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SPONSOR OF THE WEEK
EDitor’s THOUGHTS
YOUR JOURNEY IS YOURS
“No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life,” wrote the thirty-year-old Nietzsche.
“The true and durable path into and through experience,” Nobel-winning poet Seamus Heaney counseled the young more than a century later in his magnificent commencement address, “involves being true … to your own solitude, true to your own secret knowledge.”
"To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ~e. e. cummings
What do all these quotes have in common? They are telling you that the most solid existence is one in which you are true to yourself. You decide who you want to be, and you're willing to strive to be the best of that sort of person. You decide the stories to write. You decide which worlds to fall into and define for readers. You determine the followers you wish to acquire as readers. You determine whether you self-publish or traditionally publish. You decide what you're willing to
sacrifice to make a lot of money, or aren't willing to sacrifice for the profession to take you over.
Do not think that because some marketing program has sold itself to 10,000 writers, that you have to sign on, too. Do not think your books have to be in libraries if that's not your preference. Do not make appearances unless you want to. Screw Twitter if you don't like the lingo.
But, and this is a big but, you also must be willing to pay the price for whatever path you choose. That's empowering and frightening at the same time. But that is the only way you can become successful . . . by deciding what you want in life, and striving to go there. Because success is defined by you . . . not someone else.
You do not have to be like anyone else, frankly. Like cummings basically says above, to be yourself without succombing to the temptation of advertising and hype, is far more difficult than being a sheep.
At the end of the road, how do you want to think of yourself when your journey is done? And trust me, it's totally in your hands.
PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:
WORDS OF SUCCESS
"I don't need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me." -Ray Bradbury
Success Story
Good morning, Hope,
While I can't say it was your newsletter that got me here, your words at the Safety Harbor Writer's Conference gave me a big push to pitch, pitch, pitch, pitch. (And of course, I followed your advice and you turned me down, twice.) Still, putting a lot of balls in the air makes you a better, more confident, pitcher, and it helps you find your best stuff.
I received word this week that my book project based on my blog, The Kinesthetic Christian, has been accepted to be published by Upper Room books.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and for putting on display and into practice what you know works: discipline, perseverance and excellence.
Wendy LeBolt
Author: Fit2Finish: Keeping Your Soccer Players in the Game
Fit2Finish.com
featured article
Writing Confident Query Letters
by Mridu Khullar Relph
As someone who runs a website for writers (http://www.TheInternationalFreelancer.com), I see a lot of query letters from new writers. The thing they miss most often? Confidence.
Writers who are confident know their story, what it hopes to achieve, and how they're going to get the work done. Those who aren't ramble on, send editors two different sides to a story and refuse to take a stand.
If an editor has limited time and is paying good money to hire someone, which freelancer do you think she'll hire?
What can you do to become that freelancer?
1. Prove it to yourself
James Clear, who is an entrepreneur, weight lifter, and travel photographer, writes on his blog about the time in his freshman year of high school when his basketball team had started the season with a losing streak. One day, their coach pulled them together and uttered these words: "Confidence is just displayed ability."
Put another way, you're not going to achieve something because you believe in yourself; you're going to achieve something and only then will you start believing in yourself.
2. Be cool
We've all met the writer who is so lacking in self-confidence that he emails you every week to "please vote for me in this contest that I've entered." Don't be that guy.
You want the work, of course. That's why you're writing. But you're not desperate for it and will walk away if the terms don't suit you. Even if you aren't feeling confident, act like you are.
3. Sound like you know what you're talking about
You're pitching the story, correct? So it would be normal for an editor to assume that you know what you're talking about as regards that story. Make sure you do enough background research to know exactly why this story should be published and why it would fit into a publication's pages. Look at it from the editor's perspective: Why should she hire and pay for someone who isn't yet clear on what the story is and why it's important.
 
4. Take responsibility
Maybe, perhaps, usually, typically, most likely, and other such words and phrases don't have place in your query letter, especially if you're new to freelancing. Don't say "He seemed to be angry," when in reality you're pretty certain he was furious.
5. Make a point
If you have something to say, say it. Many writers are afraid of taking a controversial stance because the editor might not agree, but that is part of the reason you're writing the pitch—to suss out whether this editor is the right fit for your piece or not. And you can't do that if you tiptoe around what needs to be said. This is especially true in science stories and in most international reporting.
Be confident in not only the data you bring to her, but the inference and the conclusions that you've reached as a result of it.
6. Practice
Finally—and yet again—there is no weakness that practice can't overcome, no lack of confidence that practice won't make disappear. Practicing writing (and sending) queries helps you get better each time you do it and the better you get, the more confident your queries naturally start sounding. This is why I'm a big believer in pitching as much as you possibly can, especially in the beginning. By the time you've sent out the thirtieth pitch, you'll no longer
be wondering if you can do it. You'll be pretty certain that you can.
And that will translate automatically to the words on the page.
BIO
Mridu Khullar Relph is an award-winning journalist and the founder of The International Freelancer. She is committed to helping freelancers make a living with their writing. Which is why she's put together a list of 70+ publications that pay $1 a word or more. Download a free copy here: http://www.theinternationalfreelancer.com/1-a-word/
COmpetitions
LET DOWN YOUR HAIR CONTEST
https://www.eventmagazine.ca/contest-3/5188-2/
$32.95 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 20, 2017. Any genre. Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and anything in between is welcome as long as it is speculative fiction. We just ask that you keep your piece under 1,800 words. Prize $1,000. Second prize will receive $150. Both winning entries will be published in an upcoming issue of EVENT. All entries will be considered for publication. Entry fee includes a one-year subscription to EVENT.
TISHMAN REVIEW POETRY PRIZE
http://www.thetishmanreview.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2017. Send up to five poems per entry. No line limit. Any style or subject. First place receives $500 and publication. All submissions considered for publication.
LITERARY DEATH MATCH BOOKMARK CONTEST
https://literarydeathmatch.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 21, 2017. The winner will receive $1,000. The two runners-up will receive $100. All finalists will be invited to read at LDM events near where they live. Our live events average 10,000 attendees annually. We want these people leaving our around-the-globe shows with award-winning stories they're certain to read. (Everyone can spare 250 words worth of reading.) The rules are simple: write a story that is no longer than 250 words.
INTO THE VOID POETRY COMPETITION
https://intothevoidmagazine.com/into-the-void-poetry-competition-2017/
$5 CAD ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2017. Poems must be unpublished. There is no theme for the competition and there are no restrictions on style or genre. First Place $200 CAD and published on website. Second Place $100 CAD and published on website. Third Place $50 CAD and published on website. Three Runners-up: A copy of a boy named jane and published on website. Maximum 60 lines per poem.
GRANTS
MILKWEED EDITIONS INTERNSHIPS
https://milkweed.org/internships
Deadlines November 15, March 15, and August 1. Milkweed Editions offers a four-month intensive introduction to independent book publishing through our nationally recognized internship program. Over the course of the session, interns will assist with projects from all areas of our operation, including editorial, publicity, marketing, online and community engagement, and development (nonprofit fundraising). Interns also have the opportunity to spend time with Milkweed Books, the independent
bookstore operated by Milkweed Editions. We try to tailor project assignments to individual interests as much as possible. Interns typically commit to 24 hours per week for a minimum of four months. Internships are to take place at our offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR THE WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY
http://www.stockton.edu/wintergetaway
Deadlines November 15 and November 30, 2017. Six scholarships are being offered for first-time participants of the 25th Annual WINTER POETRY & PROSE GETAWAY, January 12-15, 2018 in the Atlantic City area. Recipients may choose from workshops in novel writing, freelance writing, memoir, fiction, nonfiction, writing for children and poetry as well as special advanced sessions with Pulitzer Prize winners Stephen Dunn and Gregory Pardlo. In addition, the conference offers a literary
bookstore, open mics, tutorials, sunrise yoga, dancing at the Getaway Disco and writerly camaraderie.
GOLDEN CROWN LITERARY CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
http://www.goldencrown.org/page/ConScholarships
Deadline December 31, 2017. Scholarships allow people who have never experienced a GCLS Conference and who can't afford to come based on their finances, to attend and learn about our organization. Applicants who have never attended a conference will generally be given preference over those who have. This year, the GCLS Conference Scholarships cover the cost of hotel rooms and a Full Access NO FOOD pass for the conference. There are three types of scholarships: Partial Hotel Stay (1, 2,
or 3 nights), Full Hotel Stay (4 nights, full room), and Shared Room (50 percent of hotel room for up to 4 nights). We ask that you only request the amount you truly need so that we can help as many people as possible. For example, if you are sharing a room, only request a 50 percent shared-room scholarship. Scholarship recipients are required to work as volunteers at the conference. NOTE: The 13th Annual Conference will be held in Las Vegas, NV, beginning on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 and ending
on Sunday, July 8, 2018.
WESLEYAN WRITERS CONFERENCE
http://www.wesleyan.edu/writing/conference/scholarship.html
Scholarship and fellowship applications are due March 23, 2018. Scholarships are awarded competitively, and applicants are judged on the basis of promise shown in their work. Entries should consist of a work in one genre: novel, short story, poetry, nonfiction, or journalism. Several scholarships provide full tuition, room, and board, but most offer smaller awards, covering a part of the Conference tuition. Several teaching fellowships are available and are awarded to outstanding
applicants who have completed book-length manuscripts. If your attendance at the conference is contingent on your receiving financial assistance, you do not need to send the $100 deposit with your fellowship or scholarship materials. Conference location Middletown, Connecticut.
FREELANCE MARKETS
JEJUNE MAGAZINE
https://fashionista.com/2017/08/jejune-magazine-is-looking-for-editorial-contributors-photographers-stylists-muas-writers-and-artists
Jejune Magazine is a fashion and art magazine that gives a much needed political and social voice to the population. We cover humanitarian issues, eco fashion, and current events in the world, giving a platform for discussion through powerful imagery, fashion, art, and written words. We are looking to unite across the cultures, diverse backgrounds, styles, and beliefs, for a better world to live in. Jejune is seeking contributors! We are looking for individuals in fashion and the arts who
are interested in adding a voice to their art!
THE SUN
https://www.thesunmagazine.org/submit
We publish nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. We tend to favor personal writing, but we’re also looking for provocative pieces on political and cultural issues. We encourage submissions from writers of color. Surprise us; we often don’t know what we’ll like until we read it. We rarely run anything longer than seven thousand words; there’s no minimum length. Pays $300 to $2,000 for essays and fiction. Pays $100 to $250 for poetry.
VERGE MAGAZINE
https://www.vergemagazine.com/images/verge-materials/VergeContributorGuidelines.pdf
Verge is the magazine for people who travel with purpose. It explores ways to get out and see the world by volunteering, working and studying overseas. Our readers are typically young (17-40 years), or young at heart, active, independent travellers who want to do something different and make a difference doing it. Some are seasoned travellers who have seen a good part of the world. Many are contemplating overseas travel for the first time and want to do it in a meaningful way. Feature
articles run approximately 1,500 to 2,000 words in length. Departments run around 500 words.
TEACHERS AND WRITERS MAGAZINE
https://teachersandwritersmagazine.org/about-us/submission-guidelines
Most readers of Teachers & Writers Magazine teach writing to young people or adults in either classroom or community settings. The magazine publishes both practical and theoretical work and the editors look for writing that is vivid, concise, and geared toward a general audience. Lesson plans, interviews, student writing, and the art of teaching writing. Submit a 500-word query.
JOBS
SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR
Location Seattle, WA.
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/454344170/
Amazon is looking for tech-savvy, prolific, pop culture-loving writers who aren’t afraid to get silly. Come help create fun and funny, timely and engaging content just for kids. This unique, challenging position is both a highly creative and a process-driven role. We want our customers to love our products (that’s right, we said love!), and we achieve that by providing delightful experiences with our content, whether it be a quirky daily greeting, a joke, an original song or
story, or some wacky combination of these things.
GAME WRITER
Location Sweden.
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/454329473/
EA DICE in Stockholm is seeking a mid-level Game Writer that will work under the direction of the Narrative Director on an unannounced AAA title. A successful candidate understands that storytelling doesn’t only mean cutscenes but also need to be reflected in the moment-to-moment gameplay including; in-game VO, AI barks, ambient conversations, found narrative and other interactive components. The Game Writer will also work closely with the Narrative Director evangelizing the vision
for the story across the larger team and working to ensure context and direction for various team is in line with the storytelling goals. This role will primarily involve all writing outside of primary cutscenes including dialogue, engagement copy, missions design and writing, historical research, interactive dialogue design and content. The Game Writer will also be responsible for owning and managing their scripts and assisting in recording sessions, voice direction and mocap shoots.
Publishers/agents
BAEN BOOKS
http://www.baen.com/
We publish only science fiction and fantasy. Preferred length: 100,000 - 130,000 words Generally we are uncomfortable with manuscripts under 100,000 words, but if your novel is really wonderful send it along regardless of length. Query letters are not necessary. We prefer to see complete manuscripts accompanied by a synopsis. We prefer not to see simultaneous submissions.
DAW
http://www.penguin.com/publishers/daw/
DAW accepts unsolicited submissions of science fiction and fantasy novels. We cannot consider short stories, short story collections, novellas, or poetry. The average length of the novels we publish varies, but is almost never fewer than 80,000 words. A literary agent is not required for submission. We will not consider manuscripts that are currently on submission to another publisher unless prior arrangements have been made with a literary agent. It may require three months or more for
our editors to review a manuscript.
TOR
https://us.macmillan.com/torforge/about/faq/#submit writing
We have an open submissions policy and consider tens of thousands of projects a year. Every proposal that reaches us is reviewed by at least one member of the editorial staff. We apologize in advance for replying primarily with form letters; unfortunately, there’s no other way to handle responses in a timely manner. Considers: Science fiction and fantasy but also fiction of all other types including but not limited to general fiction, historical fiction, horror, mystery, paranormal,
suspense/thriller, urban fantasy, and women’s fiction. Also Children’s and Young Adult. We publish books for the chapter book, middle grade, and young adult audiences. We do not publish picture books.
PYR
http://www.pyrsf.com/contactus.html
Pyr® publishes only science fiction and fantasy novels. We are not currently looking for short story collections, anthologies, novellas, or nonfiction. We prefer novels in the 100,000 to 130,000 word range. For science fiction, we do not consider material under 85,000 words in length. For fantasy, we do not consider material under 95,000 words in length. We are also looking for speculative Young Adult fiction in any subgenre. These manuscripts may be shorter.
SPONSORS
 
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in order to survive." With Jan as your gentle teacher, you will find your own way to the light of truth.
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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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