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http://learnselfpublishingfast.com


 

TODAY IS YOUR BEST DAY

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When writing, we unconsciously measure whether this will be a good day or a bad day. Across the blogosphere and around the web, writers wring their hands or arm pump whether or not they had a great writing day. 

I try not to judge, preferring Neil Gaiman's interpretation. It struck such a chord with me that I cut out the portion of an interview he did where he referenced the subject.

"The process of writing is not necessary an enjoyable one. The process of writing is way up there with ditch digging. You write a novel a word at a time. And this will go on for hundreds of pages."

He continues...

"There are two kinds of writing. What you do when every word drops from your finger like glittering diamonds and it just comes out in such an enthusiastic rush, and you just sit there and a few hours later, you look up and it's magic. And then there are days where you sit down, where everything's a pain, and every word's stupid, and it's all so boring. But you know you have to write it."

Then he sums it up so beautifully...

"The sad thing is a year later when you get the galley proofs and you're reading it again, sometimes for the first time since you wrote it, you suddenly realize that you can't remember which is which."

Instead of judging our days, why not think differently?

1) Count your blessings that you can write.
2) You improve by writing, not thinking about it. 
3) Be willing to report daily to the keyboard (or paper), even if it's only 500 words.
4) Know that any words, however badly written, are steps closer to being a better writer.

Edisto Stranger released today . . . book 4 in the Edisto Mystery Series. It was damn  hard to write, and at times I felt it my worst writing effort ever. Then suddenly I'm at the end, turning it in to the publisher, holding my breath. Then it's out. Readers like it. And I wonder what all the worry was about.
  
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things. ~Robert Brault






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 65 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: Purchase an autographed copy or new copy of Hope's book and receive TOTAL for free.  Send the receipt to hope@fundsforwriters.com (**and feel free to steal this graphic for your own site!)

 

 
WORDS OF SUCCESS

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

~Winston Churchill
 

Success Story

Dear Hope:

Ready for another success story? I subscribed to FundsforWriters years ago. You helped me get started!

I have written freelance for years.  One of my tools was to start a blog and to let the right people know about it! Then the work started pouring in! Real work for writing that PAID!!! Not enough to quit my job, but WHO CARES! I am also a professional actor! I get paid for two things I love!!!

I was part of the Dallas Observer's James Beard Award nominated blog for Best Food Blog!

Your advice is always spot on! Hope (pun intended) you enjoyed this and thanks again!

Sincerely,
Chris Meesy

Born and lived most of his life in Texas, Chris Meesy now lines in NW Arkansas and is married to a lovely Texas girl. Recovering from open-heart surgery. Still alive! Spends much of his time doing The Wine O'Clock Report with his wife. Life is great! www.wineoclockreport.com
 

featured article

Writing Your Own Obituary – So No One Else Does!

By Laura Lee Perkins

As a lifelong educator, I'm always looking for ways to expand my writing opportunities through teaching.  Because much of my work these days comes through teaching in four retirement communities or in Adult Education Programs, I decided to plan a class titled: WRITING YOUR OWN OBITUARY – So No One Else Does! We meet twice, two weeks apart, for two hours.  We share, we laugh and we cry.

The first session is about learning what should (and what should not) be included in an obituary so no one steals your identity after your passing. Families of 2.5 million people deal with this problem annually in the United States. Only list the birth year (not month or day), never include the mother's maiden name, and never list a home address. If possible, instruct the executor to first notify Social Security and then cancel all credit cards, notify credit reporting agencies and close all bank accounts before the obituary is published online and in newspapers.

The second session is scheduled two weeks later to offer attendees time at home to ponder, talk with loved ones and write their first draft.  When we meet the second time, they each bring what they have written. This session is personal and often quite emotional, but gratifying. We bond through sharing intimate stories and humorous events from our lives. Some people choose to include these, after observing others' reactions, in their completed obit so they can "have the last laugh."

For many people, writing their own obituary can be a nice way to sum up their lives and avoid mistakes that sometimes occur when obituaries are hurriedly written at the time of death. The process should be all about answering: "What do I want people to remember about me?" Concentrate on anecdotes and recollections. Putting this information down on paper helps make a very difficult time easier for loved ones. Your best chance of having your wishes honored is to write them down.

No one wants their obituary to simply be a calendar of events. Many funeral homes provide forms for basic information, and they'll offer to write the obituary for a hefty fee.  These obits are often very impersonal and disappointing to loved ones who have so many fond memories of you. Completing this in advance makes it possible to write about oneself in the third-person narrative (she/he) which is often easier because it creates distance between the living you and the deceased you. I encourage participants to list three words that would sum up their life, and, from those words, write a conclusion.

How does this work benefit me as the writing instructor?                                                      

1. I get paid to teach the class.                                                                             
2. I offer to edit each "completed" obit for a $20 fee after the class ends.                                  
3. I often help write Legacy Letters, revealing personal information to be passed on only to close family members or friends, for another $20-$40 fee.

This is a win-win experience because I feel like I've helped folks through an often difficult task, and they are relieved, knowing this burden has been lifted from their survivors. 

Bio: Laura Lee Perkins, MS is a writer, educator and flutist. Author of seven books and 150+ published articles, she was awarded five Artist-in-Residencies, has produced five professional recordings, and her music is featured in three audio books: The Birchbark House, Paddle to the Sea and Bambi. Perkins has received 11 grants and placed third in the 80th International Writers' Digest Awards (Inspirational Category). www.LauraLeePerkinsAuthor.com
 

COmpetitions

SECOND ANNUAL TEN-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
http://www.etcmemphistheater.com/upcoming-season.html
$10 ENTRY FEE (CHECK OR MONEY ORDER).
Theme: "That's so gay." The words, "That's so gay." must be spoken by a character. Every script must have two to four characters. No children's shows or musicals. Ten pages (10 minutes) maximum. Will be staged in strict "black box" style. No play may have been published, read in public, or produced before. No exceptions. Postmark deadline June 30, 2017. Plays will be produced in September 2017. Dates to be announced. Eight to ten plays will be produced. First prize $300 plus a trophy. Second prize $200 plus a medal. Third prize $100 and a medal. Checks should be made out to: E.T.C. Please send two copies of the script with no identifying information along with a cover sheet that includes: title, playwright's name, address, and contact information. Send entries to: Caroline Sposto, Contest Coordinator, PO Box 11450, Memphis, TN 38111. Questions to Caroline Sposto (610) 597-9803 or czs@whycaroline.com. 



LINDA FLOWERS CONTEST
http://www.nchumanities.org/content/2017-linda-flowers-award-details-and-guidelines
NO ENTRY FEE.
The North Carolina Humanities Council invites original, unpublished entries of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry for the Linda Flowers Literary Award. Submissions should detail examinations of intimate, provocative, and inspiring portraiture of North Carolina, its people and cultures, bringing to light real men and women having to make their way in the face of change, loss, triumph, and disappointments. Deadline June 16, 2017. The winner of The Linda Flowers Literary Award will receive a cash prize of $1,500 and a stipend for a writer’s residency at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, North Carolina.



SATURDAY EVENING POST FICTION CONTEST
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest
$10 ENTRY FEE.
The winning story will be published in the January/February 2018 edition of the Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive $500. Five runners-up will each receive $100 and will also have their stories featured online. Stories must be between 1,500 and 5,000 words in length. Deadline July 1, 2017.



UTAH WRITING COMPETITION
https://heritage.utah.gov/dha/dha-featured/ops-competition-original-writing-competition
NO ENTRY FEE.
The competition’s mission is to aid Utah writers on their path to publication and broader recognition. Submissions must be original works and, with some exceptions, cannot be published or accepted for publication at the time of entry. There is no entry fee, and it is open to all Utah residents age 18 and over. Deadline June 23, 2017. Multiple categories to include four first-book categories with $1,000 purses. Three shorter piece categories with $300 first places. 

 

GRANTS

ART AND CHANGE GRANTS
http://www.leeway.org/grants/art_and_change_grants/
The Art and Change Grant provides project-based grants of up to $2,500 to women and trans artists in the Delaware Valley region to fund art for social change projects.



RADCLIFFE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY: HARVARD UNIVERSITY
https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/fellowship-program/how-apply
Each of the more than 850 fellows who have been in residence at the Radcliffe Institute has pursued an independent project, but the collaborative experience unites all of them. Scholars, scientists, and artists work on individual projects, or in clusters, to generate new research, publications, art, and more. Applications in all academic disciplines, professions, and creative arts are encouraged, and there are a few areas of special interest: Applications related to the theme of citizenship–local, national, and global–which is a two-year initiative across the programs of the Radcliffe Institute; applications that involve the study of women, gender, and society, which is a commitment rooted in Radcliffe’s unique history; and applications that draw on the resources of the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, which is part of the Radcliffe Institute and one of the foremost archives on women’s history. The deadline for individual applications in the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences is September 14, 2017.



NEW HAMPSHIRE ARTS IN HEALTH ARTIST DIRECTORY
http://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/artists/AIHroster.htm
The Arts in Health Artist Directory is a resource for health care providers looking for artists who are experienced and skilled in working in a variety of health care facilities.  Performing, literary, media and visual artists are eligible to apply. To be considered for the Arts in Health (AIH) Directory, artists must have the skills and experience needed to plan and present effective and relevant arts programs in and for health care facilities. Applicant must also have the ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with health care staff and people of all ages, including those who are undergoing medical care. Interested artists should contact Grants Officer Cassandra Mason at Cassandra.Mason@dcr.nh.gov or 603-271-7926 to discuss their application prior to submitting.



SCHOLARSHIP FOR LIVE FREE AND WRITE RETREAT
www.stockton.edu/murphywriting
https://murphywriting.submittable.com/submit 
Murphy Writing of Stockton University is offering a $500 scholarship to a first-time participant. The Live Free and Write program takes place August 13-18, 2017 in Sunapee, NH. Spend an inspiring week working on your memoir or poetry. Enjoy the refreshing New England summer with plentiful writing time, encouraging workshops, homemade meals, and time to relax. Application deadline: June 8, 2017.
 

FREELANCE MARKETS

THE NATIONAL
http://www.amtrakthenational.com/about-us
The National is the onboard American culture magazine for Amtrak. The title of the magazine speaks to their ambition: to celebrate the culture and industry defining life along America’s rails—in Amtrak’s 500 destinations and everywhere in between. In these pages you’ll find in-depth reporting and beautiful photography from across the country, as well as fiction, poetry, and essays from some of America’s most acclaimed voices.



VIRGINIA QUARTERLY REVIEW
http://www.vqronline.org/about-vqr/submissions
Poetry: All types and length. Short Fiction: Length is from 2,000–8,000 words. VQR is generally not interested in genre fiction (such as romance, science fiction, or fantasy). Nonfiction: Length is 3,500–9,000 words. They publish literary, art, and cultural criticism; reportage; historical and political analysis; and travel essays. They publish few author interviews or memoirs. In general, They are looking for nonfiction that looks out on the world, rather than within the self. For poetry, they pay $200 per poem, up to four poems; for a suite of five or more poems, they pay $1,000. For short fiction, they generally pay $1,000 and above.



5280
http://www.5280.com/writers-guidelines/
5280 is the premiere monthly guide to the arts, entertainment, dining, and lifestyle issues in Denver. They accept pitches for front-of-the-book sections, Compass, Culture, Adventure, and Eat & Drink; for departments/columns; and for the feature well. Front-of-the-book stories, which are short, lively takes on life in Denver and run anywhere from 50 to 400 words. Departments are generally 800 to 1,500 words and cover everything from travel to sports to politics. Features can run up to 6,000 words. Please submit queries, along with two or three published writing samples, via email to a staff editor.
 

JOBS

CONTENT MARKETING WRITER
Location Alexandria, VA
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/290466287/
McKinley Marketing Partners is looking for a contract Content Marketing Writer (up to 35 hours a week) with onsite responsibilities at the Alexandria, VA office. The Content Marketing Writer will partner with the Digital Marketing Writer to continue to grow and improve McKinley's internal content strategy. The Content Marketing Writer also will be responsible for producing marketing content (videos, whitepapers, eBooks, etc.), and needs to possess a strong understanding of the concept of content marketing and how/why it's used.



TAX WRITER AND EDITOR
Location Minneapolis/St Paul, MN
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/301249696/
The ideal person will direct the overall annual publishing plans of the company including schedules of all releases; develop and edit current products; oversee the production of all publications and product including topics, titles, layouts, graphics; conduct meetings on a regular basis to coordinate our publishing efforts and ensure schedules are met. They will also administer quality control procedures: Cross checking the facts, spellings, grammar, writing style, design of pages, photos, aesthetic etc. They will administer quality assurance to ensure all publications and content are up to the mark, readable, and match the mission and scope of the company.



DIGITAL WRITER/EDITOR
Location Washington DC
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/283255128/
The Digital Writer / Editor writes, edits, and publishes content for the organization’s main website, edf.org, with a focus on pages that will be promoted to support the brand campaign and EDF’s thought leadership. Working closely with the Digital Content Strategy team, he or she crafts the angles and tone that will most appeal to and engage their target audiences, strengthening EDF’s thought leadership and influence among legislative allies and influencers, plus attracting potential donors.

Publishers/agents

NELSON AGENCY ON TWITTER SEEKING CLIENTS
http://nelsonagency.com/submission-guidelines/
Wednesday, June 21, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, tweet your pitch to #NLAPitch. No need to tweet to a particular agent. You may retweet up to three (3) different versions of your pitch, but please do not tweet more than three (3) times per completed project. If Kristin Nelson, Danielle Burby, Joanna MacKenzie, Angie Hodapp, or James Persichetti like your pitch, please send us an email to query@nelsonagency.com, formatted as follows: In the subject line, write #NLAPitch and the name(s) of the agent(s) who liked your pitch. In the body of the email, include the #NLAPitch that was liked plus your query letter. As an attachment, send the first 50 pages as a .doc or .docx. You may want to include one or more genre hashtags (optional): #YA = Young Adult • #MG = Middle Grade • #MT = Mystery or Thriller • #LF = Literary Fiction • #CLF = Commercial Literary Fiction • #WF = Women’s Fiction • #HF = Historical Fiction • #SF = Science Fiction • #FAN = Fantasy • #ROM = Romance



PARK LITERARY MANAGEMENT
http://www.parkliterary.com/what-we-do/
Park Literary & Media represents fiction and nonfiction with a boutique approach: an emphasis on servicing a relatively small number of clients, with the highest professional standards and focused personal attention. With a robust foreign rights department, a strong emphasis on specific marketing, retail, client promotions, and deep relationships with film and television entities in Los Angeles, the agency brings to bear top-tier resources and a wealth of experience in managing all aspects of an author's career. For adult fiction submissions, please include a query letter and approximately the first 25 pages of your work. For YA & children's fiction submissions, please include a query letter and the first chapter or approximately the first ten pages of your work. For non-fiction submissions, please send a query letter, proposal, and sample chapter(s). They do not review poetry or screenplays.



GLASSTOWN ENTERTAINMENT
https://www.glasstownentertainment.com/
Glasstown is a 360-degree media and content company based in New York and Los Angeles, dedicated to bringing immersive worlds and creative storytelling to life across multiple platforms, including book, film and television. They are proud of their represented talent, ranging from debut writers to New York Times bestselling authors. All titles showcase their love of strong narrative structure, distinctive voice, and elevated escapism. Their New York-based literary business is represented by Inkwell Management.



THE WALRUS IMPRINT
http://site.houseofanansi.com/the-walrus-foundation-house-of-anansi-press-and-the-chawkers-foundation-are-pleased-to-announce-the-walrus-imprint/
Two Canadian literary powerhouses, the Walrus Foundation and House of Anansi Press, have joined forces to publish excellent long-form nonfiction under the new Walrus Imprint, made possible by the Chawkers Foundation Writers’ Project. Focuses on Canadian authors.
 

SPONSORS

Don't spend your money and an editor's time on corrections you can do yourself.
Always self-edit first!

Your manuscript should be the best it can be before you send it to anyone else to read. Learn to self-edit effectively in our June workshop with author and professional editor, Maryann Miller.







North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books

3rd year. $6,000 in cash prizes. Three categories: General Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction & Memoir. The winner of each category will receive $1,500, a credit towards the high-quality publishing services at BookBaby, free advertising in our email newsletter, and expert marketing advice from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Book Promoter. Gift for everyone who enters. Deadline: June 30. Judges: Jendi Reiter and Ellen LaFleche. Entry fee: $60. Winning Writers is one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest). Entries accepted by mail and via Submittable. See guidelines and past winners at winningwriters.com/north​​​​​​​









INKITT CONTEST FOR UNPUBLISHED NOVELS
Submit a novel of 20,000 words or more in any fiction genre (no fanfic, short stories or poetry). Authors upload their novels to the site and instantly gain access to a wide readership. The novels that prove most popular with Inkitt's readers win the frequent competitions. The winners receive a publishing deal with a generous promotional budget. Their books are professionally edited. A cover is commissioned from a professional artist. The marketing team invest $6,000 into promotion of the winner's book, aiming to achieve enough sales to get into the top 100 on Amazon on launch day. So far, Inkitt's success rate has been excellent in this regard. This means Amazon's algorithm recognises the book's potential and features it prominently across Amazon's global sales platform. This generates a lot of sales and the winner receives a 25 percent royalty. Self-publishing a book is easy. Successfully marketing it and generating sales is not. Because of the professional marketing offered by Inkitt, this competition has been able to launch careers. Inkitt run contests regularly, sometimes as often as one a month. It's well worth checking out as it offers authors a great opportunity. You can learn more about Inkitt in this guest post by Simone Elise. Inkitt publishes her books and, by working with them, she has become an Amazon best selling author.












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/


 

GET AWAY TO WRITE - SPAIN
July 11-18, 2017, Tavertet, Spain
Led by Peter E. Murphy with Roberta Clipper & Christine E. Salvatore

ARE YOU A WRITER WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL? Retreat to beautiful northern Spain to immerse yourself in a supportive week-long writing experience that will energize and inspire you. Enjoy encouraging workshops, plentiful writing time, panoramic clifftop views, excursions to Barcelona and more.

"Peter is simply one of the finest writing teachers I have ever encountered. His craft talks were inventive, astute and insightful. His imaginative prompts often inspired startlingly fresh and innovative writing. In short, Peter empowers his students to write, while offering instruction and feedback that allows them to make leaps and bounds in their writing."— Patty Paine, Doha, Qatar -  Founding editor of Diode Poetry Journal and author of four books

This retreat will fill. Register now: www.stockton.edu/murphywriting 







 

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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