Putting Your Best Foot Forward
IF YOU have ever applied for a writing fellowship, grant, or award you might have found yourself a little daunted by the application process. You might have been overwhelmed by all the pieces that must come together, the word counts that must be minded, the forms that must be filled out just so—all before an ironclad deadline. Although you might pen a stirring poem or an unforgettable story, it can be hard to switch gears, put on your grant-writing hat, and explain why your work matters and why you deserve a cool $10,000 to sit at your desk and write.
To help demystify the process, we contacted administrators of literary fellowships, grants, and awards and asked them some questions about the application process: What should I put in my writing sample? What goes in a project budget? If a letter of recommendation comes in late, am I totally out of the running?
What follows is a selection of replies from the administrators of eight programs. Each opportunity is different, of course—some are grants given for projects, some are fellowships that require you to teach or help with the sponsor’s programs or publications, and others simply award you time and money to write. Application processes also vary, so not all this advice will be pertinent for every opportunity; it is always important to carefully research a grant or fellowship before you apply. But we hope this will clear some of the mist and assuage several common anxieties you might have while putting together an application.
What generally makes an application successful?
“Applications that answer ‘why’—why this fellowship, why this juncture of the poet’s career.” —Chet’la Sebree, director, Stadler Center
“Cassils, a 2015 Creative Capital award winner and a panel reviewer in the last application cycle, said it best: Applications should specifically answer ‘why our culture needs this contribution.’ Artists should explain why their work is generative, rather than derivative of past work, and is therefore propelling culture ahead—whether it is addressing important issues, responding to crises,
