TOP SPONSOR 

Winning Writers will award a grand prize of $5,000 in the sixth annual NORTH STREET competition for self-published books, co-sponsored by BookBaby and Carolyn Howard-Johnson (author of The Frugal Book Promoter).

Choose from six categories:

• Mainstream/Literary Fiction
• Genre Fiction
• Creative Nonfiction & Memoir
• Poetry
• Children’s Picture Book
• Graphic Novel & Memoir

$12,500 will be awarded in all, and the top seven winners will receive additional benefits to help market their books. Any year of publication is eligible. Entry fee: $65 per book. Deadline: June 30.

Submit online via Submittable or by mail. Click to learn more about our guidelines, past winners, and judges’ remarks.


 

SOCIAL MEDIA MORE THAN EVER

We're learning to function more from a different sort of headquarters, a headquarters that's fast becoming our bedroom, study, back porch, or dining room table. And since our personal presence has been diluted to little or nothing, our online presence has to grow. Either that or we lose touch with the world altogether.

You are probably spending time on social media more than ever. The times that used to be good for posting have changed. Actors and authors are reading books on social media. Zoom has exploded as book clubs, authors, and school groups rally to keep in touch about books.

So, get used to it. 

However, now more than ever, watch what you say. Your online presence has a greater impact on your image and brand now.  First, clean up your social media (and your website) to show the best side of you. Second, whatever you say, imagine it being said in person in front of your mother, children, editor, or readers. I mean anything and everything. Why? Because there's a greater chance of it being seen now that folks are spending much more time in front of their screen.

In following a local political group, I was offered a gig to write a coming-out announcement for a candidate. Not just because I make it clear I am a writer, but because I'd written intelligent replies on social media sites. Factual, succinct, without all the slang and abbreviated style people are prone to write online. My posts represented me as a writer. People raved about that piece. 

On the other hand, I read more social media now, too. I was asked to write a piece for an anthology being created by a literary journal. Though not being paid for it, I agreed because it was local. It was accepted. It was also written and submitted right before the riots broke out across the country, to include the city twenty-five miles from me. An editor over the anthology shouted for violence on Facebook, even advocating burning buildings. I was instantly mortified that my work might be affiliated with some sort of agenda, so I retracted the piece and bowed out of the opportunity.

Yes, we are on social media more than ever, but we have to watch ourselves more than ever, too. The good, the bad, it's all louder and stronger than before. Just make sure it represents you as a writer and someone others would want to do business with, because regardless how many different pages you have to represent all your feelings or opinions, they are all you. The public will figure you out.

SUPER SPONSOR 

SALKEHATCHIE SECRET 

• Amazon
• Kobo
• B&N
• Author's page (autographed)

• Amazon
• Author's page 

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 
SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Hello Hope! 

I would like to thank you for all the hard work you do getting writers such helpful information with Funds for Writers. I look forward to it each week and have had several instances of making connections with publishers and competitions which have featured some of my writing. You have taken a job that I would not have the time to do myself (not to mention that my effort would most likely be inadequate). For this, I say, thank you. 

A while ago, you featured 10 Ways to Blog Your Book to Increase Sales Without Being Pushy or Annoying by Amanda Zieba. Using several suggestions she included in the article, I have used my blog and other social media to help successfully launch my indie-published book, 100 Minutes with God and it was even the number 1 new release in its category on Amazon.   

I look forward to reading more helpful articles you include in your weekly Funds for Writers. Your work is greatly appreciated.

Susan Grant
susan-grant.com



- - - 


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

Four Important Lessons About Magazine Writing

By Dalene Bickel
 
Having worked in the book industry my entire career, I decided that 2020 would be a great time to not only broaden my writing repertoire but also add another revenue stream by writing for magazines. So, in January, I pitched article ideas to a local magazine publisher. I felt confident about the topics and assumed it would be easy to obtain the requisite interviews and source material.
 
Shortly after being assigned my first article, however, I learned several important lessons about writing for this genre.
 
Lesson #1: Never assume and always confirm.
 
I scheduled a meeting with the founder of a nonprofit I was to write about. On the dhe day of the interview, I arrived ten minutes early to discover the front door locked. Having noticed several cars in the rear parking lot, I assumed the founder was inside and had merely forgotten to unlock the front door.
 
I reached for my cell phone and dialed her number. She informed me that the organization had experienced an emergency situation two days prior and that she and the volunteers had been working almost around the clock ever since. She was at home trying to catch up on some sleep and requested that we meet the following week.
 
Fortunately, that interview occurred without a hitch (I called ahead the next time) and I managed to meet my deadline.
 
Lesson #2: Practice patience.
 
Six weeks later, when I spied the coveted issue on the grocery store stand, I grabbed a few copies, dumped them in my bag and drove home. At home I dove into the magazine and flipped through its pages for my article.
 
After scouring the magazine from cover to cover three times, I emailed the publisher to politely inquire about my piece. It was then that I learned it had been pushed to the next issue. . . 12 weeks away.
 
However, he assigned me another of my pitches in the meantime. As I began work on my second piece, I reached out to the one source I expected to be a slam dunk. That’s when I learned another important lesson.
 
Lesson #3: Not all sources want to be interviewed.
 
That’s right. My perfect source refused to respond to my carefully spaced yet repeated attempts to secure a brief interview. Email, phone calls…even asking a friend of mine who is a neighbor to mention that I’d like to do an interview for a local publication resulted in absolute silence.
 
Who doesn’t want free publicity for their business? I wondered. But it didn’t matter; the deadline was at hand and I was forced to explain the situation to the publisher and request an extension.
 
Lesson #4: Think outside the box.
 
Thankfully, he was understanding and gave me another two weeks. I became rather creative in discovering sources; not just asking friends who I should talk to, but also reaching out to organizations and local government officials. The effort led me down many rabbit holes but ultimately resulted in a well-rounded article with interesting tidbits I probably wouldn’t have discovered if my initial source had panned out. To top it off, the publisher thanked me for tracking down the story.
 
Conclusion
 
Writing anything – whether a book, a blog or a magazine article – is a continual learning process. Don’t give up when you encounter challenges or setbacks. In fact, I still rely on the first writing lesson I learned a long time ago from my favorite English professor: “Push yourself.” I’ve discovered it will make you a better writer.
 
Bio: Dalene Bickel is an author, book coach and founder of both Lasting Legacies (a life story/memoir writing resource) and the Ink & Impact Facebook group for nonfiction and historical fiction writers.

 

COmpetitions

PAGE ONE PRIZE
https://gutsygreatnovelist.com/page-one-prize/
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 23, 2020. Submit the first page of your novel-in-progress. First prize wins $200, a full year of Master Class, and free tuition for Writing Great Dialogue, an online masterclass. Second prize wins $75 and free tuition for Writing Great Dialogue. Submission are open internationally to any writer writing in English.













C&R PRESS $1,000 POETRY BOOK AWARD
https://crpress.submittable.com/submit
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2020. $1,000 grand prize and publication for one manuscript of poetry 55-110 pages. All styles, genres, approaches, and voices are encouraged to submit. All other manuscripts will be considered for standard publication. Winner, finalists, and the short list will be announced in December 2020. The selection will also receive a promotional campaign across social media and other ad networks valued at $2,000.



C&R PRESS $1,000 FICTION BOOK AWARD
https://crpress.submittable.com/submit
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2020. $1,000 grand prize and publication for a novel or short story collection. No maximum page count. All other manuscripts will be considered for standard publication. Winner, finalists, and the short list will be announced in December 2020. The selection will also receive a promotional campaign across social media and other ad networks valued at $2,000.



C&R PRESS CREATIVE NONFICTION OR MEMOIR BOOK AWARD
https://crpress.submittable.com/submit
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2020. $1,000 grand prize and publication for a full-length manuscript of creative nonfiction or memoir (essay collections, hybrid memoirs, and other manuscripts that fit within the genres.) No maximum page count. All other manuscripts are considered for standard publication as well! Winner, finalists, and the short list will be announced in December 2020. The selection will also receive a promotional campaign across social media and other ad networks valued at $2,000.



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



F. SCOTT FITZGERALD SHORT STORY CONTESTS
https://fscottfestival.org/festival/short-story-contest/
NO ENTRY FEE, Deadline July 31, 2020. Students - first prize $250 and invitation to speak at the festival. Two runners-up give $100 and entry to the festival. Limit 1,500-3,000 words. Entries should have a protagonist who resolves a conflict or achieves a new awareness. Adults - Residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC are eligible. No restrictions on subject. Limit 4,000 words. First prize $500 and invitation to speak. Two runner-up prizes of $100. 



PEN 2 PAPER - A DISABILITY-FOCUSED CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
https://www.txdisabilities.org/pen-2-paper
$5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 14, 2020. Prize structure: $200 for first, $100 for second, and $50 for third places in each division. Pen 2 Paper (P2P) creative writing competition seeks pieces of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that treat the topic of disability. Whether or not you have experience as a creative writer, whether or not you have a disability, we want to hear your voice! While P2P is based in Texas, people from other states or countries are welcome to enter. 



SAPIENS PLURUM SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://sapiensplurum.org/contest-rules/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 9, 2020. Submissions should include 1,500-3,000 words, in English. First Prize – $1,000. Second Prize – $500. Third Prize – $300. Sapiens Plurum and the Future of Life Institute conduct an annual short-fiction contest, opening on Earth Day of each year. The purpose of the contest is to entice authors to conceive of the future in terms of desirable outcomes and imagine how we might get there. 



THE QUERY LETTER BLURB CONTEST
https://www.queryletter.com/contest
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 15, 2020. This writing contest is all about book blurbs. The twist? We want blurbs about completely made-up, nonexistent books. Get creative! Write and submit a back-cover blurb of 100 words or fewer that sets the stage for a novel, establishes the characters, and raises the stakes in a way that makes readers want to find out more. We will award one prize of $500 for the best blurb. The submitted blurbs will be judged by our team of query letter writers based on how effectively they hook readers, taking into account the writing style and the overall impression. Submissions must be 100 words or fewer. 

NOTE FROM HOPE: In applying, you are required to click this box on the entry form: "I grant QueryLetter.com a perpetual, royalty-free, transferable license to publish my blurb in any format." 
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

TWENTY SUMMERS
https://www.20summers.org/eaf
Twenty Summers is launching an Emergency Arts Fund (EAF) for artists and arts organizations facing unmanageable financial loss as a result of the Coronavirus. EAF is the first nationwide initiative that supports both artists and arts organizations, gives artists a chance to promote their work from home, and stimulates and connects art-lovers during a time of social isolation.  



GREATER PITTSBURGH EMERGENCY FUND FOR ARTISTS
http://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/programs/artist-services/emergency-fund
As of March 17, and until further notice, artists who live in our nine-county region, and whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by Coronavirus or other emergencies, may apply for up to $500 in assistance. At this time, all applicants will be placed on a waiting list and reviewed in the order in which they are received. Funds are distributed based on availability. The Emergency Fund for Artists is designed to assist artists of all disciplines living in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 



NEW JERSEY INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.midatlanticarts.org/grants-programs/grants-for-artists/#deadlines
Deadline July 15, 2020. Creative Fellows receive $3,000 or $1,500 (depending on the length of stay) in support of their residency.  The grant is paid to the respective colony directly on behalf of the artist. In addition, Fellows receive up to $250 in reimbursement for the cost of travel to and from their residency.



STUDIOS AT MASS MOCA
https://massmoca.org/event/studios/
Deadline August 8, 2020. Join the 700+ artists who have enjoyed an artist residency of up to eight weeks on MASS MoCA's historic mill campus in the Berkshire Mountains. Residencies will be scheduled from January 1 to June 15, 2021 for the Winter/Spring season. Selected artists receive private, furnished studio space, housing in newly renovated apartments directly across the street from the museum, one communal meal per day in the company of fellow artists-in-residence, MASS MoCA member benefits for the duration of the residency, including free access to the museum's galleries, The Clark, and discounts on performing arts events and museum store purchases, and  an optional one-on-one artist-focused financial and business coaching session with the Assets for Artists staff.



33OC RESIDENCY
https://33oc.org/
Deadline June 14, 2020. The Artist Residency program was conceived of as a regenerative intercultural meeting place, where international artists can share experiences and sensibilities. The residency is aimed particularly at international artists who are enthusiastic about working within Toffia’s environment. The program offers artists the opportunity to confront new ideas or experiment with their work and the particular territory of Sabina region near Rome, Italy. The residency is open to individual professional artists working in puppetry/marionettes (all forms), visual arts, photography, film & video, music/sound art, media arts, performing arts and creative writing.  Each residency period concludes with an Open Studios day. Artistic merit is the basis for all selections. 

 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

CAST OF WONDERS
https://www.castofwonders.org/submissions/
Cast of Wonders is a young adult short fiction market, open to stories up to 6,000 words in length. We are looking for stories that evoke a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them. We aim for a 12-17 age range: that means sophisticated, non-condescending stories with wide appeal, and without gratuitous or explicit sex, violence or pervasive obscene language. We like all forms of fantasy — high, modern, urban, alternative history, etc. We’re less fond of the complex, intricate or cerebral forms of fantasy more common in novel markets; short stories rarely offer enough room to sufficiently develop. We like all forms of science fiction — far-future, near future, space opera, “hard” sci-fi — but it must be accessible to our target audience, meaning a minimum of technical jargon. Our horror offerings tend to be psychological, comedic, or situational — not visceral. We pay eight cents per word for original fiction of any length (yes, including flash!).



WHIZ KID DIGITAL
https://problogger.com/jobs/job/on-going-content-writer-role-for-growing-website-2/
Website owner seeks experienced content writers to produce blog-style informational and review articles for the web, covering a wide variety of topics. This a long term and on-going opportunity, writing 10,000-12,000+ words per month.



CI MEDIA
https://problogger.com/jobs/job/golf-magazine-content-writer/
We are in need of a few high-quality writers to craft original articles on a variety of Golf related topics. These articles will serve as a resource guide for golfers of all experiences and ages, primarily based in the US, Canada, and the UK.



WRITER, FOX NEWS @ NIGHT
https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs/fox-corporation/job/153036-writer-fox-news-night
The #1 news program in late primetime is looking for a dedicated, talented and experienced Writer to join the team in Washington D.C. As the Writer, you serve as the backup to our lead Writer and also assist in every aspect of segments on the show from pitching to producing packets, pre-interviews, elements and even occasional booking. As the Writer on Fox News @ Night, you love creating visually compelling and dynamic segments led by our host Shannon Bream. As the Writer, you can also step in and write anchor intros and teases when needed.



WRITER-COLUMNIST - RT.COM
https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs/ano-tv-novosti/job/152222-writer-columnist-remote
We are not on the hunt for news drones. You will receive assignments, but primarily you will drive your own career. You will pitch ideas and angles to us every working day. Our job will be to guide and empower you, not to stand over you. You will be working remotely from any part of the world. You will communicate with your editors in several international bureaus via messenger and voice calls. Please make sure to include links to your past work in your application.



SHORTFORM.COM
https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs/shortform-2/job/153373-seo-content-marketer-blog-writer-to-create-blog-articles-on-non-fiction-books-part-time-full-time-remote-readers-educators
We want to hear from you. Shortform (https://www.shortform.com) is a product featuring summaries of the best nonfiction books and articles. Shortform improves on existing products by focusing on actionables, creating more in-depth summaries, and building a community helping each other learn. We’re looking for SEO writers who will package our high-quality book summaries into individual blog articles, each targeting a specific keyword. You will read a book summary, do keyword research inspired by the content, then craft winning on-page SEO to publish articles. Your goal is to rank high and get views. Compensation is paid hourly, with expected rates from $15 to $25, depending on prior experience and quality of work.



LOOPER
https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs/static-media/job/153112-movie-tv-and-comics-news-writer
Ideal candidates have at least three years of experience writing content for print or the web with a focus on movie, television, and comic book content similar to Looper. We are looking for creative individuals who are self-sufficient and versatile. These positions are work-from-home with flexible, stable hours. Location does not matter. Claim news article topics from a large selection of assignments. Pitch relevant and timely news stories related to the site's areas of coverage. Research and write 300-800-word articles in custom Chicago Manual of Style during set hourly shifts. Write content on a quick turnaround as applicable.



APRIL MAGAZINE
https://www.aprilmag.com/contact/
April Magazine is an online English magazine for Asian women. Our headquarters are in Seoul and our audience is global. We want to listen to you, an awesome lady out there. We want to find more role models in every field so that our daughters and ourselves have more stars to look up to. We want to cover the stories for and by the warm, witty, worldly Asian women. We empower Asian women, one voice at a time. Per WhoPaysWriters.com, this publication pays ten cents/word.

 

Publishers/agents

HG LITERARY
https://www.hgliterary.com/
HG is a full-service literary agency that through collaborative and client-focused representation manages all aspects of an author’s career, from manuscript shaping, to sale and publication, subsidiary rights management, marketing and publicity strategy, and beyond. Our diverse and skilled team represents all types of fiction and nonfiction, for both adults and children, and has strong relationships with every major publisher as well as familiarity with independent and start-up publishers offering a different approach to publishing. Our clients have access to the resources and expertise of every member of our agency team, which includes contracts professionals, a film/TV rights director, foreign rights managers, and royalty and accounting specialists. 



INKWELL MANAGEMENT
https://inkwellmanagement.com/about/
InkWell is one of the world’s leading literary agencies, proudly representing major literary prize winners as well as many of the world’s bestselling and best-loved authors. We enjoy a considerable international reputation as a significant and innovative player in the industry. In addition to its full-time agents and their assistants, the InkWell team includes a tireless foreign rights department and a meticulous contracts manager. We also join forces with leading literary agencies in every foreign market and have agents based in Australia, Boston, and Dallas. We continue to be excited by—and on the lookout for—original ideas, riveting stories and great writing.



DAVID BLACK AGENCY
http://www.davidblackagency.com/about/
We welcome both first-time writers and well-established authors. Over the years, our client list has grown to include prize winners and New York Times best-sellers in a range of categories: from narrative nonfiction to fiction, from history to sports, from science to cooking and lifestyle. It is our belief that as publishing and media companies merge and change, agents are the most important and consistent relationship an author can have. Black Inc takes pride in advocating for and supporting our authors at every stage of their creative development.



JEAN V. NAGGAR LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.jvnla.com/our-team.php
Meet our team, representing fiction, nonfiction, and young readers. While each agent represents her own list, our team works collaboratively to ensure the best representation conceivable for our authors. Look at each agent's quick bio or for a more detailed bio and contact information for your specific work. Each agent at JVNLA has her own particular tastes and interests.
 

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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