You like me! You really like me!*

March 21, 2008

*contrary to popular belief, this is not what Sally Field said when she won the Academy Award in 1985 (her second) for “Places in the Heart.” She actually said: “…I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!”

In any case, somebody out there likes me. Or, likes my writing project. Because i’ve just won my first GRANT EVER! I’ve applied for numerous grants and fellowships over the years (many in the early 2000s, when I was in grad school). Then I got frustrated and didn’t apply for a time. But in the past two years i’ve started reapplying for writing residencies, fellowships, and grants. I’ve been wait listed for a couple, i’ve won partial (but not enough) scholarships for a couple of residencies, but i’ve never full-out won anything (except, in 1997, I won an Arts & Letters Scholarship for a short story).

Well, Wednesday I got a letter back from The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.

The wonderful wonderful Puffin Foundation. If you don’t know them, check out their website. Their mission:

The Puffin Foundation Ltd. has sought to
open the doors of artistic expression
by providing grants to artists and art organizations
who are often excluded from mainstream opportunities
due to their race, gender, or social philosophy.

I’ve applied once before for a Puffin Foundation grant–I think it was last year or the year before– but was unsuccessful then. My new book, though, really fits in with their philosophies and so I felt more confident in my application this time.

Here’s the letter they sent to me– with a CHECK! I’ve purposefully covered up the name of my project/book (I don’t want to jinx it!) and the amount they sent.

“Our board was truly impressed with the nature of your proposal and the commitment you have made to fulfil the objectives outlined in your request.”

I didn’t expect to hear back so quickly and I certainly didn’t expect a check already. I’m so overjoyed. This really makes me feel that my writing, and my project, has some merit, that it is an important project and that i’m on to something really good. I’m still waiting to hear from three other grants and one residency, and i’m applying for another grant this weekend. But mostly, i’m even more inspired to write write write.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Puffin Foundation, from the bottom of my heart.