SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

Do you struggle to:
+Overcome distraction and write?
+Silence the inner critic
+Stop procrastinating
+Overcome self-doubt and fear
+Finish the work you start
 
Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination, and Increase Productivity by Rochelle Melander presents quests to help writers tackle their most common creative challenges. These short adventures challenge writers to investigate their life and habits to discover their ideal work rhythms, design a life that supports their productivity, and overcome any obstacle they face.
 
Rochelle Melander is a speaker, certified professional coach, and the bestselling author of 11 books, including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (and Live to Tell About It) Rochelle Melander coaches writers to overcome distractions and procrastination, design a writing life, turn their ideas into books, navigate the publishing world, and connect with readers through social media. Visit her online at writenowcoach.com.

 

THE RELEVANCE OF REVIEWING BOOKS

I review the books I read whether they were released last month or 40 years ago. I don't pour hours of time into a review, but I make it pertinent and real. In a recent Facebook discussion, I asked who reviewed the books they read and why or why not. 

A good many said that if a book had hundreds or thousands of reviews, they felt the author didn't need the review. 

Which made me consider the WHY of reviewing books. I concluded that the WHY falls into one of three categories: 

1) A reviewer writes to be seen, respected, and appreciated, 
2) A reviewer wishes to do a service for the author, or 
3) A reviewer wishes to educate potential readers. 

To me, the age of the book doesn't matter, but that's because I do a review to let today's reader know how I felt about the read. If a book is a newer release, then yes, the review is quite beneficial to the author, too. The following reviewer manages a serious book club, and I appreciated her response.

I always review. I finally read Midnight in the Garden ...it came out YEARS ago. My review was still relevant because it came from current perspective on it. That could make the difference to someone considering reading it now vs when it was the HOT TOPIC. ~Bridgette Sisk Walker, Founder/President of Owl Bee Reading Book Club, Greenwood, SC.

Why were reviews created and done in the first place? Why are reviews done for any product anywhere? To better educate the prospective purchaser. Not that they'll think your review is gospel, but they might like to weigh your opinion against the other opinions and compare those thoughts with the hype and advertising. In other words, to better inform the buyer. 

So when an author has hundreds or thousands of reviews, you might be surprised at how your most recent, contemporary review might be incredibly important to someone considering the book. 

SUPER SPONSOR WORTH NOTING

Welcome to the Writing Lodge! Please come inside.

Whether you’re traditional, hybrid, or indie, everyone needs an editor.

We’ll help make your words reach the hearts, minds, and—dare we say it—guts of your readers.

Editors Gregory Austin and Kimberly Mintz are published authors and instructors with a history of helping writers polish their prose.

We offer one of the best deals in online editing. Your manuscript will be evaluated by both Kimberly and Gregory, offering two unique perspectives.

Our developmental, line, and copy edits are the same price as, or even cheaper than, most online services provided by solo editors.

Not sure what to write? We’re happy to do a phone consultation to help stimulate your creativity. Novel? Short story? Nonfiction? Memoir? Call it writing therapy, if you like.

Contact us today for your free consultation.

There’s a war on purple prose, and we will help you win it!

https://writinglodge.com/
[email protected]

 

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If FundsforWriters has aided you in your writing success, share it with us!
Email [email protected] . We'd like to tell the world right here!

 

Featured article

Writing (and Publishing) Life’s Challenges 

By Rachel Carrington

We all have struggles in our everyday lives, and some of those struggles can take our mind off writing. It’s a road I know all too well, and for a time, I plodded along, writing fiction and hoping I’d be able to concentrate soon. Then I realized that these challenges I faced could possibly help someone else who was in the same situation. And, sometimes, it’s better to read the words of someone who understands what you’re going through rather than those of a professional. 

Many niche sites pay for articles and blog posts, several of which focus on what your particular challenge might be, whether you’re struggling with debt, illness, a disability, or you’re taking care of your parents or a loved one.

For instance, Rooted in Rights focuses on rights for the disabled, and they accept blog posts about disability rights topics from disabled writers. They have a wide variety of sub-topics within that genre, so if you are disabled, you might consider sending them an idea. They respond quickly if they’re interested, and the pay is $100 for posts of at least 400 words.  

You could also enter a fiction or nonfiction piece related to disability in the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities annual competition. The grand prize is $500, and the first prize is $100. A bonus is it’s free to enter, and your piece can be previously published.  

If you’ve struggled with mental health problems, you may want to consider submitting an essay to OC87 Recovery Diaries. They’re looking for 1,200-1,500-word essays and pay a $250 honorarium if yours is accepted. 

Bustle’s Living With series accepts personal essays on health and mental health as well, and the pay averages $.10 per word. 

If you’re a caregiver or are involved with caregiving, Caregiver’s Home Companion seeks in-depth first-person articles about the financial hardships, relationships, emotional issues associated with taking care of a loved one. They primarily focus on children taking care of elderly parents but are open to different caregiving scenarios and pay up to $100 for articles in the 800-1,000 word range. 

Struggling with debt can severely hamper any writer’s muse, but if you’re willing to open up about your financial issues, Vox looks for personal essays about money, and the pay, which is negotiated, is quite high, with some reports coming in at $500 per essay.

If there doesn’t seem to be a magazine or site that strictly focuses on what you’re facing now, turn your situation into a piece of creative nonfiction. According to Lee Gutkind, who wrote You Can’t Make This Stuff Up and the Art of Creative Nonfiction, “...creative nonfiction has become the most popular genre in the literary and publishing communities.” Places like creativenonfiction.org pay $125. They do have a $3.00 reading fee, though, but according to a report by The Write Life, the fee guarantees payment if your work is accepted, and that can consist of the $125 flat rate plus $10 per printed page.  

Many mental health professionals are proponents of journaling to improve stress, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that writing is one of the best things you can do when you’re struggling.  And you never know. . . your words may become a positive force for a reader going through the same life challenges as you. 

BIO - Rachel Carrington has been writing for over thirty-five years and has been published in both nonfiction and fiction. She also teaches fiction writing classes for Women on Writing. Find her on the web at www.rachelcarrington.com.   


 

COmpetitions

TULIPTREE REVIEW GENRE FICTION CONTEST
http://www.tuliptreepub.com/tuliptree-review.html
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2019. This contest is open to all genres of fiction: mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, westerns, romance, etc. (just please no extreme violence/gore). Grand prize is $1,000 and honorable mentions/contributors receive $50. Winners are published in the Fall/Winter issue of TulipTree Review and receive a free copy. 



BOOKSIE SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.booksie.com/contest/booksie-2019-short-story-contest-17
$9.95 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 29, 2019. Booksie is excited to announce our biggest competition yet, the Booksie 2019 Short Story Competition. We're looking for the most interesting, original stories that will make us laugh, cry, and see the world in a slightly different way. Grand prize winner receives $1,500, gold winner badge, and one free month of Boosts for their winning story (Boosting features the story in front of Booksie’s millions of monthly readers). Two runners-up receive $150, silver winner badge, and one week of Boosts for the winning entry. The contest is open to all genres and themes. You can enter a previously posted story on Booksie or post a new one and enter it. Judging will be done in rounds. 



NOWHERE MAGAZINE TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
http://www.nowheremag.com/contests
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 1, 2020. A prize of $1,000 and publication in Nowhere Magazine is given twice yearly for a travel-specific short story, long-form creative nonfiction piece, poem, or essay that possesses a powerful sense of place, character, or time. Unpublished and published pieces that have not previously been chosen as a contest winner are eligible. Submit your 800- to 5,000-word piece, in English. All entries are considered for publication. 



OMNIDAWN FIRST/SECOND POETRY BOOK CONTEST
http://omnidawn.com/contest/poetry-contests.htm
$27 ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 18, 2010. This contest is open to writers worldwide who have either never published a full-length book of poetry, or who have published only one full-length book of poetry, so that the winning book would become a poet's first or second published full-length book of poetry. We recommend submissions should be 40–120 pages of poetry, not including front and back matter. Winner receives $3,000 and publication. 



LAS VEGAS LITTLE THEATRE'S NEW WORK COMPETITION
https://www.lvlt.org/newworks
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2019. All plays must be full length (90 minutes or more). No musicals please. Plays must have no more than eight actors. Doubling characters is allowed. Ideally looking for subject matter that will appeal to an age range of 18 – 30. First prize = Production of the play in the Fischer Black Box in May plus $150. Second prize = $75. Third prize = $50. The winning author agrees to the production of his/her play with no royalty payment. The author also agrees to allow LVLT to videotape the production. LVLT cannot provide transportation, lodging or other compensation for the author to travel to Las Vegas for the production.



STRINGYBARK SHORT STORY AWARDS
https://www.stringybarkstories.net/
$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 19, 2020. Start writing a 1,500-word (max) story that will excite the judges. It can be set wherever your fancy takes you. It can involve characters from the past, the future or today. The only two stipulations are that it must have a link, no matter how tenuous, to Australia (the vegemite sambo on the counter is fine) and suitable for readers over the age of 16. We have an award pool of over $1,000 in cash and books to encourage you in this endeavour as well as publication of the winning and highly commended stories. Our competitions are open to all Australian and international authors of all skill levels. 



PAUL TORDAY MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR DEBUT NOVELISTS
https://www.societyofauthors.org/Prizes/Authors-Awards/Fiction/The-Paul-Torday-Prize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2019. The winner will receive £1,000, with a set of Paul Torday's collected works. Runners-up will receive one specially selected Paul Torday novel with a commemorative bookplate. Submissions must have been first published in the UK and Republic of Ireland between September 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019. Submissions must be in English and must not be a translation. Submissions must be the author's first published full-length fiction work, but they can have had works published of other lengths or other genres in the past. Applicants must be aged 60 or over at the date of first print publication of the novel and must be living at the date of submission. Submissions must be made by the print publisher. 



GREEN STORIES TV/NETFLIX 6-PART SERIES COMPETITION
http://www.greenstories.org.uk/about-the-competition/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 30, 2019. We will consider all genres – rom-com, literary fiction, science fiction, mystery, crime, etc. – but stories must engage with the idea of environmentally sustainable practices and sustainable societies. BBC Writers room have agreed to read the top five scripts and follow up with any writers they think have promise. In addition, Red Production Company has put on some fabulous dramas such as ‘Last Tango in Halifax’ and ‘Come Home’ and has agreed to read the winning script and consider it for production. First prize £500, second prize £100, third prize £50 plus £50 for best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best under 18 submission. If a student or under 18 entry is the best overall then it will win first prize regardless if the entry is from a student and the student prize will go to the next best student entry. Length: six episodes 25-60 minutes each.



GREEN STORIES INTERACTIVE FICTION COMPETITION
http://www.greenstories.org.uk/about-the-competition/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 3, 2020. We’re looking for interactive fiction entries, from both individuals and creative teams, consisting of a complete story or demo of a longer piece. Your entry should be no longer than 30 minutes worth of gameplay in total. It may be the whole piece, the opening section, or a subsequent chapter or scene. Prizes: £750 total prize fund: first prize £500, second prize £100, third prize £50, plus £50 for best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best under 18-year-old submission. In addition, Talespinners is offering narrative feedback for first place, best student, and the under 18 winners. This feedback will take the form of editorial notes on their entry and a one-hour feedback session via Skype, etc. If a student or under 18 entry is the best piece of work, then it will win first prize regardless of whether the entry is from a student or under 18 entry, and prizes for those categories will go to the next best entry.


 

 CALL FOR ENTRIES!
 THE DREAM QUEST ONE POETRY & WRITING CONTEST

 https://www.dreamquestone.com 

 Entry fees: $5 per poem/$10 per story. 
 Postmark deadline: DECEMBER 28, 2019.

Open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry and/or writing a story that is worth telling everyone. 

Guidelines: (1) Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, form or style. And/or (2) Write a short story, five pages maximum length, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction. Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted. Prizes: Writing First Prize is $500; Second $250; Third $100. Poetry First Prize $250; Second $125; Third $50.  How to enter, visit: https://www.dreamquestone.com 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NEBRASKA ARTS COUNCIL ARTIST ROSTER
https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/artist-roster/apply-to-join-artist-roster.html
Deadline December 1, 2019. Artist application deadlines for both the Artists in Schools/Communities Program (Teaching Artist Roster) and the Nebraska Touring Program (Touring Artist Roster) are fast approaching. The Artist Roster lists selected artists in two separate programs: the Artists in Schools/Communities roster of teaching artists (AiS/C), and the Nebraska Touring Program roster of performing artists and art exhibitions (NTP). New roster artists must apply in order to be considered for either roster. The application process is selective, and all applicants are carefully vetted through a review panel process. 



SLOAN DISTRIBUTION GRANT
https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/grants-and-awards/sloan-distribution-grant/
$65 ENTRY FEE. Rolling deadline. The Sloan Distribution Grant is a $50,000 grant awarded by Film Independent to a film that is entering its distribution phase. Eligible films must depict themes, stories and characters grounded in real science, technology, or economics. All submitted films must be at least 70 minutes in length. Applicants must be legal residents of the United States. Film must be entering its distribution phase.



CATAPULT FILM FUND
https://catapultfilmfund.org/
Catapult Film Fund provides development funding to documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story, and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes. Catapult only makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. In most cases, this will mean getting a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for the project. A film production company or individual, including applicants from outside the US, may submit an application without a fiscal sponsor in place. Please see the FAQ section for more details.



THE MILLER/PACKAN DOCUMENTARY FILM FUND
http://rogovy.org/film-fund/overview/
Deadline November 15, 2019. The Miller / Packan Film Fund supports documentaries that Educate, Inspire and Enrich. The Fund is financed through the Rogovy Foundation. We believe in the transformational power that comes from enlightening narratives and inspiring characters. At the highest level, the Fund’s subject categories are Education, the Environment, and Civics. Please review our Ideals and Values for a sense of what types of topics we might support. Grants will be awarded to filmmakers who most closely match our defined areas of interest.



DOCUMENTARY EDIT AND STORY LAB
https://apply.sundance.org/prog/2020_documentary_edit_and_story_lab/
Deadline December 9, 2019. The Documentary Edit and Story Lab supports filmmakers with nonfiction feature films in post-production. Lab fellows advance their projects through rigorous creative exploration and discussion of story structure and character development with world-class advisors. Filmmaking teams work closely with director and editor advisors and staff in a dynamic and supportive environment, and after the lab they receive ongoing creative and strategic support. The lab is open to feature nonfiction projects in mid- to late post-production (from assembly through rough cut). There is no restriction of genre or storytelling style—we are looking for projects with a bold, contemporary vision made by courageous storytellers. 



EMERGING WRITERS GROUP AT THE PUBLIC
https://publictheater.org/programs/emerging-writers-group/ewg-application/
Deadline November 29, 2019. Writers are selected bi-annually and receive a two-year fellowship at The Public which includes a stipend ($7,500). Staged readings of works by Emerging Writers Group members are presented in the Spotlight Series at The Public. The playwrights also participate in a bi-weekly writers group led by The Public’s New Work department and master classes led by established playwrights. Additionally, they have a chance to observe rehearsals for productions at The Public, receive career development advice from mid-career and established writers, and receive artistic and professional support from the literary department and Public artistic staff.



WATERMAN'S COMMUNITY CENTER RESIDENCY FOR WOMEN
https://www.watermans.org/residency
Deadline November 30, 2019. Accepted playwrights will spend 10 days on North Haven, Maine in February, March or April with the goal of working on new or in-progress writing projects. In addition, the playwright will collaborate with Waterman’s staff to plan one interactive community event during their residency.



THE FIORE CENTER
https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/public-outreach-new/jaf-art-center/
The Joseph A. Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm is a program of Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) that actively connects the creative worlds of farming, conservation, and the arts. The purpose of the Fiore Art Center is to stimulate and advance the dialogue between humans and environment within the context of agriculture and today’s culture at large. There are no residency fees, but the artist is responsible for all travel costs to and from the residency and all art material costs. The residents will have three shared dinners a month which will be attended by the residency directors and one or more guests from the art/creative/farming community (two dinners will be prepared by a local chef; one will be a potluck.) Beyond these shared dinners, residents will be responsible for all their own meals. Residents will receive a $1,000 stipend per month and can eat freely from the kitchen garden on site.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

CHICKEN SOUP: LISTEN TO YOUR DREAMS
http://www.chickensoup.com
Deadline February 28, 2020. We want to know about your dreams. What have you learned from your dreams? Did you listen? Did any of your dreams come true? Did a dream strengthen your faith or help you change the direction your life was headed in? Did some miraculous insight serve as a warning about something that was going to happen? Please do not submit stories about realizing your dreams, as in aspirations or hopes. We are talking about dreams while you are asleep! Pays $200 and ten copies for up to 1,200 words. 



TRAVELLER
http://www.wexas.com/traveller-contributors-guidelines/
Traveller is the UK's original travel magazine. Pays £200 per 1,000 words printed.



YOUNG DISCIPLE
http://www.youngdisciple.com/magazine/contributor-guidelines.aspx
Young Disciple magazine is a weekly publication dedicated to the preparation of young people for heaven. The target age group is roughly grades 5-8. Fillers to features, word count ranges from 100 to 1,200 words.



YES!
http://www.yesmagazine.org/about/writers-guidelines
Each issue of YES! includes a series of articles focused on a theme—about solutions to a significant challenge facing our world — and a number of timely, non-theme articles. Our non-theme section provides ongoing coverage of issues like health, climate change, globalization, media reform, faith, democracy, economy and labor, social and racial justice, and peace building. Pay rates vary for articles that appear online and in print. In both platforms, YES! pays higher rates for original reporting and deeply researched stories that break new ground.



ZIZZLE
https://zizzlelit.com/submit/
We seek literary fiction that will appeal to kids as young as eleven (grade six), as well as to young adults and full-on grown-ups. We pay a flat rate of US $100 for each accepted flash story, and a flat rate of US $250 for each accepted short story. Some of the accepted pieces will be illustrated, and all accepted pieces will appear in our print, digital, and audio editions, or in all these formats.



ZOOSCAPE
https://zooscape-zine.com/guidelines/
We pay eight cents/word up to 1,000 words and a flat rate of $80 for longer stories. Pays $20 for reprints. Stories up to 10,000 words; query for longer. All stories must be furry. That means an anthropomorphic animal figure should be significantly featured in your story — it could be anthropomorphic in body or only intelligence. We’ll consider any type of furry fiction from secret life of animals to fox in Starbucks. We love science-fiction with animal-like aliens and fantasy with talking dragons, unicorns, or witch familiars.



DRABBLECAST
https://www.drabblecast.org/submissions/
The Drabblecast is an award-winning online speculative fiction magazine and podcast that publishes “Strange Stories for Strange Listeners,” often also classified as “Weird Fiction.” Loosely, this encompasses any and all genres but largely centers around those of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Short Fiction — 500- 4,000 words. The Drabblecast currently pays the professional market rate for speculative fiction as defined by the World Science Fiction & Fantasy Association of six cents/word for original fiction, with a cap of $300. The Drabblecast accepts reprint submissions at a pay rate of three cents/word, with a cap of $300. 



AMENDO
https://amendo.com/write-for-us/
We are looking for writers who can contribute in an authentic and approachable way to conversations like navigating the professional world, finding community, dating and relationships, living a meaningful life, and more. If that sounds like you, join the conversation! Contributors should be young, talented storytellers with experience writing for the web and promoting their work on social media. Things we’re looking for: 500-word essays, fun listicles, and longer magazine-style features that dig deeper. Pays $75.

 

Publishers/agents

 
THE CAT LITERARY AGENCY
http://www.catugeau.com/about
We continue to strive for excellence in children’s literature, representing an ever-growing client list; offering an eclectic mix of styles, voices and talent. We are proud to represent many NYT Bestselling illustrators and award-winning authors and illustrators.



SHEEDY LITERARY AGENCY
https://sheedylit.com/information
To query one of the agents below, please email a query letter with one or two chapters in the body of the email. Please note that Charlotte Sheedy herself is not accepting submissions. Looking primarily for young adult (YA) fiction, middle grade (MG) fiction, and graphic novels in the YA and MG spaces, though will consider a picture book if it's really something special! Also on the hunt for some good new adult (NA) fiction. Preferred areas for all the above age groups are fantasy of all types, contemporary fiction, magical realism, speculative fiction, and genre-benders. I’m open to suspense, thrillers, and mild horror in YA and MG spaces. Does not represent nonfiction or adult projects.



TUGEAU 2 AGENCY
https://tugeau2.com
Tugeau 2, Inc. is a diverse group of dedicated, timely, and enthusiastic illustrators and writers from across the United States and several countries abroad. Our focus is on children’s picture book and juvenile educational publishing. But our expertise does not stop there. T2 illustrators have collaborated on advertising campaigns, editorial features, toys, games, gifts, children's apps, and e-books. Nicole Tugeau is the agent/owner behind the T2 Team. She is ecstatic about the ever-growing agency and committed to working happily for the network of illustrators surrounding her. What she enjoys most about being an Agent is the partnership-making, the relationships and of course the success stories. 
 

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E-mail: [email protected]
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ISSN: 1533-1326

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