The Writers’ Emergency Fund is for acute emergencies only and exists to help writers in a difficult period in their lives. Most grants are given to those who have short-term medical or housing situations that they are financially unable to resolve independently. The Writers’ Fund cannot attempt to solve the complicated issues of chronic poverty or long-term medical expenses.

The Writers’ Fund uses the following guidelines when evaluating applicants’ professional credentials (combinations of these criteria are acceptable):

•  at least one book by a reputable publishing house

•  ten or more essays, short stories, or poems in literary print anthologies or literary print journals in the last two years

•  a full-length play, performed in a theater of over 250 seats by a professional theater company   

•  employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic by a reputable print periodical OR 12 or more literary reviews in a nationally recognized print periodical in the last two years

•  editors and agents who have been professional for the last five years

Important: For forthcoming books, essays, short stories, poems, or articles, applicants must provide contact information for each publishing house or periodical; those published by vanity presses or self-publishing houses are not eligible for the Writers’ Fund.

Writers do not have to be a Member of PEN American Center to receive a grant.