2023 is shaping up to be an excellent year for writers looking for grants and other forms of support.
Unlike before, many agencies are helping authors who need funding for their literary works, including poetry, play, fiction, or non-fiction.
So if you’re a writer who needs financial support while working on a manuscript, it helps to know the best available grant opportunities that inspire you to further your project.
In this article, we’ll cover the top 5 grants for writers and some things you should know before applying for any.
Top 5 Grants for Writers in 2023
As a published or unpublished writer, you wouldn’t want to stop midway through your new writing project due to some financial constraints.
So this is why grants are awarded by some nonprofit organizations to writers to encourage them to complete their work by covering their expenses ranging from housing to food.
There are lots of them available to writers right now. But we’ll discuss the top five grant opportunities that made it to our selected list thanks to their simple application process.
1. de Groot Foundation COURAGE To WRITE
- Deadline: February 15, 2023
Fueled by the desire to help writers advance their careers, the de Groot Foundation awards seven $7000 COURAGE to WRITE grants to writers in different genres.
Also, it collaborates with Barry Lando and other like-minded organizations to award three $7000 LANDO grants to writers tackling the issues of migration, immigration, or refugee experiences in their writing.
And as if that isn’t enough, it awards up to 10 additional writers with Writer of Note grants worth $1500 each.
These grants are available to any writer, regardless of race, gender, educational status, gender, or country. However, you need to know their eligibility and application process.
Eligibility
- Only open for individuals, meaning companies or organizations cannot apply.
- Available for writers above 18 years of age. Anything less is considered underage.
- Applicants must use their legal name during application.
- Proposals must be written in native English.
- No family member of the board or staff of the de Groot foundation is allowed to apply.
How to Apply
- Prepare your application and submit it through the Submittable platform. Your application must include a brief bio sketch, a letter of application, and a current, unpublished writing project of up to 5 pages.
The project must be uploaded as a single document and should be written using Times New Roman 12-point font.
- While submitting your application, be clear on the grant you’re applying for – whether it’s COURAGE to WRITE or LANDO.
- Pay an application fee of $22 during your submission
- Await until late April 2023, when selection will take place.
2. The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships
- Deadline: March 8, 2023
The National Endowment for the Arts awards published creative writers in the US $25,000 grants in prose (fiction or creative non-fiction) and poetry.
These grants are offered to promote American art and enable writers to set aside time to write, travel, and build a successful career in Arts.
Usually, this program runs for 2 years, with fellowships in prose and poetry available in the following years.
Selection is based on the artistic brilliance of a manuscript. If you’re selected, you will receive funds within the start and end dates of the fellowship.
Eligibility
- Applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- He hasn’t received two or more fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
- He hasn’t received any Literature fellowship or Translation fellowship since 2015
- The applicant has published between January 1, 2016, and March 8, 2023:
- A novel or novella
- Five different short stories
- A creative non-fiction
How to Apply
- First, you must create an account on Login.gov or Grants.gov before applying. You must use your email address during this registration.
- Kickstart your application by selecting the Grant Opportunity Package when you sign into Grants.gov.
- Follow the prompts given to you.
- Review your application and submit it through Grants.gov. Make sure your manuscript is up to 20 pages and includes your name or vital information.
- Wait patiently until December 2023, when the grantees will be announced.
3. Writers Emergency Assistance Fund
- Deadline: Not specified
Gone are the days when freelancers are left alone to deal with certain emergencies that hinder their work progress, such as an illness or a natural disaster.
Today, grants like the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) are designed to give them a glimmer of hope even when such dire situations arise.
Sponsored by The American Society of Journalists and Authors, WEAF was established in 1982. Since then, it has awarded $400,000 in grants to talented writers of diverse backgrounds.
Eligibility
- Applicants need to qualify for professional membership with ASJA. This implies they should have several national publications as a non-fiction freelance writer and more than one book with a local publisher.
- You only want support with your living expenses.
- You haven’t received more than two WEAF grants.
How to Apply
- Gather the required documentation before you make an application.
- Start your application by using online WEAF application forms
- Your application will be reviewed in 2-4 weeks, and you will be notified if selected.
4. PEN America Writers Emergency Fund
- Deadline: January 1, April, July, or October 2023
The PEN America Writers Emergency Fund was founded to provide temporary financial assistance to exceptional writers in the US who are faced with economic hardships.
It’s an award overseen by PEN America, a community of writers and their partners that help brilliant minds in various genres address short-term emergencies and offer solidarity when they face the law.
Professional writers who benefit from this program include those in genres like fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, translation, and children’s literature.
They will receive a complimentary one-year PEN America Membership when they are announced as winners.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be based in the United States.
- He isn’t a recipient of an active grant program.
- He has some professional credentials that will be evaluated during the review.
How to Apply
- You must write a proposal showing how our emergency funding will solve your short-term financial needs.
- Submit your application before our quarterly deadlines.
- All applications will be reviewed before the last day of the month you submitted. Everyone will be notified of the grant decisions.
5. Working Class Writers Grant
- Deadline: September 30, 2023
Like every other grant, this is awarded to provide financial support while working on a manuscript. But it’s targeted at speculative fiction writers who are working-class or living from hand-to-mouth.
It’s funded by the Speculative Literature Foundation and has been awarded annually since 2013 to outstanding voices in speculative fiction.
The Working Class Writers Grant is worth $1000, which is enough to cover purchasing a new laptop and books or attending workshops.
And even when you receive this award, you can re-apply next time. However, preference will be given to those who haven’t benefited before.
Eligibility
- Open to international writers, including USA
- Emerging writers in the genre of speculative literature
- Applicants are from a low-income background
How to Apply
- For 2023, the application form will be open from September 1 to September 30. Therefore, you need to submit within this period to stand a chance.
- One of the requirements of your application is a cover letter. You must write a letter in not more than 750 words demonstrating how this $1000 grant will address your predicament.
- Also, send a writing sample that includes 10 pages of drama and poetry, a segment of a novella, or 5000 words of fiction.
FAQs About Writers Grants
Who should be awarded a writer’s grant?
Anyone can benefit from a grant, provided he or she fits the mold.
Are grants repayable?
No, they are not. And that’s what makes them different from loans.
What’s the difference between a writer’s grant and a writer’s fellowship?
While a writer’s grant is funding awarded to address some emergencies while on a writing project, a writer’s fellowship offers financing and proper guidance from an experienced team.
Are there grants available to females and older writers?
Of course.
Grants awarded to emerging female writers include the National League of American Pen Women, the Awesome Foundation Grant, and so on.
Meanwhile, older writers can apply for the Older Writers Grant, Robert H. Winner Memorial Award, and more.
What does a grant writer do?
A grant writer helps individuals or organizations receive grants by doing all the legwork for them, from conducting research to writing a proposal that meets the agency’s requirements.
Grants for Writers – Conclusion
There you have them!
Top five grants for writers in 2023, their eligibility criteria, and application process.
These grants are straightforward and only given out for charitable reasons.
So if you’re a writer currently faced with debts, sickness, or any other emergencies during your writing projects, check them out through their respective sites.
And if you have any questions about the grants for writers, feel free to ask us in the comment section below.