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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Grants and Contests for Writers~ A Discovered Resource


Every now and then I search around Ye Olde Internet for grants and contests that I don't end up following through with because I either A) forget about the deadline, B) feel like novel drafting is more important at the time, or C) Life intervenes. During one of these recent quests, I discovered a website that might already be familiar to some of you:

 FUNDS FOR WRITERS

 FFW is a website that has several different pages (including Grants, Contests, and Markets) that direct you to a variety of opportunities.

 Warning~ some of them are location-based (example: for an Arizona writer) and some are subject-based (example: project must support social welfare in some manner). I'd set aside a good hour to peruse the possibilities as you may have to sift through lots of things that won't apply to you in order to find golden tickets.

 After a fairly quick assessment, I was pleased to see that they do have up-to-date grants/contests and the deadlines are (mostly) stated. Here's one contest they list:

 ALICE MUNRO FESTIVAL SHORT STORY COMPETITION http://alicemunrofestival.ca/?page_id=306 ENTRY FEES $10 and $25. Limit 5,000 words. Deadline August 1, 2014. Both the teen and adult categories will award first place $500, second place $300, third place $200, fourth place $75 and fifth place $25. Portions of the winning stories may be read during the gala event on September 27.

 Many of the contests require entry fees, but here's the website's response to that:

 Writing contests provide steps up for a writer – especially a struggling writer. A portfolio that contains contest wins means more than many clips. Can’t afford the entry fees? Consider entering one contest a quarter or something more amiable to your pocketbook. A few are free. Contests provide prizes, prestige and usually publication with many offering book contracts. Denouncing contests from your writing repertoire is like discounting an entire genre or refusing to eat yellow vegetables. You’re giving up something valuable that may serve you and your career well.

 This might be a website to check every month or so to see if they've added anything that's up your alley. Feel free to chime in if you have any experience with FFW!

(Oh, and here's the lovely-as-always July contest round-up from Sub It Club: http://subitclub.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/july-contest-roundup/)
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16 comments:

  1. BethJune 27, 2014 at 2:47 AM

    Great post, Jess. I do apply for grants, but I've never entered a writing contest. I guess I feel there's so much talent out there, it would be hard to stand out. Thanks for the link - I'll look into it!

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  2. SlamdunkJune 27, 2014 at 9:01 AM

    Good info Jess. Yes, I can see where it would be easy to get carried away and try to enter every contest out there while at the same time investing lots in entry fees--but I like the website response that recommends planning. If we set limits and are careful that an activity matches closely with our goals, then these offerings are a win-win.

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    1. Jessica LawsonJune 30, 2014 at 6:11 AM

      Yep, I think if you pick and choose carefully, contests like this are doable and, if nothing else, the challenge helps to sharpen your writerly pencil :)

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  3. AnonymousJune 27, 2014 at 11:47 AM

    Thanks for the heads up on the website. The Alice Munroe contest sounds like a great opportunity, too.

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    1. Jessica LawsonJune 30, 2014 at 6:12 AM

      Yep, I wish I wrote short stories. Maybe someday :)

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  4. UnknownJune 27, 2014 at 1:53 PM

    Thanks for the info, Jess! Have a great weekend! :)

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    1. Jessica LawsonJune 30, 2014 at 6:14 AM

      I did have a great weekend, thank you (it's now Monday~ got tied up with life again and wasn't prompt in replying to comments~sorry!)~ hope you have a great week!

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  5. Faith E. HoughJune 28, 2014 at 8:08 AM

    Thank you, Jess! I won a writing contest for CT writers, and the encouragement it provided outweighed even the prize money. I'll look into the site!

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    1. Jessica LawsonJune 30, 2014 at 6:15 AM

      Congratulations on winning the CT contest, that's great!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 2, 2014 at 6:08 AM

    Thanks for this information. I've never applied for a grant and only entered a couple of contests (didn't win) but after reading this I realize I kind of miss the challenge.

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    1. Jessica LawsonJuly 2, 2014 at 8:18 AM

      I've entered a few (and haven't won either), but it's a good way of stretching those writerly muscles and the possibility of winning is always fun :)

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  7. AnonymousJuly 2, 2014 at 8:07 AM

    Thanks for sharing these resources!

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  8. Mark MurataJuly 2, 2014 at 6:01 PM

    Thank you for the info. I normally only pay a fee to a contest if each entry is guaranteed some sort of written review in return, but I'll take a look at it.

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    1. Jessica LawsonJuly 3, 2014 at 5:02 AM

      That's a good point and a sensible policy~ though I did that once, and then never got the review. I wasn't even upset about not winning, I just wanted my critique! :)

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