Your ad placed here. See the Ad Rates page for both the web site and newsletter rates.

Contests, grants, markets that pay writers may list at no charge...as long as they pay. Send to Hope.

 

FundsforWriters

 

High Hope for Freelance Writers, C. Hope Clark, Editor  

You won't be able to quit work and write, but you might find a grant to make your writing goals easier to reach. We specialize in serious contests, too. Only those that pay in cold hard cash. No pay-per-click, $1 per blog or exposure markets either. Hope Clark writes for a living. If she wouldn't try these opportunities, she doesn't post them. Our newsletters are our world. Free or paid subscription. Here you always have a choice.

The latest FundsforWriters newsletter...now online!   

FFW Small Markets newsletter...now online! 

WritingKid newsletter...now online!

-Books, contests, grants, e-books, newsletters ...Resources designed to help writers make more money.

You're like the warm-fuzzy writing mentor everybody dreams about finding instead of the prickly professionals one too often encounters.  Meantime, you manage to mentor thousands of us and create a supportive community of writers.  Thank you! ~Marisol Trowbridge

The newsletter is becoming a Bible for me because you are thoughtful and conscientious in what you choose to print (and not print, I would assume). It is all of tremendous benefit, not just some throw-away information.  ~Thank you so much, Beth Herman

Thanks, Hope! I'm trying so hard to stay focused on my writing, and your blog almost always "hits me in the head" and gets me going! :) ~Becky Povich, www.beckypovich.blogspot.com / www.saturdaywriters.blogspot.com 

I always send people to my friend Hope. She's like going to a train station for writers. Her knowledge can take you anywhere you want to go.     ~Bob Perks . www.bobperks.com, Author "I Wish You Enough"

Do you know how many other writers I know who have had a "Hope Awakening"? Didn't fully understand the gold in these newsletters until they finally had that epiphany of what a mine they're sitting on? You are SUCH a force in the writing world. I swear, you're the Oprah of the writing world. Thanks for all you do and all the encouragement you give. ~ Courtney Mroch

Your site is great, it is one of the few that to me feels like I am having a one on one conversation! ~Jamie Jenkins

 


NOTE: The winners of the 10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest are posted!!!!! Go to our Annual Contest page to check out the essays. Marvelous turnout this year. Winners were SO hard to pick.

 


 

Our Free Newsletters - Thousands of members!

FundsforWriters - This newsletter carries the higher paying markets, contests, and grants: those that pay $350 and up for articles and/or 20 cents or more per word  The newsletter that started it all! 

FFW Small Markets - listings that pay less than our parent newsletter FundsforWriters (above). But they always pay!  

Writing Kid - listings for the young writer from elementary youngsters to college kids. Great for teachers, parents and grandparents, too. 

Read our archives of past issues here:

TOTAL FundsforWriters - Our biggest and best newsletter. Writers claim it's the best investment they've ever made in their freelance careers. $15 a year for 26 biweekly issues containing 75+ grants, competitions, markets, jobs, publishers and agents seeking your work and all paying $350 or 20 cents/ word and up.

NOTE: If you have a conference in need of a  prize, contact Hope for donated TOTAL subscriptions. 

 

To submit your contest, grant or call for submission for the FFW newsletters, email Hope. Limit to ten lines. Please try to submit at least a month before the deadline. No charge for one listing. If you wish more attention to your opportunity, consider our reasonable ad rates.

 

Hope's Thought for the Week...

 ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR READERS FROM BEING TRUE FANS?

As writers, we seek readers. We want any and all readers. Many writers, when asked to identify their market, reply that everyone is a potential reader for their book. Of course, they are wrong.

There's a theory out there in the business world that you need 1,000 true customers to make a living. That includes writers. The problem is that most people have no clue what a true customer, or true fan, is. Having 1,000 Facebook followers or 1,000 Twitters followers, or 1,000 blog readers, does not mean you have 1,000 true fans.

The Technium, a KK* blog, defines clearly the definition of a true fan:

(http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php)

"A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author - in other words, anyone producing works of art - needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can't wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans."

The trick is finding those fans. While some latch hold of you quickly, most have to be gradually drawn in, until they
can't do without you. That means you have to be:

consistent
intriguing
available

Your work has to be your absolute best, not a second generation draft. Your voice has to capture attention, not just tell a story. You have to be readily available, which means the continually updated website, blog, or other social networking connection.

No matter where a fan finds you, you have to be better than he expected. If he finds your book and loves it, expect him to  seek your website. If he reads your blog and loves it, expect him to want your latest column. If he enjoyed your wit on Facebook, lead him to your website.

But if you fall short in any aspect of this quest for true fans, you don't succeed as an author. These days, people want more than just a good story. Once they enjoy the tale, they want to know more about the author. And when they find the author,
they want more entertainment.

The true fan is worth his weight in gold, but to keep him, you accept full responsibility for his safe keeping.

 

 

                                                                 Hope

Hear Hope at:

 Be the Star You Are! Radio Show

 Six Figure Writing and

Conscious Discussions and

Authors Read on BlogTalkRadio.com where she reads from her book THE SHY WRITER

 

 

Tweetebooks! Mini-ebooks with 20 markets at a mini-price - $1.99 each! New Tweetebooks being released all the time. See more... See why these little critters are addictive.

 

 

 

The Latest Articles from the FFW Newsletters...

NOTE: Articles published in TOTAL FundsforWriters are not listed on the website to respect paid subscribers. Another reason to subscribe!

 Don't Just Be a Writer - By Renee Roberson - As I recently scanned the spreadsheet I use to keep track of my
monthly writing assignments, I made an interesting observation regarding the different types of work that have come my way in the past year.

Eight Ways to Conduct Interviews That Resonate With Readers - By Jennifer Brown Banks - Pick up any consumer magazine or trade publication and it’s highly likely you’ll hit upon an interview or two.

 Breaking Down Your Barriers - by Cynthia MacGregor - I find myself frequently pushing my “envelope,” breaking down my barriers. Much of this happens for economic reasons: A chance to make money comes along and involves a type of writing I’ve not tried before. Sometimes it occurs just because I like to challenge myself.

 Feast, Not Famine: Re-evaluating Your Day Job - by Laura Roberts - "Don't quit your day job" is usually meant as an insult, directed at writers who are too inexperienced to take the leap into freelancing. But what if this tired phrase were actually the key to new opportunity?

 How to Become a Favorite Freelancer - By Michelle Mach - I hated writing query letters when I worked a full-time day job. It wasn't until I became a full-time freelancer that I discovered a great way to avoid the formal letter: become a favorite freelancer and editors will come to you for assignments (or at least accept queries that are more casual and
quicker to write).

How Else Can I Make Money as a Children’s Writer? - By Margo L. Dill - If you are a children’s writer and focused on children’s magazines and traditional publishers, then you might be feeling frustrated. To keep your career alive, you can find ways to earn multiple streams of income. So, what else can you do to advance your children’s writing career besides submitting to children’s magazines and traditional publishing companies?

 How to Survive the “Screening Out” Process to Get Published and Paid - By: Jennifer Brown Banks - Many naïve freelancers believe that because editors need ongoing content for the success and growth of their publications, that it is simply a situation of supply and demand. That as long as they produce quality pieces, they will get paid regularly and be able to support themselves. Not quite. Not now.

 Singing a Book’s Praises with Back Cover Copy - By Rachel Carrington - More and more authors are choosing to self-publish, but along with the independence they gain, they lose a valuable asset—a publishing company's marketing department. Those are the folks who usually create one of the most important selling tools in the industry—the back cover copy or the blurb, if you will.

 A Lamb to the Slaughter - By Erika Hoffman - I reminisce about my first writer’s conference and the contained excitement I felt sitting down to have the first chapter of my manuscript critiqued by an authentic editor. She pulled my sheets off her tipping, lopsided, toppling stack. A massacre had taken place on the first page. It was dripping blood red ink.

Inside the Jury - Judging a Grant Competition - By Elizabeth Creith - I served as one of four jurors on a granting
jury for the Ontario Arts Council. We read the entries ahead of time, scoring them yes, no, and maybe for funding. Out of 150 entries, we funded seventeen. Along the way I learned what it takes to get into that top ten percent.

 The Voice Behind the Experts - By Cynthia MacGregor - Have you noticed—people look at you differently when you’ve had a book published. Suddenly you’re “Somebody.” That’s true not only of authors but also of people in other walks of life. With a published book to her or his credit, he/she gets more respect, more attention…and more clients. Most of these professionals, trades people, and business people who could benefit from publishing a book know their craft or
business but aren’t much good at writing.

Write On(Line): Online Writing Courses through Colleges and Universities - By Donna R. Dolan - The only thing more flexible than online writing courses is free, online writing courses. The web site lists free, online, non-credit courses available from universities. The courses range from fiction through poetry to technical writing.

 Getting a Fulbright Fellowship in Creative Writing - By Tony Kellam - In this most harrowing of economic times, perhaps the moment is right for you to apply for a “student at large” Fulbright Fellowship. You don’t have to be in school, and it’s better that you aren’t.

 Writing on Faith - By Elisabeth Deffner - Writing for faith-based publication often requires more than an outstanding resume. While not every editor requires his freelancers to be card-carrying members of his own congregation, first-hand experience in that particular faith community is certainly a plus.

How to Evaluate a Good Blog Gig and Earn What You Deserve (5 Key issues to consider) - By Jennifer Brown Banks - Last year, when I landed a blog gig that boasted 100 bucks monthly for 300-word posts, I was tickled pink. Easy money I thought to myself. But my joy was short lived. Not long after accepting this job, I realized that not all blogging gigs are created equally.

 Making a Living Online as a Copywriter - by Kristine M Smith - At the end of 2008, after a year of experience as a full-time copywriter at a brick-and-mortar firm, I decided to hang my shingle online. I was no slouch as a wordsmith. But putting myself out there was daunting.

A Satchel Full of Songs - By Micki Fuhrman Milom - Creative writing comes in countless forms and that’s part of what makes writing for a living so much fun. If you happen to be a writer with musical talent as well, you may have a secret stash of songs you’re not sure how to market.

The Dramatists Guild vs. The Writers Guild - By Jeffrey Sweet - Though they both have the word “Guild” in their names, the Writers Guild of America and the Dramatists Guild are very different animals. The contracts for writers in film and TV and contracts for the theatre don’t resemble each other much.

 A Cover Story - By Susan Krupp - Three months ago, Gerald A. Servais, an author from Edmonton, Alberta contracted me to design two covers for books close to publication. I agreed. I'm a visual artist.

Back To Basics: Good Old Querying Vs Craigslist - By Christine Cristiano - Over the past year, I have become a victim of writing jobs posted on Craigslist.org.

 SILENT PARTNER: The Secret Life of Ghostwriters - By Christina Hamlett - Can invisibility translate to a lucrative publishing career? For over 70 years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate proved that to be true with “Carolyn Keene” – an invention as fictional as her popular heroine, Nancy Drew, and one wherein multiple authors were paid to be anonymous.  

Writing Markets for Illnesses - By Valerie Benko - I have multiple sclerosis. I know what it’s like to wake up in the morning and not feel the floor beneath my feet. I know how difficult simple tasks can sometimes be. I’m all too familiar with the painful diagnosis process. I may not hold a medical degree, but I can write from a patient’s perspective about life with the disease, and my doctors can be my “expert” sources.

 Blogging for Money: The Most Certain Way to Profit by Writing Blogs- By Diana Schneidman - The most certain way to profit from blogging is to sell your freelancing writing services to a business, professional or association blog.

 Land a Newspaper Column & Keep It Going - By Christina Lorenzen - There is nothing like newspaper writing to teach a writer to write tight and meet deadlines. Another benefit is the steady income in a business where payment often takes months to arrive.

Part 2: YOUR ONLINE HOME: Why an Author Needs an Impressive Website - By Shaila Abdullah - This is the second half of the article on the elements of a robust author site.

Part 1: YOUR ONLINE HOME: Why an Author Needs an Impressive Website - By Shaila Abdullah - When we prepare to attend our book signings or speaking events, we dress to impress. We enter in style and dazzle the audience. It is our moment, and we consider it our personal commitment to deliver our best. Yet, when it comes to websites, many of us choose DIY templates or hire nonprofessional relatives to create mediocre sites.

 Income from Outsourcing - By Chris Mac - Within the past year I have discovered an active need for writing in outsourcing communities. Monetary concerns are causing companies to outsource at unprecedented rates. As freelancers and independent contractors, opportunities to contribute abound.

 Writing White Papers to Make Some Green - By Elizabeth Creith - We're all looking for a way to pay the bills without selling our souls. White papers are one of the best-paid forms of corporate writing, with experienced white paper writers earning $5,000 to $7,000 per paper.

 Exploring New Markets in Children’s Writing - By Christine Dixon - Many writers trying to break into writing for children focus on fiction. This is such a highly competitive market, even for published and agented writers. But what many writers may not have considered is the nonfiction market for children.

 The Skinny on Writer’s Colonies - By Alexis Grant - It sounds like a dream: a quiet place of your own where you can write without distractions. But these magical hideaways do exist, and they’re available to writers like you and me.

Six Ways to Reconnect with Your Freelance Network - By Susan Johnston - Although cold emails or phone calls sometimes yield results, you'll often reap a higher return on investment by contacting clients you've worked with in the past or chatting with others in your industry who may be able to give referrals.

 Don’t Knock the Local Market, Tap Into It! - By Kelli Robinson - How many of you have sat in a doctor’s office perusing the magazines and concluded you could write the articles you were reading?

       More articles...

   

 

Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers - 2001-2011

 

The famous Bylines Desk Calendar is out for 2012. Get your now to manage your writing year right.

 

BEST source to step into freelance commercial writing. Peter Bowerman  is the guru. I've read the books.

 

The Shy Writer: An Introvert's Guide to Writing Success - trade paperback and ebook - TOTAL FFW subscription with paperback purchase.

 

 

 

Copyright 2000-2012, C. Hope Clark and FundsforWriters - FFW does not warranty the information on this site. This site and its contents are provided  on an "as is" basis without warranty. Information can change at a moment's notice, so FundsforWriters/C. Hope Clark does not represent that this information is complete or current by the time you access it. Please use at your own risk just as you would any information in your writing career - with educated caution. The names of companies, their magazines or other products mentioned on this site may be the trademarks of their respective owners. FundsforWriters/C. Hope Clark will not be held liable for damages arising out or or in connection with the use of this site. If this sounds like legalese, we apologize. We provide the freshest information we can find, but the Internet changes faster than we can be responsible for. We do not collect name or email information for distribution. Email addresses are not shared with other sources. Direct any questions to Hope@fundsforwriters.com - or by snail mail to 140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4, Chapin, SC 29036