Writing

Writing is an important aspect of your grant application, but all parts of the process are crucial. Still, many artists struggle with this step in particular.

Give yourself time to refine your writing and save time in the future by saving and storing your grant applications and proposals in one place.

Additionally, you should craft the following:

• Artist's Statement (guidelines from GYST here)
• Narrative Bio (sample bios and statements here)
• CV (tips here)
• Press Clips: not written, but compiled by you

Have your friends and family members read through all of these bits of writing, paying attention to tone, grammar, and appearance.

EXERCISE:

Introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Tell that person who you are, what you make, and why you make it. Think of this quick introduction as the start of your new, super straightforward artist statement.

REMEMBER: Choose Wisely

Applying for grants can be a time intensive process. Before you commit, you will want to make sure that you not only meet the criteria, but also are a desirable and competitive candidate. Many sites have lists of current and past awardees. Look through these groups to see if you fit among them.

Read the Directions

Good writing starts with good reading. In essence, funders are looking for individuals or teams who will satisfy a need or desire they have. You need to know what they're looking for and what they want. It's unrealistic to assume you are a good fit for any and every grant you'll find as you begin your research. Apply to the grants that are right for you.

Once you have clarified your goals and selected the right opportunity, you should read through all the materials and directions available to you. And then read everything all the way through again. You want to be sure you are eligible to apply for the grant before you start the time consuming process of polishing your proposal. Make a note of any important deadlines in your calendar immediately. (I use Google calendar and Wunderlist—both are free!)

Create an Application Timeline

Never expect that you will sit down and finish a grant application in one sitting.

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something—anything—down on paper. What I’ve learned to do when I sit down to work on a shitty first draft is to quiet the voices in my head.” —Anne Lamott

If there is a hard deadline for the application, work backwards from the due date to determine how you will break the time you have into manageable chunks and action items. Make a list of all the things you need to do in order to apply. Consider the following:

Documentation

• Do you need images of your work? If so, how many? What are the specs for those images? How will these images be submitted—online, snail mail, in person, etc.? If you are not good at documenting your work, hire a professional.
• Do you need to create a mockup or rendering of your proposal? Again, if you need assistance creating a mockup, barter with a friend or pay someone.
• Make sure that your work samples are your best! Also, it's imperative that your work samples connect to the project or idea you are proposing.

Proposal/Application Procedure

• Do you need a cover letter, letter of interest, project proposal, or something else? How much writing do you need to do for this application? If you know writing is a weakness, you will need to have more time to work of this step of the process.

Recommendations

• Do you need letters of recommendation? If so, who is/are the best candidate(s) to recommend you for this grant? (Previous awardees make for a great endorsement.) Be sure to give your recommenders an appropriate length of time to write letters for you.
• Always check with people first before giving their contact information to a funder.

Free Writing

Artists have a reputation for being inarticulate. Prove the stereotype wrong by making your proposal thoughtful and well-researched. If you're having trouble getting started, start with a "free write" session. Write down your organic thoughts as you answer the following:

• What do I want to accomplish?
• How will this grant help me accomplish my goals?
• Why does the world need this project? Why does the world need this project now?
• Who is your audience and how do they benefit from this project?

EXERCISE:

Spend a few minutes brainstorming about the next big project you want to tackle. Then, consider who might be interested in this work? Are there specific nonprofits or individuals who would contribute to its fruition?

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Often times, we think of writing—perhaps like your studio practice—as a solitary activity. In reality, you should gather a team of qualified people to help you with various parts of the process.

• Take a friend out for coffee with the objective of talking through your ideas. Have them ask thoughful questions about your practice as a maker.
• Have another person proofread the application, paying particular attention to the ideas. Keep in mind that most likely, the people reading through your application will not know you or your work. Make sure you are thorough. Ask them to poke holes in your application.
• Lastly, get a copyeditor. The last person to view your proposal should have a keen eye for grammar. And if you don't know anyone with these skills, hire one.

General Writing Tips

1. Be clear. Don't use big words because you know what they mean. Try to be straightforward and aim to be as unpretentious as possible.
2. Be concise. After you have written and revised your draft, edit out all qualifiers and filler text: really, very, sort of, kind of, slightly, overly... avoid adverbs in general.
3. Write a reverse outline. Read through every paragraph and dissect each sentence. Does each sentence relate to the point of the paragraph? Are your transitions between paragraphs clear?
4. Be confident. Use the future tense. Avoid conditional phrasing. Make your interest and enthusiasm apparent.
5. Use spell check, but pay attention to things that are not always spotted on spell check such as homophones.
6. Read your writing aloud! Record yourself and listen to it later.
7. Print out your writing and read through the hard copy. Change the font to one that you do not use often.

Writing Resources

Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. New York: Longman, 1999.

Zinsser, William. On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.

EXERCISE:

Pretend you are applying for a grant to complete a public art project in Lower Manhattan. Write a dynamic first sentence of your project statement.

Other Common Parts of Grant Application

Cover Letter

This letter describes your goals and gives a summary of the proposal. Make sure your letter is formatted appropriately.

Project Description

The project description is a succinct summary of what you plan to do and why. Usually this document is one or two pages, but be sure to check the instructions for your grant application.

See more under the Everything Else tab.