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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

SELF-EDITING

<<I've heard of writers saying they are afraid to submit something as it never seems good enough to submit. I know we have to get over perfection paralysis to submit. But even if I proofread something two to three times and submit it, it seems that if I look again, it's like, 'Oh, I missed that.' Given you submit weekly newsletters, how do you proofread so as to be the best possible? ~Thanks, Roy>>

Most of us, whether we admit it or not, believe we can proof our own work and get by. Who better to spot the mistakes than the person most familiar?

Frankly, the reality is quite the opposite. This quote from a piece in Wired Magazine says it well:

"We . . . take in sensory information and combine it with what we expect, and we extract meaning. When we're reading other peoples' work, this helps us arrive at meaning faster by using less brain power. When we're proofreading our own work, we know the meaning we want to convey. Because we expect that meaning to be there, it's easier for us to miss when parts (or all) of it are absent. The reason we don't see our own typos is because what we see on the screen is competing with the version that exists in our heads."

Reread that last sentence in bold. 

If you are intent on editing your own work, then put time between the writing and the editing. Days or weeks, if not a month or two. If you do not have the liberty of that much time, then find a different set of eyes. What is important is that you find a set of eyes that understands the type of writing you are doing. A romance writers may not be able to proof your feature for a magazine. A journalist might not have an eye for poetry. And your mother, unless she is a professional writer, ought to be little more than a courtesy. 

I've been asked how I proof my work in FundsforWriters. I write much of a newsletter well ahead of time, usually, because I understand the fresher the writing in my head, the less likely I will see the mistakes. And trust me, readers of the newsletter are eager to let me know my mistakes. But I also contract with a proofreader each week, someone familiar with FFW and its mission. If I do not have her, then I read my work aloud to someone who's never heard it. Not only does that fresh ear catch mistakes, but reading aloud catches things reading silently cannot. Your tongue does not often allow the errors. 

The best writers in the world have strong editors. Trust me; your own eyes are not your friend.

SUPER SPONSOR 

FREE MASTERCLASS FOR NONFICTION AUTHORS 

Finish Your Nonfiction Book in 2021: 3 Shifts You Need to Make

Ensure you have the right foundation to support accomplishing this milestone goal. 

During this live masterclass you will learn:  

• The importance of identifying your WHY—the vision you have for yourself and the big reason behind writing your book

• How to set manageable, realistic, achievable writing goals for yourself.

• Why you need to protect your schedule and probably don't need as much time to write as you think.

• My philosophy for establishing a holistic approach to getting a book done (hint: it doesn't include hours-long writing sessions or plowing through to get pages written).

Save your spot here.

HOPE'S APPEARANCES

SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

Hope,

Hi. Congrats on your first self-narrated audiobook. Fantastic. 

As you edit, edit, edit toward 87,000 words in yet another book, I continue to relay your insights to another "shy writer." She has self-published her collection of essays and photographs, called allTHINGS.

Thanks, Hope, for what you've taught me and what I've shared with my wife, Joy (a.k.a. jc.dwyer). Joy is overcoming her fears to realize her book can help others feel and heal.

With your indirect guidance, Joy continues to explore areas outside her comfort zone. She has joined a writing group, paid a mentor to help her select just the right essays and images, and let others edit and review her 107-page book. One beta reader says that Joy's writing is distinct, poignant, and heartfelt and that each story is sure to elicit an emotion or head-nod of understanding.

Also, Joy continues to work on her second book. She's come so far and done so much. . . thanks a lot to you. 

JC Dwyer
https://jc-dwyer.com/
https://www.silverunicornbooks.com/
The Silver Unicorn Bookstore

Thanks much, Hope. You rock.
Take care,
Jim Dwyer
Maynard, MA


 - - - 
If you have a success story you believe was prompted by FundsforWriters, please share with us! Send to [email protected] 

 

Featured article

How to Find and Pitch Websites that Actually Pay


By Brit Haines 

Freelance writers know to pitch articles regularly to get their name out into the ether and gain recognition. But when many publications pay little or nothing for your work, where do you start? Which publications are worth the time and effort? Here's how to find and pitch high-paying websites.

Narrow Your Focus

Find the right place to pitch the first time. How? Research publications and cold pitch ideas. Browse the directory from All Freelance Writing and its list of markets by category to find your niche. Writer's Write is another source with a submission database and Writer's Market list. Every market listed on these tools pay.

I used Writer's Markets to find condensed information on Writer's Digest. The magazine pays $0.30 to $0.50 per word for accepted contributions. In rare cases, they also pay $50 to $100 for online articles and guest posts. Although Writer's Digest includes their rates with submission guidelines, using Writer's Markets helps find what you need faster.

(NOTE from HOPE: I am collecting freelance pay rates for a feature in Writer's Markets. Please feel free to fill out the questionnaire and help us collect an accurate database of rates currently being paid. ) 

Research Rates

Seek a publication's submission guidelines, where most list rates. Not all post how much they pay, though. You can search for rates using Who Pays Writers. The free website is helpful in learning about other writers’ experiences before you pitch, too.

For example, the Huffington Post is a competitive source that publishes freelance work. Their submission guidelines state they pay contributors, but not how much. So I used Who Pays Writers to find the average pay is $0.20/word.

Warm Pitch Industry Influencers

Reach out to industry influencers. They could help you grow your career. And you may make long-lasting friendships or become a connected part of your community.

Carol Tice is a well-known influencer for freelance writers. According to submission guidelines, she pays $75-$150 for 750-1,000-word guest posts from those involved in her Freelance Writers Den or Jon Morrow's mentoring program on Smart Blogger. The Freelance Writers Den also has a job board to search for clients. Members like Tara Malone claim joining the Den was the single best step she took for her freelance writing career.  

Win Over the Editors

Personalize each pitch. If you're writing to the editor of a website or magazine, use their name. For a big company or content agency, address the marketing manager or CEO. Congratulate their recent success and focus on what you can do for them.

When I pitched Hope here on FundsforWriters, I mentioned a recent post she wrote. I talked about how her writing resonated with me and drove me to want to work with her. FundsforWriters also lists freelance markets that pay $0.10/word or more.

Never Give Up

Pitching is a numbers game. You may need to follow up numerous times or alter your idea before your pitch is accepted. It's also full of rejection, so you need thick skin.

Alex Jasin writes about how his first post on Entrepreneur Magazine required five months of back and forth with the editors and multiple revisions. Their submission guidelines say to expect up to eight weeks for publication if you're a free member. But the $1.50/word (on average) pay is worth your time.
Final thought: Your pitch is only as good as your topic

Final Thought

Your pitch is only as good as your topic. If you don't pitch an article you feel passionate about or don't do your research, editors notice. Look at the magazine’s history so you don’t echo another story. Make sure you divulge enough knowledge from your research in your pitch, so the editor feels assured. I once wrote a pitch for Ranker, but after the editor accepted and I started writing, I realized the entire concept needed to be re-worked.

Save yourself some time by only pitching well-thought-out ideas to higher-paying sources. 
 
Bio – Brit Haines (@be_writ) is a freelance writer, book editor, and writing coach. She also owns a small writing business called BeWrit - https://bewrit.com/, where she helps writers get published faster. When Brit's not writing, you'll find her recharging in nature.



 

COmpetitions

OPRELLE MASTERS POETRY COMPETITION
https://oprelle.com/pages/masters-poetry-contest-rules-and-regulations
NO ENTRY FEE FOR FUNDSFORWRITERS READERS. Deadline May 18, 2021. The Poetry Masters Contest is an exclusive contest open to only previously published authors with at least one writing/poetry award. Poets maintain rights to their poems. First prize $1,500 and publication in the anthology. Second prize $1,000 and publication. Third prize $500 and publication. Additional finalists can land publication in the anthology. 

NOTE ON THIS CONTEST: Some of you may recognize this contest from last week. It had no entry fee, yet when some of you attempted to enter, there was a $40 entry fee on the end. Others noticed that on one page the contest was open all any and all poets, while on another it said entrants must be previously published. I've had talks with this contest manager. She begged me to post the contest again with all the corrections made on the website. Yes, there is a $40 entry fee BUT NOT FOR YOU. Here it is straight from the organizer's mouth:

"I would like to try to make things right with you and your subscribers by offering a free entry to all FFW subscribers (age 18+) for our "Masters" Contest. All they need to do is email one poem to me at [email protected] with the subject "FFW Free Entry". PDF and MS Word files are preferred."



CNO NAVAL HISTORY ESSAY CONTEST
https://www.usni.org/essay-contests/2021/2021-cno-naval-history-essay-contest-professional-historian
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. The Chief of Naval Operations invites entrants to submit an essay that applies lessons from throughout naval history to establishing and maintaining maritime superiority in an era of great power competition. Essays should provide lessons from history that can be applied today. Open to US and international professional historians (including history museum curators, archivists, history teachers/professors, persons with history-related doctoral degrees, or authors of books on naval history (not including self-published works), or civilians who have published articles in an established historical or naval journal or magazine. Limit 3,000 words. First prize $5,000. Second prize $2,500. Winners will be published in Naval History magazine or Proceedings and online with the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC). 



SAPIENS PLURUM SHORT FICTION CONTEST
https://sapiensplurum.org/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. Theme “Healthy Together: Innovations for One Health.” The winner will receive $1,000 for first prize. Second prize is $500, and third is $300. The contest opens on Earth Day each year. Limit 1,500-3,000 words in English.



BACOPA LITERARY REVIEW WRITING CONTEST
https://writersallianceofgainesville.submittable.com/submit
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. First prize $300, second prize $100 in each genre (selected from among all work accepted in that genre); all contributors will receive a print copy of the issue, and prize winners will receive three copies. Genres are poetry (one to three poems), prose poetry (25 to 250 words), creative nonfiction (up to 2,500 words), and fiction (up to 2,500 words). Submit to one genre only. 



SUNLIGHT PRESS FLASH FICTION CONTEST
https://www.thesunlightpress.com/submissions/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 15, 2021. Word limit 1,000 words. Cash prize $500. Other pieces will be considered for payment and publication. 



SHMITA PRIZES
https://shmitaproject.org/about-prizes/
Deadline February 1, 2022. The Shmita Prizes web page will house a living archive of the creative responses submitted. This shmita creative arts library will serve as a source of inspiration while building a global network of Jewish artists committed to engaging with the teachings and values of shmita. A committee of professional artists will select one artist in each category to be awarded $1,800 with three additional awards of $250 each. Ritual objects submitted by June 15, 2021 may have the opportunity to be commissioned for production. (Thanks to www.erikadreifus.com )



NEW BEGINNINGS POETRY CONTEST
https://renardpress.com/new-beginnings-poetry-competition/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 21, 2021. Open to anyone who feels their voice was silenced in 2020. Anywhere in the world, any age. Poetry length: up to 100 lines or 750 words, only one (must be previously unpublished) poem per applicant. First prize: £200. Second prize: £100. All of the poems on the shortlist will be published in a volume, and everyone included will receive a copy of the book and will be invited to take place in an online launch event. (Thanks to www.erikadreifus.com )



AURA ESTRADA SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://bostonreview.net/contests
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. (ENTRY FEE and PAID deadline of June 30, 2021.) All entries must be related to this year’s theme of Repair. We want the theme to be very broadly interpreted, but we also shouldn’t have to guess at the connection between the theme and your entry. The winning author will receive $1,000 and have their work published in Boston Review's special literary issue Repair (March 2022). Some finalists and semi-finalists will also be published in the issue or online. Stories must not exceed 5,000 words and must be unpublished. 



BOSTON REVIEW POETRY CONTEST
https://bostonreview.net/contests
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. (ENTRY FEE and PAID deadline of June 30, 2021.) All entries must be related to this year’s theme of Repair. We want the theme to be very broadly interpreted, but we also shouldn’t have to guess at the connection between the theme and your entry. The winning author will receive $1,000 and have their work published in Boston Review's special literary issue Repair (March 2022). Some finalists and semi-finalists will also be published in the issue or online. Send up to five poems or ten pages, whichever comes first. The poems must be unpublished.



PEGGY WILLIS LYLES HAIKU AWARDS
https://www.theheronsnest.com/awards/awards_2021.html#pwc
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 1, 2021. Maximum number of haiku allowed: five haiku in English. First Place - $150, a copy of To Hear the Rain, and a miniature crystal turtle. Second Place - $75. Third Place - $50. Honorable Mention (up to five recipients) - award certificates and recognition on our "Awards" page and in our annual print edition.
 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

ASLE TRANSLATION GRANTS
https://www.asle.org/join-our-community/grants/translation-grants/
Deadline June 1, 2021. ASLE Translation Grants support work in ecocriticism from international scholars translating books or other substantial projects (such as longer articles) into English, or from English into other languages. Proposed works should be ecocriticism or fiction/nonfiction with a clear relationship to environmental issues, and must already have been published. We encourage authors to seek publishers for their work. Funding for accepted works to be translated will be up to a possible maximum of $1,000 each. The Translation Grants will now share a funding pool with our Subvention Grants, and won’t be offered in biennial conference years. This year, because of postponement of our biennial in-person conference, we are awarding grants in 2021.



FRENCH CULTURE PUBLISHING GRANTS
https://frenchculture.org/grants-and-programs/books-and-ideas/2769-publishing-grants-prizes
Deadline May 15, 2021. The Book Department of the Cultural Services works to promote French and Francophone literature and encourage English translations of French works. We oversee three grant programs to help publishers and translators with acquisition of rights cost and translation cost.



SPECULATIVE FICTION OLDER WOMEN WRITER GRANT
https://speculativeliterature.org/grants/slf-older-writers-grant/
Deadline May 31, 2021. The SLF $1,000 Older Writers Grant is awarded annually, since 2004, to a writer who is 50 years of age or older at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. We are currently offering a $1,000 grant to be used as each writer determines will best assist his or her work. If awarded the grant, the recipient agrees to provide a brief excerpt from their work, and an autobiographical statement describing themselves and their writing (500-1,000 words) for our files and possible public dissemination on our website.



ANDY WARHOL ARTS WRITERS GRANT
https://www.artswriters.org/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 19, 2021. The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. We also support art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. Categories are articles, books, short-form writing. 



PRAIRIE RONDE FALL ARTISTS RESIDENCIES
https://prairierondeartistresidency.com/apply/
Deadline June 1, 2021. The Prairie Ronde Artist Residency in historic Vicksburg, Michigan (near Kalamazoo) provides access to the 420,000-square-foot former Lee Paper Company paper mill and its adjacent 80 acres of property. The aim of the residency is to offer artists space and time to work while also encouraging connection and dialogue with the community of Vicksburg. The residency program supports visual artists, writers, video/filmmakers, and musicians with a $2,000 stipend for a residency of between four and seven weeks, a $500 travel grant, and private use of a car. Prairie Ronde provides private housing, studio space, and a stipend for one to two residents at a time. Fall residencies will be held September 15 through December 15, 2021.



LXP PUBLISHING FELLOWSHIP
https://latinxinpublishing.com/publishing-fellowship
Deadline May 15, 2021. Have you ever wanted to work with writers to help tell their stories? Do you love reading or have you worked in a library or bookstore? Have you written or edited for blogs, magazines, or journals? Are you interested in supporting the growth of Latinx representation in the publishing industry?
Win an opportunity to shadow a McMillan editor for 10 months, remotely. Also offers a $2,500 stipend. Must be 18, Latinx, and live in the US or Puerto Rico. Starts June 2021. 
 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

THE MONSTERS ARE LOOSE ANTHOLOGY
https://www.crystallakepub.com/authorcentral/
Deadline May 30, 2021. We’re looking for dark, scary stories featuring a classic monster or monsters (think famous creatures from pre-1960 horror movies). While we prefer new angles that subvert or re-imagine the monster, we are also interested in really good traditional monster stories. Stories can also star secondary characters, such as a well-known sidekick, assistant or love interest, from the classic monster universe. Pays six cents/word. Word limit 1,500 to 5,000 words. 



DARKNESS BLOOMS ANTHOLOGY
https://www.thedreadmachine.com/submit/submit-darkness/
Identity, security, and community are inexorably entwined. We’re looking for stories touching on at least one of these themes. All submissions must inspire dread. Limit 2,000 to 10,000 words. Authors are permitted to submit up to three stories, but none may be simultaneously submitted anywhere else, nor may they be resubmissions of stories we have already declined. Pays eight cents/word. 



ROVA
https://rovamag.com/be-a-contributor
Are you a road-tripper, a US travel nut, a writer extraordinaire, an RV aficionado? We want you to share your stories of life on the road in this magnificent country; drop us a line and show us your stuff! Writers and photographers will be paid a flat rate of $200 per article/photo essay subject to acceptance for publication.



OUTPOST
https://outpostmagazine.com/contribute-to-outpost-magazine/
We especially love inspiring long-form travel journalism, beautiful high-resolution photos from around the world and comprehensive travel guides to little-seen destinations. While we are a Canadian publication, and much of our content has a Canadian slant, we have a strong mandate to accept stories from authors anywhere in the world, even if English isn’t your first language. We expect most articles to be between 800 and 1,500 words for onlin, and between 2,000 and 4,000 words for print. All payment rates for content submissions are negotiated with the editorial board on an individual basis. 



MOTORHOME
https://www.motorhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/WritersGuidelines.pdf
Devoted to covering all aspects of the RV lifestyle, including travel destinations, activities and events, the newest models on the market, DIY projects, and RV service and repairs. Has four to six months lead time and publishes eight to ten freelance features each month. Lengths are 1,200 to 1,800 words for travel features, 800 to 1,000 words for the get-away section, and 100-200 words for the front-of-the-book section. Technical features are 1,200 to 1,800 words. Personality profiles 800 words. Payment ranges from 20 to 50 cents/word. 


 
PATHFINDERS TRAVEL
http://pathfinderstravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/WRITERS-GUIDELINES1.pdf
We are looking for lively, original, well-written stories that provide a good sense of place, with useful information and fresh ideas about travel and the travel industry. Please keep in mind that Pathfinders' main audience is African Americans, though occasionally we will look for articles relating to other persons of color: Native Americans, Hispanic and Asians. Pathfinders Travel Magazine is not a history magazine. Feature Articles – 800-1,000 words - $150. Chef's Table/Post Cards from Home - 500-600 words - $150. Wine Column - $150. Looking Back Column - $150. Photos - $20 per photo up to 4x6. 
 

 

Publishers/agents

Plan Your Books
The Way You Think

Outline faster, plot smarter, and turbocharge your productivity today with the #1 visual book planning software for writers.




WORDLINK AGENCY
https://www.wordlink.us/about
WordLink was founded in 1998 as a cooperative of writers, editors, and agents in the United States and New Zealand. Our home is now in Pennsylvania, with offices in Colorado and Istanbul, Turkey. WordLink represents works of fiction, nonfiction, television, and film. 



CREDO COMMUNICATIONS
https://www.credocommunications.net/submissions/
Credo Communications represents some of the leading Christian thinkers, writers, and speakers today. See our list of agented authors to review the talented individuals with whom we’re working. We are actively acquiring adult nonfiction and adult fiction books for the Christian marketplace (ECPA). We are not acquiring children’s, cookbooks, anthologies or essay collections, memoirs, gift books, graphic novels, poetry, or screenplays.



CONTEXT LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.contextlit.com/submissions
Tamar is looking for Middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction of all types; adult commercial fiction (political espionage is not a good fit); adult narrative nonfiction. Jessica is always on the lookout for new writers, she is most excited about finding YA, MG, upmarket genre fiction (especially women’s fiction, psychological thrillers, and SF/F that gives us insight into both fictional worlds and this one) and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, self-help, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century. Crystal welcomes new writers of middle grade and young adult fiction—in particular fantasy/paranormal and coming-of-age novels—as well as adult fiction, psychological thriller, and memoirs. She especially encourages writing that centers on the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, and non-neurotypical persons that bring joy, humor, and emphasize questioning and subverting the status quo.
 

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

**Note that FundsforWriters.com places paid advertising in this newsletter, ALL ads being related to writers and the business of writing, screened by FundsforWriters to make sure the information is suitable for writers and their endeavors to improve their careers. But the mailing list is not sold to third parties. You will not receive this newsletter without your permission. It's physically impossible since recipients must opt-in, giving us permission to send the newsletter. If at any time you no longer with to receive the newsletter, click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each newsletter. We want you to enjoy this newsletter at your pleasure, not be forced to read anything you do not wish to receive. The website is not advertised using unsolicited messages by Aweber, affiliates or other third parties. Direct any complaints, suggestions, and accolades to Hope Clark at [email protected]. We are an anti-spam site.