Are you the author of general non-fiction, educational or academic work and currently involved in a writing project? Is finding time to focus on your project an issue? Or are you perhaps running short of funds to complete the needed research for the project?

If a grant would allow you to take time off from work, or to travel, or to undertake research, then AGSA is there for you.

ANFASA, the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors' Association of South Africa, announces the second round of the grant scheme to benefit South African authors of academic, educational and general non-fiction works.

The scheme owes its existence to the generosity of the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association, Kopinor (the Norwegian Reproduction Rights Organisation), ANFASA and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The grants are intended to provide enough money for an author to take leave, for instance, and devote herself or himself to the writing or the preparation of a manuscript, or to travel, or to undertake research, or to participate in a relevant training programme for purposes of completing the manuscript.

An independent committee will assess the applications and select the most deserving. There are only two criteria for eligibility: membership of ANFASA and the desire to complete the writing of a general non-fiction, educational or academic work for publication in book, journal or magazine form.

The committee aims to offer awards to a wide-ranging group of South Africans, and the selection process will respect the need to treat authors at novice, intermediate and experienced levels equally; to bear in mind authors writing in rural as well as urban locations; and to consider authors at all educational levels from the untutored to those with degrees. Eligibility extends to authors writing in all the official languages.

The ultimate objective of the scheme is to develop wri ting and knowledge production in South Africa and to encourage the writing and publishing of high-quality non-fiction works, especially by young authors. The short-term objective is to provide both established and aspiring authors with the means to devote themselves to writing.

Applications are now open.

Go onto www.anfasa.org.za to download an application form or email the ANFASA office info@anfasa.org.za The closing date will be on 15 October 2008, and the successful candidates will be announced in December 2008.