Dear Gentle Readers,
So lately, for whatever reason (increased popularity of my blog, temporary insanity of a few people, astrological weirdness, or general confusion), I've been getting many, many proposals in my in-box and requests from people to read them through and give feedback. Usually a day or two before the applications are due. (By the way, it is bad form to do this on such short notice to people you know, let alone people you don't know personally.) These are proposals for various grants and fellowships or applications to residencies. (Oh, I also have gotten some rather strange and long-winded requests for money too. Lots of money. Odd, that.)
Anyway, most of you are very respectful and take it to heart when I say that I do this blog for free (translated: I spend many hours researching, managing, writing people back, etc.) and that if you have a burning question, you check my FAQs on the side bar first before asking me privately. However, for those of you who don't check my FAQs: dudes, scroll down and read them! I need you to. You need to be resourceful and figure this out and that is why I do this blog. To help people help themselves. As for reading people's proposals--as much as I would love to help, I simply can't. It is just way too time consuming. And if you read my article "Finding Money for Your Dreams," you know that I suffer from a brain injury. I don't mean to whine, so please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to know that the way it works is this: if I read something several pages one day, that means that I will then be way too exhausted to do my own writing later that day and maybe the next. So you see, it is too taxing on my wee brain. It's enough just to do this blog.
I'm about to go back into my book and re-edit it once again, as well as finish all the artwork. That means less time for Mira's List. I will do my very best to keep you all informed but please--do check those FAQs, use the comment forum at the bottom of the right hand sidebar so others can put their two cents in, and do not send me attached documents of your proposals, your Fulbright grant applications, your MacDowell applications, etc. I just can't do it. I get very, very tired just reading your emails asking me to help you. It doesn't mean I don't like you. It means I am not the person for the job.
I don't mean to complain. But things are getting out of hand so I had to say something. Please pass it on to others that I don't look at grant proposals. And if you feel like Mira's List has helped you in anyway whatsoever, consider making a small donation on the donation link on the right hand sidebar. Even if it's five dollars. Every little bit helps. I am trying to maintain this as a free site so any contribution would be appreciated, especially if you feel like you learned something from an article or you found out about an amazing opportunity here. Help keep this blog going or it will fizzle out in the future, as much as I'd like it to grow.
Thanks for listening. I guess I really got bombarded this month with letters and proposals, etc. Probably because the fall is a big application time and everyone out there needs money. Anyway, good luck with your endeavors, keep making art, keep applying for things and be courageous and go forth! I'm here to be your faithful resource and so I shall continue to....
Cheers,
Mira
15 comments:
I would say that's pretty rude. I hate to burden even my friends with looking over my proposals and stuff.
Thanks for your support Noemi. Today I got a dozen such requests with attached proposals. Only one was from a friend but I had already promised I'd look at his essay, and it was only a page long. The others were unsolicited. Anyway, thanks again! Mira
Hello Mira,
I really enjoy your site and find it very helpful. I'm ( or perhaps we all ) are interested in your book project. Could you let us know what it is? Thanks, Glenn
www.glennthomas.eu
Hi Mira,
Thank you for the work you do, and thank you especially for being clear about what IS your work and what IS NOT. You set a good example by "just saying no" when you are asked to do things that are not YOUR work. Sorry you had to get so overwhelmed first. You are doing wonderful work through your blog on many many levels.
Thank you!
Well said, Mira! (Might I say, "Wow! People did that?" Jeez, Louise.)
Wow, I'm so sorry, Mira, that folks have been so presumptious on your time! But you have been true to form, polite and diplomatic (as I have learned you to be from your posts and our correspondence), while protecting YOUR creative time, for the free and most valuable service you provide.
Your post gives me an idea (and this might not be a direction you want to go in, but here goes anyhow): maybe devote an issue or more to resources for grant review or other related artists' services. I myself am looking for guidance in an area about which I know nothing, and would greatly appreciate some sort of vetted source for reputable artists' advisors.
Thanks again! Youdabest!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, you guys are so supportive! Thanks so much! I want to answer a couple questions: first, the issue of wanting to see or hear about my own work. Well, I feel like this isn't the place for that because I want it to be about artists out there and not ME. However, I will be setting up a blog before my website comes out (which hopefully I'll be able to find money for!) that will have info on my book and other projects. I think I'll set that up pretty soon. I'll write a post about this when it's up. The other thing which Adrienne just mentioned---doing a post about grant reviews, etc. is EXCELLENT. I have to say that I have found little out there but I know that regionally there are resources and places that do that kind of thing. Probably online too. I just haven't done the research or rather, enough research on it. But you have definitely given me an idea to pursue when I go hunting next time. I think it's a valuable issue to talk about so thanks for putting it in my brain. Ya'll are great...I'm trying to do the tough love thing this year because I have such a huge undertaking with my book so I appreciate it when I get your kind of validation and support. May you all get enormous grants this year!! xox Mira
Just to echo the resounding chorus, you do great work, and so much of it!! You rock! I've just all too recently stumbled upon your site and am so grateful for your generous efforts. Keep up the good work!!
Tim de C.
Hi Mira: In regards to a low cost alternative to creating website, checkout Other People's Pixels at http://otherpeoplespixles.com. Thanks for your hard work on this blog. I know that I have learned a lot in my grant writing efforts.
I just want to say that I thought your post about etiquette, boundaries, etc., and your thoughtful explanation of what you do and don't do was graceful, diplomatic, down to earth, and as ever, funny and fun to read. And the fact that we're sisters, and that you have had to give this talk in other arenas of life, well, it just made me tremendously proud of you.
As a college professor, I often have to explain to my students what I can and cannot do in terms of writing recommendation letters (never ever at the last minute; generally for grad school I need a month's notice or more) and what I need from them to do a good job (envelopes typed up to the addressees, a transcript, a greatest hits list of what they wrote for me in my creative writing class to help prompt my memory, plus some tidbits about why this grant or program is the right fit for them in the grand scheme of things) and I have found the students are very responsive. But they do have to be told.
Anyway, you said what had to be said with style and grace kindness. Rock on.
Love,
Natalia
Hey Nattie, fun to see a note from my sis on my blog! Thanks for your great comment. And spot-on comment about letters of recommendation etiquette. I wonder sometimes if graduating students or former students think that their professors sit around eating bon bons, just waiting for those requests to come in. Amazing. Well, in this economy, it's the non-procrastinators that will get the grants and the jobs because the competition is very tough and there is no free lunch. Gee...I sound like an old geezer! xooxx m
Hi Mira,
Your blog is such a labor of love, open-handed with your time and knowledge. I hope the rude and confused don't discourage your very generous spirit or work. Even this last post is inspirational...you could have easily just deleted all those emails instead of using them to teach the persistent bamboozles a little something about boundaries. Thank you for the help you have given all of us who visit and reference your blog for inspiration, direction, and yes, information.
Mira,
Well said! And way to draw up practical boundaries. Might I chime in and say I'm incredulous that people would heap demands on you like that!
I was thinking, though, I know you rely on donations for this great site, but maybe in exchange for a fee or hourly rate, you could review people's apps-- at your leisure of course.
It might be a good way to generate revenue. I am sure this has crossed your mind, but I figured I'd throw it out there! I know your up to your ears in your own projects, but if you're anything like me, a little extra income is always nice! :)
Just a thought...
I love what you do and how you do it !!
I'm shocked and astonished that people would ask you to review their grant proposals - at least they could ask you first and they should assume that if you did say 'yes' it would be for a fee. Anyway, I'm sorry you had to write this blog, but I'm also glad you did and I hope people are more respectful and take more care.
I had actually assumed this was a post telling people about your fees etc for grant proposal reviewing. I can't say it would be something fun to do, but I am sure you would be excellent at it and could charge a reasonable amount (maybe you also get a small percentage of the grant $$ if it's awarded?)
Sometimes people send me their writing for feedback, luckily it doesn't happen often, but I too feel burdened by this. I'll do it for people who I have a close writer-friendship with and for people I feel I can send my own writing to on occaision.
Recently I asked someone to review a grant application - but I had just read her book-length manuscript and had given her feedback AND, I had previously asked her if she might be willing to take a look as she had experience in grant writing and she had said yes.
Anyway, thanks for all you do and I'm sorry your time has been taken up with people's selfishness! I'm very grateful for the time and work you put into this blog.
Post a Comment