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The Best Funds For Writers: Volume One by C. Hope Clark ISBN-10: 0988974525 ISBN-13: 978-0988974524 106 pages Publisher: FundsforWriters (May 16, 2017) To Order from Amazon Reviewed by Mary Langer Thompson If you are a writer in any genre, you should have heard the name, C. Hope Clark. She is the founder of FundsforWriters.com, a free resource that has been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writers Digest each year for over ten years, and TotalFundsforWriters, a low-priced subscription website. Both give writers advice and markets for magazines, journals, grants, and more. Clark cares about other writers even while her own book sales (The award-winning Edisto Island Mysteries Series) number in the tens of thousands. In fact, she dedicates this latest book to those with a career "only the insane would attempt to master." Because she knows simple is best, she has chosen these short lessons from writers that she has published in her newsletters that have drawn the most response. In Part 1, all pieces are penned by Clark. In "Letting Go a Bit," she advises writers to slow down and let creativity wander. In others, the reader/writer will learn whether or not to have a website (yes), what to do if you get a bad book to review and how to write a book review and acquire them yourself, when to leave your day job, if ever, why one should be thrilled with others' successes, how to see rejections as opportunities, and what to do when your family doesn't believe in your writing. You will learn about the 25-50-25 Rule and why you should write daily. Part 2 provides hope for writers from inspiring guest authors. Betsy Robinson writes about why we need to educate ourselves about publishing and what to read to gain knowledge, and Rod Martinez provides some great ideas on getting into schools to talk to kids and how to plan entertaining answers for their most common questions once you get there. Behlor Santi tells how to pitch and make it personal and how to crack the religious market, and Tasha Lessey and Peggy Williams both talk about ways to increase your income. Have a big problem, like stolen work? Borade addresses that, and Nielsen advises how to be a travel writer for AAA. I am implementing the 45-15 Rule (Mirandilla) that says we'll be more pro- ductive if we work 45 minutes and then rest for 15. Although this book is small, this is not one to read and put on your shelf. The numerous recommended websites, blogsites, and other information sites will keep the reader busy and continuing to learn for a long time, and offer the "courage, encouragement, knowledge, and purpose" that is Clark's aim. I can't wait for Volume 2! First published by Middleweb ~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~ Mary Langer Thompson has been previously featured in Quill and Parchment. She is the author of Poems in Water and the children's book How the Blue-Tongued Skink got His Blue Tongue, available in both English and Spanish.
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