A Few Good Tips

Are you losing out on possibilities to help fund your writing project? Are you stuck on the idea that if you don't snag an agent who will win you the big deal with the big publisher you will never publish your work? Do you need a room with a view and a table and a few months to get your worthwhile writing project finished? There are ways to find money, time, and a quiet place to write. There are also avenues through which you can find funding to publish your book, or publish a book you believe in. Can you put into words why you should receive funding, a place and the time to finish your project, or backing for your publishing project? I bet the answer is 'yes' on at least one of those counts or you wouldn't be reading this. 

Here are a few tips on where to look for funding for writing/publishing projects for the individual or the small press:

1. Don't just look for funders in the literary field, look for funders also in the field in which you are writing/publishing about.  Is it an environmental story? A self-help book for addicts? A memoir about someone who overcame dyslexia?  Look also for funders in those fields.
2. Do you know there are thousands of Crowdfunding programs? Research crowdfunding strategies and read about crowdfunding success stories.
3.  Write a powerful one-pager about your project. Include who will benefit from the book, who will buy it, why you wrote it (or are writing it), and why you are qualified. You will be able to use this one-pager in all kinds of fundraising situations. You will be able to use it to sell your book.

The art of winning grant money and fundraising is a mystery to many. Most of us assume that you have to be a non-profit organization providing charitable services for the needy, a public service television or radio station, or a church to raise donations for a worthy project. While all of those organizations do in fact have access to billions of dollars in grants money and  charitable donations, there are today a growing number of opportunities for individuals with talent and promising careers in writing and publishing to raise funds in support of their work and their publications.

At the beginning of this century there was talk of a dying literary field, that people would soon not be reading books, and that only the behemoth publishers would survive. In fact, just the opposite has come to pass. Because of the greater access to the many talented writers through digital mediums, the world of publishing has expanded its reach. More people know about more writers. Small, independent presses have picked up the slack where the giants have opted to publish only New York Times best-sellers. There are more ways to publish the written word and put it in the hands of eager readers.

Part of being human is loving story. Now, we have more people, more writers, more stories, and more ways to publish, and more ways to read. We also have now more available funds to support independent artists and publishers. There are a growing number of foundations that support artists and artist groups that support artists. There are new ways to access donations including thousands of Crowdfunding sources with billions of funding dollars to share and disperse. Arts Commissions are more inclusive and far-reaching in their support of individuals than ever before. The trick is knowing where to look, what to look for, and how to ask.

There is one thing that has not changed: The successful writer understands the premise of their story, why readers want to read, and how to pitch their vision to those who can help put the story to the printed page. The successful publisher understands how and why their business works. Writers are learning more every day about promoting their work, now they can learn more about how to fund their work.