For writers who’ve had the usual rejections from agents and publishers, self-publishing is becoming more and more of a valid choice on the road to publication. However, it needn’t be a financial burden. There are a wide range of grants, awards, and fellowships available to emerging writers and professionals who’ve got a manuscript needing financial support.
Writing Grants In Canada, USA, And Britain
The Arts Council will grant a minimum of £1000 to authors who have had their work published in the past or have proof that they are serious in their attempt to publish. This does not mean writing a book and sending it off to agents, but producing it yourself at a high quality. It also must benefit the community in some way.
The grant is to pay for research and travel time, editing fees and production costs. It is not money for a new high fi or luxury goods and when the application is make, you must detail what each cost is for and produce results.
Emerging writers can get up to $3,000 (Canadian) from the Canada Council if they have at least one book published or have been published on two separate occasions in periodicals or short story anthology. Mid-range and experienced writers can apply for more.
The website Grants and Fellowships features a list of additional grants and funding from the US and is well worth a gander. It covers a wide range of available grants just waiting for the right applicant.
Get The Support Of Your Local Council And Community
If someone is writing a historical or local non-fiction guide, sometimes they can get support from your local council and bookstores. This may not be cash up front, but getting the support and advertising can help generate the sales needed to re-gain capital lost in the first print run.
Borders often features local guides and regional books by self-published authors and are usually very supportive and set up book signings. Local clubs can also lend support if your book topic is relevant. It may not lead to immediate cash, but the network of recognition for the book will grow steadily.
Enter Competitions For Cash Prizes And Promotion
The Self-Publishing Awards are run by the David St John Thomas Trust and Writers News in the UK. Entering costs £5 and self-published authors can win up to £1000 for the best self-published book. This is great for publicity and arranging book signings. If won, often local papers will run a special feature on the author and book, often incorporating the author's press release if they have one.
The US also has a self-publishing award which is open internationally. Entry cost $100, but along with a cash prize, winners and runners up are featured in Publishers Weekly, which can often get orders in the thousands.
There are also lists of literary prizes that may be relevant to an author's self-published book in the Writers Market UK and The Writers Handbook. The key is to look.
