FundsforWriters - December 22, 2017 - Words to Push Out of Your Mind

Published: Fri, 12/22/17

Volume 17, Issue 51 | DECEMBER 22, 2017

Message from the Editor

With a manuscript done, I let myself be somewhat lazy this week. We binged-watched the final seasons of Doc Martin and Longmire. Sad they are both done for. Like Justified....one of my all-time favorite series ever.

Yet, I catch myself pondering the next book. I have characters and setting, but the crime eludes me. I am also attempting to have Callie meet Slade, one series crossing with the other. A request from my publisher. Which means Slade comes to Edisto. Thinking...but just not there yet. Always open to suggestions. Remember, Slade works with Agriculture. Callie doesn't but she's the queen of Edisto Island where it all has to take place....

Odd Christmas. I have to go nowhere. I've wished for that experience for most of my life. The gentleness of this season is new to me....and refreshing. Loving it.

As a reminder, Echoes of Edisto, book 3 in the Edisto Island Mysteries, is on sale on ALL platforms from through Dec 31. A strong note on this one....it contains a major twist that makes all the bigger sensation in the reading if you've read the first two books.

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
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Merry Christmas from the Clark household!

As usual, Ms. Clark delivers a riveting ride, with her irrepressible characters set squarely in the driver’s seat. If it wasn’t so much fun to be re-united with Callie Jean Morgan and the rest of the Edisto gang I might have to scold Clark for keeping me up way past my bedtime. But lucky for her, this read is worth every lost wink."

- Rachel Gladstone, Dish Magazine

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

EDitor’s THOUGHTS

WORDS TO PUSH OUT OF YOUR MIND

Trust me . . . when you add modifiers in relation to your effort as a writer, you start losing people's attention. Words like BUT, ONLY, JUST, and MAYBE are big deterrents, and let me explain why.

Readers look up to published authors. Whether indie published, self-published, or traditionally published, you got the dang thing done and out into the world. So, when you discredit yourself to ANYONE by saying you ONLY published one book, or you JUST self-published, or you wrote a novel BUT it hasn't sold much, or MAYBE your book will sell. . . you are throwing away any positive interest in you or your work.

Do not discount yourself. Do not speak less of your abilities. Do not tell people that you are just toying with this serious profession instead of taking it seriously. Why? Because in doing so, you are giving permission for readers to not take YOU seriously.

Now, let's talk about two other words. These two words grate like fingernails on a chalk board to me as they do to all writers earning a full living at this profession: MUSE and BLOCK.

Listen to me. Writing is a job. You report to work and do it. Some days are harder than others, but big deal. Life is like that. All professions are like that.

You do not wait for some dang MUSE. Frankly, that's such a novice cliche. Dash the word from your vocabulary. Write or don't, but it's a choice that you make. Only you.

Do not blame not feeling like writing on BLOCK. Write through it. Journal, write poetry, piddle with some silly story until you write what you want, but guess what? Writers under contract aren't allowed to have BLOCK. They have deadlines, and editors/publishers don't want to hear that a writer has BLOCK.

No excuses. You want to write or you don't. Your day may get sidetracked with illness or disaster or some other calamity, but to walk away because of some fictitious malady like BLOCK or pretend entity like MUSE? Talk to the hand.

PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:

On sale $1.99 on all platforms through December 31.

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way." ~Wayne Dyer~

SUccess Story

Hi Hope,

I just renewed my Total Funds for Writers subscription, and I would like to be sent The Shy Writer Reborn. (Thanks for this freebie.) Because of your advice and encouragement, I was able to get enough experience and clips to leave an accounting job in late 2016. I've been an editor at a local magazine for over a year now. I get to meet people, write their stories, and work with other writers. I'd like to do some freelance work in 2018, and I think your book will be exactly what I need when I feel nervous.

Thank you for all you do! You are very much appreciated!

Best,
Angela Slevin

PS and NOTE FROM HOPE: Those renewing/signing up for TOTAL FundsforWriters in December for its standard $18.75 price, receive the C. Hope Clark book of their choice, in the format of their choice. December only!

eatured article

Writing for the Nonprofit Religious Sector

By Eve Hehn

But I’m not Presbyterian…I’m not even religious! It really doesn’t matter. It’s true that if you have a Doctorate from a Theological Seminary, your words will hold an academic weight that is highly revered by the Presbyterian readership. However, most articles in nonprofit religious publications are not written by seminarians. These articles are written by people who want to share their experiences, explore ideas for reaching out to the community, inform readers of current events impacting the church, and so much more.

Editors seek a variety of information, especially regarding anything or anyone newly impacting the church, to include in their publications. For example, an article I wrote for Presbyterians Today titled, “Finding Harmony: Can different generations ever agree on church music?” was a specific conversation kick-starter discussing how Millennials are impacting the religious music community. This article was a sharing of my experience as a Millennial music minister, exploring ideas for working with Millennials and Baby Boomers, and informing of the Contemporary Christian Music genre sweeping across the nation and how to balance traditional versus contemporary genres. Hitting all three aspects of sharing, exploring and informing is what landed me the article in this publication.

Every nonprofit religious organization has a publication; sometimes several. The Catholics alone have at least 10 different publications: www.uscatholic.org, www.catholicdigest.com, https://us.magnificat.net, www.osv.com, www.liguori.org, www.americamagazine.org, www.franciscanmedia.org, www.commonwealmagazine.org, www.catholicteacher.com, https://aleteia.org.

There are also several religions and some divisions within each religion. For example, the Lutherans have split (politically) into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Missouri Synod. If you are looking to write about the need for inclusivity of the LGBTQ community in the church, you would want to approach ELCA with a piece for their publication, Living Lutheran https://www.livinglutheran.org/.

If you want to write a piece stating that evolution never happened and that the creation story is to be taken literally, you would want to send your article to the Missouri Synod publication, The Lutheran Witness https://www.cph.org/witness. ELCA is liberal and Missouri Synod is conservative, if you hadn’t guessed.

There are many “mainline” protestant denominations: Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal. Then there is Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindi, Non-Denominational, Islam. Every one has a publication, so start writing and check out whose beliefs and publications best match with your topic. Or you can take it the other way around by deciding who you want to write for and then determining your specific topic based on the needs of the publication.

Then there’s the subject of payment. This is the nonprofit religious sector after all, so it is very typical for anyone to write articles gratis for publications just to share their story which means that these nonprofits are used to saving money for sub-par work. However, if you offer, as a skilled writer, to write a masterful, special piece for any of these publications, you can ask for more respectable payment depending on the length, relevance and need for the article. You would have to do a little homework to determine length, relevance and need, but if you get it right, you will be asked back.

BIO: Eve Hehn is the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and has worked in religious nonprofit publishing for the last six years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music, and Certificate of Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership and Management.

COmpetitions

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. Maximum 60 lines. 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.

CROSSWINDS POETRY COMPETITION
http://www.crosswindspoetry.com/?page_id=2
$20 ENTRY FEE (three poems). Deadline December 31, 2017. First Prize: $1,000 and publication. Second Prize: $250 and publication. Third prize: $100 and publication. From all submissions, approximately 100 poems will be accepted for publication. Our editorial staff selects the 18 poems that call most strongly to us. We winnow these down to the ten poems which are then sent blindly to the contest judge.

NOWHERE FALL TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
http://nowheremag.com/contests/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 1, 2018. We are looking for young, old, novice and veteran writers to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of place. Stories can be fiction, nonfiction or essay, but please indicate which genre at the top of your manuscript. Entries should be between 800 and 5,000 words and must not have been previously chosen as a winner in another contest. The winner will receive $1,000, with publication in Nowhere granted under First North American Serial Rights (FNASR). Up to ten finalists also will be published.

MAGIC OXYGEN LITERARY PRIZE
https://www.magicoxygen.co.uk/molp/
£5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2017. Short Stories up to 4,000 words, excluding title. Poetry up to 50 lines, excluding title and lines between stanzas. The theme for short stories and poetry is open. First Prize – £1,000. Second Prize – £300. Third Prize – £100. Two Highly Commended – £50. We also plant a tree for every single entry we receive in Boré, Kenya and we’ll email you the GPS coordinates of it once the contest has closed and we’ve received confirmation of them from our Word Forest Coordinator.

GRANTS

WOLF HOUSE RESIDENCY
https://writingxwriters.org/residencies/residency-2/
Deadline January 1, 2018. Writing By Writers is pleased to offer two, one-week, dog-friendly, residencies at The Wolf House in NE Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 3-10, 2018 and early July 2018. The Wolf House Residency is open to fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers and poets. Lodging is provided free of charge, however residents are responsible for their own meals, transportation and personal needs while at the residency. The Wolf House is dog-friendly and your dog is welcome to join you at the residency. Residencies are intended for writers only.

RABBIT ISLAND RESIDENCY
http://rabbitisland.org/art
Deadline January 28, 2018. Each year our residents receive funding to live and work on Rabbit Island amongst the forest, rocks, and wildlife; and the vast waters of Lake Superior that surround it. In addition to a generous honoraria, artists may be invited to participate in our annual exhibition, event series, and publication, presented in partnership with the DeVos Art Museum in Marquette, Michigan. The Rabbit Island Residency provides time and space to investigate and challenge creative practices in a wilderness environment. Artists live and work on the island for 2-4 weeks, engaging directly with the landscape, responding to notions of conservation, ecology, and sustainability via their individual practices. The residency reflects on the American continent’s 400-year history of settlement and division of land, and stems from the idea that in a developed society intelligent organization of wild spaces is one of the most civilized things we can pursue. The residency is open to visual artists of all disciplines, as well as writers, poets, architects, designers, musicians, filmmakers, composers, and choreographers.

SANGAM HOUSE - INDIA
http://www.sangamhouse.org/the-application/
Sangam House is an international writers' residency program located in India which brings together writers from across the world to live and work among their peers in a safe, supportive and nurturing space. The Jayanti Residency, named for Jayanti Pande who loved people and books, offers Sangam House writers short residencies over a 16-week period between July and October each year. Writers and their partners stay in a two-room cottage at the Royal Mountain Hotel in Ranikhet with stunning views of the lower Himalayas. The residency is supported by Jayanti Pande’s family. There are other fellowships, each with individual qualifications. The application cycle opens back up in March 2018 with a deadline in June 2018.

FOUNDATION JAN MICHALSKI - SWITZERLAND
http://www.fondation-janmichalski.com/en/residence-pour-ecrivains/devenir-resident/
The Foundation features an original group of seven residential modules that are available to writers, translators, and other creative individuals for residencies of varying lengths. Hanging from the openwork canopy surrounding the Foundation, these living spaces are called “treehouses” and offer ideal conditions to anyone looking to start, continue, or put the final touches on a writing or translating project. Application forms for 2019 will open online in May 2018. The Jan Michalski Foundation lies at the foot of the Swiss Jura Mountains in Montricher. The village is around 30 minutes away from Lausanne and 45 minutes from Geneva. Residents’ travel costs to and from their home address will be covered by the Foundation. Residents will be granted a monthly allowance of CHF 1200.

FREELANCE MARKETS

CORAL and AMAZONAS MAGAZINES
http://www.reef2rainforest.com/contributor-guidelines/#ratesrights
Readers rely on us to publish the work of experts and people who know their subjects. Hands-on advice on selecting and keeping aquarium fishes, invertebrates and plants is enhanced with reports on aquaculture, environmental issues and pioneering work in aquarium technology and marine science. CORAL and AMAZONAS Magazines buy exclusive worldwide rights to written works for publication in printed and electronic/digital formats in Reef to Rainforest Media publications in English and other languages. Payments range from about $100 to $500 per article, depending on length, complexity, the author’s experience, and whether or not images are included with the text.

REPTILES
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Writers-Guidelines/
REPTILES is a bimonthly magazine that caters to reptile and amphibian hobbyists at all levels of experience, from beginner to veteran. Though rates may sometimes vary, $300 is the usual payment for a 2,000 to 2,500-word article with photos. Payment is made in U.S. dollars no later than 90 days upon publication.

DEER & DEER HUNTING
http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/editorial
The editorial content of the magazine focuses on white-tailed deer biology and behavior, management principles and practices, habitat requirements, natural history of deer, hunting techniques and hunting ethics. We also publish a wide range of “how-to” articles designed to help hunters locate and get close to deer at all times of the year. Most of our readership consists of three-season hunters (bow, centerfire/shotgun and muzzleloader) and about one-third camera hunt. Length: Features – 1,000 to 2,000 words, “Browse” – 200 to 500 words. Features pay $150 to $600. “Browse” pays $25 to $250, depending on length and photo inclusions.

WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA
http://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Multimedia-Center/Wildlife-in-North-Carolina/Contributor-Guidelines
We publish no poetry and very little fiction. We normally purchase only first North American serial rights. Most articles contain 1,800 to 3,000 words. We’d like to receive queries on a variety of North Carolina topics: fishing/hunting/outdoor recreational opportunities, natural history, personal essays, special places, and conservation/environmental/wildlife management issues. Articles are $400 and up for a full-length feature, and $500 and up for an article and photographs purchased as a package.

JOBS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR - THREADS
Location Connecticut
http://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp03/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TAUNTON&cws=1&rid=757
Threads magazine seeks a journalist or experienced writer with a passion for sewing to join a dynamic team. Knowledge of garment sewing is essential; experience with quilting techniques and other fiber arts disciplines are advantages. Video presentation or teaching experience, specifically sewing techniques, is also a plus. The ideal candidate is energetic, enthusiastic, organized, attentive to detail, and able to juggle multiple priorities on deadline. This full-time position is based in southwestern Connecticut, two hours from Manhattan. Attach a cover letter, resume, and images of three to five personally completed sewing projects with brief descriptions.

WRITER-EDITOR
Location Largo, Maryland.
https://pgcc.peopleadmin.com/postings/6677
Responsibility for researching, preparing and writing speeches for the president of the college. Develops and maintains the weekly newsletter, copy for marketing and public relations collateral that support the initiatives of the college. Must be available to work Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EDITOR-WRITER
Location San Antonio, Texas.
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=fcdbb9a86596e1da&tk=1c1vd684ibkdu8r8
Full-time position in San Antonio home office for target market newspapers in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Preference given to journalism degree and/or equivalent work experience. Schedule and conduct interviews, write stories, and other editorial assignments. Send resume and samples to Reesa Doebbler.

Publishers/agents

JACK'S HOUSE PUBLISHING
http://jackshousepublishing.com/submit/
A hybrid publishing house that publishes contemporary romances. They can be straight contemporary, erotic, new adult or suspense. They must be sexy with actual sex scenes. The hotter the better! No “sweet” romances or closed bedroom doors. We are also looking for erotic historical romances. . If you sign with a traditional publisher, you’ll be one of hundreds—or even thousands—of other authors under contract. Our team will acquire a small number of authors to nurture their careers and grow their readership. We aren’t looking to be the next big thing. We are looking to provide individual care and mentorship to authors on the cusp of breaking out and take them to the next level. Of course there are never any guarantees that an author will succeed in this business, and we certainly don’t offer any guarantees. We do, however, promise to give each of our authors our very best effort for the two years they are under contract to us before setting them free to fly solo—or re-signing them for another book.

KINDLE SCOUT
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/submit
Submit your new, never-before-published, English-language book of 50,000 words or more to Kindle Scout and be considered for a publishing contract with Kindle Press in 45 days or less. We welcome submissions for English-language books in the following categories: Romance, Mystery & Thriller, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult, and general Literature & Fiction. Adults (ages 18+) with a valid Amazon account that reside in a Kindle Scout–eligible country can submit.

CRIMSON ROMANCE
http://www.crimsonromance.com/submissions/
Our digital-first romance line is open to submissions in five popular subgenres: romantic suspense, contemporary, paranormal, historical, and spicy romance. We’re looking for previously unpublished full-length novels (between 50,000 – 90,000 words) and novellas (between 30,000 – 50,000 words). All authors—agented or unagented, beginner or veteran writers—are welcome to submit any works that have not been previously published in whole or in part in any media, including self-publishing (Kindle, CreateSpace, etc.).