I hope to continue getting better. But Guggenheim fellows have reached a fairly high level. Guggenheim Fellowships are grants to selected individuals made for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12. The foundation offers fellowships to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed. This award is to provide unimpeded time to work.
Writers are always pressed for time.
That's the most valuable commodity we have. The money is a bonus. I'd write poetry for free. To get a cash prize to help, that's frosting on the cake. And it tastes great.