is looking for a full-time news writer in New York Market. Be part of a high-energy team covering local news, people, conflicts and trends that connect with a full range of topics for our daily live newscast. Bring story ideas and a positive attitude to the table every day. Work with assignment desk, producers, photographers, reporters and managers to effectively cover breaking news, investigations and general assignment news.



REPORTER/NEWSWRITER
http://www.indeed.com/job/reporter-news-writer-news-editor-409722803b5daa43
Location Washington DC. The International News Agency Rossiya Segodnya is seeking Washington-based Reporter / News Writer / News Editor for its English newswire. Responsibilities include : composing stories about local and national current events, covering stories assigned by a senior editor; researching and investigating topic in-depth in order to present an accurate, balanced and up-to-date text; attending briefings and other events; and monitoring different newswires and online media outlets, news aggregators, and social networks to gather leads on possible news stories.

publishers/agents

CRIMSON ROMANCE
http://www.crimsonromance.com/submissions/
Our digital-first romance line is open to submissions in five popular subgenres: romantic suspense, contemporary, paranormal, historical, and spicy romance. We’re looking for previously unpublished full-length novels (50,000–90,000 words) and novellas (30,000–50,000 words). All authors, agented or unagented, beginner or veteran writers, are welcome to submit any works that have not been previously published in whole or in part in any media, including self-publishing (Kindle, CreateSpace, etc.). Also...Crimson Romance is now seeking submissions of LGBTQIA+ adult romances that feature a strong emotional/romantic journey between two partners to happily ever after. M/M romances especially welcome.



SOHO PRESS
https://sohopress.com/resources/submissions/
Soho Press is not currently accepting unagented, unsolicited submissions for our Crime or YA lists. We are open to unsolicited submissions for our literary list. Please familiarize yourself with the types of books we publish in the literary imprint “Soho Press” before submitting. In general, we are interested in bold voices and original ways of seeing the world.



YEN PRESS
http://yenpress.com/about/
Yen Press is interested in a broad spectrum of material and will happily review unsolicited graphic novel submissions. Please visit their website to learn more: YenPress.com



DOUBLE DRAGON PUBLISHING
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/guidelines.php
After reviewing our subs for the remainder of the 2016 release schedule, we at DDP have decided to move away from Sword and Sorcery type stories for the time being. This is not to say that we will not return to this sub-genre, but for the time being, we will focus on Science Fiction, Horror, Thriller/Suspense and Dark Fantasy. 

 

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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