SWF 41 seeks funding

I’m currently writing a book.  Actually, I’m going to write a lot of books - it seems I have something to say.  And, like every new venture, I’m looking for ways to mitigate the risk of a new idea.  Due to what I do for a living I decided to approach this funding problem as if it was a new technology start up.

At first I approached friends and family to see if they were willing to support my idea.  Of course they were enthusiastic as to the new direction my life was taking me but, and this is no surprise, none were willing to support me financially to essentially drink wine in the country and write about my adventures (the first book is called:  “Crush: Innocence Lost in Wine Country” - shameless self promotion.)

Next I looked into grants available to Canadian fiction writers (think of this as the angel round).  I reviewed the options provided by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Writer’s Trust, combed the Association of Canadian Publishers and every other option that popped up under the google search: “canadian women fiction writing grants”.

Surprise!  If you are not: a previously published, financially destitute, mid-career, lesbian, under 35, promoting Japanese themes in a children’s book, well, you’re out of luck for funding options.

Of course, there was tons of guidance on going to writer’s festivals, seminars on pitching your book, how to write a proposal, etc. but nothing really concrete.  Sounds a lot like all those Angel monthly pitch sessions, drinks for entrepreneurs at the pub, and general networking events we have in tech (by the way the Vancouver Enterprise Forum provides a great “quick links” list to most of the standard options in town).

Does this mean I give up on the dream?  NO!

Just like a technology start up it means I’ve got to put a little skin in the game first.  Invest my own resources, time, money (e.g. leverage the hell out of my line of credit) to get the first prototype out the door.

My focus is on one chapter: the freebie, the teaser, the give-away.  Something to give them a taste and inspire them to buy more.  Sound familiar?

If I do make it big as an author (hey! Margaret Atwood has got to be rolling in a few bucks …) I will create my own award.  It will be available to: anyone experiencing a mid-life crisis, scared, first time, not published anywhere writer promoting adult themes in perhaps not too funny fiction format.  What shall we call it?