FundsforWriters - August 3, 2018 - Platform is More About Making Friends

Published: Fri, 08/03/18

Volume 18, Issue 31 | AUGUST 3, 2018

Message from the Editor

I had the most fun at the Mississippi Writer's Guild Conference in Meridian. They are pretty loyal to their Mississippi roots, and the faculty are usually connected to the state. I was born in Rolling Fork, MS, and that gives me the license to appear. I'm so honored. These are deep, strong, Southern souls, and I bask in their soothing embrace.

But it's amazing how fate works, too. While there, I met several FFW readers, one who wrote a feature piece for me once upon a time. She also wrote a book about her mother in a nursing home, and she gave me a copy when she heard that while in Mississippi, I was visiting the old family cemetery and making arrangements for my parents.

Leaving the conference, I picked it up and started reading. I finished it the next day, at two in the morning, and couldn't go to sleep without writing her a long letter of thanks. Kathryn J. Martin took such a dire topic and made it pleasant. The story gives not only seniors but their caregivers hope that there can be positive moments in the journey. Then I left a review on Amazon. The book's first one.

I suggested she go back to promoting this book because the message is so uniquely satisfying. Then I told her that a higher power put her in my path, because she sincerely made my week.

You never know what can come out of a conference.

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website | Sign up for Newsletter
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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

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

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

EDitor’s THOUGHTS

PLATFORM - IT'S ABOUT MAKING FRIENDS

Who you know and how far you can reach.

That's pretty much the definition of platform. But so many people are writing that the competition is fierce. And there's so much competition for entertainment that books aren't everyone's first choice. Which means putting a book on Amazon will not sell it. Someone told me their book was in Barnes & Noble, and they were excited. I asked if they were in the stores, and they said, no, not that they knew of. But they were online at the website. Sorry, but everyone is there.

Jane Friedman, publishing guru and previous editor of Writer's Digest and Virginia Quarterly, states that your platform is measured in three ways:

Ability to reach new readers
Ability to engage existing readers
Ability to mobilize super fans

At a recent conference, I changed this to read:

Ability to reach new friends
Ability to engage existing friends
Ability to mobilize super best friends

When you stop and consider that you are asking people to invest money and loads of time reading your work, it gives you pause. How do you convince these strangers to buy your stuff? But if you consider them friends, the effort has a softer feel to it. But still, how do you find these friends?

Create a newsletter that sounds like a letter to a friend.
Be constantly available online to anyone interested in you or your work.
Establish yourself on at least two social media sites and share yourself.
Do not alienate folks.
Be genuine.

People know about me. I share myself with them. And slowly but surely, people are finding my books. . . because we became friends.

PREVIOUS FAVORITE POSTS:

HOPE'S 2018 APPEARANCES
(Times in Eastern)

October 1 - 3-5 PM- Edisto Bookstore, Edisto, SC (also celebrating my birthday!)
December 18, 1PM Eastern, Dialogue! Blogtalkradio.com

WORDS OF SUCCESS

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."

—Henry David Thoreau

SPONSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

According to Sophie the psychic, beautiful Edisto Beach becomes a hotbed of trouble-making spirits every August. But when a visitor dies mysteriously during a beach house party, former big-city detective Callie Morgan and Edisto Beach police chief Mike Seabrook hunt for motives and suspects among the living. With tourists filling the beaches and local business owners anxious to squelch rumors of a murderer on the loose, Callie will need all the help she can get—especially once the killer’s attention turns toward her.

The trailer for Edisto Jinx, book 2 in the Edisto Island Mysteries. http://chopeclark.com/edisto-island/

SUccess Story

If you've found success via FFW newsletters, tell me! Email hope@chopeclark.com with a brief description so we can all share!

Featured article

Why Local Experts Need YOU to Write Their Books

by Cynthia MacGregor

How would you like to be the voice of professionals, craftspeople, and others in your area? And how would you like to get paid for it?

Whether people are looking for a doctor or a decorator, a lawyer or a landscaper, they're apt to gravitate to someone they perceive as an expert in their field. And having had a book published on the topic of their profession confers on someone the mantle of an expert in many people's eyes.

But there are plenty of professionals who have a great trove of knowledge in their fields yet lack the ability to write well. That's where you come in. As a ghostwriter, you can hire yourself out to write their books, utilizing knowledge they provide you. The books are published under the client's name. You may even be asked to sign an NDA—a non-disclosure agreement—that stipulates you will not take credit for the book nor share with anyone the fact that you are ghosting a book for "Joe Doaks" or "Joan Doaks."

Your client may give you notes in writing, dictate notes to you in person, record his or her ideas on a cassette tape or other recording device, or give you reference materials you can utilize to extract the information you need.

Most commonly these books are self-published, so you probably won't have to concern yourself with length. While an editor at a traditional publisher might hold out for a book of at least 40,000 words (yes, of course there are exceptions), if your client plans to self-publish, your only length concern is that the book should be thick enough for the title to be printed on the spine.

Your client might ask you to shepherd the entire self-publishing process: perhaps hiring an editor to ensure your output is spot-on, hiring a layout artist and a cover designer, and finding a printer—preferably one that does POD (print on demand) work, so that your client does not have to order, pay for, and store a press run of 1000 copies or more. If your client does ask you to take on this extra work, you are within your rights to charge him or her an increased fee for doing this work in addition to the actual writing.

I strongly advise against sharing royalties as your payment. Insist on a flat fee. First, the book is not likely to be a strong seller, so your income from royalties would be minimal. Second, your client is likely to give away many of his or her copies, from which no royalties at all will ensue. Remember, your client is more interested in seeking clients for their business than in selling books.

If your client is pleased with your work, it may lead to work writing press releases or blogposts for them, or possibly even ghosting a second book. A client for whom I recently ghosted a book now wants me to write scripts for ads he will post on YouTube and has other work in mind for me as well, further down the road. Another ghosting client, pleased with the work I did for him two years ago, just made an appointment with me to come and explain what he wants in his next book, and to leave resource materials with me that I can draw on in writing the book. If your clients are forthcoming with their professional friends and associates, they may even tell friends that they have hired a ghostwriter and recommend you. This has also happened to me.

Besides word of mouth, where can you advertise your services? Craigslist, Thumbtack (takes a small fee for every inquiry you answer), and the business section of your local daily paper (generally pricey, but usually worth it). Also LinkedIn. You can also offer free seminars in your area for professionals and others, telling them why writing a book is good persuasive advertising and suggesting that if their writing skills aren't up to the task, they hire a ghost—such as yourself.

Happy hunting—or should I say "haunting"!

BIO: Prolific writer Cynthia MacGregor has over 100 published books to her credit (not including books she has ghosted for others). Her works for adults are almost entirely nonfiction, while her works for young readers are mostly but not totally picture book fiction. As a freelance writer/editor, she accepts assignments to write or edit almost any type of material excepting grant proposals and student papers. She has ghostwritten books on a variety of subjects and enjoys the variety of new knowledge she gleans in the course of these assignments. To learn more about her or get in touch with her, please visit www.cynthiamacgregor.com.

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.

MIGHTY RIVER SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://bigmuddy.submittable.com/submit/78681/mighty-river-short-story-contest-2018
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2018. Award is $1,000 and publication in an issue of Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley. Submit a maximum of 30 pages, double-spaced.

TROUBADOUR INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE
http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes
£6/€7/$7.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 22, 2018. First prize £2,000. Second prize £1,000. Third prize: a week-long creative-writing course at the Arvon Centre of your choice. Plus, for all prizewinners, an invitation to read at Coffee-house Poetry on prize night, November 26, 2018. Poems may be submitted from any country and must be in English and must each be no longer than 45 lines.

THE FC2 RONALD SUKENICK INNOVATIVE FICTION CONTEST
http://www.fc2.org/prizes.html
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2018. Open to any writer in English who has not previously published with Fiction Collective Two. Submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel of any length. There is no length requirement. The prize includes $1,500 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press.

THE BLACK RIVER CHAPBOOK COMPETITION
https://www.blacklawrence.com/submissions-and-contests/the-black-river-chapbook-competition/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Next deadline October 31, 2018. Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short fiction between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and 10 copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication.

INTERIM JOURNAL CONTEST FOR POETRY
https://interimmagazine.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Interim: A Journal of Poetry and Poetics is happy to announce the inaugural season for the Test Site Poetry Series. A prize of $1,000 and publication by the University of Nevada Press will be given for a new, full length collection of poetry. All entrants to the contest will also receive a free issue of a print issue of Interim. The Test Site Poetry Series is open to all writers, regardless of previous publication. As our series title suggests, we’re looking for manuscripts that engage the perilous conditions of life in the 21st century, as they pertain to issues of social justice and the earth.

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

SPLENDID MOLA ALL VOICES FELLOWSHIP AWARD
http://splendidmola.com/all-voices/
The All Voices Fellowships are open to writers who identify with any group that is traditionally underrepresented in literature and publishing, and who would not otherwise be able to attend (i.e., have some financial need). Two fellowships, each covering full tuition, are awarded for each retreat. Applications are accepted until one month before the retreat. Retreats are offered several times a year. Location Idyllwild, CA. (Thanks www.erikadreifus.com)

AWESOME FOUNDATION GRANTS
http://www.awesomefoundation.org
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1,000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiative and public or social practice art projects. “We give no-strings-attached weekly grants to awesome initiatives which solve a problem, cultivate community, and spread joy.”

NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL
https://www.ncarts.org/invest-arts/grants-artists
Deadline November 1, 2018. Offers $10,000 fellowships to support the creative development of North Carolina artists. Next deadline covers songwriters, composers, and writers.

ASHEVILLE, NC ARTS COUNCIL GRANTS
https://ashevillearts.com/resources/regional-artist-project-grant/
Deadline October 12, 2018. The Regional Artist Project Grant is an annual grant program that provides financial support to developing professionals by funding a project pivotal to the advancement of their careers as artists. The Regional Artist Project Grants awarded range from $400 – $1,200. Full or partial cash match is not required but is preferred.

CHARLOTTE, NC AREA ARTIST GRANTS
https://www.artsandscience.org/grants/grants-for-individuals/regional-artist-project-grants/
Deadline September 28, 2018. Regional Artist Project Grants provide an award for individuals and groups of unincorporated artists to pursue projects that further enhance their artistic development by attending a professional development experience or purchasing/renting a piece of equipment. Applicants must be a permanent resident of the region (e.g., have resided for a minimum of 12 months prior to the deadline) of one the following counties: Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, or York (SC). Artists may ask for a maximum of $2,000.

NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Fiscal-Sponsorship
Deadlines to apply: June 30, September 30, December 31, and March 31. NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is one of the oldest and most reputable programs of its kind in the country. Fiscal Sponsorship increases funding opportunities for individual artists and emerging arts organizations in all disciplines by allowing them to raise funds using NYFA's tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3)-classified organization. Open to all artists with a U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN).

FREELANCE MARKETS

ISSUE MEDIA COMPANY SEEKS FREELANCERS
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=31819610745be94e
Issue Media Group is seeking creative self-starters for freelance writing, editing, and photography roles for our publications across Michigan, including Model D (City of Detroit), Metromode (Metro Detroit), Concentrate (Ann Arbor), The Keel (Port Huron), Catalyst (Midland), Epicenter (Mount Pleasant), Capital Gains (Lansing), Rapid Growth (Grand Rapids), Southwest Michigan Second Wave (Kalamazoo / Battle Creek), and Flintside (Flint). Ideal candidates will have previous digital journalism or community newspaper experience or be a recent graduate with relevant qualifications and work samples. Candidates should have a passion for finding interesting stories and be able to perform under the parameters of deadline requirements.

BRICKER PUBLISHING
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8942268570d7a080
Bricker Publishing is seeking Freelance Writers with a strong knowledge in the agricultural aspects of grain production for the Craft Beverage (Beer, Spirits, Hard Ciders & Mead) to join our team. Bricker Publishing publishes two national/international publications. Visit our website at http://www.brickerpublishing.com

CREATIVE JOKE WRITERS FOR CHILDREN WANTED
https://muse.dillfrog.com/lists/ambiguous
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=e5ea70c4d8de8af8
We are looking for creative writers to write 200 jokes for $500. Before we hire you we wish to do a test to determine your joke writing ability. These jokes are for 8-10-year-olds so please keep them simple and a little corny.

FREELANCE SCRIPT WRITERS
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d7a0039c8d2b76fb
We’re looking for flexible, creative, and ambitious copywriters to write, edit and review video scripts. You must be able to generate great ideas and write scripts/treatments for a wide variety of client’s products and services. Prefer five+ years of experience in content and script writing that appeals to wide audiences.

WRITING FELLOWSHIPS IN WASHINGTON DC
https://www.indeed.com/q-Writing-Fellowship-l-Washington,-DC-jobs.html?vjk=a1efa280916fe290
We are looking for writing fellows to assist and learn how to write for an audience that cares about relationships and families and the issues that affect them. This fellowship will be based out of our Washington, D.C.-area office in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. Blow us away, and this could lead to a full-time position. At least one year of published writing experience, in print or online. Pays $1,000 a month. Length of fellowship is between three and six months, depending on editorial needs.

CURRENT NEWSPAPERS - WASHINGTON DC
https://www.indeed.com/q-The-Northwest-jobs.html
The Northwest Current's new management seeks to build a team of freelancers to cover everything from the nuts and bolts of committee meetings to feature stories on people, places, the arts, business, sports. We have stories to assign but are wide open to your ideas. Payment starts at .10 per word with raises available for reliable, talented writers. Journalism experience preferred but not mandatory, students welcome. Must have access to a computer (laptop for field assignments preferred) and a smartphone capable of taking clear photos. We will be hiring a staff writer in the future. Please send a cover letter, resume and a couple of writing samples (links preferred). Local candidates only.

FREELANCERS FOR BASS FISHING NICHE
https://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/job/230645
Our team is looking for two part-time/freelance eBook writers who can write amazing creative content for one of our Digital Products Team’s projects. Ideally, we are looking for a Fisherman who has a knack for the written word or someone who is either knowledgeable or has some good working knowledge of the Bass Fishing sector. He/She must be familiar with the language and the common terminologies used by both novice and experienced Bass fishermen, while retaining readability and avoiding technical language.

Publishers/agents

BELLEVUE LITERARY PRESS
https://blpress.org/contact/
Bellevue Literary Press publishes literary fiction and narrative nonfiction geared toward a general readership. We do not publish poetry, single short stories, plays, screenplays, memoir, or self-help/instructional books.

BLAZEVOX
http://www.blazevox.org/BX2011/index.php/contact/
Our books push at the frontiers of what is possible with our innovative poetry, fiction and select nonfiction and literary criticism. We select for publication only the highest quality of writing on all levels regardless of commercial viability.

CHRONICLE BOOKS
https://www.chroniclebooks.com/submissions
Chronicle Books publishes an eclectic mixture of traditional and innovative children's books. We are looking for projects that have a unique bent—be it in subject matter, writing style, or illustrative technique—and that will lend our list a distinctive flair. We are interested in fiction and nonfiction books for children of all ages, as well as board books, decks, activity kits, and other unusual or "novelty" formats.

KENSINGTON PRESS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/page.aspx/submissions
Publishes over 600 books annually in both fiction and nonfiction. Kensington has sweeping and diverse imprints, including Kensington, Zebra Books, Pinnacle Books, Lyrical Press, Dafina Books, and Citadel Press. These imprints are well-known for popular commercial fiction, mysteries and thrillers, African-American titles, multicultural fiction, nonfiction, as well as true crime and Westerns. Kensington continues to be the foremost American publisher of romance novels.

LYRICAL PRESS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/page.aspx/LyricalSubmissions
We are looking for fresh stories in a variety of categories including all romance genres (specifically suspense and historicals with unique settings), compelling psychological suspense fiction, thrillers, women’s fiction, new adult, and cozy mysteries. We’re hoping to find edgy and daring voices that readers will love. We welcome novellas, serials, and full-length novels as long as they tell a satisfying and well-written story.

DOGWOOD PRESS
http://www.dogwoodpress.com/about.html
A small but traditional publishing house located in Brandon, Mississippi, Dogwood Press is primarily interested in mystery/suspense fiction. We're adding new authors and titles each year and are always on the lookout for strong Southern voices.

TIRGEARR PUBLISHING
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/submissions/submission-guidelines.htm
Their primary focus is on commercial adult genre fiction. Thriller, Romance, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Fantasy, etc, and all cross genres. As adult genre fiction generally includes some level of sex and/or violence, we are currently only publishing books suitable for those 18 years of age and older. Located in Ireland.