September Newsletter for Successful Writing and Publishing

 

Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter September 2022

111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters

Dear friends,

Lots of celebrations in September: Labor Day on the first Monday in September, Native American Day is always celebrated on the 4th Friday of September, and Constitution Day celebrates the ratification of the governing document of the United States on September 17.  Also, participate and celebrate the many awards you find in this newsletter:

WRITING CONTESTS

Michael Marks UK Award for Poetry 

Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom are eligible. Genre: Poetry pamphlet. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: Sept 23  https://michaelmarksawards.org/awards-2022/

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Willie Morris Awards for Southern Fiction and Nonfiction 

Novels and nonfiction books published in 2022. The book has to be set in one of the original eleven Confederacy States. Prize: $2,500.00.  Deadline: September 30

https://www.williemorrisawards.org/

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Red Hen Press Fiction Contest

Length 150-pages minimum of prose. Award is $1,000 and publication.  Entry Fee $25.  Deadline Sept 30    https://redhen.org/awards/red-hen-press-fiction-award/
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Quill Prose Award

Award is $1,000 and publication. Considers 25,000-word minimum (approximately 150 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font) of prose (fiction or nonfiction) by a queer writer only.  Entry Fee $10.  Deadline Nov 30   https://redhen.org/awards/quill-prose-award/

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Common Mistakes Aspiring Authors Make

When you declare you want to become a full-time writer, publish books, and have your own literary fans, are you really willing to make any sacrifices?  If yes, your mission is to build a small empire around your words.  To do that, you will need thick skin.  There’s More to Writing a Book Than… Writing.  Find here all the traps - and how to avoid them:

https://www.savvybookwriters.com/common-mistakes-aspiring-authors-make/

 

GRANTS - FELLOWSHIPS - RESIDENCIES

Virginia Center for the Arts

Applicants will be considered for a VCCA residency and as many fully funded fellowships for which they are eligible. In addition, all eligible applicants who demonstrate a need will be considered for financial aid to help cover the cost of their residency. The VCCA residency at Mt. San Angelo includes a private bedroom with a private bath, a separate individual studio, and three meals daily in a community of cross-disciplinary artists.  Deadline Sept 15  

https://www.vcca.com/apply/fully-funded-fellowships/

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Ft Union National Monument Residency

Location Watrous, New Mexico, a historic outpost on the high plains and on the Santa Fe trail. Open to any and all artists, writers, musicians, or performance artists. Residency dates March 2023. Stipend $1,000.  Deadline Sept 30

https://nationalparksartsfoundation.submittable.com/submit

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Massachusetts Cultural Sector Recovery Grants

Unrestricted grants of $5,000 to creatives and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth. This one-time FY23 grant program is funded through state pandemic recovery monies Mass Cultural Council received from the Legislature. An applicant must be a full-year resident of Massachusetts, 18 years or older, and an artist or cultural practitioner active in any artistic discipline or cultural tradition, a teaching artist/scientist/humanist, or a cultural worker in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. Deadline Nov 1

https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/cultural-sector-recovery-grants-for-individuals/

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FREELANCE WRITING

Sun Magazine

They publish personal essays, fiction, and poetry. Personal stories that touch on political and cultural issues are welcome. Personal Essays $300 to $2,000. Fiction $300 to $2,000. 

https://www.thesunmagazine.org/submit

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Washingtonian 

A city magazine for the DC area that publishes long, deeply reported profiles, true-crime yarns, and pieces of narrative journalism. But also trend pieces, photo essays, column-length arguments, and comprehensive lists. How the city works, or how to get the most out of Washington, home design, DIY, or real estate stories. Pays $1/word on average.  Email mmontgomery@washingtonian.com

https://www.washingtonian.com/writers-guidelines/

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The Food Section

Our mission is to serve eaters across the American South by providing them with the information and analysis they need to enhance their food and drink experiences for original, inclusive, and independent reporting about restaurants, bars, farmers, fishermen, food artisans—and everything else that influences how and what we eat and drink. Rate: $1,000 for a 1,200-word reported piece.

https://thefoodsection.substack.com/

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GoodRX

GoodRx is looking for freelance writers who can put a face on what it's like to go through a health crisis. They want strong storytellers who can approach patient stories with journalistic expertise. Most stories will be 800 to 1,200 words, with a pay rate of $500 per story. 

https://jobs.lever.co/goodrx/29dee9bf-8e45-458e-8232-dcc22b841188

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One more Tip on How to Research Literary Agents and Book Publishers
A timeless and useful article written by Virginia Lloyd
https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2018/09/13/how-to-research-literary-agents-and-book-publishers/
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Only 15 weeks until Christmas… What are your plans for the best time of the year to sell books?  Bundle several of your books to sell a new edition, or have a note in your print book, offering readers a free ebook download of it, as a way to contact your readers directly?  There are hundreds of marketing ideas, just scroll through our Blog and pick the ones you like best.

https://www.savvybookwriters.com/category/blog/

 

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Books by Doris-Maria Heilmann:

To the TOP

Smart Free Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Self-Employed

ebook: https://books2read.com/u/mqv8Z1

print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664381

ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08957T6XN/

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Audiobooks for Success

Valuable guidebook for authors, audiobook publishers, narrators, voice-over artists, and audiobook listeners. Learn how to create, produce, publish, and market your audiobooks

https://books2read.com/u/bPRRyJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W81MN2Z

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111 Tips to Create Impressive Videos - 
How to Plan, Create, Upload, and Market Videos
https://www.books2read.com/u/3GYnpa

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BYDH41S/

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111 Tips To Make Money With Writing -
The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing -
An Essential Guide for More Income as a Freelancer
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

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111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free
 - Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success
https://books2read.com/u/bMre1a

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RA72LY

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111 Tips to Get Free Book Reviews
 - Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews
plus 1,200+ reviewer contact links
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5nx5

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M2Y3E5W

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111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer -
How to Create, Where to Upload, and How to Market Your Videos
https://books2read.com/u/mVZkjr

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHWX6X2/

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Book Marketing on a Shoestring
How Authors Can Promote their Books 

Without Spending a Lot of Money
https://books2read.com/u/mZ5gdp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664225

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Visit my Author Page here:

https://books2read.com/ap/n4EYY8/Doris-Maria-Heilmann

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Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter August 2022

 

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Dear friends,

I hope your summer has been so far brimming with fun, sun, family, friends, and of course, lots of reading!  Nothing better to nourish the soul than a book during these long and gorgeous days of summer.  Summer has so many pleasures.  Is writing one of them for you? Or do summer activities collide with your writing goals?  What about just collecting ideas for future books?  It doesn’t take away from your travel time.  Have a pen and paper with you and make notes about the scenery, encounters with interesting people, delicious meals, and everything in between. 

Content of this Newsletter:

• GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES
• FREELANCE OFFERS
• WRITING CONTESTS

GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES

Prague - Unesco City of Literature Creative 2-Months Residency

It offers residency stays for foreign writers and translators. 6 residencies for 2023, each for 2 months. Return ticket, free accommodation & stipend 600 /month. Deadline Aug 31. 

https://www.unescoprague.org/rezidencni-pobyty-2023

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UCROSS Foundation Residency

Residencies in Clearmont, WY. vary in length from two weeks to six weeks. At any one time, there are up to 10 individuals in residence comprising a mix of visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, interdisciplinary artists, performance artists, and teams of collaborators. Lunch and dinners are prepared Monday to Friday by a professional chef, and ample provisions are on hand for breakfasts and weekends.  Deadline Sept 1

https://www.ucrossfoundation.org/residency-program.html

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Granada Residence Program

Targeted at writers residing in any country in whichever language they write.
A month’s stay (30 nights) in Granada between Nov 3 and Dec 2, 2022, at the Corrala de Santiago of the University of Granada. Granada UNESCO City of Literature will cover the traveling expenses. Deadline Sept 1

https://granadaciudaddeliteratura.com/en/2022-granada-writers-in-residence-programme

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FREELANCE OFFERS

Chatelaine 

They are delivering all the content Canadian women want, whether it’s about health, current events, food, social issues, decor, or fashion and beauty. Send a one-page query letter outlining your idea. Pays $1 CAD per word for print and $300-$800 CAD for online.

https://www.chatelaine.com/about/writers-guidelines/

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Roadpass Digital 

They help inspire, educate, and empower millions of RVers and road-trippers to enjoy camping and the open road. Send your pitch to pitches@roadpass.com. Rates typically range from $200 to $1,000 per story, based on length, article type, and how much reporting is required. 

https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/pitch-roadtrippers-magazine/

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ACCESS Marketing Services 

Out of Washington, DC, they have a fully remote workforce with deliverables due in eastern time. And employ full-time writers but frequently need freelance ad copywriters during busy primary and general election cycles. When in our freelance pool, they keep a calendar of availability so that project managers can pull writers. The work is by the hour, paying roughly $100 per hour. Contact Olivia Hatcher at https://twitter.com/plathitude

https://www.accessmarketingservices.com/careers/

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The Daily Best

Most of the stories they’re looking for fall under a mini-feature length, between 800 and 2,000 words. Pays up to $600. There needs to be a reason we should green-light this pitch now, whether it’s some new research or new developmental breakthrough, a new announcement, some new insight or news that the story itself is breaking, etc. If the story is unpacking a larger trend or issue that isn’t going to vanish overnight, we’re much more likely to be interested. Query Neel V. Patel, Science and Innovation Editor at neel.patel@thedailybeast.com 

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Chicken Soup: Lessons Learned from my dog

They are looking for true stories and poems about your dog. Tell us what new thing your dog taught you. How smart she is or how she outsmarted you! How he made you smile. How she "rescued" you after you "rescued" her. How he brought your family closer together, helped you find love, and inspired you to change something in your human life. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both. Limit 1,200 words. First-person, please.  Payment is $200 and 10 copies. 

http://www.chickensoup.com

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WRITING CONTESTS

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

Emerging African American writers.  Prize $10,000. Genres: Short story collection or novel published in the current year. 

Deadline: Aug 15

https://ernestjgainesaward.org/literary-award-criteria-registration

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Lee & Low Books New Voices Award 

The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the US and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published. Prize $1,000 and publication. Children's books - fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. 

Deadline August 15

https://www.leeandlow.com/writers-illustrators/new-voices-award

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Women's Prize for Fiction 

Prize: £30,000.00.  Genre: A published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK between 1 April 2022 and 30 Sept 2022. All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence, are eligible. 

Deadline August 26

https://womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023-WPF-Terms-and-Conditions-FINAL.docx.pdf

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Short Story Award for New Writers

Limit 6,000 words. The winner receives a $3,000 prize and agency review, and their story will be published online in late winter/early spring. Second and third place finalists will be awarded publication, agency review, and $300/$200 prizes.  $20 Entry Fee.  Deadline Aug 28

https://mastersreview.com/short-story-award-for-new-writers/

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Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award

Prize: £10,000. Open to authors aged 18-35 as of December 31 of the deadline year. Books must have been first published in the UK and/or the Republic of Ireland, in the English language, between June 23 of the preceding year and August 31 of the deadline year. Authors must be UK or Irish citizens, or residents for the three years preceding the award. Genre: Published or self-published book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction.  Deadline August 31

https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/other-prizes/sunday-times-university-of-warwick-young-writer-of-the-year-award/

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Writers Digest Personal Essay Awards

One Grand Prize Winner will receive $2,500, their essay title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s May/June 2023 issue, and a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot. The Second Place Winner will receive $1,000, and their essay title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s May/June 2023 issue. The Third Place Winner will receive $500, and their essay title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s May/June 2023 issue. Limit 2,000 words. 

$25 Entry fee.  Deadline Sept 1

https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/personal-essay-awards

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MSLEXIA Woman's Fiction Competition 

Our competition is open to unpublished novels of at least 20,000 words in any genre for children and/or young adult readers. Submit the first 3,000 words only in the first instance. The winner will receive £5,000. The winner and three finalists will also receive manuscript feedback from The Literary Consultancy.  £26 Entry fee.  Deadline Sept 19

https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/childrens-and-ya-novel/womens-fiction-competition-2022-childrens-ya-novel/

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Use the lazy days of summer to browse through hundreds of books in your own genre and see what’s available and how other writers created their work. Or visit one or more than over twenty writing conferences. 

Enjoy a wonderful August!