The field of writing offers numerous opportunities for individuals looking to pursue their passion and advance their educational and professional goals. Scholarships for writers not only provide financial support but also recognize and reward exceptional writing talent. Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in journalism, creative writing, or any other writing-related field, this ultimate list of scholarships for writers will help you find the perfect opportunity to fund your education.
1. The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: This scholarship is open to high school students who submit their work to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Winners are awarded scholarships in various categories including short story, poetry, journalism, and more.
2. The Norman Mailer College Writing Awards: Established by the Mailer Center, this scholarship is exclusively available to college students who demonstrate outstanding writing skills in the areas of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
3. The Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships: Offered by the Poetry Foundation, this fellowship awards five $25,800 grants to young poets between the ages of 21 and 31.
4. The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest: Open to both emerging and established writers, this scholarship program offers cash prizes of up to $1,000 for outstanding poetry, short stories, and essays.
5. The YoungArts Foundation Writing Scholarships: This scholarship program recognizes talented young writers between the ages of 15 and 18. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to participate in renowned educational programs.
6. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Scholarships: Designed for aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers, the SFWA provides grants to help cover educational expenses for writers attending accredited institutions.
7. The Jason Chin Scholarship: Established by the Poetry Society of America, this scholarship is awarded to a promising young poet aged 18-23, providing financial aid for their education and professional development.
8. The PEN America Writing for Justice Fellowship: This fellowship supports writers working on projects related to mass incarceration and over-policing in the United States. Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend to support their work.
9. The William C. Johnson Distinguished Scholarship for Creative Writing: Offered by the Center for Literary Arts at San Jose State University, this scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in creative writing.
10. The Hachette Book Group Scholarship for Black Writers: This annual scholarship, provided by the Hachette Book Group, supports emerging writers of African descent. Winners receive a grant and mentorship from Hachette staff.
11. The Martha Heasley Cox Poetry Scholarship: Presented by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, this scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students majoring in poetry or a poetry-related field.
12. The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest: This scholarship opportunity is open to high school students who participate in a poetry recitation contest at the school, state, and national levels. Winners receive cash prizes and scholarships to pursue higher education.
13. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program: While not specifically for writers, this program offers scholarships to exceptionally talented low-income students with a demonstrated passion for creative writing or journalism.
14. The Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing: This scholarship is available to emerging writers who wish to pursue a residency at Bucknell University and dedicate a semester to their craft.
15. The Poets & Writers Amy Award: Aimed at young female poets aged 30 or younger, this award recognizes exceptional talent and provides a $5,000 prize to support the winner’s creative endeavors.
16. The Kurt Brown Prize for Creative Nonfiction: Presented by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), this prize honors outstanding works of creative nonfiction by emerging writers.
17. The Juniper Summer Writing Institute Scholarships: This scholarship program, offered by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, provides financial aid to exceptional writers who wish to attend their summer writing institute.
18. The Ursinus College Creative Writing Award: Open to high school seniors, this scholarship is awarded based on the quality of a submitted creative writing portfolio. Winners receive up to $40,000 to study creative writing at Ursinus College.
19. The Amazon Literary Partnership: Although not a traditional scholarship, this program by Amazon offers grants to nonprofit literary organizations that support writers. These organizations provide a range of resources, workshops, and mentorships to writers at various stages of their career.
20. The Writers Helping Writers Scholarship: Sponsored by GotChosen, this scholarship gives aspiring writers the opportunity to win funds for their studies by submitting a written piece on a given topic.
Remember, this ultimate list of scholarships for writers is just a starting point. There are countless other scholarships available both locally and internationally. Take the time to research and apply for as many opportunities as possible to increase your chances of receiving financial aid and advancing your writing career.