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EDITOR'S THOUGHTS

WORK AND LIFE BALANCE

Recently read an incredible piece on balancing work and life. We all know about it, and we all realize balance is necessary for a happy life. But I don't think anyone really understands what that means. How much leisure do you need compared to work hours, and what defines work? What defines leisure?

Work is effort poured into tasks. We can be pleased with work when we feel we are functioning well in the role, realizing our potential. We love feeling satisfied and proud of completing a difficult task.  

Happiness, often associated with leisure, is a matter of finding a positive place, void of sadness and anger. We are healthier when we are happy, and we see leisure as an avenue to that happiness. 

However, too much of one is not good. We crave being productive, making too much leisure a bad thing. But we crave being happy, which we interpret as taking time off from work, and we see too much work as a physical detriment.

Some people adjust by choosing leisure activities that require a lot of mental and physical investment (i.e., tasks), like mountain hiking, intense cross-fitness, or even writing books. In other words, their leisure has to expend serious effort to be worthy. 

Too many of us envision our writing future as relaxing and enjoying the muse. The non-writer often stereotypes writers and authors as kicked back at a computer, pouring out words that are creative, easy, and loads of fun in a playful, world-building time of joy. 

Trying to force-feed what we think a writer ought to be into a stereotypical mold could do the opposite of the intention . . . and lose the happiness of writing. The challenge is necessary to find the happiness, because quality writing takes serious investment of self, digging far deeper than "having fun." 

Finding how you love to write is almost as important as what you love to write, because without one you jeopardize the other. It has to be work to be the most fun.

2897359 © Agnieszka Szydłowska | Dreamstime.com
 

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HOPE'S APPEARANCES

 
SUCCESS QUOTE

SUccess Story

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

 

Featured article

How "Success Story" Became a Success

By Lyn Fairchild Hawks

Prove to me in 650 words that you are a memorable human being, worthy of acceptance.

That's pretty much the prompt students face when attempting the Personal Statement on college applications. It's also the Everest I help them climb with Success Story, my business I built this past year. For students, this high-stakes writing task is so stressful and complex, many require support. Now every day I get to blend the art of writing with the art of coaching. Here's my business success story.

I've always loved being a team player. With 30 years in schools and nonprofits, I thought I'd collaborate forever while writing young adult literature. But right as the world was waking up to a virus, I woke up to a realization it was time to go solo. As everyone retreated home, I took a leap of faith. I left my job and expanded occasional tutoring into an LLC. All my prior work as teacher, curriculum designer, and author led to creating this business.

First I wrote several drafts of my mission. "Authentic" and "storytelling" are two key aspects of my brand that made it through revisions. I knew I wanted students to tell compelling, honest tales and emerge with writing skills they could use elsewhere. Now, how to help students share their unique selves in 650 words?

In the same way authors create compelling characters, I help students discover their distinctive backstory, achievements, and values. I teach teens to find sensory detail and dialogue from key moments in their history that admissions officers will remember. (Pro tip: winning the big game or award isn't necessarily your most memorable story.) I have kids study hooks and structure in successful essays. I teach the art of revision. As they write, I'm on the virtual sidelines, shouting encouragement. Since our kids are steeped in streaming stories, they have lots of natural skill to coach.

As I designed service plans, I kept my target audiences in mind. I'm solving not just students' challenges but also parents'. Teaming up with their teen on an essay? Not on their Top Ten List. How could I meet this need efficiently and also at a reasonable price? Years designing mini-lessons paid off: now my students move nimbly through stages of brainstorming, drafting, and revision. I create personalized handouts to help elicit their best stories.

These invaluable resources also helped my success:

SCORE [www.score.org]: Business mentors from my local organization of retired business professionals gave me excellent, free advice. My dad, a longtime mentor, offered great help.

Feedback: My sister suggested the tagline, Write Your Future Now. Friends reviewed my plans and their children tested my services. They all became my "street team." Influencers who recommend you to potential clients are gold!  

Website: It's not just business card and shingle; it's where I issue contracts and schedule students. A key investment was a great designer who now also resolves issues and advises me on branding.

Videos: My quick, original tip videos attract many of my students. The first months, I kept it simple: a good outfit and a good message. Since my parent demographic is on Facebook, clients find me there.

Online Resources: Zoom, Google Docs, Google Slides, and Gmail are my infrastructure to securely serve students and give parents access.

It wasn't just hard work and skill; luck and timing matter too, not unlike the path to publishing. Many colleges no longer require test scores, making essays more important than ever. Social distancing made Zoom an easy go-to for families, while I save time not commuting, and can serve students in different states.

Now I'm blessed with more clients than I thought possible. The best part is hearing good news from students accepted at schools such as Duke, Tulane, Carolina, and Cal Poly. I'm grateful for a vocation that's my heart—writing and teaching—in a place where the boss is pretty nice, most of the time.  

BIO - Lyn Fairchild Hawks is the owner of Success Story, a college essay consulting service that helps students harness powerful storytelling strategies to deliver a standout college essay. A former English teacher and director of curriculum and instruction at Duke University TIP, she is also an award-winning young adult fiction author and author of several books for educators. Find out more about Lyn at success-story.lynhawks.com and lynhawks.com/books.
 

8633667 © Bestpic | Dreamstime.com



 

COmpetitions

DEADLINE EXTENDED.

The Missouri Review has extended the deadline for entries to the 31st annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors' Prize in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Winners receive $5,000, publication, and promotion. Each entrant at the $25 level will receive a one-year digital subscription and a free digital copy of the latest anthology from Missouri Review Books, Private Lives. 

In addition, those entrants at the $30 level will additionally receive access to the last decade of digital issues, including audio recordings of the features from those issues.

Extended deadline: October 18. All entries considered for publication. Learn more at the TMR website.

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MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY FIRST PAGES
https://writersinstitute.lpages.co/icl-middle-grade-mystery-contest/
$19 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2021. This contest is your chance to write a fiction mystery first page for kids ages 8-12 years old. It can be funny or ominous or somewhere in between. Entries for this contest will include a one-sentence book summary followed by no more than 1,000 words from the beginning of your book. Prizes $650, $350, $100, $100, and $100. All entrants are invited to a FREE instructional online workshop with our esteemed judge. Winning entries will be workshopped by our judge to help writers understand what worked and what could be improved to make it submission-ready.



SCIENCE FICTION FIRST PAGES CONTEST
https://writersinstitute.lpages.co/ifw-sci-fi-first-pages-contest-2021/
$19 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 15, 2021. Our judge is looking for a compelling opening or event and a likable, believable main character, human or otherwise. If the story is set on earth, establish where and when ASAP. If the story is set elsewhere, on another planet, a spaceship, or other alien (to humans) environment, nail that immediately to ground readers. Be sure to reveal at least a hint of the story problem and what obstacles the character must overcome. Entries for this contest will include a one-sentence book summary followed by no more than 1,000 words from the beginning of your book. Prizes $650, $350, $100, $100, and $100. All entrants are invited to a FREE instructional online workshop with our esteemed judge. Winning entries will be workshopped by our judge to help writers understand what worked and what could be improved to make it submission-ready.



DO WHA(TS) WRITE! CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST
https://www.dowhatswrite.com/
$2 ENTRY FEE. Deadline December 31, 2021. In running Do Wha(TS) Write, Julie hopes to not only raise money for Tourette Canada, but also to raise awareness about a condition often ridiculed and dismissed in popular culture. Limit 1,000 words. First prize $200 CAD. There is no required prompt or topic. There is no preferred genre or format of story. No poetry. This contest is international - you do not have to reside in Canada to participate.



THREE MILE HARBOR PRESS POETRY CONTEST
https://3mileharborpress.submittable.com/submit
$28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline January 1, 2022. Send a manuscript of 48-88 pages poetry in a single document via our online submissions manager, Submittable.



STEVE KOWIT POETRY PRIZE
https://sandiegopoetryannual.com/the-kowit/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2021. First prize $1,000. Second prize $250. Third prize $100. Submit one previously unpublished poem (in English) and a 50-word biography.



VERN RUTSALA BOOK CONTEST
https://cloudbankbooks.com/contest-rules/
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2021. A prize of $1,000 is awarded, plus publication of the manuscript. Submit 60 to 90 pages of poetry and/or flash fiction.



CLOUDBANK 16 CONTEST
https://cloudbankbooks.com/contest-rules/
$15 ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 15, 2022. Submit up to five poems/flash fiction pieces. Flash fiction should be no more than 500 words. All writers who enter the contest receive a two-issue subscription to Cloudbank magazine. A prize of $200 is awarded for one poem or flash fiction.



TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS LITERARY AWARDS
https://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/?id=436
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 31, 2021. The tenth annual Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards is now accepting fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for the 2022 competitions. First-place winners in each category will receive $1,000. Second-place winners receive $500, and third-place winners $250. All winners will be awarded scholarships to the 2022 Tucson Festival of Books Masters Workshop following the Tucson Festival of Books (tucsonfestivalofbooks.org) in March. The top 50 entrants will be invited to attend the Masters Workshop ($300), the faculty for which is drawn from the Festival's 2022 presenters. Submit five poems of any length, a short story or novel excerpt, or a nonfiction piece or book excerpt per submission. Maximum length for prose is 5,000 words per submission.



RONALD SUKENICK INNOVATION FICTION CONTEST
https://www.fc2.org/prizes/#sukenick
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2021. The FC2 Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Contest is open to writers of, from, or in the US writing in English who have not previously published with FC2. Submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel of any length. There is no length requirement. Prize includes $1,500 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press. 



GERALD CABLE BOOK AWARD
https://silverfishreviewpress.com/submission-guidelines
$25 ENTRY FEE. Deadline October 15, 2021. This prize is awarded annually to a book-length manuscript of original poetry by an author who has not yet published a full-length collection. There are no restrictions on the kind of poetry or subject matter; translations are not acceptable. This prize is awarded annually to a book-length manuscript of original poetry by an author who has not yet published a full-length collection. Manuscripts should be at least 48 pages in length. 



MALAHAT REVIEW OPEN SEASON AWARDS
https://web.uvic.ca/malahat/contests/open_season/info.html
ENTRY FEE $35-$45 CAD. Deadline November 1, 2021. Categories poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winner in each category will receive a prize of CAD $2,000 and be published in the magazine's spring 2022 issue #218. The contest is open to Canadian and international writers anywhere in the world. In addition to the three $2,000 prizes, we're giving away book prizes to three lucky contest entrants! Poetry limited to 100 lines and prose limited to 2,500 words. 



NIGHTBOAT BOOKS
https://nightboat.org/poetry-prize/
$28 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 15, 2021. The winning poet(s) receives a $1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 25 free copies of the published book. Poems published in print or online periodicals, anthologies, or chapbooks may be included, but the manuscript itself must be unpublished. Submit 48 to 90 pages. 



BRIAR CLIFF REVIEW FICTION, POETRY, AND CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
https://www.bcreview.org/contest
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline November 1, 2021. First-place winners will receive $1,000 in each of the three categories and will be published in the next edition of The Briar Cliff Review. Short story/creative nonfiction word limit is 5,000. Poetry should be single-spaced, with clear indications of stanza breaks, and printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. No more than one poem per page. Submit up to three poems per entry fee. 

 

GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

 

RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION - ARTS IN ACADEMICS
https://rifoundation.org/grant/arts-in-academics
Deadline October 22, 2021. The Rhode Island Foundation is inviting applications for its Arts in Academic Grants program. Grants of between $500 and $1,000 will be awarded in support of efforts to create collaborations among artists and educators and promote the arts as an integral part of the learning process. Any K-12 public or charter school teacher, artist, or nonprofit organization is eligible to apply as long as the proposed project benefits Rhode Island’s public school children.

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CATERPILLAR BUTTERFLY IS ON KICKSTARTER!
HELP US REACH OUR FUNDING GOAL…OCTOBER 4-31, 2021

Caterpillar-Butterfly is fascinated with storytelling and believes that everyone has a great story to tell. 

Our Kickstarter campaign is designed to raise funding to assist aspiring children’s book authors to realize their publishing dream. Our life’s mission is to amplify great stories.

WHY DOES CATERPILLAR BUTTERFLY NEED FUNDING?

“The Orange and Ginger Soapy Shampoo, A Bubble’s Journey” is a great series, our first big project.  This is our baby.

The funds needed to thrive in a publishing business range from printing to marketing and advertising.  Moreover, hiring the right illustrators for a project is critical. 

We request your help in meeting our goals. Please visit our Kickstarter campaign. Read about us, donate, and spread the word. As one of our backers you’ll be part of the team that helps us succeed and receive an awesome reward for your support. If you have a great story to tell, we may help you succeed too!  

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/catebutterfly/tall-short-shorts-a-doodles-games-and-music-for-busy-bodies


  

FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

WRITERS WEEKLY
https://writersweekly.com/writersweekly-com-writers-guidelines
WritersWeekly.com focuses on “selling” the written word. We do not seek articles on how to write. Rather, we seek articles on how to make more money doing what you love . . . writing! We are also interested in other forms of home-based businesses and self-employment that may result from writing, such as self-publishing, corporate writing, etc. All ideas that help writers support themselves performing the work they love are warmly welcomed, provided we haven’t covered the topic in the past two years. Pays $60 for roughly 600-word pieces.



FREELANCEMOM.COM
http://test.freelancemom.com/guest-post-guidelines/
FreelanceMom is a community for moms who believe that women can still be who they are after becoming a mom. We believe the landscape has completely changed and that there is no better time for parents to be a freelancer or solopreneur. Your article should offer current practical and actionable advice, tips and be in-depth enough that the reader walks away with new knowledge and new approaches. Guest articles should be between 900 to 1,500 words. Articles that are selected for publication will be paid between $75 to $100 via PayPal. 



COPYHACKERS
https://copyhackers.com/write-for-us-2/
Pays $300 to $1,000. Be sure you’re writing about something you can speak well to – because we want to be able to clearly answer the question, “Why is this person the right person to tell this story?” Seeks 2,000 words and up. Has to include a first-person account. 



WORLD NOMADS
https://www.worldnomads.com/about/contributors/be-a-contributor
We here at World Nomads HQ are nomads ourselves, and it's our mission to uncover the best, the funniest, the freshest, the most gut-wrenching, or just the most beautiful travel stories to share with our community. Whether it’s a written travel essay or photo story, we’re looking for personal, authentic stories about life-changing journeys and experiences. We pay 50 cents per word for written stories.



TEXAS HIGHWAYS
https://texashighways.com/texas-highways-freelancer-guide/
The official travel magazine of Texas is to inspire travel to and within the state of Texas. All pitches should be emailed to [email protected]. When sending a pitch, please attach or link to at least three published clips (bonus if they’re Texas- or travel-related). Writers should be based in Texas or have a strong connection to Texas. Pays 50 cents per word. Also pays the same for blog posts. 



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.



INVERSE
https://www.inverse.com/
Pitch Claire Helen Cameron, Managing Editor at [email protected]. Pays at least $250 per story (800-word, study-based story, two to three sources quoted). Goes up to $1,000 per story. Inverse explores the science of anything, innovations that shape tomorrow, and ideas that stretch our minds. Our goal is to motivate the next generation to build a better world. Inverse takes a scientific approach to analyzing culture and a cultural approach to talking about science.



NEW INTERNATIONALIST 
https://newint.org/misc/write-for-us
Pitch stories to Amy Hall, Co-Editor at [email protected]. Rate depends on the length of the article but for an 1,000-word article in the magazine we would normally pay £250. Popular, clear, non-academic writing on issues of interest to their international readership is needed. For example, if you submit a piece focusing on domestic politics/issues, it will need a global perspective/resonance.



HIPCAMP
https://www.hipcamp.com/journal/
Covers outdoor experiences (not just camping), the environment, land stewardship, agritourism, and outdoor culture. Rates range $400-$800 per piece. Send pitches of reported features, roundups, profiles, personal narratives and guides to Jenna Valdespino, Managing Editor at [email protected].


 

Publishers/agents

BLUEBERRY LANE BOOKS
http://www.blueberrylanebooks.com/?page_id=65
We are currently looking for women’s fiction, young adult catering to readers up to 20 years old, and off-beat mysteries. We tend toward science fiction and fantasy. We will also consider New Adult. Query first if uncertain. As for nonfiction, we are looking for business books, and reference books, particularly for high school or college students. Query nonfiction first.



JAN-CAROL PUBLISHING
https://www.jancarolpublishing.com/accepting-submissions.html
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. publishes fiction and short stories that celebrate the wit, humor, and strength of both old-time and modern Appalachian women. Our other imprints include Little Creek Books and Heirloom Editions, as well as Skippy Creek, which focuses on children's books, Fiery Night, our romance imprint, and Broken Crow Ridge, an imprint for fantasy and science fiction stories. We do offer an imprint for authors specifically interested in publishing ebooks, and even an imprint under the name Express Editions for authors with expertise to share "how-tos" and spiritual guidance. With our wide array of imprints we can provide a happy home for any author or book!



7.13 BOOKS
https://713books.com/
We are open now to submissions for publication in 2023 and beyond. We are only looking for writers who have not yet published a book of literary fiction. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond to queries by email, from agents or authors.



BETWEEN THE LINES
https://btlbooks.com/about
We publish nonfiction books that expose and challenge oppression in our society. We aim to amplify the struggles of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities; migrants; women; queer folks; and working-class people. BTL is proudly left-wing and the books we publish reflect our activist roots and our commitment to social justice struggles. BTL authors are academics, journalists, artists, and activists—all our authors hope their books will spark political and social change.



BLACK BALLOON PUBLISHING
http://www.blackballoonpublishing.com/
Black Balloon's titles push the boundaries of what a book can be—from graphic novels to experimental writing to limited edition art books to digital projects and beyond. We champion the unconventional and believe in the meaningful above all. Black Balloon is a critically acclaimed imprint of Catapult, an independent publishing company headquartered in New York, NY. 

 

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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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