FundsforWriters - August 18, 2017 - What Writer's Don't Talk About in Public

Published: Fri, 08/18/17

Volume 17, Issue 33 | AUGUST 18, 2017

Message from the Editor

I actually have a week of no travel, or my parents' dementia issues. A reprieve of sorts. I'm mentally exhausted.

I hope to recharge during these days, maybe even finish the draft of the Carolina Slade book I'm working on. I'm on Chapter 24 right now, and planning the next scene is what keeps my head from imploding from all the financial, medical, and legal issues that come with being a double caregiver. But I'm inching to the finish line.

And I'm excited about the eclipse! I live outside Columbia, South Carolina, practically THE BEST place in the United States to see the eclipse on Monday, August 21, around 2 PM.

I wasn't excited about it before family started talking and making plans, and now the plans have gravitated to my boat! So Monday, mid-day, think of my little boat piled with eight adults and two children, buckets of fried chicken, and those funky little glasses that keep you from going blind, in the middle of Lake Murray in central South Carolina.

Still not sure I'll look at it, even with my special glasses! My eyes are bad enough from so much reading and writing! But it's a good excuse to be with family to party. And the glasses are a good souvenir!

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
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	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.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

http://winningwriters.com/tompoetry15th 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 Both published and unpublished work accepted.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

Editor’s THOUGHTS

WHAT WRITERS DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE PUBLIC

As in any profession, there are topics the members do not openly discuss with the world. Writing is no different. For instance:

How the writer published.
How much money it cost.
How many books they sold.
How much money they made.
How much money they invested into promotion (versus what they got out of it).

So, don't talk about these subjects. Instead, a writer talks about:

What they've read lately.
The fun experiences of writing.
Overcoming a strange obstacle.
New story ideas.
Career goals.

Nobody outside the realm of other authors care (and most of those don't care) how many books you sold, how you published, or if you jumped a tax bracket last year due to your huge royalty checks. Everyone, especially readers, only want to hear the good stuff. They want to hear about story.

Writing is our passion. However, we often let the pieces and process of the profession consume us. We have to learn the dividing line between what is important to the writer and what is important to the reader. When you go to the store for soft drinks, do you care how much effort went into the formula, package design, marketing, or delivery to the store? No. You want the soft drink.

A reader wants a good read. They don't want the baggage that comes with it. The delivery of a good story to a reader needs to be seamless, clean, and sweet. Payment for quality entertainment. That simple.

They don't need to hear how difficult the journey was, or how you proudly self-published it versus going to New York. Don't let those boundaries blur between your need to feel good about your endeavor and the reader's need for a good book. Divulging your stumbles into publishing just might backlash and cause you to come across more as a novice, an amateur, or worse, a whiner.

Just give the reader a story.

Hope's Appearances

--September 12 - 1PM - Mark Dawson Podcast Self-Publishing Formula

--September 24 - 7PM - The Writers Chatroom with Hope

--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. Check it out.

WE HAVE 2 NEWSLETTERS - THE FREEBIE and THE PAID SUBSCRIPTION

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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

When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But...that is not what great ships are built for.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Success Story

If you've had a success as a result of reading FundsforWriters, please let us know. We want to share it with our readers!!! Be sure to include a website or blog address. Email to hope@chopeclark.com

Writing for a Cause: Supplementing Income with Grant Writing

By Julie Wilson

As far back as I can remember, I have wanted to be a writer in some capacity. In the 90s, when I graduated from college and before the internet of things, I had no idea how to make that happen. I became a social worker. Working for Big Brothers Big Sisters was very rewarding, but the pay was low and the hours were long. To supplement my income, I presented at seminars and wrote occasional grants. I had no formal grant writing experience, and I’m not even sure that we won any of the grants, but I made extra cash.

Twenty years later, content writing comprises a little more than half my income. Although I was aware of grants available to writers, I had not touched a grant since the 90s. One morning, I received a phone call. A one-year-old, local non-profit agency needed a grant writer, and a friend recommended me.

Regardless of my limited experience with grant writing, I was hired. Apparently local grant writers are difficult to find, especially for a new agency. I believed in the organization and wanted to help, but I had no idea how lucrative it would become.

How It Works

Initially, I agreed to a “per project” fee, to ensure a good fit for everyone. We were awarded the very first grant I wrote, and my fee was $500. The grant took me about four hours to write, so I was very excited for the next proposal. After a month, the Board of Directors approved me as a permanent grant writer and the agreement looks like this:

•A retainer of $500/month for one year, subject to an increase with a 50 percent award rate.
•Bonuses paid for awarded grants equal to five percent of the award amount.
•Researching and recommending grants each month is part of the job.

Over the past few months, I have tracked hours spent researching and writing grants, as well as time spent on planning calls with the Executive Director. On average, I spend twelve hours per month on this job. My average monthly income to date is $1200, or $83/hour. This amount will increase, as I am on track to write nearly one million dollars in grants this year. My monthly hours will increase as I write larger, more complex grant proposals. If my award average is 50 percent or higher, my estimated income will be $37,000 for the year, equating to well over $100/hour, even with increased hours.

A Few Words About Ethics

Most grantwriter associations have determined that commissions based on percentages of awarded grants is unethical. And, more importantly, grants rarely allow funds to be used to pay a grantwriter. Agencies must fundraise to cover operations expenses, such as grantwriting. In my case, the agency budget includes my retainer, which compensates me for hours spent, even if a grant is not awarded. The budget also includes bonus money to be paid out for awarded grants. The percentage is used as a bonus guideline; however, my grantwriting fees are never paid directly from a grant.

When I dreamed of being a writer, I did not dream of blog and grant proposal writing. Writing opportunities can pop up everywhere. Even though my writing career hasn’t included bestselling novels and coast to coast book tours, I am influencing the world with words. The income has been great and it feels good to know that my writing skills are helping to fund an important cause.

Bio: Julie Wilson is a serial entrepreneur and regular contributor to several publications, including the “How To Start Up Business Blog,” Golf Car Advisor, and Mobile Cuisine. In addition, she puts brands on the map with content centric marketing plans.

COmpetitions

THE GALLEY BEGGAR PRESS SHORT STORY PRIZE
https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 27, 2017. First prize £1,000 or 12 months of editorial support from the directors of Galley Beggar Press. £150 to each shortlisted author. £50 of book tokens to each longlisted author, plus a four-book subscription to Galley Beggar Press. This year, there are 70 free entries available to those with low incomes. These are offered on a first come, first serve basis - and after first emailing us.

GRINDSTONE SUMMER NOVEL OPENING COMPETITION
https://www.grindstoneliterary.com/competitions
£6 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 28, 2017. First prize £250. Second prize £100. Third prize £50. Limit 1,000 words of your novel or novel-in-progress.

INTERNATIONAL WILLESDEN HERALD SHORT STORIES COMPETITION
http://newshortstories.com/wordpress/submit/
£7.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2017. Word limit 7,500 on any theme. First Prize: The one-off Willesden Herald mug inscribed “Willesden Short Story Prize 2017” and £300. Second prize £200. Third prize £100, and £75 to each of the remaining seven short-listed. This competition is open to all aged 18 or over, regardless of nationality or country of residence.

HAMMOND HOUSE SHORT STORY PRIZE
https://www.hammondhousepublishing.com/2017-short-story-comp
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2017. This prestigious prize is awarded each year for a short story on a chosen theme. This year's theme is ETERNAL. The winner receives a cash prize and worldwide publication of their story. Winner £500. Second £100. Third £50.

GRANTS

BRUSH CREEK FOUNDATION
http://www.brushcreekarts.org/residency-info
Deadline September 1, 2017. Brush Creek Foundation for The Arts is a non-profit organization offering time and space for artistic exploration to visual artists, writers, musicians and composers from all backgrounds, level of expertise, media and genres. Two and four week residency sessions are offered per year depending on availability and applicant’s ranking in jury process. Location Saratoga, Wyoming. Winners receive exclusive studio space, meals and individual lodging.

GREEN OLIVE ARTS
http://greenolivearts.com/
Location Tetouan, Morocco. We invite artists from a wide range of disciplines and mediums to apply for residencies of two to eight weeks during set residency periods throughout of the year. We accept visual artists, writers, poets, curators, scientists, choreographers, puppeteers, and more.

NEWNAN ART REZ
http://newnanartist.org/
The Newnan Art Rez program offers emerging and mid-career artists a retreat where they can pursue visual, literary, and musical projects. The program works with partnering organizations throughout our community to offer residencies to artists in various disciplines to give them space and time to create/develop their work. In return artists will be expected to interact with the community through demonstrations, workshops and/or performances/art shows. Location Newnan, GA.

SIENA ART RESIDENCY
http://www.sienaart.org/
The Siena Art Institute’s Residency Programs award accomplished, professional artists and writers the opportunity to stay for a month in the beautiful historic city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. Throughout the year, professional artists and writers are guests of the Siena Art Institute as Residents, Project Fellows, and Visiting Artists and Writers. Residents should have earned an MFA degree or have equivalent professional accomplishment, such as extensive exhibition history and/or publications.

FREELANCE MARKETS

SALVO
http://www.salvomag.com/new/mag/subguides.php
Salvo publishes an eclectic range of articles in the areas of sex, science, and society. What distinguishes our content is its systematic deconstruction of false ideologies, philosophies, and worldviews. Articles should be well-researched and logically sound, as well as somewhat timeless in subject matter. Salvo is intended as a permanent resource; thus, articles that are overly tied to current events will be rejected. We do not accept fiction or poetry. Articles should be no less than 600 words and no more than 2,500. Pays 20 cents/word.

HORSE NETWORK
http://horsenetwork.com/contribute/
Horse Network is a community, and we’re always looking for smart, new ideas from horse-crazy folks. We’ve found that 500-750 words is a sweet spot for posts (please don’t ramble on to get there!). Payment is $50 with an additional $100 if the piece gets shared 1,000 times on social media.

SHELTERFORCE
https://shelterforce.org/how-to-write-for-us/
Shelterforce works with professional writers for some (but not all) of our content. If you have experience with the subjects of economic development, community development, housing, neighborhood revitalization, community organizing, or related topics and would like to pitch us a story or be considered for an assignment, please contact us at articles@nhi.org. We are currently particularly interested in stories relating to: the intersection of health and community development, and the intersection of arts and community development. We only pay professional writers to whom we have assigned stories or accepted pitches that involve original reporting and researching for us.

BLOG PAWS
http://blogpaws.com/events/write-for-us/
BlogPaws is a social media company focused on teaching pet enthusiasts, pet bloggers and all pet parents how to use social media effectively and responsibly. Our dedicated team of professionals works year-round to connect our bloggers and micro-bloggers to the brands they buy every day. We want to provide bloggers the opportunity to guest post for us, to earn an income by sharing their expertise, and to develop a professional reputation within this community. Limit 750 words.

JOBS

CONTENT WRITER AND EDITOR - FULL-TIME
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?cmp=Pixel-Labs,-LLC.&t=Content+Writer+Editor&jk=e8f6696e76767bdc&q=Pixel+Labs%2C+LLC
Pixel Labs, LLC. Location Irvine, California. Our company is in the Amazon/E-commerce business and we’re growing at a fast rate! Responsibilities: Creating and writing effective content campaigns for Amazon FBA and any other related subjects; editing and proofreading (knowledge of SEO is a huge plus!); research and develop content for company’s blog; ensure that content adheres to company’s style and tone. Must have at least two years experience as a copy editor, blog editor, or equivalent. Must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Must have professional journalism experience.

WEB CONTENT WRITING/CURATION
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8fb6591f724757ee
Location Los Angeles, CA. Militarybenefits.info. Seeking an individual who is savvy at searching the internet to curate content and write quick snippets (1-3 sentences) summarizing the curated content. The content will center around discounts e.g. military, senior, students etc. This is a work from home position.

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=40fecf049e86161e
Employer Western Union. Location Miami, Florida. Competent writer who is competent in visual storytelling (PowerPoint presentations, infographics, etc.) and should be able to write and act quickly; sound knowledge of the media and social media landscape; ability to deliver on an operational plan, and provide creative ways to make a story or message more inspiring.

Publishers/agents

FRANCES GOLDIN LITERARY AGENCY
https://goldinlit.com/
The Frances Goldin Literary Agency is one of New York’s premier literary agencies, representing over 150 best-selling and award-winning journalists, novelists, activists, graphic artists, poets and scholars across a wide range of genres. Books we represent range from literary and commercial fiction to investigative journalism, memoir, biography, popular culture, progressive politics, history and science. Please note that we do not handle screenplays, romances or most other genre fiction, and hardly any poetry. We do not handle work that is racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic, or pornographic.

JOELLE DELBOURGO ASSOCIATES
http://www.delbourgo.com/agency/
Joelle Delbourgo Associates Literary Agency is a boutique literary agency based in the greater New York City area. We represent a broad range of authors writing for the adult trade market, from creative nonfiction to expert-driven nonfiction, commercial fiction to literary fiction, as well as new adult, young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction.

HILL NADELL LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.hillnadell.com/contact/submissions/
To learn more about each agents’ interests, please visit our About Us page. We do not represent scripts or screenplays. ?We do not take pitches over the phone.? To submit, please send us a query with a synopsis of your work, including genre and word count, a brief explanation of your qualifications and experience, and the first five to ten pages of your manuscript. The agency represents literary and commercial fiction, narrative non-fiction, current affairs, memoirs, and popular culture. Now based in Los Angeles, the agency works with a network of co-agents to represent translation rights in foreign territories, as well as film and television rights.

EMERALD CITY LITERARY AGENCY
https://emeraldcityliterary.com/submissions/
Emerald City Literary Agency is a boutique literary agency located just outside of Seattle, Washington. We represent picture books, middle grade, young adult, children’s nonfiction, romance, and science fiction and fantasy. We welcome submissions about LGBTQ themes, diverse characters, and traditionally underrepresented authors. Please do not query with screenplays, poetry, short stories, adult nonfiction, or fiction for adults that does not fall into romance or SFF genres.