The PEN/Heim Translation Fund was established in the summer of 2003 by a gift from Priscilla and Michael Henry Heim in response to the low number of literary translations currently appearing in English. Its purpose is to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.
Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2020 through June 15, 2020.
Who is eligible:
- The PEN/Heim Translation Fund provides grants to support the translation of book-length works of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation.
- Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion.
- There are no restrictions on the nationality or citizenship of the translator, but the works must be translated into English.
- The Fund seeks to encourage translators to undertake projects they might not otherwise have had the means to attempt.
- Anthologies with multiple translators, works of literary criticism, and scholarly or technical texts do not qualify.
- Translators who have previously been awarded grants by the Fund are ineligible to reapply for three years after the year in which they receive a grant.
- Please note that projects that have been previously submitted and have not received a grant are unlikely to be reconsidered in a subsequent year.
- Projects may have up to two translators.
- Translators may only submit one project per year.
How to apply:
Translators must complete the below applications form by 11:59 PM (EST) June 15, 2020. The below application will require the following materials. Please use a standard 12pt font with 1 inch margins.
1. The application form, with all items completed:
- A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement outlining the work and describing its importance.
- A biography and bibliography of the author, including information on translations of his or her work into other languages.
- A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.
- If the book is not in the public domain and the project is not yet under contract, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original (the copyright notice is a line including the character ©, a date, and the name of the copyright holder, which appears as part of the front matter in every book), and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. A letter or copy of an email from the copyright holder is sufficient.
- If the translation is currently under contract with a publisher, please submit a copy of the contract.
2. An 8–10 page, single-spaced sample of the translation. For prose, this should be within the range of 3,000-5,000 words. For poetry, please include 1-2 poems per page, within the 8–10 page range.
3. The same passage in the original language (and, if the work has been previously translated, the same passage in the earlier version).
Please be mindful of the requirements for 12pt font and 1 inch margins. The judges reserve the right to withdraw from consideration any submissions that go over these requirements.
Contact awards@pen.org with any questions.
The PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Literary Oral History recognizes a literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement. The winner will receive a $10,000 grant to help maintain or complete their ongoing project.
Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2020 through August 1, 2020.
Who Is Eligible:
- The submitted project must be the work of a single individual, writing in English.
- The project must be an unpublished work-in-progress.
- The project must be a work of literary nonfiction (scholarly/academic writing is not eligible).
- Oral history must be a significant component of the project and its research.
How to apply:
Please note that the application will require the following, submitted as one PDF file, using a standard 12-point font and 1 inch margins:
- A 1-2 page, single-spaced description of the work, its importance, and why the author chose to undertake this project. This space can additionally be used to discuss any permissions, rights, contracts, publication timelines, or other aspects of your project.
- A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement explaining why and how oral history was used in the project.
- A 300-500 word statement explaining how this grant would aid in the completion of the project.
- A CV for the author of the project, which should include information on any previous publications.
- An outline that includes the work completed thus far and the work remaining. The outline should include the names of all participants.
- Transcripts of the project interviews (6-10 double-spaced pages).
- A writing sample from the project (20-40 double-spaced pages).
The PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists is offered annually to an author of children’s or young adult fiction for a novel-in-progress. Previously called the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship, the award was developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber and assist a writer at a crucial moment in their career to complete their novel. The author of the winning manuscript, selected blindly by judges unaware of nominees’ names, will receive an award of $5,000.
Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2020 through August 1, 2020.
Who Is Eligible:
- The candidate is a writer of children's or young adult fiction.
- Candidates must have published one or more novels for children or young adults that have been warmly received by literary critics, but have not generated significant sales.
- The writer’s previously published book(s) must be published by a U.S. trade publisher. Self-published works are ineligible.
- The submitted work must be a novel-in-progress.
- Judges will be looking for candidates whose work has not yet attracted a broad readership.
- Please note: At this time, graphic novels and picture books are not eligible for the fellowship.
How to Apply or Nominate:
Writers may apply themselves or nominate a fellow writer. To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Cover letter: A 1-2 page letter including a brief (1-3 sentence) summary of the project, a description of how the candidate meets the criteria for the fellowship, and a list of the candidate's published novel(s) for children and/or young adults.
- One professional review: Copies of or links to 1-3 reviews of the candidate's novel(s) from professional publications.
- Letter of recommendation: A 1-2 page letter of support from an editor or fellow writer.
- Project outline: A brief (2-4 page) outline of the novel-in-progress being submitted. The candidate's name should not appear anywhere on the outline to ensure anonymity, as only the outline, letter of utility, and manuscript will be given to the judges for consideration.
- Letter of Utility: A brief description (1-2 pages) of how the funds will be used to complete the project. What will the candidate be able to accomplish with this funding that they could not do otherwise? Book sales, earnings, or other relevant information may be included here. The candidate’s name should not appear anywhere on the letter of utility to ensure anonymity, as only the outline, letter of utility, and manuscript will be given to the judges for consideration.
- Manuscript sample: 50–75 pages of the text. The candidate's name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript sample, in order to ensure anonymity for the judging process. The outline and manuscript sample (and only the outline and manuscript sample) will be given to the judges for consideration. Please note that graphic novels and picture books are not eligible for this fellowship.
- Please upload the Project Outline, Letter of Utility, and Manuscript sample as one anonymous PDF file. Please upload the Cover Letter, Professional Review(s), and Letter of Recommendation as a separate PDF file.