SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

WRITERS CANNIBALIZING WRITERS

Last week, I mentioned a new trend of blogs/online news sites that offer payment and no bio link, or just a bio link instead of payment, in exchange for writing an article. I launched into a mini-rant as to how disrespectful this is by the site. I've asked for names of such sites from readers, and the main names cropping up are The Penny Hoarder and The Write Life. 

But a similar theme kept cropping up in the emails I received. That of reading and writing groups and sites taking advantage of writers . . . asking them to appear for free, write for free, using the age-old offer of exposure, or the over-used excuse of being non-profit. But then the group offers no promotion, no advertising, no effort to spread the word about the article, the appearance, or the writer's contribution. In other words, no exposure. They not only don't pay, but they don't provide the exposure, either.

Writers cannibalizing writers. 

Writers . . . if you are going to be true to your profession, please consider the following:

1) Ask for compensation or tangible reward for your work. For every instance you give in and write for free, you are costing hundreds of other writers the opportunity to earn a living by making their journey that much harder. 

2) If you want to use another writer's work, offer to compensate them. Practice what you preach. Or simply, Do Unto Others . . . you know the rest. 

3) Buy books to support authors. Don't take free books unless you are a reviewer, and even then, post the dang review unless the book is so bad you don't care to. In that case, let the author know. Some may not like it, but others will want to know what you found lacking in the story. But don't take a free book for any reason without offering payment in terms of a review. 

4) If you only buy books at discounts, help compensate the author for the loss by posting a review on Amazon. It doesn't matter if you aren't a professional reviewer. Your opinion matters to that author's career. 

5) If your group asks a writer to appear, by all means offer compensation. Or offer to purchase a minimum number of books. Ask attendees to pay a fee if your budget doesn't have a purse. Don't take advantage of the writer.

6) If your group asks a writer to appear, ADVERTISE IT. That is assuming you want a lot of attendees. If this is a private appearance, limited to members, then it's even more important to find some way to compensate the writer because you are denying them the exposure gained from a larger crowd. 

We cannot afford to be our own worst enemy. 



 





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.

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 WORDS OF SUCCESS

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”

~Dalai Lama
 

Success Story

Dear Hope,

I recently won the St. Martin’s Press, “Who Can You Trust” contest. I entered the competition after seeing it in your December 9, FundsforWriters newsletter. The prize was $250 dollars and publication of my short story, “In Nobody We Trust,” in Charles Cumming’s novel, A Divided Spy. Although I have other resources for notification of upcoming writing competitions, it’s always nice to receive your newsletter on Friday for motivation. Thanks for doing the hard work up front for us before we tackle the fun stuff.

J.J. White

www.jjwhitebooks.com

featured article

Entertainment Writing Jobs You May Not Have Considered – Part 2 of 2

By Mark Heidelberger

In this follow-up article, I put more of an emphasis on the feature film world. Thanks to the proliferation of “prosumer” technology like HD cameras and editing software, more films are being made now than ever before, offering increased accessibility for writers who are willing to attempt a more non-traditional approach to their careers.

Write Film Treatments

Feature film scripts usually begin with a treatment - essentially an extended synopsis between two and ten pages that outlines the entire narrative beat by beat in prose form. The treatment serves as the framework for the script and is a crucial part of the film development process. Since a treatment simply reads like a short story, less experienced writers who may not be totally familiar with the nuances of script formatting, dialogue, and the like can still manage to create something valuable for filmmakers. 

First, you should read books like “Story” by Robert McKee to make sure you’re clear on the basic elements of film narrative like structure and character arc. Next, generate a list of one-sentence ideas (called loglines) that you think might make for catchy movies. Select your top three or four and crank out a treatment for each. You can then query production companies who are open to story pitches, place the treatments for sale on sites like Inktip, or use them as samples on freelance writing sites. While screenplay treatments may not pay nearly as much as scripts, they take much less time to create, so a prolific writer might be able to crank out several treatments per week. 

Ghostwriting for Indie Filmmakers

Many independent producers, writers, actors, and directors have ideas for films they would like to make, but not the will or skill to write the material on their own. If you have experience writing screenplays and would rather pocket the green than see your name in lights, consider offering your services as a ghostwriter. This involves you working hand-in-hand with the person who hires you to craft the script he or she wants or to rewrite a script he or she already has without taking any credit. While you have less creative control this way, you get to ply your craft as a paid writer. 

Books like Screenplay by Syd Field or Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder are must-reads for writers who are looking to hone their script-writing mechanics before offering up their services to others. Having writing samples ready to show is also crucial. Websites like Mandy and Screenwriting Staffing routinely have posts seeking ghostwriters. You can also create your own website to sell your services for hire and reach out to potential partner sites for cross-promotion to help get the word out.

Write Marketing Materials

Film and television marketing alone is a multi-billion-dollar business, and much of that money goes toward creating promotional writing for pre-existing content. If you have the ability to capture the essence of a project in a concise way with a bit of wit and flare, marketing-based materials might be your niche. This includes everything from actor biographies in press kits to poster taglines to the synopses on the back of DVD packaging. 

Just like ghostwriting scripts or treatments, you can market yourself as a promotional writer to independent filmmakers by building your own website or by creating a profile on freelance sites like Upwork and Guru. You can also reach out directly to movie marketing agencies and PR firms to see if they’re hiring new in-house or freelance writers. LA 411 has an extensive list featuring company names, contacts, phone numbers and addresses. Just make sure you have some relevant sample work to show before you reach out (even if it’s just a spec sample).

(See Part 1 of Entertainment Writing Jobs You May Not Have Considered)


BIO - 
Mark Heidelberger co-founded Beverly Hills-based Treasure Entertainment in 2000, serving as a film executive, content creator and literary manager until 2011 before leaving to become a freelance producer. He has produced music videos for artists Janelle Monae, Snoop Dogg, Cam'ron, and John Michael Montgomery as well as commercials for Lamborghini, Con Air, and Cox Media, to name a few. His feature film credits include Harsh Times, Man Overboard, Ninja Apocalypse, It's Not You, It's Me and Flintown Kids. He also developed and packaged the thriller Don McKay, produced the Chopper web series, and executive produced Hallmark Channel's You've Got a Friend. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America. He holds a BA in Film Studies from UCSB and a MFA in Producing from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television.

http://www.markheidelberger.com/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0373914/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markheidelberger?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

 

COmpetitions

BACOPA CONTEST
https://writersallianceofgainesville.submittable.com/submit
$3 ENTRY FEE.
Categories: poetry, flash story, creative nonfiction, literary fiction. $400 prize given in each genre. Flash limited to 750 words. Creative nonfiction limited to 3,300 words. Literary fiction limited 8,000 words. For poetry, no word limit. Just a well-wrought poem in any form or genre that intrigues us, moves us, surprises us with stunning imagery, lyricism, soundplay, structure. Deadline May 31, 2017.



MOTHER'S DAY ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.swiftriver.com/my-mother-my-hero/
This year for Mother’s Day, in honor of the strength and commitment mothers provide for their children and families, Swift River and Shame Kills are proud to sponsor the “My Mother, My Hero” essay contest with a $200 prize for the winning essay! In 250 words or less, tell us why your mother is your hero. You can write about how your mother helped you in your recovery, or about her own recovery. Shame Kills is dedicated to eradicating the stigma associated with substance abuse disorder.By submitting your work, you agree to allow Shame Kills to use portions of your essay in other content created by Shame Kills and we agree to link to you/your website as the source of any content used. Deadline May 1, 2017



LUCILLE CLIFTON POETRY PRIZE
http://backbonepress.org/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE.
The Lucille Clifton Annual Poetry Contest, held each spring, honors the prolific work of poet great Lucille Clifton. Widely celebrated for her unpretentious and unapologetic poems, Clifton’s unique free verse was free of punctuation, taut, and always recognizably her. When submitting think: humanness, struggle, adversity, resilience. Deadline May 31, 2017. The winning poem will be published via our website and receives a prize of $500.



KINDLE STORYTELLER CONTEST
https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=12061299031
NO ENTRY FEE.
Deadline May 19, 2017. The Kindle Storyteller prize is open to submissions of new English Language books from all authors and genres. Titles must be previously unpublished, a minimum of 5,000 words with no upper word limit and be available as an ebook and in print. The winning author to receive £20,000 cash prize and be recognized at a central London award ceremony this summer.
 

GRANTS

SISTERS IN CRIME ELEANOR TAYLOR BLAND GRANT
http://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland
An annual grant of $1,500 for an emerging writer of color. An unpublished writer is preferred, although publication of one work of short fiction or academic work will not disqualify an applicant. This grant is intended to support the recipient in activities related to crime fiction writing and career development. She or he may choose from activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats; online courses; and research activities required for completion of the work. This grant is not only a huge opportunity for a writer of color, but it's a way to honor a pioneer in the mystery writing field. Submit an unpublished work of crime fiction, written with an adult (rather than YA or children) audience in mind, which may be a short story or first chapter(s) of a manuscript in progress, 2,500 to 5,000 words. Deadline June 15, 2017.



ARTS WRITERS GRANT
http://www.artswriters.org/
The Arts Writers grant supports writers whose work addresses contemporary visual art. The program issues awards directly to individual authors for articles, blogs, books, new and alternative media, and short-form writing projects. We support a broad spectrum of writing on contemporary visual art, from general-audience criticism to academic scholarship. Deadline May 17, 2017. (Thanks erikadreifus.com)  



OHIO - ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM
http://www.oac.ohio.gov/grants#4436-individual-artists
Professional development support for artists with disabilities. Deadline June 1, 2017. Must be a resident of Ohio.



ALABAMA ARTIST PROJECTS GRANTS
http://www.arts.state.al.us/programs/literary_arts/literary_artist_project.aspx
These grant awards support artists engaging in projects that will have a demonstrated benefit to the art form, community, region or state. Applications must be made by a sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization which will serve as the fiscal agent and partner in the project. Grants must be match, and grant awards rarely exceed $10,000. Deadline September 1, 2017. 
 

FREELANCE MARKETS

LONGREADS
https://longreads.com/submissions/
Longreads is currently accepting pitches for original stories (1,500 words or more) and blog posts (500 to 1,000 words). We pay competitive rates. In the past we’ve produced in-depth interviews, deeply researched nonfiction narratives examining a specific moment or person in history, thoughtful reporting about a public interest issue, and personal essays investigating a universal human experience. You can also find inspiration from our annual “Best Of Longreads” series, which features our favorite stories from a variety of publishers and genres. We want to hear about story ideas that excite you, that make you reconsider a previously long-held belief, or inspire you to spend long hours at the library to explore.



HAKAI MAGAZINE
https://www.hakaimagazine.com/submission-guidelines
Hakai Magazine explores science and society in coastal ecosystems. Our editorially independent, web publication examines the ties between the ocean, land, and human societies through long- and short-form journalism, illustration, photography, and video. Fees vary depending on the length and complexity of a story and on the experience of the storyteller. Payment in Canadian dollars is made upon acceptance of the final draft. 



DISCOVER MAGAZINE
http://www.ehow.com/how_5117085_submit-discover-magazine.html
http://discovermagazine.com/magazine/contact/editorial-contact-form
Discover magazine is a popular science magazine made available to the general public in doctor's offices, schools, and libraries. It has a large home-subscriber base as well. The subject matter covers exciting breakthroughs and research in medicine, technology, and science, written in language an educated layman can comprehend. The magazine's breadth of science topics also includes paleontology, space travel, and physics along with many other science-related topics. According to the editors' written instructions, if you have a science-related story you wish to write for Discover magazine, you must first send them a query or pitch.



CHICKEN SOUP
http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/story-guidelines
A Chicken Soup for the Soul story is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people having extraordinary experiences. It is a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. Chicken Soup for the Soul stories are written in the first person and have a beginning, middle and an end. The stories often close with a punch, creating emotion, rather than simply talking about it. If we publish your story or poem, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in. Topics open at present:

Christmas and Holiday Collection - 2018 - Deadline October 31, 2017. 
Miracles and More - Deadline August 31, 2017. 
My Crazy Family - Deadline June 30, 2017. 
My Kind of America - Deadline April 30, 2017.
Positively Happy - Deadline May 31, 2017.
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone - May 15, 2017. 
Stories of Redemption - August 31, 2017.

 

JOBS

Publishers/agents

CLARION BOOKS
http://www.hmhco.com/popular-reading/authors/manuscript-submissions
Clarion Books and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers are the hardcover imprints of the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers Division. Presently, only Clarion Books is accepting unsolicited submissions. HMH Books for Young Readers will not be reviewing unsolicited submissions at this time. While we accept unsolicited and unagented submissions, we do not respond unless we are interested in publishing the work or would like to request a revision. Our time frame for a response is up to twelve weeks. We regret that we cannot respond personally to every submission, but each manuscript does receive careful consideration.



BELT BOOKS
http://beltmag.com/belt_publishing/
Belt publishes nonfiction with a focus on the Midwest. Founded in 2013, we are a Cleveland-based small press that emphasizes quality, sophisticated nonfiction about an often overlooked and under-written about region.



DANCING LEMUR PRESS
http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. is dedicated to bringing outstanding and inspiring science fiction & fantasy, new adult/young adult, mystery, paranormal, middle-grade, non-fiction, Christian, and more to readers.



WIDO PUBLISHING
http://widopublishing.com/submissions/
Established in 2007, WiDo Publishing LLC™ is a family-owned and operated, literary small press located in Salt Lake City, committed to publishing outstanding books in a variety of genres. We release twelve to fifteen books a year and are currently accepting submissions. Bear in mind that at this time our brand is mostly oriented toward women’s fiction, light romance, mystery/suspense, essay collections and imaginative, outstanding memoirs. It is our expectation that submissions to WiDo are polished manuscripts with a stellar marketing plan. 
 

SPONSORS

Whispering Fields Writers and Artist Residence

Whispering Fields differs from many other residencies as it is a private cottage that becomes your place - and your place alone - to write, paint, study, compose music, or meditate. It is located in the geographic center of Prince Edward Island, one of Canada's Maritime Provinces.

Whispering Fields has most of the comforts of home while being an ideal spot for uninterrupted creativity: There is no one or nothing around to distract you as you enjoy the open, spacious, though secluded hilltop setting. And while Whispering Fields seems remote, amenities are nearby. For more information: www.whisperingfields.com












 
Special Offer: Santa Fe Writers Lab
Santa Fe Writers Lab is a new offering produced by the well-established Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. This May, take your pick of week-long or 1-day workshops with instruction by accomplished writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Tim Cahill, Sally Denton, Douglas Preston, Margaret Wrinkle, and Danny Rubin. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome.
 
Special offer to fans of FundsforWriters: call 505-983-1400 ext 111 and mention FFW200 to receive $200 off tuition for the week-long workshop of your choice. (FFW200 valid for new registrations only, expires April 27.)
 
Join us and be fully present for an experiential educational experience bound to change your life as a writer and as a person. 50 Mount Carmel Rd, 505-983-1400, writerslab.santafeworkshops.com






















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/









Writing a book? Confused about publishing options? Need a marketing plan? Don’t miss the 7th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference—a virtual event unlike any other. Join 15 top speakers May 3-5, 2017 from the comfort of your home or office.

Details and registration: NonfictionWritersConference.com 

“NFWC is the best investment I make each year in my nonfiction author career. The caliber and accessibility of the presenters is unusually high, the topics well chosen and diverse, and I can honestly say that at least half of the presentations would have been worth the cost of the whole conference alone.” – Mary Shafer, Devastation on the Delaware, 55Flood.com

“The Non-Fiction Writers E-Conference is a wonderful event! I’ve attended many in-person writers conferences over the years at considerable expense. It was great to be able to be at home in my office and just participate in the sessions that most interested me — at a very reasonable cost!” – Doreen Pendgracs, Author of “Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate,” http://chocolatour.net








 

NOTE FROM HOPE: These Book Design Templates are recommended by so many in the industry for formatting your ebook and print books properly. Highly recommended. I own several of these, and they give your book an extremely polished look. Cannot speak highly enough about them. SIX new templates for genre authors that work for Word, Pages, and InDesign. $30 off this week!!!

 

How Savvy Authors Publish and Optimize their Books
for Blockbuster Sales on Amazon
Self-publishing expert Tracy Atkins has created an amazing set of tools and methods you can use to publish and optimize your book on Amazon—the right way. By following Tracy's simple, four-phase Amazon Success Method, you'll get an in-depth understand of the real Amazon, and to give your book a significant advantage over the competition.

This toolkit includes step-by-step instruction on how to publish your print book, Kindle eBook, and audiobook using Amazon’s publishing platforms: CreateSpace, Kindle Direct Publishing, and ACX.

Tracy also shows you how to use your Author Central account to take control of your book’s Amazon product page, and then tweak it to perfection.

You'll also get ten excellent worksheets and checklists to make the entire process easy to manage. You'll learn to make powerful choices that will help you sell more books on the world’s largest book retailer.

NOTE FROM HOPE! Get a special 25% off for your list with a coupon code,  AST25OFF

I LOVE THIS LADY!!!!  If you want to improve your writing, she is the person to go to. ~C. Hope Clark
 

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 2000-2017, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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