Jul-28-2008
Where can I get grants to write books with no cost to me (a new and aspiring author)?
I’m looking for legitimate online resources for grants available for unpublished writers. I’m willing to send in a healthy example of my work, but I need help in sorting through all of the get-rich-quick schemes that seem to want little more than your money. After a great deal of search I’ve found that most of these sites available online are scams, and I’m looking for a serious opportunity to stay at home and make writing my life – without starving, that is. If anyone has any information about where I might go, please provide links and or tips. I would very much appreciate any leads.
Thank you!
-An aspiring author, waiting for the opportunity to shine.
Start by thinking of what you would bring to the publisher. You have no track record, no proven success but you do have passion and drive. So come up with an example of your work and start ringing doorbells at the various publishing houses.
Alternatively you may want to start by doing a little short story writing and hope to be noticed. Better yet, start blogging and if people like what you write then you may be noticed too.
There are extremely limited grants for writers – only for those who focus on writing about humanities and not some novels.
You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov – these are two FREE sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support your purposes.
Even if you buy books on “how to get grants” or list that supposedly has information on grants — all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.
Note though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants.
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women’s Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women’s business center that will train women entrepreneurs
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center’s Foundation Grants for Individuals Online . It’s a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) and their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for “students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices.”
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