Mercantile Library Association Of The City Of New York

THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR FICTION IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO READ AND VALUE FICTION AND TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE ITS CREATION AND ENJOYMENT.

OUR THREE LARGEST SERVICES ARE OUR KIDSREAD/KIDSWRITE PROGRAM; OUR EMERGING WRITERS FELLOWSHIP & FIRST NOVEL PRIZE; AND OUR PUBLIC EVENTS. THESE WERE THE SAME MAIN PROGRAMS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. DURING PRE-PANDEMIC YEARS KIDSREAD/KIDSWRITE ANNUALLY SERVED 2,500 STUDENTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH AUTHOR-LED READING AND WRITING EVENTS. KIDSREAD INVITES STUDENTS TO THE CENTER OR VIRTUALLY OVER ZOOM TO MEET THE AUTHORS THEY HAVE BEEN READING IN CLASS. BOOKS ARE PROVIDED FOR FREE TO THE SCHOOL FOR A CLASS SET AND FOR THE STUDENTS TO KEEP FOR THEIR OWN HOME LIBRARY. WE KEEP THE EVENTS SMALL, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 80 STUDENTS PER EVENT, SO THAT ALL KIDS HAVE TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS, GET THEIR BOOK SIGNED, AND HAVE A PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH THE WRITER. KIDSWRITE STUDENTS RECEIVE A FREE SCHOLARSHIP TO OUR SUMMER TEEN WRITING PROGRAM. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC WEVE MOVED OUR KIDSREAD & KIDSWRITE PROGRAMS VIRTUALLY TO ZOOM. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE DECAMERON PROJECT TO SPONSOR WRITING CONTESTS AND HOLD AFFORDABLE SATURDAY READING GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE CENTER GIVES OUT NUMEROUS AWARDS EVERY YEAR BUT OUR CORNERSTONE PRIZES SUPPORT THE WORK OF EARLY CAREER WRITERS. OUR FIRST NOVEL PRIZE IS GIVEN TO THE FINEST DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR, WITH THE AUTHOR RECEIVING $15,000 (FINALISTS $1,000). OUR NYC EMERGING WRITERS FELLOWSHIP SUPPORTS WRITERS IN THAT CRUCIAL TIME BEFORE THEY PUBLISH A BOOK. EACH OF OUR EMERGING WRITERS FELLOWS RECEIVE A GRANT OF $5,000, AN EXPERIENCED EDITOR TO REVISE AND CRITIQUE THEIR MANUSCRIPTS, A PLACE TO WRITE IN OUR WRITERS STUDIO, AND MEETINGS WITH EDITORS, AUTHORS, AND AGENTS WHO REPRESENT NEW WRITERS AT MONTHLY DINNERS. FELLOWS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN TWO PUBLIC READINGS, RECEIVE A PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOT FOR PERSONAL PUBLICITY USE, PUBLICATION IN AN ANTHOLOGY DISTRIBUTED TO INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL AS TICKETS TO OUR FIRST NOVEL FETE AND BENEFIT & AWARDS DINNER, COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION TO ALL CENTER EVENTS, AND A 25% DISCOUNT ON WRITING WORKSHOPS AT THE CENTER.WE PRESENT MORE THAN 150 AUTHORS AND ARTISTS ANNUALLY IN PUBLIC PERFORMANCES THAT SHOWCASE FICTION ACROSS MANY ART FORMS, INTEGRATING MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, FILM, AND THE VISUAL ARTS. EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN OUR 140-SEAT AUDITORIUM WITH A LARGE STAGE AND LED FILM SCREEN AND/OR ONLINE THROUGH ZOOM.