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FREE AND QUALITY

A reader sent me a link via Messenger asking that I read her free book. I had never corresponded with her before, plus the book was not a genre I usually read. I'm limited to reading about 30 books a year (on top of writing two to three of my own), so I am careful which books I add to my TBR list because that means they have to be good enough to oust something else I already like. Time is a limited commodity. 

But I also replied that I do not accept books to read for free unless I have agreed to do a written review. I'm not an advocate of free books. I'm not fond of 99 cents, either, though my publisher will occasionally throw one of mine up for 99 cents for two weeks at a time. The publisher has been told my feelings about that.

Free and quality don't often fall into the same category. Ever heard "You get what you pay for?"

My friend Jerry Caldwell owns a coffee shop in my hometown named The Coffee Shelf. He is a huge supporter of my books, and I daresay that he has sold well over a hundred of my books out of a tiny shop in a strip mall. He and I think a lot alike regarding free and cheap. I hold a couple signings a year in his place, and we agree he sells coffee and I sell books, and we don't share each other's profits. If I can draw in more business for his coffee, he doesn't charge me to sell my books in person. He is a cool dude.

He has also started blogging on The Coffee Shelf website. I found this one of particular interest about determining what to sell a product for to best capitalize on your business, and if free or cheap makes a difference. 

Discounting your product to increase volume and get your business noticed. I’ve rejected this idea since the day I opened my doors. My worst day running The Coffee Shelf is a day that still stands as a record for the number of people who came to my store. The grand opening.

I was given strong advice to not only hold a grand opening but offer all of my regular sized drinks at one dollar apiece. The same drinks, which normally sell for anywhere from four to six dollars. 

The majority of the customers who walked through my door would never return. They were there for the bargain. ... running a grand opening with large discounts flew in the face of my strategy for building a business. My goal is to build a long term sustainable business by providing value, in order to attract and retain customers.

Many readers will only accept free or 99 cents. Few of those will pay full price for a book. It is not your goal to seek those who buy for free in hopes they pay more for a later book. Your goal is to write a good book, attract long-term readers willing to pay for quality, and manage a sustainable business as an author who writes quality and aspires to be paid accordingly. 

Some will most assuredly balk at this editorial, but that's okay. We are not all the same, and we don't all think the same. But this is the stance I take, for my books, and for the authors I choose to read. If you are in this for the long haul, think about your business model and what you hope to represent.

NOTE: Amphorae Publishing has posted a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 to pay debts and attempt to remain afloat. That's all well and good, but if you have a book to pitch, you might want to wait until they are back on their feet before pitching them. 

Quoted from their GoFundMe page: <<Because we don't draw salaries, we can't furlough ourselves or cut our pay to save money. The bottom line is that we are no longer selling enough books to meet our obligations—even with our continuing personal financial contributions to the business.>>

Be careful out there. Everyone is struggling, and that includes some publishers. 

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Featured article

Easy Tracking

By Joyce Becker Lee

Submitting queries and manuscripts nowadays is as easy (and cost-effective) as a single keyboard click. But while programs like Submittable keep a list of e-submissions sent to certain sites, not every publisher uses such a program. Without it, can you pinpoint exactly where and when you sent out every piece, query or pitch in the last five or ten years?  I can, and so can you. 

Starting out as a writer, my submissions, a huge paper chase of labels, letters and receipts, and it could get expensive. It also could get confusing trying to keep track of what I sent, when and where I sent it, and whether it sold. Often sales were “payment upon publication,” with a dangling future, and once I forgot about a promised check, unable to recall if I had gotten paid or not. After an embarrassing phone call where I was informed I had been paid months before, I developed my system. 

A good tracking system is even more critical today. Because electronic submissions are easy and inexpensive (reading fees, when applied, are still cheaper than postage), we tend to submit a greater volume of work to a greater number of publishers. That increase means more items to track and more confusion. 

I created a table comprised of five columns, titled “Date,” “Title,” “Sent to,” “Response,” and “Comments.” Each time I submitted, I entered a new line in the appropriate columns. Upon receipt of a response, I immediately made a note. You can modify your graph with different fonts or colors: I put rejections in red, acceptances in blue, payments received in green. The table becomes a big help at tax time, and the comment section allows for notes, upcoming deadlines, or relevant web sites. 

You can make your system as simple or complex as you like. Because I write in several genres and have a large catalog of pieces, I also created a second table similar to the first but with pieces listed alphabetically by title. While the main graph offers a timeline rundown of submissions, the second table streamlines checking an individual piece’s submission history. With many years of submissions behind me, this record lets me quickly see if I’ve already submitted a story or query to a site. (However, if a lot of time has passed—think several years—since I first sent the piece, I might try again if I’ve revamped it.) I also have a third table to track my novels and film scripts. 

The trick is consistency. Fill in your columns every single time you send something out or get a response. The result is time saved in the future and a clear picture of your income.

That’s it. A very simple system. Whether you use just one graph or follow my lead and diversify, you’ll be able to keep a clear record of submissions, something that will save you a lot of grief later, keeping track of your business and giving you more time for writing.


Bio:
Joyce Becker Lee has been freelancing for more than 40 years and has worked at pretty much every writing job, including theater columnist and reviewer, high school and college teacher, writing textbook editor, features writer, reporter, newspaper editor, web content writer, and playwright. A lifelong theater nerd, she also enjoys directing. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at Northwestern University, and her work has been extensively published in such places as  Chicken Soup, The First Line, MemoryHouse, Cicada, EscapeIntoLife.com, JerryJazzMusician.com, and in Canada in Folklore and Prairies North, among others. She chairs her local Arts Commission, and currently works on two novels, a screenplay, a stage musical, and several short stories and poems. She can be found on Twitter at @writer_woman, at Facebook as J.B. Lee,   and on Instagram as jblee53.


 

COmpetitions

INKITT'S THRILL SEEKER WRITING CONTEST
https://www.inkitt.com/writersblog/inkitts-thrill-seeker-writing-contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. We’ve launched our latest writing contest for authors of thriller, crime, mystery, horror, dark-fantasy, or any other genre that exhilarates the reader through suspense! With cash prizes of a total of $650, a social media promotional package, and exclusive badges for your book up for grabs – this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your thrilling talents to Inkitt’s two million active users when you enter our contest. Your submission should be a minimum of 7,500 words, written in English and an original work to be considered for a winning place.



ABA JOURNAL/ROSS WRITING CONTEST FOR LEGAL FICTION
https://www.abajournal.com/contests/ross_essay
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2020. Entries must be original works of fiction of no more than 5,000 words that illuminate the role of the law and lawyers in modern society. The winner will receive a prize of $3,000. Entrants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Entries may be unpublished or published no earlier than January 1, 2020. (Thanks www.erikadreifus.com)



CAVE CANEM
https://cavecanempoets.org/prizes/cave-canem-northwestern-university-press-poetry-prize/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 12, 2020. Prize is a second-book award for black poets of African descent, offered every other year. This award celebrates and publishes works of lasting cultural value and literary excellence. Winner receives $1,000, publication by Northwestern University Press, 15 copies of the book and a feature reading in New York City. 



DRUE HEINZ LITERATURE PRIZE
https://upittpress.org/prize/drue-heinz-literature-prize/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2020. The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals. Winners receive a cash prize of $15,000, publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press, and support in the nation-wide promotion of their book. Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 pages. The award is open to writers in English, whether or not they are citizens of the United States.



THE WRITER SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.writermag.com/contests/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 2, 2020. Submit your best short story for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine! Any genre is fair game as long as your submission is a work of fiction under 2,000 words.



GREEN STORIES WRITING COMPETITIONS
http://www.greenstories.org.uk/quibi/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 4, 2020. We are looking for 3–15 ten-minute episodes of 8-10 minutes each (suitable for new platform QuiBi – designed for mobile phones) that, in some way, touch upon ideas around building a sustainable society. Prizes: £750: first prize £500, second prize £100, third prize £50. An additional prize of £50 for the best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best < 18-year submission (if sufficient high-quality entries). 



GREEN STORIES NOVEL COMPETITION
http://www.greenstories.org.uk/full-length-novel/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 2, 2020. We are looking for full-length novels for adults that, in some way, touch upon ideas around building a sustainable society. No children’s books as we expect to run a later competition for children’s stories. We are especially interested in stories that would translate well into a TV series or film. Typically novels are 50,000 – 100,000 words. Submit 5,000 – 10,000 words. Prizes: £750: first prize £500, second prize £100, third prize £50. An additional prize of £50 for the best student submission (18-25 years) and £50 for best < 18-year submission (if sufficient high-quality entries). 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

ARTIST RELIEF
https://www.artistrelief.org/
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, 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; provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)—we will collect this information after you’ve been notified of your selection; residing and working in the U.S. for the last two years.



BOOTH EMERGENCY FUND FOR WRITERS
https://literary-arts.org/the-literary-arts-booth-emergency-fund-for-writers/
The Literary Arts Booth Emergency Fund for Writers is designed to provide meaningful financial relief to Oregon writers, including cartoonists, spoken word poets, and playwrights who are established artists in their genre. Awards of $1,000 each will be issued to 100 eligible writers after the first application period closes. Depending on funding, Literary Arts may open up a second round of applications later in June.



BERTON HOUSE WRITERS' RETREAT
https://www.writerstrust.com/programs/berton-house-writers-retreat/
Berton House is a cozy cottage situated on the edge of the historic northern town of Dawson City. Poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, playwrights, and writers of children’s literature are invited to apply. Housing and travel costs to and from Dawson City are covered. Residents also receive a $9,000 honorarium, part of which may be covered by the Canada Council for the Arts’ Research and Creation grant program. Writers are required to deliver two public readings and encouraged to interact with the community during their stay.  



WOODCOCK FUND
https://www.writerstrust.com/programs/woodcock-fund-grant
Rolling deadline. Grant amounts of $2,000 to $10,000. Open to professional writers with a minimum of two books published who are facing an unforeseen financial need. Must be working on a book-length project. The Woodcock Fund is a lifeline for Canadian writers. It is the only program of its kind available and is often the last place authors can turn for help. 



MECKLENBURG CREATIVES RESILIENCY FUND
https://www.artsandscience.org/asc-resiliency-fund-supporting-local-artists/
ASC’s Mecklenburg Creatives Resiliency Fund supports artists and performers living in Charlotte-Mecklenburg that have been financially impacted by COVID-19. The fund, established with an initial contribution from ASC, provides $500 grants to eligible artists as long as funding is available. 



GEORGIA LEGG GRANTS
https://gaarts.org/what-we-do/programs/literary-arts/literary-events-grants/
LEGG is managed by the Georgia Writers Association and provides funding for literary events that involve writers from the Georgia Writers Registry. Grant Request:  $50 up to $250 to be used for writers’ fees.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

THE BARE LIFE REVIEW
https://barelifereview.submittable.com/submit
The Bare Life Review is pleased to accept unsolicited manuscripts for both our print journal and our new online platform, The Latest. Generally, anything timely (i.e., reviews of new books, or work responding directly to current events) should be addressed to The Latest. Likewise, very short essays (<2,000 words), very long essays (>8,000 words), or work that includes color photography, will make for a better fit online. Fiction and poetry should, without exception, be addressed to The Bare Life Review print edition. Promising work in these categories that does not quite fit our needs will also be considered by The Latest. Please submit completed work only. We now offer $750 for accepted full-length prose pieces, $300 for accepted poems or shorter print journal prose (<2,000 words), and $100 for The Latest.



BOBVILLA.COM
https://bloggingpro.com/job/bobvila-com-united-states-contract-freelance-freelance-home-writer/
BobVila.com, the online home of America’s #1 home improvement icon, is seeking freelance writers to join its team of contributors. Visited by millions each month, BobVila.com publishes new content daily, with themes running the gamut from aspirational to instructional. Readers trust the brand for answers to their peskiest appliance problems, shopping guidance for household staples, and advice on how to streamline household maintenance. Therefore, we rely on our writers to deliver accessible, solidly researched service content on anything and everything related to the home: must-do maintenance, real estate, organization, renovation, design, DIY, yard work, and much more. Rates range from $100 to $125 for stories between 700 and 1,000 words, with larger projects paying up to $250 or more.



TRUE CRIME WRITER FOR PODCAST - LEGAL FOCUSED
https://www.journalismjobs.com/1653775-remote---true-crime-writer-for-podcast---legal-focused-podcast
A true crime podcast is looking for a writer who can research and write roughly 60-minute scripts centered around crimes that have gone through the legal system. The podcast launched over three years ago, has over 50 million downloads and is looking to add on to their team of writers. Ideally seeking writers who have experience writing stories centered around the criminal justice system. The right fit for us is someone who actively follows high profile cases throughout the country and can tell the story of the case in a tasteful and engaging way. Respect to those involved and their families in each case is important to us.



INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
https://ijr.org/mission-greenlight-fund/
Independent Journal Review (IJR) is one of the most innovative digital news companies in the United States. Our mission is to organize an online community elevating trusted voices on all sides so our readers can be fully informed. We are looking for talented and aggressive investigative reporters to work with us on our Mission Greenlight initiative. The ideal candidate has deep subject matter expertise and a never quit mentality when approaching an investigation into highly guarded and secretive institutions. Write and produce content with a focus on storytelling through and from social media as well as existing reporting. Comfort with embedding content from social media. Willingness to cold call and source original interviews to be used in the investigation. Completely remote.



COPYWRITER - REMOTE
https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Writer&sort=date&start=20&vjk=d0bf2fd5d1cb977e
MVRK is on the lookout for a talented, versatile Copywriter to create the witty, impactful copy for branded storytelling experiences through various digital platforms. Self-starter and comfortable working outside their primary skill set and comfort zone. Produce marketing deliverables, including but not limited to - overarching narratives, case studies, trend reports, thought leadership, vertical narratives, and newsletters.



SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY WRITERS OF AMERICA - THE BULLETIN
https://www.sfwa.org/sfwa-publications/the-bulletin/bulletin-submission-guidelines/
The Bulletin is open to nonfiction articles and column submissions that would be of interest to new and established writers of science fiction and fantasy. We are looking for a wide range of articles including, but not limited to: discussions of the genre publishing business (traditional and self-publishing); essays on the writing process and the reading experience; historical perspectives of our field; and scientific or historical material that might be of use in stories. In short, if you believe it would be beneficial to other writers, we’re interested in hearing about it. Pays ten cents per word. 



WRITER-EDITOR
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/567486700
Deadline May 19, 2020 but will close at 200 applications. Pays $86,335 to $133,465 per year. Two vacancies in Washington, DC. Employer is Office of Inspector General for the Department of Commerce. Edit audit, evaluation, and inspection reports for Office of Audit and Evaluation (OAE)—write and edit OAE strategic and annual work plans; OAE policy directives, correspondence, speeches and briefings; OAE contributions to OIG publications, Congressional testimony, the Top Management and Performances Challenges Report (TMC), and the Semiannual Report to Congress (SAR); and other written products from Office of Investigations (OI) or Office of Administration (OA) submitted for review—and ensure appropriate work standards are followed, schedules are adhered to, and high-quality work products are delivered. Edit reports and other analytical documents, scrutinizes them for incomplete or conflicting data, coherence of arguments, validity of conclusions, and appropriateness of recommendations, and offer advice and suggestions for revisions to authors. 



WRITER-EDITOR
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/567041300
Deadline May 15, 2020. Pays $86,335 to $112,240 per year. Location Pentagon, Arlington, VA. This position is within Headquarters Department of Army, Chief of Staff-Executive Communications and Control Operations. Writes and edits materials tailored to specified media and audiences. Provides journalistic and managerial judgment in decisions affecting production of each assignment. Reviews, assigns, and controls correspondence to ensure information presented is complete and accurate. Provides editorial and production support as required.

 

Publishers/agents

THE TOBIAS AGENCY
http://www.thetobiasagency.com/submissions
A full-service literary agency headquartered in New York City with satellite offices in Boston, Nashville, and soon-to-be Los Angeles, The Tobias Literary Agency represents established and debut authors. Entertains adult fiction and nonfiction. 



GO LITERARY
http://www.go-lit.com/
GO Literary is actively seeking both fiction and nonfiction works that wed compelling writing with a strong narrative and tackle big issues in engaging, accessible, and even surprising ways. Beyond working toward the success of each individual book, GO Literary strives to establish long-term relationships with its authors to help them build satisfying and enduring careers. In addition to contract negotiation, GO Literary works closely with its clients throughout every step of the publishing process. 



JEVON BOLDEN
https://www.jevonbolden.com/
Now leading her own publishing consulting firm, Embolden Media Group, she remains an essential editorial partner, ghostwriter, writing coach, publishing consultant, and now literary agent for a number of ABA and CBA best-selling authors, while she and her team provide custom editorial and publishing services to independent authors around the world. She has experience in a broad range of topics including natural health and wellness, spiritual and personal growth, Christian living, and children’s nonfiction.



ALBERT WHITMAN & COMPANY
https://www.albertwhitman.com/submission-guidelines-for-unrepresented-authors/
Albert Whitman & Company currently has an open submissions policy. We will read and review un-agented manuscripts and proposals for picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. 



ANGRY ROBOT
https://www.angryrobotbooks.com/about-us/
Angry Robot is a global imprint dedicated to the best in modern adult science fiction, fantasy and everything in between. We do not currently accept proposals except from literary agents. 



PINATA BOOKS
https://artepublicopress.com/submissions/
Piñata Books is Arte Público Press’s imprint for children’s and young adult literature. It seeks to authentically and realistically portray themes, characters, and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. Submissions and manuscript formalities are the same as for Arte Público Press. Illustrators are welcome to update files by submitting new art samples online through our website at: Printers – Illustrators – Artists Guidelines.

 

SPONSORS

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FINE PRINT

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140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036
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