2025 Make an Impact Award

Program Description

The 2025 Make an Impact Award includes a free developmental edit of a fiction manuscript of up to 90k words, plus six hour-long sessions of editorial book coaching, or one free edit of a non-fiction book proposal of up to 15k words, plus six hour-long sessions of editorial coaching.

The award will be granted to a writer from a historically underrepresented community who has a draft of a fiction manuscript or a non-fiction book proposal. The writer’s work should utilize a unique, fresh, out-of-the-box idea and storytelling approach that illuminates one or more foundational cause(s) of the current situation in the U.S.

The primary goal of the work should be to show readers how we got here, why we got here, and what can be done about it – although, especially in fiction, this may not be the explicitly stated premise or plot of the work.

If the work is fiction, whether speculative or realistic, it should be thoroughly researched and based, at least in part, on historical examples of a resistance movement or movements. If non-fiction, the work should also be thoroughly researched, and in addition, should have a unique narrative structure and/or demonstrate a new approach to established historical narratives and not duplicate the philosophies of existing works.

For the purposes of this award, writers who are underrepresented may include those who identify as:

  • BIPOC

  • AAPI

  • LGBTQQIP2SAA

  • Neurodivergent

  • Having a physical or mental disability

  • Immigrants

  • Another identity not named here which is also underrepresented in publishing

The 2025 Make an Impact Award is valued at $4,500.  

Program Requirements

Recipients of the 2025 Make an Impact Award must agree to:

  • Complete an application for consideration, which must include a summary of the work and a writing sample from their manuscript or book proposal.

  • Commit to six hour-long zoom calls scheduled monthly or twice per month, to be scheduled after the award is granted and completed by January 2026.

  • Meet any agreed-upon deadlines for revision.

  • Review any edits or feedback before a scheduled call.

  • Be open to guidance, new ideas, and new tools you may not have used before.

  • Be honest about what is or is not working in our editing and coaching partnership.

  • Ask for help if you need it.

Applicant Criteria

Candidates for the 2025 Make an Impact Award must meet the following criteria:

  1. Hold one or more historically marginalized identities (see description in Program Requirements, above).

  2. Be at least 18 years of age.

  3. Have a complete or mostly complete draft (at least 75%) of a fiction manuscript (up to 90k words) or a book proposal (up to 15k words).

  4. Be unable to purchase developmental editing or book coaching from erinwritesmagic at the regular price due to financial restrictions.

  5. Be able to clearly articulate, in their application, exactly how their work addresses cause(s) of, and potential remedies for, the current situation in the U.S.

  6. Intend to publish using traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing methods (plan to share the work as widely as possible).

  7. Be writing in English and comfortable communicating in English (I am not trained as an editor in any other language).

  8. Have some experience in writing and publishing and a solid understanding of the fundamental rules of writing such as grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, etc.

  9. Have reliable internet access and be willing to meet with me on weekdays sometime between 10am-3pm, Mountain Standard Time.

  10. Be able to commit to at least 3 hours per week to the work, not including coaching calls.

Traits of an Ideal Candidate

  • Deep thinker and feeler with big ideas and the ability to communicate those ideas in a unique, engaging way  

  • Open to receiving feedback

  • Willing to commit to a detailed, in-depth revision plan

  • Intuitively understand how a compelling narrative can foster compassion, empathy, and change hearts and minds

2025 Application Deadlines

For the 2025 award, I will start accepting applications on March 1st, 2025, and will keep accepting until April 30th 2025, or until I have 20 qualified applicants, whichever comes first. As of now, I plan to choose the reward recipient by June 1st, 2025, but that will depend on the number of applications I receive. Please continue to check this page for updates.

To apply for the award, start here.

Questions?

Please email me at erin@erinwritesmagic.com