How Does One Obtain a U.S. Government Grant to Write a Book?
The federal government of the United States offers a number of grants for various types of artists through the National Endowment for the Arts. Creative writers can receive endowments of up to $25,000 to write a book that contributes to the artistic landscape of the U.S.
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Show a History of Publication
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In order for the NEA to consider you for an endowment, you must be able to show that you are already a published author. This assures the NEA that they are not throwing money away by giving it to someone who lacks writing skills. For writers of fiction, these published works can be short stories, short story collections, novels or novellas. If your publications are short stories, you must provide evidence of at least five short stories published in at least two different publications. According to the NEA website, writers of creative nonfiction must show evidence of having published a volume of creative nonfiction or five different creative essays -- such as personal essays, memoirs, in two or more literary journals, anthologies, or publications. Whether for fiction or creative nonfiction, you may not count self-published material.
Register With the Government
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Go to the NEA Literature Fellowships website and click on "How to Prepare and Submit an Application." Find the Funding Opportunity Number associated with the Literature Fellowships -- currently 2011NEA03LFCW. Go to Grants.gov and fill out the application there. Use the Funding Opportunity Number from the Literature Fellowships website in the form to identify the grant for which you are filling out the registration form.
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Verify Your Software
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The application form on the Grants.gov website comes in Adobe Reader. Make sure you have Adobe Reader on your computer and that it is compatible with the most current version. If you do not have it, go to the Adobe website and update your software.
Fill Out the Application
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Download the application package in Adobe Reader and fill it out. If it takes you multiple sessions to complete the form, save it between sessions. When you finish the application, click on "Save and Submit." Submissions are typically due in March, and the NEA announces the recipients in December.
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- Photo Credit old paperback books image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
