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The J. Anthony Lukas Prizes Honor the Best in Nonfiction Book Writing. 

EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

ON LITERARY AGENTS


I received an email from a very distraught author recently. It began like this, though it went on much longer, too long to post it all here:

"Oh my goodness I just had a terrible interaction with an agent on Twitter. I'm a little shaken up and I know you'll understand since you have seen it all in this business. Please read through as I think it relates to the industry right now. And it's not a good thing."

Briefly, the point was that the agents heavily wanted platform and said craft was less cherished today than it was years ago. One agent told her in very succinct terms that if she didn't understand the process she would easily fail getting published. 

My response was this. Mind you, this is my two cents from my experience and from knowledge I've gleaned from other published authors. 

"I am not surprised in the least. Some agents are decent, but there are others who are going to be nice to you only as long as your book sells. It's a very cut-throat business. 

"Platform is a part of the equation, yes. If you present with a great platform, they will definitely give you a second glance and be more forgiving on some of the craft. After all, publishers and agents can rearrange and re-sculpt craft, however, they are rarely interested in helping you develop platform. 

"But they have to make a living, and, honestly, there is little altruism in the publishing business. They cannot afford to be altruistic. People forget that while publishers adore good craft, and are good at spotting it, they are about making money first. They are a corporate entity, not a nonprofit.

"Also, as to the attitude on the Twitter chat, look at where you are. . . on a Twitter chat. Those authors attending are eager, holding their breath for a lightning bolt of a chance, excited, desperate, and everything in between. Agents know that, and they take advantage. Over time many inevitably develop a sense of being put on a pedestal. Everyone wants to touch the hem of their robe. After all, when you get deluged with hundreds and hundreds of pitches and you'll only choose a dozen in a year's time, you can't help but feel rather elitist. 

"Publishing is a difficult business and takes thick skin on the authors' part. Agents don't care if they cull the Twitter audience and get rid of those not willing to get down and dirty with a ton of sweat and blood. They'll scare wannabes off in a blink of an eye if it makes their list of potentials smaller. 

"Then there are some agents who are just horses' asses and arrogant pr--ks. 

"I agree that there are a lot of bots and AI stuff going on in social media, and for agents to put a lot of stock on those numbers carries some degree of risk. I purge my FB page every couple of months, cutting people who haven't responded in ages, have no photo, or haven't posted on their site. I'm sure I'm missing some fake IDs on there. Twitter is a thousand times worse. But these agents are not going to be open for you teaching them how it works.

"But no, you are not going to educate the publishing business on social media, so don't try. They don't care. 

"And no, there is no "safe place" online to find like souls and discuss this. Not without an administrator or login membership, and even then someone will go off half-cocked and ruin it for others. There are always trolls. This emphasis on platform versus craft is a big ship to change direction, and I don't see it changing any time soon. You are better off either building that online platform agents ask for or choosing to go with publishers that will accept unagented submissions. IMHO, your effort is best served in writing the next book than fighting through the prejudice, the ignorance, or the arrogance, whichever you wish to call it. 

"And there's always the simple possibility that the "older" agent you referenced didn't fully understand, but she possibly didn't care either. She could simply be pushing one more body out of the room. She'd rather be stroked and courted, and someone who doesn't approach her in that manner is not someone she cares to sign with. 

"As I said, it's a tough business. I've watched agents at conferences, when they didn't realize they were being watched, make fun of authors, each other, and speakers. I've watched them snicker, point, and heard them lie. Some don't, but then, who's going to know one way or the other? Like I said, agents in a room full of desperate wannabe's feel like they sit on thrones. 

"I pitched at a conference in my early days, before being published, and I was made fun of....to my face. I do not have a poker face, so when I showed my immense shame and embarrassment, the man backpedaled and tried to lighten up, but he clearly didn't know how. I went outside the event, sat with my husband, and cried big sloppy tears. And when my later-acquired agent lied to me after we contracted two books, I fired her in a snap (after asking the publisher if they minded working with an unagented author). I could have sought another agent and a larger publisher, but knowing how ugly that business is, I don't care to. I like my smaller traditional press with enough experience and personal interest to assist me, make suggestions, and open doors a little bigger than I have access to. 

"Might be more than you wanted from me, but this is my two cents on agents in the publishing world."

SUPER SPONSOR 

As you know, I am/we are passionate about supporting writers as they complete their books and launch them into the world. That's why I'm excited to be one of the interviewees for an upcoming FREE virtual conference designed to inspire writers to make 2023 the year they GET THEIR BOOKS DONE.

My friends and colleagues, Cami Ostman of The Narrative Project and Lisa Dailey of Sidekick Press, are offering a week of interviews with industry experts covering topics designed to light a fire under you to "Write That Book Already" in the new year.

Save the dates and register to be inspired. January 2 through 6. You don't want to miss the interviews or the free gifts! 

Sign-up here:https://writethatbookalready.thenarrativeproject.net

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 
SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Dear Hope - 

I just wanted to offer a genuine ‘thanks’ to you guys for promoting Story Unlikely’s annual short story contest. I wouldn’t generally go out of my way to say this, but to understand why I feel compelled, let me first explain briefly our reading process:

During our submission period, I read the submissions nearly every night – I read the first 250 words, and how the author found us (one of our required questions in the submission prompt), and divide stories into four categories, from red being instantly rejected up to blue, which automatically go to the final round (think golden buzzer in America's Got Talent). About one percent of submissions get tagged blue. And yet, the other night, I had not one, but FOUR blue submissions! All of them had found us through "FundsforWriters newsletter."

Needless to say, I was blown away by such (most welcome!) irregularity. Either there’s something in the water over there, or you guys are doing something right. Maybe a bit of both?  =)

Thanks again,
Danny Hankner, editor-in-chief, Story Unlikely

PS – I poked around your site a bit and liked what I saw.  You sound like the kind of writers we love to work with – authors jaded by the industry, intelligent minds willing to think beyond the mold, and act.



- - - 

If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to [email protected] 
 

Featured article

Turning Local Into Writing Opportunity 

By Amber Watson

Ten years ago, my husband and I moved from Massachusetts to North Carolina for a job he’d been offered. I’d always worked in publishing (for national trade magazines) and found work writing and editing for local lifestyle magazines in the area, but it was difficult to gain a sense of community in a brand-new city and I found myself craving new creative outlets and connections.

Finding an Untapped Local Focus

One of the perks of working at local magazines was that I received press releases about all the latest happenings, including new restaurants opening in the area. Since my husband and I are big foodies, I’d forward these emails to him, and he would then share the news with co-workers. I realized there was no central platform to keep up with food and beverage news across the city we lived in: Durham, NC, which at the time, was growing in popularity and getting put on the map as “The Tastiest Town in the South,” labeled by Southern Living Magazine in 2013.

I decided to create a blog and website where I could curate and share the exciting local food news that was coming across my desk. This was the beginning of my blog, Bites of Bull City, which has been providing the inside scoop on Durham’s ever-expanding food scene for eight years now!

Because no other media outlet had such a niche focus on local restaurants, I became the go-to source, writing blogs about upcoming eateries, interviewing owners, providing readers with sneak peeks, and establishing a consistent and reliable reputation.

Growing, Monetizing and Fostering Connections

The blog gained a strong following and readership, but it didn’t happen overnight—it was an organic and long process. Tagging local businesses and using social media (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) to point people to my website were key.

After a couple years, I gained a large enough follower base and viewership to solicit for paid sponsored posts on my blog. Since my focus is hyper local, I couldn’t approach big national brands, proving a little tricky. Still, local restaurants can’t afford expensive print advertisements, buying leads, or hiring big PR firms, so I was able to offer an affordable alternative: I would write a featured blog about their business and disseminate it directly to an engaged and interested audience. I have even been hired to write press releases for newly established businesses.

As my blog’s presence grew, so did the attention of local media outlets. Within a few years, I was approached by my city’s convention and visitor’s bureau to regularly contribute (and get paid) to write roundups of newly opened establishments for their website/blog. This was a win-win as my byline included a link to my website, driving traffic back to it, not to mention build credibility.

At the same time, local interest magazines solicited me as a columnist to write food-focused articles for their publications. That opportunity grew into writing for them on other topics as well, such as arts and education, since I’d established a reliable relationship with the editors.

Writing About Place Pays

When I first started my blog, sharing news with a few friends and neighbors, I had no idea it would turn into an outlet that would not only help me connect to my new community in a more meaningful way, but I also didn’t realize it would lead to several opportunities to get paid as a writer.

Every city has something that shines, whether it’s music, art, food, sports, or theater—find it and you could be the one pointing that spotlight and making money doing so.

BIO: Amber Watson is a freelance writer, published poet, and creator of the award-winning local food news blog Bites of Bull City, based in Durham, NC. She lives there with her husband, teenager, and rescue animals.

COmpetitions

BETTER THAN STARBUCKS SONNET CONTEST
https://www.betterthanstarbucks.org/sonnet-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2022. First Prize $500. Second Prize $100. Third Prize $50. Winners will be announced in January and published on February 1, 2023. We will also publish up to seven honorable mention sonnets. This contest is for a metrical sonnet. Your sonnet can be shakespearean, petrarchan, spenserian, rhymed, or slant-rhymed. Blank verse is eligible, as long as the sonnet form is clearly identifiable.

BETTY TRASK PRIZE
https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/betty-trask-prize-awards/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2022. Betty Trask left a bequest to the Society of Authors in 1983 to fund prizes for first novels written by authors under the age of 35 in a traditional or romantic style. The winner of the Betty Trask Prize will receive £10,000 and a fund of £16,200 will be divided equally between shortlisted authors. The author must be under the age of 35 on the 31 December 2022. The author must be resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Commonwealth for three years prior to the date of submission for the award, or a British national, and writing in English. The author must not have had any novel published (other than the one submitted).

LOVE LETTERS TO LONDON
https://www.londonsociety.org.uk/page/loveletters
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2022. Once again The London Society aims to celebrate the city in all its life, charm and mystery, with a free to enter writing competition “Love Letters to London”. We want Londoners - as well as non-Londoners who wish to celebrate this place - to tell us why they love the city. Write us up to 500 words around the theme of “making connections”. Categories 11 and under, 12-18 year olds, open - all other entrants, and poetry. The prizes for the 'Open' and 'Poetry' categories will be: Category winner £500, Category second £250, Category third £100. The prizes for the 'Under 12' and '12-18' categories will be: Category winner £500, four runners up prizes of £150 each. In addition, the school of the two category winners will receive £250 of books.

MY WRITING JOURNEY
https://www.writerscollegeblog.com/my-writing-journey-competition/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2022. Write us a 600-word piece on the theme: The best writing tip I’ve ever received. We’ll publish the best piece in our newsletter and on our blog, plus the winner receives $200 (R2 000 or £100). Send your entries to Nichola Meyer at [email protected].

THE NINE DOTS PRIZE
https://ninedotsprize.org/submit/
NO ENTRY FEE NOTED. Deadline January 23, 2023. THe 2022/2023 prize question is "WHy has the rule of law become so fragile?" The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues. Entrants are asked to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving $100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas. The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing the modern world. Should you win the Prize, you will be required to develop this summary into a short book of between 25,000 and 40,000 words. The winner receives editorial support and their book published by Cambridge University Press, the opportunity to spend a term at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) at Cambridge University, and $100,000 USD.

PET FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://www.booksie.com/contest/pet-flash-fiction-contest-31
$2.50-$4.99 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 28, 2023. The challenge of this contest is to write a true story about a pet in 300 words or fewer. The story can be funny, silly, scary, sad, or any other adjective as long as it involves a pet. And to make it extra interesting, include a picture of the pet in the story, if you can. One winner will receive $250, promotion across Booksie, a gold contest badge, and $15 in ebooks from the Booksie bookstore. Two runners-up will receive $50, exposure across Booksie, and a silver contest badge. Open to members only, but interested writers are welcome to join. 

INSTITUTE FOR WRITERS - THRILLER FIRST PAGES CONTEST
https://writersinstitute.lpages.co/ifw-thriller-first-pages-contest/
Entry fee is $19 and includes a workshop where we announce the winners and offer teaching to all entrants on the genre by the contest judge. Deadline December 15, 2022. Entries for this contest will include a one- to two-sentence book summary followed by no more than 1,000 words from the beginning of your book. First prize $650. Second prize $350. Third prize $100. Fourth prize $100. Fifth prize $100. 

GOLDILOCKS ZONE 2022 - SUNSPOT LIT
https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit/240750/goldilocks-zone-2022-200-for-prose-poetry-or-art
$9.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 19, 2022. The Goldilocks Zone appears wherever conditions make a planet habitable. Sunspot Lit is looking for the single short story, novel or novella excerpt, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that combines excellence in craft with reader or audience appeal, and thus falls into the Goldilocks Zone. Literary and genre works accepted. First prize is $200 plus publication. Runners-up and finalists are offered publication. No restrictions on theme or category. Maximum of 2,500 words for short stories or nonfiction, 24 lines for poetry, and eight pages for graphic novels. 

JOAN BETTY STUCHNER FUNNIEST CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD
https://www.vclr.ca/submission-information/
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 14, 2022. Presented biennially to Canadian authors or illustrators of the work of juvenile literature that had the jury most: buckled over with guffaws, incapacitated with giggles, and/or rib-ticklingly, side-splittingly, thigh-slappingly entertained. Two prizes will be awarded of $752.81 each, one for a board or picture book, one for a book with lots more words than pictures. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

 

GOOD HART ARTIST RESIDENCY OPEN CALL
https://goodhartartistresidency.org/residency-overview/
Deadline January 11, 2023. The Good Hart Artist Residency offers 10-21 day residency stays to visual artists, writers, and composers at any stage of their career. Each artist is housed in a private residence with a detached studio and provided with a $500 stipend, a kitchen stocked with basic foods, a few home-cooked meals from local hosts, and a quiet setting along the shores of Lake Michigan. Tucked into the woods along the "Tunnel of Trees," a Scenic Heritage Route, residents can walk into the village of Good Hart, enjoy Lake Michigan and the nearby sand dunes, and explore Northern Michigan's inland lakes and wetlands. The Good Hart Artist residency generally hosts one resident at a time, offering each artist the time, space, and quiet to focus and create.

STIWDIO MAELOR RESIDENCIES
https://stiwdiomaelor.com/
Stiwdio Maelor offers selected artists and writers time and space out of their normal life to focus on the development of their work and explore the beautiful landscape of mid Wales. Residencies provide artists and writers the experience of working alongside other artists of different disciplines and at different stages in their careers.

  

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

C MAG
https://cmagazine.com/opportunities/write
C Magazine welcomes writing on contemporary art and culture that is lively and rigorously engaged with current ideas and debates. C is interested in writing that addresses art and its various contexts, through emerging perspectives and a mix of editorials, columns, in-depth essays, interviews, artist projects and reviews. Range looks about 25-50 cents/word. 

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR JOURNALISTS
https://icfj.submittable.com/submit/139151/pitch-to-ijnet
Do you know of a journalism tool, app or resource that we haven’t covered? A media innovator who has a fascinating story to tell? Or do you simply want to discuss a current media trend taking place in your country? If so, we want to hear from you. IJNet accepts pitches from readers, and in doing so, we hope to build a network of global, diverse contributors whose work can help as many journalists as possible.
Most of our freelancers work in English, but we've recently added the opportunity to write in Spanish, Portuguese or Russian. If you would prefer to write in one of these languages, please indicate that on the form on the website. Pays at least $200 per article.

PASSIONFRUIT
https://passionfru.it/#what-we-cover
Think pieces start at $250, interviews at $300, and reported features at $450. Send your pitches to [email protected]. They are interested in profiles of influences and creators, successful and up-and-coming. Report on internet trends and online tools available to these creators. Dive into interesting stories on Tik Tok. 

SIDETRACKED
https://www.sidetracked.com/contribution-guidelines/
We are all about sharing emotive, intoxicating adventures through gripping stories, breathtaking photography and awe-inspiring video. A foundation for those seeking adventure or wanting to immerse themselves in the adventures of others to be inspired and captivated. We want the way these stories are presented to be beautiful, timeless and welcoming. As a guide we tend to like articles of about 1,500 to 2,000 words but always happy to look at longer and shorter pieces. Pays £200 to £450.

BETTER LIFE LABS
https://www.newamerica.org/better-life-lab/blog/new-better-life-labs-child-care-innovation-reporting-grants/
The Better Life Lab is commissioning a series of reported, data and character-driven written, video and/or graphic stories and illustrations that highlight innovations within the child care field. The Better Life Lab will pay reporters and writers and work with you to place the story in an ideal publication. Please send pitches to Rebecca Gale at [email protected] or Brigid Schulte at [email protected]. Pitches will be considered and stories commissioned on a rolling basis through spring of 2023, with a payment of between $500 to $1,000 per piece.

AUTHORS PUBLISH
https://authorspublish.com/submit-to-authors-publish-magazine/
We only publish articles and eBooks about various aspects of writing and publishing. We pay between $40 and $60 per article. Most of our articles are between 250 and 1,200 words in length. We also pay $500 dollars for eBooks around 10,000 words. We are NOT interested in any articles about freelance writing. We DO NOT accept publisher reviews, literary journal reviews, or publisher focused list articles from freelance writers. Currently we are especially interested in publishing, case studies, about how authors got their debut book published by a traditional press, small or otherwise. We pay $40 for these articles and they tend to be under 800 words in length.

WRITER'S DIGEST
https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/editorialcalendar
Editorial calendar for 2023 is out. We urge writers to get creative in their interpretations of our 2023 issue themes. We offer a brief description of how we interpret them, but look forward to ideas we weren’t necessarily expecting. We consider completed manuscripts on spec, as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. For manuscripts, we pay 30–50 cents per word, on acceptance, for first world rights for one-time print use and perpetual electronic use. Should we want to reprint anything we've purchased from you in anything other than electronic format, we'll pay you 25% of the original purchase price per use. 

CHICKEN SOUP MIRACLES BOOK
http://www/chickensoup.com
Deadline February 28, 2023. We are looking for true personal, heartwarming and powerfully moving stories about extraordinary events and happenings that will make our readers say "Wow!" This book is for everyone who loves to hear about miracles, amazing coincidences, and mysterious and unexplainable things that have happened for no apparent reason. Limit 1,200 words. Payment is $200 and ten copies. 

 

Publishers/agents

TIMBER PRESS
https://www.workman.com/work-with-us/author-submissions#timber
Timber Press is devoted to sharing the wonders of the natural world by publishing books from experts in the fields of gardening, horticulture, and natural history. Our list includes gardening how-to, garden design, popular science, nature, garden literature, and both regional and national field guides. We consider new book ideas from authors and agents.

STOREY PUBLISHING
https://www.workman.com/work-with-us/author-submissions#storey
The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. The books we select to carry out this mission include nonfiction titles for adults and children on gardening, home reference, crafts, cooking, beer & wine, nature, raising animals, horses, building, farming, homesteading, and mind/body/spirit. We are always pleased to review new proposals on these topics directly from authors and from agents. (Note: no fiction, poetry, or children’s picture books, please.)

FLYAWAY BOOKS
https://www.flyawaybooks.com/submissions
We publish picture books only. We do not consider fiction or nonfiction for middle-graders and teens, early readers, or original board books. We seek manuscripts that reflect themes of diversity, inclusivity, compassion, care for each other, care for the earth, social/emotional growth, and social justice. These would be appropriate for a general trade market and found in bookstores, libraries, and schools. We are also open to manuscripts appropriate for progressive churches, religious schools, and readers who value faith inside and outside of a church setting. 

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. We care about young people and the issues and challenges they face every day. Our line of materials includes early childhood board books and picture books on social skills and positive behavior; Self-Help for Kids®; Self-Help for Teens®; and teaching resources for educators. Our titles inform, engage, and inspire children, teens, and the adults who live and work with them.

MADRONA BOOKS
https://www.madronabooks.com/submissions
Madrona Books welcomes submissions of booklength manuscripts. We’re best suited for authors working within the genres of literary fiction, memoir, longform ecological and adventure journalism, and select place-based genre fiction. 

THREE ROOMS PRESS
http://threeroomspress.com/submit/
Three Rooms Press publishes full-length (word counts of 65,000+) literary novels, young adult novels, and creative nonfiction. NOTE: At this time we are not accepting submissions for collections of poetry, short stories, or essays.

COFFEETOWN PRESS
https://coffeetownpress.com/submissions/
Seeking strong voices in nonfiction—including memoir—literary fiction, historical fiction.  We prefer the word count to be between 70,000 and 100,000, but books between 50,000 and 70,000 words will still be considered. Most of our memoirs concern growing up in other cultures or have a strong theme that will appeal to a specific audience. We only consider literary fiction with a strong story and a distinctive voice. It also helps if the author has a developed author platform.

SCHAFFNER PRESS
https://schaffnerpress.com/submissions/
All submissions to Schaffner Press must be in the English language and in the following categories: 
Fiction - literary adult fiction, short fiction collection, historical with socially relevant content, crime fiction. Nonfiction – memoir, autobiography, biography. Journalistic Expose or Narrative, True Crime,
Art, Culture, pop culture, World History, current events, science, arts and letters, US history, military history, and music are some of the preferred categories. Please no Children’s or Young Adult fiction or nonfiction. No science fiction, romance, or fantasy. We will consider manuscripts between 60,000 and 100,000 words.

OUTPOST 19
https://outpost19.submittable.com/submit
We're interested in novels, memoirs, biographies, reportage, short fiction and essay collections and innovative hybrids of all stripes. We publish in print and digital formats, typically at a conventional book length. Include the first fifty pages or the full manuscript.

DUCKWORTH BOOKS
https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/submissions-guidelines/
Our current areas of focus are memoir and biography, popular science, psychology, history and historical fiction. Location UK.

 

FUNDSFORWRITERS CONTACT INFO

FINE PRINT

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E-mail: [email protected]
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
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ISSN: 1533-1326

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