There are many reasons we don’t attend writers conferences. Too far, too much time away,  we are not interested in the topics, we are not interested in the speakers or the agents and editors we are interested in will not be attending.

But often the biggest reason is it’s too expensive.

I was wanting to attend the national SCBWI conference in New York this February. But with the flights, housing, food, and the cost of the conference itself, I thought I may not be able to make it work.

Then I caught word of a option I had not explored before – Grants.

Look into it!

I applied for a Personal Development Grant, and have received $650 to help pay for expenses.

So I’m going!

This program has been funded, in part, by the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The application process only took a short time and the submissions process for receiving the funds looks pretty simple also.

I’m sure this type of grant is available in many states, so give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

I’m so glad I looked into it and put in the effort, and I know I will apply again in the future if I need to.

Thank you to everyone who made this a possibility.