SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

"In an endless sea of books of essays on writing,
WORDS comes across fresher and more genuine than the rest."
– C. Hope Clark, author of the Edisto Island Mysteries and Carolina Slade Mystery series
 
"Readers of this writing memoir will quickly realize they've found a marvelous handbook
on how to create a life with meaningful words."
– Heather Villa, freelance writer
 
"I thought I would read this book faster, but found myself savoring McCann's words,
and her well-chosen quotes. She included helpful writing resources in the back,
which means I will keep this book on my shelf."
– Katrina Shawver, author of 
Henry: A Polish Swimmer's True Story of Friendship from Auschwitz to America
 
Available everywhere in print and ebook. Coming soon to Audible.
Learn more at www.JessicaMcCann.com

 

WRITING IN THE AGE OF THE COVID

Can you remember who you were, before the world told you who you should be? - Charles Bukowski 

Before the COVID era, we moved like fish, the current and demands of survival directing us here and there to do what keeps us alive as writers. During this era, we aren't certain what to do because the entire industry isn't sure what to do. Even self-publishing, which was so sure of itself before the virus, hasn't decided how to recuperate. 

Now is the perfect time to decide who you intend to be as a writer. 

But you don't know what writing will be wanted, which publishers will still be alive, what topics will be in demand and which will have fallen off a cliff. But that is a good thing. You have no parameters. You have no directives. You have nobody telling you to write this or write that. 

Now is probably the best, most wide-open time in your life to write what moves you. 

I was told by a zillion people in my early years that nobody wanted to read Carolina Slade. Nobody liked a rural mystery. She was too quirky. I just turned in the fifth manuscript to the publisher, and a producer is working with a movie writer on a script. 

The world doesn't want more of the same. When it recovers from this virus, and when it starts shifting into a different normal way of life, there will be few rules of thumb. All will be different. That's why you should start working on defining yourself now. Set goals. Work daily on those goals until they become habit. Suddenly you are a different person than before. . . probably closer to who you really are, because you have no shackles and no reins. You're finally doing what you wanted to do. 



 

SUPER SPONSOR WORTH NOTING

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 
SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Hello Hope, 

I've been reading Funds for Writers for a long time. While I had some early success - back in the 1980s – I let people I used to be related to tell me that I didn't have any talent. Despite gaining enough paid writing credits to become an associate member of Western Writers of America, I lost confidence. But I never lost the desire to write. 

Reading the newsletter kept me up to date on all the changes in publishing, gave me good advice about writing, warned of scams, and suggested good markets to break in. Many times, I checked the Chicken Soup site and even started some stories. They have a particular style that I didn't feel I could meet. 

Last fall, I checked again, and I had a story that I could craft into something that I was proud to send. I entered it on their submissions page, and then nearly forgot about it. I almost missed the January email telling me that my story was being considered for publication! 

After the editing process and paperwork were complete, I did get confirmation that my story, "No Good Deed," would appear in Laughter Is the Best Medicine, which went on sale April 14th. 

I am so proud to hold this book in my hands and to share it with my family and friends. I'm especially proud to share it with my friend, Darlene, who asked me to help her return a stray chicken. It didn't go as expected... 

Thank you for helping me keep the dream alive and for giving me confidence to throw myself out there again. 

Linda Bittle


- - - 

Send us your success story, telling us how FundsforWriters made a difference, opened a door, helped you get someplace you wanted to be. 

Email [email protected] 

 

Featured article

Trident Media Group Literary Agent Mark Gottlieb on Overcoming Panic in Publishing During the Pandemic

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me." –Frank Herbert, DUNE

Fear has taken hold of the minds of many people in trade book publishing during the pandemic brought on by COVID-19 and rightfully so: Scholastic temporarily laid off over 100 employees, Rowman & Littlefield has ceased paying salaries to their entire company, Markus Dohle released a company-wide letter to Penguin Random House that everyone at the company will have to tighten their belts and Macmillan closed the imprint Thomas Dunne Books while laying off a number of employees... Publishers have gone as far as to push publication dates out, and authors that are having books published during these current troubled times are having to turn away from live book tour events, to online media. Outside of publishing, the world seems even scarier, and we must all remind each other that we are in this together—more than ever, we all need to treat one another with kindness. Even with that in mind, we must respect that some hold onto the view that things look grimmer than ever in book publishing, but that does not mean there is not any hope...

With book publishers tightening the purse strings, many literary agents are hesitant to submit manuscripts to editors at publishing houses and hopeful writers, looking to become published authors, are hesitant to send their queries to literary agents.  

If it was not already an art to figure out not just who to submit a manuscript to but when—literary agents are grappling with that now more than ever. For instance, conventional wisdom always held that July and August, as well as the winter holidays, were death sentences for submitting manuscripts to publishers. The reason, of course, being that publishing is very slow in the summer months and people are away during the holidays. The funny thing is that my colleagues at the Trident Media Group literary agency, and I, continue to submit books during those months, and we find that we do a great many of our deals then! How is that possible? Literary agents that believe in the stigma that July/August and the winter holidays are bad months to pitch book publishers create wide openings for us, as their competition, to go in and submit books while editors have desks clear of manuscript reading piles. 

At the Trident Media Group literary agency, our literary agents just closed seven-figure book deals for actor Billy Dee Williams of STAR WARS Lando fame with Knopf and #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George's next Inspector Lynley novel with Viking. Those two book deals ran in Publishers Weekly last week, and they were two of the six book deals announced! Personally, I performed a six-figure deal for New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker with Forge Books right before the pandemic and another six-figure deal for National Jewish Book Award-winning author Ronald H. Balson with St. Martin's Press, just last week. All of this in the midst of the global pandemic. Now, none of this is to brag—rather, it is meant as good information to see that even though the world is suffering, life must continue, and we all must find a way to go onward. 

The current book publishing climate is also a question of which projects to submit right now. For instance, a lighthearted or humorous book, or an escapist fantasy adventure, might be more of a welcome distraction than a book about a global pandemic. In rolling with the punches a bit, for the time being, writers will also have to think about the types of projects they want to query literary agents with: can the zombie apocalypse novel wait a bit while I try out my fairy tea party children's book? It is important to be sensitive in reading the room over the current socio-economic and political climate. 

Regardless of what may be occurring in book publishing right now, publishers still need new material, and that will always be a fact. The good thing about book publishing is that when a publisher buys a book, they are envisioning a publication one to two years out. So, while the current times may seem grim, publishers are looking forward to publishing in better days. Editors at publishing houses are reporting that they do not feel the submissions have all ceased. It remains more so a question of how much publishers will pay for books and how aggressively they will be seeking additional rights to books. 

It is also important to point out the resiliency of books and stories during the pandemic. There there has been a recent uptick in the sales of eBooks, digital audio and paperbacks, notably the classics (readers finally feel like they have the time to read massive tomes such as WAR AND PEACE or THE TALE OF GENJI). Customers can still get books delivered to their homes; it just takes longer nowadays. Readers seldom want to give up books as essential luxury items, which is why the Trident Media Group literary agency didn't have any layoffs during the 2009 Economic Crisis—in fact, we grew our business during that time. Life must go on and it will, as it always has, so have hope! 

BIO - Mark Gottlieb is a highly ranked literary agent both in overall deals and other individual categories. Using that same initiative and insight for identifying talented writers, he is actively building his own client list of authors. Mark Gottlieb is excited to work directly with authors, helping to manage and grow their careers with all of the unique resources that are available at book publishing's leading literary agency, Trident Media Group. During his time at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented numerous New York Times bestselling authors, as well as award-winning authors, and has optioned and sold books to film and TV production companies. He previously ran the agency's audiobook department, in addition to working in foreign rights. Mark Gottlieb is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres and looking forward to bringing new and established authors to the curious minds of their future readers.

Blog | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

 

COmpetitions

BLACK RIVER CHAPBOOK COMPETITION
https://blacklawrencepress.com/submissions-and-contests/the-black-river-chapbook-competition/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. Twice each year, Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and ten copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication.



COPING WITH CRISIS ANTHOLOGY CONTEST
https://www.agelessauthors.com/current-contests/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2020. We are all caught in the jaws of a crisis, but no one has quarantined our creativity. Coping with Crisis is the theme of this new writing contest, where the definition of “senior” has been expanded to include anyone age 50 and older. Prizes of $500, $250, and $150 are awarded in each of the following categories: Creative nonfiction (essay) — Limited to 3,500 words; Fiction (short story) — Limited to 3,500 words; and Poetry — No limit to the number of lines. 



RTE RADIO 1 SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.rte.ie/radio1/francis-macmanus-short-story/
Deadline May 8, 2020. RTÉ is currently accepting short story submissions for one of Ireland's longest established and most significant literary prizes, the RTÉ Short Story Competition in honour of Francis MacManus. The overall winner will receive €3,000, while €2,000 and €1,000 will be awarded to the second and third place prize winners, respectively. A further seven runners-up will receive €250 each, and all ten short stories will be broadcast in a season of new writing on RTÉ Radio 1 in the autumn. The top three prizewinning stories will also be published on thejournal.ie. Stories must be between 1,800 and 2,000 words in length. The competition is open to people over 18 years of age who are Irish, or reside in Ireland.



LORIAN HEMINGWAY SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://shortstorycompetition.com/guidelines/
$15-$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2020. The first-place winner will receive $1,500 and publication of his or her winning story in Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts. The second – and third-place winners will receive $500 each. Honorable mentions will also be awarded to entrants whose work demonstrates promise. Stories must be original unpublished fiction, typed and double-spaced, and may not exceed 3,500 words in length. There are no theme or genre restrictions. The literary competition is open to all U.S. and international writers whose fiction has not appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circulation of 5,000 or more. 



QUEEN MARY WASAFIRI NEW WRITING PRIZE
https://www.wasafiri.org/new-writing-prize/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2020. The competition is open to any nationality and any age group. The competition is open to anyone who has not published a book-length work in the genre that they are entering. However, if a writer has only self-published a book-length work, they are still eligible for the prize. The prize supports new writers, with no limits on age, gender, nationality or background. The winners of each category received a £1,000 cash prize and will be published by Wasafiri in print and online. They will also be offered the Chapter and Verse or Free Reads mentoring scheme in partnership with The Literary Consultancy (dependent on eligibility). No entry may exceed 3,000 words.



SEAN O'FAOLAIN INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.munsterlit.ie/SOF%20Page.html
€18 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 18, 2020. The competition is open to original, unpublished, and unbroadcasted short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. First Prize €2,000, residency (one week) at Anam Cara Retreat, accommodation at the Cork International Short Story Festival, and publication in Southword. Second Prize €500 and publication in Southword. Four Runners-Up €250 and publication in Southword. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NEW YORK MILLS CULTURAL CENTER ARTS RETREAT RESIDENCIES
https://www.kulcher.org/programs/artist-retreat/  
Deadline May 1, 2020 for July through December residencies. The Arts Retreat artist residency program of the Cultural Center in New York Mills provides dedicated artists time for creative development and exploration. The program offers a unique taste of life in rural Minnesota while allowing the artists virtually uninterrupted time in which to immerse themselves in their artwork. Artists from all disciplines (performance, written, audio and visual media) will be considered for a residency. The selection committee awards residencies to artists based on artistic merit and commitment to the arts. A one-bedroom house and access to studio space in the Cultural Center are provided for two- to six-week retreat residencies. 



ARTIST RELIEF
https://www.artistrelief.org/
To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States. Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists. To be eligible for a relief grant, applicants must be: practicing artists able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience; experiencing dire financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 21 years of age or older; and able to receive taxable income in the U.S. 



ELEANOR TAYLOR BLAND CRIME FICTION GRANT
https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/EleanorTaylorBland
Deadline June 8, 2020. The Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award is an annual grant of $2,000 for an emerging writer of color. This grant is intended to support the recipient in crime fiction writing and career development activities. The grantee may choose to use the grant for activities that include workshops, seminars, conferences, and retreats, online courses, and research activities required for completion of the work. An unpublished writer is preferred, however publication of several pieces of short fiction, or up to two self-published or traditionally published books will not disqualify an applicant.



PEN AMERICAN WRITERS’ EMERGENCY FUND – US
https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/
Through the fund, grants of between $500 and $1,000 will be awarded in support of writers demonstrating an inability to meet an acute financial need, especially one resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The fund is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists. PEN America will utilize the following guidelines in evaluating professional credentials: the publication of one or more books or multiple essays, short stories, or poems in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online or in print) during the last two years; the publication of a full-length play, performed in a theater of more than 250 seats by a professional theater company; employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years; or a contract for a forthcoming book, collection of essays, short story collection, poetry chapbook, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided. Productions in academic settings qualify if the applicant is not a student at the time of the production.



CORONAVIRUS ROLLING GRANT FOR FREELANCE JOURNALISTS – US
https://investigate.submittable.com/submit/163797/coronavirus-rolling-grant-for-u-s-freelancers
FIJ’s board of directors is looking for stories on the coronavirus that break new ground and expose wrongdoing—such as corruption, malfeasance, or abuse of power—in the public and private sectors. FIJ encourages proposals written for ethnic media as well as those submitted by journalists of color and involving the impact of the coronavirus in U.S. ethnic communities. Grants 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. FIJ also considers requests for small stipends. FIJ will review proposals as they are submitted. Grant decisions can be expected within two weeks of submission of application.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

87 BEDFORD
https://87bedford.com/anthology-historic-fantasy/
Deadline April 30, 2020. Five original, previously unpublished, literary fantasy short stories between 1,000 to 5,000 words for our Historic Fantasy Anthology. We are seeking stories that offer a riveting reimagining of a historic time period imbued with fantasy and magic. As always, we prefer stories with a literary quality built upon strong characters, spellbinding language, and believable world-building. We pay $0.08 per word. 



UNIDENTIFIED FUNNY OBJECTS
https://alexshvartsman.com/ufo-unidentified-funny-objects/
Deadline April 30, 2020. Unidentified Funny Objects is an annual anthology of humorous SF/F. Submit 500-5,000 words. Pays $0.10 per word plus contributor copy. 



LIVE VOICE WRITER/CAPTIONER
https://www.simplyhired.com/job/O6F0k1k4CKHcpeUPGSsBv_sT_ZLuzKNf7rUzQ9BnL-he4aQAy60KwA
Live Voice Writers/Captioners connect the hard of hearing and deaf to the world around us, which is especially crucial now. Voice Writers use voice recognition technology to create broadcast-quality closed captioning for a variety of media outlets. Voice Writers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but the main things we have in common are that we 1) speak English with native proficiency, 2) type quickly, and 3) have a knack for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Candidates will train from our new training facility, located in the heart of downtown Lexington, and will work from home upon successful completion of training (about four to six months). You will start out earning $32,000 per year with benefits; once you go through training and pass a series of accuracy tests, your yearly salary will be $35,000 per year, with plenty of opportunity to work extra hours and earn overtime.



CONTENT WRITER FOR DOG CONTENT SITE
https://www.simplyhired.com/job/B2p7GYBFylZDhe1vsL8NH5ZBSuuT_sTFfwYsPsHMTDIabj7i46SQkw
Write articles for our blogs and content site about pets, dogs, dog care/health, and so on. Write content for our website, email newsletters, and ads. Collaborate with Marketing and Growth teams to brainstorm and develop content for social platforms and digital ads. Support PR in copyediting press materials. Manage multiple projects with minimal supervision. Understand competitive landscape in terms of voice, marketing, and messaging – and share insights regularly. Two to four years of writing experience at a strong brand, agency, or influential publication. Degree in Journalism, English, Communications, or related.



ONLINE WRITING TUTOR
https://www.simplyhired.com/job/84vRwnWUR_Z-QdItkwlRkzA3kacdk20M-8Oau9Ug0FZoKNCG9z0qyQ
ThinkingStorm is a leading national online tutoring company seeking writing tutors to review students’ online submissions. Our ideal tutor has a BA/BS degree or higher in a writing-intensive field, experience reviewing or editing academic papers, and familiarity with APA and MLA style guides. Special consideration will be given to applicants with availability on the weekends and those who have experience with research design or ESL instruction. Pays $12/hour.



GRAIN
http://www.grainmagazine.ca/submissionguidelines/
Deadline May 15, 2020. Grain, the journal of eclectic writing, is a literary quarterly that publishes engaging, eclectic, and challenging writing and art by Canadian and international writers and artists. Poetry: Individual poems, sequences, or suites up to a maximum of six pages. Fiction: To a maximum of 3,500 words. Literary Nonfiction: To a maximum of 3,500 words. All contributors, regardless of genre, are paid $50 per page to a maximum of $250, plus two copies of the issue in which their work appears. 



ARCHERY AND BOW HUNTING
https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=NextLuxury&from=vj&l=United%20States&vjk=62a4adfe55a5198a
We are an online magazine with over 3,000 articles focused on Archery and Bow Hunting. We are looking for an experienced and creative writer to join our team as an external associate. This is can be a part or full-time position depending on availability. 


 

Publishers/agents

STOREY PUBLISHING
https://www.workman.com/work-with-us/author-submissions#algonquin
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 agents. (Note: no fiction, poetry, or children’s picture books, please.)



TIMBER PRESS
https://www.workman.com/work-with-us/author-submissions#algonquin
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.



QUIRK BOOKS
https://www.quirkbooks.com/page/about
Quirk Books is headquartered on a charming cobblestone street in the historic Old City district of Philadelphia. Quirk publishes just 25 strikingly unconventional books per year, and every title is a labor of love born out of our passions and obsessions. Always looking to set the next trend, Quirk delivers books and stories that are bold, unprecedented, beautifully designed, and affordable. Some of Quirk’s more popular titles include the best-selling YA series Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the Edgar Award–winning mystery The Last Policeman, fangirl favorite Geekerella, the legendary Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and classroom favorite William Shakespeare’s Star Wars—plus children’s books, pop culture titles, cookbooks, art books, gag gifts, and more. Quirk’s books are distributed worldwide by Penguin Random House and available wherever books are sold. NOTE: Pitch specific editors. Each one handles something different. 



TANGLEWOOD BOOKS
http://www.tanglewoodbooks.com/submissions/
While we publish for every age, from toddlers to teens, we are most interested in expanding Tanglewood’s range of middle grade and YA fiction and narrative nonfiction (history or biography). We are open to most fiction genres, as long as the manuscript has authentic, 3D characters and a strong plot. While we are not looking for high fantasy, elements of fantasy or the fantastical are always welcome.



PAGE STREET PUBLISHING
https://www.pagestreetpublishing.com/submission-guidelines
We publish young adult (YA) fiction (for ages 12 and up), in all genres, and a variety of nonfiction books in such categories as cooking, sports, science, nature, interior design, crafts, and parenting. We also publish children’s books focusing on new talent and artist-led narrative picture books in all genres for ages 4-8, biographies for ages 8-12, occasionally board books for ages 0-3, and visually driven concept books. Potential authors, please send your work using the guidelines on the website. Due to the high volume of submissions, we respond only to authors whose work we want to consider for publication. 



GREEN WRITERS PRESS
http://greenwriterspress.com/contact/submissions/
Green Writers Press is a publishing house located in rural Vermont with a mission to help spread a message of hope and renewal through the words and images we publish and to help foster a sustainable environment. We hope to share beautiful words and art with the world, and we’d love it if you would accompany us on this journey. Closes to submissions on June 1. Submit by May 31.



STENHOUSE PUBLISHERS
https://www.stenhouse.com/about/submit-proposal
Stenhouse is always on the lookout for good authors and books. We publish professional development books for K–12 classroom teachers and school leaders, ranging in topics across the curriculum—from reading, writing, and literacy to content areas such as math, science, and social studies, to more general topics such as classroom management. We welcome submissions from experienced and new authors, and we like to think you'll write "with" us, not "for" us. 



GIBBS SMITH PUBLISHING
https://www.gibbs-smith.com/submissions
Our main emphasis is on interior design, architecture, children's, and cookbooks. Additionally, we accept submissions in the following subjects: arts and crafts, western humor with general appeal, general humor, and gift books.



INCENTIVE PUBLICATIONS
https://incentivepublications.com/pages/about-us
Incentive Publications by World Book produces supplemental resources for student use and instruction and classroom management improvement materials for teachers. Incentive specializes in supplemental resources for middle grades students and teaching strategies for grades K–12. Incentive Publications is always looking for talented authors and illustrators with a love of entertaining and educating children. If you have a manuscript that you would like considered, please email it to [email protected] 
 

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 2000-2020, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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