Where can I find information on grants for writing?

It is hard to find grants to start a business, write a book or for other personal purposes. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov/ and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/ - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

Your best bet is for private grants. There may be private foundations willing to support authors. For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices."

If you're in Canada the Candian arts Council is where you want to look or the Worldwide Freelance Writers website has a lot of information on contests and such. Don't be afraid of self-publishing as long as you do your research about the company and know exactly what you're getting for your money. (Unfortunately the Canadian Arts Council discriminates against self publishing or small press, so they won't support self publshing/small press but regardless of what others think it's not a scam if you're with the right publisher.)

My publisher is mentioned on the third source below.

Hope that helps.

well, i was taught that the best way to work is, to pitch your idea to a possible customer bfore you start writing...

however, if you have the book written out already, a short outline would help to sell it because few people will actually sit down and read a full book...

newspapers and publishers should have informations on where to submit exposes/treatments/manuscripts to be considered... Dropping it off in person and making a good impression with the secretary can help you a great deal too...

good luck :)

Go to Longridge Writers Group online and take a test there. They will critique your work and show you places where you can get something published. I am a student there and a real live author is appointed as your teacher.

I find grants.gov the easiest, and most complete site to use. Several nice features of the site is that it has a viewer, and it also has a link to download a PDF file which many of you know is a tool which you can enlarge pages, ad you can save files for future ref.

Try your local book store and ask them the best way to get information or if they have any contact etc.

try litbrits.com