The business is changing, no doubt about that, but it's not just about whether to traditionally or indie publish. It's about layers of traditional publishing, a wide diversity of options in indie publishing, and a whole world of hybridization in between. It's no longer an either/or. 

I've mentioned The Hot Sheet before. It is a publishing industry newsletter for authors delivered every other Wednesday via email. It was created by Jane Friedman and Porter Anderson, who interpret the most important publishing news and distill it to the information you need to know. I was a beta reader, uncertain whether I wanted another newsletter in my email box. But now I'm hooked. http://hotsheetpub.com/

It's smart, and if you want to understand the publishing industry, in order to best decide your future, this is a newsletter you might consider. I'm an extremely fast reader, but this is one publication I do not skim. I save it for the end of the day when I want to truly understand what's going on in the publishing world.

For instance, I grabbed this from a recent edition:
 
•Decline of Facebook traffic to top 30 publisher websites since January: 32%
•Decline of Facebook traffic to top 10 publisher websites since January: 42.7%
•Decline to Huffington Post: 60.1%
•Decline to Fox News: 48.2%
•Decline to Buzzfeed: 40.8%

People are sick and tired of online reading material. When you read the articles about ebook sales being down as well, you realize that a lot of people are backing away from screens. But it's not so good for ebook-only authors, or those earning a living online. Many people are backing away from Facebook as well. We've been overdosing and appear to be self-correcting. And what's funny to me is that we no longer trust the big names to take care of us anymore, regardless of which way we lean politically. 

What does this mean for you and your books? My advice is not to knee-jerk your decisions. Be informed, but most of all choose what seems to fit you best. In the same edition of The Hot Sheet, they covered using Facebook to sell books, which is the way author Mike Dawson made his millions (and currently makes more millions selling his how-to classes). 

Choose your bed and lie in it. Decide how you'll produce your work and disseminate it, and own what you did. Capitalize on every angle and delve into every corner of whatever you choose. There is success to be had in all publishing arenas, but where most people fail is doing whatever they do . . . half-assed.
 

"All writing problems are psychological problems. Blocks usually stem from the fear of being judged. If you imagine the world listening, you'll never write a line. That's why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone."

~Erica Jong

Why Crowdsourcing Sometimes Works for Writers

By Stephanie Faris

Years ago when someone needed a writer, that person went through a marketing firm or relied on queries received after a call for submissions. In today’s “sharing economy,” writers can be found on the Internet easily, alongside people offering to design a company’s logo for $5 and manage entire marketing campaigns for $20. Unfortunately, this has led professionals to assume that the sharing economy is for amateurs. 

As someone who earned half her income last year through Elance, I’m here to tell you that professional writers do have a place in crowdsourcing. Businesses of all sizes use these sites to find talent and some of those businesses are eager to pay professional rates. If you’ve dismissed crowdsourcing as a way to supplement your freelance writing income, here are three reasons to reconsider:

It’s a Great Supplement

Even the busiest freelancer has slumps. One week your inbox is full of assignments and the next, you’re wondering if you’ll ever work again. Crowdsourcing gives you an option when it feels like all the editors have flown off to a tropical island somewhere. You can place a few proposals and maybe land an assignment or two. A couple of those assignments may even lead to ongoing work. The cost to join these sites and start bidding on jobs is minimal, so the only real cost is the time you’ll put into searching through all the requests for bids.

Experts Can Be Choosers

Before you sign up and begin searching for jobs, be aware that if you command a high per-word rate, you must learn to be selective. You’ve probably already discovered how to identify the low payers through their use of terms like, “Great opportunity to build your portfolio” and, “We don’t have a big budget, but we promise plenty of work.” Many of your proposals may be met with complete silence. But if you’re willing to put in the time, you can find clients who will pay your rate.

Finding Your Niche

Many freelancers learn that having a niche allows them to set themselves apart from others. Medical writers can command top dollar, as can those willing to write about science and technology. In the crowdsourcing arena, you’ll likely find that postings for articles and blogs are highly competitive, which means clients can pay ridiculously low rates. However, clients are willing to pay far more for important content, and you’ll discover that you can bid top rates for landing page content, sales copy, and press releases. Focus on these areas and you’ll avoid wasting time bidding on jobs requesting 20 articles about wedding dresses.

Due to the competitive nature of crowdsourcing, many freelancers quickly get frustrated with the work required to successfully bid on jobs. However, when funds are low and jobs are scarce, crowdsourcing can provide a valuable source of income and possibly lead to regular, reasonable-paying, maybe even long-term work.

If you’re ready to get started with crowdsourcing, here are some of the best sites to find writing gigs:

• Elance
• Guru
• Outsource
• PeoplePerHour
• Freelancer

Bio
Stephanie Faris is the Simon & Schuster author of two middle grade novels, 25 Roses and 30 Days of No Gossip, as well as the upcoming Piper Morgan chapter book series. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, she worked in information systems for 13 years. Her work is regularly featured on a wide variety of blogs and websites, both under her own name and as a ghostwriter. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Neil. Visit her at http://www.stephaniefaris.com/.

NEOVERSE SHORT STORY WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.neoglyphic.com/neoverse-writing-competition
NO ENTRY FEE.
Deadline December 20, 2015. 1st prize $2,000. 2nd prize $600. 3rd prize $200. 4th-10th prizes $100. Entries should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. They can be from any literary genre (History, Fantasy, Young Adult, Crime, Science Fiction, etc); however, we exclude and will disqualify entries that are obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, pornographic, racially or ethnically offensive, or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or violate any law.  Entries must be appropriate for reading and viewing by the general public. We welcome all authors from the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec).  



CHRISTOPHER DOHENY AWARD
http://www.centerforfiction.org/awards/the-christopher-doheny-award/christopher-doheny-award-submission-guidelines
NO ENTRY FEE.
The Center for Fiction and Audible, Inc. are pleased to announce that submissions are now being accepted for the third annual Christopher Doheny Award. The award recognizes excellence in fiction or creative nonfiction on the topic of serious, life-threatening physical illness. The winner of the award must demonstrate high literary standards while exploring the impact of illness on the patient, family and friends, and others. With generous support from Audible, Inc. and the Doheny family and friends, the award includes a $10,000 prize and production and promotion of the book in an audio edition, with the option to pursue print publication with the assistance of Audible, Inc. Writers must have previously published in literary journals or magazines, or have published a book with an independent or traditional publisher. Self-publication does not meet this guideline. Deadline December 15. 2015. 



WILLA AWARDS
http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/pdffiles/WWW%202016%20WILLA%20Aplication.pdf
$50 ENTRY FEE.
The WILLA Literary Awards is a nationally recognized award given annually to writers for books featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the West. Women Writing the West, a nonprofit association of writers and other professionals writing and promoting the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the awards. Only books initially published and copyrighted in 2015 (in any form) are eligible. Deadline February 1, 2016. Seven categories. Awards include a plaque and $500 cash awards in each category. Stickers are provided for inclusion on winning books.



2016 PRESS 53 AWARD FOR SHORT FICTION
http://www.Press53.com 
$30 ENTRY FEE.
Awarded to an outstanding, unpublished collection of short stories. Award: $1,000 advance, 1/4-page color ad with author photo in Poets & Writers magazine announcing our winner, and publication of winning short story collection. Submit online with Submittable or by mail from September 1–December 31, 2015. Press 53 founder and Editor-in-chief Kevin Morgan Watson will serve as the only judge. Winner and finalists announced no later than May 1, 2016; advance review copies sent to major reviewers and outlets; publication in October 2016. 

PEARL HOGREFE FELLOWSHIP IN CREATIVE WRITING
http://www.engl.iastate.edu/creative-writing/mfa-program-in-creative-writing-and-environment/
The fellowship offers a talented writer one academic year to study creative writing full time at Iowa State University and focus on his/her creative work without distraction. The fellowship is granted for a nine-month academic year and currently carries a stipend of $1,800 per month ($16,200 total), in addition to full payment of university tuition and fees during the fellowship year. Applicants to the Hogrefe Fellowship may major in any discipline at Iowa State University. However, the Fellowship is designed for students interested in studying creative writing in the MFA Program in Creative Writing and Environment. Hogrefe Fellows are required to maintain full-time graduate status and take a minimum of six semester credits of graduate work in Creative Writing during the fellowship year. Fellowship support is contingent upon the student maintaining satisfactory grades. Deadline January 5, 2016.



WOODCOCK FUND
http://www.writerstrust.com/Programs/Financial-Grant/Woodcock-Fund/Program-Guidelines.aspx
The Woodcock Fund is a quick-access emergency resource that aids established Canadian writers who face an unforeseen financial crisis. Help is given to writers in many different situations providing them momentary relief, a period of financial stability, and the opportunity to complete their current writing projects. It is the only program of its kind available to writers in Canada, and is often the last place authors can turn for help.



HISTORIC JOY KOGAWA HOUSE
http://kogawahouse.com
Administered by volunteers involved with the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society and the Land Conservancy of British Columbia, this residency is available to writers in the early stage of a book project. Applicants must have published two books and have previous teaching and public speaking experience. Writers are expected to devote 40 percent of their time to public engagement. Residents receive a $2,500 per month stipend and typically stay at the house for three months. The residency is open between September and March. 



AL PURDY'S A-FRAME
http://www.alpurdy.ca
The Al Purdy A-frame Association offers writers the opportunity to live and work in a space and place of inspirational literary and historic significance and resonance. Residencies range from one to three months with writers receiving a $2,500 per month stipend. Travel is also provided. Applications from writers at all stages of their career are accepted, with strong consideration given to writers in the early stages of their careers. Location Ontario, Canada. 
 

COSMOPOLITAN
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=P%2bTI3UALB1rlCBgvlYElag%3d%3d
Send us an essay of no more than 800 words about a memorable, crazy, hilarious, or touching college experience. Stories about friends, class, dating, partying, studying, working, interning — anything that happened to you or around you in college is fair game. (Or: Tell us why you didn't go to college, why college is bullshit, what you're doing instead... ) If we publish your essay on Cosmopolitan.com, we'll pay you $100 — and hit you up for future assignments.



THE ESTABLISHMENT
http://www.theestablishment.co/pitchus/
The Establishment is looking to unearth overlooked stories, produce original reporting, and provide a platform for voices that have been marginalized by the mainstream media. And yes, we want your humor, wit, and good old-fashioned satire, too. We publish originally reported features, interviews, long-form journalism, personal essays, and multimedia of all shapes, sizes, and creeds. We pay $125 for features (800-1,500 words) and $500 for long-form (3,000 words). 



EVERYDAY FEMINISM
http://everydayfeminism.com/get-involved/apply-contributing-writer/
Everyday Feminism is seeking Contributing Writers who have a strong intersectional feminist analysis and excellent writing skills for online readers. To achieve this, our articles are written in a down-to-earth, emotionally reflective, and easy-to-read style and are normally 1,500-1,700 words long. $75 payment per post and additional bonus for high traffic posts. The Modern Love column pays up to $300.



GUIDEPOSTS
https://www.guideposts.org/writers-guidelines
Guideposts publishes true stories about people who have attained a goal, surmounted an obstacle or learned a helpful lesson through their faith. A typical story is a first-person narrative with a spiritual point that the reader can apply to his or her own life. The story may be your own or someone else’s. Payment for full-length stories (about 1,500 words) is made when the story is accepted for publication. Pays up to $250.

JOFFE BOOKS
http://www.joffebooks.com/submissions/
Mysteries, Romance, Thrillers, Detective, Suspense, are favourite genres. Great books which say something interesting about the world as you see it. We want full-length fiction. 



TYRUS BOOKS
http://www.tyrusbooks.com/submissions
Tyrus Books publishes about a dozen books per year in the crime and literary genres. Our books get award consideration and are reviewed in major trade and consumer publications. We’ve established a pretty good reputation for publishing exceptional books. We aim to keep that reputation.



ABDO
http://abdopublishing.com/connect/submissions-and-employment
Children's book publisher, specializing in educational books and products. Focuses on ages four to twelve. They publish series, preferably. 



ABSEY & CO.
http://www.absey.biz/submission.php
We accept mainstream fiction and nonfiction, poetry, educational books, especially those dealing in language arts. 

140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4 Chapin, SC 29036