Reinventing my career

At a recent writers meeting, I wandered into a session on getting grants for writing. I told myself -- I have to try to get in on this again. A bunch of rejections and a couple of rounds as a fellowship finalist and I had given up.

So, check this out. I got a grant to buy an audio recording and editing system. After learning how to report and edit a bit, I’ll be better equipped to produce podcasts and radio reports.

This from the National Association of Science Writers. I’m at the end of the list.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of NASW's first Career Development Grants, developed to support education, training or other activities that help established science writers continue or advance their careers in today's rapidly changing media environment. The grant offers reimbursement of up to $2,500 for proposed activities. The program is supported by funds that NASW receives as part of the Authors Coalition of America, which distributes royalties on US copyrights collected overseas. Fifty-one applicants submitted requests totaling over $84,000.
In choosing among many worthy and varied proposals, the selection committee was guided both by individual proposals' quality and by the program's purpose of providing opportunities for established science writers to adapt, redirect or expand their careers in very challenging times. Successful proposals generally fell in the categories of training, equipment, and — for freelance and staff writers alike — travel that would produce opportunities to gain new clients, broaden professional networks or enhance skills.
Interest in the program far exceeded the initial $25,000 budget, so we are pleased to announce that NASW will offer a second round of Career Development Grant applications later this year. Be on the lookout for the program announcement with dates and application instructions.
Congratulations to:
Catherine Clabby, editor and writer at American Scientist, $1,200 for multimedia bootcamp attendance
Erin Cline Davis, science writer 23andMe, $413 for Poynter's NewsU multimedia classes
Dan Ferber, freelance science writer, $2,100 for Poynter Institute class on online storytelling
Jane Gardner, freelance science writer, $1,000 for a grant writing class
Erica Gies, freelance writer and editor, $2,500 for radio assignment story reporting in Guyana
Karen Heyman, freelance writer and editor, $1,500 for sequence of courses to increase skills in mathematics
Barbara Kennedy, Director of Media Relations and Public Information, Penn State, $2,500 for travel to Global Forum for Health Research meeting in Cuba
Ken Kostel, freelance science writer, $1,331.78 for digital audio and video equipment
Nancy Lamontagne, freelance science writer, $2,450 for meeting attendance and multimedia bootcamp
Barbara Moran, freelance science journalist, $2,045 for a Rockport workshop class on web design and sound recording
Karen Rafinski, freelance journalist, $213.75 for online multimedia courses
Tinker Ready, writer and instructor at Northeastern and Boston University, $2,024 for digital audio equipment
Bill Retherford, writer and producer, $657.10 for continuing education class on Florida's geological landscape and environment
Linda Roach, freelance science writer, $1,659 for community college and Poynter Institute webinars for multimedia training
Bob Roehr, freelance science writer, $1,000 for travel to the National HIV Prevention Conference
David Taylor, freelance science writer, $2,109 for digital film editing training and travel