Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter May 2023
by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters
Content of this Newsletter:
- Download Fees
- Writing Contests
- Residencies & Fellowships
- What is BookTok?
- Working with Publishers
- Freelance Writing
May: It’s this time of the year - no, not tax time - when you can find the most attractive FREE residencies for writers and other artists listed. Prepare and apply for free writing vacations in 2024, sometimes even with a generous stipend. Don’t forget: Statistically every third application you send out “wins”. These are our many helpful tips for publishers and authors for this month:
.
DOWNLOAD FEES
Ever wondered why Amazon deducts download fees from your book sales?
In some cases, this might happen when your book has no photographs at all.
Don’t let Amazon fleece you …
https://kindlepreneur.com/reduce-download-fees/
.
WRITING CONTESTS
RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award - Deadline approaching!
It is an annual award that aims to encourage new writing and to provide a space where unpublished Canadian writers can submit short stories, creative nonfiction, journalism, and poetry. Prize: $3,000 CAD cash prize Deadline: May 5, 2023.
https://pencanada.ca/newvoices/
.
Writer's Digest Annual
One Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000, an interview in Writer’s Digest (Nov/Dec 2023 issue), and a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. The First place winner in each category will receive $1,000 and the publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com $20 Entry Fee. Deadline May 5
https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition
.
Irene Adler Prize for Women Writers
Open to Canadian women. Genre: Creative nonfiction. Prize: $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in the U.S. or Canada. Deadline: May 30
https://www.lucasaykroyd.com/scholarships
.
Furphy Literary Award
Short stories up to 5000 words, Theme: Australian Life in all its diversity. Prize: First prize of $15,000 in the open category (2nd prize - $ 3,000, 3rd prize - $2,000. A junior & youth category with a prize pool of $1800 will seek entries for short stories and poetry. Deadline: May 31
https://www.furphystory.com.au/furphy-literary-award/
.
CNO Naval History Essay Contest.
Scholarly essay on naval history. Prize: First Prize: $5,000. Second Prize:$2,500. Third Prize: $1,500. Deadline: May 31
https://www.usni.org/essay-contests/2023/2023-cno-naval-history-essay-contest-professional-historian
.
The Writing District Prize
Short stories only. The maximum word count is 3,000 words. The first prize is $1,000 and publication on the website. Two runners-up of $100. English only. $15 Entry Fee. Deadline May 31
https://thewritingdistrict.com/the-writing-district-prize-2023/
.
Governor General's Literary Awards
Restrictions: Books must have been written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. They do not need to be residing in Canada. Genre: The Governor General’s Literary Awards are given annually to the best English-language and French-Language book in each of the seven categories of Fiction, Literary Non-fiction, Poetry, Drama, Young People’s Literature (Text), Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books). Prize: $25,000. Deadline: May 15, 2023.
https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/prizes/governor-generals-literary-awards/guidelines-governor-generals-literary-awards
.
The Synopsis Skirmish
A writing contest for querying authors. Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: does this synopsis convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell? First place: $700 CAD. Second place: $200 CAD. Third place: $100 CAD. One page: maximum 500 words. Entry Fee $5 CAD. Deadline May 31
https://darlingaxe.com/pages/the-synopsis-skirmish
.
The Bridport Prize
Short story. 1st Prize £5,000. 5,000 words or less.
£11-£24 ENTRY FEE. Deadline May 31
https://thebridportprize.submittable.com/submit
.
Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction
Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between May 3, 2023, and September 30, 2023. Deadline: June 28, 2023
https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/hilary-weston-writers-trust-prize-for-nonfiction/guidelines/
.
The Lascaux Prize in Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction may include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered. Pieces may be previously published or unpublished, and simultaneous submissions are accepted. The winner receives $1,000 and a bronze medallion. Finalists receive $100. $15 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 30
https://lascauxreview.com/contests/
.
WHAT IS BOOKTOK?
BookTok is a TikTok subculture where users share short-form videos gushing about their favorite reads and recommend books to their followers. That said, many BookTok users don’t create content, but simply use the platform to discover new reads. New research from The Publishers Association suggests that BookTok is so influential, it is completely transforming reading habits. The Publishers Association recently found that 59 percent of 16 to 25-year-olds have discovered a passion for reading because of BookTok.
.
GRANTS - FELLOWSHIPS - RESIDENCIES
Ragdale Fellowships
Fellows receive full funding for their residency, uninterrupted time, a live/work space, all meals, and the camaraderie of the other committed and passionate residents and fellows at Ragdale. Fellowships help pay for the cost of residency, public programs, travel, and materials. Location Lake Forest, IL. Deadline May 15
https://www.ragdale.org/fellowships
.
The Studios Key West Residency
It is the premiere arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the U.S., offering a residency program for emerging and established artists and writers from around the world. They provide residencies to visual artists, writers, composers, musicians, media artists, performers, and interdisciplinary artists. Deadline May 17
https://tskw.org/residency-about/
.
Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant
Articles, books, and short-form writing about contemporary art—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The program also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. Grant: $15,000 to $50,000. Deadline: May 17, 2023
.
Warner Brothers Discovery Access Writers Program
The deadline is forthcoming. The Warner Bros. Discovery Access Writers Program has been expanded to a two-year program for entry-level narrative TV writers. The objective is to provide marginalized voices a pathway for entry into the television industry through instruction, mentorship, and exposure. Participants learn about the television business from internal executives and attend master classes on storytelling and collaborative creative writing with show-runners, as well as other established special guests.
https://www.warner-access.com/programs/warner-bros-discovery-access-writers-program
Moondancer Fellowship
It is for authors who express their passion for the natural world and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship is open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists, memoirists, and columnists. Prior publication is not a requirement. The successful applicant will demonstrate insight, honesty, literary merit, and the likelihood of publication or production. The fellowship winner will receive a two-week residency at WCDH to focus completely on their writing. Each writer’s suite has a bedroom, private bathroom, separate writing space, and wireless internet. We provide uninterrupted writing time, a European-style gourmet dinner prepared five nights a week and served in our community dining room. Deadline May 22
https://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships
.
Marble House Project
This multi-disciplinary artist residency program fosters collaboration & the exchange of ideas by providing an environment for artists across disciplines to live and work side by side & including but not limited to visual arts, writing, choreography, music composition, and performance. Sessions for three weeks each - from early March
through early November. Location Dorset, VT. Deadline May 30
https://marblehouseproject.submittable.com/submit
.
Playa Residencies
Residents stay here free of charge and are responsible for their own travel costs and food while they are here. We are open to international and domestic applicants. Applicants may choose a 5, 12, or 26-day session. PLAYA’s residencies are open to the global community of scientists, naturalists, biologists, musicians, designers, sustainability leaders, social practice artists, musicians, visual artists, writers, performing artists, and collaborations and individuals engaged in creative work. Location Summer Lake, Oregon. Deadline May 31
https://playasummerlake.org/apply-for-residency/
.
Headlands Center for the Arts
Headlands’ Artist in Residence (AIR) program awards fully sponsored residencies for four to six weeks including studio space, chef-prepared meals, comfortable housing, and travel and living expense reimbursements. Location Sausalito, CA. Deadline June 5
.
Prairie Rode Artist Residency
They offer artists from a range of disciplines a five- to seven-week residency in the historic Village of Vicksburg, Michigan. They do not limit our residency to any specific medium but rather are looking for diverse artists who can creatively interact with The Mill. Accepted residents receive a stipend of $2,000 for five to seven weeks, a $500 travel grant & private housing. Deadline June 15
https://prairierondeartistresidency.com/about/apply/
.
WORKING WITH PUBLISHERS
If you want to work with publishers, patience is key. From submission to rejection or acceptance, can take months in publishing. Read more about what you will discover when dealing with publishers.
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/things-youll-discover-about-publishers-when-youve-worked-with-one/
.
FREELANCE OFFERS
Positive News
This online and print magazine is known for rigorous journalism about what’s going right. They report socially relevant and uplifting stories of progress – ranging from the global boom in renewable energy to cities that are solving homelessness – joining the dots between how people, communities, and organizations are changing the world for the better. The standard rate is 30p per word.
https://www.positive.news/contact-us/
Studio
They welcome article pitches from both emerging and established writers, academics, scholars, and journalists writing about contemporary Canadian craft and design and related stories. Please send pitches to pitches@studiomagazine.ca. Include in your pitch a brief bio and links to writing samples. Pays 20 cents/word or more. Deadline Sept 30
https://www.studiomagazine.ca/submission-guidelines
.
Escape Pod
Science fiction (Audio and written format). Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Deadline: May 31. Reprints accepted.
https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/
.
Enjoy Mother’s Day, Victoria Day, or Memorial Day, lots of Spring flowers, BBQs, long sunny days - and certainly new books - and writing them.
.
