SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

At FanStory you'll get:

• Learn from feedback that will be written on everything you write. Share your poetry, stories and book chapters. All skill levels welcomed.
• Enter contests for free. Over $5,000 in cash prizes will be awarded this year. All contests with cash prizes are free to enter with your membership. 
• Since the year 2000 FanStory has been helping writers of all skill levels. Make connections and friends. Enjoy sharing your writing. 

Find out More | Watch The Video 

Acrostic Poetry Contest 
Write a poem where the first letter of lean line spells out a word. See an example in the announcement. Cash prize.  Deadline: This Friday, Aug 11th.

Character  
The character in your story can make that story. View the announcement to see the image for this contest. Write about the person in the image. Cash Prize! Deadline is Tuesday, Aug 15th.

Faith Poetry 
Share a poem about your faith.  Deadline is Saturday, Aug 19th.

True Story Writing Contest  
Write a true story for your chance at the cash prize.  Deadline is Wednesday, Aug 23rd.

This is just a few of our contests. View our full listing here.

THE UNSPOKEN ETIQUETTE OF BOOK REVIEWING

We all live by unspoken rules and manners. No passing gas in a restaurant. No joking about someone coming in tenth in a competition. No correcting your grandmother in public. We learn these manners from our elders. From those who've gone before us, and supposedly schooled us correctly. Same goes for when we enter a profession. However, what happens when we attempt a task and don't have a mentor to teach us properly?

Book reviews, for instance. To many of us, a review is simply clicking the number of stars and giving a one-liner of whether we liked it or not. Fine if you are a reader. Not cool if you are an author. Why? Because whatever you write online, inckuding a book review, reflects on your writing abilities. 

Let's talk about what you DO when you offer to write a book review. 

1) You post on Amazon or Goodreads. Frankly, unless you write for some mighty big organizations like Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, or Foreword, or have a social media or blog with followers in the thousands, the most important reviews you can write are on Amazon and Goodreads. A lot of decisions are made by agents, publishers, bookstore owners, and places like BookBub based upon those Amazon and Goodreads reviews. If you read those reviews, then thousands of others do, too. 

2) You review promptly. Don't request a review copy unless you are ready to be part of the team to get the news out timely. That usually means within two to four weeks of receipt.

3) You follow-through and do the review. Someone paid for those books and that postage in hopes you are going to follow through with your promise. Often $8 to $15. Put that book on the top of your to-be-read stack. Don't think, "They won't miss it." Not true. Every review matters.

4) Write a meaty review. What did you love about it and what rubbed you wrong. Show that you actually read the book. A simple "I liked it" will not convince anyone to purchase or not purchase the book. The reason you were chosen to review the book was to post an honest analysis.

5) Avoid writing spoilers. Would you buy a book after reading a review that gives away the twists and plot?

When I bring up the topic of reviews in chats, on Facebook, or at conferences, writers grumble. They grumble BIG time. Therefore, as a writer, you have a responsibility to review professionally. You know what it feels like.

When books are sent out for review, there's an unspoken time constraint. The author and publisher are attempting to boost notice of the release, boost sales, and measure the success of the book. If you are given a gratuitous book, jump on the review. Only if you buy the book on your own do you buy the right to take your time. But regardless, write the review intelligently . . . write it well. Make people WANT you to review their next book.

 


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. Biweekly, with 65 contests, markets, grants, retreats, publishers, freelance gigs, magazines and more. $18.75 for a year, or 26 issues. To subscribe, simply go to www.paypal.me/chopeclark/18.75 or read more at FundsforWriters.com.


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 





WORDS OF SUCCESS

"You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however."

~Richard Bach~

 

Success Story

Hope- 

It was back in October of 2016 that FFW brought the exciting-sounding Arquetopia Foundation to my attention (www.arquetopia.org). Back then they were looking for people to apply to their Mexico writers' residencies, which sounded right up my streets. As tends to happen, life got in the way, time passed and I near enough forgot about my earlier excitement, but finally, nearly nine months after first hearing about Arquetopia, I applied and, I'm pleased to say, got accepted. I will be spending four weeks at their brand new writer residency in Cuzco, Peru next February. Thank you, Hope and FFW!
 
All the best,
Anna Maria Espsäter
Freelance multi-lingual writer
www.annamariaespsater.co.uk

featured article

Pitch Perfect

By Lyn Fairchild Hawks

This week my literary agent said she’ll submit my young adult novel to publishers. Her advice to me during this waiting period is “You must be patient. Are you patient?” 

Yes! For me to have gotten to this point, I had to be incredibly patient—over 10 years’ worth of persistence. And I’m beyond excited. Because from where I sat a decade ago, this moment would have seemed impossible. But after an adventurous trek through the wilds of editing, the challenges of slush pile and Twitter querying, and the thrills of face-to-face pitching to agents, I know I’ve not only prepared my best work but also have the best representation for my novel. 

Just as Hope preaches, practice at this writing thing does make perfect. Agents aren’t kidding when they say they want a manuscript that’s ready. They’re not interested in “potential.” I learned this when I queried my manuscript too early over a year ago. My story garnered some partial reads by a few agents, but eventually, over 50 rejections. (Keep in mind I had to query far more agents—over 100—to get 50 “Nos.”) During the revision process these last two years, my novel has changed titles three times and has improved thanks to feedback from two freelance editors and over 20 beta readers. A former acquisitions editor I found via Editing-Writing.com suggested key changes that ultimately got me the attention from my current agent. 

So this past February with a new title, a much tighter plot, and a whole new query letter, I was ready to pitch again and even travel to Chicago to meet agents. These writing workshops hosted by query guru and author, Chuck Sambuchino, allow you to pitch to several agents. Preparing the ten-minute speech transformed my query. There’s nothing like facing industry professionals to make you rethink your argument for why your book should be marketed to millions. I found I needed a logline—the one-sentence hook or “elevator pitch.” It was the first thing I stated after introducing myself. I also needed to sum up the story in one to two minutes, which is exactly how long the synopsis should be in a query letter. I walked away from the conference with two requests for the full manuscript and three requests for partials. The experience was worth every penny of the plane ticket and hotel bill!

The logline was also the perfect tool for #PitMad, a day of Twitter pitching that happens four times a year, where authors share manuscripts with agents using 140 characters. From the three tweets you’re allowed, I received three requests from agents. Here’s one that worked: “When a friend is sexually assaulted, a teen journalist learns it’s better to go NYT, not TMZ, when reporting the crime. #PitMad #YA.”

But it was the slush pile query that ultimately brought me the pot of gold. While Twitter and face-to-face pitching, I never stopped sending out a revised email query: at least two a week. This one featured the logline, now the hook in my first paragraph. Agent Amy Tipton of Signature Literary asked for my full manuscript in June and made me an offer of representation. We’ve worked this summer on two rounds of revisions (one major and one minor), and now the book is ready for publishers’ eyes.

I got my agent by practicing the pitch—and perfecting the manuscript--till both were pitch perfect. It takes tenacity, humility, flexibility, and an ear for the market. Make sure all notes play well together in both your promotion and storytelling. 


BIO - Lyn Fairchild Hawks writes YA contemporary fiction and literary short stories. She is the author of the novel, How Wendy Redbird Dancing Survived the Dark Ages of Nought; co-author of the graphic novella, Minerda; and author of the short story collection, The Flat and Weightless Tang-Filled Future. Lyn is represented by Amy Tipton of Signature Literary Agency. Learn more at lynhawks.com. 

 

COmpetitions

KNIGHTVILLE POETRY CONTEST
http://www.newguardreview.com/tng-contests
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2017. Prize of $1,500 and publication for an exceptional poem in any form. Up to three poems per entry. Up to 150 lines per poem. Please submit all three poems in a single document. 



MACHIGONNE FICTION CONTEST
http://www.newguardreview.com/tng-contests
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2017. Pays $1,500 and publication for an exceptional work of fiction in any genre. Submit up to 5,000 words: anything from flash to the long story. 



THE CALEDONIA NOVEL AWARD
http://thecaledonianovelaward.com/rules-entry/
£25 ENTRY FEE.
Deadline November 1, 2017. Longlisted novels will be announced on 30 November 2017, with longlistees invited to submit their full novel manuscript by December 6, 2017. Shortlisted novels will be announced on 25 January 2018, with the overall competition winner announced in February 2018 and awarded £1,000. Novels can be in any genre for adults or young adults. Novels must be the entrant’s original work and at least 50,000 words in length. The competition is open to writers over the age of eighteen of any nationality and resident in any country. The Caledonia Novel Award is open to unpublished or self-published novelists only. Entrants must be unagented.



EXETER NOVEL PRIZE
http://www.creativewritingmatters.co.uk/2017-exeter-novel-prize.html
£18 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 1, 2018. The competition is for the first 10,000 words including synopsis of a novel that has not been accepted for publication by a traditional publishing house. It is open to all authors who are currently without representation by a literary agent, whether or not they have been published. Self published novels are eligible. First Prize £500 plus trophy. Five finalists will each receive £75 plus a trophy. 
 

GRANTS

ILLINOIS MULTIPLIER GRANTS
https://www.ilhumanities.org/program/community-grants/
Deadline September 15, 2017. Multiplier Grants are the largest grant category (maximum $15,000). They are meant to support collaborative projects in the public humanities. Examples of Multiplier Grants might include a number of groups coming together in a given city or town to form a working group trying to attract young families, the development of a citywide plan for nurturing the humanities, or a group of libraries or historical societies working collectively to bolster their public engagement in creative ways. NOTE: Individuals must have nonprofit sponsors or be working with a nonprofit entity.



ILLINOIS SPEAKS MICRO-GRANTS
https://www.ilhumanities.org/program/community-grants/
Illinois Speaks micro-grants are $250 grants to individuals and organizations to host public discussions about contemporary issues. These grants allow more people to act as trained facilitators or moderators of public discussion across the state of Illinois. The money goes toward: compensation for moderators, support for the host organization or venue, refreshments, outreach, recording an event. Illinois Speaks applicants can check a box to request an additional $100 to provide accessibility services (e.g., American Sign Language translation). Anyone over the age of 15 can apply for an Illinois Speaks micro-grant. They simply need to fill out an Illinois Humanities grant proposal form. 



CREATIVE AGING GRANTS IN TENNESSEE
http://tnartscommission.org/arts-access/creative-aging-grant-applications-due-august-31/
Deadline August 31, 2017. Successful projects will encourage senior creativity, physical activity, and/or community engagement through the arts. Outcomes can include using the arts for improved health and wellness; lifelong learning; reduced isolation and increased social and community connections; and/or increased positive attitudes/perceptions about aging. Eligible organizations include local and regional government entities and nonprofit organizations legally chartered in Tennessee. See the grant guidelines for more details. Applicants may request up to $5,000 for projects. At least two awards will be made to qualified applicants who can demonstrate rural impact, and at least two awards will be made to applicants who address health-related impact. 



IDAHO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS
https://arts.idaho.gov/grants/profdev-individuals/
Deadline September 11, 2017. This quarterly grant opportunity supports the professional development of artists and arts administrators. Applicants may receive reimbursement for attending a conference, workshop, or other form of professional development. Applicant must be a practicing artist or arts administrator. Must be an Idaho resident for at least one year. Grant amount is $750. 
 

FREELANCE MARKETS

DISCOVER
http://www.ehow.com/how_5117085_submit-discover-magazine.html
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. Pays $1 to $2/word.



EATING WELL
http://www.eatingwell.com/writers_guidelines/
EatingWell is the only national food magazine that focuses exclusively on eating healthfully (our motto: “Where Good Taste Meets Good Health”). We are the preeminent magazine resource for people who want to enjoy food that is delicious and good for them. Pays up to $1/word. Allow three to six months lead time. 



FAST COMPANY
https://www.fastcompany.com/3008467/guidelines-submitting-contributed-articles-fast-company-and-tips-getting-published
We like articles that introduce new ideas and advance conversations around topics and trends that engage our readers–think op-ed rather than content marketing. We appreciate lively, polished writing that balances research or news with fun and memorable anecdotes or examples that help illustrate your point of view. Fast Company prefers submissions from contributors who are leaders in and knowledgeable about the types of industries and topics we regularly cover on our Leadership section: productivity, creativity, career development, hiring and recruiting, work culture, work-life issues and policies, entrepreneurship, and innovation are popular with our readers, especially if there’s a salient takeaway for other professionals. Submitted articles must be 750-900 words. Pays $2 to $3/word.



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. Pays up to $1/word. 

 

JOBS

HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
http://www.hcn.org/about/internships
Every year, High Country News offers four to six internship positions, each six months long, starting in July and January. We also offer a fellowship, between six months and one year, starting each January. We provide free housing and a $220-per-week stipend for interns and free housing and a $375-per-week stipend for fellows. To help defray moving costs, an additional $500 travel stipend is available upon successful completion of the internship. For all of our positions, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and some prior journalism experience and/or education is preferred. We also prefer applicants who are familiar with High Country News and who have lived in the West and know its environmental and community issues. All interns and fellows work with the staff editors to write news stories for the website and for the newsmagazine, ranging in length from 250 to 1,600 words. Depending on their experience and ability, they may also write a 2,500- to 5,000-word feature story. Location Paonia, Colorado.

Publishers/agents

LEGEND PRESS
http://www.legendtimesgroup.co.uk/legend-press
Legend Press is an independent publishing company set-up in 2005 and has been shortlisted for numerous awards. Backed by an international sales, licensing and acquisitions network, it now publishes around 30 titles per year focused on literary, women's, historical and crime fiction.



CHICKEN HOUSE
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/about-us/
Chicken House is a small, highly individual children’s book publishing company with an enthusiasm for new fiction. Chicken House books have found huge popularity with children, parents, teachers and librarians around the world.



MAGINATION PRESS
http://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/guideline.aspx
Magination Press® publishes psychology-based books covering a broad range of topics of concern to children and teens. These include everyday situations, such as starting school and the growing family, as well as more serious psychological, clinical, or medical problems, such as divorce, depression, anxiety, asthma, attention disorders, bullying, death, and more. Magination Press books are distinguished by their psychological and emotional accuracy and complexity. We are as interested in the child's inner experience of the problem as its practical resolution. We want to see the evolution of the child's feelings, expressed in his or her thoughts.



PAGE STREET PUBLISHING
https://www.pagestreetpublishing.com/submission-guidelines
We publish young adult (YA) fiction (for ages 12 and up), in all genres, and a variety of nonfiction books in such categories as cooking, sports, science, nature, interior design, crafts, and parenting. We also publish children’s books focusing on new talent and artist-led narrative picture books in all genres for ages 4-8, occasionally board books for ages 0-3, and visually driven concept books.

 

SPONSORS

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

15th year. $4,000 in cash prizes, including $1,500 for a poem in any style and $1,500 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style. Both published and unpublished work accepted. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on WinningWriters.com. Entry fee is $12 per poem. Each poem may have up to 250 lines. Submit by September 30. Winning Writers is one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest). See guidelines, past winners, and enter online via Submittable at winningwriters.com/tompoetry













 

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/




 

Written Word Media
 
A book promotion site for authors.

Our mission is to empower authors and publishers to reach our audience of over 700,000 avid readers.
 
How does it work?

Written Word Media has four sites: Freebooksy, Bargain Booksy, Red Feather Romance and NewInBooks. Each site has a large mailing list of readers.
When you buy a promotional package you are purchasing a feature slot in one of our emails. That means your book and the links to buy it, is delivered directly into the inboxes of thousands of readers who read your specific genre. These readers then download or purchase your book from their retailer of choice (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes) 
 
Which site is right for your book?
 
Freebooksy: If your book is free, or you plan to run a free promotion
Bargain Booksy: If your book is priced at $3.99 or less
Red Feather Romance: If your book's genre is steamy contemporary romance
NewInBooks: If your book has been released in the past 12 months and is Mystery/Thriller, Literary Fiction or Romance,
 
Have questions? Simply email us and we can help!

 

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. 

 

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

 

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

**Note that FundsforWriters.com places paid advertising in this newsletter, ALL ads being related to writers and the business of writing, screened by FundsforWriters to make sure the information is suitable for writers and their endeavors to improve their careers. But the mailing list is not sold to third parties. You will not receive this newsletter without your permission. It's physically impossible since recipients must opt-in, giving us permission to send the newsletter. If at any time you no longer with to receive the newsletter, click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each newsletter. We want you to enjoy this newsletter at your pleasure, not be forced to read anything you do not wish to receive. The website is not advertised using unsolicited messages by Aweber, affiliates or other third parties. Direct any complaints, suggestions, and accolades to Hope Clark at hope@fundsforwriters.com. We are an anti-spam site.