Contacting Airlines, Hotels Through Twitter?

Air Canada never answered my letters and emails... Only when I wrote an open letter in one of my travel blogs, voicing three really serious complaints, and posting the link on Twitter, did they react to my DM (direct message).  I was surprised when the communication suddenly came into full swing, and soon I received my money for canceled flights back, as well as a voucher for another issue - but never an apology.

My experience was second by an article at The Points Guy where they wrote:

The 2009 viral YouTube video “United Breaks Guitars,” based on a musician’s bad customer service experience, became a case study on the power a single customer’s post can have. These days customers experience 

"Staffing shortages, overbookings, and high prices are causing frustration for both travelers and travel industry workers.  Customers calling traditional phone help lines are facing sometimes hours-long wait times before being able to interact with a live human — and even then may not get the results they want."

It’s not unusual for those with unresolved frustrations with travel companies to air those grievances on social media.  However, what has sometimes been an outlet for rage has also evolved into a platform for productive interaction, where travelers and customer service representatives use Twitter and Facebook as the venue to actually make rebookings, request cancellations, and more.

Read the article with strategies for customer service over social media, with some background information and a list of airlines and hotels you can reach via social media here  https://thepointsguy.com/guide/social-media-tips-travel-customer-service/

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Successful Publishing: Newsletter June 2022

 

Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter June 2022

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters

Content:

• GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
• FREELANCE OFFERS
• REVIEWER
• WRITING CONTESTS

Hope you had a lovely long weekend all the way through Memorial Day - the unofficial beginning of summer. June, the brightest month of the year, with long hours of daylight and sunshine, giving all of us lots of energy. Check out these publishing and bookselling tips:

GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES

RI State Council on the Arts

For artists that live in Rhode Island, and are over the age of 18. The RISCA General Operating Support for Artists (GoSA) program provides grants of $6,000 for each of the three consecutive years (total of $18,000) for artists to work towards large, specific, self-identified goals in their art practice. This funding is unrestricted, meaning artists can use the funds to support their goals however they need.  Deadline July 1

https://risca.online/grants/general-operating-support-for-artists/

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Vermont Studio Center

It is the largest international artists’ and writers’ residency program in the US. Each month the Center hosts over 50 writers and artists from across the country and around the world. Deadline 15 June

https://vermontstudiocenter.org/fellowships

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Siena Summer Residency Program 2023

The Siena Art Institute’s Summer Residency Program awards accomplished professional artists & writers the opportunity to stay for a month in the beautiful historic city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. $30 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 30, 2020

https://resartis.org/listings/siena-art-institute-residency-programs/

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London, England, Residency

The writer chosen for the Baltic Writing Residency in London receives $1,000 and a free stay in a furnished cottage, based on a completed application. The London Residency has the writer reside, for two to three weeks at a time most convenient for them in a furnished flat.   $25 Entry Fee.  Deadline is July 31

https://balticwritingresidency.submittable.com/submit

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Jentel Artist Residency Program WY
is located on a 1000-acre working cattle ranch 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, Wyoming. It offers individuals a supportive environment in which to further their creative development. Applications for Winter/Spring Residencies close on  September 15

http://jentelarts.org/apply/

 

REVIEWER

Jess Peters reviews YA, dystopian, fantasy, sci-fi books

https://jessreviews877169955.wordpress.com/review-guidelines/

You can also find reviewers on Amazon’s top reviewer site

http://www.amazon.com/review/top-reviewers - however, to reach those who review your genre, chances are better at bestseller reviews that are recommended in your book category.

Clicking on an author's name will bring you to their author page, which will include a listing of their books and the customer reviews page. When you click on the name of a reviewer you can find the reviewer’s Amazon profile. Look for their contact info, such as an email address social media link, or a link to their website (not always provided). Follow them on social media and study their submission guidelines - as you should do with every book reviewer, before sending a pitch.

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FREELANCE WRITING OFFERS

Daily Coffee News

A leading news site covering the specialty coffee industry in partnership with Roast magazine is seeking skilled and enthusiastic freelance business news reporters. Seeking skilled writers who are passionate about coffee but even more passionate about high-quality ethical journalism and storytelling with an eye toward sustainability, social justice, and corporate accountability. As a news reporter, you will work directly with the editor on assignments covering a broad range of timely business topics within the specialty coffee industry in the US and beyond. Business news reporters have the freedom to work remotely and on their own schedules, although a weekly commitment of one to two stories is preferred. This is a freelance/contractor position with competitive pay on a per-story basis.

https://coffeeindustryjobs.com/job/191/business-news-reporters/

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Writer's Digest

They consider completed manuscripts on spec, as well as original pitches. A query should include a thorough outline that introduces your article proposal and highlights each of the points you intend to make. Your query should discuss how the article will benefit our readers, why the topic is timely and why you’re the appropriate writer to discuss the topic. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/submission-guidelines

https://www.writersdigest.com/resources/editorialcalendar

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WRITING CONTESTS

Wyoming Creative Writing Fellowship

Open to Wyoming writers who are U.S. citizens or have legal resident status. Genre: Fiction, Poetry, CNF. Prize: $3,000 and an honorarium/travel stipend. One fellowship will be awarded in each category of Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Fiction, for a total of three fellowships.  Deadline: June 9

https://wyomingartscouncil.submittable.com/submit

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Scotiabank Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Must be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: Books published between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, must be received on or before June 17

https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca/about/submissions/

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The Writer Magazine's Spring Short Story Contest

Enter your best work in 2,000 words or less for your chance to win $1,000 and publication in our magazine. The second-place winner will receive $500 and publication on our website; our third-place winner will receive $250 and publication on our website as well. Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a feel-good coming of age story, or a haunting tale filled with terror, your piece could land you the grand prize.  $25 Entry Fee.  Deadline June 20

https://www.writermag.com/contests/

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Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Restrictions: Books must be English-language, first-edition trade books published by a Canadian press, written by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Titles must be published between May 3, 2022 and Sept 30, 2022 . Genres: Literary nonfiction including, among other forms, works of personal or journalistic essays, memoirs, commentary, criticism both social and political, history, and biography. Prize: Winner: $60,000; Finalists: $5,000. Deadline: June 28.  

https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/hilary-weston-writers-trust-prize-for-nonfiction/guidelines/

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Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Genre: Novel or short story collection. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to the novel or short story collection published between May 3, 2022 and September 30, 2022. Deadline: June 28

https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/atwood-gibson-writers-trust-fiction-prize/guidelines/

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Red Hen Press Award

The award is open to all Black writers. Award $3,000, publication by Red Hen Press, The opening chapter or story of the awarded manuscript will be published in the Peauzxdunque Review. Four-week residency at The Community Library's Ernest and Mary Hemingway House in Ketchum, Idaho.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline July 31

https://redhen.org/ann-petry-award/

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If you want to get these useful tips in the future, please sign up at our blog: 

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

or follow me on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doris-maria-heilmann-65345595/

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Enjoy a busy month of writing and reading, the sun and the outlook to fascinating travel experiences - or just to relax and charge your batteries. 

See you there!

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Smart Gardeners are Composting!

 

Approximately 92% of household food waste still goes directly to landfills, where it anaerobically decomposes, expelling methane – a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide - into
the atmosphere.  Don't be that jerk - rather compost kitchen scraps the right way in your own garden!  It saves not only the environment but also money in your purse...

You can easily improve your flower garden with compost, top dress your lawn, feed your growing veggies, and even mulch your planting beds with compost.  Once you get your compost pile started, you will find that it's an easy way to repurpose kitchen scraps and other organic materials into something that can help your plants thrive. Depending on the time of year, paper for example turns into compost within 2 - 4 weeks, and potato peels within 1 - 2 months.

Common misconceptions of home composting are that it's too complicated, it will smell funny, and it's messy.  This may be true if you compost the wrong way, but composting the right way is actually quite simple.  Just layer organic materials, add a dash of soil and a splash of water, and wait for this mixture to turn into humus

What Goes Into the Compost:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Coffee and tea grounds
• Crushed Eggshells 
• Grass and plant clippings
• Dry leaves and small dry branches
• Finely chopped wood and bark chips
• Shredded newspaper and office paper
• Straw and paper egg cartons
• Small amounts of ash from your fireplace
• Sawdust from untreated wood
• Lint from your dryer
• Hair and nail clips, dog or cat hair
• Spent soil from indoor/outdoor flower pots
• Yard trimmings and grass clippings 

Keeping a container in your kitchen, or even better a large paper grocery bag, and piling your kitchen waste onto some sheets of newspaper, wrap it and place it in this device until filled up.  If you collect it this way it doesn't small.  I practice this for years!  In summer I place the whole paper bag into a hole that I dug in my flower beds,  and then fill and top it with soil.  In winter I collect it in my garage until it is warm enough to dig again.

Start building your compost pile by mixing three parts brown with one part green materials.  If your compost pile looks too wet and smells, (which doesn't happen if you pack kitchen scraps into the paper) then add more brown items. Aerate the pile every ten-day. If you see it looks extremely brown and dry, add green items and water to make it slightly moist.

Add about 4 to 6 inches of compost to your flower beds and into your pots at the beginning of each planting season.  Or even better: compost directly into the soil instead of a (god forbid plastic) composting bin in your garden.

It works like this: decide a spot where you want to plant in a couple of weeks.  Dig a hole at least one foot deep and wide.  Throw a couple of dry branches (ca. 8 inches long) into the hole, then add your collected compost items to fill it half, add a thin layer of garden soil or composted manure (chicken, cow, or sheep), then fill the hole with more compost, and on top again a layer of soil.  Add some water to moisten it and use a thin metal stick to aerate the 'compost bin'.   Should you have lots o squirrels or raccoons in your area, place a flat stone or a flower planter on top for the first two weeks to deter them from digging.  Within three or four weeks you can plant in this compost-improved soil.

Sources:

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/how-to-garden/no-dig-gardening/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/advice/a23945/start-composting/

https://www.gardenary.com/blog/the-basics-of-composting-in-your-own-backyard

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/how-to-compost/

https://facty.com/network/how-to/how-to-compost-at-home

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/compost/9-common-composting-mistakes-you-may-be-making/

https://gardensbybarby.ca/

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Publishing Newsletter May 2022

 

Content:

GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

FREELANCE OFFERS

WRITING CONTESTS

I hope you had a successful April and have lots to celebrate in May: Mother’s Day, Victoria Day, or Memorial Day, lots of Spring flowers, BBQs, long sunny days - and certainly new books. These are our many helpful tips for publishers and authors for this month:

- GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

Litup Fellowships

Selected fellows will participate in an all-expenses-paid writer's retreat to develop their manuscripts and learn about the business side of publishing. Post retreat, fellows are matched with a published author for a three-month mentorship to get their book ready for market.  No Entrance Fee.  Deadline May 31.   https://reesesbookclub.com/litup/

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Glen Arbor Arts Residency

Residencies are considered in the disciplines of creative writing, visual arts, photography, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics, and music. Each residency is a one-person opportunity of two weeks in duration.  The artist-in-residence program offers artists a unique opportunity to work in an awe-inspiring locale within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.    https://glenarborart.org/artists/application-details/

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- FREELANCE OFFERS

Healthy Rich

Healthy Rich has several topics in which they week pitches. Pay is $200 for articles of whatever length is needed; 1,000–1,500 words is typical.   https://www.healthyrich.co/write-for-us

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Hudson Valley Magazine

Each month, this sophisticated lifestyle publication entertains, informs, and explores so that our loyal readers can enjoy the very best the region has to offer. The fee depends on length/section, around 30-50 cents/word. Email Francesca Furey, Associate Editor, at ffurey@hvmag.com

https://hvmag.com/contact-us

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Gawker

Rates start at 33 cents/word for essays and 50 cents/word for reported pieces. Seeking cutting criticism, thoughtful reviews, weird essays, strong opinions, interesting reporting on a variety of topics. Pitch Jenny G. Zhang at jenny@gawker.com. Tends to gravitate toward culture, film, tv, the internet, media, race, gender, and books.   https://gawker.com/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F_rWGwSIOl3JXGuSmrlj8XMF-bMz_d--iLIZsl8CbQ0/edit

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Gastro Obscura 

The magazine publishes stories about food and drink that are curious, overlooked, and awesome in the “awe” sense of the word. We are the food vertical of Atlas Obscura, whose mission is to inspire wonder and catalog the world’s hidden wonders. We do not publish restaurant reviews or interviews with famous chefs.  Gastro Obscura also publishes stories with recipes. These stories must meet the same criteria as the rest of our articles. Rates start at $300 and usually pay around $0.50 per word. 

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Grant Writer

Professionals with grant writing experience are wanted for non-profit community development organizations that specialize in small business lending and affordable housing lending in underserved communities. Familiarity with CDFI Fund, SBA, EDA, and DHHS is a plus. Pays $125 per hour.  https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?cmp=Friedman-Associates&t=Grant+Writer+Consultant&jk=b80e0913d7a98a30

- WRITING CONTESTS

Emerging Writer's Contest 

Under 6,000 words, open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Awards publication, $2,000, review, and a one-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres. Fiction and Nonfiction.  $24 Entry Fee. Deadline May 15.  https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines

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Aura Estrada Short Story Contest

First prize $1,000 and publication. All entries must be related to this year’s theme of Speculation. Stories must not exceed 5,000 words and must be unpublished.  $20 Entry Fee.  Deadline May 31.  https://bostonreview.submittable.com/submit

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Did You Know?

For each print version of our books you buy, you will receive the ebook for FREE. Just send us a screenshot of your invoice or an attached scan and we will email you a mobi or an epub electronic version of the title. This is especially important when books carry lots of links.

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Coming Soon:

 

Have a great May and enjoy writing and publishing new books 

for the upcoming “Summer Reading” season.

 

Photo Impressions of Santa Fe, New Mexico

My favored city in North America with 325 Days of Sunshine - even in Winter: Santa Fe! 

Almost all the buildings are entirely in the unique Adobe style.  No building is higher than three stories, and there are no high-rises at all throughout the city.  Something totally different from other cities in  North America! 

I had the pleasure to not only visit Santa Fe several times but also to see how locals live in residential homes.  Santa Fe lies 7,200 ft high and has 325 sunshine days a year.  Every private home I saw had skylights to use the natural light in every room.  Even in winter, the air is warm during the day, and in summer it is pleasant due to the dry environment.

It is amazing to see how many types of Chiles are offered in grocery stores.

Did I mention that Santa Fe has great skiing close to downtown?  United and American Airlines fly into Santa Fe

One could assume that all people in Santa Fe are artists or artisans...

Santa Fe, New Mexico’s capital, sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It’s renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and as a creative arts hotbed. Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, it has at its heart the traditional Plaza. 

Chamisa: the Perfect Flowering Shrub for Xeriscaping

Also called Rabbitbrush, it is fast-growing, reaching maturity in 2 to 4 years, and has a lifespan of 5 to 20 years.  Hardiness zones are 5 to 11 - from Canada to Northern Mexico in dry areas.

Adobe-style homes have projecting wooden roof beams (vigas) extending through walls and typically have large wood components, like heavy doors, ceiling beams, and porch posts.  Earth-based materials, like sun-dried mud, clay, and straw, make the bricks to construct the exterior walls of traditional Adobe homes.

True: New Mexico is a land of enchantment!

Chile decorations are seen everywhere

Besides skiing, visiting all the history and art museums, 

go world-class shopping and dining, spend an evening at the old movie theatre!

Successful Publishing Newsletter April 2022

Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter March 2022

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters

• GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS
• FREELANCE OFFERS
• WRITING CONTESTS

Happy April everyone! It is also called the “National Month of Hope”. April is a good time to complete a project - not only your taxes but also articles and your latest book.  Check out this article: 29 Expenses Writers Can Deduct from Income Tax

http://content-on-demand.blogspot.com/2021/05/29-expenses-writers-can-deduct-from.html

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GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

Changing Climate Residency

Santa Fe Art Institute is accepting applications for our 2023 Residency Program, which addresses the most critical issue of our time. Open to all artistic disciplines, providing a $500 stipend.  Deadline April 9

https://sfai.org/residency/thematic-residencies/changing-climate

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Writers Colony Fellowship

The "Moondancer" Fellowship for authors who express their love of nature and concern for the environment through their writing. Open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, essayists, columnists, memoirists, and screenwriters. Prior publication is not a requirement. The fellowship winner will receive a two-week residency at WCDH including dinners to focus completely on their writing.

Deadline April 25  https://www.writerscolony.org/fellowships

Degroot Foundation Writing Grants

Applicants may be writing in any genre. In 2022, The de Groot Foundation will award seven unrestricted grants of $7,000 each. The one-time application fee of $22.00  Deadline May 31  https://degrootfoundation.org/courage-to-write-guidelines/

FREELANCE WRITING

Hakai Magazine

Seeks news features — 1,500- to 2,000-word features with a newsy hook, or, put another way, news stories with more space and breadth for color and insight, history and nuance. The rate for these stories will be CAN $1.30 per word. The stories will go through multiple rounds of editing and will require annotation for fact-checking.

Pitch Colin Schultz, News Editor at colin.schultz@hakaimagazine.com

https://www.hakaimagazine.com

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Nieman Reports

A quarterly print publication and online magazine covering thought leadership in journalism. Features typically run between 1,200 and 3,000 words, sometimes longer if the material warrants it. Opinion columns, run between 800 and 1,200 words. Rates are $250 for opinion columns and $1/word for features.

https://niemanreports.org/about-nieman-reports/how-to-pitch-nieman-reports/

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Men's Health Online

Seeks culture/entertainment pitches for the online edition. Pays $150-350. 

Pitch Evan Romano, Culture Editor, at evan.romano@hearst.com

https://www.menshealth.com/

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DownEast

We are always interested in new ideas and perspectives. Everything we publish is directly related to the state of Maine — its culture, history, personalities, destinations, current events, and more. Submissions can be sent to editorial@downeast.com 

We pay a flat $400 for My Maine essays. 

https://downeast.com/guidelines/

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Landscape Architecture Magazine

Our audience primarily comprises landscape architecture professionals and students with a fair number of city planners in the mix.

We are interested in stories, not subjects. Rates range from $400 for under 500 words to $1/word for a 2,000-word feature.

https://landscapearchitecturemagazine.org/contribute-to-lam/

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Chicken Soup: Cats and Dogs

We are looking for true stories and poems about your cat or about your dog. First-person only. Limit 1,200 words. Payment is $200 and ten copies. Deadline May 30    http://www.chickensoup.co

WRITING CONTESTS

You have a lot to gain from entering writing competitions:  Winning a contest really boosts your chances of getting published - Having a deadline forces you to finish editing - Many contests require you to write a synopsis and a pitch, which are also essential for approaching publishing houses, editors, and agents.  Mostly, contests are held every year, so if you missed one you'd like to enter, you can prepare for next year.

Scotiabank Giller Prize

Open to Fiction books published in Canada in English between March 1, 2022, and April 30, 2022 to be eligible for the 2022 Prize. Must be nominated by publisher. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: April 14

https://scotiabankgillerprize.ca/about/submissions/

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Montreal International Poetry Prize

The Montreal Prize awards one prize of $20,000 CAD to a poet for a single poem of 40 or fewer lines. The shortlist is published in The Montreal Poetry Prize Anthology. Entries may be submitted from anywhere in the world.  $20 Entry Fee.  Deadline May 1

https://www.montrealpoetryprize.com/

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Bridport Prize for Short Story

All the winning and highly commended pieces are entered into the Sunday Times Audible competition, top prize £30,000. UK-based writers are entered into the BBC short story competition. That’s not all, literary agent A.M. Heath reads all the shortlist and considers representation. First prize: £5,000. One of the largest short story prizes, the winning story featured in our anthology. Second prize: £1,000. Third prize: £500. Highly Commended 10 x £100.  Deadline May 30

https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/short-story/

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Have a great Springtime and enjoy writing and publishing new books for the upcoming “Summer Reading” season.  I wish you happy Passover and Easter Holidays and that Spring is finally arriving in your neck of the world.  Look forward and enjoy the Easter Holidays - even more in Europe where the celebrations go from Good Friday to - and including - Easter Monday.

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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