Successful Publishing - October Newsletter

Content of this Newsletter

- Independent Authors

- Help a Reporter Out - HARO

- Grants

- Freelance Writing

- Writing Contests

Welcome to the October Newsletter. 

Are you falling for Fall like me? Pumpkin pie and spiced coffee, glorious tree colors, mild Indian Summer weather, crisp colorful leaves, delicious food and wine, country hikes - and yes, lots of new books. Get the (maybe much-needed) motivation for the busy fall season and read these valuable publishing tips:

Independent Authors

Think about it: How can you be an independent author if you are under the control of Internet giants? The only way to throw off the shackles is to become an independent publisher. You can take full control of your writing, publishing, and income.  Read more reasons why Authors Should Stay INDEPENDENT

https://www.savvybookwriters.com/10-reasons-why-authors-should-stay-independent/

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HARO

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) platform is giving writers important opportunities. And you have the opportunity to be interviewed for a longer story. The basic subscription level for HARO is free, whether you register as a source or as a journalist, and it’s a great way to forge some new connections. As you can see above, it’s also a great resource for finding ways to promote yourself as a writer and find more paying opportunities to further your writing career.

- Discover new outlets or job opportunities. Subscribing to the free emails can introduce you to a wide variety of paying outlets in search of writers.

- Gain visibility by responding to requests for quotes

HARO IS not only for non-fiction writers and freelancers - but a way for writers to get better known:  https://www.helpareporter.com/

GRANTS

Neal Pierce Travel Grant

 Our travel grants of up to $1,500 enable journalists to travel to cities within the U.S. to produce one or more stories for publication. The awards, selected through a competitive review process, cover travel expenses necessary for on-the-ground reporting.  Full-time freelancers as well as journalists currently employed by a news organization are invited to apply.  Reporters, writers, editors, and photographers working in print, online, radio, television, and multimedia are eligible for travel grant awards if they have had stories published or aired in the previous three years.  Deadline October 15 https://www.nealpeircefoundation.org/apply/

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Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Sector Recovery Grants 

Individuals are offered unrestricted grants of $5,000 to creatives and gig workers to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and set a path for growth.  To apply for this grant, an applicant must be 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 in the state of Massachusetts.  Deadline November 1. 
https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/cultural-sector-recovery-grants-for-individuals/

FREELANCE WRITING

The American Gardener

Among the topics of particular interest to us are profiles of individual plant groups; innovative approaches to garden design; profiles of prominent horticulturists whose work has a national impact; plant research and plant hunting; plant conservation, biodiversity, and heirloom gardening; events or personalities in American horticultural history; people-plant relationships (horticultural therapy, ethnobotany, and community gardening);  environmentally appropriate gardening (choosing plants suited to one’s region, using native plants, conserving water, etc.); and plant lore and literature.  Feature articles run 1,500 to 2,500 words.  Departments run 600 to 1,000 words.  Payment for feature articles ranges from $300 to $600 on publication.  Payment for departments ranges from $150 to $200.  

https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/gardening-publications/the-american-gardener/writers-guidelines/

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The Sun

Seeking short stories and personal essays for The Sun magazine that will make the editors laugh.  When you message the editor, provide a summary of your piece. They only read finished stories and essays.  If interested, they follow up and ask you to email the submission. Direct message https://twitter.com/Barelyoutofblue (Anna Gazmarian).  Pays Nonfiction/Fiction $300 to $2,000 and Poetry $100 to $250. The Sun is an independent magazine that uses words and photographs to evoke the splendor and heartache of being human.  https://www.thesunmagazine.org

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THE BMJ

Seeking US-based medical/health/science freelance journalists.  Query mlooi@bmj.com.  Rates vary depending on story complexity but the range is between £350-700.  The BMJ can be many things to its diverse audiences: an international research journal, a member magazine, a think tank, an investigative campaigner, an educational resource, or even a trusted and inspiring friend.
https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/editorial-staff

WRITING CONTESTS

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Funny Stories. Genre: True stories. "Share your funny stories about something that happened to you in your life – in your relationship with a partner or spouse, a parent or child, a family member or friend, at work or at home – that made you and the people around you laugh out loud.  Payment: $200.  Did you mean for it to be funny?  Did the other person mean to make you laugh?  Did a situation just get out of control?  Did a misunderstanding turn into a comedy of errors?” Deadline: October 15 

https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics/

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McKitterick Prize - UK

It is given annually to an author over the age of 40 for a first novel, published or unpublished. The prize money is £4,000 for the winner and £2,000 for the runner-up, with each shortlisted author receiving £1,000 (up to four authors). The work must either have been first published in the UK between 1 Nov 2021 and 31 Oct 2022 (and not first published abroad) - or be unpublished. The deadline is October 31

https://www2.societyofauthors.org/prizes/the-soa-awards/mckitterick-prize/

Women's Prize for Fiction

Genre: Published novel by a woman. Entrants must be writing in English and must be published in the UK between 1 October 2022 and 31 November 2022.  All subject matters and women of any age, from any nationality or country of residence, are eligible.  Prize: £30,000.00.  Deadline: October 21.  https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/enter

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National Award for Arts Writing

The Mar-field Prize, also known as the National Award for Arts Writing, is given annually by the Arts Club of Washington to nonfiction books about the arts written for a broad audience.  Prize: $10,000.  Genre: Non-fiction book. Self-published books are not accepted.  Deadline: October 28 https://themarfieldprize.com/

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The Writer Magazine Fall Short Story Contest

Submit works in any genre – fiction OR nonfiction – in less than 2,000 words for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine. Our grand-prize winner will receive $1,000, our second-place winner will receive $500, and our third-place winner will receive $250. The first-place story will also appear in a print issue of The Writer.  $25-30 Entry Fee.  Early deadline October 25, last call deadline November 8.  https://www.writermag.com/contests/

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“October: crisp, sunny days and cool nights, a time to curl up around the dancing flames and sink into a good book.” ~ John Sinor.  Have a great October and happy writing!

Visit my Author Page too - lots of books to help writers market their books:

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

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September Newsletter for Successful Publishing

Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter September 2021 

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters

Content of this September Newsletter:

- GRANTS - FELLOWSHIPS - RESIDENCIES
- WRITING COMPETITIONS

- FREELANCE WRITING

I hope you enjoyed a relaxing long Labor Day weekend, full of good books. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year is celebrated this month, so ‘Shana Tova’, meaning a Good Year to all of you.  Can you imagine, summer is almost over and for others, Christmas and New Year’s is only three months away?  Why not start to prepare your marketing for the season right now? Learn which freelance writing opportunities are out there, about writing contests and even what writer’s relief grants are offered. 

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GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / RESIDENCIES

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Residency
Offering four residencies in this national park.  Offers housing, events, publicity, and tours of the park and a stipend of $2,000.  Park includes two legendary volcanoes, rainforests, and lava flows.  A dramatic environment for artistic endeavors. Open to singles, couples, groups, or families.  Deadline September 10
https://nationalparksartsfoundation.submittable.com/submit/

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Oregon Literary Fellowships 

They are intended to help Oregon writers at all stages of their career initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama, and young readers’ literature.  Fellowships range from $3,500 to $10,000.  Fellowships are also awarded to support Oregon’s independent publishers and small presses that demonstrate a commitment to literary publishing.  Deadline September 17 

https://literary-arts.org/about/programs/oba/fellowships/
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Pittsburgh Creative Development Grants
Professional artists in any discipline/media and at any career stage may apply directly for grants of up to $20,000 to further artistic and career goals. An applicant must be a professional artist, have a significant body of original works of art, be at least 21 years of age, and be an eligible southwestern Pennsylvania county resident.  Deadline September 22
https://www.heinz.org/strategic-areas/creativity/creative-development-awards

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Cullman Center Fellowship

The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers.  Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply.  Award: A stipend of up to $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources.  Deadline: Sept 24
https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/fellowships-institutes/center-for-scholars-and-writers/fellowships-at-the-cullman-center

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Cullman Center Fellowships
The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards 15 Fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets), translators, and visual artists. A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of up to $75,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. Fellows work at the Center for the duration of the Fellowship term, which runs from September through May.  Deadline September 24

https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/fellowships-institutes/center-for-scholars-and-writers/fellowships-at-the-cullman-center

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Storyknife Writers Retreat Residency for Women

Writing residencies for two- and four-week periods.  Each accepted woman writer will have her own cabin where she can write and reflect, sleep and dream.  The chef manager will bring a nutritious lunch to each cabin, and in the evening, the writers will gather at the main house for a shared meal.  Each woman will establish her own writing schedule and projects, and together, they will be able to form the kind of supportive writing friendships that last a lifetime.  Located in Homer, Alaska.  Deadline Sept 30
https://storyknife.org/how-to-apply/

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Free Legal Assistance for Indiana Artists
Pro Bono Indiana's (IndianaLegalHelp.org) Lawyers for the Arts project provides legal assistance at no cost to artists and small arts organizations in the state of Indiana. To obtain help, please call 812.402.6303 (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am CT).

https://indianalegalhelp.org/

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NYC Women's Fund
The NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music, and Theatre, administered by NYFA in partnership with the City of New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), provides grants to encourage and support the creation of content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women. Films, theatre (live and online), music, and web productions are eligible for finishing funds in the following categories: Fiction Feature, Fiction Short, Fiction Webisode/Web Series, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Documentary, Classical/Experimental/Jazz/New Music, Music General, and Theatre Production.  Deadline Nov 1
https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/nyc-womens-fund-for-media-music-and-theatre

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FREELANCE WRITING

Not sure where to find work as a freelance writer? 

Check out these offers and a list of 15 magazines accepting freelance submissions - online and in print. 

https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/magazines-accepting-freelance-submissions/

Top 33 Ultimate List of Get Paid to Blog Sites 2021 [Ultimate Hand-Picked List] 

From Articles about Social Media, IT, Travel, Writing, to Finances

https://bit.ly/36Ae0Yj 

9 Places to Find a Paid Blogging Job 

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/top-places-to-find-paid-blogging-jobs-2531559

8 Popular Blog Niches That Drive Traffic and Make Money (That Aren’t About Blogging Tips) 

https://twinsmommy.com/blog-niches-traffic-money/ 

Femedic
Our Editorial stream covers all aspects of health that are non-clinical in nature in relation to women's health. This includes social and political factors, identity, culture, discrimination, gender, lifestyle, and sharing particular experiences.  This content is usually issue and experience-led and does not require clinical knowledge or expertise to investigate.  Features are for telling reported stories in more depth and cover a broad range of women’s health-related topics.  All pieces are generally around 700-900 words.  For features, our current rate of pay is £150.  For personal essays (no additional reporting or research required), the rate is £100.  https://thefemedic.com/about/write-for-us/
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Chicken Soup - Grieving, Loss, and Healing
What helped you the most when you were grieving? Who were the people who helped you with your loss, and what did they do? What lessons can you share with someone starting on their own journey through grief and loss? When did you know that you had finally "turned the corner" and were on the road to healing? This book is going to be about the grieving, loss, and healing process. Submit up to 1,200 words in the first person. Winners receive $200 and ten copies of the book. 
Deadline September 30.
http://www.chickensoup.com

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CBS NEWS
Looking for pitches from journalists of color. Topics include sports & entertainment, criminal justice reform, health & wellness, fashion, and more. Reporting only. Pay starts at 60 cents per word.

Email justin@cbsnews.com - Justin Michael Jerome, Assistant Managing Editor of CBS News.
https://www.cbsnews.com
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Commercial Observer
Open for pitches about real estate (housing, cities, sustainability), transit, infrastructure, and related things in NYC, South Florida, Washington DC, and California. Pays 50 cents per word. 

Contact Chava Gourarie, Editor, email cgourarie@commercialobserver.com .
https://commercialobserver.com/
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Utah Business
Contact Elle Griffin, Editor in Chief with pitches from writers who can cover innovative business startups in Utah. Pays 20-40 cents per word. 
https://www.utahbusiness.com/

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Greenpeace
Greenpeace UK is inviting article pitches from freelance writers and journalists, and we offer competitive rates for contributors. We’re looking for writers who can tell environmental stories with flair and conviction; to help people see familiar things in a whole new way and reimagine what it means to be an environmentalist. We’re open to a range of formats, from features to personal essays, profiles, case studies, or even quizzes. Our base rate is £350 for a standard article (800-1,200 words; one to two interviews). We welcome international stories, but if you can find a UK angle, all the better.
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/pitching-guidelines/

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WRITING CONTESTS

Michael Marks Awards for Poetry

Restrictions: Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom are eligible. Genre: Poetry pamphlet. 

Prize: £5,000.  Deadline: September 17

https://michaelmarksawards.org/awards-2021/
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Love to Write

Open to writers from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds, including, but not limited to, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Mixed-Race. Prize: £1,500.  Entrants should be previously un-agented and haven’t had a fiction book published before. Based in the UK or Ireland. Genre: Romance novel. Deadline: Sept 19

https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/pages/mills-boon-love-to-write-competition

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The Forge Literary Magazine Competition
We hold flash fiction and flash nonfiction competitions annually. We strongly believe in removing barriers to submission so, as with everything we do, there will be no entry fee. The first-place winners will be awarded $500 and publication. Submissions open with the free submission window closing on September 14 or when we receive 300 entries per category. Send one piece up to 1,000 words.  No Entry fee.  Deadline Sept 14

https://forgelitmag.com/competition/

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Hektoen International Grand Prix Essay Competition

Original essay that relates medicine to the humanities. Topics might include art, history, literature, education, etc. as they relate to medicine.1,500 words max. Prize: $5,000 for the winner and $2,500 for the runner-up.  Deadline: Sept 15

https://hekint.org/2021/04/20/2021-grand-prix/

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RSL Giles St Aubyn Award for Non-Fiction

The writer must be a resident of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland or have been a resident in the UK or ROI for the past three years. Genre: Nonfiction book. Prize: Two awards – one of £10,000, one of £5,000 – are offered to support writers to complete their first commissioned works of non-fiction.  Deadline: Sept 17

https://rsliterature.org/award/rsl-giles-st-aubyn-awards-for-non-fiction/
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L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest

The Contest is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, in any medium. Professional publication is deemed to be payment of at least six cents per word, and at least 5,000 copies, or 5,000 hits.  Short stories or novelettes of science fiction or fantasy. Prizes: $1,000, $750, $500, Annual Grand Prize: $5,000.  Deadline: September 30
https://www.writersofthefuture.com/Contest-Rules-Writers/
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Tony Lothian Prize
The £2,000 Tony Lothian Prize is for an un-commissioned proposal by a first-time biographer. Proposals of no more than 20 pages (unbound), including synopsis, 10-page sample chapter, CV, and notes on the market for the book and competing literature. 
£15 Entry Fee. Deadline September 30
https://thebiographersclub.com/the-tony-lothian-prize/

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Juniper Prize for Poetry
The Juniper Prize for Poetry is awarded annually to two original manuscripts of poems: one first book prize for a previously unpublished author and one prize for a previously published author. The University of Massachusetts Press publishes the winning manuscripts and the authors receive a $1,000 award upon publication. The competition is open to all writers in English, whether or not they are U.S. residents. Manuscript files must be between 50 and 70 pages. 
$30 Entry fee.  Deadline Sept 30
https://www.umasspress.com/juniper-prizes/juniper-prize-for-poetry/

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VI Edition of the International Short Tales Contest

An overall first prize of 20,000 dollars is awarded for the best story in any of the languages authorized in the contest.  Three prizes of $2,000 each will be awarded for the best stories in each of the other remaining languages admitted in the contest, which are not winners of the main prize. The stories cannot exceed 100 words.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline September 30

https://www.fundacioncesaregidoserrano.com/en/contest/contest-rules

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Zoetrope Short Story Prize
All genres of literary fiction. Entries must be unpublished at the time of submission; strictly 5,000 words or fewer.  First prize: $1,000.  Second prize: $500.  Third prize: $250. 
$30 Entry fee. Deadline October 1
https://www.zoetrope.com/contests/stories-2021/

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The Slightly Foxed Best First Biography Prize - UK

It awards £2,500 to the judges’ choice of the best first biography published each year. The author must be a resident of the UK. Books must have a publication date between January 1, 2021, and December 31.  
Entry fee £25.  Deadline October 31
https://thebiographersclub.com/the-slightly-foxed-best-first-biography-prize/

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Wow Women on Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest
Seeking creative nonfiction essays on any topic (200-1,000 words) and in any style, from personal essay and memoir to lyric essay and hybrid, and more! The mission of this contest is to reward bravery in real-life storytelling and create an understanding of our world through thoughtful, engaging narratives. Open internationally. Limit 300 entries.
$12 Entry fee. Deadline Oct 31

https://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php#EssayContest

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Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize
Open to writers of, from, or in the US writing in English with at least three books of fiction published. Submissions may include a collection of short stories, one or more novellas, or a novel of any length. There is no length requirement. The prize includes $15,000 and publication by FC2, an imprint of the University of Alabama Press.  $25 Entry fee.  Deadline Nov 1
https://fictioncollective2.submittable.com/submit/195450/the-2022-catherine-doctorow-innovative-fiction-prize
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Malahat Review Open Season Awards
Categories are poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. The winner in each category will receive a prize of CAD $2,000. The contest is open to Canadian and international writers anywhere in the world. Poetry: up to three poems only per entry, no individual poem more than 100 lines long. Short fiction and creative nonfiction: one story only per entry, no more than 2,500 words in length.  Entry Fee CAD $35.  Deadline Nov 1
http://www.malahatreview.ca/contests/open_season/info.html
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Pen/Robert J. Day Short Story Prize
Recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. Stories must be submitted by editors of literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites and published in the English language. Stories may not exceed 12,000 words in length.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline November 15

https://pen.submittable.com/submit

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Make it a September to remember…

As the ninth month of the year, September marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere (and the start of spring in the southern). And also a new chapter in marketing your writings and books - and how you will promote it for the upcoming Christmas season. “Focus in the month of September on finishing those uncompleted tasks, rectifying and improving your current situation. Search deep within, have a good look at who you are now and where you stand and what you can accomplish.”

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