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

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• 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).

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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

HOW TO PITCH TO A MAGAZINE OR FREELANCE GIG

Sounds easy enough, but editors will tell you that very few writers pitch well. As a result, the few who do pitch well receive most of the work. That's how repeat business is created . . . by following the guidelines, writing well, and treating the editor like gold. 

First, I am a firm believer that every writer can freelance. If you can write a book, you can write freelance work. Same goes for medical writers, journalists, mystery authors, poets, scriptwriters, curriculum writers, and more. Writers write, and there are always magazines, blogs, newsletters, newspapers, websites, classes, and publishers needing writers. The freelance writing business is on fire. 

But you have to make a good first impression, because like any opportunity in life, you only get one chance to initially look good. 

1) Open with what you are pitching. 
2) Hook the reader with why this product you are pitching is a perfect fit.
3) Prove who you are and why you are great for the job (here is where you use samples/links).
4) Say what you can do, when you can do it, and how it will be delivered. 
5) Provide some sort of call to action (i.e., give me a call).
6) Provide ample contact information.

This matters whether you are pitching to a national glossy or to your dentist to write his monthly newsletter, whether to a attorney firm to write legal briefs or an ad agency to write ad copy. You are a writer selling their wares. Here's a reference so you can read what real editors prefer to see.: https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/art/how-to-get-published-advice

More general rules:

1) Prove somewhere in the pitch that you understand them and what they need (i.e., did your homework).
2) If you have no samples, then just pitch a great idea and forget the bio. You just add more weight to your wonderful idea in your perfect query letter.
3) Establish a website. These days they WILL Google you. For good ideas of sites other freelancers have designed, go to https://elnacain.com/blog/freelance-writer-websites/ . For a free site that focuses on freelancers, consider Clippings.me.

And finally, OWN BEING A WRITER. With all I've done over the years, I've recently developed the moniker of "Chapin's Writer." (Chapin is the town/community I live in.) Why? Because I wrote a couple of speeches, read my own speeches at county council and school board meetings, oversaw a Facebook group for a community group, and wrote several letters to the editors of several newspapers. It doesn't take much to make a name for yourself. All it takes is diligence. 

SUPER SPONSOR 

You’re working hard for success. 

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Most people learn the business side of their passion by failing—a lot. It can cost you time, money, stress, and lead to total burnout. Learning how to run your business isn't complicated. You just need to know where to start.

Our team of professional freelancers created a guide to teach you the ins and outs of managing your freelance business. Our free mini course on Freelance Management will help you analyze your finances, reach new clients, plan for growth, and more. 

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HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

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

 

Featured article

How My Non-Writing Experience Launched My Freelance Career and Led to a Lucrative Niche   

By Mary Ellen Collins 
 
If you had told me fifteen years ago that I would someday be writing about heart disease in apes and museum programming for teens – with no background in either one – I would have been skeptical. But that's where writing for professional and trade organizations has led me, with rewards that include interesting stories, cool interviewees, a lot of new knowledge, good pay, and great clips. Here's how you can do it, too.     

Use your non-writing experience to position yourself as an expert.   

Upon leaving college fundraising to become a freelance writer, I sent my first pitch to a professional journal I'd been reading for years: Currents, published by the Association for the Advancement and Support of Education. I pitched a humorous back page column about fundraiser resumes, and although the editor didn't want it, she assigned me a new column called "Writing for Fundraisers," which led to dozens of features and profiles. That success prompted me to send a letter of introduction to the editor of Advancing Philanthropy, published by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She became my first $1/word client, and I became a regular contributor for more than a decade. 

What associations are related to your job? Check out sites like https://www.directoryofassociations.com for a comprehensive list. Study the association websites that make sense for you. What do they publish that you could write? If their guidelines say they use freelancers, craft and send a pitch or a letter of introduction (LOI), making sure to highlight your experience in the field. 

Build your portfolio by staying connected to your editors.

Editors of association publications often move from one to another, and I wanted to make sure that my editors took me with them. Whenever they got new jobs I sent a congratulatory note, adding that I was always available to freelance for them if the need arose. 

After one of my first Currents editors moved to the Residential Real Estate Council, she hired me to write regularly for The Residential Specialist. Many years later another former Currents editor hired me to write for Museum, the member publication of the American Alliance of Museums. These experiences sharpened my ability to conduct research outside my knowledge base in order to write intelligent interview questions.

Developing and maintaining good relationships with editors should be a no brainer. Be professional. Be nice. Deliver fact-checked, error-free assignments on time at the desired word count. Ask questions when you need to, but don't be contentious, whiny, or high maintenance. I'm driven by the desire to make my editors' jobs easier, and it has paid off – even when they've moved on.   

Expand the niche you never thought you'd have.  

When the Association of Zoos and Aquariums posted an ad on the ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) website I pitched myself as an animal lover and skilled interviewer with extensive experience writing for association audiences. I have written for every issue of Connect since spring 2015 and they've become a favorite client that illustrates my stories beautifully.

Then I saw another ad on the ASJA site from an executive search firm that specialized in senior-level association searches and needed a writer who could interview candidates and write profiles of them. I got the job, have written hundreds of profiles, and learned a lot about the executive search process.

If the association world feels like a good fit, start with job-related groups like I did. Or, mine your non-working life for potential clients by considering your hobbies and interests The aforementioned association directory has hundreds of listings that include everything from ballet to gardening to health. And even if you target just one publication that gives you a chance, that's a start. Writing about fundraisers led me to write about rhinos and realtors, curators and candidates, and that's been an unexpected, and profitable, surprise.

BIO: Mary Ellen Collins is a freelance writer and essayist whose work has appeared in Writer's Digest, The Writer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Arizona Republic, The Tampa Bay Times and The Christian Science Monitor. She is currently working on a memoir and an essay collection.  http://www.maryellencollins.com


 

COmpetitions

WRITER'S DIGEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS AWARDS
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/self-published-book-awards
Deadline June 1, 2021. Submit your self-published, printed and bound book in one of eight categories (mainstream/literary fiction, genre fiction, nonfiction/reference, inspirational, life stories, early reader/children's picture books, middle-grade/young adult, poetry) for a chance at a Grand Prize package that includes $8,000, a trip to New York City for the Annual Writer's Digest Conference and a feature article about you and your book in the March/April 2022 issue of Writer's Digest; and one of eight First Place prize packages that include $1,000 in each respective category and promotion in the March/April 2022 issue of Writer's Digest. Every entrant will also receive a brief commentary from one of our qualified readers—all who have experience in their respective categories and the publishing world.



BRIDPORT POETRY PRIZE
https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/poetry/
£10 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. All we ask is that you please keep poems to 42 lines, maximum. In addition to the prize money, the top three poems are automatically entered into the Forward Prize for Poetry’s best single poem competition, with the chance to win a further £1,000. First prize: £5,000. Second prize: £1,000. Third prize: £500. Highly Commended ten x £100. The Prize is open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over. 



BRIDPORT FLASH FICTION PRIZE
https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/flash-fiction/
£9 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. Take us somewhere fast then let your story marinate in the reader’s mind. Make every one of your 250 words count. There is no minimum number of words, just like there is no limit to your imagination. First prize: £1,000. Second prize: £500. Third prize: £250. Highly Commended three x £100. Entries can be on any subject in any style or form. We do not recommend stories written for children.



BRIDPORT SHORT STORY PRIZE
https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/short-story/ 
£12 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31, 2021. Gail Honeyman was shortlisted in our competition and went on to write Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, winning the Costa debut novel award. All the winning and highly commended pieces are entered into the Sunday Times Audible competition, top prize £30,000. UK based writers are entered into the BBC short story competition. That’s not all, literary agent A.M. Heath reads all the shortlist and considers representation. Long story short? You are 5,000 words away from success. First prize: £5,000. Second prize: £1,000. Third prize: £500. Highly Commended 10 x £100. The Prize is open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over. 



THE WAKING FLASH PROSE PRIZE - FICTION
https://ruminatemagazine.submittable.com/submit/193311/the-waking-flash-prose-prize-fiction
$6.30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 2, 2021. The Waking is an online literary magazine and part of the Ruminate creative community that houses high-quality literary writing about what it’s like to be human. This art can be beautiful, it can be strange, we just ask that it feels true. Word limit: 1,000 words (per piece). You may send up to two flash pieces in the same genre per entry. Prize $500 and publication on The Waking will be awarded to the winner of each genre (nonfiction and fiction).



THE WAKING FLASH PROSE PRIZE - NONFICTION
https://ruminatemagazine.submittable.com/submit/193323/the-waking-flash-prose-prize-nonfiction
$6.30 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 2, 2021. The Waking is an online literary magazine and part of the Ruminate creative community that houses high-quality literary writing about what it’s like to be human. This art can be beautiful, it can be strange, we just ask that it feels true. Word limit: 1,000 words (per piece). You may send up to two flash pieces in the same genre per entry. Prize $500 and publication on The Waking will be awarded to the winner of each genre (nonfiction and fiction).



CANTABRIGIA AWARD - MASSACHUSETTS
https://orbiseditions.com/contact/
Deadline June 15, 2021. Orbis Editions is accepting proposals from Cambridge-based artists and writers for the Cantabrigia Award to make publications in 2021. Recipients will have the opportunity to make a publication with Orbis Editions’ in-house editing, design, and printing resources valued at $4,000 and receive a $1,000 stipend when their publication goes to press. The publication program is open to artists and writers working in any discipline/genre who are based in Cambridge, MA. 



RIGEL CONTESTS
https://sunspotlit.com/contests
$5 ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2021. Rigel is the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Sunspot Lit is looking for the single short story, novel, novella, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that outshines all the rest. Rigel offers $750 plus publication to the winner, and offers publication to select finalists. No restrictions on theme or category. The length for prose is restricted to a maximum of 5,000 words for short stories, or ten pages for poetry and graphic novels. The first 5,000 words of a novel or novella should include a synopsis of the entire work (the synopsis counts toward the total word count). Artwork should consist of a single piece. 



JIM MARTIN MEMORIAL STORY CONTEST
https://www.arizonamysterywriters.com/?page_id=3486
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline July 1, 2021. Writer must be a Southwestern state resident (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Colorado). What Kind of Story? Any sort of mystery, suspense, or thriller. First place $200, second place $100, third place $75. Limit 2,500 words. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

MOMENT MAGAZINE INTERNSHIPS
https://momentmag.com/opportunities/
Have a strong interest in Jewish politics, culture and religion? Love writing and editing? Want to learn the ins and outs of magazine production? Moment Magazine offers interns the opportunity to become a valuable part of our magazine. Interns work with various departments within the magazine, and are involved in many aspects of production, from fact-checking and researching articles to pitching stories. Administrative duties are also part of the internship; all interns may also provide assistance to all departments. Editorial interns provide support to Moment’s editorial staff. Duties may include:

Research for potential stories
Providing support for editorial projects
Web production and social media
Copyediting, fact-checking and proofreading stories for the magazine
Pitching and writing pieces for Moment’s website

Editorial internships are offered in the spring (January through May), summer (June through August) and fall (September through December). Fall and spring interns work 16-24 hours/week (two or three full days) and may receive college credit (the internship is unpaid). Summer interns are expected to work 40 hours per week. Moment does not provide housing or travel assistance. All editorial internships are completed at our Washington, DC office.



INDEPENDENT ARTS AWARDS - MARYLAND
https://www.msac.org/programs/independent-artist-network/independent-artist-award
Deadline July 1, 2021. Independent Artist Awards recognize achievement by Maryland artists making work independent of an institution or organization. The awards are accompanied by grants that encourage artistic growth and sustained practice. Within each Geographic Region, the following awards will be available. Regional Awards $2,000 - awarded in each region to encourage the pursuit of promising work by an individual artist or collaborative group. Regional Awards $10,000 - awarded in each region to recognize notable artistic achievement by an individual artist or collaborative group. All $10,000 Regional Award winners will be eligible for the State Award(s): $15,000 State Award(s) - awarded to up to two artists or collaborative groups per year to recognize outstanding artistic achievement.



ARIZONA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
https://azarts.gov/news/apply-now-research-development-grants-for-artis/
Deadline July 1, 2021. Applicants may request a minimum of $3,000 and a maximum of $5,000. Up to 20 grants will be awarded this year. Grants provide up to $5,000 in funding support to Arizona artists as they work to advance their artistic practice, expand their creative horizons, and deepen the impact of their work.



RJE SPROUT FUND
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps/rfp12475-rje-sprout-fund-invites-proposals-from-artists-working-with-underserved-communities
The RJE Sprout Fund was established by the Russell J. Efros Foundation in Roslyn, New York, in 2021 to support artists with the direct funds needed to complete projects in the next 12 months. All artists – whether formally trained, self-taught, or whose creative work falls outside traditional art forms – are encouraged to apply. Artists are also encouraged to apply for funds for projects that involve their communities (e.g., art classes, art therapy, outreach, and non-traditional projects). A total of $50,000 will be awarded in June 2021, but awards will continue to be administered throughout the calendar year on an ongoing basis. Funds will be prioritized for artists working with marginalized and underserved audiences, topics, or subject matter.

 

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

HAPPIFUL
https://happiful.com/contributor-guidelines/
A magazine dedicated to mental health, when considering pitches we are looking for fascinating stories that focus on the promotion of good mental, the prevention of bad mental and physical health, and the issues that inspire a better society for all. A typical Happiful feature will range in length from 1,000-2,000 words. Happiful Hacks are supportive, actionable advice pieces – between 650 and 800 words – that provide people with practical tips that they can take away to enhance their lives. 



AMERICA - THE JESUIT REVIEW
https://www.americamagazine.org/submissions
America Media accepts select unsolicited, unpublished content for dissemination in print, web and/or other digital formats. Pitches for feature-length reported pieces, essays and analysis. Feature-length pieces should be approved as a pitch and discussed with editors before a full manuscript is prepared and submitted. “Faith in Focus” essays on personal faith experience, “Short Take” opinion essays, and short poems of 40 or fewer lines.



AETLA
https://aetlamagazine.com/submissions/
ætla magazine is a biannual print publication and online community to inspire and nurture creative, wild souls through written and visual storytelling. Our pages explore the human/nature relationship, unearthing stories that explore how to be a modern human in a wild world. We publish articles of varying lengths, but most commonly around 800 to 2,000 words, or between 6 and 12 images. We always suggest that potential contributors familiarise themselves with the type of content ætla publish, and the tone and style with which our contributors tell those stories. We tend towards stories of adventure, hope and ingenuity. Be creative with your submission – no experience is too small to create an engaging story for our readers. We pride ourselves on high quality storytelling from every corner of the world – we place no limits on your location. Stories should be a new take on human/nature, be inspiring, positive and thoughtful, reflecting on the power of nature and our place within it. Our readers want to discover stories that truly capture them and their emotions.



PSYCHOLOGY TODAY BLOGS
https://psychologytoday.submittable.com/submit/68626/blog-proposals
Most articles on psychologytoday.com are written by our network of expert authors. Each author typically publishes regular blog posts focused on a particular theme or set of topics. Are you a clinician, scientist, mental health expert, or writer who has a great idea for a new Psychology Today blog? Do you represent someone who does? We want to hear about it. Please describe your proposal, why you want to start the blog now, and what qualifies you (or the proposed author) to write it. You may also attach or include links to one to three samples of previously published writing.



MARKETLIST.COM
http://www.marketlist.com/articles
Looking for freelancers for industry related articles. We pay more than 10 cents a word. Minimum would be 15 or more for repeat contributors). Queries for articles can be sent to [email protected] with "Article Query" in the subject line and the proposed topic. Looking specifically for quality articles of interest on the craft of writing and the writing industry. Articles from industry professionals with unique perspective and insights are always welcome. Writers should include a brief bio with any proposal or submission. Minimum 500 words and maximum would depend on topic. 



UTAH BUSINESS
https://www.utahbusiness.com/
Utah Business provides in-depth journalism on the tech and entrepreneurial businesses at the forefront of our nation’s economy. It is Utah's leading source for business news and information. Questions / submissions: [email protected], Elle Griffin, Editor in Chief. The rate is around 40 cents per word and stories run 1,500 to 2,000 words.



ARTQUEST
https://www.artquest.org.uk/art-worlds/want-write-art-worlds/
Interested in writing for Artquest about your local art scene? ArtWorlds gives an insider, day-in-the-life view of the current realities of living and working as an artist in places around the world, and we pay artists up to £200 per article. Articles up to 1,000 words. 



ALMA
https://www.heyalma.com/how-to-write-for-alma/
Alma topics include pop culture, news, politics, feminism, identity, rituals, dating, and holidays — all through a Jewish lens. If you have an idea that you think might be a good fit for Alma, shoot an email to [email protected]. Please include a brief synopsis of your idea and a little bit about who you are and why you’re the right person to write this piece. If you’ve already written a full draft, you can send that along, too (we look for pieces between 700 and 1,100 words). Questions / submissions: 
[email protected]



MESSAGE
https://www.messagemagazine.com/submit-story/
Our target reader is an 18 to 35 year-old urbanite who may not be religious, but is seeking spiritual fulfillment and answers to life’s dilemmas. Eye On the Times column - Religious liberty, social justice, human rights and health news of 300 words paying $75. Optimal Health column - Health News, how-tos and healthy habits of 550 words paying $150 per article. Spiritual, uplifting comeback stories, testimonials, answered prayers, profiles of inspirational people, helpful community programs - 300-900 words paying $75 to $300. 



MARTIAN
https://themartianmagazine.com/
Deadline June 9, 2021. Martian magazine publishes drabbles, sci-fi stories of exactly 100 words (excluding title). We pay .08 per word for original fiction, paid on publication of the selected work. Reprints are accepted and paid at .04 per word, half that of original fiction.
 

 

Publishers/agents

Plan Your Books
The Way You Think

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THE BOOK GROUP
http://www.thebookgroup.com/
Please refer to our individual bios for more information about each agent’s background, interests, and what each agent is looking for. Rest assured we do share queries with each other often, so if we feel your work might be a better fit for someone else here, we will pass it along to that person. We do regret that due to the volume of submissions we receive we are unable to respond to queries unless we are interested in reading more material. When you’re ready to send us your submission, please email a query letter and ten sample pages to [email protected]. 



CHALBERG & SUSSMAN LITERARY AGENCY
https://www.chalbergsussman.com/
Please query only one agent at our company. If your project isn't right for the agent you selected but is potentially a match with another agent, we will share it internally. Terra Chalberg represents a range of fiction and nonfiction writers. Rachel Sussman represents a wide range of nonfiction — both serious and unserious—including narrative, psychology, history, memoir, humor, and pop culture.



DARHANSOFF & VERRILL LITERARY AGENTS
https://www.dvagency.com/
Darhansoff & Verrill has represented writers of quality fiction and nonfiction since 1975 and continues on thanks to the steadfast cool of Liz Darhansoff, the wry sophistication of Chuck Verrill, the shrewd eye of Michele Mortimer, and the global capability of Eric Amling. We are agents and advocates, readers and editors, negotiators and mediators. The market may fluctuate, the industry may shift, but we are constant champions of creative work. 



LEIGH FELDMAN LITERARY
https://lfliterary.com/
In order to submit your work for consideration, please send your query letter and the first ten pages of the manuscript or proposal to [email protected]. Due to the high volume of submissions received, we can only respond personally to those authors whose work we’d like to see more of. LF Literary is particularly interested in: historical fiction, contemporary YA, literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. Genres LF Literary is not interested in include: adult and YA paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, romance, thrillers, mysteries, or picture books.
 

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
http://www.fundsforwriters.com

Copyright 2000-2021, C. Hope Clark
ISSN: 1533-1326

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