TOP SPONSOR 

NICKIE'S PRIZE FOR HUMOR WRITING
Deadline: Aug. 1

The University of Dayton's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop is seeking essays from a diversity of authors of all experience levels for Nickie’s Prize for Humor Writing. Essayists, authors, bloggers  — anyone with a hilarious, touching story — is invited to submit a humorous essay about their sister.

In the spirit of Erma Bombeck, the tone can be humorous, absurd, offbeat, quirky or fun in a smart way. All previously unpublished material no longer than 1,000 words will be considered, including pieces that expand on the theme, such as a close friend who’s like a sister.

Up to 20 winners will receive a $300 cash prize each. The best essays will be published online, with the possibility of being included in a future anthology.

Application fee: $25.

Read the announcement, guidelines, FAQs — and apply here.

 

ACCEPTING DIFFERENT VERSIONS

You write a story. It's the best story you've ever written. Your years of study and practice have culminated into this glorious tale that you feel best exemplifies your talent and creative spirit. You are so proud. 

And there will be someone who hates it. 

You are different than every other person on the planet. You have unique DNA and experiences growing up and throughout adulthood that nobody else possesses. Your thoughts are yours. Your words are yours. The puzzle that comprises you is like no other. Even identical twins are not a hundred percent alike. 

As a result, how can you expect someone to have your feelings, reactions, beliefs, style, and tastes? Therefore, how can you be surprised at others who feel as deeply about their differing feelings, reactions, beliefs, style, and tastes? 

When we meet a bad guy in a book, we expect him to have some sense of good as well as the good guy to have flaws. This creates characters that are more realistic and believable because each character, good or bad, believes they are in the right. 

When you write a cast of characters, the goal is to create no two characters alike so that they are memorable. Characters too much alike are faceless. 

Everyone's desires are not fabricated. They are real with no two sets of desires the same. Remember that when you receive a bad review. Remember that when someone disagrees with you on anything. They are not you; therefore, they cannot see things through your eyes. The goal is to relate to those whom you can appeal to, and recognize that you cannot appeal to everyone.

SUPER SPONSOR 

Want to Make Your Book into an Audiobook? Don’t Know Where to Begin?

No problem. I’ll lead you through the steps whether you want to self-narrate or find a narrator. I’m an audiobook narrator, producer, and consultant with over 50 books completed, most published to Audible. I’ll help you create a quality audiobook.

Get started now with one of my special packages, book a free 20-minute consultation at www.kriskeppeler.com, or email me at [email protected].

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 
SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Hi Hope, 

This is a mini success story but thought I'd share. 

Every year in Squaw Valley they pick authors to attend a prestigious workshop. This year, however, because of COVID, they had to pair down the eligible applicants because it's being done online this summer. Through my memoir, "The Inch Between Us," memoir, I was selected to be one of the 10-selected memoir writers for this summer's Community of Writers Workshop. They had to cancel the in-person version so we will be working online. I'm grateful that they selected me and my memoir to participate. It's a difficult story to write because being a mother of someone who made such horrendous choices and may very well spend the rest of my life in prison is gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, nightmarish, unbelievable, all of the above. The ripple effect has not stopped and stretches wide.
 
Thank you
Stacey Lyster

- - - 

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

12 Phrases NEVER to Use in Your Freelance Writing Pitch 

By Dan Brotzel

To help make the best impression, avoid this dirty dozen.  

‘I hope you don’t mind me dropping you a line…’ / ‘Apologies for emailing out of the blue, but…’ 

Phrases like these have a defeated air. If you don’t sound like you believe in yourself, why will anyone else? Don’t brag but be confident. Say what you’re good at and back it up with facts and examples. 

‘For as long as I can remember…’ 

This phrase will dismay editors and commissioners, who don’t have time for you to go through your life story. Instead get to the point, and show that you respect your recipient’s limited time. 

‘I don’t know whether you remember me, but…’

So, you met an editor and they agreed to look at some of your ideas. This gives you an in, and there’s no need to agonize over how well they remember you, especially if you’re following up promptly, as you should. Just say: ‘We met at the BookBiz event last week and you offered to look at a few of my ideas, so here goes…’ 

‘Are you looking for…?’ 

Starting a cold email with a closed question is a risky strategy, because the recipient is always tempted to just say No. ‘Interested in fresh ideas from someone with three years’ experience in b2b journalism?’ Probably not. The editor has loads of writers knocking on their door. But a good idea – rather than a generic question – always has a chance of breaking through. 

‘I’m currently in between projects…’ 

However innocent the reality, phrases like this sound like you’re trying to cover up something. Focus instead on what you have to offer rather than your personal circumstances. 

‘I’d love to take you out for a coffee so I can chat through my portfolio/pick your brains’ 

Sending a cold email to an editor you’ve never met asking for a load of free advice at short notice shows a lack of awareness of how busy commissioners are. You’ll just come across as inexperienced and high maintenance. 

‘For the past two years I’ve gathered a considerable amount of experience in many aspects of writing…’ 

Generic claims like this, without any examples to back them up, always sound an alarm bell. You don’t need thousands of clips – just send a couple of strong relevant examples together with a brief, well-written cover note.  

‘I’ve had a look at your site and I love what you do…’ 

This stock phrase is all too often used by people who have never looked at your site. A few key relevant facts about your experience and some powerful ideas will make the same point much more strongly. 

‘I can help take your clients projects to the next level…’

Sure, but you’ve got two typos in that first line, so I’m going to pass. 

‘Dear Sir/Madam,’

No! No editor will respond to a generic message that looks like it’s been blasted out to a load of outlets. Finding out your recipient’s name is the bare minimum.  

‘I’ve just retired and I’ve always wanted to write’/’I’m a new author/disabled/in college…’/’I go to the same gym class as a good friend of yours…’ 

An editor will consider your ideas on their merits. If you’re not a good fit for them, they can’t be expected to make special exceptions because of your circumstances. 

‘I’m looking for something to tide me over between my travels’/ 

Likewise, editors aren’t likely to respond well to a pitch that implies the writer is just looking for a stopgap till something better comes along. As always, focus not on yourself but on what you have to offer, with evidence of strong ideas and quality work. 


BIO - Dan Brotzel is the author of Hotel du Jack (Sandstone) and Kitten on a Fatberg (Unbound)

COmpetitions

MURIEL CRAFT BAILEY POETRY CONTEST
https://comstockreview.submittable.com/submit
$27.50 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2020. First prize: $1,000 (The Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award). Second prize $250. Third prize $100. Honorable Mentions receive a one-year subscription. No poem may exceed 40 lines, beginning with the first line of text below the title. All Prize Winners, Honorable Mentions, and Special Merit Poems are considered accepted work, and will be published in our Fall/Winter issue.



NOWHERE SPRING 2020 TRAVEL WRITING PRIZE
https://nowheremag.com/contests/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2020. We are looking for novice and veteran writers of any stripe to send us stories that possess a powerful sense of people, place and time. Entries may be fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay, but please indicate which genre at the top of your manuscript. Stories should run between 800 and 5,000 words. Poetry may be any length, and several poems, themed together, may be submitted as one entry. The winner will receive $1,000, with publication in Nowhere granted under First North American Serial Rights (FNASR). Up to ten finalists also will be published. 



PETRICHOR PRIZE
https://www.regalhousepublishing.com/the-petrichor-prize-for-finely-crafted-fiction/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 15, 2020. Winner receives $1,000 and book publication by Regal House Publishing. The Petrichor Prize will be issued to a work of finely crafted literary fiction. Minimum of 100 pages, maximum of 350 pages.



LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL COMPETITION
http://www.poetry-festival.co.uk/ledbury-poetry-competition/
£5.75 ENTRY FEE. FREE ENTRY FOR CHILDREN. Deadline July 16, 2020. Competition has a great first prize of £1,000 and a residential course at Ty Newydd Writing Centre. In addition to cash prizes, winners of all categories are invited to read their poems at the internationally renowned Ledbury Poetry Festival 2021. The competition is open to all entries of original, previously unpublished work across categories for Adults (18+), Young People (12-17 years) and also Children (11 and under). The relevant age means age on the date of submission.



SIXFOLD COMPETITION
http://www.sixfold.org/
$5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 24, 2020. All-writer-voted and open to all, Sixfold three-round manuscript voting is the most rigorous, thorough, fair, and transparent editorial selection process available. To create each issue, hundreds of writers vote to select the best fiction and poetry manuscripts with much more discernment than any other editorial. Awards $1,000 for best story and best poem. 



KENNETH PATCHEN AWARD - JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL FICTION
https://www.experimentalfiction.com/news/kenneth-patchen-award/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2020. A prize of $1,000 and book publication by Journal of Experimental Fiction and JEF Books is given annually for an innovative novel. 



F(R)ICTION FALL CONTEST
https://frictionlit.org/contests/
Deadline October 30, 2020. Short stories 1,001 – 7,500 words. Flash fiction (up to three pieces in the same document) up to 1,000 words per piece. Poetry (up to five poems in the same document) up to three pages per poem. We accept work, written in English, from anywhere in the world—regardless of genre, style, or origin—and welcome speculative writing and experimental literature. Strange is good. Strange with a strong character arc is even better. Writers over the age of 13 are welcome to submit. Categories: Short Story, Flash Fiction, Poetry. Short story prize $1,000. Flash Fiction prize $300. Poetry prize $300. 



HOWLING BIRD PRESS 
https://augsburghowlingbirdpress.submittable.com/submit
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2020. The prize alternates genres annually, from poetry to fiction to nonfiction. We are accepting submissions in poetry. The press welcomes innovative, original work from established and emerging authors. The competition is open to all writers in English living in the US, whether published or unpublished. Manuscript length should be between 60 and 80 pages. The winner receives $1,000 and book publication in fall 2021. 



NARRATIVE SPRING CONTEST
https://www.narrativemagazine.com/spring-2020-story-contest
$27 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2020. Open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. We’re looking for short shorts, short stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15,000 words, and must not have been previously chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest. First Prize is $2,500, Second Prize is $1,000, Third Prize is $500, and up to ten finalists will receive $100 each. All entries will be considered for publication. All contest entries are eligible for the $4,000 Narrative Prize and for acceptance as a Story of the Week.



PRESS 53 AWARD FOR POETRY
https://www.press53.com/award-for-poetry
$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 31, 2020. Award includes publication by Press 53 of the winning poetry collection as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection, $1,000 cash advance, and 50 copies. The Press 53 Award for Poetry is awarded annually to an outstanding, unpublished collection of poems. This contest is open to any writer, regardless of his or her publication history, who is 18 years of age or older, provided the manuscript is written in English and the author lives in the United States or one of its territories.
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

MISSISSIPPI RAPID RESPONSE GRANTS
https://arts.ms.gov/
In an effort to respond to the changing needs of artists and arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mississippi Arts Commission announces its new Rapid Response Grants. An expanded version of the agency’s Minigrants, Rapid Response Grant applications will open on July 6 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on July 17. Eligible individual artists may apply for up to $500 to adapt their artistic work to online platforms such as digital portfolios, gallery tours or hosting virtual demonstrations or to purchase art supplies, create promotional materials or pursue professional development. Complete grant guidelines and criteria will be available on MAC’s website at arts.ms.gov on July 1 with applications opening July 6. 



EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR in GREATER PITTSBURGH
http://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/programs/artist-services/emergency-fund
Black artists and artists of color may apply for up to $500 in assistance. These grants support artists: self-taught or classically trained, makers, musicians, actors, writers, poets, performers, dancers, digital or analog, multi-platform, emerging to established. 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. There are no deadlines.



TOLEDO, OHIO ARTS COMMISSION
https://theartscommission.org/stories/accelerator-grant-program
Deadline September 14, 2020. The Arts Commission values the many artists across disciplines who are part of Toledo's vibrant creative community. The Accelerator Grant is a competitive program offering financial support with quick turn-around for local artists to advance their creative projects and their careers. Eligible categories of support for this program include: equipment, supplies, professional development and project support. Grant amounts are not to exceed $1,500. 



IDAHO QUICK FUNDS PROJECTS FOR INDIVIDUALS
https://arts.idaho.gov/grants/quickproject-individuals/
Deadline September 14, 2020. This quarterly Quick Funds grant opportunity supports artist-initiated projects and activities. Examples include attendance at an artist residency, release time to create and exhibit a body of work, staging of performances, readings, or the creation of public art. Applicant must be a practicing artist, at least 18 years old, a United States citizen, legal resident, or refugee, and be an Idaho resident for at least one year. Awards up to $1,500. 



SC WINS
https://www.tcl.edu/paying-for-tcl/scholarships/sc-wins/
https://www.tcl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/TCLSCWINSprograms06_2020r2.pdf
SC•WINS is a statewide technical college scholarship program designed to address workforce shortages in South Carolina. The scholarship supplements Lottery Tuition Assistance to help cover any tuition and mandatory fees left after applying all other scholarships or grants. When combined with Lottery Tuition Assistance and other financial aid, many eligible students may be able to attend at no tuition cost. Eligible students will receive $100 per credit hour, up to $2,500 total per academic year. See the PDF link for the majors eligible.


 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

UPSTREET
http://upstreet-mag.org/guidelines/
Payment, upon publication, will be between $50 and $250 for short stories or essays. Each author will also receive one complimentary copy, and may purchase more copies at a reduced rate. Only accepts submissions from September 1, 2020 to March 1, 2021. Upstreet, based in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, is an award-winning annual literary anthology containing the best new fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction available.



BENNINGTON REVIEW
http://www.benningtonreview.org/submit/
Bennington Review is published twice a year in print form, Summer and Winter. Submissions are customarily read every fall, winter, and spring. The next submissions period will be from November 1, 2020 to May 8, 2021. We aim to stake out a distinctive space for innovative, intelligent, and moving fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. 



BOYS' LIFE
https://media.scouting.org/boyslife/about/contributors/writers.pdf
BOYS’ LIFE is a general-interest, four-color magazine that prints ten times yearly, with a circulation of one million, published by the Boy Scouts of America since 1911. We buy all rights for original, unpublished material. Major articles run 500 to 1,500 words; payment is $500 to $1,500. Subject matter is broad. We cover everything from professional sports to American history to how to pack a canoe. Departments run up to 600 words; payment is $100 to $600. Department headings are science, nature, health, sports, space and aviation, cars, computers, entertainment, pets, history, music — and others. Our short stories are assignment-only. All articles for BOYS’ LIFE must interest and entertain boys and girls ages 6 to 17. Write for a child you know who is 12.



FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING
https://www.freespirit.com/Submission-Guidelines
We are looking for strong proposals to support teaching strategies and professional development. Practical, jargon-free materials for educators, administrators, counselors, and youth workers that focus on positive youth development, creative teaching strategies, leadership, and a wide range of social and emotional needs. 



WRITER-EDITOR - FULL-TIME
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/572194300
Location Fort McNair, DC. Pays $86,335 to $112,240 per year. Edits journal articles, occasional papers, monographs, reports, studies, and books in the fields of national security strategy, defense policy, and national military strategy for the fundamentals of scholarly research and writing, including clear purpose, realizable scope, suitable research methodology, thorough and accurate documentation of sources, scholarly objectivity, originality, coherent organization, persuasive argument, and logical conclusions or recommendations. -Analyzes graduate/postgraduate-level manuscripts in terms of their objectives, intended readers, writing style, subject matter, and research methodology accuracy. Participates in evaluation and selection of manuscripts.


 

Publishers/agents

BOOKENDS
https://bookendsliterary.com/about-us/
BookEnds was created with a desire to collaborate with authors to bring the books we have fallen in love with to the rest of the reading public. We see ourselves as author advocates and our goal is to be the agency that makes authors’ dreams come true. We specialize in representing fiction and nonfiction for adults, young adults and children and can proudly call a number of award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors clients.



CURTIS BROWN, LTD
https://www.curtisbrown.com/submissions/
Curtis Brown represents adult and children’s authors of all genres, including illustrators. Please refer to our Agents page for information about each agent’s interests, specific submission requirements and individual email addresses.



JANKLOW & NESBIT
https://www.janklowandnesbit.com/submissions
If you would like to submit your work to Janklow & Nesbit, please include the following: For fiction submissions, send an informative cover letter, a brief synopsis and the first ten pages. If you are sending an email submission, please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. For nonfiction submissions, send an informative cover letter, a full outline, and the first ten pages of the manuscript. If you are sending an email submission, please include the sample pages in the body of the email below your query. For picture book submissions, send an informative cover letter, full outline, and include a picture book dummy and at least one full-color sample. If you are sending an email submission, please attach a picture book dummy as a PDF and the full-color samples as JPEGs or PDFs.”



FRIEDRICH AGENCY
http://www.friedrichagency.com/about
The Friedrich Agency has four agents: Molly Friedrich, Lucy Carson, Heather Carr and Hannah Brattesani. If you decide to submit your query to us, please query only one of our agents. If you aren’t sure who would be the best fit, visit our About page or check out one of the many interviews we’ve each given to online outlets.



HOWARD MORHAIM LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.morhaimliterary.com/submissions
Agents at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency enthusiastically accept unsolicited submissions. Please refer to our Agents page for each agent’s particular (and sometimes changing) areas of interest. Our agents may decide to close to submissions from time to time, and that information is available on our Agents page as well. To query an agent, please email your query letter and the first three chapters of your novel or your full nonfiction book proposal. Email attachments are acceptable. 



THE JENNIFER DE CHIARA LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.jdlit.com/about
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 nonfiction 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.



FOUNDRY LITERARY AND MEDIA
https://foundrymedia.com/submissions/
Foundry is a full-service literary agency and media development company dedicated to providing the most positive and profitable publishing experience for our clients, from the American book market to foreign publishing, film and TV, merchandise, online media and beyond. See each agent for specifics.



L. PERKINS AGENCY
http://www.lperkinsagency.com/
The L. Perkins Agency’s five acquiring agents have a diverse range of tastes and are currently looking for material in a wide spectrum of genres and subjects. We are always searching for exciting new voices, and we look forward to the possibility of working with you.



PS LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.psliterary.com/submissions/
The P.S. Literary Agency represents both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of categories. Please read each individual agent profile below to help determine who is best suited to your project.

 

SPONSORS

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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
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ISSN: 1533-1326

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