Grants and Work Opportunities for Writers

Writers, like most other workers, only get cash when they earn (work for) it. There are some awards and grants, but many grants are pretty small, and only meant to supplement a living, not constitute a whole living by themselves. If you want to be a writer, you will still have to create around the edges of your 9 to 5 job, or a couple of jobs you have stitched together. That having been said, there may still be grant money for you.


If you are willing to subscribe to the PEN grants and awards listings ($12 per year), you can get their constantly updated list of awards and grants. For $15 a year, you can subscribe to Funds for Writers paid, full list of grants, awards, and opportunities to earn money as a writer.

On the freebie side, you can peruse the Michigan State University’s website of grants for writers, or subscribe to two free newsletters also run by Funds for Writers—The Small Market Newsletter, which has opportunities for earning money in small writing markets, and the free money-earning listings. You can also check out the free listing of grants offered by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poets and Writers Awards.