FreelanceWriting.com eNewsletter for Writers and Poets

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Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - In this issue I have included links to new articles that we have published at our site, along with a few new writing and poetry contests, new submission guidelines of publications that pay writers, and special calls for submissions. Since this is a private emailing to my subscribers only, please do not repost this digest online. Okay to CC to a friend or colleague. Thank you, Brian Scott. (C) 2015

We publish four or more articles monthly written by experienced freelance writers. Here are the newest articles. Visit our New Articles section to see all of our recently-published articles.

Book Authors Published...Before they were 25 yrs. old, After they were 75 yrs. old
by Tammy Ruggles

Some young writers panic if they haven't published a book by the age of 21, while older writers can worry that they've missed the mark if they haven't been published in their prime. The following collection of writers goes to show that when it comes to publication, it's never too soon, and never too late ...(read full article)

Top 12 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Yourself an Unpopular Freelance Writer
by Devyani Borade

Virginia Howard, editor of Thema, has done it. Linda Formichelli of TheRenegadeWriter.com recently did it. Angela Hoy, editor of Writers Weekly does it all the time. What is it?

"It" is riff about how a writer messed up big time.

Most editors are calm, sensible, well-balanced people. They need to be, if they're going to have to deal with the complexities of publishing—from reading submissions to getting that highly coveted periodical out, time and time again ... (read full article)

Getting the Most Mileage Out of Your Articles
by Ruth O'Neil

As freelance writers we all know that the more mileage we can get out of an article or story, the better off we will be. It takes time to write an article or story and you want to be able to get the most for the time you've spent. Obviously, getting paid potentially hundreds of dollars for an article sounds like a better plan than only being paid one hundred dollars or even less. This is where working smarter and not harder really pays off. Fortunately for you, getting the most mileage out of an article or story is not all that difficult. You might just need to change your thinking a little ... (read full article)

How to Write a Strong Lead for Your Non-Fiction Article
by Joanne M. Anderson

You may have as little as four seconds to capture a reader's interest with your first sentence of a non-fiction magazine or newspaper article. Therefore, it needs to have some enticing tidbit to draw someone into the next sentence. While there are several angles to consider for a lead, first let's figure out what to avoid. In general, do not lead with a question because the reader's attention is immediately turned to thinking of the answer ... (read full article)

5 Query Letter Hooks to Grab Your Editor’s Attention
by Brian Scott (posted at my blog)

Every line of a query letter is crucial, but the hook is the first part of the query that an editor will read, making it the most important. Most readers tend to move on to something more interesting if the first few lines of an article don't grab their attention. It only makes sense—and is plainly obvious--that an editor won't finish your query letter if you fail to grab his or her attention from the start. Much like the “mission statement” of a job resume, the hook of a query letter is your chance to yank the editor in and then use your writing skill to discuss succinctly how exactly your article is relevant, engaging, and interesting to the publication’s readership ... (read full article)

The other week I had posted an entire digest of new writing and poetry contests, including ones you could enter for free. The digest has over 40 new contests. You can access the digest at this link: https://madmimi.com/s/61c1d5

Here are a few more new writing contests that we posted to our Writing and Poetry Contests Database:

1. 2015 TIFERET Writing Contest
Tiferet, a journal of spiritual literature and art, is accepting submissions for the 2015 TIFERET Writing Contest. $1,500 will be awarded in prizes: $500 for the best poetry submission, $500 for the best short story (fiction), $500 for the best essay. Deadline: 06/30/2015. Fees: $15.

2. East Meets West American Writers Review (Spring Issue Contest)
East Meets West American Writers Review is a literary magazine for emerging and seasoned writers to add or achieve publication credits with the opportunity to win money and/or a free book. First place winner will receive $100. Second place winner will receive $50. Deadline: 03/30/2015. Fees: $15.

3. Prairie Schooner Book Prize Contest
The Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series welcomes manuscripts from all living writers, including non-US citizens, writing in English. Winners will receive $3000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press. Deadline: 03/15/2015. Fees: $25.

4. The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest
The winning story will be published in the January/February 2016 edition of The Saturday Evening Post, and the author will receive a $500 payment. Five runners-up will each receive a $100 payment. Stories must be between 1,500 and 5,000 words in length. Deadline: 07/01/2015. Fees: $10.

5. The Kundiman Poetry Prize
The Kundiman Poetry Prize is dedicated to publishing exceptional work by Asian American poets at any stage of their career. Winner receives $1,000 and book publication with Tupelo Press. Deadline:
03/15/2015. Fees: $28.

6. Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest
Boulevard is accepting submissions of poetry for the Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest. Poems may be a sequence or unrelated. Award is $1,000 and publication for the winning group of three poems by a poet who has not yet published a book of poetry with a nationally distributed press. Deadline: 06/01/2015. Fees: $15.

7. Cave Canem Poetry Prize
Established in 1999, the Cave Canem Poetry Prize is dedicated to the discovery of exceptional manuscripts by black poets of African descent. Eligibility: All unpublished, original collections of poems written in English. Deadline: 03/09/2015. Prizes: $1,000. Fees: $15.

8. Easy Street's The Great American Sentence
Submit a sentence. It can be the first sentence of your book, or just a stand-alone, a string of words minding their own business. In fact, submit up to five sentences. The judges will publish the best ones and pay the winner $5 a word. Deadline: 02/28/2015. Prizes: $5-10 a word. Fees: $0.

9. The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award
Twice each year TGS will award $1,000 and publication in The Ghost Story to the winner of our short story competition. A second writer will receive an Honorable Mention that includes publication and a $100 cash award. Deadline: 04/30/2015. Fees: $20.

10. Willow Springs Fiction Prize
The winner of the Willow Springs Fiction Prize will receive a prize of $2,000, and publication in Willow Springs. Send only one story per submission. Deadline: 03/15/2015. Fees: $15.

11. SRPR Editors' Prize Contest
The SRPR Editors' Prize Contest will award one winning poem $1,000, two runners-up will be awarded $100 each, and 3-5 honorable mentions will be selected. All winning poems, honorable mentions, and several finalists are published in the winter issue of SRPR. Deadline: 04/15/2015. Fees: $20.

12. The Richard Snyder Memorial Publication Prize
This poetry book series honors the memory of Richard Snyder (1925-1986), poet, fiction writer, playwright, and long-time professor of English at Ashland University. First prize is $1,000 and publication of winning manuscript in a paperback edition. Deadline: 04/30/2015. Fees: $27.

13. May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry Prize
The May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry Prize is named for May Sarton, the renowned novelist, memoirist, poet, and feminist (1912-1995). The winner receives $1000, book publication, and 100 copies of the published book, as well as distribution. Deadline: 06/30/2015. Fees: $25.

14. Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest
The Fourth Genre Steinberg Essay Contest will award a first prize of $1,000 plus publication. Submit an essay of 6,000 words or less. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: March 31, 2015. Fees: $20.

15. Epiphany Magazine Chapbook Contest
Epiphany is currently seeking submissions for its annual Chapbook Competition. The judges are seeking entries in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic lit to be judged for a chapbook competition. Deadline: March 15, 2015. Prizes: Publication, cash prize in each genre. Fees: $6

New Writer's Guidelines
Updated submission guidelines of publications that pay freelance writers for articles. Our Writer's Guidelines Database has over 800 submission guidelines in dozens of categories, including literary, trade, lifestyle, regional, and sports.

1. EVENT magazine (Canada) - Pays up to $500/article
EVENT is a celebrated literary journal where new and established talent--in fiction, poetry, non-fiction and critical reviews--will be encountered. EVENT also serves as a touchstone for writers seeking advice and critique. Pays a minimum of $25 ($30 for a poet's first page) on publication (up to a maximum of $500), and publication is within a year of acceptance.

2. Outreach Magazine - Pays up to $500/article
Outreach magazine is the gathering place of ideas, insights and stories for Christian churches focused on reaching out to their community--locally and globally--with the love of Christ. Freelance writers must be experienced professionals who understand the magazine’s mission and editorial philosophy. Average word count: 1,500-2,500 words for feature articles. Payment: $375-$500 for unsolicited articles.

3. Nebraska Life Magazine - Pays up to $975/article
Writers and photographers from around the state contribute to make the magazine one of Nebraska's best resources for travel and entertainment information. Nebraska Life Magazine also explores the state's culture, heritage and natural surroundings. Word length ranges are: departments, 100-400 words; features, 400-3,000 words. Payment: $130-975 for feature articles; and up to $125 for departments.

4. Metro Parent Magazine - Pays up to $50/article
Metro Parent Publishing Group is always looking for talented, experienced freelance writers to enhance Metro Parent Magazine, ancillary publications and website. The editors want to have a mix of fun and substantive local stories of interest to local parents. Word length: 1000-2500 words for feature articles. Payment (includes web rights): $20-$35 up to 500 words; $35-$50 over 500 words, paid upon publication.

5. Apex magazine - Pays 6 cents/word
Apex Magazine is an online prose and poetry magazine of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and a mix of all three. Each month the editors bring readers a mix of originals and reprints, interspersed with interviews and nonfiction. Maximum word length is a firm 5,000 words. Payment for original fiction is 6 cents per word up to 7,500 words.

6. Hobby Farm Home magazine - Pays $300/article
Hobby Farm Home is published six times per year and is targeted toward translating small-farm owners' passion for farming to the home. This includes such activities as home cooking, kitchen gardening, crafts, home maintenance, home-based businesses, nature activities, outdoor living, pets, etc. Word length: about 2,000 to 2,500 words in length for feature articles. Payment: $300 and higher for feature articles.

7. Threads Magazine - $150/page
Threads is a bimonthly, how-to magazine celebrating garment sewing, design, embellishment, and machine and hand embroidery. The editors are interested in articles about construction and embellishment techniques, materials, tools, and design. They are also looking for related articles on making interesting closures and buttons, and making unusual fabrics, as well as on intriguing ways of finishing edges and hems. Payment is $150/page.

8. Persimmon Hill magazine - Pays $250/article
Persimmon Hill is a four-color magazine published by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for an audience interested in western art, history, ranching and rodeo. The editor seeks historical and contemporary articles on notable persons connected with pioneering the American West. Length: no more than 1,500 words. Pay ranges from $100 to $250.

9. Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine - Pays up to $250/article
Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine is the best source of accurate, fascinating, up-to-the-minute information on the aquarium hobby, from small freshwater tanks to wall-sized reef tanks. The editors are looking for good writing about interesting topics. Payment is $100-$250.

10. North of 50 Lifestyle Newsmagazine - Pays up to $100/article
North of 50 Lifestyle Newsmagazine welcomes well-written, unsolicited articles and queries. Readers are grown-ups, baby boomers, empty nesters and young seniors. The editors like history and lifestyle pieces, regional personality and business profiles. The editors are open to short pieces (300 to 600 words) on any topic of interest. Pays up to $100/article.

I previously reported these editorial markets at my Tumblr blog, WritingCareer.com over the past couple weeks. Here they are in a convenient list for you: more editorial markets seeking freelance writers.

1. The HerStories Project Seeks Essays for New Column
With the tagline, "Real Women, Real Moments, Exceptional Stories" essays will focus on a small or significant experience or moment that has changed the writer’s life or made the writer discover something valuable. The editors welcome any theme or topic, as long as the essay focuses on an important change or discovery and is meaningful. Word length: up to 2K words per essays. Payment: $40 per essay.

2. The War Cry Seeks Religious Articles for Upcoming 2015 Issues
The War Cry (est. 1881), a national religious magazine published monthly by The Salvation Army, has posted new themes for 2015 and is accepting submissions for forthcoming issues. Forthcoming themes will focus on introducing people to Christ, helping believers flourish in religious belief, and promoting redeeming societal practices. Word length: up to 1,200 words for articles, and 100-400 for sidebars. Payment: 25 cents/word for original material.

3. Toptenz.net is Seeking More Top-10 Lists from Freelance Writers
Toptenz.net is now seeking more submissions of "Top 10" list-type articles in several categories which include entertainment, the bizarre, science, pop culture, etc. The site publishes one article a day, 30 articles monthly. Word length: 1500-2000 words. Payment: $50 per list.

4. Government Executive Posts 2015 Editorial Calendar
Atlantic Media Co. has posted a 2015 editorial calendar for Government Executive, a monthly business magazine aimed at administrators and managers in the federal government. Freelance writers can use the editorial calendar to help them brainstorm article ideas that would be most ideal to pitch to Editor-in-Chief Tom Shoop. Word length: 1K-2500 words per feature article. Payment: Government Executive offers competitive rates, to be discussed with the writer.

5. Eldritch Press Raises Rates for Anthology and Seeks Horror Stories
Newly launched fiction publisher Eldritch Press is accepting stories for a planned anthology called The Lost Worlds--a collection of steampunk horror stories dedicated to the post-prophetic/end-of-times theme. Word length: up to 20K words/story. Payment: Now 8 cents/word (considered above pro-rates for this genre).

6. T. Gene Davis' Speculative Fiction Blog Raises Rates for Stories
Author and writer T. Gene Davis publishes and distributes a new speculative fiction story every Monday to subscribers of her blog of the same name. She invites unsolicited submissions of horror, sci-fi/f and other spec fiction genres from talented writers. Payment is now $75 per story, a $25 increase from the previous rate of $50/story. Word count: 250-6K words.

7. Black Girl Dangerous Raises Rates and Seeks Submissions
Black Girl Dangerous (est. 2011), known as BGD for short, is a popular non-profit, reader-funded feminist website for people of color who are also queer and/or trans.  Led by award-winning writer Mia McKenzie, the editors welcome original, unpublished submissions that are "personal, political and intersectional." Word length: 850-1100 words per article. Payment: now paying $75 per published piece. (Previous rates were $25/piece.)

8. Outdoor Families Magazine Seeks Freelance Writers
Paying Market Outdoor Families Magazine recently debuted its first issue on January 15, 2015 and has posted writer's guidelines to help freelance writers pitch relevant, timely stories. The free monthly digital magazine provides families with useful, insightful information on how to enjoy outdoor play and adventure with their kids. Word length: 800-1000 words for feature articles. Payment: pay rates are discussed individually and vary based on the assignment, topic, length, etc.

9. The Halifax Media Co-op Needs Canadian Writers
The Halifax Media Co-op announced the editors are currently seeking more topical stories from the viewpoint of underrepresented or socially-excluded communities in the province of Nova Scotia; this includes people with disabilities, naturalized citizens and expatriates, working-class workers, Black communities, Payment: $125 per story under The Mega Pitch category; and $75 per story under The Mini Pitch category.

10. 7 Submission Guidelines with Editorial Changes for Freelance Writers
Here is a handful of submission guidelines that the editors recently tweaked with revised information for freelance writers.

11. Pathfinders magazine Welcomes Travel Articles
Pathfinders (est. 1997) is inviting freelance writers to submit travel destination articles for future issues. The quarterly magazine is aimed at African Americans, and sometimes other persons of color: Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Each issue is complete with vacation ideas and articles on U.S. and global getaways. Word length: 800-1000 words for feature articles; 500-600 words for departments. Payment: $150 per article, plus $20 per photo