SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

The Path of Consciousness is a spiritual and writing conference and retreat that will help you transform your writing life with the help of various ancient, sacred and creative teachings, including writing and storytelling. Choose to stay for the one-day conference or the 3-day all-inclusive retreat.

The event is October 5-7, 2018 at the Colombiere Conference & Retreat Center, which is nestled on beautiful 420 rolling acres of mature pines and hardwoods in Clarkston, Michigan.

For more information, and to register, visit www.ThePathofConsciousness.com 
 

WHAT DOES BEING A WRITER FEEL LIKE?

These days, writing is such a business, a scramble to make a few dollars from the countless hours of work, often resulting is less than minimum wage. Since we live in a society where success is first and foremost measured in the figure you put on your income tax return, we often feel less than worthy in this professional pursuit.

So we turn it into a noble cause. We toss out comments like: "I don't care how much I make, just as long as somebody reads my writing."

Which is bunk for the person trying to earn a living. Those are the words of those who do not need the money or others who are making excuses before time proves they can't pay the bills from this line of work.

But most of all, most of us are "trying" this line of work without full investment. Yes, it's the safe way to venture into being a writer, but it's a few steps short of commitment. . . which again, gives you the excuse to fail.

We need to quit seeing writing as an attempt.
We need to quit seeing writing as a monetary end game.
We need to quit giving our writing excuses not to get published.

“So, I always had the sense of being in this for keeps if your health lasts you. And you’re fortunate enough to have the days at disposal so you can keep on doing this. I never had the sense that there was an end. That there was a retirement or that there was a jackpot.” -Leonard Cohen

From an article on Medium, by storyteller Corey McComb: "Art is self-renewal. It’s not about making one hit song and retiring rich. The work itself is the reward. If you make the process more important than the outcome then your art never stops. Each day becomes a day we get to create, not a rush to the finish line."

We do it because we love it. And we do it often because we love it so much. And we do it with passion, stealing time from the other things in our lives. And we hope we never have to retire from the effort, because who walks away from a cherished love we hold in our hands?







PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:

• Writing Nonfiction for Children
• Would You Write Daily If You Got Paid for It?
• How to Write (Almost) a Million Words a Year
• Time Saving 101: Topics to Avoid Reading
• Using Contests as Door Openers
• How I Won a Scholarship to a Writer's Retreat
• Buying Yourself Time
• The Biggest Mistake You'll Ever Make as a Children's Author
• Travel Writing 101
• Starting a Street Team

 


WORDS OF SUCCESS

“I made mistakes in drama. I thought drama was when actors cried. But drama is when the audience cries.” 

– Frank Capra
 

SPONSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD

SUccess Story

If FundsforWriters has assisted your writing efforts, please, share with us. Send your success story to hope@chopeclark.com 

 

Featured article

Negotiating for Writers

By Alex J. Coyne

Spelling and proper grammar are essential skills for a writer. Negotiating and business sense are too, but those are the ones many people overlook. Here’s how to get higher rates, better jobs and walk out on top when it’s time to negotiate a deal.

Spotting Room for Negotiation

Some jobs offer terrible pay – and no amount of negotiating will get you more than $10 for 1,000 words. Other times a client states a set budget for the job and that’s it. But sometimes a client asks to discuss your rates for one or several articles. Right there’s your negotiation room.

Diff’rent Strokes

Your negotiation technique with a corporate blogger is going to differ from that with a self-published fiction author.  Each have different needs, and when negotiating, you’re speaking to those needs directly. There are five main negotiation styles – see Negotiations.com. Ask your client about their proposed budget and see how close it falls to what you would have normally quoted them. 

Don’t Agree Too Soon

When you spot negotiation room, don’t agree to the first deal. Propose a counter-offer – one which offers a better deal for both of you. This can be quicker delivery at a higher rate for rush jobs, an extra blog post, a higher per-word rate when you have other projects in-between.  You have experience, and people will pay more for it.

Higher Rates

You can tell a new client, “I’m not okay with this rate. How about this?” You will lose some jobs, and that’s okay – you gain more in the long run. Higher rates can also be negotiated when jobs have a tight deadline or need very specialized research done. Work out the charge hourly and per word too: Which is better? (AllFreelanceWriting.com).

Fatal Negotiating Mistakes

Going in too high can scare potential clients off to a “no,” and so can going in too low – industry standard rates exist to minimize this (See: SAFREA, the EFA and the WGGB). Seeming desperate in negotiation will either scare clients off or teach them that you are to be taken advantage of: Never show outright desperation by begging a client for a job. Respect goes far, so don’t lose it. Agreeing to something you’re not okay with for the sake of a “yes” is another fatal mistake, and one that comes back to bite later.

Swinging the Deal 

When several hopeful writers are negotiating, offer something others don’t in order to swing it your way. Often, this comes down to sending strong, relevant writing clips that tells the client, “This is the writer I want.” You can also swing the deal with the right counter-offer that says, “If you agree to my terms, here’s what I can do for you in return.” For one regular ghostwriting job, I offered the client two posts per week instead of one, and my rate was accepted.

Compromising

The whole point of negotiating is reaching the point where both parties walk away satisfied. This can also mean meeting in the middle – compromising. Always be willing to consider compromising. It can be summed up with a short, imaginary dialogue: “$500?” “$350?” “$480.” “Deal.”

Bio: Alex J. Coyne is a journalist, writer and editor. His contributions have appeared in publications like People Magazine, CollegeHumor, WritersWeekly, Great Bridge Links and FundsforWriters.
 

COmpetitions

THE ERNEST HEMINGWAY FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://fictionsoutheast.com/ernest-hemingway-flash-fiction-award/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2018. Open all year for submissions. Entries should be approximately 1,500 words or less. All entries will be considered for publication in Fiction Southeast. Winner receives $200 and publication. 



DREAMQUEST ONE POETRY AND WRITING CONTEST
http://www.dreamquestone.com 
$5-$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 15, 2018. Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed. And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme. Genres: fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, stage plays, and screenwriting). No word count. Short story prizes: first $500, second $250, third $100.



ORISON ANTHOLOGY AWARDS IN FICTION, NONFICTION, AND POETRY
https://orisonbooks.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2018. The winner in each genre will receive a $500 cash prize as well as publication in The Orison Anthology, an annual collection of the best spiritually engaged writing that  appeared in periodicals in the preceding year. (The unpublished work selected for The Orison Anthology Awards will be featured alongside the reprinted material.) Submit up to three poems (15 pages max), one story (up to 8,000 words), or one work of nonfiction (up to 8,000 words). 



THE END OF OUR WORLD SHORT STORY CONTEST
http://www.aftermathmag.org/contest.html
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2018. This contest is meant to raise people's awareness of what is happening to our (natural) world right now and what this may mean for the near future. We are looking for short stories dealing with the many existential issues facing us. No nonsense, no wild, impossible fantasies but strong, intelligent stories, based on realistic speculation, cautionary tales, plausible and thought-provoking. Pays $1,000 for the winner, $300 for the runner-up, and $100 for number three. Open to anyone, from any country, of any age. Preferred word count between 1,500 and 5,000 words. 



SERVICESCAPE SHORT STORY AWARD
https://www.servicescape.com/short-story-award
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2018. For this award, any genre or theme of short story is accepted. All applicants should submit their original unpublished work of short fiction or nonfiction, 5,000 words or fewer, to be considered. Along with receiving an award for $1,000, the winner will have his or her short story featured within our blog. 



ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY SHORT FICTION COMPETITION
http://www.all-story.com/contests.cgi
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2018. First prize $1,000. Second prize $500. Third prize $250. We accept all genres of literary fiction. Entries must be: unpublished; strictly 5,000 words or fewer.



JOHN STEINBECK AWARD FOR FICTION
https://reedmagazine.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2018. Reed 152 is an open-themed issue. All works should be stand-alone short stories, not chapters of a longer work. Editors read all fiction submissions of up to 5,000 words. One winner will receive $1,000 and publication. 



GABRIELE RICO CHALLENGE FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION
https://reedmagazine.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2018. We are looking for creative nonfiction, e.g. personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Prize is $1,333 and publication. Editors read all nonfiction submissions of up to 5,000 words. 
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

SISTERS IN CRIME EDUCATION GRANTS
https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EdGrantOppo2018
SinC members participating in the certain mystery conferences, workshops, and classes may apply for a grant of up to $150 to defray registration expenses. Conferences like Killer Nashville, Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference, Novelists Inc Conference, Magna Cum Murder, and more. Must be a current member of SinC and must have been a member for three consecutive years. Sisters in Crime will award grants to at least 100 members in 2018 on a first-come, first-served basis, until the budget of $15,000 for the scholarship program is allocated. 



MARYLAND INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AWARDS
https://www.msac.org/programs/individual-artist-award
Deadline July 25, 2018. IAAs recognize outstanding artistic achievement, honor the contributions artists make to our state, and are accompanied by unrestricted grants of $1,000, $3,000 or $6,000 to help artists advance their craft. Maryland artists may apply for 2019 awards in the following categories: Creative Nonfiction/Fiction, Media, Digital/Electronic Arts, Theater Solo Performance, Painting, and Works on Paper. 



NALAC FUND FOR THE ARTS
https://www.nalac.org/programs/nalac-grants/nfa
Deadline September 6, 2018. The NFA Artist/Ensemble grant program is for U.S. and Puerto Rico-based Latino artists, in all disciplines, working individually or as part of a Latino ensemble, arts collective, or community-based arts group. The NALAC Fund for the Arts is the only national grant program intentionally investing in Latinx artists and nonprofit arts organizations in the United States. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000. 



SPARK BOX STUDIO DAWSON AWARD
http://sparkboxstudio.com/dawson-award/
Deadline March 1, 2019. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. This award is open to residents of North America. We accept emerging, mid-career and established artists. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital).



YADDO RESIDENCIES
https://www.yaddo.org/apply/guidelines/
The August 1 deadline is for residencies starting November of the same year through May of the following year. Artists who qualify for Yaddo residencies are working at the professional level in their fields. An abiding principle at Yaddo is that applications for residency are judged on the quality of the artist’s work and professional promise. Yaddo accepts approximately 200 artists each year. No cost if chosen except for $30 application fee. Funds exist to provide limited financial aid to artists, based on need. Only individuals who have already been invited for visits may apply for financial assistance. 



HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS
http://horrorscholarships.com/general-application-info/
Deadline August 1, 2018. Open to members only, but if you write horror, please consider joining. The HWA and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarships are worth $2500. The Dark Poetry Scholarship is worth $1,250. The Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for Nonfiction Writing and The Scholarship From Hell offer flexible amounts. The winners of each Scholarship (except The Scholarship From Hell) have two years in which to spend the funds, which may be allocated to enhance their professional horror writing career on such things as – Course fees for physical or online writing courses; Resources such as textbooks, Guides, etc.; Registration fees for writing festivals that include relevant presentations; Registration fees for one horror genre convention per year; Subscription fees to appropriate periodicals; etc. 

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

YOUNG DISCIPLE
https://www.youngdisciple.org/magazine/contributor-guidelines.aspx
Young Disciple magazine is a weekly publication dedicated to the preparation of young people for heaven. The target age group is roughly grades 5-8. We recognize that these youth are at an age where many important decisions will be made, and we want to point them to Christ and to His eternal principles. Our goal is to glorify God, and our guides are the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.



AVENUE - EDMONTON
https://www.avenueedmonton.com/Contact-Us/Contributor-Guidelines/
Avenue is a full-spectrum city and lifestyle magazine that takes an insightful look at how our community is evolving, keeps abreast of key movers and shakers and offers survival-guide advice to living here well. The magazine is a provocative and useful read for the active, curious and sophisticated city-dweller interested in everything from the arts and home fashion, to municipal politics and scientific breakthroughs. Stories published in Avenue must have a strong relevance to our Edmonton readership, and should offer a unique perspective on the topic. Our tone is thoughtful, polished and confident. Stories run 500 to 2,000 words, with shorter pieces typically published in our health and fitness, arts or humour departments. 



OHIO MAGAZINE
https://www.ohiomagazine.com/about/freelance-guidelines
Please remember that our editorial calendar is established three to six months in advance. For queries related to a timely event or seasonal events, allow nine months to a year’s notice. Ohio Magazine publishes stories that celebrate Ohio — its people, its rich culture and heritage, and especially its travel spots. Our audience is educated, active, affluent and very loyal to Ohio. 



TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
https://tpwmagazine.com/editorial/
Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Outdoor Magazine of Texas, is a monthly magazine published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. We are looking for strong, well-researched and eloquently written stories on all aspects of the Texas outdoors. 



EQUUS
https://equusmagazine.com/page/submission-guidelines
A horse health publication for laymen, EQUUS features articles on health care, behavior, training techniques, veterinary breakthroughs and exercise physiology. EQUUS welcomes freelance submissions for practically any section of the magazine. Features generally run from 1,600 to 3,000 words, and the amount of payment depends on quality, length and complexity of the story. In short, we do not pay by the word. 



ARAMCOWORLD
http://www.aramcoworld.com/en-US/About/Guidelines-for-Contributors
Seeks coverage of any aspect of cultural, scientific or historical Arab and Muslim worlds, including arts, archeology, history, geography, biography/profiles, cross-cultural connections, innovations, technology, trends and more. (Surprise us, please.) Include protagonists and sources who are primarily of Arab-land or Muslim heritage (local voices). Length: 300 to 4,000 words. 



AMERICAN CRAFT
https://craftcouncil.org/magazine/writers-guidelines
We value freelancers who can write for a general creative audience with clarity and insight. We love good storytelling that explores a craft artist’s struggles, doubts, determination, and triumphs. We like to read about how craft shows up in modern life, particularly if the writing is bright and accessible. When touching on craft theory or history, writers should take special care to write clearly and for a non-academic audience. We work primarily with experienced arts journalists who are thorough and disciplined in their reporting and able to write with depth and nuance.

 

Publishers/agents

TWELFTH PLANET PRESS NOVELLA SUBMISSIONS
http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/news/advance-notice-novella-series
Deadline November 30, 2018. We are looking to build a kickass series of novellas that defines and redefines the Twelfth Planet Press brand. We want gritty pieces that challenge the system and punch the patriarchy in the face. We want stories that resist and rebel . . . and maybe also books that comfort and inspire. For when things are bad out there in the world. We are looking for books that feed the angry soul. Your novella should be between 17,000 and 40,000 words. Publication is by ebook in the first instance. Payment is by way of an advance of US$300 and royalties of 40 percent of all monies received by the publisher, paid twice yearly. Submissions will open on September 1, 2018.



BEDAZZLED INK
http://binkbooks.bedazzledink.com/call-for-submissions/
Focus is New Adult (for readers 19-30 years) fiction. The book must have a female protagonist, must be multi-cultural, can be LBTQ (sorry no G). We’re looking for general fiction but will consider all genres except romance if they are unique in some way and aren’t formulaic. We prefer books that are quirky in both story and writing style. We also prefer books that have a lighter touch, even when tackling heavy universal scenes. No angst, no formulaic plots, just good honest storytelling. No stories where romance or romantic relationships are the main storyline. We want the kind of book your friends love to read and want to tell everyone about. Length: 40,000 to 80,000 words. 



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. Please send us the entire completed manuscript with a query letter. 



RESOLUTE PUBLISHING
http://www.respublishing.com/guidelines
Resolute Publishing is committed to producing books rooted in African American culture and/or same-gender loving experiences. We welcome submissions from new and established women of color writers that are committed to great storytelling and are also passionate readers.



SECOND STORY PRESS
https://secondstorypress.ca/submissions
We are a Canadian feminist press publishing books of special interest to women. Our list is a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and books for young readers. We look for manuscripts dealing with the many diverse and varied aspects of the lives of girls and women, as well as social justice, diversity, and children's empowerment. 

 

SPONSORS

Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

16th 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. The top two winners will also receive one-year gift certificates from our co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $50 value). Final judge: S. Mei Sheng Frazier. 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/
 

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 2000-2018, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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