FundsforWriters - July 13, 2018 - Would You Fund These Grants?

Published: Fri, 07/13/18

Volume 18, Issue 28 | JULY 13, 2018

Message from the Editor

I've never been one for short stories, but I published one that was selected by Killer Nashville in its Cold-Blooded Anthology alongside the likes of Jeffrey Deaver, Anne Perry, Robert Dugoni, and Steven James. It's called Rich Talk, and I'm rather proud of it. So....to dabble into indie publishing, I threw it up solo on Amazon for 99 cents. Let me know if you like it! Reviews requested.

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website | Sign up for Newsletter
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
FFW has proudly been on the Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers list every year since 2000

Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. Use information listed at your own risk. FundsforWriters gives no warranty to completeness, accuracy, or fitness of the markets, contests and grants although research is done to the best of our ability.

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

From Amazon reviewers:

I always like the mystery and crime story behind Slade but with this one, the interpersonal relationships just shine and demand attention that they deserve and humanize the characters on a whole new level. I don't just want another crime story, I now want more of the characters.
- - -

Strong, well rounded characters are a hallmark of Hope Clark’s books, and this one is no exception.

- - -

A must-have for fans of high voltage action, mystery and just the right amount of romantic tension. Hope this series continues.

- - -

Wow, wow, wow. Stellar addition to the Carolina Slade series! Once again the author exceeds herself in writing this 4th book of the series.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD
http://www.tuliptreepub.com/contest.html
$20 ENTRY FEE
Deadline: August 26, 2018

Stories change us. Stories determine how we see the world. Stories change the world. That’s why this contest has only one category—the story. Whether you consider it fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, as long as it tells a story, it fits. One grand prize winner will receive $1,000, and 5 additional winners will each receive $200 for their merits in Love, Depth, Humor, and Passion, plus a Bonus category to be determined by how the entries strike us (alternate category name: I Can’t Even…). The winners and up to 20 honorable mentions will be published in TulipTree’s annual Stories That Need to Be Told anthology.

(Note: We’re still super excited that the 2016 anthology was a finalist for a Colorado Book Award!) See website for complete submission guidelines.

EDitor’s THOUGHTS

WOULD YOU FUND THESE GRANTS?

FundsforWriters received the following requests for grants. These are two of a hundred received like them over the last six months. Like a lot of people do, especially from certain foreign countries, they see the title of the site and never look any further. They see only potential dollars.

<<I am finish my two books but do not know where I going to get the money two company want to publish them but it will cost me thousands of dollars i need help now I written over 2000pages by hand one want me to type it have no computer to do this .I need help now .these book can help me get out of the financial problems i am having.with an income of 286.00 a month i need help.>>

Assuming this is a legitimate request (most of them are not), books are not a means to get out of a financial bind. As a matter of fact, most new authors will go in the hole publishing. These days, it takes a half dozen books, one right after the other, to net more than minimum wage. It's a myth that one or two books will earn an author a living. When you decide to write a book, accept the fact you are in this for the long haul, with a lot of diligent writing, in order to make a dollar.

<<I have written 10 books + own biography I do not have funds to get my books story’s out there Some are children story’s some are half fiction but true story’s I have no clue how to get my books out into the world – all i now is i love and get lost in my own writing..Is it possible you can direct me into the right path ?>>

If I knew a grant, which I don't, I would not misdirect this individual. The English is so poorly attempted I cringe to ponder the manuscript. But what is sad is that most of these souls do not attempt to study the publishing world or marketing, operating under another myth that publishing is making money. Publishing is not the answer to being a successful writer. Writing a good book is critically first, followed by a strong concept of how to market the book. It doesn't matter whether you traditionally or indie publish, excellent writing and a strong sales process are what sell books.

Publishing is the easy part. And there are no grants for you to publish your indie book, especially if you haven't published successfully before. Publishing is a business. You invest to get a return.

PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:

HOPE'S 2018 APPEARANCES
(Times in Eastern)

July 27-29 - Mississippi Writers Guild Conference
October 1 - 3-5 PM- Edisto Bookstore, Edisto, SC (also celebrating my birthday!)
November 2-4 - BookBaby Indie Conference, Philadelphia, PA

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier."

~Mother Teresa~

SPONSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

SUccess Story

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

Featured article

DON'T DIS THE SMALLER PUBLISHERS
by Cynthia MacGregor

We are told in life to "aim high," and often this is good advice—but not always. Many first-book authors set their sights on the New York biggies: Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and their ilk. Then they get headaches from beating their heads against a brick wall.

Most of the major publishers won't accept un-agented manuscripts. Even when they do, they have such a barrage of submissions that the odds against acceptance are astronomical. "Well, I'll get an agent," one writer blithely told me...only to find out that agents can be as picky as publishers about acceptances. Nor is securing representation by an agent a guarantee of landing a publishing contract.

Many authors, stonewalled at the majors or unwilling to even go that route, decide they will simply self-publish. But self-publishing and being published by one of the major houses are not the only games in town. Don't overlook the smaller publishers—including the so-called "boutique publishers."

Boutique publishers typically don't get their books into bookstores. (There are exceptions.) They sell online. But let me tell you something you may not be aware of: Getting your book on the shelf at B&N or an Indy bookstore is no guarantee of success. Does the word "returns" have any meaning for you? If a bookstore shelves your book and it doesn't sell well, back it goes to the publisher — quickly — to make room for new books that have arrived. There is only so much shelf space available.

Boutiques (and many other small publishers) don't give advances. But then, not all large publishers always give advances, either.

And unless your name is Danielle Steele or J.K. Rowling, don't expect a publicity splash from even a big publisher. Publicity efforts are on you, my friend, no matter how big your publisher is.

But now let's look at the smaller publishers, especially the boutiques. First of all, many of them use print-on-demand technology. They don't have to invest in massive press runs. They don't have to invest in warehouse space. This brings their initial outlay down. And with lowered costs, they can afford to publish more books.

Ahhhh. The odds have just tipped in your favor. Of course, if your book is not well written and is not "clean" (free of typos, and grammar-spelling-punctuation errors), it's not going to be accepted regardless of how large a welcome mat a publisher puts out. But there are many perfectly good books whose authors can't find a home for them with the majors — even with the help of an agent—but who find ready acceptance at a boutique publisher.

There is much better communication between the authors and the staff of a smaller/boutique publisher too. You'll probably find yourself exchanging emails with the publisher herself/himself, and you may also find the publishing house has either a Yahoo group or Facebook message group on which you can converse with the publisher's other authors, exchanging publicity tips and other help.

Some of the small and boutique publishers are listed in Writer's Market, but some aren't listed in any book and can best be found by word of mouth or in publications that list submissions calls, such as FundsforWriters, Authors Publish (https://www.authorspublish.com/) and The Writers' Network News (http://www.zebraeditor.com/free_newsletter.shtml). Two that I have personally had success with are Crimson Cloak Publishing (www.crimsoncloakpublishing.com) and AcuteByDesign (www.acutebydesign.com). Note that Crimson Cloak takes both fiction and nonfiction, for both the juvenile and adult market, but no erotica. Erotica writers can find a home at Siren Publishing (http://www.sirenpublishing.com/). And note that AcuteByDesign's predominant interest is diversity publishing: stories by and/or about people of color, Native Americans, Latinos, and members of other minorities. Formerly just a children's book publisher, they have branched out into publishing for all ages.

While there is no one-size-fits-all rule, most small publishers and especially boutiques prefer to receive the entire manuscript rather than a query and want e-subs rather than snail mailed submissions. Check a publisher's website before submitting, to see what their particular preference is. Do tell them in your cover letter of your marketing plans for the published book and, if you have a platform or following, be sure to let them know that, too.

I don't even aim for the majors anymore. I'm happy with smaller publishers. Don't dis them.

BIO - Cynthia MacGregor has had over 100 books published—mostly by smaller houses. She also does other freelance writing, as well as editing for other authors, for publishers, and for other types of clients (such as businesspeople who need materials edited—or written). Her website is www.cynthiamacgregor.com .

COmpetitions

PUBLISHIZER PUBLISHING CONTESTS
https://publishizer.com/contests/2018/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2018. Publishizer is proud to host three book proposal contests. Empowered is seeking thought leaders at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. Judged by Crown Business and Berrett-Koehler. Mind Body Science is for those researching the frontiers of consciousness and human wellbeing. Judged by BenBella and Findhorn Press (Inner Traditions). Superhumans seeks authors exploring health, wellness, alternative lifestyles and peak performance. Judged by Running Press (Hachette USA) and Sourcebooks. Enter for a chance to land a publisher for your book and win cash prizes of up to USD $1,000 for each contest. Write a compelling 1,000-word book proposal based on an unpublished book idea and be prepared to launch it on Publishizer by August 15. Campaigns with the highest number of pre-orders for each contest will win $500. Panel of editors from traditional publishing houses will award another $500 for each contest. (NOTE: When they ask, tell them you heard about this contest from FundsforWriters.)

BROKEN RIVER PRIZE
http://platypuspress.co.uk/brokenriverprize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2018. The Broken River Prize is an annual poetry chapbook contest from Platypus Press. Win publication and $250/£200 prize money. For books between 20 and 40 pages in length. The contest is open internationally. Finalists will be considered for publication.

STILL: THE JOURNAL WRITING CONTESTS
https://stillthejournal.submittable.com/submit
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 9, 2018. Categories are fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Contest entries should be in keeping with our publishing mission which states: “Our emphasis is on the literature of the Southern Appalachian region, and we are committed to publishing excellent writing that does not rely on clichés and stereotypes. We want to feature writing that exemplifies the many layers and complexities of the region or that is written by an author with a connection to the region.” Pays $250 each for first-place winners of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, and publication in Still: The Journal, 28: Fall 2018. All other contest entries will be considered for possible publication.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS ONE-ACT PLAY CONTEST
http://tennesseewilliams.net/contests/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2018. Grand prize $1,500, professional staged reading at the festival, a VIP festival pass, and publication in Bayou Magazine. Finalists will receive a panel pass to the festival.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS SHORT FICTION CONTEST
http://tennesseewilliams.net/contests/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2018. Grand prize $500, VIP festival pass, public reading at a literary panel at the festival, publication in New Orleans Review. Finalists will have their names published on the website.

COSMONAUTS AVENUE NONFICTION PRIZE
http://cosmonautsavenue.com/prizes/
$12-$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 23, 2018. We love writing that is personal, necessary, darkly funny, unfunny, candid, unique, upsetting, untold, includes in-depth research into who bit Beyoncé, and writing that is deeply good and deeply you. The winner will receive $500 and publication in Cosmonauts Avenue. All long-listed pieces will also be considered for publication.

GRIS-GRIS SUMMER FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://grisgris.submittable.com/submit/114619/summer-flash-fiction-contest
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2018. Lilmit 1,000 words. The winner receives $500 and publication in Gris-Gris. Pulitzer Prize winner, Robert Olen Butler, will select the winner. All submissions will be considered for publication.

WRITER'S DIGEST SELF-PUBLISHED EBOOK AWARDS
http://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-ebook-awards
$99 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2018. Writer’s Digest’s 6th Annual Self-Published Ebook Awards honors the best self-published ebook(s) in eight of the most popular categories with $5,000 in cash, a featured interview in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City. In addition to $13,000 in total cash prizes, all entrants will receive a brief commentary on their work from one of Writer’s Digest’s judges. Categories: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Memoir, Young Adult, Nonfiction (General, Cookbooks, Reference, Guidebooks, Textbooks). The competition is open to self-published authors of English-language ebooks which were published (or revised and republished) electronically between 2013 and 2018.

6th Ó BHEAL FIVE WORDS INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION
http://www.obheal.ie/blog/five-words-poetry-competition/
ENTRY FEE FIVE EUROS. Every Tuesday around noon (UTC), from the 17th of April 2018 until the 29th of January 2019, five words will be posted on this competition page. Entrants have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week. A prize of 500 euros is awarded to one winner, who, if available will be invited to read at Ó Bhéal’s 12th anniversary event, on Monday the 15th of April 2019. An additional travel fee of 100 euro plus B&B accommodation will be provided. The winner also receives a physical award, hand-crafted by acclaimed glass artist (and poet) Michael Ray. Entry is open to all countries. Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length.

ALCOTT AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT FICTION
https://hiddenriverarts.wordpress.com/awards-deadlines-and-guidelines/the-alcott-award-for-young-adult-fiction/
Deadline October 15, 2018. For book-length YA fiction with strong female lead character(s). The winning manuscript will be published by Many Frog Press, an imprint of Hidden River Publishing, and will receive $1,000.

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

LEEWAY FOUNDATION
https://www.leeway.org/grants/art_and_change_grants/
Deadline August 1, 2018. The Philadelphia-based Leeway Foundation supports artists involved in art for social change that positively affects and engages communities and audiences. Creating social change must be integral to the ideas, beliefs, and goals of the funded projects. To that end, the foundation's Art and Change Grant provides project-based grants of up to $2,500 to women and trans artists in the Delaware Valley region in support of art for social change projects. The program is open to individual artists and cultural producers working in any medium, including traditional and non-traditional, as well as multimedia and experimental forms.

BOSTON REVIEW INTERNSHIPS
http://bostonreview.net/intern-br
Interns at Boston Review work on a variety of editorial and promotional projects and have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of editing, producing, and marketing a publication for serious and demanding readers. Full-time (five days a week) interns receive a stipend of $2,500; part-time (three days a week) interns receive a stipend of $1,500. Stipends are paid in three installments over the course of the internship.

SARATOGA, NY ARTS GRANTS
http://www.saratoga-arts.org/grants/artistgrants
Letter of intent deadline September 14, 2018. Funding for individual artists to create new work and share their creative process with the community in Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga Counties. Eligible artists from all artistic disciplines are encouraged to apply. In 2018, Saratoga Arts awarded three Artist Grants, in the amount of $2,500 each.

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY CULLMAN FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/fellowships-institutes/center-for-scholars-and-writers
Deadline September 28, 2018. The Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library is an international fellowship program open to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the collections at the library's main branch in midtown Manhattan, including academics, independent scholars, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets). The center appoints fifteen fellows a year for a nine-month term at the library, from September through May. In addition to working on their own projects, the fellows engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas within the center and in public forums throughout the library.

NW DOCUMENTARY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
https://nwdocumentary.org/mission
The Artist-in-Residence is an opportunity for nonfiction storytellers who have demonstrated a passion and commitment to their craft, an original artistic vision, and a desire to develop their work within a creative community. The term “nonfiction storytellers” is not exclusive to a single documentary medium, but may include: film/video, audio, photography, literary nonfiction, multi-media or other. Location Portland, OR.

DELAWARE GRANTS
https://arts.delaware.gov/grants-for-artists/
Deadline August 1, 2018. Individual Artist Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis for quality as demonstrated by creativity and skill in an art form. Applications are accepted in 18 artistic disciplines in the fields of choreography, folk art, jazz, literature, media arts, music, and visual arts. Applicants select between Emerging or Established categories. The Masters Fellowship is available in select disciplines on a three-year rotating basis to artists who meet specific criteria. Out-of-state professionals evaluate the applications in an anonymous process. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation assists with the administration of the program. Awards are $3,000 for Emerging; $6,000 for Established; and $10,000 for Masters.

FREELANCE MARKETS

NEWSCRED
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=9f7ad35ba2415561
NewsCred is seeking experienced freelance writers to brainstorm, write, edit, and create content for our customers. NewsCred’s editorial team brings editorial strategies to life for some of the world’s best-known brands as they build communities through content marketing. The freelance writer’s ability to adapt to our client's voice and support business goals through well-written articles is essential for driving our client's business success. With that in mind, freelance writers will pitch ideas, brainstorm, write and edit original content for our clients, ensuring content is high quality and on-brand.

WINSTON-SALEM UNIVERSITY ADJUNCT FIRST-YEAR WRITING FACULTY - 4 POSITIONS
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=fb5f66e70a78f0e0
The successful applicant will be responsible for preparing and teaching courses in Writing Composition in the First Year Writing Program at Winston-Salem State University. The position reports directly to the Director of The Writing Center under the Associate Dean of University College and Lifelong Learning. This person will prepare and teach courses in college level writing that integrate instruction in writing, reading, and study skills. Depending on the needs of the program, courses assigned may include various first year writing composition courses.

THE ZOE REPORT
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=1105cdfbb4e0d0ea
The Zoe Report is seeking remote, part-time Fashion Features Writers to cover features for our fashion vertical three to four days per week. Day-to-day responsibilities include working closely with the Fashion Editor on pitching and executing high-impact features, including deep-dive trend stories, personal essays, and designer profiles. The ideal candidate will have a unique voice, innovative ideas, and at least four years of editorial experience covering fashion, ideally with a concentration on features.

BETTER HOME AND GARDENS
https://www.bhg.com/bhg/file.jsp?item=/help/writersGuidelines
We read all freelance articles submitted, but much prefer to see a letter of query than a finished manuscript. The query should be directed to the department where the story line is the strongest. See appropriate editor and department on the site. A freelancer's best chances lie in the areas of travel, health, parenting and education. We do not deal with political subjects or with areas not connected with the home, community, and family. We rarely use poetry, beauty, or fiction. We buy all rights and pay on acceptance. Rates are based on our estimate of the length, quality, and importance of the published article.

BLESS THIS LIST
http://www.blessthislist.com/write-get-paid/
Bless This List was built on the efforts of readers just like you. Readers who didn’t have any experience as writers but decided to put a list together and send it in. So here is the deal: We will pay you $100 for your efforts. You don’t need to be an expert — you just need to have great English, a sense of humor, and a love for things unusual or interesting.

UPWORTHY
http://www.upworthy.com/pitch-us
Upworthy reaches a massive audience with meaningful stories every day, and we're looking for original stories that support our mission of creating a better world. Our stories are generally short (usually less than 500 words), but we're open to unusual ideas that will resonate with millions of people, and we love to experiment. They pay roughly $200, and there are bonuses if your article is shared a lot.

ONE STORY
https://www.one-story.com/index.php?page=submit&pubcode=os
One Story is seeking literary fiction. Because of our format, we can only accept stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words. They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone. One Story pays $500 and 25 contributors copies for First Serial North American rights.

Publishers/agents

HSG AGENCY
http://www.hsgagency.com/the-agency.html
HSG is a full-service literary agency that through collaborative and client-focused representation manages all aspects of an author’s career, from manuscript shaping, to sale and publication, subsidiary rights management, marketing and publicity strategy, and beyond. Our diverse and skilled team represents all types of fiction and nonfiction, for both adults and children, and has strong relationships with every major publisher as well as familiarity with independent and start-up publishers offering a different approach to publishing.

BOOKSTOP LITERARY AGENCY
http://bookstopliterary.com/index.html
BookStop Literary Agency is dedicated to promoting authors and illustrators of children's and young adult books. We work closely with our clients (and their books) to guide them in their careers and their work with publishers. BookStop sells quality picture books, fiction, nonfiction and illustrations to major children's book publishers in the US and abroad.

STIMOLA LITERARY STUDIO
http://www.stimolaliterarystudio.com/#/Submissions
Eclectic in tastes but not in standards, the Stimola Literary Studio, highly selective in representation, invites unsolicited queries on picture books, novels, and graphic novels, as well as select projects in nonfiction, most of the year.

COFFEE HOUSE PRESS
https://coffeehousepress.org/pages/submissions
Coffee House Press publishes literary novels, full-length short story collections, poetry, creative nonfiction, book-length essays and essay collections, and the occasional memoir. CHP does not accept submissions for anthologies, genre fiction, or books for children.

EUROPA
https://www.europaeditions.com/about-us
Europa Editions is an independent publisher of quality fiction. Europa Editions publishes about 35 titles a year. In its first 10 years, the company has published books by authors from 26 different countries, making it one of the leading US publishers of international fiction. In 2013, we launched our series of international crime fiction, Europa World Noir. Publishers Weekly wrote that the series signaled Europa’s “reaffirmed enthusiasm for noir.”

TINY FOX PRESS
http://tinyfoxpress.com/submissions/
Tiny Fox Press first and foremost is in search of engaging stories needing a great home. We do have a small range of genres we prefer and some others we’ll consider, so be sure to familiarize yourself with what we’re after. Our primary focus is in the following genres of fiction: Commercial, Sci-Fi/Fantasy (LitRPG included), MG/YA (all genres), Military, Bizarre.