Hey, fellow writer...I'm C. Hope Clark, editor and founder of FundsforWriters.

Who we are...

FundsforWriters is an online resource for writers. You can be a thirty-year veteran or a part-time wannabe, but here at FundsforWriters (FFW), we consider you a writer none-the-less. We emphasize finding money to make writing a realistic career. Of course, you'd write anyway. That's the way of a writer.

Other websites provide guidance on how to write, how to query, how to format manuscripts, and so on. We give you direction on the funding streams. We focus on markets, competitions, awards, grants, publishers, agents, and jobs for your writing abilities.

Origins...

FFW began in March 2000 after a women's writing group in Georgia opened my eyes to the fact that it's hard to write when you can't afford ink for the printer, postage for the manuscripts, or gas to the conferences. As a guest speaker, I initially planned to speak on writing for the Internet. That subject quickly eroded to finding funds for all aspects of writing. Since my background was in finance and my day job involved loans and grants, I offered a few words of advice. Boy! Did that ever blow into a bigger deal than I imagined!

Newsletters...

A few emails grew into a bunch of emails. I soon tired of giving the same answers five times a day, and a newsletter was born. When I found so many lower paying markets, I initiated a second newsletters, FFW Small Markets. After all, I hated to waste the research. Then after a few dozen emails about markets for young people, WritingKid became a natural.

The website...

The websites changed from simple and gaudy to the current (which I hope has evolved from gaudy). And after a couple years, I compiled my research into a couple of ebooks. Now we try to keep 10-12 ebooks current and available to FundsforWriters fans as well as our latest Tweetebooks, mini-ebooks listing niche markets.

We run the Annual Essay Contest, and we pay writers. Prior to that time, I wrote all of our material to avoid accepting outside material without compensation. We don't compete with Woman's Day or Family Circle, but we hold true to a writer earning a dollar for his or her sweat. And as we grow, so do our payments.

Our mission...

We attempt high quality and we remain true to our original intent - provide PAYING markets for writers. Our ads must touch upon a writer's world, and we shy away from generic and get-rich-quick affiliates. And when we endorse a product or a book, we believe in it. 

TOTAL...

Our biggest leap came in the form of TOTAL FundsforWriters. After years of free newsletters, the time came to earn a living as writer (kind of a practice-what-you-preach thing). FundsforWriters continues to be free, but we took the same format and exploded it into a biweekly paid subscription offering 75+ paying opportunities. We think it's our greatest work and constantly work to deliver it to our loyal readers.

Who is Hope...

Who am I? I'm barely on the other side of 50 and freelancing on my own. Did I take a huge leap? Yes and no. I left a very comfortable position as Administrative Director of a small federal agency to write. I managed budgets, loans, grants, human resources, and procurement for 25 years, and when Uncle Sam allowed me to take a reduced early retirement I jumped at the chance. 

So my income dropped by 60%, my husband took a promotion in Phoenix, Arizona, and my new life began. If you stick around for long, you'll learn about my federal agent husband, my patriotism, my dachshund, my deep Southern upbringing, and a strong need to make others feel good about their lot in life or their ability to alter it to another level. Attitude is everything. And mine hasn't always been so nice.

I finally made my way back to my home turf in South Carolina as of December 2005. I love water.  I grew up near the Charleston coast, lived on a lake in Phoenix, and built a new home on Lake Murray near Columbia, SC. You'll find me in my study overlooking the dock, talking to the birds and loving my dachshund who ever sleeps at my feet (and in my lap when I let her). 

Now I help others while educating myself. If I can answer your questions, I will. If I can't, I'll find a place to send you. You do not get ignored at FundsforWriters, and all emails receive an answer. 

Welcome...and I mean it.

           C. Hope Clark