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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

SCHEDULING HABITS

I just read a piece by Seth Godin (love him!), in which he talks about choosing what we do in our day-to-day existence. I preach something quite similar; just ask the people I teach at conferences. (Conferences...remember them?)

We are somehow hardwired to plan our days. The only days we don't is when we take a vacation, and even then, I would bet most of us still have to "plan" the vacation time. But there is an art to planning our time, and a lot of it has to do with serious thought. Most of us forget that part. 

All too often, we list everything we feel must be done, then jump into the list, beginning with those items most critical or have the nearest deadline. Procrastinators will often do the shorter tasks first, delaying those requiring more investment. Some start with those tasks that give the quickest positive results, because, after all, we love feeling good about our accomplishments. We often call it efficiency.

But what's missing out of all of this so-called planning is the thought process of creating that list. What often gets omitted are the things that matter more in the long run. 

Our dreams and causes. 

All often we have so many wrong tasks on our list that we do not make room for the right ones. 

What tasks touch your heart? 
What tasks call upon your creativity instead of just your chore list? 
What tasks help define you?
What tasks take steps toward serving the greater good?
What tasks lead down the path toward a dream? 
What tasks would you like to be remembered for?
What tasks make you a better person?

These are the tasks we all too often postpone until the routine tasks are completed. The next time you ponder your to-do list for the day, plug in something that really matters in the long run. Writing tasks, charitable tasks, personal improvement tasks. Make room for them. Maybe even do them first and see how you feel at the end of the day. Making this a habit will soon reprioritize your mindset to the point to truly see what's important in life.

After all, when you are ninety and in your rocker, reminiscing, what do you want to remember about how you spent your energies?

- - - 

UPDATE ON A PUBLISHER: 
Alan Squire Publishing is no longer accepting submissions of any kind. 

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Featured article

How to Get Started as a Paid Freelance Writer - 
Action items and websites that can get you on the road to freelance writing

By Cara J. Stevens 
 
Adapted from an article originally published on Medium Nov 25, 2020
 

Get paid to write what you know

Your unique life experience gives you information that other people don't have. That knowledge is power, and it could translate to a paying gig.

For example, if you work in a flower shop, you know about floral arrangements, types of flowers, seasonality, and a lot of other things I don't know. But I do buy flowers and have no idea how to care for them. You have that information. I want it. Someone, somewhere on the internet is willing to pay you to share your knowledge.

Let's take another analogy — something more personal since I have no flower experience. Years ago, I worked for Procter & Gamble. I took some time off, and when I was ready to go back to work, I saw a local ad for an editorial position at a hair color magazine. I leveraged my experience in the field and knowledge of the terminology and landed the job. By the time the publication shut down three years later, I had a Rolodex of public relations specialists, writers, and stylists I could contact for referrals and jobs.

Another example: If you work in an office, you know something about office supplies. A site like Quill.com invites guest bloggers to submit ideas about office life. If they accept your idea, they'll pay you and publish your post right away.

Start local

You're also an expert on the world around you. Businesses, schools, organizations, doctor's offices, and restaurants, friends or family members may need help writing a newsletter or brochures, social media posts, or running a blog. Starting small and local can build your portfolio, hone your skills, and earn you money. Local newspapers often look for reporters to take on stories as well. A call to the editor can get you on their radar as opportunities come up.

Automate your search

Customize a job search on Indeed, LinkedIn, Mediabistro, and ProBlogger, and check back each week for new opportunities. Follow companies you're interested in, and create a job alert for that company in the jobs section so you will be notified as soon as something opens up. When you follow a company, your feed will come up with similar opportunities, so keep an eye out and you'll get a jump on the competition.

A site like Submittable can help. Submittable is a free marketplace for thousands of opportunities, creative calls, grants, fellowships, scholarships, residencies, contests, and more. When I search Submittable, I dial down by subject and type of client and gig, deadline, and whether or not there's a fee.

Subscribe to a freelance writing newsletter like FreelanceWriting.com and All Freelance Writing for regular updates on freelance jobs as they come available.

Check the submission guidelines of your favorite online and print publications. For magazines, check the masthead for the editor's contact info. Website guidelines are usually found under "About Us", labeled "Submission Guidelines" or "Write for Us.

Start your own Medium publication

Medium is a free way to build up your portfolio and potentially earn a little money, too. Begin by writing what you know and writing what fuels your passion, whether it's advice, how-to, poetry, explanations of complex concepts, opinions, humor... whatever you have that's urging you to become a writer, write that!

My first few columns on Medium were self-deprecating mom humor. I was so encouraged when people noticed and laughed! Then I started interviewing people I know who needed a publicity boost and had great stories to tell. While I've been a freelance writer for two decades, interviewing writers for my own publication in my own format really improved my skills!

"Blogging for bucks" gives you a working portfolio and a sense of how an audience responds. You learn what makes people click, and what makes people keep reading. You connect with readers and get inspired by other writers, too.

If you feel rusty or nervous about putting your work out there, refresh your skills with an online class or a local community college. And learn more about freelance writing at a website like Making a Living Writing or Writer's Digest to learn more about freelancing before you begin.

BIO: Cara J. Stevens is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She's most well-known for her graphic novel series for Minecraft fans, but splits her time between writing for kids and earning a living as a freelance editor and writer. Learn more at carajstevens.com or @ATFMCara on Twitter and Facebook. 



 

COmpetitions

BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length, and submitted by the deadline. 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. The crime must be solved using the deductive abilities of the sleuth. No coincidences. The killer must be known to the victim. No random psycho shootings. The characters (male or female) must have an engaging relationship. There needs to be some wit. Pays $1,000 from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, plus, of course, publication in the magazine. 



VOYAGE YA BOOK PITCH CONTEST
https://thevoyagejournal.com/contests/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 16, 2021. Voyage submissions are open to all writers working in English International submissions are allowed. Submissions (query, synopsis, one sample page of the project) must be for a young adult novel (full novel does not need to be completed), and from the point-of-view of a young adult, meaning through the lens of a teen protagonist. We’re open to any genre or style you can throw at us. This contest will give one writer publication, a significant cash prize ($2,000), and an amazing mentorship opportunity to have their novel coached into the best version of itself.



WRITER'S DIGEST ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition
$20-$30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 7, 2021. One Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000, an interview with the author in Writer’s Digest, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot and more. The first place winner in each category will receive $1,000. The second place winner in each category will receive $500. The third place winner in each category will receive $250. The fourth place winner in each category will receive $100. The fifth place winner in each category will receive $50. The sixth through tenth place winners in each category will receive a $25 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com. Categories: Inspirational/Spiritual, Memoirs/Personal Essay, Print or Online Article, Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.), Mainstream/Literary Short Story, Rhyming Poetry, Non-rhyming Poetry, Script (Stage Play/Television/Movie Script/Short Film), Children’s/Young Adult Fiction. Memoirs/Personal Essay, Print or Online Article and Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum. Mainstream/Literary Short Story and Genre Short Story: 4,000 words maximum. Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum. Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 40 lines maximum. Script (Stage Play, Television/Movie or Short Film): Send the first 15 pages ONLY.



THE MASTERS REVIEW FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://mastersreview.com/flash-fiction-contest/
$20 ENTRY FEE (for two stories). Deadline May 30, 2021. The winning writer will be awarded $3000 and publication in The Masters Review. Second and third place will be awarded $300 and $200, respectively, as well as publication in The Masters Review. Stories under 1,000 words. Emerging writers only. International submissions allowed. 



GEIST LITERAL POSTCARD STORY CONTEST
https://www.geist.com/contests/postcard-contest/
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline extended to April 30, 2021. First prize $500. Second prize $250. Third prize $150. Send us a story and a postcard—the relationship can be as strong or as tangential as you like, so long as there is a clear connection between the story and the image. The story can be fiction or nonfiction; maximum length is 500 words. Includes a one-year subscription to Geist, Canada's favourite literary magazine. International entrants will receive the digital edition.



PRIME NUMBER FLASH FICTION
https://www.press53.com/prime-number-magazine-index/
$7 ENTRY FEE. First Prize: $251 (a prime number) and publication. Second Prize: $151 (a prime number) and publication. Third Prize: $53 (a prime number dear to us) and publication. lash fiction, for this competition, is a story of up to 750 words. This competition opens for entries on July 1 with a deadline of August 31 at midnight Eastern time (New York, USA).

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

NEW HAMPSHIRE ARTIST ENTREPRENEURIAL GRANTS
https://www.nh.gov/nharts/grants/artists/artistentre.html
Deadlines May 7, August 6, and November 5, 2021. 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.



RAGDALE ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
https://www.ragdale.org/fellowships
Deadline May 15, 2021. Located in the former country estate of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, Ragdale is a nonprofit artists community. Nearly two hundred residencies and fellowships are offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary communities in the country. Ragdale will offer 11-day residencies to those who have been admitted to the program through 2022. Ragdale is prioritizing the health and safety of the residents and staff. At this time we are offering 11-day residencies to two artists at a time.  



A STUDIO IN THE WOODS RELIEF RESIDENCIES
http://www.astudiointhewoods.org/apply-for-relief-residencies/
Deadline May 1, 2021. Relief Residencies provide one-to-two-week funded residencies for local (Greater New Orleans Area), BIPOC artists and culture bearers who have not participated in an artist residency before. The mission of A Studio in the Woods, a program of Tulane University’s ByWater Institute, is to foster creative responses to the challenges of our time by providing retreat to artists, scholars, and the public in our protected forest on the Mississippi River. 



YOUNG EMERGING WRITERS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
http://www.mwcqc.org/events-opportunities/youth-programming/young-emerging-writers-internship/
For young people in the Quad Cities who are passionate about writing and creative expression, the Midwest Writing Center offers the innovative Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Summer Internship Program. This selective seven-week program will be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 7 through July 21, 2021. YEW is for talented graduating and continuing high school students, ages 15-19, interested in creating and publishing works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and other forms. Students who work on the school newspaper, school literary magazine or yearbook, or who just love writing and/or page layout and graphic design, are ideal candidates for YEW.  



SKY ARTS RSL WRITERS AWARDS
https://rsliterature.org/award/sky-arts-rsl-writers-awards
Deadline April 30, 2021. We are delighted to invite applications for a new set of Awards in partnership with Sky Arts to celebrate and nurture British writers of colour at the beginnings of their careers. Five Awards are available, providing each winner with ten free mentoring sessions over the course of 12 months with an RSL Fellow writing in their form, as well as two sessions with Awards Ambassador Bernardine Evaristo. Thanks to funding from Sky Arts, mentorships are fully funded.



IOWA ARTS AND CULTURE RESILIENCE GRANTS
https://iowaculture.gov/about-us/about/grants/iowa-arts-culture-resilience-grant-artists
Deadline May 3, 2021. Iowa residents apply for professional development support to undertake activities that advance professional capacity and enhance artistic practice. Offers $500 to $5,000. 



LAMPBLACK DIRECT AID FUND
https://www.lampblacklit.com/direct-aid
Every week for the remainder of 2021, Lampblack will give up to $100 to a Black poet, storyteller, or essayist in need. We will select one Black writer every Wednesday from our application pool. Selections are made on an anonymous, random basis. Racial Equity. Community Action. Diversity of Thought. The Written Word. Lampblack was founded on these four principles last year amidst a global pandemic and civil protests. We believe that Black voices should be at the center of conversations about inequity and injustice in the literary community and at large. But too often Black writers are overcome by hardships of being Black before we can make our voices heard. We’re here to ensure, in whatever way we can, that Black writers can continue speaking truth to power in their writing and in their lives.



ARTIST RESCUE TRUST
https://artistrescue.org/how-it-works
We invite eligible artists and musicians who are facing financial complications from cancelled events and bookings to fill out the application form to be considered. Qualifying applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be entered into a pool. A new fund recipient will be randomly selected from the qualified pool each time $1500 is donated to A.R.T. We are continuing to accepting applications, so if you feel you would be eligable, please apply! The longevity of this effort will be assesed by, 1) the status of COVID-19 and its economic effects. 2) The impact of this program to date. The need is great. So we will continue our work and help as many as possible. Must be 18+ and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Must be a professional, actively practicing musician or artist whose primary source of income is made through live performances, tours, gallery openings, book tours/readings, or other bookings/events and not working on a regular salary basis for one employer. Must demonstrate a commitment to current and ongoing activity in their artistic discipline/s. Show a demonstrated need for emergency relief to recover the immediate loss of income through cancellations and bookings due to COVID19.



ARTIST RELIEF
https://www.artistrelief.org/
Artist Relief is resuming from March 8 to June 23 thanks to a generous gift. Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and work with 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, you must be able to answer ”Yes“ to the prompts listed below. You are a practicing artist able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to my work, career, and a public audience; you are experiencing dire financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic; you are 18 years of age or older; you can provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN); and you have been living and working in the U.S. for the last two years. Cycle XI: deadline April 30. Cycle XII: deadline May 31. Cycle XIII: deadline June 23. 
 
 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

UNLOCKED
https://unlocked.org/writers-guidelines/
Unlocked is a daily teen devotional produced by Keys for Kids Ministries. We’re seeking devotional pieces that fit a variety of forms and genres. Submit a gospel-centered devotional piece—whether it be essay, poetry, fiction, or other written art form. Connect God’s story with any topic you see in the world. How does Jesus fit into what you are wondering about, writing about, or experiencing? Successful submissions connect Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to the topic being addressed. Word count requirements for the body of a submission: Devotional essays and personal stories: 200-315 words; Fiction: 200-350 words; Poetry: 16-23 lines. Pays $30 on acceptance.



MINING PEOPLE MAGAZINE
http://miningpeople.org/
Through print and online editions, MPM allows executives, managers and other decision-makers in the mining, aggregates and energy exploration sectors to keep up with personnel moves, industry news, legislative and regulatory issues, and technology trends. With a format comparable to no other, Mining People Magazine features stories about individuals, companies, technologies, and news. Pays $250 flat rate.



FARMING MAGAZINE
https://www.farmingmagazine.net/index.html
https://www.farmingmagazine.net/uploads/3/4/8/5/34850831/how_to_submit.pdf
Farming Magazine celebrates the joys of farming well and living well on a small, ecologically-conscious scale. It explores the intricate bonds connecting people, land, and community and it offers a hopeful vision of the future of farming in America. The magazine is created in the spirit of stewardship for the earth and regard for its inhabitants. Pieces in Farming Magazine range in length from 300 words to approximately 3,500 words and payment averages 50 cents/word. 



CELEBRATE LIFE MAGAZINE
https://www.clmagazine.org/submission-guidelines/
Celebrate Life Magazine is faith-based, and features human-interest stories, news, action items, information, and advice on a wide range of matters concerning the sanctity of life and human personhood. Each issue features a variety of articles, all of which must be in harmony with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Celebrate Life Magazine offers writers a national venue for their work, and we are pleased to consider your article for publication. We purchase first rights to original material, including book reviews. As a general rule, we do not accept reprints, poetry, songs, music, art, or works of fiction. Limit article length to 1,800 words, including any sidebars, unless instructed otherwise by the Celebrate Life Magazine editorial staff. Pays up to 25 cents/word.



NORTHWEST QUARTERLY
https://www.northwestquarterly.com/
Northwest Quarterly and Smart Living Live cover the best of life in Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Chicagoland and Fort Wayne Indiana. Multiple regional magazines to pitch. Pays around 15 cents/word for articles up to 2,400 words. 



FIDO FRIENDLY
https://www.fidofriendly.com/
Start enjoying the fun and informative topics covered in every issue: Travel, Health, Wellness, Training, Fashion, Pet Nutrition and reviews of the latest Top Pet Products on the market. FIDO Friendly is the essential guide for the best travel destinations where both you AND your dog are welcome. Pays ten cents/word for up to 1,200 words. 



ORION'S BELT
https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions
Orion’s Belt is the home of bold, experimental literary science fiction and fantasy. We want stories that make us think about our place in the universe and our relationships with each other. We want stories that blur the line between “genre” fiction and literary fiction. We want stories that reach toward the stars while never forgetting the people on the ground. And we want it all in under 1,200 words. We pay a flat eight cents USD per word. This is the industry-standard, SFWA-approved professional rate.



CHESTNUT REVIEW
https://chestnutreview.submittable.com/submit
We only accept unpublished work that has not appeared in any publicly-accessible form previously, including online. We purchase First North American Serial, First Anthology rights (for the annual print anthology), and Audio rights. Payment is US $100 per piece, delivered on publication. We only issue payments via Paypal. Flash fiction limit 1,000 words. Poetry one-three poems. Longer prose 5,000 words.
 

 

Publishers/agents

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THE GOOD LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.thegoodliteraryagency.org/
Inspired by a desire to increase opportunities for representation for all writers under-represented in mainstream publishing, we are focused on discovering, developing and launching the careers of writers of colour, disability, working class, LGBTQ+ and anyone who feels their story is not being told in the mainstream. We are supported using public funding by Arts Council England as well as through support from publishers and other industry organisations and through money raised via our crowdfunding for The Good Journal, a quarterly literary journal for writers of colour. You can find out more about the journal here. Headquartered in Bristol, we are committed to working with writers across the UK and will have open submissions and a focus on helping writers develop their craft as well as helping them find the perfect publisher.



DEEP VELLUM
https://www.deepvellum.org/
Deep Vellum is a nonprofit publishing house and literary arts organization with the mission to bring the world into conversation through literature. We are dedicated to publishing socially engaged literature that fosters cross-cultural dialogue, breaks down barriers between communities, and promotes empathy. Location Dallas, TX.



UPDATE ON A PUBLISHER: 
Alan Squire Publishing is no longer accepting submissions of any kind. 
 

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E-mail: [email protected]
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