Ambitiously Authentic: What I've Learned about Funding My Dream

By Katherine Hauswirth

I've lost count of the scholarship and residency applications I've had rejected. But in 2014, I won a scholarship to the Wesleyan Writers Conference, and this year I was honored to be an Artist in Residence at Trail Wood, the memorial sanctuary and former home of nature writer Edwin Way Teale. I've thought about the difference between my prior attempts and my wins, and here are a few lessons I learned:

• Go local: FundsforWriters (FFW) often lists state- or region-specific grants — watch for them! Far-away locales don't necessarily equal prestige or a higher level of success. My motivations for going local were at least in part due to limited time and money for travel, but familiarity with the physical locations (both in Connecticut, my home state) and the local culture made a difference in terms of how I penned my applications, and, probably, how judges accepted them.

• Go niche: Even if your work crosses genres, take ownership of a specific writing category. When I finally figured out that nature writing was my "thing," the tide began to shift. When I applied for the writers' conference scholarship, my voice took on a more confident tone as I talked about my specialty. In the case of the residency, the Connecticut Audubon Society sought writers with a strong interest in nature. Again, FFW lists many of these niche awards for categories such as mystery writers, journalists, or specific demographic groups.

• Be yourself: In all forms of writing, genuine shines through. My applications included enthusiasm and revelations about my personality, while being careful not to overdo it by being overly-effusive or writing solely to impress the judges.

• Don't skimp on research: If you are able to visit the physical location of your opportunity, do it to get a feel for the place. But whether or not a visit is possible, research the history of the award and its former recipients and read descriptions of the place/event. This will engender a tone that reflects in-depth understanding of the award. Besides being able to visit my intended award locales, I scoured the application websites and other sources for details that resonated with me and informed my submission.

• Plan ahead and pace yourself: Savvy research and authenticity won't help if you aren't practical about writing well in advance of deadline, allowing time for many rewrites. Setting milestone dates and reminders in my electronic calendar helped me stay on track. It's also important to avoid "trigger finger." Like many writers, I tend to send work out prematurely, driven by both enthusiasm and impatience. You may need to step away for a while to gain perspective (another reason to plan a generous development timeline!). Reading aloud is another important strategy — no doubt my office neighbors were wondering about the muttering next door.

• Choose your readers carefully: Read up on the contest judges; consider that in some cases the judges are not writers. Ask trusted friends/colleagues to read your work, paying close attention to their overall reactions and specific comments. In my case, the input of some carefully chosen nonwriters was as valuable as that of my peers.
 
It should go without saying that you also need to pay attention to technicalities — word count limits, writing sample format, etc. Check your work against the guidelines a final time. When you hit the send button or the post office, you can be confident that you've done your best and improved your odds. In my case, the work I put in was rewarded many times over in a sense of fulfillment at finally finding funding for a longstanding dream. I wish the same for every hardworking writer. 
 
Bio:
Katherine Hauswirth's career as a writer and editor spans more than 15 years. Her freelance work often centers on themes of nature and ecology. Her blog, First Person Naturalist,, is a reflection on experiencing and learning about nature in Connecticut. She has been published in forums including The Christian Science Monitor, Orion, Postconsumers, Whole Life Times, Wilderness House Literary Review, Chronogram, Seasons, and The Writer. She was a biweekly columnist at BiblioBuffet, a Web site for book lovers, and was awarded a Wesleyan Writers Conference scholarship based on her nature writing in 2014. In 2015, she was awarded the honor of Artist-in-Residence at the Edwin Way Teale writing cabin and home site in Connecticut, an Audubon property. Email: khauswirth@sbcglobal.net
 

 

RHODE ISLAND STATE COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

RHODE ISLAND FELLOWSHIPS
http://www.arts.ri.gov/grants/fellowshipguidelines-fy16-revised.pdf
Fellowships encourage the creative development of artists by enabling them to set aside time to pursue their work and achieve specific creative and career goals. Deadline April 1, 2016. You must have established legal residence in Rhode Island for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to the date of application and you must be a current legal resident of the State of Rhode Island at the time that grant funds are disbursed. One $5,000 Fellowship and one $1,000 Fellowship Merit Award are granted in each discipline.

RHODE ISLAND INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
http://www.arts.ri.gov/grants/Individuals/pgiguidelines-fy17revised.pdf
Through PGI, RISCA supports highly creative and talented artists who seek to produce, perform, teach, or share their work with the public. Projects might include the coordination of community arts events, public performances, arts workshops, creative collaborations, and exhibitions and installations with a strong public component. Deadline April 1, 2016. Applicants may request up to a maximum of $5,000.



ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
The Artist-in-Residence program offers an opportunity for artists to pursue new creative endeavors while immersed in the rugged mountain landscape, rich cultural heritage and wealth of biological diversity at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In turn, selected artists continue the long tradition of interpreting resources in ways that enrich the park experience for today's visitors and leave lasting impressions for future generations. GSMNP seeks writers, musicians, craftsmen, composers, painters, sculptors, photographers, storytellers, performance artists, and videographers who's work is engaged in issues that are relevant to the park's interpretive themes. Deadline February 25, 2016. 



WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY POETRY CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP
https://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas/poetry/ScholarshipOpportunities.aspx
Scheduled June 8-11, 2016. Deadline March 15, 2016. The scholarship includes all fees, meals and lodging, and a $200 travel allowance. To be eligible, applicants must have published at least one chapbook of 48 pages or less (no full-length collections). Metrical poetry is favored. There is no entrance fee. (**Thanks to www.erikadreifus.com) 



WHITING FOUNDATION
https://whiting.submittable.com/submit/58029ee8-6d84-486b-84bc-ad400e5eb6e9
The Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant of $35,000 will be awarded to as many as three writers in the process of completing a book-length work of nonfiction for a general, not an academic, readership. Its purpose is to give grantees the additional means to do exacting research, to free up the time to bring the writing to the highest possible standard, and to encourage original and ambitious projects. Deadline May 1, 2016. Projects must currently be under contract with a publisher in the United States to be eligible, and the contract must have been signed at least two years before applying for the grant (i.e., by May 1, 2014); this is to ensure that the writer is sufficiently far along to identify challenges that have arisen since beginning work. Authors must be US citizens or residents to qualify.

STAFF WRITER - SLATE
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/slate_fare/2008/04/a_job_for_you_at_slate.html
Slate is hiring a full-time business and economics writer for its Moneybox team. We’re looking for a generalist, someone who can help our readers make sense of topics as far-ranging as the latest market swoons, Silicon Valley moonshots, consumer brand revolutions, and economic policy shifts. Can be located in NY or DC. 



COPY EDITOR - SLATE
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/slate_fare/2008/04/a_job_for_you_at_slate.html
Slate is seeking a full-time copy editor/Web producer to join either our New York or Washington, D.C., offices. Candidates will be quick-thinking and exacting editors with a passion for the English language. The job entails copy-editing content, guiding it through the production process, developing a symbiotic relationship with our publishing system, and having a sense of ownership and responsibility over what appears in the magazine. Experience at an online publication is strongly preferred, but not required. Can be located in NY or DC. 
 

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IMMERSION WRITING ON RANCH IN WYOMING

Authors Janet Hubbard (Vengeance in the Vineyard series, Poisoned Pen Press; creator of writing program, Closet Writers Ink in Vermont) and Tina Welling (Writing Wild most recent book, in addition to  three novels published by Penquin Group;  faculty member at Jackson Hole Writers Conference) ) invite you to join them at the magnificent Willow Creek Ranch in eastern Wyoming (airport, Casper) June 12th-18th, where two writing workshops a day are offered, along with individual mentoring.

Lodging, three meals a day, comfortable camping at the Hole-in-the-Wall one night, and horseback riding (if desired) are included in the $1,400 price ($1,200 if sign up before April 1st).

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NONFICTION WRITERS CONFERENCE

The 6th annual Nonfiction Writers Conference returns May 4-6, 2016. This event is completely
virtual—no travel required! Pull up a seat on your couch and join us as 15 top speakers cover
how to publish, promote, and profit with nonfiction books! Details and registration:
NonfictionWritersConference.com.  Click here to view more details












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