Writing Statements & Letters for Scholarships, Grants, and More

Two years ago this month, I started The Write Life for You series at APOOO. Thus far, I've written 24 articles, nearly 24,000 words' worth of solid advice and information on fiction writing. No, this is not a farewell speech! There is always something to write about fiction, and every day, new writers step up, needing the same guidance that we all once needed. I start this article in this fashion as a way of saying that from time to time, I plan to focus on other writing outside of fiction, whether that be articles, screenplays, letters, or—as I'm about to talk about—writing statements for scholarships and applications. Many writers apply for fellowships, grants, and scholarships to supplement their writing or to receive time at some wonderful retreat to enable them to have designated, quiet time to write and grow in their journey as writers. It's important to know how to go about writing these seemingly easy statements.

This write-up will provide some advice on the matter.

Many times with these applications for scholarships, grants, and fellowships, you might be asked to draft a writing statement or letter of intent. You read the CFP (call for proposal) or the application and then sit to write.

How should you handle the process?

1. Know the organization and its mission, its purpose. You are writing this organization in order to receive time, money, or some other award. They want to make sure that you are the right person to receive the award. Showing that you have done your homework (at the least have read the material on the organization that they provide) and know how you fit into their goals is a great thing. Going that extra mile to do further research is a major plus.
2. Draft, not thinking about word/space limitation. Just about every application will demand that you adhere to word/space limitation. At the onset, it shouldn’t be your goal to be at or less than the limitation; the goal is to answer the question or respond to the statement provided. It’s like what I say about fiction: turn the editor off.
3. Revise, making sure that what you write connects with not only the organization's mission but also their requirements for your statement (See #1 and #2).
4. Revise, making sure that you are using strong examples and not just stating generalities. Don’t just say there are many things you plan to do and the money will help you take on those tasks; specifically tell them what you want to do and discuss it quickly, but vividly.
5. Cut, cut, cut. Find the verbs and make sure they are clear and active, or as a former professor says, "Delicious." Find the dead words, phrases, and sentences and either find short, clear, active replacements, or delete.
6. Once you have the statement, letter where you like it, give it and the application or guidelines to a trusted person strong in writing and have him/her read and critique it.
7. Go back and revise.

Since April, I have come across a few opportunities where I had to practice this skill, and the success rate has been pretty good. And I'm still learning. I'm longwinded, so having to write my life goals and how I plan to achieve them in less than 200 words can be extraordinarily daunting for me.

Having said that, what has helped is following the advice above. Why?

If your writing does not connect to the organization, they won't understand why they should give you the money to you instead of to the other applicant that does connect.

Word/space limitations are often a way to quickly assess who can follow direction and who has a clear focus on their agenda. If your statement is twice as long as requested, that could be a knock against you before they even read it; that's if they read it.

If you are not clear with what you want to do and what you plan to do with an organization's money, they will be VERY clear about not giving you the money.

Finding someone who knows you, has a strong writing foundation, and (even better if you can find the person) has experience with writing statements and letters is crucial because let's be honest—with this type of writing, people tend to go opposite ends of the spectrum: they ego write (and fail to connect to organization's mission) or they humble-write, using so many generalities that the statement becomes about nothing. An outside reader can tell you how balanced the piece is and ask that "How so?" question that always arises when one speaks in generalities to prove something.


I hope this advice helps you; if anything, writing these pieces will enable you to concisely, quickly discuss your goals and plans for those goals—a needed tool.