SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

ON GRANTS. . . A PRIMER

Someone searches "grants for writers" and up pops FundsforWriters in the search. Right there upfront. All you have to do is email someone, say you are a writer and ask for a check to publish your book. Right?

Sigh. . . if only it were that easy. Following is a generalization of what we tell writers when they write asking for a grant. . . 

Okay...first, I'm so glad you found FundsforWriters. We post a lot of information about how to earn money as a writer. However, grants are not pots of money waiting for someone to dip into for their indie book project. 

Let's discuss grants. You have to match what you're doing to the mission of a grant provider. In other words, it's as difficult if not more so than finding a publisher. What you're doing with your book has to fit what the grant provider wants to support. All grantors have missions and purposes. Just like Coca Cola doesn't make diapers. Just like Ford doesn't make cell phones. Grantors give grants for very precise purposes. If you decide you want to pursue a grant, you have to apply and prove you are someone who matches what they need, because grantors have to be successful, too. 

Start with your state humanities commission, then your state arts commission, then your local arts council. FundsforWriters specializes in the United States, with knowledge of Canada and the United Kingdom. Occasionally some fellowship offerings in a few countries like Greece, France, or Scotland.

We do not advise writers from the Middle East, the African continent, or the Far East. No, we aren't bigoted or racist. We just can't know everything, therefore, we specialize in our own neck of the woods. After all, the service we provide is free.

If those recommended entities do not work for you, think about what organizations or nonprofits would be interested in your book. Local, state and national. For instance, if you are writing about autism, contact autism groups for a grant or fiscal sponsorship. If you are an educator, would any school or educational institution partner with you and be your fiscal sponsor? Fractured Atlas, https://www.fracturedatlas.org/,  is a fiscal sponsor, for example. And look at https://creative-capital.org/ and https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Fiscal-Sponsorship to learn more about how fiscal sponsors work.

And watch this video to get some idea of grants. https://grantspace.org/training/courses/grantseeking-basics-for-individuals-in-the-arts/ and this page https://www.womenarts.org/skills/fiscal_sponsors/

For most grants and sponsorships, you'll need a marketing plan and a detailed budget. But from a big-picture standpoint, how would what you are writing, or who you are, benefit that grant provider and make them look good? Yes, grants are give and take, not just give. 

Sorry, but FundsforWriters does not write grants for writers, and we definitely do not write checks to writers out of our personal coffers. We gently guide you to those entities as well as point you toward ways to earn a living as a writer. And nobody hands you a grant to write a book without there being a bigger picture involved, regardless your financial standing, physical fitness, age, gender, and talent.  

In other words, how can you help a grant provider look good? You cannot answer that without studying the grant providers. A solid grant arrangements involves each side making the other better. 








 

We have partnered with the Nonfiction Authors Association to bring you a special discount off the fall Nonfiction Writers Conference, happening November 7-8, 2019. This event is completely virtual—all sessions conducted via webinar—no travel is required!

Attendees can also register for the popular Ask-a-Pro sessions, free 15-minute consultations with literary agents, marketing and publishing pros, and other industry experts. A private Facebook group is also available for attendees to gather and exchange ideas.

If you’re ready to accelerate your author career, this is a must-attend event!

SUPER SPONSOR WORTH NOTING

Kate Meadows Writing & Editing

Connecting people through story and expression

I am a published writer and proven editor who helps people tell stories. I work with individuals, small business owners, writers’ groups and corporate employees, offering:

• comprehensive editing
• proofreading
• manuscript critiques
• submission advice
• resources for writers’ groups
• web content

My work has appeared in Writer’s Digest, Chicken Soup for the Soul, River Teeth, USAA Magazine and numerous trade publications. I earned an MFA in Professional Writing in 2010 and have since published two books. How can I help you bring your project, book, idea or brand into the world? Don’t be shy. Contact me today for your free 30-minute consult!

[email protected]
www.katemeadows.com





 

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 


SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Hi, Hope,

I wanted you to know that reading your newsletter has led me to a contract for publication. I was 23 when I wrote Angels Unaware, and over the years, I sent it everywhere I knew to try to get it read. I even had an agent for a period of time. But nothing I did seemed to work. I went on to other writing projects and various jobs that had nothing to do with writing. I married, had children, divorced and remarried. I continued to submit, not my novel, but my stage plays and screenplays. I had some modest success. Angels Unaware remained buried in hard copy in my closet and untouched on my computer. Then I read in your newsletter about Regal House Publishing. I took the novel out and polished it. I sent it to them with very little hope that I would ever hear from them, much less have them accept my novel. But they did, and if all goes according to plan, it will come out in the fall of 2021. Thanks so much for your help. It just goes to illustrate a major theme of all my writing: We can never really know what we will ultimately be to each other or what role we are to play in their lives, or they are to play in ours.  

Lisa DeAngelis
 

Featured article

Best Practices for Working with a Producer, 
Agent or Manager in Film & TV

By Mark Heidelberger

Producers. Agents. Managers. Oh my! As a writer looking to make a living in the world of entertainment, these enigmatic creatures will be an integral part of your journey from unproduced novice to sought-after scribe du jour. Learning to work with them in a way that proves mutually beneficial means creating a winning environment for both sides, creatively and economically. (That’s why we call it “show business” and not “show show.”) And while no step-by-step guidebook exists for doing this, because no two individuals are alike, I can suggest a handful of best practices that neophyte writers should keep in mind as they find themselves seeking these useful and often necessary allies.

First off, let’s clarify some basic definitions of each role so we know exactly who we’re talking about.

Producer – The chief visionary of a production who hires a writer to create a story or buys and develops her already written story with the ultimate intention of filming it for mass consumption.

Agent – A commission-based representative who is solely responsible for seeking out and procuring work for the writer or selling the writer’s material.

Manager – A commission-based representative who is tasked with guiding a writer’s career choices, developing her work for presentation to producers, coordinating her other representatives such as agents and lawyers, and facilitating opportunities, but not actively selling the work as an agent would.

Collectively, we’ll call them PAMs.

Get a Referral

Not only do most PAMs dislike being pitched without an invitation, especially by a stranger, they flat out refuse even to read or listen. Such pitching is called unsolicited and it’s frowned upon, not only because most PAMs are already inundated with material, but because it’s a legal liability. Hollywood is a relationship town, plain and simple, so getting a referral from someone the PAMs already know and trust is a universally accepted method for soliciting their attention.

Be Clear on the Deal Terms

PAMs who recognize your talent and want to work with you can feel rewarding, but don’t let that excitement cloud your judgment. Negotiate terms you can live with, get it in writing and have those terms reviewed by an expert who can verify that they are, at minimum, in line with industry standards. If the terms are not satisfactory to you, don’t be afraid to walk away. Anyone offering you terms outside of industry standards probably isn’t legitimate anyway.

Trust the Process

Respected PAMs achieved their status through years of experience, and while their methods may at times seem unconventional, trust that they bring knowledge of the industry that has been, until now, obscured from you. This isn’t to suggest you take a passive approach, but simply to accept guidance from those who have been around the business far longer than you.

Communication is King

Create a fluid system of communication from the outset. Establish the best method of contact, a regular schedule for corresponding, and what the goal of your collaboration will be. Clarify on a regular basis what you expect from your representative or what the producer expects from you. Moreover, respect their time and skill just as you want yours respected. Stand up for yourself without being combative. And pick your battles carefully.

Manage Expectations

Entertainment is one of the most competitive career landscapes in the world. “Overnight success” stories never happen overnight; they’re the result of years of unseen toiling in trenches. Accept the fact that you’ll always have to do a lot of legwork yourself, even with a PAM in your corner, and that most projects still never see the light of day. Failure is part of the process. That said, getting one in every ten projects made means you’re a success even by jaded Hollywood standards.

Have an Exit Strategy

Sometimes your relationship with a PAM will go south, perhaps over creative differences, personality clashes, egos, money, whatever. Keep this in mind from the beginning and always make sure you have a contractual way out if the relationship sours. The worst position is to be stuck with a PAM who’s a drain instead of a buoy for your creative talent. 

BIO - Mark Heidelberger co-founded Beverly Hills-based Treasure Entertainment in 2000, serving as a film executive, producer, and literary manager until 2011 before going freelance. He has produced music videos for artists Janelle Monae, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj and John Michael Montgomery as well as commercials for Lamborghini, Con Air and Cox Media, to name a few. Film and TV credits include Harsh Times, Comfort, Ninja Apocalypse, It's Not You It's Me, Pray for Rain and Hallmark Channel's You've Got a Friend. He also performs ghostwriting services on screenplays in addition to his producing duties. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America. He holds a BA in Film Studies from UCSB and an MFA in Producing from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television.






 

COmpetitions

PUBLIC POETRY
https://publicpoetry.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 15, 2020. Public Poetry is accepting poems of up to 40 lines inspired by this year's theme: Wicked Wit. A $1,000 Malcolm McDonald Prize will be awarded to the winner and an invitation to give a public reading in Houston, TX. The top 45 entries will be published in an anthology. Anyone can submit, including outside the USA.



BOOM POETRY CHAPBOOK CONTEST
https://bateaupress.org/index.php/submission-guidelines/bateau-chapbook-contests/
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2019. Manuscript format between 20 and 30 pages. The winner will receive $250 and 25 copies of the winning chapbook. The winning chapbook will be a high-quality printing with letterpress cover from Antler Editions in Holyoke, MA. All chapbooks are hand sewn by Bateau editors, wandering artisans, cool COA student volunteers, and even the president of College of the Atlantic, Darron Collins.



DOROTHY AND WEDEL NILSEN LITERARY PRIZE FOR A FIRST NOVEL
https://smsupress.submittable.com/submit/127776/dorothy-and-wedel-nilsen-literary-prize-for-a-first-novel-2019
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2019. The competition is to identify and publish completed fiction manuscripts (novels, novellas, and linked collections) of high literary quality by authors who have not previously published a full-length novel, novella, or linked story collection.



SONIA SANCHEZ-LANGSTON HUGHES POETRY CONTEST
https://www.splitthisrock.org/programs/contests-awards/2020-sonia-sanchez-langston-hughes-poetry-contest/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2019. First place $500; second and third place, $250 each. Winning poems will be published on Split This Rock's website within The Quarry: A Social Justice Poetry Database. All prize winners will receive free festival registration to Split This Rock Poetry Festival 2020 and be eligible to apply for need-based travel scholarships. The first-place recipient will be invited to read the winning poem on the main stage at the festival. All submitted poems may also receive consideration for Split This Rock’s Poem of the Week Series.



STEVE KOWIT POETRY PRIZE
https://sdeag.submittable.com/submit
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2019. Open to any poet anywhere. First Prize $1,000. Second Prize $250. Third Prize $100. Winning and Honorable Mention poems will be published in the San Diego Poetry Annual each March. The entry fee includes a copy of the San Diego Poetry Annual in PDF or ebook format. Submit one previously unpublished poem (in English) and a 50-word biography.



CALVINO PRIZE
https://universityoflouisvillecreativewriting.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2019. Submit up to 25 pages of a novel, novella, short story, or short collection. A prize of $2,000 and publication in Miracle Monocle is given annually for a work of fiction written in the fabulist experimental style of Italo Calvino. The winner will also receive airfare and lodging to read at the annual Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture Since 1900 in February 2020. 



PRISM REVIEW SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://prismreview.submittable.com/submit
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2019. First prize $250 and publication. Length up to 8,000 words. 



PRISM REVIEW POETRY CONTEST
https://prismreview.submittable.com/submit
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2019. First prize $250 and publication. Length one to five poems, ten pages maximum. 



COLORADO PRIZE FOR POETRY
https://coloradoprize.submittable.com/submit
$28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 14, 2020. The winning book will be published by the Center for Literary Publishing and distributed by the University Press of Colorado in the fall of 2020. The poet will receive a $2,000 honorarium. Manuscripts may consist of poems that have been published, but the manuscript as a whole must not have been previously published (or self-published). Manuscripts must be at least 48 pages but no more than 100 pages.



CROSSWINDS POETRY CONTEST
https://crosswindspoetry.com/poetry-contest-submissions/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2019. First Prize: $1,000 and publication. Second Prize: $250 and publication. Third Prize: $100 and publication.

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NORTH CAROLINA FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.ncarts.org/invest-arts/grants-artists/artist-fellowships
Artists in North Carolina have until Friday, November 1 to apply for a N.C. Arts Council Artist Fellowship. This cycle is open to choreographers, film/video, visual and craft artists. The $10,000 award allows artists to purchase supplies and equipmen, or pursue other artistic goals. 



AMY LOWELL TRAVELLING SCHOLARSHIP
http://www.amylowell.org/
Deadline October 15, 2019. The American poet Amy Lowell died in 1925. Her will established an annual scholarship to support travel abroad for gifted American-born poets. The Selection Committee will notify the winner of the Scholarship by the end of March. Submit application and samples of poetry. Must be willing to spend one year outside the continent of North America. There is no age requirement, and there is no requirement that applicants be enrolled in a university or other education program. While many recent winners have been published poets, there is no requirement that applicants have previously published their work. The 2020-2021 Scholarship award will be approximately $60,500, adjusted for inflation. If there are two winners, each will receive the full amount.



KAHINI JULY POETRY SYMPOSIUM SCHOLARSHIP
http://www.kahini.org/the-2020-july-poetry-symposium/
Deadline January 15, 2020. Dates July 19-25, 2020. Location: Po’ipu, Kaua’i. Live and write for a week among the hibiscus, plumeria, and sunsets of the Garden Isle of Kaua’i. Limited to twelve writers in each workshop, the 2020 July Writing Studio is all about deep craft instruction, a community of fellow poets, and the inspiration of time and space to work on your writing: all set amidst the beauty and tranquility of Kaua’i’s south shore. Kahini and Tebot Bach are pleased to present a full tuition and housing scholarship. The scholarship does not include flight but does include meals.



MARYLAND HUMANITIES MINI-GRANT PROGRAM
https://www.mdhumanities.org/grants/grant-programs/
Deadline November 1, 2019. MD Humanities is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and schools in Maryland for its Mini Grant program. Through the program, grants of up to $1,200 will be awarded in support of public humanities, documentary film, and civic education projects/initiatives designed to engage and benefit Marylanders. Priority will be given to new initiatives that support the programming needs of smaller institutions and underserved audiences.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

AUTHORS PUBLISH MAGAZINE (ONLINE)
https://www.authorspublish.com/submit-to-authors-publish-magazine/
We pay between $25 and $50 per article. Most of our articles are between 250 and 1,200 words in length. We also pay $500 for ebooks around 10,000 words. We are particularly interested in articles about how authors can promote their writing or build their careers. We are interested in articles about traditional and self-publishing. This includes articles about agents, publishers, and conferences. We occasionally publish articles about the mechanics of writing.



PATHFINDERS TRAVEL
http://pathfinderstravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/WRITERS-GUIDELINES1.pdf
We are looking for lively, original, well-written stories that provide a good sense of place, with useful information and fresh ideas about travel and the travel industry. Service articles such as How to Protect Your Valuable While on the Beach, 10 Best, Top 10, Round up Pieces, Looking Back, and articles for the Chef’s Table and In the Vineyard, our wine column and Looking Back, a 1,000-word article that takes a historical look at a travel destination or subject and brings it up to current day, are articles that are most likely to be accepted from freelance journalists. Payment and tear sheets for free-lance material sent within a reasonable period following publication. Feature Articles – 800-1,000 words - $150. Chef's Table/Post Cards from Home - 500-600 words - $150. Wine Column - $150. Looking Back Column - $150.



DIVA
http://www.divamag.co.uk/How-To-Contribute-To-DIVA/
DIVA pays £150 per thousand words. We pay in pounds sterling, in the month of issue. DIVA brings you the latest in lesbian and bi related celebrity interviews, news, politics, pop culture, style, travel, social issues, entertainment and more. We tackle the tough topics, like racism in the LGBT community, mental health and the challenges facing queer youth, and profiles of inspirational women making a difference to the lives of lesbian, bi and trans women.



FT. MYERS MAGAZINE
http://www.ftmyersmagazine.com/FtMmag-WRITERS.html
Ft. Myers magazine is a bi-monthly magazine focusing on local and national arts and lifestyles throughout Lee and Collier Counties in Southwest Florida. Ft. Myers magazine is targeted at educated, active, creative and successful residents of Southwest Florida, ages 20-75 years old, as well as guests at the best hotels and resorts on the Gulf Coast. Pays ten cents/word for articles of 500 to 1,500 words.



WORLD WAR II MAGAZINE
http://www.historynet.com/writers-guidelines-for-world-war-ii-magazine
Most of our stories are assigned by our staff to professional writers. However, we do accept written proposals for features and for our Time Travel department. Pays competitively.



GRIPPED
http://gripped.com/contact/editorial/
Gripped magazine welcomes submissions from writers, photographers, athletes, coaches and enthusiasts from all climbing disciplines. Features are between 1,500 and 2,500 words long and pay $250. Photos will be paid at the photo rate. Other columns for shorter pieces are also available.



TOASTMASTERS
https://www.toastmasters.org/footer/magazinefooterlinks/submissions
The Toastmaster magazine prizes originality, depth of research, timeliness and excellence of expression. The magazine accepts unsolicited article submissions via email. Columns are 200, 300, and 700 words.



GROWING MAGAZINE
https://www.growingmagazine.com/
Growing covers what rises above the green. Whether it be science, pest control, the art and business of farming fruits and vegetables or even the literal definition of “agriculture” – we cover what our audience deals with on a daily basis. For most, growing is a passion and a way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation. In the pages of Growing you will find content with tried-and-true practices along with new suggestions that will move our industry forward. Pays $175-$200 for columns, and $400 to $500 for features for 800 to 1,800 words.



LA TIMES
http://www.latimes.com/la-trw-guidelines-story-story.html
The Travel section, both print and online, is looking for bold, original travel features that tell a great story. Stories should be sophisticated, compelling, complete and written with flair. They should evoke a strong sense of place (sounds, colors, smells, tastes), time (when did you go?), expertise and personal perspective, and they should be written with a precise story angle. Print stories (other than briefs) vary from $200 to $750, depending on placement. Online only stories generally pay $500, but if they are used in print, we will pay depending on placement. There is but one payment; the contract you sign gives us permission to use in any medium. Weekend Escapes pay $200. Blog posts pay $75 with no additional money for handout art (or $25 for an original piece of art).



FRESH CUP MAGAZINE
https://www.freshcup.com/resources/contributor-guidelines/
In print, we publish magazine-style stories that introduce readers to people and places pushing coffee and tea forward, even when we’re talking about something as seemingly impersonal as crema or Wi-Fi. Online, we have four blogs: Barista, The Whole Leaf, Roasters, and Café Basics. Posts are thoughtful, engaging, and concise looks at narrowly focused topics, trends, places, and people in the coffee and tea industry. The blogs are the best starting point for new writers to break into Fresh Cup. We accept queries for features (1,500–2,000 words), our blogs (300-500 words), and café profiles (800 words). For the best chance of publication, present a clear angle to the story, show us that you’ve researched it, tell us the sources and experts you’ll interview, have a sketch of the narrative structure, and explain why you’re the person who should write it. When querying, please include clips or links to published writing. If you have no clips, please write a 300-word story introducing us to your favorite café or teahouse.



CIVIL EATS
https://civileats.com/contributors_faq/ 
Civil Eats is a daily news source for critical thought about the American food system. We publish stories that shift the conversation around sustainable agriculture in an effort to build economically and socially just communities. Founded in January 2009, Civil Eats is a community resource of more than 100 contributors who are active participants in the evolving food landscape from Capitol Hill to Main Street. Pays around 25 cents/word per www.whopayswriters.com. 




The Fall Nonfiction Writers Conference returns November 7-8, 2019, featuring Barbara Winter, author of “Making a Living without a Job” – Grab your seat! A completely virtual conference from the comfort of your home. 

 

Publishers/agents

ACRE BOOKS
http://www.acre-books.com/about-us/submissions/
Deadline November 30, 2019. Please attach TEN PAGES only (they need not be the first ten pages) and tell us a bit about you and your book (include the title!). PLEASE SUBMIT ONLY ONE BOOK AT A TIME. Interested in collections of poetry or short stories, novellas, and literary fiction.



BLAZEVOX
http://www.blazevox.org/index.php/faqs/
BlazeVOX [books] presents innovative fictions and wide-ranging fields of contemporary poetry. Our books push at the frontiers of what is possible with our innovative poetry, fiction and select nonfiction and literary criticism. Our fundamental mission is to disseminate poetry, through print and digital media, both within academic spheres and to society at large.



HEAD OF ZEUS
https://headofzeus.com/about
Head of Zeus is an award-winning independent publisher of genre fiction, narrative nonfiction and children’s books. We are based in Clerkenwell, London, but our reach is global. We publish writers from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Serbia, and China. Our authors write biographies, crime novels, romances, popular science, thrillers, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, cookbooks, contemporary and literary fiction. We have a proven track record in promoting new writers but also believe that there is no such thing as an ‘old’ book to a ‘new' audience and have republished many ‘backlist’ or out-of-print titles to great success.



PEACHTREE PUBLISHERS
https://peachtree-online.com/contact/
Peachtree is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts and art submissions for publication consideration in the following categories: 

Children’s fiction and nonfiction picture books
Early Reader fiction and nonfiction chapter books
Middle Grade fiction and nonfiction
Young Adult fiction and nonfiction

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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