Quick Start Grants

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$461
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Felicia Schneiderhan
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
November 2017
End Date
April 2018
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
St. Louis
St. Louis
Project Overview

Quick Start Grants

Project Details

To bring a finished novel manuscript to "The Pitch" conference at The Loft Literary Center.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist, Cultural Programming Coordinator at American Indian Community Housing Organization; Jeanne Doty: Retired Associate Professor UMD Music, pianist; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children's Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Schubert: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Jeanne Doty: Retired Associate Professor UMD Music, pianist; Margaret Holmes: visual artists, poet, and former Children's Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artist, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Schubert: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$461
Other Funds Leveraged
$409
Direct expenses
$870
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will take my finished novel manuscript, ON BELAY, to ôThe Pitchö conference at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis on April 20-21, 2018. This intense two-day session is for writers with polished manuscripts to learn about the business of publishing and pitch their manuscripts in-person to three literary agents. I will pitch to three agents and attend the workshops and seminars focused on publishing. I will also network with more agents, editors, and Minnesota writers. At this time, I want to learn as much as I can about the publishing business and find the right agent to represent my novel and future projects. Agents get hundreds of emailed queries a week. Attending "The Pitch" and pitching my manuscript to three agents in-person takes me out of the slush pile, increasing the possibility that these agents will want to read my work. It also gives me one-on-one time with the agents to ask questions and receive feedback on my query. At the conference, I will also attend seminars and workshops devoted to working with agents and the business of publishing. I am especially interested in the Saturday night session, when agents critique anonymous query letters; this session will be especially helpful as I continue to refine my query letter and pitch agents via email after the conference is over. I am now working on another novel, THE GOD WHO CALLS ME SWEETHEART, and everything I learn about the current trends in publishing will help me as I complete this next manuscript. Although my focus is on the quality of story and craft, the more I know about the business of writing, the better quality writing I can produce. One last artistic goal I have is to create more opportunities for Arrowhead region writers. I serve as a Board member of Lake Superior Writers, and my passion is programming that educates and inspires. As I network and learn more about publishing, I can bring those connections to the programs we offer.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I took my finished novel manuscript, ON BELAY, to “The Pitch” conference at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis on April 20-21, 2018. This intense two-day session was for writers with polished manuscripts to learn about the business of publishing and pitch their manuscripts in-person to three literary agents. I pitched to three agents and attended the workshops and seminars focused on publishing. I also networked with more agents, editors, and writers from the Midwest.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved proposed outcomes.
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Felicia
Last Name
Schneiderhan
Organization Name
Felicia Schneiderhan
State
MN
Phone
(218) 722-2373
Email
felicia.schneiderhan@gmail.com
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency
Location

424 West Superior Street, Suite 104
Duluth, MN 55802

Phone
Project Manager: Rebecca Graves
218-722-0952
Email the Agency