FundsforWriters - May 5, 2017 - Telling People What You Wrote

Published: Fri, 05/05/17

Volume 17, Issue 18 | MAY 5, 2017

Message from the Editor

This week two other authors came to my house on the lake for a mini-, three-night-and-two-day retreat. I flew to Nebraska last year to do something similar and came home all enthused. We talked of new books, indie publishing, marketing, and website design. We each learned something new and came away rejuvenated. I love these sorts of brainstorming sessions.

These mini-retreats are not hard to do. And all it takes is a day or two. Find a place....nothing exotic...and go there. Block out the interruptions. Supply plenty of food. Come with questions in your mind as to what you hope to accomplish with so much focused brainpower gathered together.

Writers too often have to rely upon the internet to connect with other writers, but when you find a couple who really have ideas on common with you, take advantage. Make a face-to-face happen. This is the second time I've done this at my house, and it's remarkably thrilling.

Thanks Gina M. Barlean and Victorine Lieske.

Gina's short story, The Man With a Green Scarf, is available on Kindle. It's very touching.

And Victorine has a YA book available for voting on Kindle Scout - Isabella and the Slipper. In case you don't know, if Kindle Scout sees enough interest in a book based upon votes, they choose it for publication and send all the vote4s a free copy. I already cast my vote!

I'm so ready to start a new book now.

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website | Sign up for Newsletter
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

At FanStory you'll get:

Feedback for everything you write.
Contests with cash prizes. All contests are free with upgraded membership. No entry fees.
Fun. Be a part of a writing community that supports writers of all skill levels.

Find out More | Watch The Video

Here are some of the Upcoming Contests with cash prizes.

Etheree Poetry
Write a ten line poem that has a specific syllable count. Cash prize goes to the winner of this contest. Deadline is this Saturday May. 13th

Nonet Poetry Contest
A nonet has nine lines. The first line has nine syllables, the second line eight syllables, the third line seven syllables, etc... until line nine that finishes with just one syllable. It can be on any subject and rhyming is optional. Deadline: May. 19th.

Love Poem Poetry Contest
Write a poem of any type that is a love poem. Deadline is May. 23rd.

Non-Fiction Writing Contest
Write any story that is non-fiction to enter this contest. Deadline is May 28th.

This is just a few of our contests. View our full listing here. Find out more about FanStory here.

Editor’s THOUGHTS

TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOU WROTE

We are writers...then we are entrepreneurs, a nice way of saying we hawk the books we write. We struggle with that dual role.

1) Everybody else is also becoming authors;
2) We are not natural sales people;
3) Those that are doing it poorly are making it harder for the rest of us struggling to earn a living.

So how are you supposed to promote yourself without sounding like such a street vendor?

When you publish, you will promote via: newsletter, blog, social media, guest blogs, appearances, and book signings. And when you are making yourself known as an author, here is my advice, which you can take or leave...

Never use the words BUY, SALE, FREE, or READ.

You are a writer by profession. You have way more words in your reportoire than those four words to discuss your release. You can find more words that are less sales-like.

Instead, make it a conversation. If you were in a room full of people, you would never go up to them and say, "Would you buy my book?" or "My book is for sale right now." or even "Would you read my work?" or worse "My book is free right now, so pick it up."

Of course not. If someone approached you in that manner, you'd be offended. Especially if you didn't know the author. Just because your readers are online and miles away from you, doesn't mean you do not treat them with respect and decorum. Not to mention, proper decorum paints the type of author you are.

Lead with style. Promote yourself without saying you are promoting yourself. Get visual with it with marketing graphics. And start that age-old, word-of-mouth momentum with captivating hooks, cover, title, and blurbs.

Yes, you need to balance sales and writing, but don't let sales overwhelm the fact you are an author. Many would much rather you mention the nature of the story, draw them in with storytelling, than the fact it's 99 cents.

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!)

Hope's Appearances

--June 8, 2017 - Edisto Bookstore, Edisto Beach, SC - 3-5 PM

--June 20, 2017 - Writer's Digest Webinar, How to Fund Your Self-Publishing Career - 1 PM

--November 3-5, 2017 - Independent Writers Conference - Philadelphia, PA - and guess who is one of the presenters! I'd love to meet a herd of FundsforWriters followers while I'm there.

Early bird tickets only $99. Check it out.

WORDS OF SUCCESS

“It is more fitting for a man to laugh at life than to lament over it.”

~Seneca

Edisto Stranger

Book Four in the series.

A cold case heats up . . .

A dead man in Big Bay Creek, spring break, and a rogue FBI agent would be enough to drive Chief Callie Jean Morgan to drink . . . if she hadn't already quietly crawled inside a bottle of gin to drown her sorrows over a life ripped apart by too many losses. When her investigation into the stranger's death heats up an unsolved abduction case, Callie finds herself pitted against the town council, her son, the agent, and even the raucous college kids enjoying idyllic Edisto Beach. Amidst it all, Callie must find a way to reconcile her grief and her precious taste for gin before anyone else is killed.

"Those who haven't read any of C. Hope Clark's books are short-changing themselves. You can't begin a C. Hope Clark book and then put it down." - Clay Stafford, author / filmmaker, founder of Killer Nashville and publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine.

If you haven't visited the Edisto Island Mysteries before now, try out the first one, Murder on Edisto, for $1.99 until May 15.

Success Story

If FundsforWriters has helped you in any way, please let us know.
We want to share your success with everyone here. Send your
brief (100 words, please) success story to hope@fundsforwriters.com

Watch Television? Get Paid to Write About it!

By Rachel Carrington

Love television? Did you know you could make money writing about it? You can make a steady income that’s residual, much like royalties, and there’s also the option of getting paid per article or even becoming a staff writer.

I write for MoviePilot.com. This site has thousands of writers, but not all of them get paid. There’s a vetting process, but passing it gets you started to earning money per every thousand views you get. And once you’re a verified creator, Movie Pilot’s editors actually help you get more views! This site thrives on science fiction and fantasy shows like Game of Thrones, Arrow, and Vampire Diaries and movies like Star Trek Beyond and Suicide Squad. They also have a big superhero following.

CinemaBlend offers a wider array of topics, including TV show recapper and reviews. Though an older post indicated they are always looking for writers, they now post their job openings, which includes writers, here when they have some available.

FanSided is the site that owns HiddenRemote.com, a site dedicated to all things television. This site has a lot more flexibility when it comes to television topics, and they are actively looking for paid contributors. You’ll have to fill out a Writer’s Application to get started.

Screen Rant is another option, but it requires writers that will write about casting calls and television news rather than just the shows themselves. They have part-time positions, and according to the site, the pay is good.

And finally, BuddyTV seeks contributors as well. They have different options available, but several are for writers able to write twenty to thirty pieces a week. If you’re interested in applying, you will need to write at least two articles about television or movies to submit as they like to know your style. BuddyTV also posts openings at Pro Blogger.

The sites will help you grow your audience and share your articles with the world, and some fortunate writers get their posts shared by celebrities which, of course, increases their exposure. But the one thing that’s best about writing for television (besides the pay) is that you can tie it into your current writing and marketing. It’s another way to let readers see a different side of you as I share the articles I write on all my social media sites. Readers see what I like on television, and we connect on Twitter and Facebook to talk about our shows.

So say, for instance, you write vampire romance and love The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. The connection to your readers is evident, and you have more to share with them! Sure you could post your comments on your blog, but why not post it where you can earn money? It really is a win-win situation.

Along with getting paid, you can build up an audience of fans. It will help new readers find you, and you will tap into a network of millions of fans who may not know anything about you yet. So if you love television, considering writing for the fans and pocketing some cash as you add readers to your platform.

BIO
When Rachel Carrington isn't writing for MoviePilot.com, she writes suspense novels. Learn more about her books at www.rachelcarrington.com.

COmpetitions

MACGUFFIN NATIONAL POET HUNT CONTEST
http://www.schoolcraft.edu/a-z-index/the-macguffin/contest-rules
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Each entrant will receive one FREE issue of The MacGuffin that includes the winners of 22nd National Poet Hunt Contest. First prize $500. An entry consists of three poems with each poem up to 400 lines long. Deadline June 3, 2017.

REFLEX FLASH FICTION COMPETITION
http://www.reflexfiction.com/flash-fiction-competition-rules/
£7 / $9 / €9 ENTRY FEE.
Entries must be fiction but can be on any subject, and written in any style or form. We do not recommend poems and stories written for children. Please, no fan fiction or use of copyrighted material, characters, song lyrics etc. The flash fiction competition is international and welcomes entrants from all countries. Entries must be at least 180 words but no more than 360 words. Prizes: £1,000 first, £500 second, £250 third. Deadline: May 31, 2017.

THE PUBLISHING LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS
http://www.unopress.org/lab.aspx
$18 ENTRY FEE.
The selected author will receive $1,000 advance on royalties and a contract to publish with UNO Press. The work does not have to be regionally focused. UNO Press is based at the University of New Orleans and distributed by Hopkins Fulfillment Services. There is no word limit. There is no limit on subjects covered. Works of fiction (novels and short story collections) only. The contest is open to all authors, regardless of publishing history. The finalists are read by students at our publishing institute in the fall of 2017, and one is chosen to become a book. The class will focus on making the book a critical and commercial success upon its release in the spring of 2018. Deadline August 15, 2017.

CRAB CREEK REVIEW POETRY PRIZE
http://www.crabcreekreview.org/contests.html
$16 ENTRY FEE.
$500 prize for a single poem. The winner and finalists will be published in the following volume of Crab Creek Review, and all entries will be considered for publication. Welcomes up to four poems per entry, eight pages maximum.

GRANTS

ANTARCTIC ARTISTS AND WRITERS PROGRAM (AAW)
https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf16542
Applicants selected to participate in the Artists & Writers Program in 2016 would deploy to the Antarctic in the 2017-2018 research season (October to January), with deployment dates depending upon such factors as which research project or location the successful applicants wish to observe and when, logistically, it is possible to accommodate a given project. Artists & Writers Program field teams should consist of no more than one or two people. Larger projects--such as television or documentary film crews - should apply to other NSF programs - as should representatives of the news media. Deadline June 1, 2017.

ARTIST TRUST CENTRUM RESIDENCY
http://artisttrust.org/index.php/for-artists/money
Artist Trust partners with Centrum, located at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend, WA, which provides residencies for artists from around the world. Recipients are chosen from Grants for Artist Projects applications submitted to Artist Trust, which is restricted to residents of Washington State. Deadline May 15, 2017.

LEEWAY TRANSFORMATION AWARD
http://www.leeway.org/grants/leeway_transformation_award/
The Transformation Award provides unrestricted annual awards of $15,000 to women and trans* artists living in the Delaware Valley region who create art for social change and have done so for the past five years or more, demonstrating a long-term commitment to social change work. The Award is unrestricted (it is not project-based) and open to women and trans* people working in any art form, traditional or non-traditional. Deadline May 15, 2017.

FREELANCE MARKETS

NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE
http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/writers-guidelines/
First and foremost, we seek profile stories (1500-1800 words) with interviews of the region’s most prominent or notable figures. Immediate attention will be paid to queries aiming to spotlight these individuals in a way that is both current and relevant to the region. Do not come to us with a story “idea” without the resources to execute it. If you want to write a profile on Mr. Prominent CEO in the region, you better have access to Mr. CEO. Feature stories (2,000-2,500 words) most likely to get our attention will present new information on topics making headlines or a story yet to be published anywhere else in the Metro D.C. area. Freelance contributors may receive anywhere from $50 to $1,000 for a story, depending on length, research, newsworthiness and complexity.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
http://www.nwf.org/Who-We-Are/Contact-Us/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx#submitstuff
As in nature, we have strength in numbers. National Wildlife Federation works closely with those who span the social and political spectrum, but who are connected by a common commitment to conservation. Our ability to meet the needs of wildlife is inextricably linked to the amazing individuals, groups, organizations and corporations we call our supporters. Together, we form a pack, leveraging our influence to safeguard America’s wildlife and wild places.

SOUTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE
http://www.scwildlife.com/writersphotographers.html
SCW considers all types of articles dealing with conservation of our wildlife and natural resources, outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc.), natural and scenic areas, the state's heritage as related to the outdoors, natural history of particular game and nongame species, and subjects on a national level of interest to outdoor-oriented readers anywhere (such as famous outdoorsmen of the past who affected our outdoor lifestyle, or environmental issues). We also are looking for well-done outdoor articles with a humorous angle. We generally do not purchase nostalgic or first-person accounts unless they are exceptionally well crafted and would appeal to a cross section of our readership. Pays 20 cents/word.

NEW SCIENTIST
https://www.newscientist.com/in209-guide-for-freelancers/
The majority of the news section of New Scientist magazine is written by staffers but we are always on the lookout for exciting freelance pieces. On the other hand, features are mostly written by freelancers. In general, we are looking for science and technology stories from around the world that will intrigue, entertain and inform the widest possible audience, be they physicists, biologists or people with no science background at all. We cover fascinating bits of pure science with no possible application as well as high-impact stories such as weapons technology and the psychology of terrorism. Besides reporting the latest research, we also try to find interesting scientific or technological angles on major news events.

JOBS

BROWN BOOKS
http://www.brownbooks.com/careers.php
Brown Books Publishing Group is expanding! This now opens some new opportunities for experienced, credentialed writers, editors and proofreaders. Must know Chicago Manual of Style, spelling, and punctuation. Please specify if you are looking to be hired for full-time, part-time or freelance. Send letter of intent along with your resume to publishing@brownbooks.com.

Publishers/agents

HEROES AND HEARTBREAKERS
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/page/submissions
The HeroesandHeartbreakers.com Short Story Program is seeking short original romance fiction for publication on both the H&H site and in e-book. We welcome submissions of original romance stories in all subgenres, including: Contemporary, Paranormal/Fantasy/Urban Fantasy, Erotica, Historical, Romantic suspense, Women’s Fiction, New Adult.

SIGNATURE LITERARY AGENCY
http://signaturelit.com/
Signature Literary Agency, LLC, is a full service literary agency actively seeking submissions from both established and new, undiscovered talent. We represent narrative non-fiction, including history, current events, science, biography and memoir, as well as self-help, health and diet, food and cooking, travel, entertainment, popular culture, how-to and humor. We also represent a wide range of fiction, including general commercial, literary, historical, mystery, women’s fiction and romance, erotica, thrillers, graphic novels and young adult and middle grade novels. We do not handle science fiction, fantasy, picture books, short stories, poetry or screenplays. Signature Literary has offices in Washington, DC and New York, NY.

THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND BOOKS
https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2017/04/PFPN-Guidelines.pdf
We are looking for stories with a strong emotional situation as their central theme, peopled by believable characters the reader cares about, sympathises and empathises with, and roots for in whatever crises they may face. The characters are almost more important than the plotline. As “The People’s Friend” themselves say in their own guidelines, the reader will remember a good character long after she’s forgotten other details. Stories are around 42,000 words, and a synopsis and the first couple of chapters are required in the first instance to assess both the storyline and the writer’s style.

BERRETT-KOEHLER PUBLISHERS
https://www.bkconnection.com/book-resources/static/proposal-guidelines-for-berrett-koehler-publishers
Berrett-Koehler Publishers' mission is to publish books that support the movement toward a world that works for all. Our titles promote positive change at personal, organizational and societal levels.