SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

ARE YOU POLARIZING?

This is one of my most important messages. 

One of the many reasons I left my day job was stress. Many of you have done the same or are in the process of finding ways to leave the lifestyle that makes your world less palatable. 

I worked for the federal government, and my job entailed balancing the wishes of my politician boss, the needs of the public, and the competition of my peers. Add family to the mix, and it made for some sleepless nights and tight-chested days. I left that life to write, and it was one of the best decisions of my existence. 

Then I read an article in the latest Psychology Today (love that magazine) about how polarization saddens us and, if we do not control it, can make our lives toxic. But humans like to congregate. They evolved from packs. And we interact accordingly.

"So when the world looks safe, mammals happily fan out to find resources to meet their needs. When threats are perceived, mammals retreat to the safety of social alliances." 

The problem these days is that we belong to multiple groups. We are writers. That's one group. Many of us relate to one political party or the other. We often claim a religion or relate to our gender or sexual orientation. We are foodies, animal rights advocates, and home-schooling parents. All of us belong to several groups, but not all groups believe in each other a hundred percent. We have allies and contrarians even within the groups we align with.

When my life gets too hectic, I feel it in my chest. I toss and turn and have nightmares, some nights am grateful for three hours of rest. I try to avoid items and people that cause me stress. It's not a weakness. I deem it a strength to be in control of my life. I fight for that lifestyle, and anyone who has visited me can feel it in all I've created. 

But there are some who choose to be more aggressive in one or two aspects of their lives. That does not mean they are right or wrong...or that you are right or wrong...or that I am all right or wrong. 

Choosing to be aggressive - not to be confused with passionate - about an issue or group, and infusing it into your writing world, will cause others to choose sides . . . and possibly avoid you. They retreat into the group they feel most comfortable with. As an author, you choose whether you want your life's choices to walk alongside your writing, because to do so is choosing to alienate groups (or packs) of readers who feel differently. And not everyone is going to agree with the non-writer side of you.

Sure, it's noble to have causes. Others, however, may feel just as noble in their causes. Why do you have to clash if your unity is, say, mystery fiction? Why do we only have to relate to those who match us group for group?

I've supported one particular author for several years. Love her writing style. Back during the election, I got bombarded by political stances, and when those stances started rejuvenating those old stress feelings in my chest and making me restless at night, I quietly severed social media links with the most toxic. Hers was one. 

Months later, she won an award for her novel. She messaged me, and I rejoiced with her! "Wonderful," I said. "You deserve it."

"But why did you unfriend me on Facebook?"

And we held a very civil discourse about politics. I rather enjoyed it. We were on opposite ends of the spectrum, but nobody got angry. We agreed that we would not be Facebook friends because she's chosen these days to lead with politics over her writing, and I didn't want it spilling into my world. We agreed to disagree. Quite amicably. And we still support each other's books.

Not everyone will agree with you. And please, do not demand people agree with you. Let life run through you, not stop at your outstretched, palm up hand. You don't have to agree. You might better understand by listening. And the result may also be to attract...and keep...your readers. Even if you aren't fans on Facebook.






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

The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.

~Thomas A. Edison
 

Success Story

Dear Hope, 

The Emerald Theatre Company's 10-minute play fest is going into its second year. Without you, and FundsforWriters, the first year might not have been possible. 

Thanks to the publicity from your newsletter, our little Memphis, Tennessee event received scripts from Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the UK and New Zealand. 

This wealth of wonderful material yielded quality vignettes that made the best local actors and stage directors (including a popular local radio personality) eager to donate their time and talent - their presence, in turn, sold tickets. 

We played to packed houses and everyone had a great time. To our astonishment, Vermont Pride Theatre got wind of the show and asked to put it on in its entirety this coming July - meaning the playwrights who won prizes and recognition in our fest will now receive additional recognition along with royalties.  

The bottom line is, without you, we would have had something rinky dink - with you we had something substantial. The publicity you provided on the front end made all the difference in the world!

Photos from last year's event - as well as details about this year's 10-minute play writing contest can be found here: http://www.etcmemphistheater.com/upcoming-season.html The postmark deadline is June 30, so there's still time. 

(As a side note, the entry fee is to defray our initial costs. The only people who are paid are the winning writers. The rest of the money goes to cover the material costs of the show and keep The Emerald Theatre Company running into the new season. The quality of the writing is what makes it work.)

Thanks again for all you do!

Best regards,
Caroline Sposto
www.whycaroline.com
(610) 597-9803

featured article

Writing to Parents Around the World

By Behlor Santi

Families around the world, whether they are in New York City, London, or Mumbai, look to parenting magazines for tips on everything from discipline to fun events. As a freelancer, these publications offer numerous opportunities to earn extra income and expand your audience.

Writing for parenting magazines outside the United States is similar to writing for American publications, but with a few caveats. This article shows you what to keep in mind.

First of all, where can you find these markets? Start with a Google search. Type keywords such as "parenting magazines," as well as whatever country you're interested in working in. Stick to publications that publish in a language you're proficient in. I'm a monolingual English speaker, so I prefer to deal with publications in that language. One problem with dealing with publications that don't speak your language is that the barrier can lead to miscommunication. When you're negotiating a contract, you don't want a publication that don't understand English-language terms such as kill fee and pays on acceptance.

Once you find a publication you want to work for, study the website, paying special attention to the list of editors. Many magazine websites have the email addresses of editors. Whenever possible, approach the managing or associate editor with your pitch. The larger magazines list editors on their websites, but some smaller publications only have a general email address or contact form. In this case, contact the publication at the general address and inquire about which editor accepts article queries. Be willing to wait a couple of days for a response. In some cases, you might have to make an international call to verify editor information. Find the phone number on the publication website. Use timeanddate.com to find the local time. Always call your publication during its business hours, even if it's a seven or eight-hour difference from your location.

After you find the appropriate editor for your pitch, start writing your article proposal. Remember one thing though – you're writing not to fellow Americans, but to cultures with different biases and expectations. Being culturally insensitive is the fastest way to kill your potential assignment before it's born. Some countries are very conservative when it comes to gender roles, while other countries frown on articles that glorify violence. In other words, your article on sex education may fly in Western Europe but not in the Middle East. Your nostalgic piece on cap guns may not be acceptable in a country with strict gun-control laws. One good site to get an overview on cultural etiquette is ediplomat.com. This website was originally meant for American diplomats in foreign countries, but it's also good for tourists in general and writers.

It takes some special skills to crack international parenting markets. But in the end, the extra work brings in a higher income and a larger audience for your work. Here are five international parenting publications for American freelance writers:

ParentsCanada.com
Country: Canada
Website: www.parentscanada.com
Editor: Janice Biehn
Email: janiceb@parentscanada.com

The Green Parent
Country: United Kingdom
Website: www.thegreenparent.co.uk
Editor: Melissa Corkhill
Email: features@thegreenparent.co.uk

Absolutely Mama
Country: United Kingdom
Website: www.absolutely-mama.co.uk
Editor: Helen Baron
Email: helen.baron@zest-media.com

Mother, Baby & Child
Country: United Arab Emirates
Website: www.motherbabychild.com
Print edition editor: Dina Maaty
Email: dina.maaty@cpimediagroup.com
Online editor: Emma Hodgson
Email: emma.hodgson@cpimediagroup.com

Essential Baby
Country: Australia
Website: www.essentialbaby.com.au
Editor: Melanie Mahoney
Email: mmahoney@fairfaxmedia.com.au

BIO: Behlor Santi is a regular contributor to fundsforwriters.com. She currently lives and writes in Bronx, New York. Email her at thebxscribbler1980@gmail.com.

 

COmpetitions

LOIS CRANSTON MEMORIAL POETRY PRIZE
http://calyxpress.org/LoisPrize.html
$15 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline June 30, 2017. $300 prize and one-year subscription. Please submit up to three unpublished poems (six pages maximum). Simultaneous submissions are discouraged. The CALYX editorial collective reads all manuscripts first, then selects 10-20 finalists to send to the final judge.



WELLS FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE CONTEST
http://www.wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk/2017-competitions/
£6 ENTRY FEE. 
Deadline June 30, 2017. This year, to celebrate our Silver Anniversary, we have raised the prize money to 1st: £750, 2nd: £300 and 3rd: £200 in all three categories. We continue to offer the Hilly Cansdale local poetry prize of £100 and the Wyvern local short story prize, also £100. In addition, there is a £100 local prize in the Book for Children category. Short stories may be on any subject and should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length. Poetry entries may be on any subject but must not exceed 40 lines in length. Children's book stories may be on any subject. We ask, however, that the stories are aimed at readers aged 9+; this allows entrants to write either middle grade or teenage novels. We also ask for the first three chapters only, plus a synopsis.  



RATTLE POETRY PRIZE
http://www.rattle.com/prize/about/
ENTRY FEE A ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION.
Deadline July 15, 2017. The annual Rattle Poetry Prize offers $10,000 for a single poem to be published in the winter issue of the magazine. Ten finalists will also receive $200 each and publication and be eligible for the $2,000 Readers’ Choice Award, to be selected by subscriber and entrant vote. Additional poems from the entries are frequently offered publication as well. In 2016, we published 21 poems from just over 4,000 entries. 



TOMAZ SALAMUN PRIZE
https://verse.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline July 16, 2017. The Tomaž Šalamun Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career. Previous publication is neither a requirement nor a restriction. You can enter if you've published no books or 100 books. Translations into English are acceptable if the author is still living and has given written permission. Prose poetry and hybrid forms are also acceptable. The winning chapbook will be published by Factory Hollow Press in Amherst, MA. The prize winner will receive $500, 10 free copies of their chapbook, and a free one-month residency at the Tomaž Šalamun Center for Poetry in Ljubljana, Slovenia. If a translation wins the prize, the translator will receive $500, 10 copies of the chapbook, and the residency. Individual pieces in the chapbook may have been published in print and/or online journals, but the chapbook itself must be previously unpublished.
 

GRANTS

NEW JERSEY ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/grants-for-artists/#state-fellowships
Deadline Friday, July 14, 2017 at 5PM EST. In the past, fellowship awards have ranged between $7,000 and $12,000. The amount of the award is determined annually by the council from funding provided through the New Jersey Hotel/Motel tax. Because fellowships are awarded to applicants who demonstrate the highest artistic excellence, there is no award quota per artistic discipline or style. Artists may use their fellowship awards to pursue work in their artistic discipline, the purchase of supplies, workshops, renting studio space, or otherwise freeing up their time. Fellowship funds may not be used for travel out of the country, study as a matriculated student in either a graduate or undergraduate program, or to purchase permanent equipment (equipment with a resale value exceeding $350 or having a lifespan of more than three years). 



MARYLAND ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/grants-for-artists/#state-fellowships
Deadline Friday, July 21, 2017 at 4:30 PM EST. Writing related fellowships are limited to playwriting. MSAC Individual Artist Awards (IAA) are grants awarded to Maryland artists to encourage and sustain their pursuit of artistic excellence.  Grant recipients are selected through an anonymous, highly competitive adjudication process.  A limited number of awards of $1,000, $3,000, and $6,000 will be offered this year.



DELAWARE ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/grants-for-artists/#state-fellowships
Deadline Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 4:30 PM EST. The Fellowship program provides competitive grants in three categories with monetary awards of $3,000, $6,000, and $10,000 to Delaware artists. Fellowships are awarded for demonstrated creativity and skill in an art form with artistic quality as the primary determinant. Writing categories include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and playwriting. 



CALDERA
http://calderaarts.org/caldera/arts-in-residence/
Every winter from January through March, creative individuals, collaborations, and performing ensembles are awarded the gift of time and space at our beautiful Arts Center in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Sisters, Oregon, for month-long residencies. Residencies are open to national and international artists in any discipline, as well as creative thinkers in culinary arts, design, engineering, and the sciences. Artists at any stage of their careers who are not current students are eligible. Residency positions for parent artists are available.
 

FREELANCE MARKETS

VOX FIRST PERSON
http://www.vox.com/2015/6/12/8767221/vox-first-person-explained
We've decided to devote a section of Vox.com to thoughtful, in-depth, provocative personal narratives that explain the most important topics in modern life. We're calling this section First Person. And we want you to write for us. If you have a great story to tell that helps explain an important issue, send us a pitch at firstperson@vox.com. We're looking for a wide range of perspectives from writers of every age, gender, race, sexual orientation, and political leaning. We also happily accept pitches from previously unpublished writers — or, for that matter, from non-writers who may have an important story to tell but need help turning it into a piece; we're here to provide that help.



MONTANA OUTDOORS
http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/writers.htm
Montana Outdoors is a bimonthly magazine published by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. It advocates the conservation and sustainable use of Montana’s fish, wildlife, and parks. We publish no poetry, fiction, or other creative writing, and only the occasional first-person essay. We never publish “my first time” hunting, fishing, camping, seeing a grizzly bear, or similar stories unless as an anecdotal introduction to a more comprehensive examination of a topic. Also, we never run tributes to friends or family members. How-to articles are fine if the writer has personal expertise or interviews experts in the field. We publish many articles on natural history and are constantly on the lookout for new ones. We like journalism.



THIRD FLATIRON
http://www.thirdflatiron.com/liveSite/
Deadline July 15, 2017. Third Flatiron Publishing is based in Boulder, Colorado, and Ayr, Scotland, and seeks submissions to quarterly themed anthologies. The focus is on science fiction, fantasy, and anthropological fiction. Tightly plotted tales in out-of-the-ordinary scenarios. Light horror is acceptable, provided it fits the theme. Please send short stories that revolve around age-old questions and have something illuminating to human beings. Fantastical situations and creatures, exciting dialogue, irony, mild horror, and wry humor are all welcome. Stories should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Pays six cents/word. Strange beasties is the current theme. 
 

JOBS

WRITER/EDITOR
Employer Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/316887923/
As the Development Writer/Editor, you will write and edit diverse communications (Web, email, donor letters, brochures, proposals, leadership remarks, etc.) that differentiate MSK as the world leader in cancer care and research to donors and potential donors. You will adapt the MSK Giving brand voice to various communication channels and audiences. You will actively engage in all aspects of the writing process with close attention to detail—including research, writing, and editing. You will translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, vibrant layman's language. You will review and edit a high volume of documents for accuracy, voice, and grammar at a fast pace while paying close attention to detail.



TRAVEL WRITING (STAFF OR CONTRIBUTOR)
https://makestorieshuman.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0ma2f?fjb_hash=ezLpq610
Location Dallas, TX. Virtual is possible. Travel produces the world's best hyper-localized travel content. With modern travelers seeking to "travel more like a local," they seek the hidden gem in the dark alley, the Central American kitchen staff by mom and grandmother in the front of their house, the trails and beaches still undiscovered by most and ultimately the experiences that all will remember for the rest of our lives. Writers and contributors are deeply invested in their communities and areas of expertise and bring the richest travel content to digital environments.

Publishers/agents

LEVINE GREENBERG ROSTAN LITERARY AGENCY
http://lgrliterary.com/how-to-submit/proposals/
For fiction, they ask that you attach the first fifty pages of your novel along with your query, using the submission form on the website or sending an email to submit@lgrliterary.com. For nonfiction queries, it is best to attach a book proposal with sample chapters, as outlined online. The look of your proposal is important. It should be double spaced and paginated, and each section should start on a new page. Represents most genres, but you must match your needs with the agent with their own need. See the list of agents. 



ROBIN STRAUS AGENCY
http://www.robinstrausagency.com/about
Robin Straus Agency, Inc. represents high quality adult fiction and non-fiction including literary and commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, women's fiction, memoirs, history, biographies, books on psychology, popular culture and current affairs, science, parenting, and cookbooks. They do not represent juvenile, young adult, horror, romance, westerns, poetry or screenplays.



PIPPIN PROPERTIES
http://www.pippinproperties.com/submissions/
Pippin Properties, Inc. is an agency devoted primarily to picture books, middle-grade, and young adult novels, also representing adult projects on occasion. They are always on the lookout for writers and illustrators who take the challenge of creating books seriously and are willing to give the publishing world nothing less than their very best.



SERENDIPITY LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.serendipitylit.com/about
Located in New York, NY, near the heart of America’s publishing industry, Serendipity Literary Agency, LLC represents a select list of authors and illustrators. Serendipity has established a diverse base of award-winning clients in adult and young adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. They work tirelessly to help clients build successful careers. 
 

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/


 

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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