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January 15, 9 a.m. MST

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• Name 2-3 writing goals that are on your radar for 2022
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• Walk away with a step-by-step writing plan for 2022!

Your host: Kate Meadows, author, writing coach & speaker

With an MFA in Professional Writing, Kate aims in all of her work to connect people through story and expression. She is passionate about helping her clients and students communicate effectively through story. Her track record proves her expertise: she has published work in Poets & Writers, Writer’s Digest, Chicken Soup for the Soul and elsewhere, and has published two books. She leads writers groups and writing workshops, and has earned the trust of numerous writers and clients who seek direction and honest, respectful feedback on their works in progress.

Learn more about Kate’s services at www.katemeadows.com.

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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

ARE YOU WORKING ON A BOOK?

That question comes to me at every event I appear at. Especially once a book comes out, like of late with the release of Murdered in Craven and Burned in Craven. The non-writer thinks that I finished the latest book just a week or two ago, and then someone put it on Amazon for me, sending me copies to sell on the side. I never make fun of their logic, but I do like to clarify.

When a book is released, I'm usually finishing up writing another. That surprises so many. In this case, I already sent the next Edisto book to the publisher, and have cracked the wrapper on the next one, having written a couple thousand words of the story. 

Usually it's only then that they realize that I do this for a living. 

This isn't about writing when some fictitious muse hits. It's about writing everyday. I know I preach that ad nauseum, but whenever I'm interviewed and asked, "What advice do you have for new writers?" . . . I always say the same thing. Write every day. Show up to work. 

Of course I'm working on a book. I'm always working on a book. I have three books in my head now for down the road. It's what writers do in order to remain employed. It's what writers do to remain relevant to readers. 

But where do you get your ideas? The news, a seedling of a story from what someone experienced, a WHAT-IF question that pops into my head that spins into a tale, or maybe my own experience. All it takes is a spark, then you spin and spin and spin . . . like you've wound up your character then set them down and let them loose. 

But the conclusion to all of this is that I love writing and I love my worlds I've built. But to preserve them, to keep them alive, I have to write every day. It might be an outline, it might be taking copious notes about a thought or scene, or it might be an entire first draft of a chapter . . . but I sit in the chair and show up to work. 

Am I working on a book now? Yes, and always will be until I can't. And yes, anyone can do it. The diligence is what pays. Everything else . . . the imagination, the word count, the spin . . . takes place so much easier if you give it the momentum of writing daily. Those wheels  have to remain greased to work best.

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Featured article

The Joy of Writing Local

By Christina Nifong
 
I have been a newspaper and magazine feature writer for decades. I've worked from big cities and smaller markets, both in the U.S. and in Europe. I have (on occasion) spoken on national TV about the stories I've written and had my pieces picked up by wire services and reprinted across the country. I'm here to share a secret with you: Sometimes the smallish, regional publication in your backyard is the best gig there is.
 
Here's why:
 
They are accessible.
 
Depending on where you live and what your experience level is, writing for your area's independently published magazine — some examples: the Washingtonian (Washington, DC), Central California Life magazine (Fresno, CA), PineStraw Magazine (Southern Pines, NC), dsm (Des Moines, Iowa)  — will not be the same heavy lift as getting a byline in, say, The New York Times or The Atlantic Magazine.
 
Start by subscribing to your local magazine and spend some time on its website. You'll get to know the types of stories your publication writes and who the editors are. The website likely has submission guidelines that will walk you through how to pitch a story idea to an editor. At a smaller publication, the competition will be less fierce and an editor will likely respond to your emails. Even if at first you get a rejection, over time you could land on an idea too good for them to turn down. 
 
They can open doors to other writing opportunities.
 
I live in Roanoke, Va., a city of about 100,000 in Southwest Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail. Even though I reside hours away from commuter rail and skyscrapers, my little city has had a local magazine (The Roanoker) for 47 years straight. It's owned by a media company that also publishes a regional magazine, a wedding publication, a retirement guide, a newcomer's guide and the state's travel guide. Each of these publications needs stories. It's definitely easier to find your way to these paid writing gigs if you're already working within the system.
 
They pay surprisingly well.
 
I can't speak to every publication and you will certainly not get rich from magazine freelance writing, but most local magazines have advertisers and paid subscribers and a model that values writers. My magazine features earn more than my newspaper freelance stories and more than my online writing. The website and Twitter account Who Pays Writers can be a helpful way to see what your publication pays or what a comparable publication is paying in another locality.
 
They provide room for you to grow as a writer.
 
Because the stakes are lower, you'll have more opportunities to try different kinds of writing, more ambitious writing, writing about new subjects. Some of my earliest personal essays were published in The Roanoker magazine, after a career focused on reported stories. My local magazine regularly prints features written by nonfiction and fiction book authors who are rounding out their writing portfolios with freelance pieces. Writing gurus often advise that freelancers develop a niche and become experts. Writing for a local magazine gives you space to write all kinds of stories until you find topics you feel passionate about.
 
One other perk: Once you've written for your hometown magazine, you'll be better suited to write for other regional publications — even if you don't live where they are published. Perhaps someone newsworthy in your city has ties to another place. Or maybe you recently visited somewhere with a strong local magazine. After a little research, you think you might have a story this publication's readers would enjoy. Pitch away. You have writing samples now to include in your email.
 
So, don't discount the magazine right outside your door. It might be just the publication you need, no matter what kind of writing you've done so far.
 
BIO: Christina Nifong is a freelance journalist and personal essayist from Roanoke, Va. Find more of what she writes and sign up for her email newsletter, Nourishing Stories, at christinanifong.com.




 

COmpetitions

STRINGYBARK SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://www.stringybarkstories.net/
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 13, 2022. This is our flagship open-themed award. The only condition is that there must be some reference to Australia. The story could be set in Australia or have an Australian in it. The story must be 1,500 words or fewer in length; have a link to Australia in it; and written for an audience aged 16 and above. Prizes are A$350, A$250, A$125, and some highly recommended. Prizes include publication, copies of the anthologies and more. 



ROSE POST CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
https://www.ncwriters.org/index.php/network-news/3571-rose-post
$10-$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 15, 2022. The Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition, sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network, encourages the creation of lasting nonfiction that is outside the realm of conventional journalism and has relevance to North Carolinians. Subjects may include traditional categories such as reviews, travel articles, profiles or interviews, place/history pieces, or culture criticism. The first-, second-, and third-place winners will receive $1,000, $300, and $200 respectively. The winning entry will be considered for publication by Ecotone. The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network.



THE GRAVITY AWARD
http://www.centerfieldofgravity.com/2021/09/04/center-field-of-gravitys-third-annual-gravity-award-announcement-and-guidelines/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2021. The author of the winning story will be awarded $200. We will be accepting previously unpublished science-fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories or long-form poems up to but not exceeding 17,000 words. Please limit submissions to one per person. After the winning story is chosen, the runners-up will each receive a $25 consolation prize.



NATAN NOTABLE BOOKS PRIZE FOR JEWISH THEMES
https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/awards/natan-notable-books
NO ENTRY FEE. Natan Notable Books is a twice-yearly award for nonfiction books on Jewish themes. Natan Notable Books highlights vital books and authors, and brings innovative and important ideas to the attention of diverse audiences. Natan Notable Book win­ners receive a Natan Notable Book seal and $5,000 for the author, marketing/​distribution coaching and promotion from Jew­ish Book Council and Natan, and customized support designed to bring the book and the author to new audiences. The submissions for the Spring 2022 award will be open until April 1, 2022 for nonfiction books published for the first time between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022.

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

 

COVE PARK RESIDENCIES
https://covepark.org/residencies-overview/
Deadline December 20, 2021. Our annual open call for applications is now live and we welcome submissions from all national and international artists, cultural practitioners and researchers working individually and collaboratively in all art forms, in the creative industries and across disciplines. This call is for residencies taking place in 2022/2023. Residents receive a fee, private and self-catering accommodation, workspace and, if required, a studio. All artists have 24-hour access to Cove Park’s Artists Centre and its communal spaces, kitchen and library. The bespoke and award-winning spaces we provide for residents and visitors to live, meet and work in, are located on an outstanding site overlooking Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde, just one hour from Glasgow, on Scotland’s west coast. (Thanks www.erikadreifus.com)



CREATIVE AGING TEACHER ARTIST TRAINING APPLICATIONS
https://tnartscommission.org/news/creative-aging-teaching-artist-training-applications-now-open/
Deadline January 14, 2022. The Tennessee Arts Commission and Lifetime Arts, national leaders in creative aging program development and training, will offer state-wide, professional development training in Tennessee to assist individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations in curriculum design, sequential learning methods, and sustainable program models related to teaching older adults in arts programming.



GEORGIA POET LAUREATE
https://gaarts.org/what-we-do/programs/literary-arts/poet-laureates-prize/
Deadline February 25, 2022. The call for entries for the 2022 Poet Laureate's Prize is now open. Entries should be submitted to [email protected]. A winner and four finalists will be selected by the Poet Laureate and announced in the spring of 2022. The winning poet and finalists will be recognized by Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Poet Laureate in the spring. The winning and finalist poems will be published by Atlanta Magazine at atlantamagazine.com. 
 
  

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

ALLURE
https://www.allure.com/contact
Pays up to $3,000 for personal narrative essays up to 2,000 words, assuming you're already published in book form. Other narrative essays are considered at $250 to $500. "Allure is the beauty expert, an insiders' guide to a woman's total image. Allure's mission is to investigate and celebrate beauty and fashion with objectivity and candor and to examine appearance in a larger cultural context."



MARIE CLAIRE
https://www.marieclaire.com/about/news/a2709/contact-us/
"Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. We're known for our award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages." Personal essays can pay up to $2 per word. 



SELF
https://www.self.com/contact-us
A women's magazine about fitness, food, health or culture that pays up to $700 for 2,000-word essays.



VOX
https://www.vox.com/pages/how-to-pitch-vox-pitching-guidelines
"Vox is a general interest publication that helps our audience understand the world around them. We cover a wide range of subjects — from policy and politics to culture and tech to science and health — with clarity and depth, curiosity and generosity. We’re actively seeking contributors to our Best Money I’ve Ever Spent essay series, where writers explain what purchases have brought them the most value. We’re also on the lookout for smart, reported stories about the things we buy and the way we present ourselves. The Highlight is Vox’s features section, exploring a wide range of topics with in-depth reporting, character-driven accounts, and colorful writing. We’re in search of pitches for deeply sourced narrative longform that uncovers untold stories, as well as for 2,000- to 3,000-word zeitgeist-y pieces that smartly capture how we live now. We’re seeking pitches for our Future of Meat coverage, where we examine the consequences of industrialized meat production and the policy, advocacy, and business solutions to address it. Our Down to Earth initiative is looking for future-forward pitches on the science, politics, and economics of the global biodiversity crisis." Expect pay around $500.



CHICKEN SOUP - CRAZY, ECENTRIC, WACKY, LOVABLE, FUN FAMILIES
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline April 30, 2022. We all have them! Those eccentric, goofy, wacky, lovable, and oh-so-fun family members — the ones we tell all the stories about. They could be a parent or grandparent, an in-law, a brother or sister, an aunt, uncle or cousin. Or grown children. Share your true stories and poems about those family members. With love and appreciation, please. No mean-spirited stories wanted. Limit 1,200 words, first-person only. Pays $200 and ten copies. 



COLORADO NEWSLINE
https://coloradonewsline.com/about/
Colorado Newsline provides fair and accurate reporting on politics, policy and other stories of interest to Coloradans. Newsline is based in Denver, and coverage of activities at the Capitol are central to its mission, but its reporters are devoted to providing reliable information about topics that concern readers in all parts of the state, from Lamar to Dinosaur, from Durango to Sterling. Pitch Quentin Young, Editor at [email protected]. Pays $100-$600, from quick turnarounds to more deeply reported work. We'll negotiate competitive pay.



SCOTT'S CHEAP FLIGHTS
https://scottscheapflights.com
Query Katie Hammel, Content Marketing Manager at [email protected]. Pays $200-$500 flat rate. Seeking those who know a destination very well and want to cover it for our newsletter. Also seeks experts in a particular airline, or a true miles expert who knows business/first class like the back of your hand. 



GAIALI
https://www.gaiali.com/
Gaiali is your daily fix of general knowledge, conveniently packaged in short audio stories. Our stories are so gripping you won’t want to stop listening. And in just 10 minutes a day you’ll get smarter, one story at a time. You won’t even notice you’re learning. Entry-level U.S. pay of $200 per script (1,000 – 1,200 words) plus $40/hour for playlist and collection mapping (hours vary according to playlist). Successful work over time can lead to higher rates for star performers. Specialized knowledge in aspects of at least one of the following: History (U.S., U.K./Europe, World); Art; Music (Classical and Popular); Literature (U.S. and World); Nature (including environment); Innovations (Technological progress for good and ill); Philosophy; Belief Systems (World Religions, Ancient and Modern Mythology); Politics; Architecture; Economics.
Advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in one of these or a related field strongly preferred. Native English speakers only. Send your résumé, a short cover letter saying why the project appeals to you, and 1-2 writing samples to [email protected]. Writing samples should demonstrate your ability to write in both dramatic and informative styles.



FAST COMPANY
https://www.fastcompany.com/about-us
Fast Company is the world’s leading business media brand, with an editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, world changing ideas, creativity, and design. Written for and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company inspires readers to think expansively, lead with purpose, embrace change, and shape the future of business. Pays $300 per article and up. Submit to Aimee Rawlins, Editor, at [email protected]



TRIPSAVVY
https://www.tripsavvy.com/about-us-4777100
TripSavvy is looking for experienced outdoor gear writers to test and review outdoor/adventure-focused gear. Rates range from $150-650 per assignment. If interested, email an intro to [email protected] with "Outdoor Gear Writer" in the subject line. No pitches, please.



TALKING POVERTY
https://talkpoverty.org/submissions/
TalkPoverty.org — a project of the Center for American Progress — is dedicated to covering poverty in America by lifting up the voices of advocates, policymakers, and people struggling to make ends meet. We are seeking original content — no reprints or book excerpts — 750-1,000 words. Pays $250-$500.



3VIEWS THEATER
https://3viewstheater.com/contact-us
Pitch to [email protected] with subject "Reflection submission." We welcome reflections, rants, elegies, interviews, poems, prayers, and play excerpts in response to current events, past resonances, and works of art. Pays $300 for 600-800 words (though limits are suggestions, there are no requirements) and responses can come in any format: audio, visual, written, etc.



LAIST
https://laist.com/news/food/laist-freelance-food-writers-how-to-pitch
LAist's food coverage is to explore the ways food connects us — to one another, to our communities, to ourselves. I love using food as a lens to dive into deeper issues. These include culture, history, immigration, family, geography, sustainability… anything, really. Pays $300-$500 for a reported story. Sometimes more. Sometimes less (like for personal essays).



CATSCAST
https://escapeartists.net/catscast/catscast-submission-guidelines/
Deadline February 1, 2022. Specifically, we’re looking for speculative fiction stories about cats. “Cats” in this context are, well, cats — but since this is a speculative fiction podcast, they don’t have to be exactly the same species as the housecats we have here on Earth. The stories should have happy, or at least hopeful, endings for all featured cats. Humor is strongly encouraged but not required. Story length: 6000 word maximum, no minimum. We pay $0.08 per word USD for original fiction, $100 flat rate for reprints over 1,500 words, and $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories below 1,500 words).



INTO THE FOREST (A WOMEN-IN-HORROR ANTHOLOGY)
https://blackspotbooks.submittable.com/submit/
Deadline December 31, 2021. Deep in the dark forest, in a cottage that moves through the forest on birds’ legs behind a fence topped with human skulls, lives the baba yaga. A guardian of the water of life, she lives with her sisters and takes to the skies in a giant mortar and pestle, creating tempests as she goes. Those who come across the baba yaga may find help, or hinderance, or horror. She is wild, she is woman, she is witch—and these are her tales. We are looking for stories inspired by and featuring the BABA YAGA. All writers who identify as women are welcome to submit. Length 1,000 to 5,000 words. Pays six cents/word.



ADI MAGAZINE
https://adimagazine.com/open-call-political-fictions/
Deadline January 15, 2022. Adi is seeking new short fiction for their winter 2022 issue. Looking for short stories that examine lives impacted by policy and politics. This should be interpreted expansively and imaginatively. Please familiarize yourself with the range and spirit of our archives; Adi tends toward creative, experimental approaches to political writing, with a particular focus on those on the margins and in the global south. For full-length stories, 2,500 words or more, payment is $500. For flash fiction, under 1,000 words, payment is $200.



THE REINVENTED DETECTIVE
https://www.arcmanorbooks.com/thereinventedanthology
Deadline January 15, 2022. As we move forward into the age of information, what happens to our ideas of detection and crime? How do you handle it when your smart car blackmails you or you need to murder the downloaded personality of your enemy? What acts to enforce society's norms and catch those violating them in the future? Will our definitions of crime — or punishment — change, and what new forms of either might appear? Length: 1500-5000 words (5k is going to be a tough sell). Pays eight cents/word. 

 

Publishers/agents

BERKLEY
https://sites.prh.com/berkley-open-submission-program
At Berkley, we strive to publish commercial fiction that reflects the world we live in and to bring readers stories that encompass a full range of backgrounds, experiences and unique perspectives. We are looking for full-length adult novels in the following genres: romance, women’s fiction, mystery, suspense and thrillers, horror, science fiction, and fantasy.
 

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