Interested in getting involved with Writers in Schools?
Here are frequently asked questions.
Who do we serve?
We currently work with students in grades 3-12 in Washington, DC. At nearly all of our partner schools, the majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, the federal indicator of childhood poverty. Most students identify as Black, Latino or Hispanic, and/or as a non-native English speaker. Many have experienced trauma, including systemic oppression tied to white supremacy, immigration injustice, police brutality, incarceration, undiagnosed mental health issues, family and community violence, and poverty. Group sizes vary from 5 students to 35 students. Groups larger than 35 are handled on a case-by-case basis.
What do we look for in writers?
The two most important qualities for a writer who is successful with our programming are:
- Flexibility
Schools are dynamic environments. Being able to take curveballs is important, as visits can go in many different directions, from the number of students attending and their overall preparedness to unexpected fire drills.
- Honesty and Respect
Students appreciate and connect most with writers who are honest and direct, and who don’t talk down to them. Every student we work with is a curious and intelligent person, regardless of their age or demographic.
What do we look for in books?
All books are taken on a case-by-case basis, since we work with a wide range of students with different developmental needs. When considering books we look at: (1) whether the book fills an existing need; (2) whether the book aligns with school curriculum or requests from educators; (3) the themes/larger ideas; (4) price, publication date, paperback editions, and ordering availability.
We typically order through established publishers or independent booksellers at a discounted rate. We cannot do visits for out of print books.
The top requested genres from the past three years are: YA fiction, novels, and graphic novels/comics. We are open to other genres, including middle grade and chapter books, illustrated picture books, essays/memoir, poetry, short stories, and general nonfiction.
Do you work with authors outside of the DC area?
Yes! If you’re an author, we would love to work with you. Get in touch.
Do you pay for transportation?
All of our programming is provided at no-cost to low-income schools. In order to serve as many schools and students as possible each year, we do not cover transportation for writers.
Do you provide an honorarium?
Yes! Rates are updated annually and prorated based on the number of visits an author does in a day and whether they are local to the DC metropolitan area.
What if my book is self-published?
We work with selected self-published authors. All book guidelines, including pricing and availability, still apply.
What if I’m a writer without a published book?
We would love to have you consider working with our Writing Workshops program.
I think I’m a great fit! How do I send my book for consideration?
Send a PDF or EPUB of your book to education@penfaulkner.org. Either a finished copy or ARC/galley is acceptable.
What type of books does PEN/Faulkner accept?
We accept any genre, including but not limited to fiction, graphic novels, YA, essays, memoir, general nonfiction, poetry, middle grade, chapter books, and illustrated picture books. We are most interested in books that are developmentally appropriate for students at different grade levels with themes that resonate with our students and educators. Recent themes that have been popular revolve around current social issues, such as police brutality, gun violence, immigration, Black identity in contemporary America, and LGBTQ+ issues.
We will not consider books where the content is not inclusive and respectful of all identities and people. We do not accept books that fall under any -isms, i.e. sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism, to name a few.
Other considerations:
- Books should be readily available to order through an established publisher or bookseller, preferably at a minimum 20% discounted rate.
- We prefer paperbacks.
- We prefer books published within the last 3 years.
- We cannot do visits for out of print books.
What if I’m a writer without a published book?
We will consider, on a limited and case-by-case basis, individual writers who have not yet published a full-length collection but have publications in highly respected and reputable journals.
What does PEN/Faulkner look for in our partner writers?
Writers should be interested in engaging in warm and genuine conversation with diverse groups of young people, some of whom are reluctant readers or who might be reading below grade level. We’re especially interested in writers who are comfortable with middle school students and writers willing to travel to under-resourced schools in impoverished neighborhoods.
While we aim for intimate conversations, writers should be comfortable speaking with groups that range from 5 to 30 students. (We handle groups larger than 30 students on a case-by-case basis.)
Writers are expected to interact with and respond to students in a respectful manner, with a recognition that they are curious and intelligent human beings regardless of their age or demographic.
Finally, writers should be flexible, as schools are dynamic environments. Being able to take curveballs is important, as visits can go in many different directions, from the number of students attending and their overall preparedness to unexpected fire drills.
What does a typical visit look like?
Every visit is different because every school and group of students are different! However, most visits involve some of the following:
- The author discusses their book or body of work.
- Not all schools have ready access to technology, so writers should be prepared to discuss their work without the backup of a visual presentation.
- Some writers lead the students through a quick writing activity. This is not required but some writers (and students!) find something short and compelling to be especially interesting.
- During the Q&A, students often ask personal questions about the author, book, and what it’s like to be a writer. In case of students’ unfamiliarity with their book, the author should be prepared to discuss being a writer, the process of writing, publishing, and anything else that students might ask about!
There is always a trained PEN/Faulkner author ambassador with writers on all school visits who will be available to facilitate the conversation, as needed, and to assist with the group signing and photo.
What payment does PEN/Faulkner offer writers?
We provide a small honorarium for the writer’s time.
Since we prioritize working with low-income schools who do not pay for our programming, we are currently unable to pay for travel or accommodation for non-local writers. Please know that we are actively seeking grant funding to provide this service in the future. We do encourage writers passing through the region on a book tour or for other opportunities to get in touch with us.
Lakita Wilson visiting Van Ness Elementary School as part of this year’s Black Lives Matter Week of Action.