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Winning a writing contest can be an affirmation that a writer is talented, but to those that write, enter, and lose, losing can be disheartening and make a writer question their ability and talent. Surprisingly, however, a losing entry can be a boost to your writing income, especially if you challenge yourself to enter contests that force you to write outside the box and look for publishing homes that are just as eclectic. Many writers seek out the same type of competitions, suitable for the genres in which they’re most comfortable writing. But with no win, you’re left with yet another piece without a home. That’s why it’s a good idea to search for contests that ask for unique entries. You might struggle to write on an unfamiliar topic, but, in the end, you’ll have something new to submit to publishers/sites you never knew existed. I entered several contests last year and achieved one honorable mention, and that was on a piece that was way out of my comfort zone, but it opened the door to another type of writing I might never have tried. Since I started stretching my writing muscles, I’ve written about ancient Egypt, deceased literary characters, More

I’ve had two inquiries of late about how to pitch a column for a newspaper. Everyone wants to know the right way to approach an editor, and I offered several suggestions. 1) Offer a piece to the paper, stroking them that you felt this piece fit them exactly, and you wanted to contribute to your community in offering its contents. The next time, however, offer something just as good if not better, commenting that you’d like to entertain payment of a given amount. Be sure to give a brief bio that strongly shows your experience or expertise. 2) Become familiar with the editor. That might entail writing frequent letters to the editor that show promise, research, and quality style, without all the ranting and rancor most letters contain. Then suggest a series of articles, promising the same professionalism you demonstrated in your letters. 3) Study that paper hard. See what they like. Understand the readership. Propose a two- to three-part story that hits the sweet spot of the community. These newspapers are the heartbeat of their areas, town, city, region. Give them something they cannot refuse. Ask for a reasonable price for it, after assuring them you are the best More

I began my full-time writing career a few months before having my baby, and that new parental perspective helped provide the inspiration for many articles. I write nonfiction in the form of reported articles on everything from health to travel, but also more personal opinion pieces where I share my view on the world. As pregnancy, childbirth and new motherhood are intense experiences, they can add new layers to writing and inspire fresh ideas. Parenthood is a brand new life chapter which can alert you to themes or topics you hadn’t considered before. Even from early on in pregnancy, new idea avenues just pop up. But where does parenthood fall in terms of genre? Is it health, society, politics, general parenting, food (weaning tips), drink (non-alcoholic cocktails), travel, a photo essay, opinion, career, entertainment, environment or another lifestyle-based niche? I found I could relate almost anything back to parenting as it is a subject that permeates all aspects of life. The topic works across all types of publications and even has international appeal. Parenthood is also a niche within itself as not everyone is a parent, or has a baby or young child. It can be a less crowded field More

Publishers are struggling to get ahead of AI, artificial intelligence, and its impact on what is being published and by whom. They want to continue publishing to be done BY WHOM not BY WHAT. I just ran across this post from Candlemark & Gleam, a publisher of speculative fiction, which gives you an idea of what publishers are up against: Important note about submissions: as of March 23, 2023, Candlemark & Gleam is closed to submissions by authors not already published by the press or not accompanied by a recommendation from a trusted colleague. This has come about because there are many amazing works in the queue, but also due to the problems created by ChatGPT. We’ll announce when we’re open again to unsolicited submissions by authors new to us. We realize that this creates a terrible situation for new writers, and will be looking for longer-term solutions. Publishers do not want AI material. A lot of people (I purposely avoid the use of the word WRITERS) are using AI to create scenes, chapters, and entire books with AI, then claim the work as totally their own when it is not. Many publishers are calling AI plagiarism, and the courts are More

“Hi, I’m Rod, where are you from?” Ok, I admit, it sounds like a cheesy one-liner, but seriously, where are you from? As authors, we are constantly seeking the next idea, the idea that might turn into a sellable book or article, the idea that just may put our names on the lips of readers and book sellers. I stumbled onto my recently published book idea quite by accident – although the idea lay dormant in my brain since childhood – and it forced me to realize that every writer had a chance in a genre that we never think about. I was born in Tampa, Florida. Back in 1960, before I was born, there was a civil rights sit-in at a local Woolworth’s store. Like incidents happened during the same time by young African Americans in high schools all over the South. Here in Tampa, those with knowledge of the city’s civil rights past knew about this historical event, but the newer generation have no idea of the plight their grandparents regularly faced. Right in the middle of downtown, the old Woolworth’s building is sitting there, vacant, dilapidated and abandoned, but on the corner stands a historical marker sharing More

In my research for FundsforWriters, I was studying contests and grants. I don’t often talk about the winners of these funds because that would take twice the size of the newsletter that’s already pretty long, but a particular one had shown a snipper of one of the winners, and it drew me in. I wound up reading all of the finalists’ work for the Wild Atlantic Writers prize, and I was quite entertained. When counseling folks on how to apply for a grant, I emphasize the need to read the grant applications of the previous winners. Most grant providers will allow you to see them. State commissions and councils are required to let you see them. Other grant providers may not, but you can at least see the writing that resulted from many of the finalists. The same applies to contests. Read the pieces that previously won. Nothing gives you a better flavor of what a contest seeks than what managed to snare the judges before. I entered a contest two years ago with one of my opening chapters, the requirement, and did not win, but upon reading the finalists’ submissions, I realized why. The judge(s) preferred literary fiction. I write mystery. More

Not long ago, a local literacy group asked multiple authors to appear with their books and promote literacy. They met at a library. They announced it in a few places, but it had little success. The leader sent out an email to attendees and whomever else he knew in his literary community asking for advice on how to make the event better. I took the time to ponder what I considered a successful signing, and what it takes to achieve one. Not one to waste good words, I edited it for this feature piece for FundsforWriters. Dear Sir, Having done hundreds of signings, I can relate about book signings. They are usually a bust. And if you have an event with multiple authors, it’s only as good as the most well-known author, and even that is no assurance of sales because the bigger the gap, the more people spend their money on that author and have none left for the others. Books sell based upon word of mouth and influencers, almost since the beginning of books. Books are expensive so most people think hard about the purchase. It’s even harder for an author with only a first or second book, More

I’m always posting fellowships, scholarships, and opportunities for writers to attend retreats. Some of them come with the responsibility of teaching, others require you take care of the property, maybe even the livestock. Some have you meeting in groups, collaborating on each other’s material. Others throw you solo without internet connection out in the woods or in a loft affair in urbania. People are forever asking me if I go to the writing retreats I promote. The closest I’ve ever come to a retreat was when I was on the teaching staff of a four-day affair that had classes in the morning, offering time to write in the evenings. Frankly, this editorial by author Alice Robb brought my deepest fear of a retreat to the surface, and the fact she experienced it gave me a chuckle . . . and gave me pause. Am I not a retreat person? “I imagined that I would enter a fugue state and write thousands of words a day. I’d discovered that I was not a slow writer, as I’d always thought — just a Twitter addict.” https://lithub.com/it-happened-to-me-on-being-totally-unproductive-at-a-writing-residency/ OMG, that statement cracked me up! And sobered me. I mostly write in a study at More

Sometimes you just have to ask. Conferences charge admission fees. Did you know that you can ask the conference leader if there are scholarships, fellowships, or co-op opportunities to have part or all fees covered? Sometimes they are income-related and other times you have to volunteer and work for the conference in exchange. They often do not advertise these opportunities. Just ask. Libraries rarely pay authors to come speak. Did you know that libraries have budgets of their own, and each library usually has a Friends of the Library affiliated with it, with its own budget? They might not be able to pay much, but $50 at least covers your gas. I just made such a plea to one that didn’t compensate. Now they are. Magazines and newspapers often ask writers to write articles for free. Tout your expertise and experience and show them what you have to offer then explain that you take your writing seriously, as more than a hobby, and ask to be compensated. Ask for compensation. Be willing to say no. The more you write for free, the more people expect you to write for free. You have to draw a line somewhere.   BIO – C. More

We were two grandmas, and two authors in a coffee shop discussing writing. One of us multi-published, self-confident, the other convinced her first publication in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book was a fluke. “Why would anybody be interested in my ordinary life?” said the latter, “Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to me. I can’t even think of an idea for the topics listed on the website’s possible titles for future books.” My new friend’s story had just been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul Miracles and the Unexplainable, detailing how she believed she received signs from her late father. Like when she pulled behind a car whose license plate seemed to bear a relevant “message” from him, and she believed it more than coincidence. “How many people have considered a subtle sign a significant miracle?” I said in response. “Many who do not think of themselves as writers have had your exact experience, but you chose to write about yours.” Ordinary events and shared emotions connect us as humans. We all laugh, cry, yearn, and rejoice over similar events. Convinced she was a one-and-done Chicken Soup for the Soul author, my acquaintance was in awe that I More