VOLUME 23, ISSUE 44 | NOVEMBER 10, 2023 |
MOVING
FORWARD When a book is about to come out, people invariably ask me when I'll start on the next one. The thing is, when you see one book come out, there's another almost, if not totally, completed and sent to the publisher. It's a challenge to me. When one is released, another manuscript is completed. Keep moving forward. In this day and time, readers don't want one-hit wonders. They read a book, get to know the author, and instantly want to know what else they've written. The trouble is, if the author publishes one, then hangs around watching how it sells, or spends 100
percent of their time promoting just the current release, they don't gain traction with readers. When a reader loves your work, they want more of it. If they don't see another somewhere down the line, at least on the horizon somewhere, they move on to other authors who are more prolific. Does that mean you allow less quality in a book? No, not at all. It means
you focus on moving forward. It means you let each book teach you how to write the next one better. You keep writing. It sounds like a ton of work, and you'd be right in thinking so. Being prolific is not for the faint of heart, but the good news is that it becomes a habit. When I don't have 1000 words a day to write in a novel, I find something else to write.
The habit becomes ingrained. That scares some people. What if they invest all this time into books that do not sell? Well, therein lies the serious question. . . Why do you write? My husband is quick to say that he is happy we
don't have to totally exist off my book sales income. While it's better than most, it's not enough to pay much more than my mortgage and utilities. But then he turns around and adds, "But if it's what you love doing, it's worth it." He gets it. And he doesn't even write. |
C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
Email Hope | Visit Website | Sign up for Newsletter
Newsletter: ISSN: 1533-1326
FFW
has proudly been on the Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers list every year since 2000
Our subscriber list is NOT made available to others. Use information listed at your own risk. FundsforWriters gives no warranty to completeness, accuracy, or fitness of the markets, contests, and grants although research is done to the best of our ability. FundsforWriters finds open submission calls, contests, and markets from a wide variety of sources, including Erika Dreifus' Practicing Writer newsletter, Erica Verrillo's blog, Authors Publish, Poets & Writers, Duotrope, Winning Writers, Write Jobs Plus, LinkedIn Jobs, Emily Stoddard, and other newsletters and
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CALLING OUT OTHERS IN THE BUSINESS
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I recently read a post by a USA Today Bestselling author on Facebook, in which she clipped something from an upcoming writer's event that said how they are willing to accommodate all sorts of people. They used the term "fat people" in their list of folks they accommodated. This author didn't name the conference, admitted she wasn't attending it, but asked the public if she was wrong in being upset about that, or should she just see the intent
and move on. I said the latter, just throwing my two cents in the mix. She wasn't happy and asked me to elaborate. I tried to explain that they weren't malicious in their promise, and there was no point in picking. She wasn't attending, so why bring this up? Focus on her books and more positive messages. What if they
just chose a wrong word? What if this was an intern who made a mistake? What if it was tongue-in-cheek? But she was hell bent on making a point. Now, I cannot help but remember her in the vein of bringing this up and getting stirred up about it while stirring up others, when I'm sure she'd rather be remembered for the stories she writes. . . of which I now can't even remember the
titles. She asked me if the comment was about accommodating OLD PEOPLE, would I better understand. (Thank you very much.) Would that be enough to upset me, she asked. I told her that if it were me, I'd move on. No, I was not upset. . .in either case. I choose to avoid getting upset as much as possible. Life is too short. And I moved on. It pains me that the world is
quick to pick out mistakes when absolutely none of us is flawless. Sooner or later, we're going to make a typo, use the wrong word, or get the punctuation wrong. We are human beings. Heck, even AI cannot get everything right, so how are we? Better to be remembered for being amiable and for writing good material than for having an eagle eye for others' errors. It's like actors taking political and social stands, bashing some viewpoint they don't prefer.
Suddenly I cannot see them for their art anymore because of the noisiness of their opinions. Just be careful, selective, and purposeful in how you are remembered.
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Registration to Open for Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop Take a look at this sensational slate of keynoters and faculty for the April 4-6 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop at the University of Dayton and register on Nov. 15 at the
one-day-only early bird fee of $499*. The registration fee includes meals and the opportunity to laugh, learn and be inspired by keynoters and dozens of accomplished faculty who will help you hone your craft, market your work and explore publishing paths. Check out all the special features and sessions — and join us! It’s more than a writer’s workshop. It’s an experience. *(After Nov. 15, the fee is $524.) FYI: Taken at an Edisto Bookstore signing. The friend on the left is the person I modeled Savvy after (Slade's best friend). The friend on the right is the person I modeled Sophie after (Callie's best friend). Trust me....they fit. - December 2, 2023 - Tinsel Town Holiday Market - Lake Murray Presbyterian Church, 2721 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29036 - 9-1:00 - C. Hope Clark selling books and speaking to fans. - December 9, 2023 - Signing, The
Coffee Shelf, 130 Amicks Ferry Rd, Chapin, SC - 8-12 AM
- December 9, 2023 - Triangle Sisters in Crime Zoom - Gary W. Clark, Sr talks about crime solving and Hope's books - 1:30-2:30 PM - December 23, 2023 - Signing Edisto Bookstore, Edisto Island, SC - 1-3
PM
- June 1-8, 2024 - The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat,
Bar Harbor, Maine - writer-in-residence - July 9, 2024 - South Congaree-Pine Ridge Branch Library, 200 Sunset Dr, West Columbia, SC 29172 - 5:30-7:00 PM
Email: [email protected] to schedule events, online or otherwise. There's starting to be life out there! I don’t wait for moods.
You accomplish nothing if you do that.
Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.
~Pearl S.
Buck
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to [email protected] >>
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Travel Writers: How to Presell Your Travel Stories
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By Roy Stevenson My 17-year travel writing journey mantra is, "presell your travel stories before you visit your destination." Many travel writers go on trips without assignments. Then they're faced with the uphill grind of selling their ideas after they return. I'm always surprised at this random approach, because it's not good business.
It's difficult to sell stories after you travel. Instead, travel writers should snag assignment letters in advance. Additionally, I believe in preselling as many travel articles as possible.
Here's How to Presell Your Travel Stories Before You Travel
1.Select destinations that interest you.
Destinations you're passionate about will provide plenty of story ideas. You'll enjoy doing your research before the trip, and the trip itself will be more enjoyable. I often turn down invitations for press trips to destinations that aren't appealing. I know what I write best. 2. Research your destinations. Use the Internet and guidebooks
to read about the place in advance. You'll naturally generate, identify, and presell more story ideas.
3. Remember where you’ve already published.
Think, "Could I match up this destination with any of my outlets?" They already know your work.
4. Write query letters and fire them out to appropriate publications and
websites ahead of time.
5. Once you've landed several assignments, contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) at the destination. Tell them about your assignments and politely request their assistance with your itinerary, transport, meals, accommodations, complimentary entry to attractions, and guides. Here's an example: The
Boneyard, Tucson, Arizona. My wife and I wanted to go someplace warm and sunny one winter to escape the Seattle rain. We brainstormed where we wanted to go, and I said I'd like to see The Boneyard, in Tucson, Arizona. The Boneyard is an enormous US Air Force outdoor storage facility in Tucson, with more than 4,000 aircraft. I knew I could sell an article about this place. I queried
an aviation magazine that had previously published a couple of my stories and got my first assignment for this destination. My wife researched things to do around Tucson and found a free guide, "100 Things to Do Around Tucson" on their tourism website. Through this listing we learned about Bisbee and Tombstone, mining towns with an interesting history. I remembered an outlet for these, Lost Treasure Magazine, with readers who enjoy
searching for precious metals, visiting ghost towns, and learning about mining history. I pitched these stories and got two more assignments. I also discovered that Fort Huachuca, near the Mexican Border, had several on-base museums about signals and communications, so I pitched that story to a ham radio magazine I'd written for, Popular Communications, and got that assignment too. Then, I found out that a new resort was opening near Tombstone and pitched that idea to an online travel magazine, GoNomad.com, and they committed to that story. So, with a day's research and a flurry of query letters (which took two weeks), I had five solid "Letters Of Assignment." Armed with these assignments, I approached the Tucson and Cochise County
Convention & Visitors' Bureaus. They came up with a 12-day customized itinerary for us, including accommodations, most meals, and guided tours and complimentary entry to the various tourist attractions.
It was a memorable trip and we were able to escape the rainy Seattle winter for a couple of weeks. We saw all the attractions needed for the articles, plus a few things we wanted to do for fun.
I delivered the articles, which pleased the CVB media reps and our hosts, and I've been invited back to Arizona twice more on press trips. We've used this formula dozens of times in several countries and had marvelous travel experiences.
When you produce multiple assignments, the CVBs will want to work with you to ensure your trip goes well and you have what you need to write good
stories. The CVBs know their region intimately. Once they get familiar with you and understand the types of articles you write, they will even suggest places to visit that you might not know about. This usually results in more story ideas to pitch once you're back home.
You will not get assignments for every story angle you pitch. Even with my acceptance rate of 90 percent, some story
ideas are rejected. The idea is to fire out as many queries on different story ideas to as many magazines as you can. It's a shotgun approach, and should work as nicely for you as it does for me.
BIO - Freelance travel writer Roy Stevenson has had more than 1,000 articles published in 200+ regional, national, and international magazines, newspapers, trade journals, custom publications, specialty magazines, in-flights,
on-boards, and online travel magazines. He's considered one of the most prolific travel writers in the U.S.A. You can read Roy's bio and see some samples of his work at his writer's website, www.Roy-Stevenson.com
He produces a free weekly newsletter for aspiring travel writers. It's considered one of the most informative e-zines in the travel writing business. http://www.pitchtravelwrite.com/pitchtravelwrite-ezine.html
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HUDSON REVIEW SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://hudsonreview.com/news-events/short-story-contest-opening-in-september-2023
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. Limit 10,000 words. First prize: $1000. Second and third prizes: $500. Winning stories will be published in The Hudson Review. All submissions will be considered for publication and payment at our regular rates. MEMOIR PRIZE FOR BOOKS
https://memoirmag.submittable.com/submit/276953/2024-memoir-prize-for-books
$100 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2023. The Annual Memoir Prize awards Memoir and Creative
Nonfiction book-length works of exceptional merit in the categories of traditional, self-published, and previously unpublished prose. All entries must be in English. There are no restrictions on the type of press, subject matter, length, nationality of origin, or the year of publication. Grand Prize: US$2,000. Finalist: US$1,000. Finalist: US$1,000. Winning entrants will receive a brief commentary from one of the judges, one year of free Book Promotion by Memoir Magazine, and a digital award
seal for use in promoting your win, and (excerpts) will be considered for publication in Memoir Magazine. In addition, 12 Category winners will be chosen as Memoir Magazine Recommended Reads, to be featured on the winning announcement page, website, and social media outlets. JF POWERS PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION
https://www.dappledthings.org/the-jf-powers-prize-for-short-fiction
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. 1st place: $500 and publication in Dappled Things. 2nd place: $250 and publication in Dappled Things. Honorable mentions (up to 8): Publication and a year's subscription to Dappled Things. The word limit is 8,000
words. THE J. ANTHONY LUKAS PRIZE PROJECT
journalism.columbia.edu/lukas
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 7, 2023. Two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, in the amount of
$25,000 each, will be awarded to aid in the completion of significant works of nonfiction on topics of American political or social concern. Applicants for the award must already have a contract with a U.S.-based publisher to write a nonfiction book. The judges will make their decision on the basis of achieving maximum impact on a promising book project; the selection criteria will represent a blend of the merit of the book and the financial need of the author. BLACK FOX PRIZE
https://www.blackfoxlitmag.com/contests/
$12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. The theme for this round is “Rhapsody of Regret.” We are open to loose interpretations of the theme in
any genre, as always. Please submit your strongest fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and we will choose one winner that we feel interprets the theme best. The prize is $300 and publication in the Winter 2024 issue. All submissions are considered for publication in the Winter 2024 issue. Submissions should be no more than 5,000 words. For poetry, send up to three poems in the same document. For flash fiction, send up to two stories in the same document. READWRITESTRATEGIES
https://readwritestrategies.com/submissions
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 18, 2023. ReadWrite Strategies is partnering with Jim Dunn, PhD, DHA, FACHE to create an anthology of funny anecdotes
about the workplace. The shared trauma of COVID, along with the return to office, have left the world (and the workforce) in need of laughter, warmth, and connection. All stories should be 300 - 1200 words, and you can submit as many stories as you like. We particularly welcome stories from HR professionals. The five funniest stories will win an award: 1st place will receive $500 and a print copy, 2nd place will receive $200 and a print copy; and 3rd, 4th, and 5th place will each receive $100
and a print copy. Contest winners will be announced in February. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING GULLIVER TRAVEL GRANT
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants-3/the-gulliver-travel-grant/
Deadline November 30, 2023. Since
2004, the Gulliver Travel Grant has been awarded annually to assist writers of speculative literature in their non-academic research. These funds are used to cover airfare, lodging, and other travel expenses. Travel may be domestic or international. If awarded the grant, the recipient agrees to provide a brief report of their research experience (500-1,000 words) and an autobiographical statement describing themselves and their writing (500-1,000 words) for our files and for public dissemination
on our website and mailing list. AUDIBLE EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS FUND
https://www.audible.com/ep/audible-theater
The Fund specifically supports the creation of original dramatic work, written
with audio in mind, but theatrical in spirit. Any applicant over the age of 18 may submit a Script. Typical response time is 6-8 months. DGF EMERGENCY GRANT
https://dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit
For dramatists (playwrights, composers, lyricists, librettists) to apply for emergency financial assistance from the Dramatists Guild Foundation. If you hold a minimum of $15,000 in your combined bank accounts, we kindly ask that you refrain from re-applying at this time. DGF HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANT
https://dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit
The Dramatists Guild Foundation's (DGF) Housing Assistance Grants are one-time awards that assist professional dramatists (playwrights, composers, lyricists, librettists) with housing
expenses. DGF is committed to preventing eviction and displacement among theater writers and to help dramatists rebuild their lives during the pandemic recovery period. Theater writers should apply for immediate financial assistance with the following: outstanding mortgage and rent payments, sudden increases to rent prices, overdue utility bills, outstanding costs related to moving, or credit card debt related to any of the aforementioned reasons. If you hold a minimum of $15,000 in your
combined bank accounts, we kindly ask that you refrain from applying at this time. STRIKE RELIEF GRANT (WGA/SAG-AFTRA)
https://dramatistsguildfoundation.submittable.com/submit
For dramatists (playwrights, composers, lyricists, librettists) who wish to apply for a WGA/SAG-AFTRA Strike Relief Grant from the Dramatists Guild Foundation. If you hold $10,000 in your combined bank accounts, we kindly ask that you refrain from re-applying at this time. WRITING BETWEEN THE VINES CO-RESIDENCY
https://www.writingbetweenthevines.org/2024-west-wines-vineyard
$35 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 14, 2023. West Wines is a family winery in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. 1000 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA. Vineyard retreats for writers in all genres including fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, and poetry.
Funded through application fees and in partnership with wineries, Writing Between the Vines provides writers the time to focus on works in progress or cultivate new ideas in residencies of up to one week in length at no charge. THE LIGHTHOUSE
https://www.loveblackgirls.org/pitch
Black Girl Times (BGX) is always looking for thought-provoking stories and content for Black women, girls, and the people who
love them. Above all, we want our readers to gain a better understanding of our identity, triumphs, struggles, and the beauty of Black girls and women in the Southeast and beyond. Our pay rate– $0.25 to $1.00 per word–for writers depends on your level of experience, skill, and other factors. PRIDE SOURCE
https://pridesource.com/pitch-a-story
Pride Source Media is a multi-tiered media company with two primary publishing assets: Pride Source’s publications (Between The Lines Newspaper, Pride Source Magazine, Pride Source Yellow Pages, which are print products, as well as our digital platform, Pridesource.com) and Q Syndicate (the national LGBTQ+ wire service for regional LGBTQ+
press). We cover a wide range of topics that are of interest to the LGBTQ+ population: LGBTQ+ politics, relationships and weddings, sex, health, home, LGBTQ+ people and their pets, pop culture and celebrities, and other queer-centric trends. We feature a variety of types of stories: Short and long features, profiles, Q&As, essays, opinion pieces, listicles and video interviews. Though our focus is on Michigan, we are open to national stories, particularly national stories with a Michigan
spin. Columns/essays $100-$125; News features, other news/pop culture reporting $100-$250. SELF
https://www.self.com/story/how-to-pitch-a-story-to-self
SELF magazine is a
mission-driven health and wellness brand. Our goal is to help people take good care of themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. We have a few main categories of focus: health, fitness, food, beauty, love (think sex and relationships, both romantic and otherwise), and lifestyle (travel, money, career, home, productivity, and so on). Beyond those categories, here are the types of stories we’re looking for from freelancers: Reported Service, Personal Experience-Based Service,
Expert-Recommended Product Roundups. Opinion and Cultural Criticism, and Features. Fees are subject to change, but currently our rates start at $300 for a story with minimal to no reporting, and increase from there. Reported service stories start at $400; features start at $800. EMPIRE
https://www.empireonline.com/pitching-guide/
Here at Empire, we are always looking for exciting, original pitches for our news section, First Word. We want all our writers to have a demonstrable passion for cinema and TV. It helps to provide a few examples of your work when pitching. The better known the publication or website, the better. Pays roughly 40 cents/word and
up. MADNESS HEART PRESS
https://madnessheart.press/staff/?v=7516fd43adaa
Madness Heart Press is a small indie horror publisher. We gladly consider, Splatterpunk, Extreme
Horror, Bizarro, Poetry, and even stage plays. Our goal is to publish the things we love regardless of commercial viability. AGGADAH TRY IT
https://madnessheart.press/staff/?v=7516fd43adaa
Aggadah Try It is an imprint of Madness Heart Press, it is a place where we publish Jewish speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, bizzaro). It is the same process as Madness Heart Press, but both a wider and narrower scope. While Aggadah Try It only accepts Jewish stories written by Jewish authors, we accept any manuscript in the speculative/genre fiction vein. Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror. KORERO PRESS
https://www.koreropress.com/submission-guidelines/
Our love of lowbrow and pop surrealism drives us to focus on pop culture and art, in particular kustom kulture, street art, illustration, erotica and horror. We
know what we like and are quick to determine whether or not we are interested in a new idea. No novels. We do illustrated books. TA-HA PUBLISHERS
https://www.tahapublishers.com/public/submissions
Ta-Ha Publishers encourages and welcomes the submission of original book proposals that may appeal to our readers. Regrettably we are unable to accept young children’s books, picture books, fiction or poetry for submission. Our mission is to increase the love of reading Islamic literature through publishing high quality books that guide, inspire and elevate people through their life journey. KAR-BEN
https://www.karben.com/submissions
Kar-Ben publishes 20-25 new titles each year. All are books on Jewish themes for children and families. We are happy to review unsolicited manuscripts and artists’ samples. CODHILL PRESS
https://www.codhill.com/codhill-press-submissions/
Initially, the Press drew on a wide circle of interests, from traditional texts of Buddhism to teaching stories of various ways of wisdom to the iconic art of Frederick Franck. The
circle then widened to include esoteric studies in philosophy and in dance. Throughout, the Press had a second focus in publishing contemporary poetry. 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. Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint any editorials, contact [email protected] for permission. Do not assume that acknowledgements listed in your publication is considered a valid right to publish out of ours.
C. Hope Clark
E-mail: [email protected]
140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
http://www.fundsforwriters.com Copyright 2000-2023, C. Hope Clark
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