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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Cause Example: A writer doesn't accept a speaking engagement because it's too far away. 
Cause Example: A writer doesn't accept a signing gig because they are too nervous. 
Cause Example: A writer doesn't submit to a contest because they don't believe in entry fees. 
Cause Example: A writer doesn't go to a conference for fear of looking too novice.
Cause Example: A writer doesn't submit a manuscript to agents for fear of not being ready.
Cause Example: A writer doesn't give out free review copies because of the cost. 

Cause and effect means something happens as the result of something else happening. If there is no cause, there is no effect. In the above examples, one could argue that there isn't enough effect to warrant the cause for those writers. 

Social media abounds with excuses on why we do not do things, with a sideways hint that we are right and others are wrong in their decision-making. Frankly, I believe in live and let live, where we make our own decision and do not seek validation for it . . . and we do not justify or condemn others' decisions, that last part deserving of another editorial for another day.

Hope's suggestion... make a decision, learn from it, and move on to the other decisions you need to make. Do NOT ask around for people to pat you on the head and tell you that you were right. You will experience your biggest growth by learning to be your own best advocate. If your weakness is that you need people to tell you that you are right, then you'll never step out on your own and blaze a trail. You'll rarely grow. 

The causal examples mentioned above take place more times than not. More writers choose those paths than choose the opposite, and we just never see or hear about them. The underlying reasons being too shy, too fearful, and too worried what others will think. Writers are afraid of criticism. Writers are afraid of making a wrong decision. They are afraid of being wrong.

As a result, they sit in place. There is little to no effect. The effect is no effect. 

I've judged many contests where a solid third of the submissions were just bad. I've been asked to read green manuscripts and have given feedback to include why the story isn't working. I've listened to public readings from published works that were not fully developed. 

I admire those people more than the ones who are hiding away and not actively seeking improvement, seeking rejection, and seeking criticism. Those who seek feedback are those excited about writing. They want to be better and are willing to take the bumps and bruises it takes to get there. 

Effect Example: A writer drives the two hours to a speaking engagement, but they are also contacted two weeks later by someone who wants to hire them to speak at a bigger venue. 

Effect Example: A writer accepted the signing gig, and someone buys their whole series. Later they are invited to be interviewed for a broad-reaching publication. 

Effect Example: A writer spends the $10 for entry fee, places second, and is contacted by an agent who wants to read more.

Effect Example: A writer attends the conference, happens to eat lunch with a publisher who is looking for the writer's genre and would be happy to read their first few chapters. 

Effect Example: A writer polishes their manuscript best they can and submits to a dozen agents. Feedback says they need more depth to the protagonist but the plot is lovely. Edits ensue.

Effect Example: A writer pays the money to send out 25 review copies. A reviewer has lunch with a friend who is already published and mentions the book. The friend invites the writer to speak to their public relations person who has connections with cable television. 

You just never know. Life and success are not always predictable. Those not willing to get knocked down are taking the long, slow, life-robbing route to ever being published, being seen, or being successful.

are to take the knocks. Dare to walk through a storm instead of just waiting for the sunshine. There's so much truth to the myriad of sayings about storms making you stronger.

15565753 © ProductionPerig | Dreamstime.com

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Using tested methods developed by Amherst Writers and Artists facilitators Anita Allen and Claire Sheridan, you'll find the peer support, accountability, and flexibility you need to take your project to the next level. 

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Featured article

6 Online Resources to Help Get Your Screenplay Seen

By Mark Heidelberger

Hollywood is structured much like a kingdom. Celebrities are treated like royalty while agents and managers serve as their courtiers. Top-level producers, directors and writers make up the rest of the nobility, with varying strata of professionals below them, all the way down to the film student serfs struggling to survive on an internship. The kingdom is well guarded by those at the top, with metaphorical moats and walls built to keep out the many interlopers trying to get in. However, this kingdom is not without its secret accessways – backdoor channels that give outsiders an audience with those on the inside, even the nobility. Here are six such accessways designed specifically for screenwriters.

The Black List
https://blcklst.com/

The website was created in 2005 to “shine a light on extraordinary screenwriting… which may have been overlooked more broadly.” It spun off from a secret list top Hollywood assistants would share with each other of their favorite unproduced screenplays. Following in that tradition, TBL releases its annual list of top-rated scripts every December as ranked by working film executives. Non-WGA writers can make at least one film script available for execs to read at a cost of $30 per month and also have the option to pay an experienced reader $100 for an in-depth evaluation of the material ($70 for half-hour pilots).

Script Revolution
https://www.scriptrevolution.com/

Founded by a working writer-producer in 2016, the site was created as a way for fledgling screenwriters to share their material with the general public in order to generate fans. Industry members searching the site can subsequently use fan ratings to determine whether they want to read it themselves. Writers can post their scripts as well as read those written by others for free; however a Rockstar Membership at $70 annually (or $9.99 a month) offers added benefits like featured script listings, consultations and discounts on third-party software and services.

Inktip
https://www.inktip.com/

Since its founding in 2000, some 400 movies have been produced from scripts found on the site and over 300 screenwriters have gained representation. Inktip’s goal is to democratize indie filmmaking by connecting writers with content producers. For $32.50 per month, Inktip Pro members can have one script made visible to vetted industry execs ($12.50 for each additional script), free entry into their script contest and the potential to be featured in their newsletter. Additionally, writers may receive up to two dozen pitch requests a month from filmmakers looking for material like theirs. 

Slated
https://welcome.slated.com/

This online film packaging marketplace boasts a membership of 30,000 producers, 2,000 accredited investors and 1,800 sales agents and distributors. Since it’s founding in 2012, over 1,400 films packaged through the site have been released. Basic registration is free, allowing writers to connect with and pitch other members, while an in-depth script analysis runs $395 per draft and comes with a score rating based on elements like originality, dialogue and structure. A score of 75+ out of 100 qualifies for Slated’s EP services, which assists writers in finding financiers and production partners.

Stage 32
https://www.stage32.com/home/

Since 2011, this website has operated as a sort of social media site for filmmakers, growing to over 500,000 members. The no-cost registration allows writers to build a network of industry connections, get notifications, read blogs and more. Several paid services allow for increased access to agents, managers and execs. These include online classes and webinars, contests, career development phone calls, script consultations and one-on-one pitch sessions. Prices vary depending on the service, but expect to pay around $35 to pitch an industry pro.

Spec Scout
https://www.specscout.com/

Started in 2012, this site combines “a script coverage library with a scoring system to highlight the best screenplays circulating Hollywood.” For $395, a script is reviewed by three separate readers, with all notes combined into a detailed eight- to 10-page analysis. Any script with a score of 70+ out of 100 gets permanent placement in their lionized coverage library along with the writer’s contact info so interested parties can reach out directly. Spec Scout also promotes high-rated scripts to its subscriber base of over 1,000 agents, managers and execs.

It's true that many of these resources come with a cost, but when has anything of real value ever been free? Marketing will pay dividends for talented writers who invest in themselves. In fact, by using several of these resources in conjunction, you significantly increase your chances of getting through those outer kingdom walls.


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, Hallmark Channel's You've Got a Friend and the soon-to-be-released Memento Mori. 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. 

COmpetitions

PROUD TO BE: WRITING BY AMERICAN WARRIORS
http://www.semopress.com/events/proud-to-be-writing-by-american-warriors/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 19, 2023. Pays $250 prize in each category of Short Fiction, Poetry, Interview with a Warrior, Essay, and Photography. Writing must be by veterans, military-service personnel, or their families. Include the connection in your short bio. All entries considered for the anthology. Limit one submission in each category per person. Poetry: up to three poems (five pages maximum). Fiction, essay, interview: 5,000-word limit. Interviews are with military or veterans. Photography: up to three good-quality photos (will be printed in the book as b&w). (thanks www.erikadreifus.com)

CHANGING LIGHT PRIZE FOR A NOVEL IN VERSE
https://livingstonpress.uwa.edu/ChangingLightAward.htm
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 25, 2023. Recommended length: 90-160 pages. Gives a $500 prize plus 20 copies, standard royalty contract. Publication in trade paper, ebook, and Kindle.

PEGGY WILLIS LYLES HAIKU AWARDS
https://theheronsnest.com/awards/awards_2023.html
NO ENTRY FEE. Maximum number of haiku allowed: five haiku in English. First Place - $200, and a miniature crystal turtle. Second Place - $100. Third Place - $50. Honorable Mention (up to five recipients) - award certificates and recognition on our "Awards" page and in our annual print edition. 

OFIC MAGAZINE PRIZE
https://www.oficmag.com/submit
Deadline June 2, 2023. The OFIC Press Prize will be awarded to up to two novels and three to four novellas, which will be published in 2024. The prize for a novel is $1000 and a novella $250. Novels will be published as standalone books and novellas will be compiled into an anthology. We're looking for manuscripts that don't really fit in a traditional publishing category, maybe because they're too romance-y for general or literary fiction, and not romance-y enough for romance. Or maybe there's just a truly tasteless amount of smut. What we value most is an earnest portrayal of character, interesting relationship dynamics, and well-crafted prose that prioritizes clarity and voice. Novellas can be 12,000 to 50,000 words; novels are over 50,000. While we have no upper limit, know that anything over 150k is going to be a really hard sell. 

THE ELEGANT LITERATURE AWARD FOR NEW WRITERS
https://www.elegantliterature.com/contest/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline monthly. Elegant Literature is one of the largest awards open to unpublished writers, and the only one closed to professionals. We are the first magazine to pay pro rates and only accept submissions from new writers, paying new authors around the globe over $70,000 so far. One new writer receives the $3,000 award every month. We also choose the best stories, pay the authors above-professional rates, and publish them in our magazine.

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

ELEGANT LITERATURE
https://www.elegantliterature.com/submission-guidelines/
Word Limit 500–2000 words, excluding the title. Pay ten cents per word, including the title. We accept all genres. Elegant Literature is the first short fiction magazine to pay professional rates but not accept submissions from pros. Our mission is to help new writers earn their first publishing credits—and their first dollar—from writing stories. We are a supportive community of new writers, and our education hub, AuthorHQ, provides a place where even those brand new to storytelling can learn and practice their craft. Education, community, and publication, all under one roof. Remember, submissions must follow this month’s theme. Membership is required, but there is a no-cost membership as well as paid.
 
SCALAWAG
https://scalawagmagazine.org/project-abolition/
Scalawag is also looking for stories to publish for the rest of the year as a part of Project Abolition. This especially applies to essays on figurative prisons and their connections to abolition, i.e.: Gender as a prison, the body as a prison, environmental hazards as a prison. We are also seeking stories about community responses to police reforms since 2020, including the ways movement has responded to urban policing as cities across the South generate new methods of carcerality. We want to know what's going on at the local level, big and small—from Cop City and the surrounding protests, to individual police departments training with Israeli security forces. If you are interested in publishing for Project Abolition outside of Abolition Week, please check the appropriate box on the pitch form. Our base pay rates range from $800 to $1500, depending on the level of reporting involved. 

LIISBETH
https://liisbeth.com/contributors/guidelines/
We are an online magazine yet publish a bit like a record label-periodically. We try to group articles and submissions by theme when it makes sense to do so. Articles are always about feminism, innovation, enterprise and critiques of policies and systems that drive inequality.  We are trans inclusive and intersectional feminists-full stop. We prioritize queries from creators who believe in our mission by demonstrating they have actually read a few articles in the magazine before submitting a query, or who are members of the Feminist Enterprise Commons, and/or become newsletter subscribers (it’s free). Pays up to $1,500.

SIERRA MAGAZINE
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/about-us#submission
Sierra is the storytelling arm of the Sierra Club, the United States’ oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental group. We are a national print and digital magazine publishing award-winning journalism and cutting-edge photography, art, and video dedicated to protecting the natural world. Combining features on green living and outdoor adventure with reporting about threats to the environment, Sierra brings together leading journalists, photographers, and filmmakers to convey the ideals at the heart of the Sierra Club’s mission. Our standard fee for online stories is $350; the fee can increase for regular contributors. We pay a flat fee of $250 for reviews and opinion pieces. We normally do not offer a fee to professional activists/advocates or full-time academics. Feature lengths range from 3,000 words to (rarely) 4,500 words or more with payment starting at $1/word and rising to $1.50/word for well-known writers with crackerjack credentials. Modest expenses may be paid in some cases. Much of the material in Sierra's departments is written by staff editors and contributing writers. The following sections of the magazine are open to freelancers. Articles are 250 to 2,000 words in length; fees are $250 to $2,000 unless otherwise noted.

NONPROFIT QUARTERLY
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/
NPQ is a leading national nonprofit publication that covers civil society—that is, nonprofits, social movements, and philanthropy. We’ve been publishing a quarterly print magazine since 1999 and online since 2006. Pitches should not exceed 200 words. We generally publish articles of 1,500 to 3,000 words, but this is not a rigid rule; hyperlink citations are preferred over footnotes. We especially want articles and pitches covering one or more of our four justice areas—economic, racial, climate, and health justice—as well as leadership, management, and philanthropy. If your article or pitch is a perfect fit for one of current newsletters—Health Justice, Race + Power, Economic Democracy, Climate Justice, and Leadership—please state that in your message. Pays $300 for web pieces. 

NEW LINES MAGAZINE
https://newlinesmag.com/pitch/
New Lines Magazine publishes essays and reportage on a wide range of subjects that focus broadly on the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. We also cover politics, culture and controversies in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia, and conduct deep-dive investigative journalism based on open-source intelligence and leaked data. Specifically looking for pitches for long form, in-depth reportage from writers across North Africa and the Sahel. In your pitch, please include: a smidge of background (2 lines); a short synopsis of the story you plan to tell (the nut graf often works well for this); why you should be writing the story, and why now; who the sources will be for the story and what access you have to them. Please don't send: a topic instead of a story; work you've published elsewhere; a pitch that is over 300 words; or a story very similar to one we've already published (search the site). Most of the essays are paid $800. 

THREE SHIPS
https://www.three-ships.com/
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeme4DvEmzlj-kQIO9RlipnRCsQg736P4Md-R0kDRcn3gt7Yg/viewform
THey are looking for experienced home improvement experts to write 1,500- to 3,000-word articles on a variety of home services topics — everything from flooring to roofing. They are looking for experienced and passionate freelance writers for one of their flagship home improvement sites. Compensation: $0.10-0.12 cents per word, depending on experience. 

DEFECTOR
https://defector.com/how-to-pitch-defector
Longer essays and reported pieces will be paid a minimum of $1,000. Shorter pieces will be paid a minimum of $500. For audio and podcast work, producers/editors will be paid a minimum day rate of $400/day. If a freelancer contributes to Defector on an ongoing basis, they can negotiate with the publication to receive a W-2 contract for a mutually agreed upon duration of time. Defector writes about sports, politics, TV, movies, science, weird shit that happens on the internet, and anything else that catches our attention, because we believe that a good publication is one that reflects the genuine interests and obsessions of its staff.

BBC WORKLIFE
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200417-bbc-worklife-author-brief
Worklife is a BBC.com features site about the way we work, live and think in a rapidly shifting world, where the boundaries between the professional and the personal are increasingly blurrier. We offer trusted, insightful digital journalism from a global network of contributors, with a focus on reported narrative features. We are not a news site. Expect it to pay $600 or more. Please send along a pitch, no longer than three paragraphs, that includes:

How you’d sell the story in fewer than 68 characters
What the immediacy is, such as a news peg or new research
What the story is about and will accomplish
How you plan to report the story, such as relevant expert sources or case studies
Your new take, or how you’re advancing an existing story
What the reader will learn
Where you’ve written, and why you’re the person to tell the story

Publishers/agents

TK EDITING

Do you write with purpose? With love? With fervor? If so, then you're my kind of author. Like any editor, I have my favorite genres and story types. Adventure stories with dragons will always have a special place in my heart. But after editing everything from fiction to educational material, I've found that a manuscript's place in the author's heart is much more important. So if you've got a story that you absolutely have to tell or knowledge that must be shared, I would be delighted to help you on that journey.

In thanks to the wonderful resources that Hope continues to provide for us week after week, I'm extending a special offer to each of her readers: 10% off any editing project. Just let me know how you found me.

TK Editing - Editing with passion what has been written with passion.
Email [email protected]


- - - 


WILDHOUSE PRESS
https://wildhousepublishing.com/submissions/
Wildhouse Publishing curates books for unconventional people with adventurous spirituality. We publish a variety of genres, in several imprints, but WHP focuses on trade publication (so not academic tomes or textbooks for classrooms). WHP seeks full manuscripts for fiction and at least twenty poems if not the entire manuscript for poetry. Likewise looking for nonfiction. Wildhouse Publishing exists to publish books for spiritually adventurous people. Based in Boston, Massachusetts. 

BAEN
https://www.baen.com/
We are looking only for science fiction and fantasy. Preferred length: 100,000 - 130,000 words. Query letters are not necessary. We prefer to see complete manuscripts accompanied by a synopsis. We prefer not to see simultaneous submissions. Send your manuscript by using the submission form at: http://baen.com/slush/index/submit . Reporting time: usually within 12 to 15 Months. (Sorry, we get lots of manuscripts.)

BANCROFT PRESS
https://bancroftpress.com/about/submissions/
We publish trade fiction and non-fiction, and we publish what we like. Virtually every genre is represented by one of our fine authors; this is owed to their individual ability to tell a good story. From classic literature to political memoirs, from illustrated picture books to gripping suspense thrillers – the key is in the quality. We ask for your patience in waiting for our response. We do our best to respond within 6 months, but occasionally are unable to do so.

AK PRESS
https://www.akpress.org/pub-submissions.html
As a radical publishing house and anarchist collective, we're interested in works that reflect the rich traditions within anarchism—its theory, history, art, culture, economics, labor—as well as of fellow travelers in related historical and contemporary movements that share a common spirit. We will not however, publish submissions advocating electoral politics or that look to the state or capitalism for solutions. We are excited about writing that takes on contemporary crises, both international and domestic, through a radical lens. 

BLACK DAWN PRESS
https://www.akpress.org/black-dawn.html
Honoring anarchist traditions while also remembering the great Octavia E. Butler, Black Dawn seeks to explore themes that do not reinforce dependency on oppressive forces (the State, police, capitalism, elected officials) and will generally express the values of antiracism, feminism, anticolonialism, and anti-capitalism. We are for queerness, Blackness, antifascism, and for both dreaming and building better worlds. We believe the voices of the disenfranchised MUST be heard and are essential in establishing a society in which no one is allowed or desires to be placed in positions of power over others. With its natural creation of alternate universes and world-building, speculative fiction acts as a perfect tool for imagining various avenues that can be pursued to bring forth a just and free world. Agents and authors are encouraged to submit science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, horror, and mystery works of 25,000 to 55,000 words to [email protected]. 

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