FundsforWriters - December 1, 2017 - Are Your Writing Goals Short or Long Term?

Published: Fri, 12/01/17

Volume 17, Issue 48 | DECEMBER 1, 2017

Message from the Editor

Yep, teaching my grandson about chickens. He's not quite ready to let them eat out of his hand, but he's almost there. But you'd never guess what happened not one minute after this picture was taken.

My son's young dog ran through the door, through someone's legs standing in the door, and snatched that very chicken up in her jaws. Scared the crap out of us all! I managed to snare the dog by the collar, and my son eased the bird out of the dog's mouth.

My grandson's mom turned him away from the scene while I checked the chicken, and the pup got scolded. Wow....lots of excitement.

The chicken is fine, thank goodness, and we know not to let Lucy the dog around birds again. But my grandson needed a learning moment. I scooped him up and carried him back to the coop. We talked about the bird, the dog, and how things sometimes happen. I didn't want a bad experience to ruin him from moments like in the picture above.

We will have bad, often embarrassing, moments in this writing career we've chosen. But we cannot run away and not learn from it. We have to face the rejection, the bad decisions, the horrible choices, or the sad happenstances that make us want to throw up our hands and quit.

These shake-ups could have the opposite effect. We learn, we remember, and we become all the wiser from the knowing.

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C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
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TWITTER - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
AUTHOR SITE - http://www.chopeclark.com
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark
BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark

"Hope Clark has created another fascinating heroine in former Boston PD detective Callie Morgan. Her books are fast-paced mysteries set against the backdrop of a tiny South Carolina island where murder never happens—or so the locals would like to believe. I'm happy to recommend it."

- Kathryn R. Wall, author, the Bay Tanner mysteries

"I have never before experienced the caring of a place like C Hope Clark instilled in me with stories of the people and the mysteries of Edisto Island. Through the recent hurricanes I always gravitated toward the news of this real place with Hope's fictional characters. Some day I must go there. Thanks for a new place on my bucket list!"

-reader/reviewer Delores Feeken Schmidt

"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.

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EDitor’s THOUGHTS

ARE YOUR WRITING GOALS SHORT OR LONG TERM...OR DO YOU EVEN KNOW?

Your goal is to get published. Author + Book = Published. Even after you publish that first book, you feel the hunger to write another...and publish it. There's something enticingly magnetic about publishing a new book. However, have you thought about a strategy in publishing your book? Not marketing tricks, per se, but more like the big picture.

How many books do you want to publish?
When will you publish each one?
Where will you be in two years, five years, or ten in terms of your book portfolio?

Most writers don't think that far. Most want to publish that first book and see how it goes before deciding their future. I've had authors tell me that many, many times. And those books rarely sell.

My first novel was Lowcountry Bribe. It excited me to no end to feel that book in my hands, and I scheduled a hectic book tour out of my own pocket. We covered 11 states, 26 events, in nine months. You'd think it successful because of the blood and sweat poured into it.

I can't deny Lowcountry Bribe still holds the record for reviews on Amazon out of all my nine books. And I was shameless asking anyone who bought the book to write a review. But after reading "8 Ways for Authors to Waste Their Money" on The Digital Reader blog, I wish I'd waited. My publisher probably would argue against me, but the logic of the first item on that list of eight makes super solid sense to me.

"...authors should not start marketing their books until after they have published the third book."

The pain of trying to sell my first book in my first series still tugs at me. Bookstores theoretically closed doors in my face. Readers constantly asked if I had other books. Some readers (and bookstore managers) said they'd wait until I had several books under my belt before buying one. One store in my home state embarrassed me so much with that statement that I have yet to return to them, even after having published six others, with a seventh scheduled in the spring. All I can think of is how they treated me like a novice.

But the above concept is sound. With three books published, you appear more seasoned. You seem to know what you are doing. And you aren't one of those writers who are test-driving the profession. Readers want to commit to authors who are committed.

So if you have not published, or haven't published but one book, consider holding up on the publishing until you have three. A thrill for you, a thrill for the reader finding a new author to binge on, and a barometric measure of whether you are indeed in this job for the long haul.

PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:

Come by The Coffee Shelf in Chapin, SC on December 9, noon to 3 PM, to meet C. Hope Clark. Nothing beats a great coffee creation except maybe a great coffee AND a book . . . an autographed mystery, to be exact.

Join me in my effort to support my home town, beginning with The Coffee Shelf on 130 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin, SC. I get to support an entrepreneur while letting my community know about the mystery author in their midst!

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"In a real sense all life is interrelated. All persons are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the inter-related structure of reality."

~Dr. Martin Luther King

SUccess Story

Hi, Hope,

Recently I was offered a no-pay gig to speak for 150 teenagers at an Interact Rotary conference. Carol Goodman Kaufman's article "A Creative Way to Get Paid for Talking" (from the 9/1/17 issue of FundsforWriters newsletter) gave the winning tip I needed to make this opportunity a win-win: sell copies of my award-winning book Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces at a deep deep discount for bulk orders.

The end result was that I was able to net $300 for 30 copies of the book which I sold at $10 per book for each of the Rotary Clubs. Those 30 copies will be circulated among many teenagers/millennials that I otherwise, wouldn't have been able to reach on my own!

Thank you so much, Hope, for all that you do for us writers to move our careers ahead!

Dorit Sasson
www.DoritSasson.com
Email: sassondorit@gmail.com

eatured article

The Good Ones: Hitting the Higher Paying Markets

By Alex J. Coyne

One of my first high-paying features sold to The Investor for $170 (Six String Stocks, October 2015). I’ve sold others since, including a piece for Catholic Digest that earned $500. I sure didn’t think it was possible when I started out with $20/article rates. Here’s how I got to higher rates and why you should.

Searching terms

Use search engines to find work, contacts and guidelines. Use quotes (“) to search for specific terms, minus and plus-signs (“-“) and “+”) to include or exclude them and asterisks (“*”) as wildcards. Include terms like “pay”, “rates”, “$200” and “guidelines” to dig for new markets - or add terms like “co.uk” to search abroad. Try other engines like DeeperWeb, DogPile,GigaBlast and DuckDuckGo.

Get out of the rat race

Say no to content mill-like rates of $5 per 1, 000 words, even when desperate: Your time is more valuable elsewhere, and realizing that early on will ensure that you get to writing for better rates and stronger markets sooner.

Going up

Many markets offer low starting rates, but higher rates or bonuses with more exposure and experience. These are worthwhile over time, but don’t put all your eggs in only this type of market. Also, consider discussing a rate increase with your regular clients/writing markets, but no more than once a year.

Exchange rates

Break into international markets with better exchange rates: Yes, you could write for readers outside your country if you keep an eye on breaking news, popular publications, and local quirks. Mind your language: Americans say hood, Brits say bonnet. While South African-based, most of my articles go abroad (where it’s 13.26ZAR to one US dollar) - my first, in fact, was sold to FundsforWriters!

Chasing the niche

Features and longer-form pieces often pay more; the same is true for niche markets.. Tai Chi Magazine pays $500 for 3,500 words, writing for The Sun Magazine can earn up to $2,000 per feature. Fine Woodworking, on the other hand, pays $150 per page. What can only you write?

The pitching process

A higher-paying feature is pitched like any other, but you can make it easier by establishing a prior relationship with the editor through getting in touch ahead. Send an email introducing yourself and, if the guidelines are not readily available online, request their guidelines. Have longer feature ideas outlined before you pitch to include all the details of your concept and research so far.

Writing on-spec

Many markets, especially (though not just) high-paying ones, prefer a fully completed article over a pitch. Write on-spec a lot and you’ll have a higher success-rate, period. Articles that are rejected go into what I call “The Article Pit” and are sold elsewhere, usually with minor edits.

Negotiate your rates

Be prepared to negotiate when a publication asks you to state your rate first. Reply by asking what their budget normally is for such a project. To calculate, consider average industry rates and what you currently charge. Don’t aim too low (or astronomically high) and include that you are willing to discuss it further. But know your bottom line and be willing to walk from something not worth your time.

It takes time

While higher-end features pay more money, don’t expect quick money. On average, these pieces can require more research, several rewrites and may take time – sometimes more than a year – from pitch to publication and payment.

Do you have ideas that could sell? Best of luck!

Bio: Alex J. Coyne is an internationally known author, freelance journalist and language practitioner who has written for publications including People Magazine, The Dollar Stretcher, Great Bridge Links and CollegeHumor.

COmpetitions

THE FICTION DESK GHOST STORY COMPETITION
http://www.thefictiondesk.com/submissions/ghost-story-competition.php
£8 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 31, 2018. 'Ghost story' can mean a lot of different things, from an encounter with an actual phantom to more unusual paranormal phenomena and unexplained events. All types are welcome, so feel free to experiment: we're very unlikely to disqualify a story for stretching the definition of a "ghost". This year there is a first prize of £500, a second prize of £250, and a third prize of £100.

OUEN PRESS SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.ouenpress.com/19.html
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2017. First prize £300. Two x Runners up £100 each. Highly-Commended entries recognised. The short story must be a work of fiction that explores the concept of 'Taste' within its theme. Authors may be of any nationality living in any country. Limit one entry. The length of the submission should be no less than 3,000 words and no more than 10,000 words excluding the title and word count.

BLUE MOUNTAIN ARTS POETRY CARD CONTEST
http://www.sps.com/poetry
Deadline December 31, 2017. First prize $350. Second prize $200. Third prize $100. Winners will be displayed on website. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write. Poems are judged on originality and uniqueness. English-language entries only, please.

FOURTH RIVER FOLIO CONTEST
http://www.thefourthriver.com/index.php/announcing-the-2017-fourth-river-folio-contest
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 15, 2017. The winning entry will be published as a 20-25-page feature in our Fall 2018 online issue. The author will also receive a cash prize of $500, and a subscription to The Fourth River’s print edition. We are looking for adherence to our vision of nature and place via strong voices and impeccable craft, regardless of the style.

GRANTS

CROSSTOWN ARTS
http://crosstownarts.org/
The multidisciplinary artist residency program at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, Tennessee, offers residencies for visiting and Memphis-based visual and performing artists working in any creative discipline as well as musicians, filmmakers, and writers in all genres. All residencies include a private studio workspace with meals provided six days a week. Live/work residencies also include a private bedroom/bathroom next to a common living area and a shared kitchen for all residents. Three-month residency sessions are offered each year in the fall and spring. Shorter twenty-day sessions are available in the summer and can be attended consecutively. Studio-only residencies are available for up to ten months throughout the year. All residencies are offered at no cost to participants.

BARBARA DEMING MEMORIAL FUND
https://demingfund.org/apply-pd-11.php
Small artist support grants of $500 to $1,500 to individual feminist women in the arts (citizens with primary residence in the U.S. and Canada). We are interested in funding projects which you have begun or which are well underway, and for which you have substantial work to show. Our link to Submittable will go live and allow you to apply on January 1st for each annual application cycle.

ILLINOIS ARTIST SUPPORT GRANTS
http://www.arts.illinois.gov/Individual%20Artist%20Support
This program has an open deadline and will support activities that occur by August 31, 2018. Artist Project Track (IAS/AP) supports individual artists in the production and presentation of an artistic project. Applicants may request a maximum of 75 percent of the total cash expenses of the project up to $3,000. The minimum request is $500. Applicants must secure a cash match to cover the remaining costs. Professional Development Track (IAC/PD) supports professional development opportunities related to an individual artist's career. Applicants can request grant amounts between $500 and $1,000 with no cash match required. Applicants must secure funds to cover any remaining costs exceeding $1,000.

FLORIDA ARTIST OPPORTUNITY FUNDING
https://goo.gl/forms/d3tdDmDE1rgqYkzg2
Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc. is offering ten $1,000 stipends for Florida artists. Artist Opportunity Funding is designed to support Florida artists at all stages of their careers by providing funding for activities that serve to enhance the artist's career through artistic or professional development. Competitive applications will demonstrate how the selected opportunity will provide a SIGNIFICANT impact on the artist's career. To apply, fill out the online application by December 15, 2017.

FREELANCE MARKETS

SMARTER TRAVEL
https://www.smartertravel.com/submission-guidelines/
Travel doesn’t start when you hit the road, and it doesn’t end when you arrive home. That’s why at SmarterTravel, we deliver expert travel tips, inspiring destination stories, and timely travel news—because we want to feed our readers’ passion for travel before, during, and after each trip. SmarterTravel accepts multi-page slideshows and both short- and feature-length stories on a range of consumer travel topics, including booking strategies, saving money, avoiding scams, packing tips, best places to go, travel tech, travel trends, and travel tips that represent all kinds of travelers and travel experiences. We also publish destination content, but prefer thematic round-ups that highlight multiple destinations. We pay $500 for long-form articles and multi-page slideshows, and $100 to $250 for shorter posts.

PULP LITERATURE
http://pulpliterature.com/submissions/submission-guidelines/
Any genre or between-genre work of literature, or visual art (black and white) up to 75 pages in length. Short stories, novellas, poetry, comics, illustrations — bring it on. We do not publish non-fiction, memoir, or children’s stories. Aside from that we want anything entertaining and well written. Stories under 5,000 words have the best chance of publication. We pay $0.035 – $0.07 per word for short stories (to 7,000 words), $0.025 – $0.05 per word between 7,000 and 10,000 words, and $0.015 – $0.035 per word for works over 10,000 words. Poetry and interior illustrations pay between $25 – $50.

HEALTHLINE
https://jobs.lever.co/healthline/7e361422-2b99-412b-98b4-8ac304b0ddae
Healthline is actively recruiting experienced freelancer writers. We need writers to help us create health and wellness content that is engaging, empathetic, and evidence-based. We are looking for writers who can create general health content. We are also looking for writers with experience in the following areas: Mental health/well-being: This writer must be research savvy and write with an approachable tone regarding sensitive topics. We are NOT looking for personal stories.

THIS MAGAZINE
https://this.org/contribute/
A good This Magazine article offers background and context to ongoing national issues, a challenge to the mainstream media perspective, or an important story that hasn’t been told elsewhere. Subject matter includes politics, culture, the arts, social issues, labour, feminism, mental health, race/racism, Indigenous issues, and sexuality, with a focus on quality writing and in-depth reportage. A good This Magazine article offers background and context to ongoing Canadian issues, a challenge to the mainstream media perspective or an important story that hasn’t been told elsewhere. Our readership is Canada-wide, so local issues are only covered when they have national interest or implications. International stories must have a strong Canadian angle.

JOBS

ONLINE WRITER AND EDITOR
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a8f8db78fe4e4168
Location Dallas, Texas. Employer the Five Star Institute. Salary $40,000 to $48,000. Dallas-based publishing company seeks a highly motivated professional for the position of online editor. Seeking candidate with a minimum of five years professional writing experience. Our monthly publication is at the forefront of the housing industry--reporting on the politics and business news affecting our industry. This affords the opportunity to be the first to a story reported to our leading network of print and online subscribers.

COPYWRITER PAID INTERNSHIPS
https://www.uline.jobs/JobDetails?culture=en&jobid=1651BR
Location Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Uline is North America's leading distributor of shipping, packaging and industrial supplies. Assist in researching, developing, writing and proofing product copy for Uline’s catalog, website and promotions. Research, write and proof internal / external communications.

CONTENT WRITER / LISTING SPECIALIST
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/ArtsiHome/jobs/Content-Writer-1cb0410f27b34a8f
Location Sarasota, Florida. We are a successful Amazon fulfillment business with a need for an exceptional person who can become an instant value added key player in our growth. We are looking for that one individual who is a “WordSmith” like no other! Create new products with associated attributes, photos and descriptions. Ensure that new products added are consistent with Amazon’s listing policies. Review detail pages for accuracy and consistency. Photograph new products as required.

Publishers/agents

ABADDON BOOKS
http://www.abaddonbooks.com/about
Dedicated to high-quality science-fiction, fantasy and horror. This isn't Harry Potter. Most of our books are violent, and they're all pretty dark. The good guys don't always win, and the bad guys don't always get their just desserts. We're not going to weigh you down with eight hundred pages of description and cosmology either; our stories are slick, pacy and stylish. We want to take you back to the good old days of pulp fiction, when vampire stories weren't all about the endless torment of your lost humanity and fantasy stories didn't run for fifteen volumes.

LOVE-LOVE PUBLISHING
http://love-lovepublishing.com/
Love-Love Publishing is a very small book publisher specializing in many genres. We are based in Madison, WI. Our books range from gentle themes of love, romance, suspense, period dramas and comedies, to epic love stories, and thrillers. We strive to bring our readers quality books with great stories and memorable characters.

MOCHA MEMOIRS
http://mochamemoirspress.com/about/
Our vision is to provide an outlet for outstanding speculative and romance stories that often fall beneath the radar of traditional publishing houses. We seek to provide quality stories that invigorate the reader’s literary palette like a good, strong coffee. Like great coffee houses, we offer a variety of flavors. We don’t just serve our coffee black.