Message from Hope
When people start falling in love with your protagonist, and start thinking of her as a real person, you have to feel grand as an author.
In one case this week a gentleman stated his daughter got sick while they were at Edisto Beach. The police department had three officers there (i.e., a calm night on the beach), and the gentleman saw a female officer come in and immediately think, "Good, Callie's here."
Then a fan finished reading Edisto Heat and created a card, not for the author, but for Callie. (Read picture below.)
And on a Zoom presentation yesterday (hello Muskoka, Canada), I was told I was awfully passionate about my protagonists. Did I really envision them as real people? Well, at the risk of sounding addled, I guess I do. So when they get mail, it's not so unusual.
I keep telling myself that when I have dementia and am tucked away in a room somewhere, I'll have my characters to play with.
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It’s time to register for the nationally renowned Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop.
The Oct. 20-22 gathering will feature celebrated comedians and authors, including “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite, “Saturday Night Live” legend Laraine
Newman, New York Times’ bestselling authors W. Bruce Cameron and Adriania Trigiani, screenwriter Cathryn Michon, improviser and comedian Dion Flynn, and award-winning author Katrina Kittle.
Your registration includes all meals, keynote talks, choice of dozens of workshops, and a complimentary virtual package of the keynotes and Pitchapalooza.
At the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, you’ll laugh, learn and network with a supportive writing community. Discover more and register here.
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ON MEMOIR
A recent letter from a fan friend prompted me to share how important memoir is. And this might give you an idea on how to start a project in your own community, paid or otherwise.
Dear Hope,
I totally concur with you that you never know just how much putting one's thoughts on paper means. Your recent Editor's Thought Column gave me pause to share some thoughts about memoir writing. As a junior high English teacher for more than 25 years, I had my students put their thoughts in three pages of a blue book weekly. Some students barely made three pages, but some wrote much more. Years later I ran into some of my former students who told me they still had their
journals. That made me very gratified, and one said she was glad I had her write her feelings about 9/11 which she values as a first-hand account of this event 20 plus years later.
After retiring, I continued to journal and wanted to share this experience. I began to teach a memoir workshop at our local library. That has become successful monthly gathering of mostly retirees who have share wonderful encounters such as being invited to a New Year's party at George Burns home in Hollywood, making breakfast for Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow while they were vacationing on Cape Cod and a former sea captain who docked in Calcutta, India many years ago and met Mother
Theresa who used some salty language to talk to sailors. The participants feel they are part of a family when they read their stories to the group.
A few years ago, I got a call from a local nursing home asking if I could help a 90-year-old gentleman prepare his memoir for his family. I typed about 40 pages and bound two copies for him. He kept one and gave the other to his family. Many residents of that nursing home probably had great stories but had no access to word processors or arthritis kept them from writing or typing. This gave me an idea.
I contacted the nursing home's administrator and the local high school and worked with the advisor of the National Honor Society. Both agreed to a project. Those NHS students are required to perform some civic duties, and I thought their electronic skills with laptops could be helpful in putting the residents' oral memories to paper. I prepared a series of questions, and in three consecutive weeks, the students wrote down the individual's stories.
A few weeks later the students brought a finished product in a binder and presented it to the resident. Several grandchildren who read the stories were amazed. They indicated that they never knew some of the stories about grandma or grandpa. One resident sadly passed away from the time the students completed the assignment to the finished product. When his granddaughter was presented with the binder, she was in tears. It was a lasting memory of her grandfather. The students, the nursing
home staff, and I were deeply touched.
Al Caron
I felt this effort had such an impact that it merited mentioning in FundsforWriters. As someone who has spent a lot of time visiting people in nursing homes, who still offers to present to area nursing homes, I see people wanting to record their memoirs all the time.
If you are interested in this endeavor, consider talking with a nursing home about hiring you, offering a series of memoir packages from typewritten to hardbound published, or simply volunteer. This is a program sorely needed with an eager crowd.
For examples of memoir writing services, simply Google "memoir writing services" and you'll be amazed at the number out there. Use them for guidance, for ideas, and to decide if this is an opportunity you might find suits you.
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- July 21, 2022 - Carnes Crossroads, 4015 Second Ave, Summerville, SC - 3-5 PM
- July 23, 2022 - Indiana Sisters in Crime, Zoom - Noon ET - Gary and Hope Clark Tag Team on Getting the Facts Right in Mysteries
- August 2, 2022 - Writer's Chat - Crowdfunding - Zoom - 11 AM
- August 4, 2022 - Generations Retirement Community, Chapin, SC - 10 AM
- June 3-10, 2023 - Writing Retreat on the Maine Coast - Special Guest - Sponsored by Joan Dempsey, author and teacher
Email: [email protected] to schedule events, online or otherwise. There's starting to be life out there!
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SUCCESS QUOTE
“We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.” – Stevie Wonder
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Dear Hope,
A few months ago, you featured an article about not putting our eggs all in one basket which inspired me to branch out beyond my usual memoir niche. I put together my first writing class for a home education group, ages 11-16. I also applied and was accepted for a job as a contest judge for NYCMidnight. In addition to earning extra money between writing gigs, I discovered the absolute joy of being able to speak into other writers'
work and lives. I love sharing with them what I believe works well in their stories, complimenting them on their skills, as well as providing constructive feedback in a spirit of mutual respect. This work has helped me to think more critically about my own work, and given me the satisfaction of being the person "on the other side of a submission" that I hope to encounter.
I also decided to stretch myself a bit more and entered the Fish Flash Fiction contest in Cork, Ireland. While I didn't win, I made the Long List on my first piece of fiction.
All of this from just one of your articles.
Thank you for always giving us that push to go beyond our comfort zone. We might fail, but we sure won't succeed if we don't try. And, maybe, we will discover blessings we hadn't even imagined.
All the best,
Nicole Watt
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If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to [email protected]
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Joining the WGA:
What Does It Mean and Is It Worth It?
By Mark Heidelberger
Flourishing as a film and television writer today is as challenging as ever, especially in an age when online screenwriting “masterclasses,” open-source software, and direct-to-buyer email queries have broadened industry access to millions. As such, producers and agents need to be more discerning than ever when wading through material. How do they separate the pros from the amateurs? One way is to determine whether the writer is a member of the WGA.
What exactly is the WGA and who can join?
The WGA, or Writers Guild of America, represents writers in film, TV and radio, with branches in Los Angeles (WGAw) and New York (WGAe). Some mistakenly refer to it as a “union,” although it’s not – it’s a guild – meaning that while they collectively bargain rates and standards with the studios, they do not help their members find work. They are open to anyone who sells or is hired to write a script by a WGA signatory company. They do not represent book authors, journalists or
columnists.
What are the requirements for membership?
The WGA website outlines their system for gaining membership, but here’s the need-to-know in a nutshell. They work on a “unit system.” Every time you make a sale or get hired to work, you earn units. A story for a 30-minute TV program is three units. A short screenplay is eight units. A rewrite of a full-length theatrical feature is 12 units. Earn a total of 24 units in three years, you’re a full member. (Anything less, you’re an associate member with reduced benefits.) Selling or getting
hired to write a feature-length film automatically nabs you 24 units, so that’s the quickest way to full membership.
What are the benefits?
First and foremost, membership brings the credibility mentioned above that so many writers seek from producers and agents. It also offers minimum salary guarantees, pension and health benefits, residual payments, procedures for determining and arbitrating credits, educational opportunities, seminars, networking events and access to those oh-so-coveted screeners at awards season.
What are the downsides?
For a struggling writer living on Ramen and Pop Tarts, the $2,500 entry fee is a little stiff, although it’s well worth it if you can manage, because one job can more than pay for it. After that, be prepared to pay annual dues of 1.5% on applicable earnings. Also, you can’t do “non-union work,” meaning any remuneration has to be paid under a WGA signatory agreement. That means no more screenwriting gigs from friends or Craigslist ads.
How does membership facilitate better writing opportunities?
Again, the WGA does not directly help its writers find work, but it does have a “Find a Writer” section on its website where producers can search for writers based on criteria like expertise, genre, years of experience, age, and gender. They also host screenings, panels, workshops, and an annual awards show where members can network with those inside and outside the guild. Lastly, full membership means eligibility to run for guild office, which can open up connections at much higher levels,
particularly with sister guilds and studios.
What is the best strategy for gaining eligibility?
The guild has a three-tier Low Budget Agreement (LBA), which covers films made for $1.2 million or less. Each tier offers salary minimums that are a fraction of larger-scale theatrical features. For instance, an original script for a $400,000 film will cost a signatory producer around $26,000 – still a lot, but not nearly as steep as the $152,000 they would have to pay on a $3 million film. Low-budget producers may be more willing, then, to hire a less experienced screenwriter who will work
for that rate. The admissions rules and units earned toward eligibility are essentially the same for the LBA as for larger films (you still get 24 units for selling a feature script), and there are no restrictions if you or a family member serve as a producer or financier of the film. Bottom line, at this level, up-and-coming writers are less likely to compete with seasoned veterans while those with access to modest film funding have a chance to literally write their own destiny.
Resources
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. Film and TV credits include Harsh Times, Comfort, Ninja Apocalypse, The Basement, Take the Night, Pray for Rain, and Hallmark Channel's You've Got a Friend. Often times, he 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.
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GREEN STORIES SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://www.greenstories.org.uk/upcoming-competitions/short-story-clean-vs-green/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 22, 2022. Theme: Clean vs. Green. Your challenge is to write a short story (between 1,000 and 3,000 words) that helps to raise awareness and shift attitudes, especially for those people who assume that the more detergent the better. Open to all – we encourage international writers. The main prize for the winner is £500 or the local currency equivalent!
TILTED HOUSE'S INAUGURAL CHAPBOOK POETRY PRIZE
https://www.tiltedhouse.org/1br-3bath-chapbook-prize
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2022. Tilted House’s inaugural chapbook prize, 1BR / 3BATH, is looking for 16-35 pages of something fresh—experimental, puckish, political, funny, playful, polemical, and/or uncomfortable. In a word: anti-poetry. While there is no theme, per se, we are hungry for work that twists the arm of poetry’s status quo. First prize is $200 and 15 copies. Limit 16-35 pages.
SOURCE WRITING PRIZE
https://www.source.ie/writingprize2022/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2022. The winning entry will receive £500 / 570 Euro and we will either publish it or commission you to write an article for us in the future. All short listed entries will also be considered for publication or for future commissions. (paid) You should not have written for Source before. The article must be no more than 700 words. Theme: Thinking about Photography.
PRAIRIE SCHOONER SUMMER NONFICTION CONTEST
https://prairieschooner.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 1, 2022. Our annual summer nonfiction contest is open to all types of creative nonfiction essays up to 5,000 words. The winner will receive $500 and publication in our Spring 2023 issue.
GRAYSON BOOKS POETRY CONTEST - FULL-LENGTH MANUSCRIPTS
http://www.graysonbooks.com/contest.html
$26 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 15, 2022. The winner will be awarded a $1,000 prize, publication, and 10 copies. The runner-up may also be offered publication. Use the submission manager to submit your 50-90 page manuscript electronically.
BLACK VOICES IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE WRITING CONTEST
https://www.freespirit.com/black-voices-in-childrens-literature-writing-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 24, 2022. The contest is now open to Black authors who at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age and residing anywhere in the United States. Every entry is considered for publication and three cash prizes will be awarded. Eligible entries will include original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–800 words) featuring authentic, realistic Black characters and culture and focusing on one or more of the following topics: character
development, self-esteem, identity, diversity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development. Religious and fantasy themes will not be considered. 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.
PEN/ROBERT J. DAU SHORT STORY PRIZE FOR EMERGING WRITERS
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2022. Recognizes twelve emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. Each of the twelve winning writers receives a cash prize of $2,000 and the independent book publisher Catapult will publish the twelve winning stories in an annual anthology entitled Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize, which will
acknowledge the literary magazines and websites where the stories were originally published. Stories must be submitted by editors of literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites and published in the English language. Stories may not exceed 12,000 words in length.
PEN/BELLWETHER PRIZE FOR SOCIALLY ENGAGED FICTION
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
$40 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 1, 2022. The author of the winning manuscript is awarded a prize of $25,000 and a publishing contract with Algonquin Books, with an additional publishing advance. The winning author can expect to work closely with an editor from Algonquin prior to publication, and will receive promotional support from PEN America and Algonquin. Winners for this award are eligible to receive PEN America’s official winner seal. Socially engaged fiction may describe categorical
human transgressions in a way that compels readers to examine their own prejudices. Submit an unpublished novel manuscript by a writer who has not sold more than 10,000 copies of a previously published book. Authors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The submission must be an original, previously unpublished novel, written by one person in English, and at least 80,000 words in length. Should the entry fee prove a financial hardship for the applicant, they may request a fee waiver via
[email protected], no questions asked.
JULIA PETERKIN AWARD FOR FLASH FICTION
https://south85.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 15, 2022. Previously unpublished fiction of 850 words or less are eligible for this contest. We are especially interested in stories that demonstrate a strong voice and/or a sense of place, but we consider all quality writing. We will select one winner to receive a cash prize of $500.Four semi-finalists will be chosen for publication in South 85 Journal. Winners will be announced in October. All winners must be over 18 years old and reside in the U.S.
in order to claim their cash prize.
JULIA PETERKIN AWARD FOR POETRY
https://south85.submittable.com/submit
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 15, 2022. Please submit up to three unpublished poems of 50 lines or fewer. The winning poem will be awarded a cash prize of $500. Four semi-finalists will be chosen for publication alongside the winning selections in the fall / winter issue of South 85 Journal. Results will be announced in October.
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GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING
GRANUM FOUNDATION PRIZES
https://www.granumfoundation.org/granum-prize
Deadline August 2, 2022. The Granum Foundation Prize will be awarded annually to help U.S.-based writers complete substantive literary works—such as poetry books, essay or short story collections, novels, and memoirs—or to help launch these works. Additionally, the Granum Foundation Translation Prize will be awarded to support the completion of a work translated by a U.S.-based writer. Granum Foundation Prize - One winner will be awarded $5,000, and up to three finalists will be
awarded $500 or more. Granum Foundation Translation Prize - One winner will receive $500 or more.
US WRITERS AID INITIATIVE
https://pen.submittable.com/submit
Deadlines August 1, 2022, October 1, 2022, and December 1, 2022. The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists. To be eligible, applicants must be based in the United States, be professional writers, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping them to address an emergency situation. The U.S. Writers Aid
Initiative is not intended to subsidize writing-related expenses, such as equipment, printing, shipping, travel, or publicity services. Writers do not have to be Members of PEN America to receive a grant, but all recipients of emergency funding will be given a complimentary one-year PEN America membership.
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CHATELAINE
https://www.chatelaine.com/about/writers-guidelines/
Chatelaine is Canada’s biggest, best women’s magazine. For over 80 years we’ve been delivering all the content Canadian women want, whether it’s about health, current events, food, social issues, decor or fashion and beauty. Send us a one-page query letter outlining your idea. Pays $1 CAD per word for print and $300-$800 CAD for online.
ROADPASS DIGITAL
https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/pitch-roadtrippers-magazine/
Roadpass Digital helps inspire, educate, and empower millions of RVers and roadtrippers to enjoy camping and the open road. Our brands include Roadtrippers, Campendium, and Togo RV, among others. Send your pitch to [email protected]. Our rates typically range from $200 to $1,000 per story, based on length, article type, and how much reporting is required.
--ROADTRIPPERS - Roadtrippers celebrates road culture, epic adventures, scenic routes, and the great outdoors. We’re looking for pitches ranging from destination feature stories and trip guides to practical how-to articles and relevant news pieces. We’re looking for fresh, fun, or unusual takes on road trip destinations, national and state parks, scenic routes, and outdoor adventures.
--CAMPENDIUM - Created by campers for campers, Campendium features tens of thousands of places to camp, vetted by full-time travelers and reviewed by our members. Our RV-focused audience is always looking for interesting campgrounds, national park updates, outdoor news, and camping tips.
--TOGO RV - We’re looking for stories that are helpful to our audience of RVers and campers (both rookies and veterans), as well as those interested in buying their first RV. Topics include RV gear and resources, campground cooking, maintenance tips, and RV road trip destinations.
MONARCH
https://meetmonarch.com/health-resources/monarch-writers-guidelines
At Monarch, we’re committed to creating and publishing mental health articles that are clear, honest, and actionable. At Monarch, we’re aware the mental health journey is unique for each person, and we want each reader to find accurate answers to the questions on their mind. To help with this, all articles include science-backed information, and any claims are backed up with research and data. The typical length of articles we publish is 1,000-3,500 words, depending on the topic. Pays 50
cents/word and up.
MYSTERION
https://www.mysteriononline.com/p/submission-guidelines.html
Deadline July 31, 2022. We are looking for speculative stories-science fiction, fantasy, horror-with Christian themes, characters, or cosmology, and for artwork for this site. Stories can be up to 9,000 words. We pay eight cents/word for original stories (or original translations of stories that have not previously appeared in English), and four cents/word for reprints.
NOSETOUCH PRESS
https://www.nosetouchpress.com/call/
Deadline July 31, 2022. Nosetouch Press is pleased to conjure up FIENDS IN THE FURROWS III: FINAL HARVEST, a call for submissions for Folk Horror from around the world— from Britain and Ireland, to continental Europe, to North and South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia. We strongly encourage writers to continue to explore the wanton wilderness of Folk Horror, while honoring the elemental essence of this subgenre’s tangled, grasping roots. Submit 3,500 to 7,000 words. Pays
six cents/word.
PODCASTLE
https://podcastle.org/guidelines/special-submissions-call-indigenous-magic/
Deadline July 31, 2022. PodCastle is incredibly excited to announce our call for Indigenous Magic stories of Global homegrown mythologies and legends. We want stories that center Black, Brown, and Indigenous cultures, histories, belief systems, philosophies, and perspectives. These are the stories of fireside tellings that are tied to the land on which they are written, the stories that reflect our cultural and historical trajectories in the wives tales and gossip on the tongues
of our mothers and grandmothers. We will consider both originals and reprints for this call, paying our standard rate of 8 cents per word for originals and $100 for reprints. We’re looking for stories between 2,000-6,000 words, though we will consider up to 7,000 words for reprints.
SHAKESPEARE UNLEASHED
https://www.jamesaquilone.com/submissions
We're looking for horror stories based on Shakespeare's plays and characters, as well as horror sonnets. Payment six cents/word. Story length 1,500 to 6,000 words. Submission period July 22 to August 21, 2022. Sonnets pay a flat $35 fee.
UTAH BUSINESS
https://www.utahbusiness.com/about/
Utah Business provides award-winning, in-depth journalism on the tech and entrepreneurial businesses at the forefront of our nation's economy. Our print and digital publications reach millions of executives across the state and our live and in-person events provide deep-dive access into the industries shaping our future. Seeks 1,200 and 2,000-word stories and pays 40 cents/word. Submit to [email protected]
TEXAS OBSERVER
https://www.texasobserver.org/pitch/
The Texas Observer is a nonprofit news organization known for independent, investigative reporting, narrative storytelling and sophisticated cultural criticism about all things Texan. Send your pitch to [email protected]. Payment generally 50 cents/word.
BESTCOLLEGES
https://boards.greenhouse.io/rvedufreelancenetwork/jobs/3229237
As a freelance writer for BestColleges, you will craft original content covering a variety of higher education topics, including rankings and degree content, career guides, college and career planning resources, student/campus life blog posts, and bootcamps and non-degree educational pathways. Compensation is $90 for every 500 words. At the moment, we are currently unable to accept applicants from the following states: Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, West Virginia.
PSYCHCENTRAL.COM
https://boards.greenhouse.io/freelanceathl/jobs/2813415
Psych Central is looking for freelance writers to work on a variety of mental health content. PsychCentral.com is a long-standing destination for mental health information, reaching 6 million readers each month. Freelance assignments will involve revamping existing articles, creating new content, or both. Articles typically range from 800 to 1,500 words. Rates vary per piece and are generally $150–$300, depending on the complexity of the assignment.
EDITOR II
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3135771815/
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), a Certified Best Place for Working Parents, is seeking an Editor II to join the Workforce Editing Department. This position reports to the Editing Manager in Austin, Texas, but is eligible for telecommuting from anywhere in the State of Texas.
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FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING
https://www.freespirit.com/Submission-Guidelines
Free Spirit is the leading publisher of learning tools for youth and educators that support young people’s social, emotional, and educational needs. We help children and teens think for themselves, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world.
POST HILL PRESS
https://posthillpress.com/about
Post Hill Press has successfully published a wide spectrum of books, with a focus on the categories of pop culture, business, self-help, health, current events, Christian, and conservative political books. We publish across all formats and platforms, including eBooks, audiobooks, and print books, which are distributed by Simon and Schuster and available worldwide. We have ongoing collaborative relationships with national television networks as well as a strategic alliance with an innovative
global literary agency.
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