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IT'S ALL A BLESSING

Follow writers across social media, and you'll find two types: the ones gloriously grateful and the ones struggling and fussing about the struggle. We happen to live in a culture today, unfortunately, where griping, fussing, or blaming is part of existence. God forbid we be happy. 

When we see someone productive and happy, we badly want to be that person or drink what potion they drink that creates that frame of mind. Their positive attitude is charismatic and desirable, but instead of trying to be like those people, we look for reasons why we are not or can't be joyous about who we are and what we do.

Most of the emails I receive are asking me to help someone find a grant, publisher, agent, or money. And most of those emails begin with some negativity about the writer's life. I cannot remember when one wrote to me with a happy, positive, can't-wait-to-be-successful excitement.

Everything can be worse. Where you are can have a positive spin. And whoever you query in this crazy publishing business would much prefer working with someone who sees the glass half full. 

Be grateful you have a computer, have the ability to write, have sufficient vision, have full use of your hands, can afford the internet, have access to an endless sea of how-to material online on how to be a success. Be grateful you are alive.

You are lucky to have a writing life, period, wherever you are in the process. It's all a blessing. 






AND A NOTE: I hope to see you in St. Louis!


 

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Featured article

The 7 Best Places to Find High Paying Ghostwriting Jobs

By Tasneem Ali

After my first article about earning big as a ghostwriter on FundsforWriters, the next obvious question so many writers asked was where to find clients that pay well for ghostwriting jobs. Following you’ll find seven high-paying markets for ghostwriters.

While there are plenty of websites and portals that offer ghostwriting gigs, most of these do not pay well. It seems counterproductive to give away your hard work for a pittance and not even have the right to claim it as yours.

The good news is that not all websites are created equal, and places exist with well-paying projects with the potential for long-term work.

Bypass the Obvious Sites

Dig beyond the usual freelance websites like Upwork, Freelancer or Fiverr. The average gigs here are short term and in the low-to-mid range. Moreover, stiff competition drives down the on-going rates further.

Upwork features an Enterprise Program for selected freelancers while Fiverr offers you to apply for Fiverr Pro if you meet their criteria. The gigs there are well-priced, but unfortunately, they are not open to all.

Seven Better Places to Find Profitable Ghostwriting Jobs

1.    LinkedIn ProFinder– This is a new service launched by LinkedIn. At the moment it is available only in the US and for a selected few categories that include freelance ghostwriting gigs. This is in addition to the LinkedIn Premium service. Most ProFinder members have reported six-figure incomes in the first year of its launch.

2.    Working Nomads– Working Nomads is one of the best places to find remote working jobs including ghostwriting. The site was set up to connect freelance professionals with scouting companies. Only the best jobs are posted here as each job post costs the employer $149. Digital nomads often take home five- to six-figure earnings.

3.    Freelancewriting– Open since 1997, Freelancewriting is a job board hosting both full-time as well as part-time gigs for ghostwriters. Most jobs are in the five-figure range (for full-time work).

4.    Scripted– Scripted sets very high standards for its writers and has an impressive portfolio of clients, with a strict recruiting process. Once you are in, you gain access to some of the best ghostwriting gigs available. There is a minimum prescribed rate for each writing category. This ensures a minimum payout for each gig and undercutting is not allowed.

5.    Writers.work– A freelance writing job aggregator, this site sifts through the internet to pick out the best gigs and delivers them as a digest to your dashboard. It is a pay-for-membership service but totally worth the expense.

6.    Remote- As the name suggests, remote features only remote jobs. They are all well-paid, too. No wonder it has over 2.5 million professionals, including ghostwriters, connected. And the number is growing every day. Remote uses an intelligent AI-based matching system to predict a high probability for job success.

7.    ProBlogger Job Board- Established in 2004 as a learning guide on making money as a blogger, Problogger has now become a freelancer’s go-to site for its job board. Clients have to pay to advertise their requirements to its vast database of writers. That’s why the jobs advertised are much better paid than those on content mills.

Joining freelance job aggregators like Periodix or subscribing with Freedom with Writing can also make the search easier without you having to spend hours each day scouring the net. Additionally, joining the Association of Ghostwriters or Nonfiction Authors Association will not only help you build your credibility as a ghostwriter, it will help you get quality job leads. 

BIO: Tasneem Ali is a ghostwriter, copywriter, writing coach and author of the series 'The Most Handy Guide to Parenting' and a children's story, "Peter Learns to Play Tennis." She is also a small writing business owner at Ghostwriters' World. On her blog: https://ghostwritersworld.blogspot.com, she shares her thoughts and posts helpful tips for budding writers. When not writing, she likes to spend time with her family.


 

COmpetitions

THE WRITER'S BLOCK PRIZE in FICTION
https://www.louisvilleliteraryarts.org/writersblockprize
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2019. Tell us your story - your love story, ghost story, adventure story, your story of hope or despair, of longing, loss, or triumph. All themes considered and welcome. We want your fresh takes, experimental forms, iconoclastic characters, so long as your story is less than 4,000 words. Multiple entries will be considered with contest fee per submission. One prize winner will receive $500 plus publication in The Louisville Review, as well as an invitation to read the winning story at the Writer's Block Festival on November 16, 2019, in Louisville, KY.



FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING CONTEST
https://www.freespirit.com/african-american-voices-in-childrens-literature-writing-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2019. The contest is open to authors of African American heritage who are residents of Minnesota and at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age and residing in Minnesota. Eligible entries will include original fiction or nonfiction board books for ages zero to four (50–125 words) and picture books for ages four to eight (300–800 words) featuring contemporary African American characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character development, self-esteem, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development. First Place: $1,000 cash prize, a T-shirt from Strive, a tote bag from Free Spirit, and a meeting with Mary Taris, founder of Strive, and an editor from Free Spirit to discuss the winner’s project. The winning submission will be seriously considered for publication by Free Spirit, cobranded with Strive; however, publication is not guaranteed. Second Place: $500 cash prize, a T-shirt from Strive, and a tote bag from Free Spirit. Third Place: $250 cash prize, a T-shirt from Strive, and a tote bag from Free Spirit. 



KINDLE STORYTELLER CONTEST
https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=12061299031
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2019. The Kindle Storyteller Award 2019 is a literary prize recognising outstanding writing. It is open to writers publishing in English in any genre, who publish their work through Kindle Direct Publishing between May 1 and August 31, 2019. Readers play a significant role in selecting the winner, helped by a panel of judges including various book industry experts. To enter, add StorytellerUK2019 in the keywords metadata field when you publish your book on kdp.amazon.co.uk. Make your book available for sale as an ebook and paperback through Amazon. Ensure book is enrolled in KDP Select. Each Finalist will receive a Kindle Oasis E-reader - Graphite, Waterproof, 7" High-Resolution Display (300 ppi), Built-In Audible, 32 GB, Free 3G + Wi-Fi (each a “Finalist Prize”). One Grand Prize winner will receive £20,000 cash or check award to be direct deposited or electronically wired to the Grand Prize winner’s account; a book launch merchandising package on Amazon.co.uk for the launch of the Grand Prize winning Book, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion; a publishing agreement with Amazon Publishing granting Amazon the exclusive worldwide publication rights in all formats for a translated edition of the Grand Prize winning Book in at least one language other than English (and at Amazon’s option, in all other languages), as determined by Amazon in its sole discretion (the “Publishing Agreement”); and the opportunity to participate in a mentoring session with a KDP author selected by Amazon in its sole discretion. 



BLACK WARRIOR REVIEW CONTEST
https://bwr.ua.edu/contest-2019/
ENTRY FEE $8-$30. Deadline September 1, 2019. Fiction and nonfiction: submit up to 7,000 words. Poetry: Submit a packet of up to three poems. Flash: Submit a packet of up to three flash pieces. Winners in Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry genre receive $1500 and publication in BWR 46.2, our Winter/Spring 2019 issue. Two runners-up in each genre receive monetary compensation and acknowledgment in that issue. We may consider any submission for general publication. The winner in Flash receives $800 and publication in BWR 46.2, our Winter/Spring 2019 issue. Two runners-up receive monetary compensation and online publication. We may consider any submission for general publication.



LUCILLE CLIFTON POETRY PRIZE
http://backbonepress.org/lucille-clifton-prize/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 15, 2019. Submit up to three unpublished poems. The winner will be awarded $500, set of three Clifton poetry collections via BOA Editions along with publication via our website.



CRAB CREEK REVIEW POETRY PRIZE
https://crabcreekreview.submittable.com/submit
$16 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2019. A $500 prize will be awarded for the winning poem. Up to four poems per entry, eight pages maximum. 



$100 for 100 WORDS CONTEST
https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit
$5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2019. Microfiction, micro-essay, micro-memoir, short poem, micro-script, micro- screenplay...if it's 100 words or less, it might be worth $100. No restrictions on theme or category. First place winners and finalists in various prose categories will be published in a special edition. A byline and bio will be included, and select pieces will receive special attention on the website. Enter as many times as you like. One piece per submission. Pieces must be unpublished except on a personal blog or website. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Work can have won other awards without being disqualified. Cash award of $100.



LAUX/MILLAR RR POETRY PRIZE
https://www.raleighreview.org/laux-millar-rr-poetry-prize.html
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2019. First Prize includes $500 and publication in the Fall 2019 issue. Finalists will receive standard $10 payment along with publication. Honorable Mentions will be considered for publication and standard payment. All Finalists and Honorable Mentions will receive a one-year subscription to Raleigh Review. All entrants will receive the Fall 2019 issue of Raleigh Review. Submit up to five pages of unpublished poems per entry.



NEW ENGLAND POETRY CLUB CONTEST
https://nepoetryclub.submittable.com/submit
$5 ENTRY FEE. (FREE TO MEMBERS.) Deadline May 31, 2019. Different categories to enter for different styles of poetry. Limit one poem per entry. Winners of individual poem contest categories will receive $250, publication of winning poems on NEPC website; and an opportunity to read at the NEPC (travel expenses not included). 



SAINTS & SINNERS FICTION CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2019. The winner will be selected from this year’s submissions of original, unpublished short stories between 3,000 and 7,000 words with LGBT content on the broad theme of “Saints and Sinners.” One grand prize of $500 and two second place prizes of $100 will be awarded. In addition, the top stories will be published in an anthology from Bold Strokes Books. There will also be a book release party and reading held during the 17th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Conference in New Orleans in 2020. 



TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL FICTION CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2019. Grand Prize $1,500, domestic airfare (up to $500) and French Quarter accommodations to attend the Festival in New Orleans, VIP All-Access Festival pass for the next Festival ($600 value), public reading at a literary panel at the next Festival, and publication in Louisiana Literature. The top finalists will receive a panel pass ($100 value) to the Festival. Their names will be published on this site. This contest is open only to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Published books include self-published books with ISBNs. Those who have published books in other genres besides fiction remain eligible.



TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL ONE-ACT PLAY CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2019. Grand Prize $1,500, domestic airfare (up to $500) and French Quarter accommodations to attend the Festival in New Orleans, VIP All-Access Festival pass for the next Festival ($600 value), publication in Bayou Magazine. Plays must not have been professionally produced, published, or performed. Plays should run no more than one hour in length (one act). Play content is NOT limited to Tennessee Williams or New Orleans-related themes.



TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL POETRY CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2019. Grand Prize $1,000, VIP All-Access Pass ($600 value) for the Festival Publication in 64 Parishes, public reading at the next Festival. The top finalists will receive a panel pass ($75 value) to the Festival. Their names will be published on the site. The contest is open to writers who have not yet published a book of poetry with an ISBN. Authors who have published in other genres are eligible. Submit two to four original, unpublished poems of any style or theme, written in English, with a combined length of up to 400 lines.



TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL SHORT FICTION CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2019. Grand Prize $500, passes to Panels and Master Classes ($200 Value), public reading at a literary panel at the next Festival, and publication in New Orleans Review Web Features. This contest is open only to writers who have not yet published a book of fiction. Published books include self-published books with ISBNs. A submission is one original short story, written in English, up to 1,000 words.

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

BARBARA SMITH WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE OPPORTUNITY
https://www.twelvearts.org/barbara-smith-residency
Deadline May 17, 2019. Twelve Literary Arts is an inter-generational teaching, learning, and professional development incubator for poets, writers, and performance artists who seek a safe space to write in the middle of Cleveland's inner city. The Barbara Smith Writer-in-Residence program provides a safe, creative space for poets and writers of color to bring a current project to completion. Twelve Literary Arts offers TWO residency opportunities for established poets and writers of prominence and emerging writers of promise. The program is open to poets, fiction writers, journalists, essayists, and playwrights. Writers-in-Residence will be provided a $5,000 stipend, a one-bedroom apartment and office space at Twelve Literary Arts, and at least three opportunities to share works in progress with the general public. 



MOONDANCER FELLOWSHIP
https://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships
Deadline May 31, 2019. If you love the great outdoors and care about the future of our environment, the Moondancer Fellowship may be made for you. It is awarded to an author writing in any genre who expresses their love of and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship provides for two weeks of free residency at The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow in the historic arts village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Each resident has a private suite with writing space, private bath, wireless hook-up, uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room, the camaraderie of other professional writers when you want it, and a community kitchen stocked with the basics for breakfast and lunch.



REGIONAL ARTS & CULTURAL COUNCIL - PORTLAND, OREGON AREA
https://racc.org/grants/project-grants/
Deadline June 5, 2019. RACC has created a special category of Project Grants specifically designed for applicants who have never received a RACC Project Grant. This new Catalyst category features a shorter and simpler application, and all Catalyst grants are fixed at $3,000 each. These grants also come with enhanced RACC staff support to help recipients administer their grants. Our goal for this new Catalyst category is to provide new grant applicants with a helpful first experience with RACC – which in turn can help them successfully apply for other RACC grants in the future and build their grantwriting skills. We are also working intentionally to support first-time grant awardees in successfully implementing their projects and meeting all the administrative requirements. We invite community members to come learn more about RACC’s Project Grant program, including this new Catalyst category, at one of four upcoming information sessions.



IOWA STATE GRANTS
https://iowaculture.gov/calendar/state-grants-greenlight-grant-deadline
Deadline June 1, 2019. Apply for funding to support home-grown Iowa film and digital media productions that benefit Iowans and small businesses in the state. Eligible projects must be ready for production, contain excellent content that advances Iowa’s brand and demonstrates public value. The program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council on behalf of Produce Iowa.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

CHICKEN SOUP I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING EDITION
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Deadline July 31, 2019. We are looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life - in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. Did you mean for it to be funny? Did the other person mean to make you laugh? Did a situation just get out of control? Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. Story must be true. No fiction, no creative writing. If we publish your story, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.



CHICKEN SOUP STORIES ABOUT CHRISTMAS
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Deadline January 30, 2020. We are now collecting stories for our HOLIDAY 2020 book and we are looking for stories about the entire December holiday season, including Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities, too. We want to hear about your holiday memories and traditions. The rituals of the holiday season give a rhythm to the years and create a foundation for our lives, as we gather with family, with our communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. Story must be true. No fiction, no creative writing. If we publish your story, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book, and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.



CHICKEN SOUP STORIES ABOUT MIRACLES
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Deadline June 30, 2019. Miracles do happen each and every day. Everyone has experienced events in their lives that cause wonder and astonishment and give them hope for a better future. Why did these things happen? Is there an explanation? Or did these things seem to happen for no reason at all? Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. Story must be true. No fiction, no creative writing. If we publish your story, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book, and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.



CHICKEN SOUP FORGIVENESS FIX
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Deadline May 30, 2019. We are looking for stories that will show our readers how forgiving someone or being forgiven by someone changed your life in a positive way. Were you able to reestablish a relationship after forgiving or being forgiven? Did letting go of your hurt feelings heal you and bring you a sense of peace? Help others find the same resolution by sharing your story. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. Story must be true. No fiction, no creative writing. If we publish your story, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book, and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.



CHICKEN SOUP GOLDEN YEARS OR SECOND WIND
https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Deadline June 30, 2019. So, you’re a certain age now, and you’re ready for what’s next. You might be enjoying an empty nest, or starting a second career, or winding down a first one. You might be downsizing, or traveling, or caring for elderly parents. You might be going on the adventure of a lifetime or taking long walks in the woods. The one thing you know for sure is that you’re not ready to stop living! Looking for stories after 60. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less. Story must be true. No fiction, no creative writing. If we publish your story, you will be paid $200 one month after publication of the book, and you will receive ten free copies of the book your story or poem appears in.



SOUTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE
http://www.scwildlife.com/writersphotographers.html
SCW considers all types of articles dealing with conservation of our wildlife and natural resources, outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc.), natural and scenic areas, the state's heritage as related to the outdoors, natural history of particular game and nongame species, and subjects on a national level of interest to outdoor-oriented readers anywhere (such as famous outdoorsmen of the past who affected our outdoor lifestyle, or environmental issues). We also are looking for well-done outdoor articles with a humorous angle. We generally do not purchase nostalgic or first-person accounts unless they are exceptionally well crafted and would appeal to a cross-section of our readership. Pays about 20 cents per word. 

 

Publishers/agents

 
APRIL GLOAMING
http://www.aprilgloaming.com/about.html
April Gloaming Publishing is a Nashville-based independent press that aims to capture and better understand the Southern soul, Southern writing, and the Southern holler. 



BOOKLAND PRESS
https://www.booklandpress.com/submission-guidelines/
BookLand Press publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and Indigenous literature. We are particularly interested in submissions from culturally diverse Canadian authors, Indigenous authors, people with disabilities, and official language minority authors. 



SKULL & WIND PRESS
https://www.skullandwindpress.org/submissions
We hope to publish two full-length (48-70 pages) and two chapbook-length (20-40 pages) collections of poetry over the course of our first year. While we will publish as much of the best work that comes our way as we can, we would love to publish one debut full-length collection, one second or third full-length collection, and two bilingual chapbooks (especially looking to publish works by Latinx and Indigenous writers).



MACMILLAN AUSTRALIA
https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/manuscript-monday/
On the first Monday of every month only, between 10 am and 4 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, we accept electronic submissions that comply with the guidelines. We are looking for:

Commercial fiction – women’s fiction, romance, thriller, crime, historical, humour, paranormal, fantasy.
Literary fiction and nonfiction – novels, short stories, and narrative nonfiction only.
Children’s books and young adult – junior and middle grade fiction, young adult/crossover fiction; we are not accepting picture book submissions.
Commercial nonfiction – history, memoir, mind body spirit, travel, health, diet, biography.



WANDERING AENGUS PRESS
http://wanderingaenguspress.com/submissions.html
$20 READING FEE. Deadline May 31, 2019. Our aim is to publish three books this year: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Any of the three can be a hybrid. Winning manuscripts will be published as perfect-bound books by Wandering Aengus Press or our imprint, Trail to Table Press, with full distribution via Ingram. Winners will receive 50 copies of their book. Authors will have input into the cover design and interior design. There are no word limits. 

 

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C. Hope Clark
E-mail: hope@fundsforwriters.com
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
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