Blanket Justification for Arts Endowment Funding Application Guidelines and Requirements for Individuals

FY24

Creative Writing: Prose
GUIDELINES
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

Program Description
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000
grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that
enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career
advancement. Applications are reviewed through an anonymous process in which the criteria
for review are the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the submitted manuscript. Through
this program, the NEA seeks to sustain and nurture a diverse range of creative writers at various
stages of their careers and to continue to expand the portfolio of American art.
The program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in
alternating years. For FY 2024, which is covered by these guidelines, fellowships in prose
(fiction and nonfiction) are available. Fellowships in poetry will be offered in FY 2025 and
guidelines will be available in January 2024. You may apply only once each year.
Competition for fellowships is extremely rigorous. We typically receive more than 1,600
applications each year in this category and award fellowships to fewer than 3% of applicants.

We Do Not Fund
•

Individuals who previously have received two or more Literature Fellowships (in poetry
or prose) or Translation Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.

•

Individuals who have received any Literature Fellowship (in poetry or prose) or
Translation Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts on or after January 1,
2015.

•

News reporting.

•

Scholarly writing. (Writers who are engaged in scholarly work may wish to contact the
National Endowment for the Humanities.)

•

Work toward academic degrees.

Deadline and Announcement Dates
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government’s
online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted
application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 8, 2023. Late applications are not
accepted.
Expect notification of awards and rejections no earlier than December 2023. Our support of a
project may begin any time between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, and extend for up to
two years.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

Application Calendar
Category

Application Deadline

Earliest
Announcement of
Grant Award or
Rejection

Literature
Fellowships: Prose

March 8, 2023

December 2023

Earliest Beginning
Date for NEA Period
of Performance
January 1, 2024

Applicants are required to use Grants.gov. See "How to Apply" for further information.
Late applications will not be accepted.
In the event of an emergency (e.g., a hurricane or a SAM, Grants.gov or NEA systems
technological failure), the National Endowment for the Arts Chair may adjust application
deadlines for affected applicants. If a deadline is extended for any reason, an announcement
will be posted on our website.
Do not seek information on the status of your application before the announcement date that
is listed above.
If you have questions:
Email: LitFellowships@arts.gov
Call: 202-682-5034

Individuals who need assistance accessing this document may contact the NEA’s Office for
Accessibility at 202-682-5532or the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 /
CivilRights@arts.gov.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

Award Information
Grant Amount
Fellowships are for $25,000.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

Eligibility
You are eligible to apply in Prose if you meet the following requirements:
•

You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

•

You have not received two or more Fellowships (in poetry, prose, or translation) from
the National Endowment for the Arts. If you have received any award from the National
Endowment for the Arts, you must have submitted acceptable Final Reports to the NEA
by their due date(s).

•

You have not received any National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (in
poetry or prose) or Translation Fellowship on or after January 1, 2015 (FY 2015).

•

This is your only application to the NEA for FY 2024 individual support. You may not
apply for both a Literature Fellowship under this deadline and a Translation Project
under the January 12, 2023 deadline.

•

You have had published, between January 1, 2016, and March 8, 2023:
o At least five (5) different short stories, works of short fiction, excerpts from
novels or memoirs, or creative essays (or any combination thereof) in two or
more literary magazines, journals, anthologies, or publications that regularly
include fiction and/or creative nonfiction as a portion of their content; or
o A novel or novella; or
o A volume of short fiction or a collection of short stories; or
o A volume of creative nonfiction.
o Work must have been published for the first time with an eligible publisher
between these dates, not only reprinted or reissued in another format during
this period. Eligible publishers have a competitive selection process and offer
some service or services to their writers, such as editing and proofreading;
formatting and design; and/or promotion, marketing, and distribution. Studentled publications and publications that primarily print work by persons who are
affiliated with a particular academic institution are not eligible.
o You may use digital, audio, or online publications to establish eligibility, provided
that the publisher has a competitive selection process and offers professional
editing. If the online publication or website no longer exists, you must provide,
upon request, sufficient evidence that your work once appeared online. If
sufficient evidence cannot be provided, the online publication will not be
eligible.

The following content may not be used to establish eligibility:
•

Pre-publication material, such as galleys, proofs, and advance reader's copies.

•

Work that has appeared in a publication for which you are the editor, publisher, or staff.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines
•

Collaborative work.

•

Scholarly writing.

•

Instructional writing.

•

News Reporting.

•

Book reviews.

•

Editorials/letters to the editor.

•

Interviews.

See "How to Apply" for the documentation required to demonstrate eligibility.
IMPORTANT: Your application will not be eligible if incorrect or insufficient publication
information is provided. Ineligible applications will be rejected without panel review.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

How to Apply
Application Deadline: March 8, 2023
We strongly recommend that you submit your application no later than March 3, 2023 to give
yourself ample time to resolve any problems you might encounter. The Grants.gov system must
receive your validated and accepted application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on
March 8, 2023. You take a significant risk by waiting until the day of the deadline to submit.
Late applications will not be accepted.
These application guidelines provide all of the information you will need to submit an
application. Please read these instructions in their entirety before you begin the application
process. We suggest you keep them open while you complete your application as they contain
links to information you will need.
Electronic application through Grants.gov is mandatory. If you are unable to submit your
application electronically, you may request a waiver. A waiver will be granted for the following
reasons only:
•
•

Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Your waiver request must be in writing and must be received at the National Endowment for
the Arts at least three weeks before the application deadline. Click here for more information
on waivers.
WAIVER POP UP BOX:
Requesting a waiver: Literature Fellowships
If you are unable to submit your application electronically, you may request a waiver. A waiver
will be granted for the following reasons:
•
•

Internet access is not available within a 30-mile radius of your address.
Disability prevents you from submitting your application electronically.

Contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or by email at litfellowships@arts.gov for more
information on how to submit your waiver request. Waiver requests must be in writing and
must be received at the NEA at least three weeks before the application deadline, or no later
than 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 15, 2023.
Individuals who need assistance accessing this document may contact the Office of Accessibility
at Accessibility@arts.gov or call 202-682-5532 or the Office of Civil Rights at
CivilRights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

To Apply:
Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov
Step 2: Go to the grant opportunity package
Step 3: Follow the application instructions
Step 4: Submit your electronic application

Step 1: Register with Login.gov and Grants.gov
Before submitting an application to the NEA, you must register or renew your registration with
Login.gov and Grants.gov. It is your responsibility to create and maintain this registration.
Registration is a one-time process, which can take a day or more to complete. To allow time to
resolve any issues that may arise, we strongly advise that you do not wait until the day of the
application deadline to register. You will not be able to submit your application if you fail to
successfully register with Login.gov and Grants.gov.
New Applicants:
1. Register with Login.gov
o Go to Create an account to set up your Login.gov account. This account will allow
you to access many government websites, including Grants.gov.
2. Register with Grants.gov
o Click: Register and click the red button that says “Get Registered Now” at the
bottom of the screen.
o Next, fill out the contact information, choose a Username and Password, and
then click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen.
o Grants.gov will email you a temporary code to verify your email address. Enter
this code where instructed on the Registration page
o Under the “How would you like to proceed?” heading, be sure to select the Add
Individual Applicant Profile option to apply for funding opportunities on your
own behalf. See here for more information on adding a profile.
3. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
o Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts,
this is a one-time action.
o After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password
to sign in to Grants.gov.
Returning Applicants
1. If you have not already created a Login.gov account, go to Create an account
2. Link your Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts
o Click the “Login” button in Grants.gov, you will be prompted to link accounts,
this is a one-time action.
o After linking accounts, you will always use the Login.gov username and password
to sign in to Grants.gov.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines

The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites contact them directly:
•
•

Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online
form to submit a question.
Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult
the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact
Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Maintain documentation (e.g., screenshots with dates, emails with Grants.gov Support, etc.) of
your efforts to register before the deadline.

Step 2: Go to the Grant Opportunity Package
Access the application package on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below.
GO TO GRANT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE
[Funding Opportunity Number: 2023NEA03LFCW]
1. Clicking the link above will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in
Grants.gov.
2. The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3. You will be prompted to enter your Login.gov Username and Password.
4. After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a. Fill in the Application Filing Name field with your legal name, then
b. Click the Create Workspace button.
5. Upon a successful creation, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
6. You can access each required form online by clicking “Webform” OR you can download
the forms to your computer by clicking “Download”.
If you decide to download the forms, you will first need to verify your PDF software. To
download the forms, you must have a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by
Grants.gov installed on your computer. Go to "Adobe Software Tip Sheet" to see the

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines
compatible versions of Adobe Reader or to download and install Adobe Reader. See
important information about versions of Adobe Reader DC here.
The required forms are:
o Application for Federal Domestic Assistance - Individual Form
o Attachments Form
7. Complete the application based on the Application Instructions (Step 3).

Step 3: Follow the Application Instructions
Prepare your application materials for Grants.gov. Detailed instructions can be found here: LINK
TO PDF

Step 4: Submit Your Application to Grants.gov
Electronically submit the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance– Individual and required
attachments through Grants.gov.
1. Check the size of your electronic application. The total size should not exceed 10 MB.
2. To begin the submission process, log on to Grants.gov and go to the Forms tab on the
Manage Workspace page. Click the “Sign and Submit” button under the Forms tab.
Be certain that you are satisfied with your application before you click the “Sign and
Submit” button. No revisions to your application are possible through Grants.gov once
it is submitted. After submission, the only way to update items in your application is to
create a new application by repeating steps 2-4. The NEA will only review your most
recently submitted application.
3. Once you complete and submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen
explaining that your submission is being processed. Take a screenshot of this
confirmation screen and save it for your records. Retain the Grants.gov Tracking
Number that you receive in the application submission confirmation screen.
4. Verify that your application was validated by the Grants.gov system. Go to Track My
Application to confirm the validation and track the progress of your application
submission through Grants.gov. Do not wait until the day of the deadline to verify your
submission in case you encounter any difficulties. We will not accept late applications.
Note: Acceptance and validation by Grants.gov does not imply that the applicant has
uploaded the proper attachments. Before submitting your application, double check that
you have attached everything correctly.
IMPORTANT: Your application will receive an automatic rejection without panel review if:
•

One or more required forms or attachments are missing.

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Creative Writing: Prose FY24 Guidelines
•

Your writing sample does not meet the minimum page requirement of 20 pages.

•

Your name or other identifying information appears in your manuscript.

•

Incorrect or insufficient publication information is provided in your Summary of
Applicant Publications.

•

You have already received two or more fellowships from the NEA.

•

You have received any National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship (in poetry
or prose) or Translation Fellowship on or after January 1, 2015 (FY 2015).

•

You have not submitted acceptable Final Reports to the NEA by their due date(s) for
previous fellowship(s).

•

You are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

•

You must not have an exclusion record in SAM.gov that excludes you from receiving
federal financial assistance. Exclusions are also referred to as suspensions and
debarments. Awards cannot be issued to an excluded individual.
See https://sam.gov/content/exclusions to search the SAM Exclusions database.

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Application Review
Review Criteria
In reviewing applications for Literature Fellowships, advisory panelists consider solely the
artistic excellence and artistic merit of the writing sample that is submitted. The identity of the
applicant is not known to the panelists.

What Happens to Your Application
Applications are evaluated through an anonymous process according to the review criteria
above.
After processing by our staff to determine eligibility and completeness, applications are
reviewed, in closed session, by advisory panelists in the literary arts field. Each literary arts
panel comprises a diverse group of arts experts and at least one knowledgeable layperson. To
review the applications, the National Endowment for the Arts assembles a different advisory
panel every year, each diverse with regard to geography, race and ethnicity, sex/gender, and
artistic points of view. Panel recommendations are forwarded to the National Council on the
Arts, which then makes recommendations to the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations and makes the final decision on all grant
awards. Applicants are then notified of funding decisions.

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Award Administration
Award Notices
Announcements are expected by December 2023.

General Terms & Conditions
Federal and agency requirements that relate to grants awarded by the National Endowment for
the Arts are highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions. Included is information on reporting
requirements and lobbying prohibitions.

Banking Information & Tax Liability
In order to receive fellowship grant funds, grantees must provide the NEA with banking
information for a United States bank only.
The Internal Revenue Code provides that the full amount of a fellowship grant is taxable to its
recipient. If you have any questions about your own income tax liability, you should contact the
Internal Revenue Service or your tax counsel.

Legal Requirements
NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may apply to a
applicant or grantee, however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding these and
other legal requirements may be found in the General Terms & Conditions which sets forth
the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes, and Regulations that Govern
Your Award. There may be other applicable legal requirements that are not listed here.
•

Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in the Assurance of
Compliance below.

•

Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with requirements
set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts
in 2 CFR Part 3254. Failure to comply may result in the debarment or suspension of the
grantee and the National Endowment for the Arts suspending, terminating and/or
recovering funds.

•

Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be suspended
when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts, including judgment
liens against property for a debt to the federal government. New awards will not be
made if an applicant is still in debt status as of September 1.

•

Labor Standards (29 CFR Part 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must comply with
the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions Assisted by Grants
from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.

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•

The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. and 2 CFR Part 3256). The
grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drug-free workplace program as
well as comply with other requirements.

Assurance of Compliance
By signing and submitting its application form on Grants.gov, the Applicant certifies that it is
in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the
Arts regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to
determine compliance.
We may conduct a review to ensure that it is in compliance with these statutes. If the NEA
determines that a grantee has failed to comply with these statutes, it may suspend or
terminate the award, and/or recover funds. This assurance is subject to judicial enforcement.
The Applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:
•

On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by the
National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1110.

•

Solely on the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1151, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 ("ADA"), as amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

•

On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42
U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR
1156.

•

On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

Applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been discriminated against
on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age may file a complaint with the
Director of Civil Rights at the National Endowment for the Arts.
Applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a Federal or
state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:
Director, Office of Civil Rights
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20506

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Applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3) years. The
Applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as required by applicable
regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The Applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts funds to
comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of this assurance.
For further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified above,
contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov. For inquiries about
limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading Room, or contact the
Office of Civil Rights at civilrights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.

Privacy Act
The following notice is furnished in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a.
This information is solicited under the authority of the National Foundation on the Arts and the
Humanities Act, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq. and is primarily used for the purpose of application
review. Personal data, such as home address or personal cell phone number may not be
released, either in entirety or in part, as exempt from disclosure under FOIA exemption (b)(6).
Failure to provide the requested information could result in rejection of your application.

Standards for Service
The National Endowment for the arts has set the following standards for serving applicants. We
pledge to:
• Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
•

Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.

•

Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.

•

Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines available
promptly.

•

Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.

• Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.
We welcome your comments on how we are meeting these standards. Email:
webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Standards for Service.
For questions about these guidelines or your application, contact the Literary Arts staff at 202682-5034 or LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 12
hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the
guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden. Note: Applicants are
not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid U.S.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires TBD

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NEED HELP?
We have fielded many questions over the years and trust that we can help you troubleshoot
any problems you encounter. We are at your service.
Browse the answers below before you contact our staff.
Also, determine if your question is best addressed to the National Endowment for the Arts or
Login.gov, Grants.gov. Login.gov and Grants.gov are government-wide portals; they are
separate entities from the National Endowment for the Arts. Though we include some tips here
on navigating Login.gov and Grants.gov, most technical questions about registration and
uploading your application should be directed to Login.gov or Grants.gov.
Contact Login.gov for help with:
•
•

Registration problems with Login.gov
Login or username/password issues

Login.gov Help: Consult the information posted in their Help Center, or use their online form to
submit a question.
Contact Grants.gov for help with:
• Registration problems
• Your registration status
• Verifying and/or updating your registration information
• Technology related problems including:
o Web browser issues
o Questions about Workspace, webforms, or Adobe Reader
o Problems submitting your application through Grants.gov
The Grants.gov Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-518-4726 or
support@grants.gov. The website is www.grants.gov.
Contact the National Endowment for the Arts for help with:
• Eligibility questions
• Specific components of your application
• The prose fellowship guidelines
If, after looking over our guidelines and the answers in this section, you'd still like to speak to a
staff member, call our Literature Fellowships Hotline at 202-682-5034 or email us at
LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PACKAGE
How do I access the required forms for my application?
Once you have created a Workspace, you will see both required forms listed (the Application
for Federal Domestic Assistance (Individual) and the Attachments Form). For instructions on
how to create a workspace, click here or watch this video.
You can either fill out the required forms online by using the Webforms or you can download
them to your computer, fill them out, and upload them to your Workspace.
To fill these forms out online, click the button that says “Webform.” Be sure to hit the “save”
button at the bottom of each form once it is completed. If you choose to download the forms,
be sure your version of Adobe Reader is compatible with the Grants.gov system. You can find a
list of supported versions of Adobe Reader here, or contact Grants.gov directly to check if your
version is compatible. You can also try using the Webforms, which allow you to complete the
forms online without downloading and do not require you to have Adobe Reader.
Which internet browser should I use to file my application?
According to Grants.gov, Internet Explorer is the recommended browser. However, we've
found that other browsers will work, too. Mac users who have download and/or upload issues
should try using Google Chrome or Firefox. If you have trouble downloading the application
forms, try using a different browser or try using the Webforms instead. If you are still having
trouble accessing the forms, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726.
Why can't I find the attachments on your website?
You'll only find the attachments form on Grants.gov once you’ve created your Workspace.
Although the attachments form has 15 attachment buttons, you will submit only two (2)
attachments with your application:
1. Your manuscript
2. Your Summary of Applicant Publications
You can create these attachments using any word processing software.
The information I typed into my attachments form disappeared. How do I avoid this?
If you are accessing the attachments form as a Webform, be sure to click the “save” button at
the bottom of the screen before closing the form. If you are downloading the attachments
form, be sure to save it, and all your attachments, directly on your computer. Once you have
downloaded the attachments form, you will work on your application offline and will only
access the Internet to submit your completed application.
How do I upload my writing sample using the attachments form?

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It's similar to attaching a document to an email. On the attachments form, click the “Add
Attachment” button and select the correct file from your computer. [Reminder: you're the only
one who can ensure that your application is complete.]
The character limit for the project description box on the Application for Federal Assistance
form doesn't give a lot of room to describe my project. Can I add more information
elsewhere?
That's not necessary. If you've reached the character limit for this box, you've written too
much. This information is for staff use only to ensure that you would use your fellowship to
support your writing; the review panel will not see it (the panelists will only see your
manuscript). Your application will be judged only on your manuscript, so we suggest spending
more time on that portion of your application and less time on crafting your project description.
How do I determine start and end dates?
The start and end dates refer to the beginning and ending dates of the fellowship. If selected
for a fellowship, you will only be able to receive award funds within these dates. The start and
end dates refer to the official beginning and ending dates of the fellowship. The NEA will only
award funds within these dates, even though some aspects of your project may take place
before or after this time.
Can I submit my resume in addition to my other forms?
No. The only part of the application that the review panel will see is your manuscript. The panel
will not know your age, gender, race or ethnicity, education level, or whether you are an
established or emerging writer.
How do I determine my congressional district? What if I'm an American living abroad?
Visit the House of Representatives website at www.house.gov and use the "Find Your
Representative" tool. If the address on your application is outside the United States, enter 00000 for your Congressional District.
My postal code is in red after I type it. Does this mean there's a problem?
Yes. The form requires your Zip+4. If you do not know your full zip code, you may look it up at
www.usps.com/zip4/.
What happens if my name appears on or in my manuscript material?
Your application will be ineligible for further consideration and will not be reviewed by the
panel. Double check to make sure your first or last name is not anywhere in the manuscript
material.
Will I be able to update my application after the deadline?
No. No changes or additions to the application or manuscript will be accepted once your
application has been submitted. If you feel you've made an error on your application and it is
before the deadline, you may contact the Literary Arts staff for guidance by calling or emailing
the Literature Fellowships hotline.
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How do I create a PDF?
The simplest way is to use the "Save As" option in your word processing software and choose
"Save as a PDF" (or similar wording.) You may also use a PDF conversion program. To learn
more, go to PDF Conversion Programs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY
Should I list everything I've published to show I'm eligible just in case there's a question?
No. If you can establish your eligibility with one book, just list that book. If you're unsure if the
book meets our eligibility requirements, list journal publications as well, but only as many as
you need to establish your eligibility. Our panelists will not see your publications list.
I don't have all the information on all of my necessary publications to establish eligibility. Is
that a problem?
Yes. You must include the required information per our guidelines, including ISBN/ISSN
numbers for books and journals. We will check your Summary of Applicant Publications
document as part of the eligibility screening process. If the Literary Arts staff can't find one of
the items on your list, we'll contact you for proof of publication. If you can't provide that proof,
that publication will not count toward your eligibility.
My book will be released soon after the fellowship application deadline. Can I use it to
establish my eligibility?
No. In order to apply, you must meet the eligibility requirements by the deadline date. Reader's
advance copies, galleys, uncorrected proofs, and commitments for future publication or
production do not fulfill the requirements. We use the publisher's official publication date to
determine eligibility. Check with your publisher if you have questions about this date. No
exceptions are made to the eligibility requirements. If your book will be published after the
deadline, use other publications to establish your eligibility or consider applying at a later date.
I'm a poetry writer. Can I apply for a prose fellowship?
If you can establish your eligibility with the required number of published prose pieces, yes.
Many writers publish in various genres. Though the manuscript you submit for review must be
prose, you will not be limited to writing in one genre should you receive a fellowship.
Can the National Endowment for the Arts help me get my book published?
No. The Fellowships Program is designed to help published creative writers set aside time to
write; there is no guarantee that it will lead to publication of a book. In order for your
manuscript to be reviewed by our panel, you must meet our eligibility requirements.
I'm self-published. Am I eligible for a fellowship?
For determining eligibility, we do not accept any publication by presses that publish work
without competitive selection or professional editing. If you feel your publication falls outside
of these parameters, call the Literature Fellowships Hotline for guidance.

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I'm a blogger. Am I eligible for a fellowship?
In general, no. Personal blogs on individual websites may not be used to establish eligibility.
However, curated blogs may qualify. Contact the Literature Fellowships Hotline if you feel your
blog fits into this category.
Do I have to submit my application in English?
An application must be submitted in English, but the manuscript may be in a language other
than English, as long as it is accompanied by an English translation, though the translation need
not be done by the applicant. If you wish to submit your manuscript in a language other than
English, contact the Literature Fellowships Hotline at least 10 days prior to the deadline for
more guidance.

OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How will my application be evaluated?
Creative Writing Fellowship applications are reviewed through an anonymous process by an
advisory panel of writers that recommends awards based on the artistic excellence and artistic
merit of the submitted manuscript. The National Endowment for the Arts assembles a different
advisory panel every year, each diverse with regard to geography, race and ethnicity, gender,
and artistic points of view.
Will you accept joint applications?
No. Fellowships are individual grants.
I'm on faculty at a university. May the fellowship go directly to my university so that I may
buy time off from teaching?
No. Fellowships are individual awards; all funds are dispersed only to the fellow. However, once
our fellows receive funds, it is up to them how they wish to spend it (as long as it relates to
their writing). A fellow could pay his/her university directly, in other words.
Which part of my application carries the most weight with the panel?
The most important piece of your application as far as judging is concerned is your manuscript.
It should be representative of your best recent work, published or unpublished. It must be work
for which you have sole artistic responsibility. Choose your manuscript sample carefully.
Can plans for use of the fellowship change, within reason?
Yes. Read the General Terms and Conditions for Literature Fellowships for more information.
If you have questions about your application, contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or
email LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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Agency Contacts
If you have questions about your application, contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or
email LitFellowships@arts.gov.

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