VOLUME 23, ISSUE 45 | NOVEMBER 17, 2023 |
HOLIDAYS DON'T
MEAN YOU CAN'T WRITE Well, in much of the world, this time of year gets hectic. Regardless the religion or holiday you honor, things amp up in many communities. In my household that means Thanksgiving, hubby's birthday (some years on Thanksgiving), two grandsons' birthdays, and Christmas. There's forever a sense of not being able to get everything done. Now is the time of year when a lot of writers slow down. Agents and editorial offices often close for most of December. Magazines and journals have less staff. Online newsletters and blogs apologize for missing an edition or they skip one, telling everyone they'll be back in January. I am not going to let you off the hook that easily. You should be writing. You should be getting your words in. Writing should be your haven for peace and avoidance of the insanity of holiday time. Frankly, your friends and family might be rather impressed seeing you grab your moment. If they aren't, then they should be.
It's the sign of something you hold dear. I know not everyone can, but do try to write here and there over the next 5-6 weeks and keep the momentum going. Not only will you be proud of yourself, but it will soothe your nerves, and best of all, you'll begin 2024 more ahead of the game than if you don't write. Here's wishing you the opportunity to 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
online sites. Many announcements are submitted directly to FundsforWriters from active contests, journals, magazines, publishers, residencies, and grant providers. All must be paying opportunities. Contests must pay a minimum of $200 first place. Submit potential listings to [email protected]
TWITTER
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BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark Read the FFW
Archive WOMEN READING ALOUD will host its 12th Writer's Retreat on the magical island of Alonnisos in Greece. June 13 - 22, 2024. Take time for daily writing workshops, reading, swimming in turquoise waters, napping, and
beautiful dinners on the beach. Stunning private accommodations for each writer includes a private balcony facing the Aegean Sea. Registration open: www.womenreadingaloud.org. Contact: [email protected]
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YOU HAVE TO LOVE THE LIFE
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I recently read an essay by an author who earned out her $20,000 advance in two years, which is amazing. What does that mean? They paid her a $20,000 advance when the book was sold to a traditional press, which meant she received no royalties until her advance earned itself out with sales. She did it. A lot of writers don't, by the way. https://electricliterature.com/my-book-earned-out-in-two-years-and-nothing-happened/ The problem is, she thought in doing that she would have done something. She would have become a household name and become someone that agents and editors were interested in for subsequent books. In fact, nothing happened. It was nothing but a
spreadsheet note on someone's computer ledger at the publishing house. Nobody, and I mean, nobody, is going to open doors for you. Few things in this business just happen without you having paved the way for it to happen. Opportunity happens to those who are fighting to be there when it happens. In this author's case, she busted her butt to sell 11,000 books with a self-imposed goal of two years to earn out the $20,000. In the end, hoping someone would
applaud her and and she'd somehow earn a reward. Nobody cared. This is a business that is always looking for the next book, the next deal, the next bestseller. To think someone is going to pat you on the back very much for working hard is flawed thinking. The bottom line is you have to love this work...this business. You have to love the writing and the publishing, whether or not you break records or win awards. The people who make millions and sell in the hundreds of thousands are oddities and rare. But they didn't write books for the millions. They wrote for the enjoyment. And they would have written with or without the awards. Nobody writes FOR these accolades. They just write. In my opinion, you write because you love it. If you write for the money, that's a shame. Sure, the money is nice, but if there's any profession that tests the
question, "What would you want to do even if you didn't get paid?" . . . writing is it. But you know what? It's only those people who adore writing, adore improving, adore advancing their skills in spite of not getting paid. . . who eventually get paid. If you learn nothing else about this profession, doing it half-assed gets you absolutely nowhere. The world can tell if this isn't a passion for you.
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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.) -November 18, 2023 - Crooked Creek Holiday Market - 1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin, SC 29036 - 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM - C> Hope
Clark selling books and speaking to fans. - 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!
Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul
according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.
Franz Kafka
<<If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to [email protected] >>
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Wrangling Complimentary Travel Writing Perks
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By Roy Stevenson In the early days of my freelance travel writing career I realized how difficult it was to earn enough money to travel to all the places I wanted to visit. Magazine pay rates vary tremendously from as little as 10c/word to $1/word. Thus, travel perks became important to defray my travel costs. Travel writing
perks are complimentary press trips, accommodations, transport, meals, tours, cruises, and entry to tourist attractions. Guides are often provided too.
How do you land these "comps?"
Think of assignments as your currency for getting the comps. When seeking comped travel, you need to produce an assignment or two up front before you approach the tourist agency
PR/media rep at your destination. The important thing is to have assignments in hand—and the more assignments, the better.
Media reps translate your assignments into advertising dollars. They look at your assignments and the publications and give a value to each publication since not all assignments (or publications) are created equal. Prestigious glossy travel magazines carry more weight than a small local newspaper, and print
publications tend to carry more weight than online websites and blogs.
The media reps will want to know these magazines and websites, often asking for contact details of the editors to confirm your assignments and to establish the subscriber base of the magazine.
The assignments in hand rule also applies to when you directly approach hotels, resorts, spas, restaurants, tourist
attractions, or any other travel-related businesses you'll be writing about. Producing assignments in advance means you pre-sell some stories before you visit your destination. (See this FFW article.) Once you've rounded up a few stories, the standard procedure to request travel assistance is . . . 1. Contact the tourist agency at your destination, introduce yourself, and
describe your assignments.
2. Politely request assistance with accommodations, meals, and entry to the attractions you'll be writing about.
Most tourist agencies will be happy to help. After all, their job is to work with the media. But keep in mind they have a budget budget, so your assignments will be evaluated before approved. If
they are not able to help you, then your back-up plan is to contact the media/PR persons at the attractions directly and tell them you have an assignment that involves them. Then, politely request comp entry to the attractions or tours or cruises.
Using this system, I've done two month-long trips to one dozen high-end luxury resorts and villas in Bali. Even novice travel writers have great success with this approach, as my coaching clients
have proven over and over again. One newbie couple scored an exceptional perk—a three-day luxury rail trip across Australia.
Another beginner writer received entry to tourist attractions, restaurants, and boat cruises in the Grand Cayman Islands. Another of my travel writers secured a world-class press trip across the mountains of Central Greece in a 4 x 4 vehicle, with guides, drivers, accommodations, and all meals covered. Plus, he
earned $1500 for his two print articles about the trip!
How do you approach CVBs and PR/media reps to request travel assistance?
Once you have an assignment or two confirmed, call. You make a phone call for two reasons: to make initial 'personal contact' and to confirm whom you will be working with. Then follow up your phone call with an email request to your contact person.
In your email request, flesh out your request thoroughly with details of your assignments. Include the following:
• Introduce yourself
• Include the magazine name
• Provide a working title of your assignment
• Give the anticipated length of the article
• Provide date of publication if known
• Give editor's name and contact details
If you can provide details of the magazine's paid subscriptions, newsstand sales, and total
distribution, the media rep will appreciate you even more.
Always be polite. Just because you have assignments doesn't entitle you to everything under the sun. It's a process. Make requests, not demands.
This process of requesting travel writers' perks is straightforward, but don't offend media reps by acting as if they owe you.
They have a number of journalists asking for assistance. They do a lot of juggling to put together itineraries and get your stay hosted. A healthy dose of civility, patience, and compromise goes a long way. Once you're on the trip, remember that you're working. It's not a vacation. Show up for all your appointments on time, be prepared with questions, show enthusiasm, and always let the media reps know that you appreciate their
efforts. After your trip, make sure to send a thank you email to everyone who supplied travel writers perks while you were there. And don't forget to send a copy of the magazine or a PDF of your article to your media contact when it gets published. This way, you'll continue getting those perks in the future.
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.
Subscribe here: http://www.pitchtravelwrite.com/pitchtravelwrite-ezine.html
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CLASH OF THE QUERY LETTERS
https://darlingaxe.com/pages/query-letter-clash
$5 CAD ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 31, 2024. In the fiction world, a query letter alone is not enough to land representation. The manuscript's first sentence, first paragraph, and first page are the crucial test. However, a query letter acts as a writer's resume or c/v. It sets the tone, lays out the book's market potential, and introduces the human behind the words and ideas. And of course, it also pitches the story itself. While an ideal query letter
may not seal the deal, it will fill literary agents with eager excitement—a most helpful frame of mind for them to be in as they turn to your sample pages. Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: does this query letter convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell? First place: $700 CAD. Second place: $200 CAD. Third place: $100 CAD. One double-spaced page. Original, unpublished, unrepresented work only. NARRATIVELY FALL SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.narrativemagazine.com/fall-2023-story-contest
$27 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. Open to all fiction and
nonfiction writers. We’re looking for short shorts, short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15,000 words, and must not have been previously chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest. First Prize is $2,500, Second Prize is $1,000, Third Prize is $500, and up to ten finalists will receive $100
each. All entries will be considered for publication. All contest entries are eligible for the $5,000 Narrative Prize and for acceptance as a Story of the Week. RED HEN PRESS QUILL PROSE AWARD
https://redhen.org/awards/quill-prose-award/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. First prize $1,000 and book publication by Red Hen Press. Submit 25,000-word minimum (approximately 150 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font); prose (fiction or nonfiction) by a queer writer only. CIDER PRESS REVIEW BOOK AWARD
https://ciderpressreview.com/bookaward/book-award-submission-guidelines/
$26 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. Offers a $1,500 prize, publication, and 25 author’s copies of a book length collection of poetry. Author
receives a standard publishing contract. Initial print run is not less than 1,000 copies. Submit 48-80 pages of original poetry in English not previously published in book form. HUMOR STORY CONTEST
https://readwritestrategies.com/submissions#1
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 18, 2023. We’re looking for funny creative nonfiction stories about moments when you’ve found the humor in the good, the bad, and the absurdity of work. ReadWrite Strategies is partnering with Jim Dunn, PhD, DHA, FACHE to create an anthology of funny stories 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. All accepted contributors will receive a digital copy of the book. 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. A. POULIN, JR. POETRY PRIZE
https://www.boaeditions.org/pages/a-poulin-jr-poetry-prize
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2023. Winner
receives book publication by BOA Editions, Ltd. in spring 2025 and $1,000 honorarium. Entrants must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of the U.S., or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or Legal Permanent Status (LPS). Only manuscripts by poets who have yet to publish a full-length book collection of poetry will be considered. GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING GOOD HART ARTIST RESIDENCY
https://goodhartartistresidency.org/apply-now/
Deadline January 8, 2024. We offer flexibility in scheduling the length of a
residency stay. New for 2024, we are adding Lakeshore Writer Friends. This residency welcomes two writer friends to the same property. Dates for Lakeshore Writer Friends: June 13-27, 2024. Residency includes a 10-21 day residency stay in a private, 1,150 sq. ft. home (selected residents are provided a window of time within which they have the flexibility to schedule a stay between 10-21 days in length); residencies between May – October have use of a detached, private studio space and basic art
supplies. All food provided, including a fully-stocked and well-equipped kitchen, homemade baked goods, and locally sourced ingredients, and a $500 stipend. Solitary time in a scenic environment, to work, reflect, and recharge, as well as the opportunity for community engagement. For parent artists, we are offering a childcare grant of $1,000 to one selected resident to help with the cost of dependent childcare at their home base while they attend a residency in Good Hart. QUAY WORDS WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE
https://literatureworks.org.uk/quay-words-are-seeking-a-writer-in-residence-for-march-2024/
Deadline December 3,
2023. We are seeking to appoint a writer, storyteller, spoken word artist or other wordsmith to be in residence for the calendar month of March 2024 for the equivalent of at least one day per week during that time. The selected writer will be engaged by Literature Works on a contractor/freelance basis as writer-in-residence for the term. The theme for Quay Words Spring 2024 is ‘Heritage’ – and for this season we’re particularly interested in uncovering the hidden voices of the
Quayside’s heritage. The theme is open to interpretation, and we’re keen to explore the different ways that words can be used to tell the stories of place. How can we use creative writing as a tool to welcome communities in and make people’s voices heard – both the voices of the past and the present day? We offer an inclusive fee for the Residency of £1,000 to include the delivery of the public-facing events. We will encourage our writer to find time to develop their own work at the Custom
House and we invite them to spend as much time on site as they wish. We will provide a private writing space in the building for the duration of the residency. Location Literature Works, Courtenay House, Pynes Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AZ TENNESSEE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FELLOWSHIP
https://tnartscommission.org/grants/individual/
Deadline January 22, 2024. Literary Arts (three categories): Fiction, Children’s Literature/Young Adult Literature, Poetry. Amount $5,000. Fellowships provide those individuals who by education, experience, or natural talent engage in a particular art form or discipline, and live and work in Tennessee. To
qualify, an artist must be financially compensated for his or her work, and this compensation must be a significant source of support for their livelihood. MARSHSONG RESIDENCY - LOWCOUNTRY SC
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Conroy-Center-Writer-s-Residency--Feb-28---March-6-.html
Deadline December 2, 2023. Coinciding with the annual March Forth collaboration with historic Penn Center, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will offer our eighth Conroy Center Writer's Residency this coming spring, available to writers of all prose genres. Located on a salt marsh, the residency at MarshSong
Cottage provides an inspirational, creative space in the heart of Pat Conroy’s beloved lowcountry. The residency location is a guest cottage on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Beaufort and 15 minutes from the beach at Hunting Island State Park. The residency dates will be February 28 to March 6, 2024, overlapping with March Forth, which the selected writer will be invited to attend. SOJOURNERS
https://sojo.net/editorial-policies-and-procedures
https://sojo.net/magazine/write
Sojourners is an independent, award-winning print and online magazine of faith, culture, and politics. Our mission is to inspire hope
and action by articulating the biblical call to racial and social justice, life and peace, and environmental stewardship. We accept pitches for reported pieces, analysis, and commentary that address social justice issues or appeal to a well-informed faith audience. We are also looking for pieces that use a solutions lens when reporting on social issues. Expect roughly 40 cents/word. DEATH IN THE MOUTH ANTHOLOGY
https://deathinthemouth.com/#ditm2
https://airtable.com/appQuqQvhAiUm3rGs/shrpyUTmVkbqjxYAv
Deadline December 1,
2023. It will feature twenty prose stories spanning from the terrifying mythic past to the unnerving far future, real and fictive worlds, and explore unique and unsettling manifestations of horror. Each story will be accompanied by an original black and white illustration by a unique artist. Limit 1,000-6,000 words. Payment is eight cents/word. CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE MONITOR
https://www.csmonitor.com/About/Contributor-guidelines
The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization offering calm, thoughtful, award-winning coverage for independent thinkers. We tackle difficult conversations and divisive issues – we don’t shy away from hard problems.
But you’ll find in each Monitor news story qualities that can lead to solutions and unite us – qualities such as respect, resilience, hope, and fairness. Pays up to $400 for up to 1,000 words for essays, and up to $250 for poetry. CHICKEN SOUP: LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline December 31, 2023. You receive a check for $250 and 10 free copies of your book for a 1,200-word real story written in first person on the theme laughter. Looking for stories about something that happened to you in your life — in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home
— that made you and the people around you laugh out loud. They loko forward to hear your true stories. They want them to be silly, outrageous, and hilarious. THE METROPOLE
https://themetropole.blog/submission-guidelines/
The Metropole is able to pay a $200 flat fee. We accept original pieces on any aspect of urban history or on topics that are of interest to urbanists. These may take the form of essays, historiographies, bibliographies, transcribed interviews, reviews of books or other media, overviews of special collections, travelogues, or news analyses. Posts should range from 500-2000 words,
with the exception of book reviews, historiographies, and bibliographies, which may be longer. Posts should not exceed 2000 words. 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. SHAFFNER PRESS
https://schaffnerpress.com/submissions/
Fiction: literary
adult fiction, short fiction collection, historical with socially relevant content, crime fiction. Non-fiction: 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, music. No Children’s or Young Adult fiction or non-fiction. No science fiction, romance, or fantasy. Considers manuscripts between 60,000 and 100,000 words. CLASH BOOKS
https://www.clashbooks.com/submission-guidelines
We are looking for strong, fresh voices and POVs in any genre. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. CLASH Books is about global perspectives, contrasts, and
juxtapositions. VINE LEAVES PRESS
https://www.vineleavespress.com/submissions.html
Looking for: novels and novellas (all genres accepted, but with a literary bent), memoirs/
biographies/ autobiographies, creative nonfiction, writing/publishing reference books, short story collections, and poetry and vignette collections. For shorter works, such as poetry and vignettes, will not accept anything shorter than 60 pages. 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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