I Dream of Funding

I fantasize that one day I'll get paid to write. Not just a token amount scarcely enough to pay for a subscription to the local newspaper, but really paid. (I also fantasize that I'm living in the south of France while I'm doing this paid writing, but that's beyond the point...) So today's blog focus is money: winning it, earning it ... whatever works.

First up, a few resources for grant-seekers:

• The most comprehensive list is a subscription service from PEN America Center. Once I finish paying of my local newspaper subscription, I'll invest in this resource.



• The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies can help locate regional funding for writers and artists and give the heads up to more obscure resources. Don't pass up their links to other sources.



• And this is the National Society of Arts and Letters, which prides itself on encouraging young artists.



• Finally, if you're hiding an "exceptional" publication credit in your back pocket, you can always apply for an NEA Literature Fellowship

And next, a few good sources (other than your creased and coffee-stained copy of Writer's Market) for contest information:

• My personal favorite, Poets & Writers Magazine's Grants and Awards page. It's elegant, it's easy to use, it's inspiring. Awww.



• Winning Writers is also great reference for poets looking for contest info.



• The Poetry Society of America also publishes a pretty exhaustive list of contests and retreats on their Resources page.



• Writing-World.com also features a long list of contests.
  
  
• If you're a screenwriter, the Writer's Guild of America sites both list screenwriting awards and fellowships.

And finally, a few sources for paying work:

• WritersWeekly.com has a decent freelance job list.



• As does my other fave writing site, Mediabistro.com

Don't forget that most genres have their own lists of contests and awards. For example, you'd naturally check out the RWA if you're a romance writer, but would you think of checking out The Cat Writers' Association if you write about cats?

I'm still looking for the "Creative Writing in the South of France Grant", though. So clue me in if you find it, alright?