SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

                                                       2019 is your year to be inspired!

Join me for a very special week in one of the most creatively invigorating natural settings in the world. All of my retreats in 2019 are for writers and aspiring writers only, and they are definitely not your typical writing retreats.

FundsforWriters newsletter recipients get a special gift when they register to attend. Just remember to enter the FFW gift code FFW50 in the space provided when requesting your retreat information packet.

Learn more at https://retreats.sarahauber.com/2019-retreats.html
 

RUDE LITERARY AGENTS

A long-time follower and fellow mystery author wrote me recently after the smack-down from a rude literary agent. 

"I recently got a nasty rejection letter from an agent that said, "When we said we were looking for new Southern writers, we were looking for the next Pat Conroy...not the next Dukes of Hazzard." I should have been insulted, but it kind of rings true, and I reminded her the show was on the air for seven years! A back-wood badge of honor!"

I understood. An agent once asked me in a rejection letter, "Why would we want a book about an insurance agent?" She was talking about Carolina Slade, the protagonist in my original mystery series who was an investigator for agriculture. My first instinct at reading that ignorance was that I didn't need an agent with that attitude or lack of sense, and I considered that rejection as me dodging a bullet.

I've been to enough writers' conferences to see agents act foolishly, behaving as if they were royalty walking amongst the commoners. They've laughed on panels at the naivete of certain writers, chuckled behind their hands during blind critiquing panels, and sat at tables at banquets, only with other agents, mind you, while sniggering at the speakers. 

Regardless of how lofty these souls think they are, you do not want that personality representing you. They will not be loyal. If they sign you, you'll be the current favorite toy until a brighter, shinier thing comes along. 

Last week, I spoke of self-respect. The more self-assured you are, the better your chances are of landing an agent. . . the right agent. Of course, your writing has to be good, but if you are confident in yourself, a good agent will recognize that strength. They'll see you won't be deterred by naysayers, nor rude people...to include agents. You'll be recognized as serious about your work, with no time for childishness.

Most of all, they'll see that you're interested in creating your stories and spreading them to the world, and that's what any reputable agent wants, too. 







AND A NOTE: I am not doing many big appearances this year, but I will be at this one in June and hope to see you there!


 

SUPER SPONSOR WORTH NOTING

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 

SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

If you've won a contest, found an agent, landed a contract, been published, even found a great critique group....thanks to FundsforWriters....let us know! We want to shout your success to the world, and let our fellow FundsforWriters readers pat you on the back and feel empowered!

Email hope@fundsforwriters.com witih your success story. 

 

Featured article

7 Ways Entertainment Writers Can Maximize Their Online Presence

By Mark Heidelberger

Writing a noteworthy feature film or television script is challenging enough, but as an up-and-comer, standing out in a crowded marketplace might be even harder. Tinseltown is chock full of novice scribes angling for a shot at the spotlight, creating fierce competition as everyone jockeys for attention from a limited group of agents, managers, and producers. With all this, it may seem hard to find a good friend in the entertainment business, but the internet can certainly be one if you know how to leverage it.

1. Blogging Creates Belonging

A solid first start is creating your own blog or website. Blogger by Google is 100% free to use with a blogspot.com sub-domain and offers reasonably-priced upgrade options. Additionally, free website builders like Wix, Weebly and Site123 offer the chance for a professional-looking page with equally affordable hosting fees available. Once created, use it to write regularly about your endeavors, from new projects to contest wins to your latest Hollywood party-hopping adventure. Over time, it will create exposure and ensure people have a place to reach you.

2. Social Media: No Longer Optional

Get on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. But don’t just tweet or post about successes on your personal page. Follow others in your field. Join filmmaking groups. Use the platforms to network with producers, directors and other writers, seek collaborations and work opportunities, share important resources and get invited to events. Yes, it’s difficult to speak highly of yourself in such settings without coming off as pretentious, but until you have an agent or manager doing it for you, the next best thing is to generate the support of an online community who can help by sharing your posts.

3. Those Mysterious Spec Script Marketplaces

Several reputable marketplaces exist where writers can showcase speculative material for potential buyers. Some of the most prominent include Inktip, Spec Scout and The Black List. The former allows you to list any treatment and/or script for a nominal fee while the latter two sell analysis services that result in high-scoring scripts being promoted online. Indie producers seeking affordable and often specific material from writers will check these sites. (Side note: Writer-producers who are seeking financing can also list their projects on Slated if they can get admitted to the site.)

4. A Little Competition Never Hurt

Screenplay competitions are a viable way to generate online buzz so long as you perform well in them. The top finishers in well-respected contests like Nicholl, Final Draft, and Scriptapalooza – usually quarterfinalist level and above – will be mentioned on their websites and in various online promotional materials. Script Pipeline, going a step further, offers finalists in their competition both development assistance and online circulation of the material to a network of producers, agents, and managers.

5. All Publicity’s Good Publicity

Seek out opportunities for free publicity in online trade magazines, screenwriter blogs, and entertainment podcasts. Find an angle that makes your material or personal story unique and pitch those site proprietors on why they should give you a platform. No good at pitching? Well, you’ll need to work on it because it’s an essential skill for writers in Hollywood. But in the meantime, hire an affordable short-term publicist like October Coast to help you find such opportunities.

6. Shoot Something!

Not all online exposure has to be written. Writing for the screen is just the first step in the process of creating a much more layered audio-visual product. Shoot a scene from your script yourself to share on YouTube or Vimeo as a way to show your scripting skills in practice. Better yet, see if you can convince an indie filmmaker to shoot a short or do a web series based on your material. Once you have any sort of produced credit, you can submit to have a profile on IMDB, perhaps the most referenced online resource there is in entertainment.

7. Be Down with the Cause

Consider ways your material might be able to attract the attention of partner groups like charities, non-profits or other special interests. For instance, if your script features a lead with autism, you might be able to attract the support of autism foundations that can help provide online exposure for the story. Material that is inspirational, purpose-driven or based on a true-life figure is often the best fit for this.


https://www.blogger.com/
https://www.wix.com/
https://www.weebly.com/
https://www.site123.com/
https://www.inktip.com/
https://specscout.com/
https://blcklst.com/
https://www.slated.com/
https://www.oscars.org/nicholl
https://www.finaldraft.com/products/bb-contest-info/
https://scriptapalooza.com/
https://scriptpipeline.com/
https://www.octobercoastpr.com/
https://www.imdb.com/


BIO: Mark Heidelberger co-founded Beverly Hills-based Treasure Entertainment in 2000, serving as a film executive, producer, and literary manager until 2011 before going freelance. He has produced music videos for artists Janelle Monae, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, and John Michael Montgomery as well as commercials for Lamborghini, Con Air and Cox Media, to name a few. Film and TV credits include Harsh Times, Comfort, Ninja Apocalypse, It's Not You It's Me, Pray for Rain, and Hallmark Channel's You've Got a Friend. Often times, he also performs ghostwriting services on screenplays in addition to his producing duties. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America. He holds a BA in Film Studies from UCSB and an MFA in Producing from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television.


 

COmpetitions

[PANK] BIG BOOK CONTEST
https://pankmagazine.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 1, 2019. One grand prize winner in Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction Full Length Books Contest will each receive $1,000, $500 publicity campaign, invitation to book launch, signing, and reading at AWP 2020, invitation to New York City book reading, 25 Author Copies, and will serve as the 2020 [PANK] Books Contest judge.



[PANK] LITTLE BOOK CONTEST
https://pankmagazine.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 1, 2019. One grand prize winner of the Little Books Contest will receive $500 Grand Prize, $500 publicity campaign, invitation to book launch, signing and reading at AWP 2020, invitation to New York City Book Reading, 25 Author Copies, and will serve as the 2020 [PANK] Little Books Contest judge. 



SOLUTION LOANS SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://www.solution-loans.co.uk/competitions/short-story-writing-competition/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2019. The winner will receive £200 and publication on the Solution Loans website, with £50 and publication for three runners-up. We’re therefore looking for short stories with the title or theme of “A New Home.” You may choose to interpret the theme however you wish but remember the advice from our judges in the last competition. Ultimately our judges said they shortlisted those stories which they felt combined a strong and engaging idea with overall great writing and story-telling. Send us your story, between 1,500 to 2,000 words, in a single pdf, doc, docx, or txt file to shortstorycomp@solution-loans.co.uk with the subject heading: Solution Loans short story competition.



IRENE ADLER PRIZE
http://www.lucasaykroyd.com/scholarships
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 30, 2019. A $1,000 scholarship for women writers pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada, based on an essay competition. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or Canadian citizens.



VER POETS OPEN COMPETITION
https://verpoets.co.uk/poetry-competitions/
£4 ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 30, 2019. Prizes £600, £300, £100. Winning and selected poems are published in the competition anthology. Poets published in the anthology are invited to read at our poetry afternoon on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans. Limit 30 lines per poem. Any theme or form. Open internationally.



WARE POETS OPEN COMPETITION
http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/comps/ware19.pdf
£4 ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 30, 2019. Prizes £600, £300, £150 plus the Ware Sonnet Prize of £150. Poem limit 50 lines. There will be an informal prizegiving at Ware Arts Centre on July 5, 2019.
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
https://www.arts.gov/grants/apply-grant/grants-individuals
Deadline March 6, 2019. Fellowships in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Non-matching grants are for $25,000.



OX-BOW
http://www.ox-bow.org/
Deadline May 1, 2019. Ox-Bow’s residency program offers artists and writers, at various stages in their career, the time, space, and community to encourage growth and experimentation in their practice. The Arts Faculty and MFA residences are held during the summer while our core classes and community programs are in session. The small group of residents is a part of Ox-Bow’s artist community of students, faculty, and Visiting Artists. The Fall Artist and Writers' Residencies are held for five weeks in September and October. This larger group of residents enjoy a more intimate community. If you are a current Undergraduate or MFA student, we also offer a 13-week summer fellowship. There are no fees to apply, and the residencies are fully funded. 



MARYLAND CREATIVITY GRANT
https://www.msac.org/sites/default/files/files/Creativity%20Grants%20Guidelines%20112918(1).pdf
The Creativity Grant Program supports eligible activities of Independent Artists and Small Organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,500. There is no matching fund requirement for Creativity Grants. Deadlines for the Creativity Grant Program are rolling. MSAC will begin accepting applications on February 1, 2019 for the FY19 Application cycle, and on April 1, 2019 for the FY20 Application cycle. The grant period for FY19 is February 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019. The grant period for FY20 is July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020. Must be a Maryland resident.



UCROSS
http://www.ucrossfoundation.org/residency-program/
The Ucross Foundation provides living accommodations, individual workspace, and uninterrupted time to approximately 85 individuals each year. Typical residencies are one month in length but can vary from two to six weeks. At any one time, there are up to ten individuals in residence, a mix of visual artists, writers and composers. Residents are responsible for providing their own working materials and for their travel to Sheridan, Wyoming.  There is no charge for a residency. 



MACDOWELL COLONY
https://www.macdowellcolony.org/application-guidelines
Deadline April 15, 2019. The MacDowell Colony is a leading contemporary arts organization located in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The MacDowell Colony provides time, space, and an inspiring environment to artists of exceptional talent. A MacDowell Fellowship, or residency, consists of exclusive use of a studio, accommodations, and three prepared meals a day for up to eight weeks. There are no residency fees.



A STUDIO IN THE WOODS ADAPTATIONS RESIDENCIES
http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/apply-for-adaptations-living-with-change/
Deadline April 22, 2019.  Adaptations Residencies invite artists to examine how climate-driven adaptations – large and small, historic and contemporary, cultural and scientific – shape our future. Adaptations Residencies will provide artists with time, space, scholarship and staff support to foster critical thinking and creation of new works. The call is open to artists of all disciplines who have demonstrated an established dialogue with environmental and culturally related issues. Location New Orleans, LA. Residencies are six weeks and will take place between September 2019 and May 2020. Recipients will be provided $2,500 as a stipend and $2,000 towards materials.



SOUTH ARTS LITERARY ARTS TOURING
https://www.southarts.org/grants/apply-for-a-grant/literary-arts-touring/
Deadline May 1, 2019. The Literary Arts Touring grant program offers presenting organizations the opportunity to receive financial support to engage Southern writers (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry) who reside outside of the presenter’s state. Support is awarded to literary projects that contain both a public reading and an educational component such as a writing workshop. The project can include a single engagement by a writer or multiple writers involved in an event (for example, writers' series or festivals). The maximum request is 50 percent of the writers’ fees, up to a total grant of $2,500. Each writer is required to fully participate in the reading and educational/outreach component. Projects must take place between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.



ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS - SONGWRITING - KENTUCKY
http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KAC/Showcasing/ASF.htm
http://artscouncil.ky.gov/KAC/Showcasing/EAP.htm
Deadline March 15, 2019. The Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship is a $7,500 unrestricted award given to a Kentucky artist who has achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work. For professional Kentucky songwriters who are responsible for creating their own work, not interpreting the work of others. The Emerging Artist Award is a $1,000 unrestricted award given to an early-career, professional Kentucky artist who demonstrates excellence and creativity in their work.



NEW BEDFORD ARTIST IN RESIDENCE - MASSACHUSETTS
https://www.nps.gov/nebe/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
Deadline March 31, 2019. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is debuting its newly redesigned Corson Makerspace. The creative space is located on the second floor of the Corson Building in downtown New Bedford, MA. Artists work at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park to create painting, poetry, prose, music; demonstrations, etc. and hold after-school workshops for kids. New Bedford-area artists who create art such as painting, drawing, poetry, prose, music, weaving, etc. are envisioned as potential Artists-In-Residence. Each artist in residence will receive a stipend up to $2,500. Artists must be registered as a government contractor or sign up as one. Housing is not available through this program. (Thanks www.erikadreifus.com)

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION
https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine is an established market for science fiction stories. Asimov’s pays 8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words and eight cents for each word over 7,500. We seldom buy stories shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 20,000 words, and we don’t serialize novels. We pay a dollar a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines. We buy First English Language serial rights plus certain non-exclusive rights explained in our contract. We do not publish reprints.



ONE STORY
https://www.one-story.com/?page=submit
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. All rights will revert to the author following publication.



INTERGALACTIC MEDICINE SHOW
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=content&article=submissions
We are looking for science fiction and fantasy stories of up to 17,500 words. "Science fiction" includes hard science fiction, science fiction adventure, alternate history, near-future, far-future, psi, alien, and any other kind of science fiction you can think of. "Fantasy" includes heroic fantasy (based on any culture's mythology), fairy tales, contemporary fantasy, and "horror" in the sense of supernatural suspense (not gory blood-fests, thanks). We pay six cents a word.



BACK TO COLLEGE
http://www.back2college.com/guide.htm
We feature articles that address issues of importance to the older student: obtaining financial aid, on campus and online education, finding the right program, graduate school, or attaining academic excellence (study skills and success strategies). Career management and articles on successful transition are appreciated. We are especially looking for stories on the re-entry student experience. Articles may be anecdotal or include examples and resources where readers can obtain more information (Web resources are desirable for an online publication.) Payment is $55+ for original feature articles ($27.50+ for reprints and derivatives), approximately 1,000 - 1,500+ words in length (compensation is determined by depth). 



B. MICHELLE PIPPIN
https://www.bmichellepippin.com/get-paid-to-share-your-expertise-with-us/
Must be an expert in something business-related. Looking for time, profit, or marketing hacks that will help increase income, impact, or influence. Write about something that you mastered as a business owner. Seeking experts with first-hand experience. Payment per piece will range from $50 – $150 and will be paid via PayPal on the first of the month FOLLOWING the month it is posted. 



SOJOURNERS
https://sojo.net/about-us/what-we-cover/write-us
We accept pitches for reported pieces, analysis, and commentary that address social justice issues or appeal to a well-informed faith audience. We are also looking for pieces that use a solutions lens when reporting on social issues. Story pitches for reported pieces should include a news or analytical hook that covers a current event, trend, or social justice movement through the lens of faith along with a one- to two-paragraph summary of the idea and at least three confirmed or potential sources. Submissions for online publication should be no more than 1,000 words in length and should directly address the intersection of faith and justice. 



J PUBLISHING
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=e64179430d254a26
Seeking a freelance writer with photography skills and an interest in Japan for an English-language magazine in Hawaii. J Publishing is looking for a writer to be part of an innovative English-language magazine called Wasabi (www.readwasabi.com). Launched in early 2018 in Oahu, Wasabi focuses on Japan, Hawaii, and the many fascinating connections that exist between these two places. Our goal is to provide high quality content that is both informative and entertaining on a variety of topics, including food, restaurants, local events, travel, Japanese American history, and more. We are primarily looking for a LOCALLY-based (living in Hawaii), creative and highly-motivated individual that is able to meet deadlines, and has solid writing and photography skills. Applicants based in Japan are also welcome.



JUNIOR SCRIPT WRITER
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d4a0bbc13eeb8797
Before you start reading and fall head over heels in love with this position - please note that the job is a full-time position in Berlin, Germany. So you'll have to be adventurous. We’re seeking Full-Time Script Writers to contribute to a fast-paced team of writers who are producing immersive episodic releases. This hybrid writer will combine their skills of scriptwriting and interactive storytelling. The ideal applicant will be a TV fanatic and have experience creating storyboards, pitching creative stories, managing deadlines, and working in a serial format.

 

Publishers/agents

 
HARDMAN & SWAINSON
http://www.hardmanswainson.com/
Hardman & Swainson is a dynamic London-based literary agency with a diverse range of clients. The agency represents quality writing of all kinds, and we welcome submissions and queries from new and established writers. Even under the individual agent bios, they seem open to most anything.



ROGERS, COLERIDGE & WHITE
https://www.rcwlitagency.com/
Rogers, Coleridge & White represents a diverse range of bestselling and prize-winning authors from across the world and has an unrivaled reputation for discovering and nurturing new writers. We are a home for writers across all genres including literary and commercial fiction, crime and thrillers, children’s and YA, and all forms of non-fiction. The agency works with a number of major film and TV agents both in the UK and US who help to bring our authors’ books to screen.



GREENE HEATON AGENCY
http://greeneheaton.co.uk/the-agency/
Greene & Heaton Ltd is a literary and media agency with a diverse range of clients. These include novelists, travel writers, scientists, biographers, historians, ghostwriters, and children’s writers and illustrators, each of them prominent in their field, and also TV presenters, production companies, and food/restaurant and other brands. We handle all manner of activities for our clients from straightforward book representation and contract negotiation, to film and TV adaptations, journalism, personal appearances, corporate speaking engagements, and television presenter agreements; in short, we help with whatever our client is called upon or wants to do. They seem open to most anything.



JANKLOW & NESBIT UK
http://www.janklowandnesbit.co.uk/about
Janklow & Nesbit has been in business since 1973 and is one of the largest and most powerful literary agencies in the world, with offices in New York and London. As well as novelists, the agency represents nonfiction authors of every stripe and is known in the US for the politicians on its roster. They seem open to most anything. The individual agents do express some specifics they prefer.



BUCHWALD
https://www.buchwald.com/
Built on the cornerstone of our commercial and broadcast departments, our full-service agency offers representation in every area of the entertainment industry: commercial, broadcast, film, theatre, television, literary, feature film packaging, personal appearance, syndication (radio, television and digital), branding/digital, and emerging talent. 
 

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