VOLUME 24, ISSUE 4 | january 26, 2024

BE THAT LOCAL FACE

I attended a school program presented by my grandson's fourth grade class this week. Someone hollered my name in the hubbub of folks leaving afterwards, saying, "Hope Clark! My favorite author!" We laughed and I thanked her. 

The principal of that same school stopped me in the school pick-up line not long ago and asked if I was Hope Clark the author. I said yes. We talked and talked about my books and how he'd read them. 

I spoke to my grandson's class on Secret Reader day, when a secret family member appears to read a book to the class. I had to give five clues about who I was in terms of what I did or what I enjoyed. My being an author became a big topic of conversation that day. I was asked for my autograph on a student's notebook. 

I could go on and on about this subject. A lot of writers see successful as being nationally known. What difference does it make if you sell 5,000 books locally or nationally? Trust me, those locally who love you will spread the word outside of the local area anyway. 

It's not about where you advertise. It's about being seen, being consistent in your promotion, and offering a constant production of material that proves you are indeed a writer. 

C. Hope Clark
Editor, FundsforWriters
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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 - http://twitter.com/hopeclark
AUTHOR SITE - http://www.chopeclark.com 
FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark
GOODREADS - http://www.goodreads.com/hopeclark 
BOOKBUB - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-hope-clark

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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

MORE ON PITCHING TO MARKETS

As I tried to explain last week, pitches must be smart and cater to the needs of the editor and their publication first and foremost. Again, in my researching markets, I came across a guidelines page with great advice. Climate Change News posts detailed and informative guidelines at https://www.climatechangenews.com/write-for-us.

In your pitch, explain:

What is new? Whether your story is based around a single event, ongoing process or trend, explain why *now* is the time to read about it.

Why does it matter to an international audience?

Who are the main actors? To catch a reader’s attention, there should be colourful characters and/or tension between different interest groups.

What sources would you use? Make the most of any hard-to-reach contacts, leaked documents, original analysis and on-the-ground reporting.

What is your background? If you have not written for us before, include a short bio and links to two or three stories you have had published.

Where is the action? For certain reporting programmes, we can cover reasonable travel expenses, by prior agreement.

Is there a visual or audio component? While our reporting is text-based, good photos can elevate a story and we are open to multimedia ideas.

The guidelines go into greater detail about rates, themes, the dos and don'ts. . . just the type of guidelines one loves to find when seeking markets.

 FundsforWriters posts a very detailed guidelines page for probably the same reasons.

1) To avoid the back and forth banter with prospective writers. There just isn't time.

2) To weed out those writers who don't have the knowledge or experience.

3) To make selection easier (i.e., to save time).

As to that last one, when someone neglects to follow the guidelines, it's easier to reject. It saves the time of reading the actual submission. That sounds shallow, but when faced with a pile of submissions, there has to be a time-saving way to cull.

Be that writer who follows every word of the guidelines, and you might be amazed at how quickly an editor gets in touch. At least they'll read your submission. 

(Picture source 82992659 © creativecommonsstockphotos | Dreamstime.com) 

SUPER SPONSOR

Need accountability for your writing practice? Inside StoryCore, my new online writing community, you'll find a humming network of writers who are dedicated to making progress on their own work, growing their craft and helping other writers along the way. A low-cost monthly membership gives you:

• Inspirational quotes and questions
• Writing challenges
• Monthly writing craft talks
• 1-1 coaching calls to talk about your work
• Monthly Q&A sessions, where you can ask anything about your writing project or the writing craft in general
• Invitations/opportunities to join small writing groups
• Opportunities to connect with an accountability partner
• Opportunities to receive feedback on your works-in-progress
•  

Join for just $37/mo (or get two months free on the annual plan of $370/year) and take your writing to the next level!

Learn more and sign up at https://community.thestorycore.org/products/communities/storycore

Questions? Email [email protected].

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

-February 12, 2024 - International Women's Writers Guild, Zoom, The Facts, Fiction, and Hope of Grants for Writers, 4 PM Eastern. 

-March 8, 2024 - Colleton County Library, 600 Hampton St, Walterboro, SC - 1-2PM

-March 22-24, 2024 - Writer's Digest Mystery/Thriller Virtual Conference - presenter - Keeping Pace in the Middle of Your Mystery

-May 29, 2024 - A Moveable Feast, presenter C. Hope Clark, Restaurant TBD, Pawley's Island, SC

-June 1-8, 2024 - The Gutsy Great Novelist Retreat, Bar Harbor, Maine - writer-in-residence

-June 22, 2024 - Richland County Library, Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Rd, Irmo, SC - time TBD

- 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!     

SUCCESS QUOTE

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

– F. Scott Fitzgerald
 

SUCCESS STORY

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

FEATURED ARTICLE

COMPETITIONS

Like many of us who KNOW we have lived through an experience that simply must be written, you’ve probably gotten stuck somewhere along the writing path. Most of us who long to write our memoirs do a lot of PAINFUL stopping and starting.

Are you ready to get your book done?

The Narrative Project’s 9-month Get Your Book Done program will give you EVERYTHING YOU NEED to complete the first draft of your memoir and prepare you for developmental edits. The Get Your Book Done program is a live tele-program, which means you get to take part virtually from the comfort of your own home. We enroll a maximum of 24 writers per cohort.

We help you create an organized writing life that is designed specifically for YOUR personality, temperament, and schedule. We provide accountability for getting your work done and support for the hard times. We teach you story-telling skills that help you craft effective narrative arc, build characters on the page, develop theme, construct scenic depiction, establish pacing, discover voice, and create believable dialogue.

And… at the end of the process you are guaranteed publication in an anthology of your peers.

Get more information and apply today at https://www.thenarrativeproject.net/the-program/

TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/uncategorized/the-2024-times-chicken-house-childrens-fiction-competition-is-now-open/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. A worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a £10,000 advance (subject to contract) for a complete fiction manuscript of any genre for children aged 7 up to YA. The winner will also be offered representation by Lydia Silver of Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency.

THE LIME PICTURES NEW STORYTELLER AWARD
https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/uncategorized/the-2024-times-chicken-house-childrens-fiction-competition-is-now-open/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2024. A prize sponsored by leading TV production company Lime Pictures, awarded to the submission which shows the greatest TV development potential and chosen by Chicken House Publisher Barry Cunningham and Lime Pictures’ Tim Compton. The winner will receive a £7,500 publishing contract plus an offer of representation. The good news is, you don’t need to do anything extra to be considered for the Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award; simply enter the TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION above as normal.

PURORRELATO MICRO-STORY CONTEST
https://www.casafrica.es/en/event/purorrelato-2024-micro-story-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline April 16, 2024. Aims to promote literary creation that encourages us to feel and think about Africa and to continue showing different realities that approach us to the continent, away from the stereotypes that have marked it for so long. Any person over the age of 18 can participate, with a maximum of three micro-stories per author. The micro-stories could be submitted in Spanish, English, French or Portugueses, with a maximum length of 1500 characters (not words) including spaces and excluding the title. First award: 750 euros. Second award: 375 euros. Third award: 225 euros.

ABR ELIZABETH JOLLEY SHORT STORY AWARD
https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/prizes-programs/elizabeth-jolley-story-prize/current-prize
ENTRY FEE AU$20 to AU$30. Deadline April 22, 2024. For an original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English. First prize: $6,000 AU. Second prize: $4,000 AU. Third prize: $2,500 AU.

FITZCARRALDO ESSAY PRIZE - UK/IRELAND
https://fitzcarraldoeditions.com/prizes/essay-prize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 17, 2024. An annual competition for unpublished writers. The judges will be looking for essays that explore and expand the possibilities of the essay form, with no restrictions on theme or subject matter. Pays £3,000 to the best proposal for a book-length essay (minimum 25,000 words) by a writer resident in the UK & Ireland who has yet to secure a publishing deal. In addition to the £3,000 prize the winner will have the opportunity to spend up to two months in residency at the Mahler & LeWitt Studios in Spoleto, Italy, to work on their book. The book will then be published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.

GOLDEN HAIKU POETRY COMPETITION
https://goldentriangledc.com/event/golden-haiku/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 4, 2024. Poets are invited to submit up to two original, self-authored haiku. Winning poets will win monetary prizes and recognition, while selected haiku (which includes winners) will be displayed throughout the neighborhood starting in March. The competition is open to all ages, worldwide. Golden Haiku follows the Haiku Society of America’s guidelines for modern haiku, which does not require the traditional 5-7-5 structure. First Place – $500. Second Place – $200. Third Place – $100. Regional/DC – $200. This year's theme is "Transforming Paths."

DIANA WOODS MEMORIAL AWARD
https://lunchticket.org/contests/dwm/
NO ENTRY FEE. Open through February 2024. Creative nonfiction authors are invited to submit an essay of up to 3,500 words on the subject of their choice to be considered in creative nonfiction. Winners will receive $250 and their work will be featured in the next issue of Lunch Ticket. Each award recipient must submit a 100-word biography, current photo, and send a brief note of thanks to the Woods family.

LITTLE TOKYO HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.littletokyohs.org/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 29, 2024. The Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories for its 11th annual Imagine Little Tokyo short story contest in the categories of English language, Japanese language and youth (18 and younger). The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of Little Tokyo through a creative story that takes place in Little Tokyo. Each category winner will be awarded $500 in cash with their short story being published in The Rafu Shimpo, Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society website.

THE ANDRÉS MONTOYA POETRY PRIZE
https://www.andresmontoyapoetry.com/andr%c3%a9s-montoya-prize.html
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 16, 2024. Supports the publication of a first full-length book of poems by a Latinx poet residing in the United States. The winning poet will receive $1000 from the Huizache Literary Initiative and a contract from University of Nevada Press as part of its New Oeste Series. Upon publication of the winning book, the Huizache Literary Initiative will extend an invitation to both the winner and the judge to give a joint reading at UC Davis.

Geminga 24: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Graphic Novel, or Art

Authors & Artists Eligible

Geminga is a neutron star so small it was difficult to detect. With Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art, Sunspot Lit honors the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Graphic novels should be 4 pages or less. Submissions may be excerpts from longer works. Visual art entries should be paintings, drawings, or sketches no larger than 25 inches square. Sculptural forms should be no larger than 25 inches in any dimension (length, height, or width).

Open: January 1

Close: January 31

Entry fee: $12.50

Prize: $500 cash, publication for the winner, publication offered to runners-up and finalists.

Sunspot asks for first rights only; all rights revert to the contributor after publication. Works, along with the creators’ bylines, are published in the next quarterly digital edition an average of two months after contest completion, as well as in the annual fall print edition.

Works should be unpublished except on a personal blog or website. Artists offered publication may display their pieces in galleries, festivals or shows throughout the publication contract period.

Enter as many times as you like through Submittable or Duotrope, but only one piece per submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please withdraw your piece if it is published elsewhere before the winner is selected.

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIP / CROWDFUNDING

THE JESSIE KESSON FELLOWSHIP - UK
https://www.moniackmhor.org.uk/writers/awards-residencies/jessie-kesson-fellowship
Deadline February 15, 2024. The Jessie Kesson Fellow receives time and space to develop their work, as well as opportunities to expand their practice. This includes delivering creative writing workshops based on or inspired by Jessie Kesson’s life and work, with local youth groups, libraries, or community groups. Live on-site in the cottage at Moniack Mhor from Monday 26th August – Saturday 14th September 2024. Receive a stipend of £350 per week (up to 3 weeks), plus travel and accommodation. The fellowship is open to established writers working in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, song-writing, or playwriting. To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must have had at least one major piece of work published by a UK publishing house.

REPLENISH RESIDENCIES
https://www.astudiointhewoods.org/apply-for-replenish-residencies-2024-25/
Deadline March 13, 2024. Recipients will receive a $1,600 stipend, staff support, and an opportunity to have a documentation session with a photographer. Replenish Residencies provides 1-2 week restorative visioning retreats to local BIPOC artists and culture bearers; the heart of New Orleans culture. Location New Orleans.

CALIFORNIA GRANT PANELISTS NEEDED
https://arts.ca.gov/grants/panels/
Deadline March 8, 2024. The California Arts Council is seeking arts and cultural practitioners from disparate communities statewide to volunteer for a critical role in the grant application process as grant review panelists. Prospective candidates must be California residents age 18 or older with experience in a wide range of artistic, cultural, and social fields. Individuals who complete their panel service will receive a $300 honorarium to subsidize them for their attendance at two to three virtual meetings and rank submission activities. Panelists make a four- to six-week commitment to read and rank roughly 30-50 applications by the grant review deadline. An average of 30-60 minutes of time is needed to appropriately review and rank each panel application.

FUND FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM SEED GRANTS
https://investigate.submittable.com/submit
Deadline February 15, 2024. Grants are for preliminary reporting for specific projects. The grants cover early reporting that can lead to full investigative projects. Grants are $1,000 to $2,500. The entire grant is paid up-front. Journalists who receive seed funding can apply for full grants (up to $10,000) once they conduct the preliminary reporting and secure a commitment from a media outlet to publish or broadcast the story.

FUND FOR INVESTIGATIVER JOURNALISM REGULAR AND EXPEDITED GRANTS
https://investigate.submittable.com/submit
Deadline January 28, 2024. The Fund provides grants to journalists for investigative stories that break new ground. Grants are for specific investigative projects. They average $5,000 but can be as high as $10,000. They cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document collection, and equipment rental. The Fund also considers requests for small stipends. The Fund provides grants for print and online articles, television and radio stories, documentaries, podcasts, and books. To be considered, foreign-based story proposals must come from US-based reporters or have a strong US angle involving American citizens, government, or business; all stories must be published in English, in a media outlet in the United States.

JAMES WELCH PRIZE FOR INDIGENOUS WRITERS
https://poetrynorthwest.submittable.com/submit/182716/submit-to-the-james-welch-prize-for-indigenous-writers
The prize is open to emerging poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length literary work in any genre are eligible. Between December 15 and February 15, each entrant may submit up to three poems in a single document. Winners receive $1,000.
 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

CLIMATE HOME NEWS
https://www.climatechangenews.com/write-for-us/
Send a short (<300 words) outline of what you intend to write, not the finished article. The relevant editor may have guidance on how to make it a good fit for Climate Home. Successful stories complement the coverage of our editorial team and combine human interest with hard news. All stories must have a climate change angle and an international outlook. While our coverage is informed by scientific evidence, our editorial focus is on the political, economic and social dimensions of the climate crisis. Topics of interest include climate finance, major energy projects, land use conflicts, loss and damage attributable to climate change, greenwash, climate diplomacy and geopolitics. Rates start at £0.35 a word (GBP). A standard 600-word news story should involve interviewing (and usually quoting) at least three sources and linking to relevant data or research. Email news pitches to Joe Lo [email protected] and investigative pitches to Sebastian Rodriguez [email protected].

CHICKEN SOUP: ANGELS AND MIRACLES
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline February 28, 2024. We are looking for powerful, astounding stories that will make people say "wow" or give them chills. This book is for everyone, whether religious or non-religious. Limit 1,200 words. Pays $250 and 10 free copies of your book.

THE GUARDIAN - WHY I QUIT COLUMN
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/series/why-i-quit
Writers, activists and celebrities talk about something they have swept from their lives, for the better – or worse. 
 

PUBLISHERS / AGENTS

DOUBLE DAGGER BOOKS
https://doubledagger.ca/submissions/
We are a Toronto-based publisher of military and security-focused fiction and non-fiction works. We’re interested in material that sheds new light on familiar topics, or that changes what we think we know about a topic. We are not restricted to signing only Canadian or Canada-based authors, and will happily consider works by writers who are farther afield.

HAYMARKET BOOKS
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/pg/submissions
We are interested in manuscripts that are accessible to a wide range of progressive and radical political activists, while also being useful to an academic audience. Please note that we are not accepting submissions for the following genres at this time: fiction, poetry, memoirs, cookbooks, self-help, or dissertations.

TIMBER PRESS
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/workman-publishing-company/page/workman-work-with-us/workman-author-submissions/
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.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/workman-publishing-company/page/workman-work-with-us/workman-author-submissions/
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.)

FAMILIUS
https://www.familius.com/author-submissions/
Our categories include children’s picture books and board books, parenting, relationships, self-help, family fun, education, cooking, and health and wellness for both adults and young adults. Basically, if your book can help us achieve our mission of helping families be happy, we want to talk to you.

AETHON BOOKS
https://aethonbooks.com/submissions/
At Aethon Books, we’re open to all genre fiction, with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy. We don’t care what sub-genre you write in. Hard Sci-fi, Epic Fantasy, Romantasy, Space opera, LitRPG, Military SF, Alt/History, Time Travel and more, our main concern is story, story, story. We are also now open to Thrillers of all types, though with an emphasis on Action, Political, and Military Thrillers. We are only looking to publish novel-length work that can either stand-alone or are part of a greater series. No novellas or short story collections at this time. No poetry or plays, graphic novels, or anything else that is plainly not a prose novel.

FUNDSFORWRITERS 

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