How We Help Writers
We’ve been giving hardship grants to writers since 1790
“Our founder, David Williams, had in 1790 what was then a radical idea, which is that writers are important, that writers would shape our culture… and that’s the tradition we carry on today.”
Edward Kemp, Chief Executive
It’s our 234th birthday! Founded in 1790, by the Reverend David Williams, we’ve been giving hardship grants to writers to support writers for well over two centuries.
“One of the main ways that we support writers financially is a one-off support grant — say something terrible happens — we can step in and offer support,” says Edward Kemp, CEO of the Royal Literary Fund. “It’s very, very hard to make a career just from the income you get from writing as most writers don’t unfortunately. You may get made redundant, your hours are cut, or you have to move for family reasons. At that point, we can step in and offer you support, maybe for three years, to help you get back on track.”
Jayne Joso is one of the writers we’ve helped recently. Jayne writes literary fiction, poetry, plays and children’s books.
She says, “I found out about the RLF through an author friend who had also benefited from their support. The other thing I knew about it was that Dylan Thomas, James Joyce and Joseph Conrad were also supported by them. So I felt I might be in good company.”
“The grant is extremely useful when you're a self-employed writer in a very, very parlous world.”
Bill Broady, Grant Beneficiary
Grants are available to help professional writers who’ve had at least two books published or plays performed. Edward explains the process:
“We send you an application form where you fill in the details of your writing career and your financial situation so we can really assess the need. You’ll then be invited for an interview with a member of our grants team, where we’ll flesh that out. We try and respond to every writer as individually as we possibly can to understand what it is you particularly need. All that information is then taken to our general committee of trustees and they’re the ones who ultimately make a decision about the awarding of a grant.”
Throughout the application process, the RLF’s grants team are on hand to offer guidance. As Jayne says, “I felt very supported by the RLF. The grant, for me, was just brilliant. I'd had life-saving surgery and some follow-on issues. It was a really difficult time but the Royal Literary Fund took away quite a lot of anguish for me. They made a huge difference in my life, and psychologically, that's worth a huge amount.”
The other way the RLF helps writers is when they’re at the end of their careers and may find it hard to keep writing: we can help provide a regular income.
“The people at the RLF are so friendly and so generous and so supportive. There is no judgment. It is one of the most generous places that I have ever reached out for help for and been granted something that has absolutely changed my life.”
Anna Ellory, Grant Beneficiary
The grants are there to help writers with financial difficulties, not to work on a particular writing project, and there is no stipulation that writers must return to writing. However, most writers want to write and are desperate to get back to writing as soon as possible.
Anna Ellory, who writes historical fiction, and received a grant from us says, “The RLF has enabled me to continue to be a writer. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. I wouldn't be able to be sitting here as a writer without the grant.”
“All of the RLF work is about enabling writers to thrive in a culture where, for most writers, just trying to survive financially as a writer is nearly impossible. The writer is absolutely at the centre of what we do; the organisation is largely funded and supported by writers, it’s largely run by writers, and the relationship with the individual writer is absolutely at the core of everything we work on.”
Edward Kemp, Chief Executive
The RLF offers a range of grants to professional writers needing short-term to long-term financial support. You might be facing an unexpected bill, reduced income or unable to write due to a change in circumstances, sickness, disability, or age.
Our Grants team will guide you through our confidential application process to see if you or your family qualify for assistance.
You can learn more about our grants and the application process on our website.