SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Murphy Writing of Stockton University Presents the 24th Annual
WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY
January 13-16, 2017, Stockton Seaview Resort, Atlantic City, NJ area

Advance your craft and energize your writing. Kick off your new year with an inspiring writing retreat. Enjoy challenging and supportive workshops, insightful feedback and an encouraging community.

Choose from fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction, songwriting and poetry. Faculty includes Pulitzer Prize winners Stephen Dunn, Sharon Olds and more.

"This conference is a gift. It permits a writer to take risks without concern for impressing or competing. It gave me the space to imagine and experiment. This is a community that is generous and encouraging while also being honest. A great relief." — Amy, Blue Bell, PA

Learn more and register today

TAKING COUNT IN 2016

There may come a moment over this weekend of holidays, where you find yourself pondering what this past year was worth, did to you, or blessed you with. And in that moment, you take count of what you accomplished as a writer. Your first instinct may be to measure that accomplishment in terms of publishing. How many stories? How many books? How many dollars in sales? But there are others ways to measure your success as a writer in 2016. 

How many days did you write? Everyone keeps a calendar, whether on your phone, your desk, or your refrigerator. Every day you wrote, you could've marked it in red. Jerry Seinfeld uses this practice in his own comedy writing efforts. http://lifehacker.com/281626/jerry-seinfelds-productivity-secret

How many connections did you make? Did you become friends with bloggers, other authors, agents, editors, or conference speakers? Take note of those great contacts, keep an address book (or online contact list), and stay in touch with them for 2017.

How many submissions did you attempt? The more you submit, the further you progress. And yes, you need a list if for no other reason than to show yourself how hard you've worked, and to show IRS when you have to prove you worked darn hard for the dollars you earned, regardless how few.

How many books did you read? Yes, they matter. The more you read, the better you incorporate that newfound knowledge into your own writing. It's an osmosis affair. 

How many words did you write? Frankly, it ought to be ten times or more of that you submit. 

How much self-improvement did you pursue? Conferences, books, classes, podcasts. 

What did you learn to do differently this year in terms of craft....in terms of the business? What do you not feel capable of doing well yet? Those thoughts help you define what you wish to learn in 2017.

We cannot jump into writing and expect to publish much in the early years. In a spreadsheet, I've recorded my monthly and annual incomes since the year 2000. The first year? $1,540.30. The second year? $2,046.43. The third year? $2,675.94. Then I went full-time and that first year earned $12,264.31. I've noted in the 13 years since what made for jumps, what times of the year are the biggest and least income earners, and when to plan for training, novel writing, and promotional efforts based upon trends. But each of those years, and that will include this year, I take stock of what I did, how I did it, and how to change it in the next year. And each year went up.

Planning's not that difficult, and can be quite fun. Especially when you get motivated after a couple of solid eggnogs. Merry Christmas.




 




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!)

 

 WORDS OF SUCCESS

"As a writer, or a storyteller, try to tell the stories that only you can tell. Try to tell the stories that you cannot help telling, the stories you would be telling yourself if you had no audience to listen. The ones that reveal a little too much about you to the world." 

~Neil Gaiman



 

Success Story

Hi Hope,
A few years ago, I retired from forty years working in the woods of Vermont. I’ve been a subscriber of your FundsforWriters for quite a while and a want-to-be writer forever. I keep a folder labeled “Hope” from your “Words of Success” to keep me going. I took your advice and went to a writer’s conference and had a “one sheet” prepared as you recommended and gave it to a publisher. It led to The Ta Ta Weenie Club from Green Writers Press being released this fall.  Couldn’t have done it without you, Hope.

Thanks,
Bill Torrey
www.billtorreyvt.com
www.greenwriterspress.com

featured article

Six Easy Ways to Re-use Your Story Ideas

By Devyani Borade

If you believe all my published stories, I've done everything from stitching on a shirt button to jumping off a cliff while tied to another human being. I may not have been born with such a multitude of talents as hitting the bull's-eye on a dart board, winning swimming competitions, and staging children's theatre, but I have been blessed with a quirky imagination and a flair for language. These I've put to good use by reusing one idea to create many different stories. Call it recycling, re-purposing, re-packaging or re-working, here's how you can take just one premise and turn it into a folder-full of saleable stories:

1. Vary the audience

Target readers of different profiles, like teenagers, working mothers, or retired grandparents, by changing who your story addresses. For example, a story about a young girl participating in an elocution competition can easily be tweaked into a story about a distinguished senior citizen with a public speaking phobia addressing a school gathering, by modifying the viewpoint and conflicts. A story about an ice-skating date can be rehashed into enduring love between retirees against the backdrop of an ice rink.

2. Vary the subject

Target readers of different niche fields by changing the topic of the story. A template or formula plot like the following:

"Character tries to learn a new skill - encounters challenges — is offered help by family members – situation worsens – comical farce ensues–situation resolves itself by luck as much as design.”

This template can work in nearly all scenarios, whether the skill is sailing a ship or baking a cake. Each new story thus created will fit with a magazine catering to that particular market, viz. sailors or bakers. Offshoots of this can be exploited, too. For example, by having the family be a large traditional joint family, or a modern nuclear LGBT family.

3. Vary the setting

Mundane story lines can be enriched with the addition of uncommon locales and elaborate back-stories of each character. So even if the essential plot is good-boy-overcomes-scary-villain, a light-fantastic children's setting can make it a Harry Potter, a complex interweave of fantasy worlds can turn it into a Lord of the Rings, an everyday urban setting in ye olde England can turn it into Richmal Crompton's William, and a science fiction setting can morph it into a Star Wars. Similarly, a different approach can turn a rags-to-riches story from an Oliver Twist into a Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Revived tales from Aesop's Fables, cultural mythlore, even the Bible can serve for inspiration.

4. Vary the region

Tie in larger national journalistic stories to a smaller region by highlighting a local or personal aspect, or restricting the scope closer to home. For example, in a story about the benefits of soy, interviewing a local soya farmer or profiling a local restaurant that serves a popular soy menu can make it more appealing to regional markets.

5. Vary the format

Short story, essay, memoir, poem, cartoon, infographic, audio podcast, interview Q&A, blog post, bullet-point list - you get the idea! Diversify your media.

6. Vary the frequency

A newsy story about finding the right childcare is as valid two years from now as it is today. Evergreen stories, for example those around Christmas gift ideas or Independence Day celebrations, can be reprinted endlessly. Think fresh slant, timeless topics, and age-old problems.

Recycling story ideas eliminates the effort required to start from scratch. As long as you steer away from plagiarism, it can be lucrative and a great "re-turn" on investment!


BIO - Devyani Borade is a professional writer and cartoonist, and a regular contributor to FundsforWriters.com. Her fiction, nonfiction and art have been published in magazines across the world. She has much to say about life, laughter, and literature; so mosey on over to her website Verbolatry at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com where you're sure to find a story or two that'll interest you. And while there, don't forget to sign up for her hilarious cartoon newsletter featuring the adventures of the charming Debora and her incorrigible Pen! Devyani hosts an annual writing competition - the Verbolatry Laugh-a-Riot Contest - for humour writing and art, offering £150 in prizes with publication. Check out the winners of the debut year at http://devyaniborade.blogspot.com/p/contest.html 

COmpetitions

THE WHITEHILL PRIZE
http://site.www.umb.edu/neq/whitehill/index.html
NO ENTRY FEE.
Prize $2,500. Awarded for a distinguished essay on early American history (up to year 1825), not previously published, with preference being given to New England subjects. Deadline December 31, 2016. 



DISQUIET INTERNATIONAL LITERARY COMPETITION
http://disquietinternational.org/the-program/contests-scholarships/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Submissions are now open for the DISQUIET Prize for writing in any genre. Three winners will be published in Guernica (fiction), NinthLetter.com (non-fiction) or The Common (poetry). One grand prize winner will receive a full scholarship, accommodations, and travel stipend to attend the seventh annual DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon taking place June 25 through July 7, 2017. Runners-up and other outstanding entrants will also be considered for financial aid. Deadline: January 31, 2017. 



ROBERT TANNAHILL POETRY COMPETITION
http://readrawltd.co.uk/tannahillpp.html
£6 ENTRY FEE.
The Read Raw Tannahill poetry Competition has a prize fund of £2,700 with a first prize in the main competition of £1,500, second £400 and third of £100 with two commended prizes of £50. In the Scots Language competition first prize is £500 and second £100. Deadline January 7, 2017. 



DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE POETRY CONTEST
http://donttalktomeaboutlove.org/contest/
$20 ENTRY FEE.
Submit one to three poems per submission, not to exceed 75 lines. First prize $1,000. Three honorable mentions of publication. What does LOVE mean to you? We want your poetry exploring love in any of its myriad expressions: romantic, platonic, parental, and much, much more. We know there is a whole world of love out there, and we want to read about it. See last year’s winner and honourable mentions to get a sense of what we are looking for. Deadline January 15, 2017. 

 

GRANTS

THE LILLIAN E. SMITH WRITER-IN-SERVICE AWARD
http://www.piedmont.edu/writer-in-service-award
Includes a two-week residency at the Center, a $500 honorarium, and a $500 travel allowance. Applications are usually accepted from November through mid-January, with the winner named in late February. The Award is open to U.S. residents working to advance writing through public service careers or volunteer work. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, arts education, literacy instruction, prison arts and education, English as a second language instruction, art-related therapies, etc. Location Georgia.



BAU AT CAMARGO ARTS RESIDENCY AWARD
http://www.bauinstitute.org/index.php?page=cassis-france
Deadline February 28, 2017. The fellowship provides artists with live-work apartments at no cost. The Camargo Foundation campus is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea with breathtaking views of the harbor and Cap Canaille, the highest maritime cliff in Europe. It is a short walk to the village of Cassis with regional open markets, restaurants and stores where necessities may be found. The language of the residency is English. There is no French language requirement for the fellowship. Transportation and meals are the responsibility of the residents. BAU Institute will host a Welcome and a Farewell Dinner. Fellows are encouraged to organize pot lucks and picnics. There is a no overnight guest policy and no children or pets may visit the Foundation. A refundable $250 security deposit is due upon acceptance.



CONSTANCE SALTONSTALL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
http://www.saltonstall.org/residencies-retreat2/
Deadline January 2, 2017. We accept New York State writers and artists for residencies in the following categories: Poetry, Fiction & Creative Nonfiction, Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking, PSVA: Painting | Sculpture | Visual Arts. Residencies are free. Sometimes small stipends are offered.



KVELLER FELLOWSHIP
http://www.kveller.com/youve-got-something-to-say-apply-for-the-kveller-fellowship/
The fellowship is designed to give moms (or dads!) who are also writers the support, mentorship, and experience necessary to take a transformative step forward in their careers. During the four-month remote program, the Kveller fellows will benefit from career mentorship, editorial guidance, and financial support. The fellows will focus on personal essay writing and cultivating a social media presence. During their time in the fellowship, writers will be expected to pitch and write essays on a weekly basis, with the added benefit of workshops with the editors of Kveller, as well as the other fellows, as a way to grow and develop their voice. Deadline January 1, 2017. (Thanks www.erikadreifus.com) 

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

GREEN PRINTS
http://greenprints.com/writers-guidelines/
Now, what do they want? The best, personal (important word, that) garden writing they can get. Expressive, thoughtful, humorous, angry, contrite, flippant, searching, witty, observant, sad, inviting. They focus on the human, not how-to side of gardening. On the people as well as the plants. Pays up to $150 for articles less than 2,000 words. 



GRIT
http://www.grit.com/guidelines
GRIT publishes feature-length articles on topics of interest to those living in rural areas, on farms or ranches, or those interested in the rural lifestyle. Articles will be from 800 to 1,500 words. Departments and columns are generally 500 to 1,500 words. GRIT Gazette items are 350 to 700 words. Rates vary depending on experience and expertise. Fees are negotiated on an individual basis. Payment will include two contributor’s copies.



SUNSET
http://www.sunset.com/general/travel-writers
Covers the 13 Western U.S. states as well as British Columbia and Mexico, publishing five regional editions of the magazine: Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Southwest, Rockies. The magazine is largely staff written; its largest freelance need is in travel, and more for shorter items and one- or two- page stories than features. Payment will be made upon acceptance of the text with submission of an invoice in the amount specified in the contract.



THRIVING FAMILY
http://www.thrivingfamily.com/www.thrivingfamily.com/~/media/Thriving/1-articles/PDFs/TF-Writers-Guidelines.pdf
Thriving Family focuses on marriage and parenting from a biblical perspective. Most articles address marriage and the needs of families with 4- to 12-year-olds in the home, but parenting preschoolers and teens are not ignored. Pays $50 for 450-word articles. Please write to a specific column. 

 

JOBS

ADJUNCT TEACHER
Employer Southern New Hampshire University
http://www.snhu.edu/about-us/employment/online-adjunct-faculty-teaching-jobs
SNHU's instructors are the driving force behind our career-focused online degree programs. Your real-world experience and passion for your profession, combined with our innovative curriculum, allow you to inspire and motivate students every day. See yourself succeed as an adjunct instructor at SNHU. The compensation is $2,200 per nine-week undergraduate course, and $2,500 per ten-week graduate course. We are seeking graduate level instructors to teach in the English & Creative Writing program. Minimum qualifications include MFA in English, Creative Writing or related field; publications or productions within fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or screenwriting; and online college level teaching experience preferred. Seeking teachers for: 

·ENG-523 Screenwriting Fundamentals
·ENG-528 Poetry Fundamentals
·ENG-529 Fiction Fundamentals
·ENG-530 Non-Fiction Fundamentals
·ENG-550 Graduate Studies in English Language
·ENG-555 Composition Theory & Teaching of Writing

 

Publishers/agents

EINSTEIN LITERARY MANAGEMENT
http://einsteinliterary.com/about.php
Represents a broad range of literary and commercial fiction, including upmarket women's fiction, crime fiction, historical fiction, romance, and books for middle-grade children and young adults. Also handles nonfiction including cookbooks, memoir and narrative, and blog-to-book projects.  We do not represent poetry, textbooks, or screenplays. 



EBELING AND ASSOCIATES
http://ebelingagency.com/inquiries/
Ebeling & Associates Literary Agency represents the gamut of creative and commercial non-fiction. Does not represent original poetry, fiction or children’s literature.



MAX GARTENBERG LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.maxgartenberg.com/index.html
Max Gartenberg Literary Agency is an author-focused agency, which handles books of fiction and non-fiction intended for general readers.



ELIZABETH KAPLAN AGENCY
http://elizabethkaplanlit.com/index.php/submissions
Welcomes new authors in the areas of narrative and practical nonfiction, biography, history, memoir, pop culture, literary fiction, YA and middle grade fiction, historical fiction and commercial women’s fiction.  Does not represent screenplays, poetry, science fiction or fantasy.

 

SPONSORS

GET WEBSITES THAT ROCK, BOOK COVERS THAT SIZZLE

Shaila Abdullah has designed websites, book designs, marketing materials, and email campaigns for over 60 authors, writers and speakers. Being an award-winning author herself, she understands the industry, and will provide you with designs that reflect your unique style, genre, and personality. 

MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF (NEW CLIENTS ONLY)
EXISTING CLIENTS EARN 8% REFERRAL FEE FOR SENDING IN NEW CLIENTS 

E-mail Shaila: info@myhouseofdesign.com 
View portfolio: http://myhouseofdesign.com/author-portfolio/
Services for authors: http://myhouseofdesign.com/services-for-authors/

A few testimonials from happy clients:

"Superb work, excellent customer service. Just marvelous overall.” —C. Hope Clark, author, founder of FundsforWriters, http://www.fundsforwriters.com

"The site captures my spirit and passion, and it honors my dream since childhood." —Lyn Fairchild Hawks, author, http://lynhawks.com/

"Shaila is a terrific designer, highly professional and extremely creative and delivers amazing results. Her sense of humor and positive spirit has made the whole process of developing and launching my web site a pleasure. –James Hutchison, playwright, http://jameshutchison.ca/

"When I first saw Shaila’s work, I was struck by the fact that her designs are not only beautiful but also perfectly reflect the personality of the business it represents. Her suggestions, insight, and artistic talent made the final product much better than what I’d envisioned on my own.” —Jacqueline Adams, writer, http://jacqueline-adams.com/

Other websites:
http://bapsisidhwa.com/
http://wagnerjulia.com/
http://lisakwinkler.com/
http://kbhyde.com/
http://meredithwargo.com/























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!
 

8INE 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

**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 with 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.