Registration deadline: March 6
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, and may be reviewed in a competitive process in FY10.

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, writing competitions, and projects requiring writers to pay manuscript reading fees 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 Book or Literary Magazine Publication Fact Sheet as part of this request. (Click on the Book Publication or Literary Magazine Publication Fact Sheet link in the green navigation bar to the right of these instructions 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
Use the Book Publication Fact Sheet to list the literary titles you published last year and those planned for publication in the request year, noting author, release date, and genre. Note here 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? Discuss policy for maintaining backlist. 

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

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

7. 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.

8. Fact Sheet
Have you completed the Book Publication Fact Sheet? See Support Materials. 

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

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 issues.

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

6. 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.

7. Fact Sheet
Have you completed the Literary Magazine Publication fact sheet? See Support Materials.

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. 4 copies of each of the 2 most recent titles or literary magazine issues, for a total of 8 books or magazines. (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).

5. Complete either Book Publication or Literary Magazine Publication Fact Sheet and email sheet to lit@nysca.org or mail with support materials. See links in green navigation bar to right of these instructions.