Customer Reviews

Money for Writers: Grants, Awards, Prizes, Contests, Scholarships, Retreats, Resources, Conferences, and Internet Information

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was excited when I ordered "Money for Writers" in mid-1997. I've been freelancing full time for 17 years and I thought I might be able to land a grant or project that would let me concentrate on a "from the heart" project. No such luck -- the info in "Money for Writers" is profoundly disappointing. Billot doesn't provide enough info about the listed grants and fellowshops for serious writers to be able to make smart decisions about whether it's worthwhile to apply. Introductory chapters provide no helpful advice on successfully applying. Worst of all, when I returned the book, Billot ignored my request for my money back...it wasn't until several writers from the American Society of Journalists and Authors started clamoring together for refunds that any were forthcoming. Overall, a great idea torpedoed by its execution.

As a professional journalist, let me describe this book as economically as I can. It sucks. I was fooled by the title. It is a book that the author could have had compiled by an intern. I would be surprised if she spent more than 45 minutes of her own time on it. It is nothing more than a list of available grants, with names and addresses of the sponsoring organizations. No information about the award. What good is a book like this without giving a few paragraphs about the criteria for each award, or a few examples of recent winners. Arghhh! It pains me to think of the editing and severe scrutiny I have endured by editors, while this piece of crud made it onto the shelves. Who does the author know?

I was excited when I received this book, but my interest soon turned into anger. What a rip off. There's little information about the grants and awards, and worse yet, I found....by doing some research which the author certainly didn't do....that some of the awards no longer exist! Pity the poor writer who uses this book as a reference. Terrible.

I found "Money for Writers" extremely helpful. It lists hundreds of grants and awards with small snippets as to what they fund -- i.e poetry, fiction, drama, etc. The purpose of Ms. Billot's book is to provide writers with a consise listing to contact for more information, it is NOT a listing of federal grants, or what is known online as "free money". If you are looking for specific details ... merely type "grant money" in your browser search box.

As to some of her entries no longer existing, Money for Writers' copyright is 1996, and 1997... 6 and 7 years ago. Take a look thru WRITER'S MARKET 2003, or POETRY MARKET 2003. Find a trade journal and join or write to them.... do a search for an award, etc you're interested in -- find their dotcom; whatever you can think of. But Money for Writers is not a detailed guide.

That would be the federal government, or private funding sources. Try Grant Seeker Pro's site. Or the Guru of Grants, Mathew Lesko. [I must warn you however, that Lesko's book is 800 pages long]

Anyway, I have been writing FOR YEARS, and found "Money for Writers" very helpful. Just take what you find in it's pages as a "short list" that you need to investigate and follow up on.

Hang in there, and good luck, I know what a writer's life is like.

This book opens up some opportunities for people like myself. That is, someone who loves writing but has no experience with it. Without this book I would have no idea that there are actually things I can do with my work. Besides file it and read it to friends and family. But I do feel the book lacks some important content when dealing with organizations. And maybe some more ideas on presentation and subject are needed.

Did not realize the book was over 10 yrs old. BUT it was still informative and gave my daughter some starting information and assisted with letters questions to ask etc. Currently she is looking up all the mentioned "money" on the internet then following up. Shipped promptly nice condition good doing business with you.

"When a book like this comes along - writer's should SIT UP, TAKE NOTICE and BUY IT!" Barnaby Conrad, author/founder Santa Barbara Writer's Conference "This book could, and will, change someone's life. Get a copy for every writer you know." Frances Halpern, Los Angeles Times