Do you have to be published to call yourself a novelist? Do you have to have completed a novel? Or do you simply need to be writing one? For me, the issue of "when" I began calling myself a novelist had more to do with when I got over my fear of failure.

I worked on my first novel in earnest for about five years. My husband and a couple of close friends were then only ones who knew. The fear that I'd never finish the darn thing, much less get it published, kept me from telling anyone. Then I finished it. Yet, I was still afraid to tell anyone. Get a publisher first, I told myself.

Well, it takes a while to write a book, find an agent, convince a publisher. Meanwhile, I began to realize, like it or not, I am a novelist. It's all I've ever really wanted to be. Just admit, Jessica. Just tell people.

I was fortunate enough to receive some semi-finalist award nods for my novel as a work in progress, and a sizable award for the completed unpublished work. About a month ago, I got brave and added "Novelist" to my professional freelance writer profile on LinkedIn. Phew!

Now that it's done, that it's "out there," it feels pretty cool. I can't help but wonder if maybe I cheated myself out of that good feeling for too long.

What about you? When did you (or will you) call yourself a novelist?

I can't say enough great things about Hope Clark and Funds for Writers. Grants, contests and paying markets are the focus of this talented woman and her various newsletters (both free and paid subscriptions are available - your choice).

The newsletters deliver inspiration to your email in-box every week, both through market listings and informative articles and editorials. I've been a newsletter subscriber for years, and I've written a few articles for it as well.

If you've never checked out the website, you should take a look. Who knows, this week's issue just may have a listing for a contest or grant that is a perfect match to your current project.

www.fundsforwriters.com

Robert Lee Brewer asked me to answer the question, "As a freelancer for magazines, how do you get assignments?" He posted my answer on the Nonfiction Q&A section of WritersMarket.com. Click the link below to read my suggestions on how to get assignments.

writersmarket.com/Genre/Nonfiction

My unpublished novel was just awarded the Freedom in Fiction Prize. The search for an agent/publisher continues; but this is a big, exciting step in the right direction.  Below is the news release announcement.

For Immediate Release: Phoenix Writer Wins Freedom in Fiction Prize

(Phoenix, July 2009)  Jessica McCann has won the inaugural Freedom in Fiction Prize for her historical novel, All Different Kinds of Free.

The international prize recognizes the best unpublished work of fiction with the greatest potential for imparting the ideas of free markets, liberty and personal responsibility. The honor includes a $10,000 cash award. It is sponsored by The Mackinac Center for Public Policy (www.mackinac.org) and supported by the Rodney Fund.

McCann's novel was inspired by a true story. The narrative is about Margaret Morgan, a free black woman who was kidnapped in 1837, along with her free children, and sold into slavery. Although she fought hard to regain her freedom, Margaret endured tremendous loss and hardship. Her ordeal led to one of the most pivotal Supreme Court cases in America's history, Prigg v. Pennsylvania, 1842. The history books will have you believe the story of Prigg v. Pennsylvania is important because it ended in controversy and fanned the early embers of the Civil War. This book will have you believe the story is important because it began with Margaret.

As a novel-in-progress, the work also was named a semi-finalist in the 2004 Dana Awards and the 2005 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing competition.

McCann is currently seeking a publisher for her award-winning manuscript and has begun work on a second novel.

A long-time professional freelance writer, McCann's nonfiction work has been published in local, national and global publications, such as Business Week, Phoenix and ASU Research magazines. Her corporate and nonprofit clients span a variety of industries, including education, gaming, retail, waste management, health care and financial services. (www.jessicamccann.com)

McCann lives in the Phoenix metropolitan area with her husband and their two children.

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I may be slow... but after several months on WM, I finally figured out how to add friends to my profile. It also took me a little while to figure out why I would even want to add individual friends, since I already belong to a couple of specific groups. For those out there who may be asking themselves the same questions, here's what I've learned.

HOW: When you are visiting another person's profile, just below their photo is a link titled "add a friend." Click this and you invite that person to become your friend. Easy! (Silly me, I was looking for a link that says "add a friend" in my own profile -- that just seemed more intuitive. Oh well.)

WHY: When you post a blog, you can designate its status (e.g. public, friends, private, draft). With a small circle of like-minded friends, you may want to brainstorm for ideas, get advice on specific topic, or elicit feedback on a particular piece of writing. This can be less intimidating and/or more personal than posting to the whole WM community or even to one of the groups.

I'm sure there are other good benefits of building a cadre of friends on this site. I just haven't figured them out yet. If you have... please share your thoughts!