How I Won a Scholarship to a Writers Retreat

How I Won a Scholarship to a Writers Retreat Time to write- who doesnt want more of that? I certainly did. But as a full-time freelancer with no paid vacation days to subsidize professional development, paying to attend a writers retreat was not an option. After unsuccessfully applying for scholarships, I tweaked my approach- and won a full scholarship to the  Writers Winter Getaway. Here are four strategies that helped me find success. 1. Read the Guidelines Carefully   Before writing my application, I read both the scholarship guidelines and event details looking for keywords. What made this event unique? What were their core values? How did they market this event to writers? I found three concepts to emphasize in my application: Community, supportive workshop environments, and time to write. I made sure to touch on each of these in my application. For instance, my rural community doesnt offer many opportunities to connect with writers, so the community aspect of the event was important to me. This research was time-consuming, but it helped me organize my thoughts and outline my application. It also cut through self-doubt. I didnt ask myself What should I say? or How can I convince them to pick me? I let my research guide me in writing a strong essay. 2. Research the Honoree My wife, who reviews thousands of scholarship applications in her job, offered valuable insight. Many scholarships are given in honor of someone, but few applicants connect their story to the honoree. Those who do stand out to the scholarship committee- and often go on to win. Before completing my application, I looked up the honoree, poet Toni Brown. Not only could I connect personally to Toni, since we were both LGBTQ writers, but I found ways to touch upon her story in my application materials. While I never mentioned Toni 3. Use Details to Create a Sense of Urgency I almost didnt apply for this scholarship, because applications closed the day before I left for a two-week vacation. With my bags packed, I found time to review the application and pull something together quickly. With no time to stress- if I didnt finish this now, it wouldnt get done- I found urgency that allowed me to be transparent in expressing my need without feeling the shame or embarrassment that can come up when asking for financial assistance. My application explained what I wanted to work on at the retreat (a new novel), where I was in the work (10,000 words in), what specific goals I wanted to accomplish (which tied back to their guidelines), and why now was the ideal time for me (I was facing burnout). My time constraints helped me demonstrate urgency to the scholarship committee. When I received a phone call that let me know I was a finalist, they said as much, telling me It sounds like you could really use this opportunity. 4. Send Your Best Work   Even though I planned to work on a new project, I sent my strongest work- in my case, five pages from my polished novel. A committee member sought me out at the retreat to let me know how much she enjoyed my writing. While it was a true gift to receive a scholarship to a writers retreat, the process I developed to handle applications is what Im most proud of- and hope to put to good use again soon.