2 Fellowships & 1 Grant for Writers

.

.

Google Journalism Fellowships
In an effort to help develop the next crop of reporters working to keep the world informed, educated and entertained, Google created the Journalism Fellowship. The program is aimed at undergraduate, graduate and journalism students interested in using technology to tell stories in new and dynamic ways. There will be a focus on data driven journalism, online free expression and re-thinking the business of journalism. The 10-week long Fellowship will open with a week at the Knight Foundation and end with a week at Google, split between Google News and YouTube. Fellows will receive a stipend of $7,500 for 10 weeks during the summer of 2013 (June-August) and a travel budget of $1,000.

Who should apply?  Students from all majors and degree programs who possess the following qualities are encouraged to apply:

• Demonstrated or stated commitment to journalism – especially in the fields of data driven journalism or freedom of expression online
• An interest in exploring and creating business models to help the industry in the digital age
• Excellent academic record, professional/extracurricular/volunteer activities, subject matter expertise
• First-rate analytical, communications, research, and writing skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and efficiently, and to work smartly and resourcefully in a fast-paced environment

Deadline: January 31, 2013.
http://www.google.com/get/journalismfellowship

.

New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships
The unrestricted $7,000 fellowships for Play-Writing / Screenwriting, are intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, regardless of the level of his or her artistic development. NYFA is committed to support artists from diverse cultural backgrounds at all stages of their professional careers. Categories in 2013 are  Play-Writing / Screenwriting, Choreography, Music/Sound, Architecture/Environmental Structures / Design, and Photography.
Deadlines in January – various deadlines.

Mark your Calendar: In the 2014 cycle, grants will be awarded – among others – in categories of Nonfiction Literature, Poetry and Fiction.
http://www.nyfa.org/level3.asp?id=44&fid=1&sid=1

.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant
The Marvin Grant is a $1,000 award given to an author under 30 years of age who has not had a book published. In addition to the monetary grant a portion of the winners entry may be published in the Ohioana Quarterly. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Applicant must be no older than 30 years of age on January 31 of the year the
award is given. Applicant must not have had a book published.

Deadline January 31, 2013.
http://www.ohioana.org/awards/marvin.asp

.

<><><><><><>

.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 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, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

12 Tips for Your Crowdfunding Project

 

.

I wrote already about Kickstarter and IndieGoGo and other crowdfunding companies on this blog. Here are some valuable tips that will help your crowdfunding project:
.

1. Research carefully all crowdfunding offers and read all of their guidelines and instructions. Follow lots of their “customers” and see how they are establishing and marketing their funding pley.
.

2. Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and credit card companies do take a big cut! And it says this when you sign up… So, calculate this percentage into your budget.
.

3. Make a business plan. YES, start your crowdfunding organized! This is a business! Check out your suppliers (funding companies), calculate conservatively the money you need and a little cushion for hidden expenses.
.

4. Create a compelling pitch. If you’re crowdfunding donations, your fund-raising pitch should focus on emotions and get donors excited about your business, your product or service and your entrepreneurial passion. Decide the length of your campaign. If you go too short, it might not be enough time to get the word out, most campaigns are between 30 – 45 days.

.
5. Prepare at the same time your update strategy – and prepare help to send out mails, either friends or a professional mass mail company. Don’t stop with one initial offer, your funders love to hear frequently from you, how the funding process and later the implantation process goes along. They love to see a result!

.
6. Create attractive rewards for your funders – it must not be neccessarely monetary, at least not for the under $100 funds, but it should be a customized gift or one that shows your appeciation, such as a mentioning in a book or a film.

.
7. Understand who your target audience is, where fans live online and how to reach them on social media. Prepare a spread sheet with email addresses as well and mobilize all your friends, family and aquintances to help you spread the word. Pre-promote your project on Facebook, Twitter, Email, Tumblr, Google+, or Linked and have at least thousand potential prospects before you start your campaign.

.
8. Shoot a short, compelling video – or even better, several short videos, featuring yourself, explaining the project and showing enthusiasm. Get the media onboard, online and in print, try to get interviews and share your video(s).

.
9. Create dialogues with backers, fans and media. Crowdfunding requires that you stay at the front of minds. And say thank you right away when they are donating and short before the campaign is finished.

.
10. Imagine how valuable it would be to have a celebrity, respected industry leader or publisher endorse your project. Be creative to find them and get them on board. Get out of your comfort zone and let everyone, even strangers know about your project.

.
11. Everyone loves to hear a story. What makes you’re project different from the next one? Explain to your audience what makes your project unique and share where the idea for your project came from.

.
12. Be patient. Initially, you will get a bust from the people who jump in early then there will be a trickle… This is when you have to dig in, show maybe new videos, write updates, ask for more leds and be determined.

.
Want to hear more tips? Download your “Crowdfunding Bible” for FREE 

And here are more articles to consider before you apply for crowdfunding:

Indiewire.com

Rollingstone.com

Indiewire.com

Pozible.com

Smartpei.typepad.com

.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are almost 500 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.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or StumbleUpon – or other social networking sites of your choice) – other writers might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

10 Important Steps when Applying for Grants

The Road Ahead

Part 2 of 2, see also Part 1 of How to Apply for Funding

Everyone knows Kickstarter and IndieGoGo in the meantime. But there are other sources to fund writing projects, workshops, prints, publicizing efforts or lectures. Writers and small publishers are offered quite a number of grants and funding money.

Most are geared towards projects, rather than core funding. Think writing projects for example instead of business/office supply or salaries. Grant categories by private and government organizations could also include:

• Planning grants
• Seed money or start-up grants
• Technical assistance grants
• Endowment grants

How to apply for GRANTS
Successful proposals are not done in an afternoon. They require strategic planning, research, preparing the proposal, building an evaluation plan, and follow-up. But once you are over the learning curve, all your following proposals will be a breeze.
.

1. Study the organization and successful grants. Some of them make samples of grant proposels they have funded online available. You can see the “language” they prefer and get an idea what type of projects were successful. Learn and understand the meanings of the vocabulary being used in grant guidelines. It’s important how well your written presentation answers their questions.
.

2. Show an interest in the Funders’ organization, call them for further information and find out the name of the person you should address the proposal if it is not stated specifically.

.
3. Create your proposal in a way for the funder organization to conclude it will fulfill their philanthropic mission. Offer a concise plan to fill a need or solve a problem.

.
3. Adhere strict to their guidelines, help them to evaluate your proposal easily. Your reader (decision maker) will evaluate your plan according to what you are proposing. And how your project can benefit others.

.
4. Provide a detailed budget and outline how the funds will be used.

.
5. Show them what you can do and how your past experience will help you achieve your objectives with this grant. Write it in a positive language.

.
6. Explain in detail what you or your organization does and why the grantor can trust you or your organization to handle the project and money appropriately.

.
7. Add an executive summary written in non-technical language, or include your own glossary of terms, explaining technical language used in the proposal.

.
8. Convince the grantor that your project is vitally important, that you can accomplish it, that it can be done within the budget parameters, and that no one else is meeting that need.

.
9. Break your plan down into specific steps that are tied to a specific, well-designed timeline.

.
10. State exactly how you will evaluate your success and how you will follow up. Show your long-term vision and that the project is “sustainable.”  Good luck!

 

More blogs regarding Grants – Find Money to Make Your Writing Dreams Come True:

http://www.miraslist.com/2009/04/finding-money-for-your-dreams.html
http://www.miraslist.com/2009/03/italian-residencies.html
http://www.miraslist.com/2009/04/fubright-grants-inside-scoop.html
http://www.resartis.org/en/news/upcoming_deadlines/
Grants for Writers listing

https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/grants-writer-in-residence-usa/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/grants-writers-in-residence-canada/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/ever-applied-for-a-writers-grant-try-these/
http://grantspace.org/Tools/Knowledge-Base/Individual-Grantseekers/Artists/Funding-for-writers

National Endowment for the Arts
Fulbright Intl. foundation
http://artswriters.org/guidelines.html

http://www.writing-world.com/international/grants.shtml
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/grants-for-writers-1-in-3-proposals-funded/https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/grants-and-awards-for-writers-get-the-money-apply/

 

<><><><><>

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 $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/
to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 970 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

 

Grants and Awards for Writers – Get the Money! Apply!

How to Apply for Funding:
Among the country’s largest grant makers, in average one proposal in three is typically funded. Study the requirements carefully, ask for copies of grant proposals they have previously funded. Some samples can even be found on their websites or other resources available online. Write your proposal in a positive manner and language and proof-read it carefully. Explain how your project can benefit others. For more tips on how to apply for funding stay tuned for the next blog, click on follow at the top of this site and receive a notification when a new blog post appears.

.

Creative Capital – Warhol Foundation
The next application will open in April 2013. The Creative Capital | Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program supports writers whose work addresses contemporary visual art through grants issued directly to individual authors. The first program of its kind, it was founded in recognition of both the financially precarious situation of arts writers and their indispensable contribution to a vital artistic culture. Arts Writers Grant applications will be accepted in the five following project types: Article, Blog, Book, New and Alternative Media, and Short-Form Writing. For more information on Grant Programs and Guidelines join the email list.
http://artswriters.org/application.html

.

California Writers Award
The California Writers Exchange contest introduces emerging writers from California to the New York literary community and provides them a network for professional advancement. Every third year, writers in California are invited to submit manuscripts. Judges review the entries and select a winning poet and fiction writer. Winners are flown to New York City for an all-expenses-paid, weeklong trip to meet with literary agents, editors, publishers, and writers, and to give a public reading. Includes $500 stipend.
Deadline August 31, 2012
http://www.pw.org/about-us/california_writers_exchange_award

.

Louisiana Cultural Grants
The Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF) is designed to increase the entrepreneurial capacity and economic health of cultural economy producers. These funds are targeted to unique opportunities to earn income that are not a part of the applicant’s regular work or programming. Louisiana’s cultural economy is defined as the people, enterprises, and communities that transform cultural skills, knowledge, and ideas into economically productive goods, services, and places. It includes: visual arts and crafts, performing arts, film, digital media, music, culinary arts, design, traditional culture bearers, entertainment, LITERARY ARTS and humanities, architecture and historic preservation.
Deadline August 31, 2012
http://culturaleconomy.org/

.

Quick Funds – Idaho
Open to emerging and established artists who have attained a certain level of proficiency as represented by work samples, the grants provide timely assistance for projects, activities, or travel to seminars, workshops, and conferences. Quick Projects requests can be for up to $1,500 with a cash match of 1:3 (example: request $1,500, match $500). Individuals in all disciplines may apply for a project or activity, with a maximum request of $1,500. Professional Development requests can be for up to $750 with a cash match of 1:1.
http://www.arts.idaho.gov/grants/indquick.aspx

.

Helen McCloy MWA Scholarship
The Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship for Mystery Writing seeks to nurture talent in mystery writing—in fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting. The scholarship ($500) shall be used to offset tuition and fees for writing workshops, writing seminars, or university/college-level writing programs taking place in the U.S. in summer, fall or winter of 2013 or early spring 2014. Applicants must select a specific writing classes, workshops, seminars to which scholarship funds would be applied.
Deadline: February 28, 2013
http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=AwardsPrograms-McCloy

.

Funding for workshops by Poets & Writers
To support as many literary events as possible, we generally grant no more than $1,500 to organizations in New York State and California, and $500 to organizations in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Tucson, and Washington, D.C., during the course of our fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Decisions on maximum grant amounts are based on the availability of funds and are made at the discretion of Poets & Writers. Grants for readings or spoken word performances range from $50 to $350. Grants for workshops range from $100 to $200 per session. We encourage organizations to match our payments to writers, but this requirement may be waived if there are extenuating circumstances. We make grants for writers’ fee payments only. Grant checks are payable to the writer and sent to the sponsor, which is responsible for delivering them to the author. We do not fund administrative costs, publicity, transportation, or other expenses related to producing events.
http://www.pw.org/content/funding_readingsworkshops

.

Sustainable Arts Foundation
Our program focuses on awards to individual artists and writers with families. Specifically, the applicant must have at least one child under the age of 18. We welcome applicants from anywhere, but will give some preference to residents of the San Francisco Bay area. Sustainable Arts Foundation Writing Award: $6,000. There will be multiple winners for each award. Additionally, we will be awarding a number of smaller $1,000 Promise Awards to those applicants whose work may not qualify for the main awards, but nonetheless demonstrates both skill and potential. The foundation offers awards in two major categories: visual arts and writing. We encourage writers working in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to apply.
Deadline September 1, 2012.
http://www.sustainableartsfoundation.org/apply

.
newARTS Wiscounsin
newARTS can act as a fiscal receiver for Brown County-based arts initiatives. Most independent artists and small or new arts organizations lack the important 501(c)(3) tax status that makes public grants and private donations legal and desirable. newARTS welcomes applications from either short-term but impactful projects as well as new initiatives seeking their own non-profit status, as a way to support the creation of new projects, until there are financial and structural plans in place for the initiatives to sustain their own non-profit status.
http://www.newartscouncil.org/FiscalReceivership.html

.

National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships
Through Literature Fellowships to published creative writers and translators of exceptional talent in the areas of prose and poetry, the Arts Endowment advances its goal of encouraging and supporting artistic creativity and preserving our diverse cultural heritage. Creative Writing Fellowships enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Grants are for $25,000. Deadline in March. The last awards were for poetry. The next will be for prose (fiction or creative nonfiction). Translation Projects enable recipients to translate work from other languages into English. Grants are for $12,500 or $25,000, depending upon the artistic excellence and merit of the project. Deadline is January.
http://arts.endow.gov/grants/apply/Lit.html

.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are almost 500 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.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or StumbleUpon – or other social networking sites of your choice) – other writers might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.

.

.
Hyper Smash

Pingates

 

Grants in Literature

 

Creative Capital is the only national grantmaking and artist service organization for individual artists with an open application process. Our selection process includes three steps: inquiry, application and panel review.

CREATIVE CAPITAL OPENING UP TO APPLICATIONS

On February 1, 2012, Creative Capital will begin accepting online Letters of Inquiry for grants in Emerging Fields, Literature and Performing Arts.

To be eligible to apply, an artist must be:

• a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident,
• at least 25 years old,
• a working artist with at least five
• years of professional experience, and
• not a full-time student.

Selected grantees receive up to $50,000 in direct support and a suite of services valued at more than $40,000. The Inquiry Form will be open until March 1, 2012.
http://creative-capital.org/apply

 

Writers Retreats

WILDACRES RETREAT – NORTH CAROLINA

The program continues each year, with 25 one-week residencies available from May through October. We are now accepting applications for the 2012 residencies. The deadline is January 15, 2012 and all applications should be made on-line.
http://www.wildacres.org/

HOPSCOTCH HOUSE RESIDENCY

Hopscotch House offers time and space free of charge to selected Kentucky women artists whose art is feminist in nature and promotes positive social change. Hopscotch House is located 13 miles east of downtown Louisville, KY. Residency is free of charge. Residents are responsible for their own food and beverage and personal toiletries. The Summer Residency Program offers stipends of up to $400 per week to selected artists chosen to
participate in the program. The Quarterly program offers need-based stipends of up to $200 for first timers, low income women, women of color, lesbian and bisexual women, and women from rural areas of Kentucky.
http://www.kfw.org/

THE WRITERS COLONY AT DAIRY HOLLOW – ARKANSAS

The muse is at home in this beautiful, historic Ozark Mountain town. In this setting, The Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow offers residencies to experienced and emerging writers in all genres and composers/songwriters. Artists applying for and receiving a specific fellowship are granted a free residency, including room and board at WCDH. Travel is the responsibility of the Fellow. Deadlines vary depending on Fellowship.
http://www.writerscolony.org/

 Found at Fundsforwriters.com

 

The Shy Writer – An Introverts Guide to Writing Success

 

The Shy Writer by C. Hope Clark

C. Hope did not only write the wildly successful book

The Shy Writer: An Introvert’s Guide to Writing Success – trade paperback and e-book

but she became THE HOPE for many aspiring authors and offers advice and encouragement on her website http://www.fundsforwriters.com/  were you also can subscribe to her frequent newsletter.

Contests, Grants and Markets for Writers provide the most valuable tool for any writer – published (or not yet published). I love her tremendously useful markets section. Just a few excerpts here:

VIKING MAGAZINE
http://www.sofn.com/norwegian_culture/viking_index.jsp
Every month Viking magazine is sent to Sons of Norway members — people who are enthusiastic about their heritage, who are frequent travelers to Norway and other Scandinavian countries, and are regular consumers of Scandinavian goods. Seventy percent written by freelancers. Articles are 400 to 1,200 words. Accepts fiction of 400 to 1,200 words. Departments are up to 350 words. Pays $180 to $400 and sometimes higher.

=====

TRUE WEST
http://www.truewestmagazine.com/about/submissions/
TRUE WEST relates our American West history back to the present day, to show readers the important role our heritage plays in keeping the spirit of the West alive during our everyday travels and adventures out West. With regards to word length, we actively look for articles that range from: 1,500 words for features; 500 words for short features; 250 words or less for snapshot coverage. Great guidelines available online. Pays 25 cents/word and 50 percent kill fee.

=====

ROLLING STONE
http://www.rollingstone.com/services/contactus
Half of all articles written by freelancers. Receives about 100 queries per month and publishes about 100 freelance articles per year. Articles are up to 3,000 words, usually involving profiles, interviews and reviews. Departments feature America’s pop music and culture as well as pieces on current events and politics. Pays $1/word. Query with clips to editors@rollingstone.com

=====

THE SATURDAY EVENING POST
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/about/submission-guidelines
Our focus has broadened to include well-researched, timely and informative articles on finance, unusual photo/story packages, home improvement, humor, transportation, travel, fashion, entertainment, personality profiles, technology, communication with a healthy emphasis on medical breakthroughs, promising new treatments, prevention, and fitness. Publishes content that provides additional perspective on the ever-evolving American scene. In addition to feature-length articles of 1,000 to 2,000 words, the Post buys anecdotes suitable for “Post Scripts,” as well as cartoons, illustrations, and photos. Payment ranges from $25 for Post Scripts to $400 and up for feature articles.