Registration Deadline: March 3
Application deadline: April 1

The Book Publication category offers support to noncommercial literary presses. The Literary Magazine Publication category offers support to noncommercial literary magazines. Publishers must principally publish poetry, fiction, drama, or literary (creative) nonfiction. The Program welcomes new applicants to these categories.

On-line publications will be reviewed separately from print publications, and are strongly advised to consult with Program staff well before the March registration deadline.

Grants in these categories are awarded on a multi-year basis.

Eligibility Criteria

Noncommercial book publishers must have produced at least two new volumes (not reprints) of poetry, fiction, drama or literary nonfiction in the two years prior to the application deadline. Noncommercial literary magazine publishers must have published at least two separate issues in the two years prior to the application deadline. Double issues count as one issue.

University presses and writing competitions are not eligible for Council support.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. For all Publication applicants: complete the Publication form as part of this request. (Click on the "supplemental form" link on the left navigation bar of your NYSCA home page to access these forms.) Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions
(Book Publication)

1. Editorial Overview
Briefly describe your editorial plans, highlighting new or expanded activities, and detailing the roles of your editorial and advisory boards. Summarize plans for the following year.

2. Publishing Schedule
List the literary titles you published last year and those planned for publication in the request year, noting author, release date, and genre. Note any significant changes in the volume of publication, providing a reason for the changes.

3. Background
When was the press founded and how many titles has it published to date? How many of these titles are still in print?

4. Audience/Promotion
Describe the audience for your literary publications. Describe the specific marketing, sales campaigns, and promotional efforts to target and broaden this audience. Note special plans, if any, for individual titles.

5. Print Runs
What are the average print runs for publications in the various genres that you publish (poetry, literary non-fiction, fiction, drama)?

6. Finances
Describe specific plans, projects and activities for meeting current and future expenses.

7. Distributors
List the names of the book distributors that you use, detailing the terms of the distribution agreement(s).

8. Pricing
What is the average cover price (or range) for books published? How many complimentary and review copies are distributed per title? Briefly detail your policy for distributing complimentary and discounted copies.

9. Artists' Fees
Describe the system and the amounts of payment for editors, authors, and translators and explain any changes or improvements planned.

10. New Technologies/Access
Discuss your use of universal access technologies such as Braille, recorded books, and large type. Describe your use of emerging technologies such as the internet, e-books, and print-on-demand publishing.

11. Sales
Provide numbers of books and titles sold, and total sales revenues less distribution costs for each of the past two years.

Budget Notes

Note organizational efforts to increase individual and foundation/corporate donations in the budget notes section of the project budget. Also provide a breakdown of fees paid to writers, editors, and translators.

Application Narrative Questions
(Literary Magazine Publication)

1. Editorial Overview
Briefly describe your editorial plans, highlighting new or expanded activities, and detailing the roles of your editorial and advisory boards. Summarize plans for the following year.

2. Publishing Schedule
How many issues are published per year? What is the average number of pages per issue? What is the average print run per issue? Detail any changes planned in these numbers.

3. Background
When was the magazine founded and how many issues has it published to date?

4. Finances
Describe specific plans, projects and activities for meeting current and future expenses.

5. Audience/Promotion
Describe the audience for your literary publications. Describe the specific marketing, sales campaigns, and promotional efforts to target and broaden this audience. Note special plans, if any, for individual issues.

6. Distributors
List the names of the distributors that you use, detailing the terms of the distribution agreement(s).

7. Pricing
What are the single issue price and the subscription rates? How many subscribers do you have? How many complimentary and review copies are distributed per issue? Briefly detail your policy for distributing complimentary and discounted issues. Detail any changes in pricing.

8. Artists' Fees
Describe the system of payment for editors, authors and translators and explain any changes or improvements planned.

9. New Technologies/Access
Discuss your use of universal access technologies such as Braille, recorded books, and large type. Describe your use of emerging technologies such as internet and e-publishing.

10. Sales/Subscriptions
Provide numbers of subscriptions sold and a breakdown of net revenue from individual subscriptions, institutional subscriptions, and distributor sales from each of the past two years.

Budget Notes

In the budget notes provide a breakdown of fees paid to editors, writers, and translators. Note organizational efforts to increase individual and foundation/corporate donations in the budget notes section of the project budget.

Support Materials

Support material must be postmarked, e-mailed or hand-delivered to the program by the application deadline.

1. 3 copies of each of the 2 most recent titles or literary magazine issues, for a total of 6 books. (Materials must be submitted in English or bilingual editions.) Do not re-send titles or magazine issues submitted with previous NYSCA applications.

2. For book publishers, include 3 copies of the most recent catalog

3. 3 copies of resumés of key literary personnel, including principal editors

4. Representative sample of recent marketing/publicity materials (3 copies)