author competition

Tips for Successful Publishing – Newsletter July 2020

Bridge

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters

– WRITING CONTESTS

– WRITERS RESIDENCIES

– GRANTS & RELIEF FUNDS

– WRITERS: HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY

Dear Authors and Publishers:
Read in this July newsletter how some writers found creative hope amid the health crisis in writing short stories – and participating in writing contests. Or they applied for a free writer’s residency or a fellowship – something to look forward to later this year or next year.  Others are finishing a novel or two, maybe even write a prequel, a teaser for their work. All mixed with the joy of long, sunny days in July and fresh air. 

Just after I listed these writing contests, I found an article about the winner of the Desperate Literature Prize, an Irish author, Angela Finn. She won US$1,122 for her short story, plus a seven-day residency at Umbria Italy’s beautiful Civitella Ranieri, located at a 15th-century castle (https://civitella.org/) plus publication, plus …  Sure, there are more valuable monetary prizes, such as the SundayTimes Audible Short Story Award £30,000 for a 6K word short story (see below).  No matter what the prize is: Enjoy the writing process – do what you love most!

.

The 32 winners of various awards share in a total of £100,000 (US$124,067) in prize money accounted for by nine different prizes. Find out which huge variety of writing contests were/are available:

https://publishingperspectives.com/2020/06/the-uks-society-of-authors-names-winners-of-100000-in-awards/

Don’t you think now it is worthwhile to participate – besides the joy of writing?  For example:

 

WRITING CONTESTS

Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize

Awarded annually to a poet writing in English who has not yet published a full-length poetry book. The winning poet will receive $1,000 and 30 author copies. $25 Entry Fee. Deadline July 4

https://www.conduit.org/book-prizes

.

Oregon Literary Awards

Fellowships of $3,500 each are given annually to Oregon writers to initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. One Women Writers Fellowship and one Writer of Color Fellowship of $3,500 each are also given. Submit three copies of up to 15 pages of poetry or 25 pages of prose. Deadline July 8

https://literary-arts.org/

.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contests

Residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC are eligible. No restrictions on the subject. Limit 4,000 words. First prize $500. No Entry Fee. Deadline July 31

https://fscottfestival.org/festival/short-story-contest/

.

The Kindle Storyteller Award

A £20,000 literary prize which is recognizing outstanding writing. It is open to writers publishing in English in any genre, who publish their work through Kindle Direct Publishing. Deadline Aug 31

https://lnkd.in/gNeRxuT

.

Jan Garton Prairie Heritage Book Award

A  $1,000 Award will be given to the best book of the year that illuminates the heritage of North America’s mid-continental prairies. Books may be in any genre. No Entry Fee! Deadline July 31

http://www.prairieheritage.org/jan_garton_prairie_heritage_book_award.cfm

.

BlackInk Writing Competition

Submit stories of up to 3,000 in any genre for consideration. The winning short stories will be published in BlackInk magazine for Black History Month in October 2020. The overall winner will receive £500 in prize money. Write a short story with a maximum of 3,000 words. No Entry Fee. Deadline Aug 3

http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/opportunities/blackink-new-writing-competition-2020/

.

Minds on Fire Open Book Prize

Awarded annually and open to any poet writing in English. Previously unpublished manuscripts of 48-90 pages should be submitted. The winning poet will receive $1,000 and 30 author copies. $25 Entry Fee. Deadline Oct 30

https://www.conduit.org/book-prizes

.

SundayTimes Audible Short Story Award

It’s the richest prize for a single short story in the English language, worth £30,000. The award, for a story of 6,000 words or less, is open to any novelist or short story writer from around the world who has been published in the UK or Ireland. Deadline Nov 2020

https://www.shortstoryaward.co.uk/awards/2021/

===

WRITERS RESIDENCIES

Wallace Stegner Grant for the Arts

This grant consists of $500 and a free, one-month residency in the Wallace Stegner House in Eastend, SK, Canada. Applicants must be published, Canadian writers. Deadline Aug 31

https://www.stegnerhouse.ca/grantinfo.html

.

Hawai’i Volcanos Ntl. Park Residency
A month-long residency includes a $2,000 stipend. Four residencies offered, close to some of the best beaches in Hawaii. The residency includes the stipend, a studio, housing, events, publicity, etc. Deadline Sept 4

https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/2021-winter-air-hawai-i-volca

.

NY Public Library’s Cullman Center Fellowship

Renowned for the extraordinary comprehensiveness of its collections, the Library is one of the world’s preeminent resources for study in anthropology, art, geography, history, languages and literature, philosophy, politics, popular culture, psychology, religion, sociology, sports, and urban studies. Deadline September 25, 2020.

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

.

The Siena Art Institute’s Summer Residency Program

One month in the beautiful historic city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, grants resident artists a studio space at the Siena Art Institute and a private one-bedroom apartment in the historic city center of Siena, as well as flight compensation for getting to and from Italy.  Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 residency session. Deadline Sept 30

https://www.sienaart.org/Residencies/Summer-Residency-Program/Summer-Residency-Description/

.

Fort Union Ntl. Park Residency

A month in the most beautiful part of Northern New Mexico! Fort Union National Monument, located in Mora County near Watrous, NM, was the hub of commerce, national defense, and migration at the final stretch of the Santa Fe Trail. Deadline October 8

https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/2021-apply-fort-union-natio

.

Chaco Culture Ntl. Historical Park Residency

Residencies in April and October 2021. Includes a $1,000 stipend. Located in northwest New Mexico, close to the Four Corners, Iconic Shiprock, and Monument Valley. Deadline October 8, 2020.

https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/2021-apply-chaco-culture-nhp

.

Death Valley Residences

A month-long January residency includes a $2,000 stipend. Artists will stay at the historic Stovepipe Wells Village, in a comfortable room, with all the amenities, including internet and use of the heated pool and other facilities. Deadline Nov 13

https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/death-valley-2021-apply

.

Haleakala Ntl. Park Residency, Hawaii

The Haleakalā Residency (July 2021) is open to all artists, writers, photographers, musicians, poets, and performers in ANY art media worldwide. This Residency features a $2,000 stipend, housing inside the Park on the Island of Maui. A rare privilege! Free use of the Wilderness Cabins in the Park for seven nights maximum. Deadline Nov 14

https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/2021-apply-haleakala-nation

===

GRANTS & RELIEF FUNDS

UK Arts Council England Relief Funds

Up to £2,500 for all forms of the arts including writers. More Relief Funds in the US and Canada can be found here:

https://www.savvybookwriters.com/grants-relief-funds-for-artists-authors/

.

US National Endowment for the Arts Grants

Projects may be large or small, existing or new, and may take place in any part of the Nation. Cost-share/matching grants generally will range from $10,000 to $100,000. Deadline July 9

https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/gap/grant-program-description

.

Key West Emerging Writer Awards

Winners receive full tuition support for the January Seminar and Writers’ Workshop Program, round-trip airfare, lodging, a $500 honorarium, and the opportunity to appear on stage during the Seminar. US writers of any age who have not yet published are eligible to apply. An award in each category of a short story, poetry, and novel-in-progress. Deadline July 15

https://www.kwls.org/awards/emerging-writer-awards/

.

Jersey City Arts Relief Fund

All people who work professionally in the arts are encouraged to apply, including (but not limited to) visual artists, literary artists, performing artists, arts technicians, and organizations. Grant levels: $3,000, $1,000, $500. You must be a full-time resident or arts organization in Jersey City, NJ as of 1/1/2020 and arts industry earnings over $4,000 for two of the last five years.

https://www.jerseycityartscouncil.org/arts-relief-fund/

.

Morland African Writing Scholarships

Scholars writing fiction will receive a grant of £18,000, paid monthly over the course of twelve months. Submit an excerpt from a piece of work of between 2,000 – 5,000 words, written in English that have been published and offered for sale. Submit a description of between 400 – 1,000 words of the work they intend to write as a full-length book of at least 80,000 words. Deadline Sept 18

https://milesmorlandfoundation.com/about-2/

===

WRITERS: HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY

Now more important than ever:
111 Tips To Make (More) Money With Writing 
- The Art of Making a Living Full-time Writing – 
An Essential Guide for More Income as Freelancer 
https://books2read.com/u/bWZMjz
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988664187

 

Query


Don’t forget your friends in performing art. Compared with them, writers and creative artists, such as painters or sculptures are better off. We can at least continue with what we love to do. And we can publish what we wrote. Live is good… Have a wonderful July!

.

<><><><><>

.

Who are Your Readers – and Your Competition?

.
study-your-competition

.

Authors often do very little research to really understand who their potential audience is – or could be.  Asking them: “Who is your audience and who is your competition?” one might receive only vague answers …  However, these are essential questions that are not only very important for self-publishers, but also for authors who want to go with a traditional publisher!  They need to proof to the agent or the publisher that they have done their homework.
.

How Can You Research Your Competition?
First of all make a long list with possible keywords that readers might use to find a similar book.
Check out the complete categories / genres at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, Apple, Sony, Google Books, Waterstones etc. and study all the books, that could be akin to your future work. Visit several public libraries to learn about your competition. Borrow the most interesting ones, not only to read them, but also to study the book layout and design. Read the online reviews of their books carefully!

  • How many books of this topic / with the same keywords have been published already?
  • Where are these books sold and for which price?
  • In which format are they offered: e-book, print, audio-book?
  • Who are the customers of these competing books?
  • How are these books received and which ones are bestselling?
  • Which categories did they choose, and which keywords?
  • In which categories / genres are these competitive books listed?
  • What cover designs have been chosen for these books?
  • Which author represent him/herself and their book the best – via their Amazon and Goodreads author page, and on their website or blog?.
    .

Don’t Give Up!
Bestseller authors often need years and years to build up their audience, so it is surprising, that authors dream of their first book as a potential bestseller, and don’t realize that it takes a long time and hard work to get an audience, one reader at a time – especially if they did not do the ground work to build a huge following at Social Media, in reader forums or in real-life before they start publishing.

.

Author-Publishing is Like a Completely New Profession
And professions need to be learned! It takes years to become an excellent writer and it also takes years to become an excellent publisher. It involves lots of skills and knowledge business-wise, marketing skills, not to mention, learning constantly new internet techniques and get to know the latest changes in publishing. Many authors have unrealistic expectations when it comes to the time required for effective book promotion and to make meaningful connections with readers. They expect wonders from a single sales campaign.
.

Take Advantage of their Knowledge
A book marketing professional has to learn years and years. Why, as an author, not take advantage of their knowledge to keep your head free for writing and interacting with your readers? No one would start an accounting business without learning the ropes, and knowing how to create a revenue / expenses sheet or fill out income tax forms. Writing a book does not make for a publisher, no matter how clever businesses want you to imagine. Take the time to build your author platform and establish a brand, it will eventually give you an advantage in the market.

.

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,100 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://www.111publishing.com

http://www.e-Book-PR.com/

http://www.international-ebooks.com/

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

Hyper Smash

Pingate


Tagged: author competition, author publishing requires marketing skills, research for your novel, research your competition, self-publishing, show publishers that you know your competition