Monday Miscellany for January 11, 2010

Hello:

I have a plethora of writing contests to share with you this week.  What better way to start the New Year than by entering one or more of them?  Without further ado, I present this week’s Monday Miscellany:

 

Erma Bombeck Writing Competition.

Write a personal essay of fewer than 450 words in either the humor or human interest category.  No entry fee.  Deadline January 31. Four first place winners will be selected, each to receive top prizes of $100.  http://bit.ly/7CFrTg

 

New Millennium Writing Awards

The contest awards $1000 top prizes in each of the following categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction and short-short fiction.  Deadline is January 31, and there’s a $17 entry fee.  http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php

 

Writers’ Journal Fiction Contest

Writers’ Journal, a bimonthly publication circulated for aspiring writers, is currently holding its annual fiction contest.  Prizes: First: $500.00, Second: $200.00 and Third: $100.00.  Deadline for entry is January 30. $15 entry fee. http://bit.ly/75kc1L

 

15th Dame Throckmorton  Fiction Contest.

First Place $350.00. Deadline January 31. $17 entry fee.  http://bit.ly/6HIMz3 

 

Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2010 Writing Competition

Based in the UK, this short story competition has a top cash prize of £500. The theme calls for writing a short story (for adults) of no more than 2,000 words, on the theme of ‘Unity or Union.’ Deadline February 14.   No entry fee. http://bit.ly/TMVJL

 

MyRomanceStory.com’s Valentine’s Day Writing Contest

Submit your true stories of romantic highs or lows to our Valentine’s Day Writing contest.  Non-cash prizes, no entry fee.  http://bit.ly/7w8n8F

 

XtremeTravelStories.com quarterly writing competition

Deadline March 1. $100 top prize. No entry fee. http://bit.ly/5s02nG

 

SouthWest Writers’ 28th Annual Writing Contest

Cash prizes are awarded to the top three entries in each of 14 categories. In addition, first-place winners in each category compete for the $1,000 Storyteller Award. Deadline: Postmarked no later than May 1, 2010.  Entry fees vary per category. http://bit.ly/7CZn3L

 

2010 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Contest.

Short story contest with the theme “Apartments and Neighbors.”   $1000 top prize. $25 entry fee. http://bit.ly/6s7VEP

 

 

Writers’ Circle Flash Fiction contest

 Maximum words: 1000.  $500 first prize.  $10 entry fee.  Deadline: June 10. http://bit.ly/7acWRm

 

The 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Do you have an unpublished or self-published novel you know Amazon.com readers will love?  Enter it for a Chance to win publishing contracts with Penguin USA and distribution on Amazon.  Deadline: February 7.  No entry fee.  https://www.createspace.com/abna?ref=480641&utm_id=5119

 

Dissent Paul Goodman Essay Writing Contest

Theme: What is one of the pressing social and political issues of our time, and how would you address it? Top prize $1K. Deadline May 1. No entry fee.  http://bit.ly/5KabX4

7 Copywriting Niche Markets You May Not Know About

Copyright 2010 by Steve Slaunwhite

There are dozens of viable niche markets for freelance writers and copywriters. You’re probably aware of most of them: white papers, healthcare, publishing, insurance, websites, software, technology.

But there are seven other niche markets that are particularly hot right now that you may not know about.

In fact, I’ve done several presentations on this topic recently and many audience members – some of them experienced freelance writers – have told me how surprised they were to learn these niche markets existed.

So if you’re thinking of focusing on a new niche this year, one of these seven might be worth considering. After all, they’re not crowded with other writers!

Here they are:

1. Ad Agencies & Design Firms

There are more than 70,000 advertising agencies, design firms, PR agencies and other creative services firms throughout North America. Almost all use freelance writing services; at least occasionally. In fact, just one or two clients in this niche can easily fill your schedule with good paying projects.

2. Online Video

Many companies are increasingly using online video on their websites and in banner advertising. If you have a hankering for scriptwriting, this could be a very lucrative niche market for you. (Who knows? It could be a stepping stone to Hollywood!)

3. Professional Service Companies

These are companies that sell services rather than physical products. Examples include architects, corporate trainers, real estate brokers, consultants, event planners and, yes, even copywriters!

Professional service companies need a lot of writing done to help attract clients and build those relationships. Typical projects include service descriptions, special reports, website pages, emails, newsletters, social media posts, and executive bios.

4. B2B Financial Services

Banking, insurance, succession planning, payroll management, debt collection and other financial services targeting businesses (rather than consumers) are booming right now. If you have a financial background, you might want to take a closer look at this growing niche.

5. Membership Associations

Many membership associations like the National Association of Realtors, for example, produce countless seminars, courses, webinars, conferences and other resources and events each year – and they promote those programs using websites, emails, ads, brochures and other marketing materials.

Someone has to write all that stuff!

6. Social Media

This niche shouldn’t be a surprise to most writers. After all, social media is the hottest topic in the internet these days.

But what might surprise you is how eager companies are to leverage social media to build demand for their products and services. As a freelance writer or copywriter, you can help these companies blog, tweet, post, update and otherwise “be social” with their target audiences.

I know two freelance copywriters who specialize exclusively in this area. And both are very busy!

7. Case Studies

You may have heard me talk about case studies before. It’s a great niche for freelance writers and copywriters for two reasons: One, case studies are fun to write. (Who doesn’t enjoy writing a success story?) And two, thousands of companies need case stu<br>dies done. So there’s a high demand.

Well, there you have it. Seven hot niche markets you may not have known about – but do now! If any seem like a good fit for you, explore the niche further. It just might be your ticket to more business and success in 2010.

—

Steve Slaunwhite is a marketing coach and award-winning copywriter.  Find out more about him in particular and copywriting in general at For Copywriters Only.

How to Start and Grow a Ghost Writing Business

I really enjoy reading and posting to Twitter.  Besides using it to pass along writing job links, share inspirational quotes, exchange quick hellos with other writers and bemoan the pervasiveness of dangling modifiers in business writing, I’ve been trying to establish Tuesdays as “oxymoron day,” encouraging others to share their favorite oxymora (thank you, spell check, for pointing out the correct way to pluralize that!).  It’s fun when people tweet back with favorites of their own.

 

One oxymoron that I recently posted, and think I made up, was “famous ghost writers;” this got me thinking about the unique dilemmas that ghost writers face.  Unlike other types of writers, ghost writers often must maintain complete anonymity while helping their clients put their thoughts and experiences on the page.  Contracts for ghost writing work may include clauses that forbid the writer to take any public credit for the work, because the client wants to be seen as its true author.  This can make starting and growing a ghost writing career even more challenging than other competitive writing fields. 

 

So how do you launch a ghost writing career or business, and keep it going?  You need to let the world know you’re a writer for hire.  You need to know what kinds of writing you want to do and what kinds of clients you want to work with.  And you need to promote, network and persist.  Some of the ways you can get the word out regarding your ghost writing availability include:

 

1. Having a professional Web site that displays samples of your work; 
2. Using social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook; 
3. Checking online freelance job boards daily for writing jobs to bid on (one note of caution here—many “clients” on these sites are looking for bargain basement “writers” that will slam out copy for pennies.  Don’t sell yourself short by bidding on these so-called jobs.  Even if you land them, doing them will not help you build a writing business you can live on.) 
4. Telling everyone you know that you’re a ghost writer, and making sure you have business cards to give to them as well; 
5. Joining writers’ networks or associations, such as the International Association of Professional Ghost Writers (http://iapgw.org), that have job boards for members only (this will help cut down on the number of writers you need to compete with for work).

 

Like all paying writing endeavors, establishing oneself as a ghost writer takes time and consistent effort.  Stick with a promotion strategy, especially in the early going, and you may just end up with more work than you can handle.  Would that be nice?

 

Here’s to your writing success.

 

Mary Anne

P.S. Interested in learning more about building a ghost writing career?  Go to http://iapgw.org , sign up to receive the association’s free newsletter, “Invisible Ink,” and you’ll receive a copy of my free report “The Ghost Writer’s Guide to Getting More Clients.”

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