Writing Contests and Writing Awards

Deadline March 1:  Neutral free contest from New Welsh Review awards top prize of  £1,000 = US $1,250, e-book publication, and other networking/promotional opportunities for previously unpublished, English-language prose written for an adult audience by authors age 18+. 

For 2017, there are two categories: memoirs (5,000-30,000 words) and novellas (8,000-30,000 words). Both categories are open to all residents of the UK and Ireland, plus those who have been educated in Wales for at least six months; the Novella Prize is also open to writers based in the US and Canada. 

Works may be a single, long-form piece or a book divided or structured as the author sees fit. No simultaneous submissions. No limit to the number of entries submitted by one author, although only one work may win. An author may enter both categories. Enter using sponsor's online submissions portal.http://www.newwelshwritingawards.com/terms-conditions-2017/

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More Writing Contests Ending Soon:

Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing - The winner receives a US$10,000 advance. Deadline is Feb 28
http://www.restlessbooks.com/prize-for-new-immigrant-writing/
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CBC Creative Nonfiction Competition - First Prize CAD6,000 - Deadline Feb is 28
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2016/01/cbc-creative-nonfiction-prize-is-now-open.html
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American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship
Is open to writers worldwide. Fellows receive a stipend of US$5000 to assist with travel and housing costs. Applications close Feb 14.
http://americanlibraryinparis.org/events-programs/visiting-fellowship.html

.The James Jones Fellowship Contest awards $10,000 to an American writer with a first fiction novel in progress in 2017. Two runners-up will each receive $1000.
http://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2017/02/02/james-jones-fellowship-contest-2017/

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Dictator Elected?

A Famous German Journalist Jacob Augstein:

"Nach zwei Wochen im Amt ist klar: Donald Trump hat damit begonnen, die amerikanische Demokratie in eine Diktatur zu verwandeln. Wann ist der Punkt ohne Wiederkehr erreicht?

Donald Trump hat damit begonnen, die amerikanische Demokratie in eine Diktatur zu verwandeln. Man kennt das Verfahren aus anderen Ländern: Ungarn, Türkei, Russland. Jetzt die USA. Der Prozess ist schleichend.

Die Demokratie stirbt leise, sie macht kein Geräusch. Ein berühmtes Gedicht von T.S. Eliot trägt den Namen: "The Hollow Men - Die hohlen Männer". Es endet mit den berühmten Zeilen: So geht die Welt zugrunde / Nicht mit einem Knall: mit Gewimmer. Es ist unsere Welt, von der da die Rede ist. Es ist unsere Demokratie, die nicht mit einem Knall untergeht - sondern mit einem Wimmern.

Die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika waren die führende Nation der westlichen Welt. Sie brachten den Deutschen einmal Frieden und die Demokratie. Jetzt wurde dort ein fünfjähriger Junge festgenommen. Oder verhaftet. Oder festgesetzt. Es gibt sicher einen juristischen Terminus, der korrekt beschreibt, was die amerikanischen Sicherheitsbehörden mit diesem Jungen angestellt haben. Fünf Stunden lang hielten sie ihn ohne seine Eltern an einem Flughafen fest. Er ist amerikanischer Staatsbürger, aber aus dem Iran eingereist.

Und der Iran steht auf der Liste jener Länder, aus denen nach einem Federstrich des amerikanischen Präsidenten Besucher aller Art unerwünscht sind. Ein Federstrich der vollkommenen Willkür. Und der Grausamkeit. 

Der Sprecher dieses Präsidenten sagte nachher, es wäre ein Fehler, nur aufgrund von Alter und Geschlecht den Schluss zu ziehen, dass ein Mensch keine Bedrohung darstelle.

Willkür und Grausamkeit - sind das nicht die Merkmale der Diktatur?

Die Demokratie schafft sich selber ab

Diktatur ist ein ernstes Wort. Wir haben Vorstellungen davon, was eine Diktatur ist. Schwere Tritte im Treppenhaus morgens um halb fünf. Verhaftungen. Vermisste. Willkür. Mit solchen Diktaturen kennen gerade wir Deutschen uns aus. Und die schwer bewaffneten Polizisten, die an den Flughäfen den wahnwitzigen Einreiseerlass des Präsidenten durchsetzen, sie ähneln noch unserem Bild von Diktatur. Aber das ist nur die Oberfläche. Das wahre Gesicht der Diktatur sieht heute anders aus.

Die Demokratie stirbt nicht an einem Tag. Sie schafft sich langsam selber ab. Trump wurde gewählt. Orbán wurde gewählt. Erdogan auch. Das Muster ist ähnlich. Ein Populist lügt sich an die Macht. Er installiert seine Verbündeten an den Schaltstellen des Systems, vor allem in der Justiz, im Sicherheitsapparat. Und er neutralisiert die Medien.

In einem bemerkenswerten Aufsatz über die Zerbrechlichkeit der modernen Demokratien, der jetzt im amerikanischen Magazin "Atlantic Monthly" erschien, heißt es: "Der Vorteil, einen modernen Staat zu kontrollieren, liegt weniger darin, die Unschuldigen verfolgen als die Schuldigen verschonen zu können." Ein kluger Satz. Denn obwohl es die klassischen Mechanismen der Diktatur noch gibt - in Russland und in der Türkei - hat sich eine moderne Form von Diktatur entwickelt.

Regeln werden gebeugt, Nachrichten manipuliert

Die Wahlen sind frei. Es wird niemand auf offener Straße erschossen. Und wer unzufrieden ist, darf jederzeit das Land verlassen. Aber die Justiz urteilt nicht mehr unabhängig. Die Medien berichten immer seltener aufrichtig. Öffentliche Aufträge werden nach politischer Freundschaft vergeben. Die Steuerbehörden prüfen gehäuft die Kritiker des Systems. Korruption wird zur Normalität. Die Regeln werden gebeugt, die Nachrichten werden manipuliert, und ein Teil der Elite wird in Mittäterschaft verstrickt."

Letter from Lebanon

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Canadian Volunteer Charmaine Craig wrote:

Dear Friends,
We are busy here in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon providing the much needed aid to displaced Syrian War Refugees, living in the settlement camps or in town, renting horrible spaces. This week volunteers have done food and blanket distributions and plan another food/heating fuel distribution and a large shoe distribution. 

Today I will be purchasing food from the wholesaler. We buy rice, lentils, chickpeas, bulgar, etc in 25 kg bags and large boxes of cooking oil, tea and pasta. Please help 

I am also working with a team to improve a horrendous housing situation for a family. We will be purchasing some needed antibiotics for the children, a cook stove and propane, food, hygiene products and whatever else we feel will make their living situation more habitable and sanitary. 

Thank you, friends, for making this happen!
Please ask all your friends to donate as well, even $5 helps!

Love Charmaine


War Refugees to Survive the Winter
https://www.gofundme.com/bekindtorefugeeswinter2016

How to Make More Money With Your Manuscript

For many authors, writing a book is the only way of earning money with their craft. But there is much more to a manuscript than what you can imagine! Your book has a secret ingredient which is called “Copyright.” Every story you write, every novel, is a package of copyrights.

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You can sell parts of your book to:

• one publisher
• other parts to another publisher
• some parts to overseas markets
• other parts to audio
• as e-Books or Singles
• to game companies
• maybe even to Hollywood’s film industry
• use parts of it to submit to contests
• divide it into chapters and sell to magazines
• or to web publishers …

The list goes on and on and on. But what you need to do:

• learn all about copyright to really understand this
• realize that each piece can be a cash stream for you
• you don’t even have to use your name, get a pen name or even several

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You can sell these manuscript copyrights or uses in several ways:

• First Serial Rights
• First Serial Right Electronic
• Second Serial Right
• Subsidiary Rights

Audio Books

Why not additionally create an audio-book from your novel or even from non-fiction? Audio-books are very popular!  Your readers can listen to your audio-books, which can easily double their book consumption because they are using time, that previously was not available and turning it into valuable “reading” time.

Readers can listen in their car, bus, train, plane… while exercising, walking or hiking, on the beach or while doing mundane tasks around the house or yard.  Special needs readers, such as blind ones will have access to your written words in form of an audio-book.

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Kindle Singles

Now it is possible to write 5,000 (better 10,000) to 30,000 word articles, Amazon calls them “Kindle Singles” and sells them online. A prominent author of these Kindle Singles is Stephen King, with his Single “Mile 81” the current top seller (as of this writing). 

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Split Your Book into Single Articles
Very few emerging writers realize that they can sell their magazine articles over and over again. As long as the markets don’t overlap, you can sell exactly the same article as many times as you like and, in this globally connected marketplace, it is easier than you think.

However, you can only sell first rights, either print or electronic, once for the same piece. After that, unless you change the article significantly, you must offer it as a reprint for a lower fee. If you change the article, you can sell it again for first rights.

Then tweak it into an 800-word article for a national US daily. Subsequently, you make some minor changes to slant the piece for a travel magazine. Each time, you are able to sell it for first rights. Continue to sell it, however, look out for new markets in other English language markets overseas.

Reselling your work makes good business and time management sense – 

it reduces the energy you expend and increases your revenue. 

Use your book's manuscript to extend your revenues, find tons of freelance writing opportunities in the book, and learn everything about grants, crowd-funding, fellowships, writing contests or writer vacations in free residencies.

The Possibilities Are Endless...Learn how to be in charge of your income now.  The only “ceilings” are the ones you place on yourself!  You can make an excellent living as a writer.  All you need is someone to show you how to start.

Writing for a living offers lots of advantages – you get to choose when and where you work, and with whom. But it’s not enough to say you want to make a living as a writer; you need to know HOW. You need a concrete plan to bridge the gap between where you are now to where you want to be in the future. 

 111 Tips to Make Money With Writing: 

The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing

shows you exactly the many possibilities to become a full-time writer - with a lot more than 111 tips - how to make a living from writing.

Amazon Worldwide  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078K6W3HL/

For a Preview click here:  http://a.co/eD6PcoW

Find it on iBooks, B&N, Kobo, Chapters, Thalia, Weltbild etc. 

via a universal link: 

https://www.books2read.com/u/3J0BwA

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Just for the Price of a Coffee ...

Hello Friends, 
I just received an email from Charmaine Craig.  She is helping Syrian war refugee families and was already several months in 2015 and 2016 in Greece.  Now she volunteers in one of the huge refugee camps in Lebanon. In my eyes, this Canadian lady is a saint...

My pledge to you is this:  Instead of a large daily coffee, order a small one 

and with $36 help a family who is a victim of this murderous war.

"Happy New Year from the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon!!!
Most of us wish for a happy, healthy and prosperous year and it is ever more important here. Syrian families displaced by war wish for peace and wonder about when the day comes that the war is over if they will have a place to go back to."

"Families live in abject poverty here in the Beqaa Valley.
They have barely enough food to survive let alone for proper nutrition.  And, children run around in sandals and light jackets when it is freezing outside.  So many children and elderly will end up sick this winter. 

There are over 1400 informal settlement camps scattered on farmer fields throughout the valley.  Not every settlement receives aid. A lot of NGO's will not work here due to safety concerns.  Here at Salam LADC we try to reach the most vulnerable.  We have done many distributions in my short time here and the relief and joy it brings to the people is very gratifying. 

We provide food bags with enough staples for one month for each family and heating fuel to help keep them warm.  We distribute clothes by providing pop-up stores where we set up racks and bins of clothing so that the people can choose for themselves what they would like. This is such a dignified way to provide clothing."

Charmaine wrote:  "I am very happy to work with Salam LADC. I can see they do so much good here with their projects. But as they are a small grassroots NGO their funding is provided by us, the volunteers, and our networks.

I would like to fund at least one of the distributions of food and heating fuel. The cost of the food parcel is $25 and 4 gallons of heating fuel is $11 (all American funds).  For the price of a coffee, you can help me help. 

Friends, we can provide comfort and hope and with your donation families will be provided food and warmth."

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Read more here - and follow Charmaine on Facebook:
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Donate to my GoFundMe Winter 2016 Campaign
https://www.gofundme.com/bekindtorefugeeswinter2016

Be Kind to Refugees Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/bekindtorefugees/


Addendum:When I was here in Lebanon, last May, there were 1400 informal settlements. Now, there are an estimated 2050. More and more families have left Syria since the Siege on Aleppo and Lebanon has decided they are no longer permitted to register as refugees which mean: less aid.
I would like to fund at least one distribution of food and heating fuel for an entire settlement camp. The cost of the food parcel for one family for one month is $25 and 4 gallons of heating fuel is $11 (US funds). For the price of a coffee per day, you can help me help keep a family warm and fed this winter.

Thank you for your support!
Love Charmaine

Holiday Gift for My Readers: 3 for 1 eBook

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From December 23 to December 28

Purchasing one of my books on Amazon, and sending the receipt by email,

will give you two more FREE ebooks.

Just take a pic of your sales receipt, and add it to your email,

sending it latest on December 29 to 111Publishing a t gmail d o t com

You will receive two more books of your choice for FREE.  Don’t forget to state in your email which of the books you would like.
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111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free: Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer

Book Marketing on a Shoestring: How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money

111 Tips to Get FREE Book Reviews: Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all

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eBook Gifts for the Holidays

Early Holiday Gift for My Readers: 3 for 1 eBook

From Nov 25 to 11:59 EST on Monday, Nov 28

Purchasing one of my books on Amazon, and sending the receipt by email,

will give you two more FREE ebooks that are listed below.
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Let all your writer friends know about this!
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Just take a copy or pic of your sales receipt, and attach it to your email,

sending it latest on Tuesday, Nov 29 to 111Publishing a t gmail d o t com

You will receive two more books of your choice for FREE.  Don’t forget to state in your email which of the books you would like.
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111 Tips on How to Market Your Book for Free: Detailed Plans and Smart Strategies for Your Book’s Success

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer

Book Marketing on a Shoestring: How Authors Can Promote their Books Without Spending a Lot of Money

111 Tips to Get FREE Book Reviews: Best Strategies for Getting Lots of Great Reviews

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Happy Sunday and Cyber Monday : )

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Did you know: 

Amazon gives you a free one-month-trial for Prime

it's also a great gift for Christmas!

Your FREE month of Amazon PRIME Membership

. Amazon Prime Membership FREE Trial: You will receive free two-day shipping year-round, including right before the holidays.  Not a member?  You can still reap the benefits of the deal when you sign up for a free one-month trial.  At the end of the Amazon Prime free trial or your chosen membership period, your card will be charged automatically for the next membership period.  Which means, as long as you order by December 22, your gifts should arrive in time.  Here are all the benefits of the membership:

• Free Two-Day Shipping
• No-Rush Shipping Credit
• Guaranteed Delivery (Which Can Result in Free Prime)
• Same-Day Delivery (in certain areas)
• Restaurant Delivery: Get FREE one-hour delivery
• Prime Video: unlimited streaming of movies and TV episodes
• Kindle Owners’ Lending Library: access to members in the U.S.
• Free Audible Channels for Prime
• Music and Video add-on Subscription
• Streaming Music, Movies, and Television Shows
• Unlimited Cloud Photo Storage
• Free Kindle eBooks
• Early Access to Deals
• Prime-Only Prices and Coupons
• Prime Pantry
• Amazon Family
• Amazon Household

Best of all about Prime is that you can share nearly all the perks with another member of your household. Read also: Christmas Gift Shopping in 15 Minutes?
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Today Nov 25 only - HARRY POTTER 8-Film Series

Today only, save on "Harry Potter" film collections
while supplies last and ends at 11:59 PM (PT) 
on Friday, November 25, 2016

Run Time for these bestsellers: 1180 minutes (almost 20 hours)

See more offers:

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