Manuscript Critique

Melanie Figg - Grant, fellowship, conference, and MFA applications

Open to: Grant, fellowship, conference, and MFA applications

Process: As a teaching artist and certified professional coach, I am determined to support writers at all stages of their writing lives. I am especially keen to help writers secure funding to support their creative projects and advance their professional development.

As a fortune-teller once told me shaking her head, “You’re good at getting money out of other people’s pockets.” Indeed. I have secured many awards for my writing, and am eager to share my experience, process, and practical tips with you. I’ve received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, two grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, five fellowships and travel grants from the McKnight and Jerome Foundations, and two project grants from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County. I wrote successful applications for creative residencies at Centrum, New York Mills, the Anderson Center, and the Blacklock Nature Sanctuary. I secured a full scholarship and teaching assistantship for my MFA in Poetry.

In addition, I have also spent over 30 years as a grant writer for a variety of nonprofit organizations, during which I have secured funding for hundreds of creative community projects. I bring my expertise with building accurate project budgets, descriptions, and reports to my consultations with individual artists so they can secure grant funding for their own projects. 

What You’ll Submit: Your application materials, and links for current guidelines, for the specific grant, fellowship, conference, or MFA program for which you are applying. I can look at creative work samples for an additional charge.

What You’ll Get: Insightful and practical advice that will improve your applications. I read your materials carefully, and provide detailed feedback (comments, clarifying questions, suggestions, and edits in either Word’s Track Changes or Google Docs). I also provide a 1-1 consultation so that we can discuss my feedback, and you can get all your questions answered and have a clear path forward with revision.

Critique Details and Pricing:

Writing conference applications: $280 to review and discuss via private Zoom consultation 2-4 specific documents. Eligible materials for inclusion: essay answers for application, artist statement, and writing sample (up to 10 pages). 

Services included: detailed written feedback and edits on submitted materials and one 30-minute Zoom consultation to discuss feedback and answer any questions you may have.

Full grant, fellowship, or MFA applications: $1,200 to review and discuss via private Zoom consultation. Eligible materials for inclusion: cover letter, C.V./resume, artist statement, project proposal, project budget, teaching philosophy, DEI statement, supplemental essay questions, and writing sample (up to 10 pages). 

Services included: detailed written feedback, two rounds of edits, and two 30-minute Zoom consultations to discuss feedback and answer any questions you may have.

Turnaround:

• Small conference application packet (2-4 documents) – 1 week
• Full grant, fellowship, or MFA application packet (5-10 documents) – 2 weeks