TOP SPONSOR 

THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM

The problem with freelance sites where you compete for work is that the low price usually wins. Same goes for pitching to magazines and customers . . . the lower you value yourself, the more likely you'll get stuck with that price. Not only will you get paid for less than you are worth, but you get labeled as someone who works on the cheap. 

The problem with racing to the bottom is that you might win. 

You do not have to lowball your value in order to work. Unfortunately, in the publishing industry, we seem only to think we can either be the cream rising to the top or the lowball, scrambling for quantity instead of quality. You can ride the middle ground, always striving to rise, but starting at the very bottom, working for pennies, means you have further to go to reach a respectable wage. Why do that to yourself? Why compete with third-world companies where engineers and doctors are freelance writing to make ends meet and are satisfied with writing 2,000 words for $10?

You compete against way more competitors at the bottom. That's where way more people underestimate themselves and hang out. 

You compete against fewer people closer to the top. That's not saying the competition for quality isn't fierce, but fewer people dare to play in that arena. 

Quality wins at either financial level. You decide whether you want a lot of $10 articles, or whether you want to strive for a few $500 articles. That is all on you. It might mean more rejection to race to the top than the bottom, but where would you rather be?

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. Just my two cents. 

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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SUccess Story

Hi Hope!

As a published nonfiction writer, I wanted to explore other channels of opportunities and craft. 
A few months ago, I saw a short story contest announcement from TulipTree Press in one of your newsletters. (I've been a devoted reader for many years). I entered "Climbing the (White) Ladder to Success," a story about an unemployed young woman whose initiative and determination leads to success while challenging values in light of others' disdain.

I was delighted to receive notification this week that my story has been selected to be published as a contributor to this year's collection of stories, Wild Women 2020! 

Thank you for what you do to uplift and inform writers through your newsletter and its sponsors. 

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www.LeeanneRebicHay.weebly.com 
Plano, Texas

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Featured article

Five Cost-Free Ways to Stay Focused While Writing

By Julie Cantrell

Since becoming a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, I've learned a trick or two about improving my productivity. With a constant stream of freelance assignments, editorial deadlines, emails, and speaking events, it's easy to become overwhelmed and distracted.

My writer friends and I face two main challenges in our careers:

·       Staying on task when the to-do list never ends

·       Spending too much time at the desk in order to get the job done

If you're like us, you may face these same struggles. While many solutions exist in the form of productivity apps or task managers, most of them charge a fee. But with these quick tips, you won't have to break the bank to improve your time management and productivity.

1. Run Sprints: Find an accountability partner and commit to checking in on each other after a 25-minute "word sprint." Aim for 500 or 1,000 words and send pictures of your before-and-after wordcounts to prove you're moving toward your goal. Other goals may include finalizing a pitch, updating your website, posting on social media, or editing a chapter. Whatever you need to finish, it's always more fun when you find a friend to help cheer you across the goal line. 

2. Get in the Groove: Many writers find music helpful in tuning out distractions. Try streaming free services such as Spotify or Pandora.. A hidden perk to opting for the free subscription is that the playlists will be cycled by time. That means, when the ads start to play, your break begins. This helps keep me on track while enjoying some cool jazz or coffee house tunes. Plus, I've found an added bonus—the music stimulates my creative brain and helps defeat any writer's block I may be experiencing.

3. Follow the Beat: A little different from your standard streaming services, BrainFM offers specific music scientifically designed to steer your brain into a certain state: focused, relaxed, asleep. They offer five free sessions, so give it a try and see if these rhythmic beats help improve your focus as much as they do mine.

4. Use a Timer: Whether you opt for a free app such as Pomodoro, an alarm on your smartphone, or an old-fashioned kitchen timer, many writers find it helpful to focus on one task for 25 minutes at a time. I like to take a five-minute break before starting another focus session, but I also set every fourth break for a little longer in duration. This allows me to schedule time for errands or chores, so I can push all those extra worries away while I'm working.

5. Move It: It's no secret that working at a computer can take a strain on a writer's health. It's important to make the most of break times by not only resting your brain but by working your body too. If you work from home, like me, try to squeeze in 100 jumping jacks, a 3-minute plank, 15 minutes of yoga, or a quick HITT circuit  during your breaks. If you work in a public space, perhaps you can climb sets of stairs or do a few laps around the building. You'll be surprised how much you can move in five minutes flat.

Engaging both the body and the brain throughout the workday helps to improve my productivity, mood, and overall well-being. And because these strategies don't cost a dime, they never carry a sting.

BIO - Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, editor, TEDx speaker, book coach, and ghostwriter. In addition to publishing novels, children's books, and creative nonfiction, Julie has contributed to more than 20 additional works. She's also operated a thriving freelance business since 2001.   












 

COmpetitions

PASSAGER POETRY CONTEST
https://passagerbooks.submittable.com/submit
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 10, 2020. Please include up to five poems (40-line maximum for each). Winner receives $1,000 and publication. Honorable mentions will be published. Limited to writers over age 50. 



2020 LITERARY TAXIDERMY SHORT STORY COMPETITION
https://literarytaxidermy.com/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 4, 2020. To enter, you must produce an original story of up to 2,500 words in any genre. The catch: We provide your opening and closing lines chosen from a classic work of literature. You provide the rest. The first contest takes its opening and closing lines from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. To participate, you must write a short story that starts and ends with the same opening and closing lines as Huxley's classic work. The second contest takes its opening and closing lines from Beloved by Toni Morrison. To participate, you must write a short story that starts and ends with the same opening and closing lines as Morrison's classic work. The author of the winning story in each contest will receive a $500 cash prize and a complimentary copy of the forthcoming 2020 Literary Taxidermy Anthology; runners-up will receive a $50 cash prize, and both the winner and runners-up will be published in the forthcoming 2020 Literary Taxidermy Anthology. 



BETTER FUTURES INTERSPECIES INTERACTION CONTEST
http://sapiensplurum.org/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. How can technology increase empathy and connection? The news today is full of examples of technology creating dissension and amplifying differences. We ask authors to imagine ways that technology can improve how we relate to each other and bring us closer, even across species. Submissions should include 1,500-3,000 words in English. First prize $1,000. Second prize $500. Third prize $300. 



THE MASTERS REVIEW FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://mastersreview.com/flash-fiction-contest/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. Winner receives $3,000 and publication. Second and third place prizes are $300 and $200 respectively and publication. Stories must come in under 1,000 words. All stories considered for publication.



CRAZYSHORTS! SHORT-SHORT FICTION CONTEST
https://crazyhorse.cofc.edu/crazyshorts/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Submit July 1-31, 2020. Submit one to three shorts of up to 500 words each. Each entry is considered for publication. Entry fee includes a subscription. First prize $1,000 and publication. 



THE BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
http://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. Limit to 15,000 to 20,000 words. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the tradition of the Nero Wolfe series. The mystery should be "traditional" in flavor.



BACOPA LITERARY REVIEW CONTEST
https://writersallianceofgainesville.submittable.com/submit
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2020. First prize $300 in each category. Second prize $100 in each category. Fiction 1,000-3,000 words. Creative nonfiction up to 2,500 words. No limit on poetry. Short-short limited to 750 words. Humor in literary form up to 1,500 words. 


 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NEVADA ARTS COUNCIL FELLOWSHIPS
https://nevadaartscouncil.submittable.com/submit
Deadline May 15, 2020. The Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Artist Fellowship Grant recognizes outstanding literary and performing artists living in Nevada who demonstrate excellence in their work. Grantees may request 90 percent of the award right away. To receive the remaining ten percent of the award, grantees must complete a public outreach activity in Nevada that is relevant to their artistic discipline. Grant amount $5,000.



MICROLOAN FOR JOURNALISTS
https://microloansforjournalists.org/
If you’re a professional journalist who has been laid off, furloughed, or had your pay cut by your news outlet and urgently need assistance, you can apply to receive an interest-free $500 loan, to be repaid in one year. The money will come solely from fellow journalists. The money is a loan, not a donation, but since we’re only matching people together, there are no mechanisms to ensure repayment. 



COVID-19 EMERGENCY FUND FOR JOURNALISTS
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/funding-opportunities/grants/what-we-fund/covid-19-emergency-fund/
The fund will distribute support ranging from $1,000–$8,000 USD for local coverage of the preparation, response, and impact of this global pandemic as seen through evidence-based reporting. Beyond reporting on medical and physical health related to COVID-19, we especially encourage reporting that covers social, emotional, economic, and equity issues. Narratives around the pandemic necessarily include facts and numbers, but ultimately, must also go deeper—telling the stories of inequities that COVID-19 has brought to light. We seek writers, photographers, videographers, audio journalists, cartographers, filmmakers, and data visualization experts to apply for this funding. 



ECONOMIC HARDSHIP REPORTING PROJECT
http://economichardship.org/submissions
EHRP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that produces compelling journalism to raise awareness about income inequality and economic unfairness in America. We are offering assignments to independent journalists for stories on the intersection of the coronavirus and financial suffering in America, with an emphasis on writers and photographers who are themselves experiencing significant economic hardship caused by the pandemic. We generally pay reporters roughly a dollar a word or a $300-$500 day-rate for photojournalists. We also are offering a limited number of emergency hardship grants between $500-$1,500 to professional journalists based in the United States.



INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MEDIA JOURNALISM RELIEF FUND
https://iwmf.submittable.com/submit/41e7f7ce-db40-4ff6-873f-e24450e27497/journalism-relief-fund-english
The IWMF's Journalism Relief Fund is open to women-identifying journalists in dire straits - journalists who have faced significant financial hardship, lost work, were recently laid off, or who urgently need assistance to avoid severe, irreversible outcomes. This fund will provide small grants of up to $2,000 per request. However, special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to those who have greater financial need.



NEW HAMPSHIRE ARTIST ENTREPRENEURIAL GRANTS
https://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/artists/artistentre.html
Deadlines May 8, 2020; August 7, 2020; November 6, 2020. Artist Entrepreneurial Grants recognize the importance of the creative workforce to New Hampshire’s economy. Artist Entrepreneurial Grants support opportunities that will benefit artists’ careers, including the development of business skills, participation in programs to raise the level and quality of their art, and participation in programs that will bring their art to the widest possible markets.



VERMONT RAPID RESPONSE FUND
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/artists/rapid-response-artist-relief
The Vermont Rapid Response Artist Relief provides grants up to $500 to artists who have lost income due to the loss of a job or cancellation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity (e.g., commissions, performances, contracts, workshops, classes, etc.) because of COVID-19. This second round of funding is open to applications until May 13, 2020.



SOUTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANTS
https://whosonthemove.com/s-c-arts-commission-to-provide-arts-emergency-relief-grants/
Deadline May 15, 2020. Income loss must have occurred during the fourth quarter of FY2020 and be caused by COVID-19 related cancellations and closures. Individual artists currently residing in South Carolina for at least one year may receive up to $1,000. The South Carolina Arts Foundation and the corporate and private donors to its South Carolina Artist Relief Fund campaign are supporting the grants to artists. 

 

FREELANCE MARKETS

CHICKEN SOUP: AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
http://www.chickensoup.com 
Deadline June 15, 2020. So, you're a certain age now, and you're ready for what's next. You might be enjoying an empty nest, or starting a second career, or winding down a first one. You might be downsizing, or traveling, or caring for elderly parents. You might be going on the adventure of a lifetime or taking long walks in the woods. The one thing you know for sure is that you're not ready to stop living! You feel energetic and young, and there is still so much more to see and do and give and enjoy. We are looking for stories about the humorous or serious sides of life after 60. Limit 1,200 words. Pays $200 and ten free copies of your book.



ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION
https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine is an established market for science fiction stories. Asimov’s pays eight to ten cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words and eight cents for each word over 7,500. We seldom buy stories shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 20,000 words, and we don’t serialize novels. We pay a dollar a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines. 



FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION
https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm
We are looking for stories that will appeal to science fiction and fantasy readers. The SF element may be slight, but it should be present. We prefer character-oriented stories. We receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor. Do not query for fiction; submit the entire manuscript. We publish fiction up to 25,000 words in length. Please read the magazine before submitting.  Payment is eight to twelve cents per word on acceptance. 



CLARKESWORLD
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/
Clarkesworld Magazine is a Hugo, World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes short stories, interviews, articles and audio fiction. Word limit 1,000-22,000 words. Pays ten cents per word. 



STRANGE HORIZONS
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/
Speculative fiction up to 10,000 words but prefers under 5,000. Pays ten cents per word. Nonfiction includes essays, interviews, and roundtable discussions. Pays $50 for a column, $40 for a reprinted essay, $80 for an original essay, $40 to an interviewer, and $40 to an interviewee, $20 to a roundtable moderator, and $20 to each other contributor. Looking for high-quality literary, SF/F, speculative, and slipstream poetry. Pays $50 for poetry regardless of length. 



DAILY SCIENCE FICTION
https://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines
Daily Science Fiction (DSF) is a market accepting speculative fiction stories from 100 to 1,500 words in length. By this, we mean science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc. We will consider flash series-three or more flash tales built around a common theme. We pay eight cents per word for first worldwide rights and nonexclusive reprint rights.



BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES
http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/
Beneath Ceaseless Skies publishes “literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some fantasy feel but written with a literary approach. Pays eight cents per word for stories under 15,000 words. 
 

Publishers/agents

BROTHER MOCKINGBIRD
https://www.brothermockingbird.org/submissions
While our focus is Southern Fiction and authors, we will never reject a good story no matter where it originates. Seeking women's fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery, commercial literary fiction, thriller, suspense, traditional crime, science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural, and young adult. No novellas or shorts. 



​THE JENNIFER DE CHIARA LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.jdlit.com/
The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency is a New York City-based full-service literary agency founded in 2001 and named one of the top 25 literary agencies in the country by Writer’s Digest. The agency represents children’s literature for all ages – picture books and middle-grade and young adult novels – but also represents high-quality adult fiction and non-fiction in a wide range of genres. JDLA is proud to represent illustrators, as well as screenwriters for both television and film, including Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writers and illustrators. What sets JDLA apart from other agencies is our holistic approach to managing every aspect of an author’s career to make the most of their project's potential.



PARAKLESIS PRESS
https://paraklesispress.com/
Paraklesis Press is in its infancy as of the date of this writing (August 2017) and, while it is a traditional publisher, meaning that we offer advances—small ones—and authors earn royalties, we have no way to get your books into bookstores. We are selling off of Amazon and our own website right now, and we are relying on our authors to do school visits and to sell their books at speaking engagements. If you’d still like to submit to us, feel free. The first year we are looking to publish a few middle-grade titles. Fantasy or sci-fi stories are of particular interest.



APOKEDAK LITERARY
https://sally-apokedak.com/submission-guidelines-2/what-im-looking-for/
Looking for children's books - picture books, middle-grade books, and YA books. 
 

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

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ISSN: 1533-1326

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