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HOW TO FILL NEEDS PROPERLY ON FACEBOOK

As I have mentioned a few times, I am helping a local school board campaign. None of these new candidates has run for office before, and they see Facebook as a place to post about family vacations and their latest dinner. One candidate in particular asked for guidance, not understanding how Facebook works for other than family stuff.

Some of the pointers I gave, and advice that isn't much different than for an author:

1) Post regularly. Not weekly, not even biweekly, but daily. And if the posts are fluffy, more than once a day. People have to rely on you to be consistent and prompt.

2) The ratio, in my opinion, is no more than 1:6. Some say 1:10. Ratio of what? Ratio of serious and hardcore posts (my book is out) versus the more lightweight and personable posts (my husband bought me a caramel latte for working so hard on chapter 12). 

3) Facetime. . . use it here and there. Be real. Use variety. Nobody cares about makeup during this time of COVID. 

4) Link to need. Every post, fluffy or deep in substance, has to link, no matter how loosely, to your theme or purpose.

5) Allow people into your world. They want to feel they know you. 

6) Respond to people. Respect people. And say more than thanks. 

7) Remember visuals. There's a reason some people prefer Instagram and Pinterest. Graphics, photos, memes, videos, and so on. 

8) Try to make every post a lesson or a story.

But MOST OF ALL. . . fill a need. Touch a soul, answer a question, entice a laugh. . . think before you post, and then put your finger on what you hope that post will do.

The key is to be personable, respect the other party, and enjoy sharing. The minute you realize Facebook is a relationship versus a tool, you're ten steps ahead. 

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Featured article

How to Deal with a Bad Payer Without Giving In to Anger 

By Dan Brotzel

Some months ago, I finally, finally received a modest payment for a couple of articles I’d written for a well-known outlet. It took me almost a year from submitting the first piece to getting paid, and the whole process involved endless emails, chasing different people, lots of silence, and false dawns – a great deal of frustration and wasted time. 

The irony is that the venue in question prides itself on being a resource for writers! Many a time I would stew on the situation, planning sarcastic emails in which I deplored the publisher’s hypocrisy, bemoaned the complacency and the inaction of the editors involved, threatened to demand that my articles be taken down, and imagined myself broadcasting the whole sorry saga all over social media. 

In the end, I did none of these things. I managed to refrain from selecting the nuclear option, and eventually the payment came through. The identity of this payer is not important – I’ve had several such experiences over the years, and it’s often the very biggest companies that are the worst at paying. 

But what was interesting for me here was learning how to deal with a bad payer that I still very much wanted to keep on my side. The fact is that I wanted to have my pieces published by this outlet, even if I was never paid. And I’m glad I didn’t lose it, because anger in professional contexts rarely leads anywhere positive. Here are a few takeaways.

Feel what you feel – just don’t broadcast it

When I was getting really frustrated, I found it helpful to draft messages to my reluctant payer in which I vented all my feelings. But crucially, I didn’t send them. I’d sleep on my words, and eventually always think better of sending them.

Set a date for chasing – and forget about it

Chase for updates regularly, but don’t let the situation take over your head the rest of the time, or you’ll resent it even more. I’d send my latest chasing email, then put a date in my email calendar (say two weeks later) when I’d chase again, and then just get on with the rest of my life. 

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face 

Staying courteous and professional is a golden rule of freelancing. If you fall out with one editor, none of their co-workers are ever likely to commission you. It’s an asymmetrical relationship, and they have so many other people they could commission, so you have to be the bigger person. Maybe you don’t want to work for that company again, but that editor may pop up somewhere else, and they’re unlikely to commission you again if all they remember of you is an unhinged all caps rant.   

Stay patient 

At one point, within an hour of drafting another angry email, I received an email from an editor apologising for the whole situation. It made me realise that she didn’t have much control over things either (in a big company, don’t forget, the finance department can be far removed from the editorial staff), but it meant something to have my ordeal acknowledged. Patience was rewarded; if I’d lost it, I probably wouldn’t have received this reaction.  

Think clearly

At one point, I was told the payment had been approved, and notification was on its way, but I didn’t see anything for days. I was about to lose it again when, on the off chance, I checked my spam folder. There was the notification, sent ten days earlier. If I’d sent that angry email, I’d now have to do some serious apologising. 

BIO: Dan Brotzel’s debut short story collection, Hotel du Jack, is published by Sandstone - https://sandstonepress.com/books/hotel-du-jack

 

COmpetitions

STRINGYBARK STORIES CONTEST
https://www.stringybarkstories.net/competitions/open---times-past.html
A$14 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 27, 2020. Our competitions are open to all Australian and international authors of all skill levels. Stringybark Publishing is proud to sponsor the Stringybark Times Past Award 2020. We are looking for historical fiction stories based on factual events. It could be the retelling of an event or setting the story around an event. Limit 1,500 words. First prize A$350, publication, plus other gifts. Second prize A$250, publication, and other gifts. Third prize A$125, publication, and other gifts. 



WRITER'S DIGEST PERSONAL ESSAY AWARDS
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/personal-essay-awards
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 15, 2020. Limit 2,000 words. Grand prize $2,500, publication in Writer's Digest magazine, and a paid trip to the Writer's Digest Annual Conference. Second prize receives $1,000 and publication. Third prize receives $500 and publication. Fourth through tenth prizes receive $100 and publication. 



ANTHOLOGY POETRY PRIZE
https://anthology-magazine.com/poetry-prize/
€10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2020. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. Poems submitted must be on the theme of ‘Expectations’ and should not exceed 40 lines. There is no limit to entries per person. The winner will receive a €500 prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology Magazine.



MOUNTAIN WRITING COMPETITION
https://www.mountaineering.scot/members/members-benefits/scottish-mountaineer-magazine/mountain-writing-competition
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline August 31, 2020. The Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Writing Competition is open to all, and entries can be fact or fiction, with categories for prose and poetry, just so long as the subject matter has a connection with any aspect of mountaineering, rock climbing, walking or ski mountaineering / ski-touring. Prose Category: first prize £200, second prize £100, third prize £50. Poetry category: first prize £200, second prize £100, third prize £50. Prose entries should be a maximum of 2,000 words long. Poetry entries should be a maximum of 200 words long. There is no minimum length for either category. 



HACKATHON CONTEST
https://www.owlcanyonpress.com/hackathon-4
$0-25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2020. First prize is $1,000, second prize is $750, and third prize is $500 with the winning short short stories published in a short story anthology, as well as an invitation to give a public reading at Inkberry Books in Niwot, CO. Twenty-four finalists will also have their short short stories included in this anthology. The is no entry fee for submissions received during the first month (August 1 - August 31, 2020). To submit an entry during the second month (September 2020) will require a $25 entry fee. Writers are invited to create and submit a short story consisting of 20 paragraphs. Dialog is fine as long as it’s in a paragraph of at least 50 words. The contest provides the first and last paragraph and the short short story writer crafts the rest.



EPIPHANY BREAKOUT 8 WRITERS PRIZE
https://epiphanymagazine.submittable.com/submit/167137/2020-breakout-8-writers-prize
$10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 15, 2020. Eight writers will receive publication in our “Breakout Eight” special issue, $250, a year-long mentorship with novelist Rachel Lyon, a spotlight on the Epiphany website, a one-year subscription to Epiphany, and a short manuscript review. Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited university at least part-time for the academic year of Fall 2019–Spring 2020. The prize is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Students need not be enrolled in MFA programs or creative writing programs.
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

ELSEWHERE STUDIOS
http://www.elsewherestudios.org/the-residency-how-to-apply
Deadline September 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021. The Residency Program provides space and time for artists. We welcome visual artists, writers, composers/musicians, performance artists at any stage of their careers as well as scientists, activists, teachers, students, or any kind of creative thinker interested in exploring and expanding their work in a unique and supportive environment. We have set subsidized residency fees between $600 and $850 (depending on space). Our overhead cost per resident to provide a month-long residency at Elsewhere Studios is $1,500 per month. We raise the remaining funds through grants, donations, and fundraising events which require a significant investment of time and energy on the part of our staff, board, and awesome volunteers. We are currently offering scholarships for artists of color and LGBTQIA+ creatives thanks to Addy and Kenneth King Foundation. You can be considered for a scholarship by stating that in your application. Location Paonia, CO. 



JOY KOGAWA HOUSE RESIDENCIES
https://www.kogawahouse.com/wp/residencies/
Deadline September 1, 2020. Residences are self-supporting and funding for them can be applied for through the Canada Council, provincial arts council, or other supporting agencies. On occasion, the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society may offer an honorarium to supplement the writer’s personal funds. Residencies typically run for two months, at a time convenient to the writer. While in residence, the writer progresses a full-length writing project while engaging with the community via a program of writing-focused activities. Location Vancouver, BC. 



GOTHAM WRITERS MANUSCRIPT-TO-MARKET FELLOWSHIP
https://gothamwriters.submittable.com/submit/169720/gotham-writers-manuscript-to-market-fellowship
Deadline September 8, 2020. The Gotham “Manuscript-to-Market” Fellowship is open to people of color who have completed a book manuscript (or nonfiction book proposal) and are ready to go to market with their book. Three fellowships will be offered every year. Each fellowship includes: Admittance to the Gotham Writers Conference—the panels and presentations as well as a seat at a pitching roundtable with two agents in your genre; the Gotham course How To Get Published or Nonfiction Book Proposal; and a one-on-one Agent Evaluation session and a  Query Letter Coaching session, both with a literary agent.  



ARIZONA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://azarts.gov/news/apply-now-2021-research-development-grant/
Deadline October 15, 2020. R&D Grants provide funding support to Arizona artists as they work to advance their artistic practice, expand their creative horizons, and deepen the impact of their work. Applicants may request a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $5,000. Up to 15 grants will be awarded this year.



EMBRACE DIRECT GRANT FOR MICRO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - VERMONT
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwl7h1kZZYz1CXAPbikveA7zrq_WV4-GnByGJTgJ_i3KQZdA/viewform
Deadline August 31, 2020. A direct grant program to support the smallest Vermont micro-businesses owned by an individual with a "household" income at or under 80 percent of state median "household" income. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying micro-businesses, defined as having five employees or less including the owner. You must be a Vermont state resident over the age of 18 with an active Vermont-based micro business and legally registered with the State of Vermont on or before 03/01/2020. Total grant amount requested must be between $2,500 and $5,000.



JENTEL ARTS RESIDENCIES
http://jentelarts.org/apply/
Deadline September 15, 2020 for month-long residencies taking place January 15th – May 13th. Deadline January 15, 2021 for month-long residencies taking place May 15th - December 13th. Any visual artist or writer over 25 currently residing in the United States or any US citizen living abroad is eligible. Each resident receives a $400 stipend distributed in weekly increments to help defray living and meal preparation expenses during the program. The cozy and comfortable writer studios, the visual artist studios and the residence have Wifi access. Location Banner, Wyoming. 



SCRIPPS HOWARD FOUNDATION JOURNALISM GRANTS
https://scripps.com/foundation/journalism/grants/
Foundation grants give professional journalists the funding they need to cover issues of national and international importance with insight and integrity, and help others refresh their skill sets or prepare for new careers in journalism. Grants range from $5,000 to $7,500. Grants requests must be submitted in writing by April 30 for consideration during the year’s first grants period and by Sept. 15 for second-half consideration.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

SHENANDOAH
https://shenandoahliterary.org/submissions/
Deadline August 31, 2020. Short stories and creative nonfiction (essays, memoir, etc.) should be under 8,000 words. Novel excerpts under 8,000 words will be considered with great enthusiasm. No poetry under this submission period. Pays ten cents per word up to $500. 



AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NURSING
https://www.editorialmanager.com/ajn/default.aspx
Before submitting a manuscript through this system, we strongly recommend authors first submit a detailed query letter to [email protected]. Be sure to include the article idea including its focus, an abstract and outline, length of paper, target date for submission, background of all authors and their qualifications to write on the subject, and the topic's relevance to nursing today. Features, research, and QI papers generally run 5,000 words. Columns are shorter, more tightly focused and generally run 2,000 – 3,000 words. Viewpoint and Reflections articles are 800-850 words and pay is $150 for these. 



AN ANTHOLOGY ABOUT NEW JERSEY
http://www.kerrisullivan.com/njbook
Deadline September 4, 2020. A literary look at New Jersey's history and significance, this single-subject anthology will be eclectic and full of surprises, including personal essays, food writing, historical information, interviews, hand-drawn maps, artwork, and narrative nonfiction. Completed drafts should not exceed 2,000 words. Payment up to $300. 



WOW-WOMENONWRITING
https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contact.php
Articles range anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 words—whatever length is necessary to cover the topic. Pay is arranged between the writer and editor for the piece, but most articles pay $50 or $75. In-depth pieces that require many different sources to cover the topic and have a higher word count pay $100 or $150. Pay is on publication by PayPal only. Note that the site has themes.

 

Publishers/agents

OLSWANGER LITERARY
http://olswanger.com/
Represents a wide variety of genres, but is currently focused on illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels). Anna Olswanger is also interested in finding unusual books with a Judaic or Israeli theme.



NEW LEAF LITERARY
http://www.newleafliterary.com/submissions/
Our approach is big picture, offering a one-stop shop built without silos and access to a variety of services including international sales, film and television, and branding resources for all clients. In the five years since morphing from a boutique literary agency into a one-stop shop for writers and artists, New Leaf has had 37 books hit the New York Times bestseller list and eight films produced, including CBS Films’ sleeper hit, THE DUFF, the DIVERGENT series, Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner AMERICAN HONEY and LOVE, SIMON.



UPSTART CROW LITERARY
http://www.upstartcrowliterary.com/
Seeks children’s books of all kinds—young adult, middle grade, picture books, as well as graphic novels, and nonfiction for children and teens. In addition we also rep select cookbooks, adult fiction, and nonfiction. 



STORM LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/
Located in Minneapolis, New York, and London. A boutique literary agency representing quality children's literature. Storm Literary Agency welcomes submissions from unique and talented authors and illustrators, those who are not afraid to embrace their capacity to teach, to entertain, to engage and to honor young people who, hopefully, will be changed by the work represented here.



LADDERBIRD LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.ladderbird.com/
Ladderbird is a full-service boutique literary agency out of the Boston area with a passion for bringing marginalized voices to the forefront. Ladderbird is committed to the growth and development of both new and veteran authors. Considers wide variety of fiction and nonfiction. 



ORISON BOOKS
https://www.orisonbooks.com/submissions
Orison Books seeks to publish spiritually-engaged poetry, fiction, and nonfiction of exceptional literary merit. In our view, spiritual writing has little to do with subject matter. Rather, the kind of work we seek to publish has a transcendent aesthetic effect on the reader, and reading it can itself be a spiritual experience. Anthology Proposals are accepted year-round. General Fiction and Nonfiction submissions are open during the month of October. We do not consider self-help, how-to, or “inspirational” manuscripts.
 

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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
http://www.fundsforwriters.com

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

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