What's a writer to do if you, like me, are not makin' enough dough to keep yourself in a steady supply of ink cartridges? What's a writer to do if , you got the plot you know is hot, or the poems comin' a-flowing, but you could use a temporary change of place cause ya need another cultural location to complete your creation? Well, you may be able to help your no-money-but-I-gotta-get-some-time-some-place-ta-finish-this self, by applying for a grant.

I have applied for numerous residency and funding grants. I have applied for grants for both writing (poetry/fiction) and sculpture. (Oh yes, I've been told I'm multi-talented! Which feels more like I'm multi-no-money, flat broke.) I haven't been endowed with a single grant as a writer. But as a sculptor, I have received some small grants, and a larger grant that gave me the financial spring to continue be just a check away from the welfare roll, while creating my art. I haven't given up on applying for writers grants.

What does it take to apply for a grant? Usually your time, money for fees (I generally go for the no-fee for application grants), a manuscript and/or a clearly defined proposal, sometimes a copy of your tax records, and recommendations.

Yo, I'm gonna break it down for you as follows-

TIME:

You gots ta spend some time to find the grant worth your effort to apply for. Most grants will have submission guidelines, or an application sheet. If you are applying from abroad to the States, or from the States applying abroad, make sure you thoroughly understand the submission guidelines. They may differ for each organization.

MONEY(not theirs, yours):

It is not uncommon for granting organizations to request an application fee. Fees can run you from $10-$25. If you don't have it, don't pay it. You will still be able to find some grants that do not require an application fee. (The amount of organizations that do not charge fees is shrinking...in my opinion.) If you are interested in applying for a residency or for financial support there are usually application fees. Sometimes the organization you are applying to will require three or more manuscripts copies. This may start to add up if you applying to more than one organization at a time. Application manuscript page amount differs for each organization. And then there are your mailing costs which will increase if you are applying abroad. Your self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) will also add to your out-of-pocket costs.

MANUSCRIPTS OR PROPOSALS

While more organizations are beginning to accept manuscripts or proposals on disk or even CD. Most organization still ask fro hardcopies. Fiction and non-fiction manuscripts are generally requested in the same form as if you were submitting to a publisher. A manuscript should be double spaced, 1 1/2" margins, Courier font or similar. Poetry manuscripts may not have to be in this same format. For instance, I know a few poets who compose their words on the page in what is considered non-traditional ways. They have received grants. If the way your words appear on the page is integral to the piece, chat up the organization you are considering applying to about this. Be sure before you apply that they will accept your application. Proposals should be concise in stating how you intend to spend your time and their money. If you've never applied for a grant before, ask the organization you are applying to if they offer workshops (usually free) that will give you insight into what kinda proposal they are looking to see. You might be able to get some application samples when you go to a workshop. The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is one organization that offers free application preparation workshops.

TAX RECORDS:

If you are applying for a monetary grant, partial or full funding for a residency, or a travel grant, it is not uncommon for organizations to request proof of your financial status. Organizations may provide a form for you to fill out and submit. Just ta make sure you are not a trust fund kid holdin' out on them.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Make sure that the people you ask know something about your work. Speak with them and let them in on what you are applying for. Some organizations amy ask just for names and telephone numbers, and they will contact your recommenders. Most organizations though, want written recommendations to accompany your other application materials. If you need a letter, give your recommender enough time to provide one. At least two weeks before the deadline, so nobody gets stressed. If the organization requires that recommendations be sent directly to them from the recommender, it might expedite things if you provide the addressed and stamped envelope for them to send it in.

Here are a few organizations that you may like to apply to. What follows are organizations that offer full or partially funded fellowships, or monetary supporting grants. Unless otherwise noted the following grants accept applications from non-US based writers.

May your wish be granted.

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