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DO YOU WISH TO BE INNOVATIVE?

A recent remark by Seth Godin, American author and former dot com business executive, caught my attention. 

"It’s pretty common for someone to claim that they’re innovative when actually, all they are is popular, profitable or successful. Nothing wrong with that. But it’s not innovative."

In my experience, especially when it comes to writing and earning a living at it, people want to be profitable first and consider that successful. But that does not make them either memorable or innovative, except around other writers who want to make money, too. 

To most of us, that's okay. We are trying to earn a living. 

Innovation, however, is difficult. It means traveling down a path that others have not discovered, whether that's in the writing or the marketing. Invariably, the successful innovator sells books and classes and speaks at conferences about how they "did it," and tell others how they can do it, too. The problem is, that first person. . . the innovator. . . is the one who benefits the most. Both in the covering of new ground and the sales of the concept to the hungry and desperate. 

However, being innovative makes you way more memorable.

But innovation is risky. You are being daring because failure is more probable than if you are doing something that's been tried before. 

So, it depends on what you want. Do you want to be innovative or is paying the bills the goal? Either is respectable, but if you want your name to be longer-lasting, you've got to take risks and travel new ground.

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Featured article

Reading Aloud Can Pay Off - Literally

By David Perez

Are you a writer who studied acting? Learned vocal techniques that enhance projection, enunciation, and relaxation? Have you practiced dance or movement? Become an experienced public speaker? Any of these skills can translate into a revenue stream for writers. 

Twenty-five years ago, in New York City, I enrolled in acting school. One of my reasons was to become a better writer. Acting is noted for engaging sensory detail, a necessity for writers. As my stories became richer, I took other performance-related classes, including voice, movement, and improvisation. All these techniques resulted in strengthening my reading aloud skills—and most writers at some point have to read their work aloud, be it to try out a chapter or to sell books. Reading aloud is also a great proofreading tool. In time, my public readings were noticed by prospective publishers.

Fast forward ten years. I’m living in Taos, NM with one memoir published, a second one in the works, and various acting roles under my belt. I’m asked to teach “Theater Games” classes as a vehicle to explore and enhance creativity. At the fourth class, Judith, a schoolteacher, asked if she could bring a selection from a children’s book she was writing “so that the class could riff off it.” Great idea, I said, and the following week Judith brought in her “script,” characters from Shakespeare plays written as kids and infants. No one had read the text beforehand. As per my suggestions, the students first performed it seriously, then boisterously, then standing in place like statues. Each game revealed something new in Judith’s writing: nuances of meaning and intent, the role of gesture. 

That “Aha!” moment led me to start a “Speak Your Writing to Life” workshop for writers of all genres to hone their craft through playful experimentation: Having them read their story as if to a therapist, start a poem with the words, “Once upon a time..." Tell their story while jogging. The workshop also offered tips on giving a good public reading. Have you timed your selection? Picked the right material? Remembered to bring your reading glasses? 

My workshops grew popular and are now a regular source of income, including private instruction for authors preparing a book launch. I teach at the annual Taos Writers Conference and the Tupelo Press Poetry Conferences held in Truchas, NM in May and October, helping poets working on a manuscript. Many gigs have come from referrals: An Artist-in-Residency job at a local elementary school, teaching third graders to use their imaginations to make reading and writing fun; a workshop for the Diné Emerging Writers Conference organized by the Navajo Women’s Commission. I successfully pitched a workshop to the Gemini Ink Writing Conference in San Antonio, TX. Interestingly, at a panel there on Publishing and Marketing, one of the authors related how her strong public reading resulted in her novel being published. “The managing editor of the press just happened to be in the audience!” she exclaimed.

So, again, if you’re a writer with some performance-related talent, you can parley that into earning extra income. Are you a teacher or parent that enjoys play-acting while telling stories to kids? That’s a marketable performance skill also. If none of the above applies to you, consider taking an acting or improvisation class. Hone that skill as you hone your writing. Or just let a class or two activate your imagination and connect with your entire mind, body and soul.

Reading aloud is a vital component of a writer’s life. Why not have it pay? 



BIO: David Perez is a writer, editor, actor, radio host, and author of two memoirs: WOW! (2011) and WOW! 2 (2016).  His "Speak Your Writing to Life" and "Theater Games" workshops have drawn people from all walks of life: from writers and visual artists to docents and physicians. David’s acting roles range from Othello to Santa Claus. He lives in Taos, New Mexico. David can be reached through his website: http://www.verdadcreative.com/  

Acting Photo - Photo by Kyle Head on Unsplash
 

COmpetitions

THE STEVE KOWIT POETRY PRIZE
https://sdeag.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2019. First Prize: $1,000. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100. Winners and Honorable Mentions will be invited to read at the annual awards reception each March. Winning and Honorable Mention poems will be published in the San Diego Poetry Annual each March.



KELSAY BOOKS METRICAL POETRY CONTEST
https://kelsaybooks.com/pages/kelsay-books-metrical-poetry-contest
$7 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2019. Prize of $500 for best metrical poem. There will be two finalists. Each will receive $50.00, and their poems will be published in The Orchards Poetry Journal, January 2020 issue. The winner will be the featured poet in The Orchards Poetry Journal's January 2020 issue. Poems must be 30 lines or less. Poems must be unpublished.



SAINTS AND SINNERS FICTION CONTEST
https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 1, 2019. Submit original, unpublished short stories between 3,000 and 7,000 words with LGBT content on the broad theme of “Saints and Sinners.” One grand prize of $500 and two second place prizes of $100 will be awarded. In addition, the top stories will be published in an anthology from Bold Strokes Books. There will also be a book release party and reading held during the 17th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Conference in New Orleans in 2020. 



COBALT PRESS +GAMMA RAYS FIRST NOVEL PRIZE
https://cobalt.submittable.com/submit/144765/gamma-rays-first-novel-prize
$7 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2019. Recognizes work that leaves an impression. Drawn to literature that devastates, that sticks to the subconscious, that perhaps even mutates the reader a little. The winner of the +GAMMA RAYS prize will be a book that is transformative. Up to three books will be selected for publication, and the author will receive a competitive book deal. In addition to a royalty-based contract, the winner and first runner up will receive cash prizes of $250 and $100, respectively (not an advance). Cobalt will also designate a portion of the proceeds from each book published to a charity of the author's choosing. They will accept manuscripts for publication as they encounter them, so you may receive an offer before the conclusion of the contest. 
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

WRITE ON, DOOR COUNTY
https://writeondoorcounty.org/
Write On provides a place of solitude and reflection on nearly 40 acres of woods, orchards, and meadows nestled between the water of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. In the heart of Door County, writers can work on a current project and find inspiration for the next without the distractions that hound them at home. Eligibility: We welcome applications from emerging and established writers in any contemporary literary genre. In exchange for a residency, writers agree to complete a community service project in consultation with Write On’s artistic director. In many cases, this will take the form of a public writing workshop but other opportunities are possible, such as a reading or lecture, visits to schools or senior centers, or other activities.



ORCHARD KEEPER WRITERS RESIDENCY
https://dentonlovingblog.wordpress.com/orchard-keeper-writers-residency/
Orchard Keeper Writers Residency will close during the winter months, but we are now accepting applications for residency weeks through June 2020. The Orchard Keeper Writers Residency provides short-term housing for writers and artists on a rustic East Tennessee farm.  The residential space sits in the middle of an aging orchard, carved from the middle of 80 acres of cattle pastures and woodland. Residencies are open to writers of all genres and artists who are at least 21 years of age. Applications are currently being accepted for one-week and two-week sessions. Residency fees are $25.00 per day.



RADCLIFFE FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/fellowship-program/become-fellow
Deadline September 12, 2019. The institute is inviting applications to its 2020-21 Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program, which annually awards fellowship grants to exceptional scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists whose work is making a difference in their fields and the larger world. In 2019-20, up to 50 fellows will receive a stipend of $77,500, an additional $5,000 to cover project expenses, and the opportunity to step away from their usual routines and dive deeply into a project. Fellows also convene regularly throughout the year to share their work in progress.



DURHAM, NC ARTS COUNCIL
http://www.durhamarts.org/artistinfo_emergingartists.html
The council is inviting applications for its Emerging Artists Program. Through the program, grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded to developing or established professional artists in the North Carolina counties of Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, or Person in support of a project that advances their careers. Artist categories eligible for support include crafts, dance, drama, film and video, installation, literature, music, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking/mixed media, and sculpture. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2020.



MORLAND SCHOLARSHIP FOR AFRICAN WRITERS
https://milesmorlandfoundation.com/about-2/
Deadline September 30, 2019. Successful fiction applicants will each receive a grant of £18,000, paid monthly over the course of the 2020 calendar year. At the discretion of the Foundation, scholars writing nonfiction, who require additional research time, could receive an additional grant, paid over a period of up to 18 months. All scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to be mentored by an established author or publisher. The scholarship is intended for writers who want to write a full-length book of 80,000 words or more. To this end, the writers will be asked to submit via email 10,000 new words every month until they have finished their book.



WARRIOR SONGS CREATIVE ARTS RETREAT
https://warriorsongs.org/retreats
Warrior Songs is honored to host our next healing Creative Arts Retreat for Women Veterans - who are MST (military sexual trauma) survivors. The 2019 retreat will be held November 20 - 24, 2019 at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Six experienced facilitators will lead 16 female military veterans through a four-day, all-inclusive healing weekend. Warrior Songs is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to the hope and healing of military veterans through music and the creative arts. The retreat is completely free of charge and there will be 15 seats available. 

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

CONTENT WRITER NEEDED FOR LAW OFFICE BLOG
http://www.moskoslawfirm.com/blog
Pays 10 cents per word. Legal experience is helpful but can be substituted with strong research skills. At least 300 words per post required. This is a remote job, and no contract is required. Must be willing to submit at least two blog posts per month. All content will be edited, and blog writer must agree to participate in editing if required. Payment will be made via Paypal upon finalization of edits. Please send letter of interest and sample of a previous blog post to [email protected]   


 
ASTRONOMY
http://www.astronomy.com/magazine/about-us/contributor-guidelines/2004/06/article-submission-guidelines
Astronomy's readers are interested in the sciences, with a particular interest in astronomy. They are well-educated, curious readers who are not formally schooled in the subject of astronomy. The magazine contains two broad types of articles: features on the science of astronomy and those on the hobby of astronomy. Articles typically range between 1,500 and 3,000 words.



DRAFT
http://draftmag.com/submissions/
DRAFT prides itself on providing its audience with current, accurate and creative coverage of beer and other areas of life enjoyed by our readers. Pitches need not be beer-centric, but those that are should focus on beer/brewery news, trends and ideas, rather than the technical aspects of brewing or profiles. Aside from beer, we happily accept pitches on topics ranging from food, sports (both professional and leisure), travel, and many other topics.



IWA WINE BLOG
http://blog.iwawine.com/iwa-contributor-guidelines/
We start at $50 for blog posts that help our audience learn about storing and enjoying wine. We especially appreciate submissions about the best ways to choose, use, install, or enjoy wine cellars, racks, cabinets, and cooling equipment. Aim for 500-700 easily readable words.



LISTVERSE
http://listverse.com/write-get-paid/
You write your list (1,500 words/10 items minimum), you send it in, we reply and say “Great—we’ll publish it” and send you $100 by PayPal. As long as your list (and we do mean yours — don’t steal other people’s stuff) is over 1,500 words you can choose any topic you like. We also need you to link to reputable sources so we can verify what you’re saying.



ANALOG
https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
Analog’s Science Fiction and Fact magazine is an established market for science fiction stories. Analog pays eight to ten cents per word for short fiction (up to approximately 20,000 words), six cents per word for serials (40,000-80,000 words), nine cents per word for fact articles, and one dollar per line for poetry. We buy First English Language serial rights plus certain non-exclusive rights explained in our contract. 



AUTO RESTORER
http://www.autorestorermagazine.com/
Auto Restorer is a monthly how-to newsletter with in-depth articles and step-by-step photos on auto and truck restoration, written by people experienced and knowledgeable on the subject. It serves as a forum for readers to interact with experts and other restoration enthusiasts. Submit 250 to 2,000 words. Pays $150 per published page.



WHOLE LIFE TIMES
http://www.wholelifetimes.com/writers-guidelines/
We are open to stories on holistic and integrative health, alternative healing, green living, sustainability and organic food, yoga, spirituality, and personal growth, social responsibility, conscious business, the environment—in short, anything that deals with a progressive, healthy lifestyle. WLT accepts up to three longer stories (800–1,000 words) per issue, for which pay ranges from $75–150 depending on topic, research required, and writer experience. In addition, we have a number of regular departments that pay $35–125 depending on topic, research required and writer experience. City of Angels is our FOB section featuring short, newsy blurbs on our coverage topics, generally in the context of Los Angeles. These are generally 300–400 words and pay $25-35 depending on length and topic. This is a great section for writers who are new to us. BackWords is a 750-word personal essay that often highlights a seminal moment or event in the life of the writer and pays $100.



VIBRANT LIFE
http://www.vibrantlife.com/?page_id=1369
Vibrant Life is a bimonthly lifestyle magazine that promotes physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual balance from a practical, Christian perspective. Vibrant Life focuses on the typical adult man or woman and family. Articles should be written in an informal, interesting, easy-to-read style, avoiding hard-to-understand medical jargon. Articles should focus on one topic and stay with that subject to the end. Short articles (450 to 650 words) are always in demand. Feature articles should not exceed 1,000 words and, if the article is informational, should include at least one sidebar (helpful tips, steps to take to accomplish a goal, and additional resource information, etc.). Payment for articles ranges from $100 to $300.



NARRATIVE
http://www.narrativemagazine.com/submission-guidelines
Narrative is strongly committed to supporting our authors' work. Our current rates for work are as follows:
$150 for a Story of the Week, with $400 each for the annual Top Five Stories of the Week.
$150 to $350 for 500 to 2,000-word manuscripts.
$350 to $1,000 for 2,000- to 15,000-word manuscripts.
Rates for book-length works vary, depending on the length and nature of the work.
$50 minimum for each accepted poem and audio piece. ($25 for poetry reprints.)
$200 each for the annual Top Five Poems of the Week.



MY GEORGIA
http://georgiamagazine.org/content/contact-us
Reader-submitted column focusing on meaningful Georgia experiences. Stories should be no longer than 500 words; photos of author are required for publication. Email [email protected]. Digital images must be 300 dpi. Writers of published stories receive $100. 

 

Publishers/agents

UNITED TALENT
https://www.unitedtalent.com/about/
Our reach and service to our clients are driven by some of the world’s most seasoned, talented agents, as well as executives with deep expertise in a broad range of disciplines, from data analysis and trend forecasting to public relations and crisis communications. From branding and design to philanthropic outreach, and much more. What unites us is an unwavering passion for media and entertainment; for business and the arts. What animates us is the work of shaping talent, building careers, and telling stories. We help our clients move, entertain, inform, and inspire the world.



INNOVATIVE ARTISTS
http://www.innovativeartists.com/literary.html
Innovative Artists prides itself on representing a select group of established writers and directors who work consistently in the studio and independent feature arenas, as well as in network and cable television. The aggressive blend of passion, creativity, and strategic thinking distinguishes the level of service provided to this accomplished group of filmmakers. 



GSK TALENT
http://www.gsktalent.com/aboutus.html
GSK Talent represents Line Producers/UPMs, Directors of Photography, Production Designers, Assistant Directors, Costume Designers, Editors, Sound Mixers and VFX Supervisors from California to New York, Canada and Mexico, throughout the European Union and the rest of Europe to Asia and Australia, offering each of them personalized and customized attention they deserve. Further establishing our presence in television and film making business and entertainment industry, GSK Talent also features a Theatrical and Literary Department.



CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY
https://www.caa.com/about-us
Across film, television, music, sports, digital media, marketing, and beyond, we represent thousands of the world’s leading actors, directors, writers, producers, musical artists, comedians, authors, athletes, coaches, broadcasters, teams, leagues, chefs, designers, consumer brands, and more.



BUCHWALD AGENCY
https://www.buchwald.com/
Built on the cornerstone of our commercial and broadcast departments, our full-service agency offers representation in every area of the entertainment industry: commercial, broadcast, film, theatre, television, literary, feature film packaging, personal appearance, syndication (radio, television and digital), branding/digital, and emerging talent. With over 40 years of experience, we have mastered the art of representation with dedication, perseverance, determination and passion. 

SPONSORS

www.fundsforwriters.com/advertising 

FINE PRINT

Please forward the newsletter in its entirety. To reprint any editorials, contact [email protected] for permission. Please do not assume that acknowledgements listed in your publication is considered a valid right to publish.

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

Copyright 2000-2019, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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