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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

YOUR FIRST BOOK MAY NOT BE THE ONE TO PUBLISH

The point is to learn how to write anything book-length, and the first one you write, actually reaching THE END, may need to be your trial run. You really need to see if you can do this first, and that book, with all its warts and scabs, could show more of your flaws that you care to reveal.

Most successful writers have a novel that didn't get published.

"I wrote two books with this poet character, neither of which was published, but the important thing is it taught me I could write a book. Maybe not a publishable book, but a book with a beginning, middle, and end. ...I (learned I) love being in the middle of novel and knowing where I’m going next. Taking that long path."

~Peter Swanson, the Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author of eight novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and his most recent, Nine Lives.

Peter Swanson, in an interview with CrimeReads.com (https://crimereads.com/shop-talk-peter-swanson-on-why-hell-never-outline-a-mystery-novel-again/), now can write for a living. His first two novels, mysteries about a poet, landed him an agent then a publisher. Then both quit their jobs and left him with nothing. He couldn't find another home for the stories.

So then he wrote a thriller. It couldn't sell. So he backed off and wrote a novella, which got picked up by an ezine, in which an agent saw it and asked if he could turn it into a novel. And that's what sold as his first book. 

I wrote Lowcountry Bribe ten years before it was published, only as a memoir. Then as a murder mystery in third person. It would not sell. I threw it away and wrote it from scratch, again in third person, then when it couldn't pass muster in a critique group, I threw it away and rewrote it in first person. That book was written four times as a totally different entity...different plot, different genre, different characters. My first book didn't need to be published. Neither did the second and third versions of it.

But it took all of that writing and all of those versions to find my voice and learn how a book is supposed to be written.

Just because you finish a book doesn't mean it was meant to be released into the world. Sometimes those early books are your journey toward the one that matters. Think hard before publishing prematurely or you could ruin your reputation and a chance at that future masterpiece. Once published, it's out there forever.

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Featured article

One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

By Ann Mason

“Sorry, but we’re in crisis mode over here. Everything nonessential is getting cut. But call us when this COVID thing is over.” 

Just like that, my two-year university contract doing international education strategy development vanished. Worse still, my consulting business appeared to be sliding straight toward a cliff. Higher education was on the skids, and my source of income had flatlined.

Could I wait this out, or was it time to cut bait? In March 2020, no one knew how things would play out. What I did know is that I was 62 with no evident skill set that I could, in a pinch, or a pandemic, leverage to generate revenue. My background included a PhD in political science and a lackluster academic career that I had left 15 years earlier to run an educational foundation, which I then parlayed into consulting work in international education. But with existing gigs evaporating and universities concerned for their survival, the prospect of hustling new clients looked bleak, not to mention exhausting.

It was time to move on. I just needed to find a talent that I could monetize, was good at, could do anywhere, and was in demand. Being late in life to cook up something new, the next venture had to be somewhere in my bag of tricks. No pressure at all.

Growing up, I had always wanted to be a writer and, although I hadn’t pursued it explicitly, realized I had actually been writing my entire professional life. The bulk of this writing experience had been academic, so I decided scholarly editing was the most feasible opening move in my new life plan.  

The booming academic editing market was eye-opening. An estimated two million scientific articles are published yearly in English-language journals by academics around the world, the majority of whom are nonnative English speakers. Including books, doctoral dissertations, grant proposals, and research reports, the number of manuscripts that require expert editing is staggering.

Needs range from developmental editing to copyediting to proofreading as scholars seek to enhance readability and the odds of being published in a top-ranked journal. I got my foot in the door with a few small providers and spent the first six months learning the arcana of the comma and the en dash and the idiosyncrasies of APA, MLA and Chicago styles. I considered this first stage an apprenticeship of sorts. I wasn’t getting paid much, but I was learning a craft and upskilling. And I liked editing; it was like solving puzzles.

As I got the hang of it, I improved the quality of my work, increased my volume and speed, and grew my income. I also learned my way around the field, which essentially comprises three types of organizations: academic publishing groups (e.g., Elsevier and Wiley) that typically contract editing firms directly; editing companies (e.g., Editage , Edanz, and AJE) that have massive volumes of work and require an editing test; and brokers (e.g., Editor World) that facilitate editor-client transactions. Member associations such as The Society for Editing and Editorial Freelancers Association also have job boards and other resources. Today, I work as a freelancer with five editing firms in the U.S., India and Israel. Editing may not be God’s work, but I have helped over 1,200 people from 30+ countries publish their research. That’s gratifying. It’s also gratifying that I now fully support myself through editing.

Most importantly, editing has become a gateway to my own writing. The ideas and creativity of the manuscripts I read — from theories of aesthetics to sustainable development goals to the future of AI — are a constant source of inspiration. With a secure income stream from editing, I have the freedom to explore the world of paid freelance and literary writing. A dream came true, with a twist. I am making a living with my words and those of other people.
 
Bio Brief:
After careers in academia and international education as a political science professor, director of the U.S.-Colombia Fulbright Commission and founder of her own consulting firm, Ann Mason has recently crossed the Rubicon into the world of academic copy editing and writing. She is developing her writing chops as a member of the Burlington, VT Writers Workshop and has recently published her first creative nonfiction piece in the Green Mountain Writers Group Literary Review. https://greenmountainwriters.com/tarot/o-fortuna/


 

COmpetitions

BALLARD SPAHR PRIZE FOR POETRY
https://milkweed.org/ballard-spahr-prize-for-poetry
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 15, 2022. The Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry supports outstanding poets from the upper Midwest and brings their work to a national stage. This prize awards $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions to a poet residing in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Michigan. Selected from a small number of finalists by an independent judge, the prizewinning poet will also receive a standard royalty contract, national distribution, and a comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign.



HIPPOCRATES PRIZE FOR POETRY AND MEDICINE
http://hippocrates-poetry.org/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 14, 2022. The Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine is an annual international award for an unpublished poem on a medical subject for poets from anywhere in the world. The Hippocrates Prize is in three categories. The Open category is for entries from anywhere in the world. The Health Professional category is for health professionals (health service staff or students, clinicians or academics) from anywhere in the world. And there is a youth category with a March 1 deadline. In the first two categories, first prize £1000, second prize £500, third prize £250, and up to 20 commendations. The Youth Prize is £500.



OMNIDAWN FIRST/SECOND POETRY BOOK CONTEST
http://omnidawn.com/contest/poetry-contests.htm
$27 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 14, 2022. Winner receives $3,000. There are no citizenship requirements or limitations. This contest is open to writers worldwide who have either never published a full-length book of poetry, or who have published only one full-length book of poetry, so that the winning book would become a poet's first or second published full-length book of poetry. We recommend submissions should be 40–120 pages of poetry, not including front and back matter.



NEW AMERICAN POETRY PRIZE
https://newamericanpress.com/2022-new-american-poetry-prize/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 14, 2022. The winning manuscript will be published and its author will receive $1500, 25 copies, and promotional support. Manuscripts should be at least 48 pages, but there is no maximum length. All forms and styles of poetry are welcome.



FURIOUS FLOWER POETRY PRIZE
https://www.jmu.edu/furiousflower/poetryprize/index.shtml
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 15, 2022. The prize is open to poets who have published no more than one collection of poetry (excluding self-published collections and chapbooks). Submissions should include a group of three unpublished poems, not to exceed six pages, and should somehow reflect the mission of Furious Flower Poetry Center. Winning poet receives $1,000 and honorable mention receives $500. 



BLACK FINANCE ESSAY CONTEST BY HEALTHY RICH
https://healthyrich.co/writing-contest 
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 15, 2021. How has your identity as a Black person affected your career, jobs and/or your relationship with money? Submit your personal essay of 500–2,000 words on the theme of "Black Finance" to share your stories, experience and perspective. Open to all Black writers, regardless of previous experience or publication. One 1st-place, one 2nd-place, one 3rd-place and up to two runners up will be published, get a mentor session and lifetime membership in our community of contributors. First place cash prize: $250. Second place: $150. Third place: $75. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

 

NEVADA PROJECT GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
https://www.nvartscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/FY23-PROJECT-GRANT-FOR-ARTISTS-Guidelines-Final.pdf
Deadline May 6, 2022. The PGA is awarded twice a year for projects that take place during a specified six-month period. Grant amount up to $3,000. Must be a current Nevada resident and have been in residence for at least one year prior to the date of the grant application. Must be a U.S. citizen or have legal resident status. Must be at least 21 years old. Must not be enrolled as degree-seeking student. 



GOODHART ARTIST RESIDENCY
https://goodhartartistresidency.org/
The call for writers and composers is now open, and it will close on February 16, 2022, for fall 2022 and winter 2023 residencies. The number of writer applications will be limited to 40, and will likely close before the February 16 deadline. Writers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Good Hart is a very small town located on M-119, a scenic heritage route referred to as the Tunnel of Trees, in Northern Michigan. The area’s natural beauty includes the Lake Michigan shoreline, inland lakes, and coastal dunes and wetlands. 



DELAWARE ARTS GRANTS PANELISTS NEEDED
https://smartde.smartsimple.com/ex/ex_Apppage.jsp?token=HAoITBIGZV1YQhZeQw%3D%3D
The Delaware Division of the Arts engages Delaware citizens to review and make recommendations on grant applications for state funding of the arts. The Division selects panelists based on their knowledge and experience in the arts, in business and nonprofit management, and in their community. To be considered for service, you may nominate yourself or someone else. Nominations are accepted year round; the next panel review meetings take place in early May 2022.



THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS LITERATURE FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.ncarts.org/national-endowment-arts-literature-fellowships
Deadline March 10, 2022. The National Endowment for the Arts invites poetry writers to apply for their Creative Writing Fellowship, which offers $25,000 grants that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. 
  

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

TOM DOHERY ASSOCIATES (PART OF MACMILLAN PUBLISHING)
https://us.macmillan.com/tomdohertyassociates/about/faq/
Tom Doherty Associates, LLC hires a limited number of freelance copyeditors and proofreaders. To apply, please mail a resume to Managing Editor, Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, and 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.



WIRED
https://www.wired.com/about/how-to-pitch-stories-to-wired/
WIRED is a publication about change—about the ways science and technology are reshaping the world and what it means to be human. While the subjects of WIRED stories run the gamut from deep dives into the biggest tech companies to Hindu extremism to digital blackface to space food to true crime, every story has technology, science, or innovation as one of its key variables. There are two main areas where we assign stories to contributors from outside our staff: features and essays (for our Ideas section). We also assign a smaller number of freelance stories for our business, science, and service sections. Features start at $2,500. Rates for shorter, online-only news stories start at $250 depending on length and reporting. Send your ideas for ambitious, thought-provoking, forward-thinking, incisive, funny, inspiring stories about the science and technology (and people!) shaping our world to email [email protected]. 



VERYWELL HEALTH
https://www.dotdash.com/careers/?p=job%2Fogv0cfwH
Verywell Health, one of the largest health information sites on the internet, is looking for new writers. 
Rates start at $125 per article. Verywell Health is a disease, condition, and treatment-specific site. We’re looking specifically for writers who have a health or medical background, proven by credentials (e.g. PharmD, LPN, RN, MPH), are medical journalists with proven experience writing for a consumer audience, and/or have experience and are comfortable covering public health issues. You must be authorized to work in the US. We are actively recruiting PharmD writers to cover pharmaceutical drugs.



DOTDASH MEREDITH SEEKING NUMEROUS FREELANCE/CONTRACT POSITIONS
https://www.dotdash.com/careers/?p=search%3Fc%3DContract%2B%252F%2BFreelance%26p%3D0
Jobs range from fact checkers and beauty content editors to food writers and pop culture writers, and many other genres/topics/subject matters in between. 



TEXAS MONTHLY
https://www.texasmonthly.com/about/story-submissions/
Texas Monthly’s website and print magazine are home to original, deeply reported stories that illuminate every aspect of Texas life. Every story we publish has a strong Texas focus and/or features Texans at the center. We’re looking for well-researched stories of varying lengths, visual stories, essays, and thoughtful commentary, analysis, and reportage. We love to tell stories through interesting characters. Our favorite topics include Texas politics and policy, business and entrepreneurship, the environment, energy, criminal justice, immigration, education, and race. They also include travel; fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities; food and drink; and arts and culture. We value great storytelling, humor, vivid characters, context, and perspective. Typically pays 50 cents/word for web and $1/word for print. 



AMERICA, THE JESUIT REVIEW
https://www.americamagazine.org/submissions
America Media accepts select unsolicited, unpublished content for dissemination in print, web and/or other digital formats. What kind of content is America looking for? Pitches for feature-length reported pieces, essays and analysis. Feature-length pieces should be approved as a pitch and discussed with editors before a full manuscript is prepared and submitted. “Faith in Focus” essays starting from personal faith experience. “Short Take” opinion essays. Short poems of 40 or fewer lines. Payment 25 cents/word and up.



GUIDEPOSTS
https://www.guideposts.org/tell-us-your-story
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. Payment for full-length stories (about 1,500 words) is made when the story is accepted for publication. Please do not send essays, sermons or fiction. We almost never use poetry and do not evaluate book-length material. Pays $100 to $500 estimated rates. 



RELEVANT
https://www.relevantmagazine.com/write/
RELEVANT covers faith, culture and intentional living. Our readership is culturally savvy, mainly Christian 20- and 30-somethings who are looking for purpose, depth and spiritual truth. Pays up to $400. Current is our Op Ed section covering national and global issues, including politics. We want timely, thoughtful commentary on the issues that matter to our audience. Faith explores spiritual topics (spiritual disciplines, relationship with God, others and the Church, worship). Life covers just that: life (relationships, career, finance, travel, psychology and ethics/morality). Culture talks about what’s new and noteworthy in culture—trends, fashion, film, TV, arts and music. Justice talks about social justice from a whole-life perspective—sustainable change, sacrificial living, spiritual impact.



THE KEN
https://the-ken.com/write-for-us/
The Ken publishes one story a day. We’re looking for original, analytical and skilfully-narrated pieces-we’re big on granularity, on data and on extensive reporting. We welcome contributors from journalists, subject matter experts, and anyone who has a good story to tell. In terms of subject matter, we’ve been sharply focussed on select sectors-technology (spanning fintech, Big Tech, SaaS, and telecom), startups (EVs, food tech, etc), science, healthcare, retail, and education across India and Southeast Asia. And how policy shapes these sectors. Our preferred story length is 1,500-2,200 words. Pays about 25 cents/word.



QUICKBOOKS
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/desktop/enterprise/
QuickBooks Enterprise is looking for experienced freelance content writers for its QuickBooks Resource Center. Assignments will be a mix of blog post refreshes (billed @ $50/hr) and new blog posts (billed @ $400 per article). Previous experience writing about enterprise-level software, accounting, or general business topics preferred. Contact [email protected]

 

Publishers/agents

JOFFE BOOKS
https://www.joffebooks.com/submissions/
Joffe Books is one of the UK’s leading independent publishers of excellent commercial fiction, especially crime and mystery fiction. We are renowned for working closely with authors from across the world to create fantastic books and turning them into bestsellers.



TORCHFLAME BOOKS
https://www.torchflamebooks.com/publish/submissions
We provide three different publishing models, Light Messages Traditional Publishing, Torchflame Hybrid Publishing, and Author Publishing. Our publishing standards, quality of the books, and their availability to retailers are the same, regardless of the path to publication. The main difference lies in roles, responsibilities, and the revenue model. We publish works of fiction and non-fiction in most genres. We do not publish books containing erotica or paranormal themes, those which advocate hatred, sexual or other exploitation, libelous material, or plagiarized text.



LOVESWEPT + FLIRT
http://www.randomhousebooks.com/loveswept-flirt/#becomeauthor
Loveswept and Flirt are Random House’s digital-only imprints focused on romance and women’s fiction titles.



NCM PUBLISHING
http://www.ncmpublishing.com/submissions.html
Our editors are seeking tasteful provocative, intelligent fiction manuscripts in the areas of sexuality and erotica, romance, urban and street, science fiction, Christian fiction, and general interest, as well as nonfiction, and lively stories of all genres of fiction for the general population between the ages of 18 and older (as well as Young Adult fiction).  A novel must be well written, and professionally edited, in order to find a place on the list. The editors prefer to see completed manuscripts. Query letters are accepted.



PANTS ON FIRE PRESS
https://pantsonfirepress.com/submissions/
We are acquiring Middle-Grade, Young Adult and Fiction for adults. We are looking for strong writers who are excited about marketing their stories and building a following of readers. 



STONE PIER PRESS
https://stonepierpress.org/submissions
We're looking for good books about good food. Books that inspire support for climate-friendly, agriculturally sustainable, and good-for-us eating. We tilt toward stories that feature solutions and problem-solvers. Our focus is on helping people make sounder choices around the way we grow, eat, and dispose of food. We are accepting books in the following categories: narrative nonfiction, memoirs, guidebooks, biographies, young adult fiction, and literary fiction. We will consider cookbooks as well.

 

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C. Hope Clark
E-mail: [email protected]
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
http://www.fundsforwriters.com

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ISSN: 1533-1326

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