scholarships for creative writing 2023

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

Top 34 Creative Writing Scholarships in May 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

Learn about our editorial policies

These creative writing scholarships are the best way to work on your writing without breaking the bank. Whether you want to study fiction, non-fiction, or poetry writing, we’ve got your back with these vetted opportunities. Remember to apply early and often to creative writing scholarships, because you never know which application reviewer your writing will stand out to!

Why choose Scholarships360

We helped over 4 million students find scholarships in 2023

We've spent over 4,000 hours reviewing 3,000 scholarship programs

13+ years of experience helping students make smart education decisions

The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

• The scholarship requires a fee to apply
• The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
• The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
• Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
• The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
• The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
• The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
• There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
• The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
• There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

Scholarships360 is recommended by

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS360 WINNERS

Danielle Emretane

Winner of the Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship

Fiorella Ruiz

Winner of the "Commencing at Community College" Scholarship

Jack Furman

Winner of the “Tuition Solution” STEM Scholarship

Morgan Breitschuh

Winner of the “Follow Your Own Path” Scholarship

Connor Godoy

Winner of the “Commencing at Community College Scholarship”

Kyamani Atterbury

Winner of the “Outstanding Undergraduate” Scholarship

$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Scholarships360

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high… Show More

The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to go to college, a graduate student who’s in a master’s program, or an adult learner who wants to return to school, you are eligible for our no essay scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded to students who get the most out of Scholarships360 scholarships and content. You will be a strong applicant if you apply to scholarships with the Scholarships360 platform. Finalists for this scholarship will be interviewed about their process for funding their education. Show Less

$2,000 Sallie Mae Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for…

Sallie Mae will award $2,000 each month to eligible entrants. No essay or account sign-ups, just a simple scholarship for those seeking help paying for school.

“Pen to Paper” Scholarship for Storytellers This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Do you fancy yourself a wordsmith? If you value creative writing as a form of communication, we encourage you to apply for the Pen to… Show More

Do you fancy yourself a wordsmith? If you value creative writing as a form of communication, we encourage you to apply for the Pen to Paper Scholarship for Storytellers! This scholarship is open to high school juniors and seniors (graduating class of 2024 or 2025), undergraduate, and graduate students who enjoy crafting stories and expressing ideas through the arrangement of words on paper. Whether you’re interested in poetry, short stories, novels, or screenplays, we want to hear from you. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit a 250-word piece of original creative writing. See the “Application Information” section below for details regarding essay prompts. Please note that applicants will be reviewed based on both the quality of their essay and quantity of scholarships applied for on the Scholarships360 platform. Scholarships360 users who are more active on the platform will be given higher consideration. Happy writing! Show Less

$40,000 Build a College List Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by The College Board

Create a college list with six schools you're considering - no minimum GPA or essay required!

Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship For Film Students

Offered by Phi Delta Theta Foundation

Lights, camera, action! The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship for Film Students is the ultimate opportunity for graduate students in the film industry or related… Show More

Lights, camera, action! The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship for Film Students is the ultimate opportunity for graduate students in the film industry or related fields such as theater/drama, writing, or entertainment. This prestigious award is given annually to one lucky recipient who will receive financial support to further their education and career. Don't miss out on this chance to shine in the spotlight! Phi Delta Theta membership is not required, so all eligible graduate students are encouraged to apply. Show Less

Niche $25,000 “No Essay” Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Niche

Easy scholarship open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year!

Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing

Offered by Learncurious.com

Are you a high school junior or senior with a love for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for… Show More

Are you a high school junior or senior with a love for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Phyliss J. McCarthy Scholarship for Excellence in Writing! Each year, the scholarship awards up to $1,000 to the three applicants who submit the best responses to one of the "Narrative", "Meta", or "Wacky" prompts. As these prompts change each year, we recommend checking out the Learncurious.com website before applying. If you're a college-bound, high school upperclassman with a love for writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

HSLDA Contests

Offered by Home School Legal Defense Association

The HSLDA Contests are funded by the Home School Legal Defense Association, an organization dedicated to protecting parents' rights to homeschooling and providing homeschooling families… Show More

The HSLDA Contests are funded by the Home School Legal Defense Association, an organization dedicated to protecting parents' rights to homeschooling and providing homeschooling families with the necessary resources. Each year, the Home School Legal Defense Association Contests award scholarships of varying amounts to multiple homeschooled students aged 7-19 (2nd graders through high school seniors) who create and submit original pieces of artwork, videos, or writing. The contests are split into six types: Poetry, Video, Photo, Short Story, Art, and Essay. Each year, the Poetry and Video Contests run from February 1 - April 1, the Photo and Short Story Contests run from June 1 - August 1, and the Art and Essay Contests run from October 1 - December 1. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details! Show Less

$25k “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Bold.org

Open to high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

Offered by Alliance for Young Artists & Writers

Are you a middle or high school student with a love for creative writing or artwork? If so, consider applying for the Scholastic Art &… Show More

Are you a middle or high school student with a love for creative writing or artwork? If so, consider applying for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The contest is broken up into 28 separate categories/competitions, each with its own age requirements and prompts. Winners will receive between $500 and $12,500, depending on the category. The awards are offered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.”  If you’re a middle or high school student who’s been wanting to put their creative skills to work, this may be a great opportunity for you. We encourage you to apply! Show Less

Rover Scholarship

Offered by Rover

Do you have a beloved pet that has made a difference in your life? Each year, the Rover Scholarship awards $2,500 to the high school… Show More

Do you have a beloved pet that has made a difference in your life? Each year, the Rover Scholarship awards $2,500 to the high school senior or university student who writes the most thoughtful essay about how a pet has shaped who they are today. If you love your pet and want to put those feelings (and most cherished memories) into writing, we would encourage you to apply to this amazing op-paw-tunity! Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Women Leading Kentucky Undergraduate Scholarship

Offered by Women Leading Kentucky

Are you a female undergraduate student from Kentucky attending an in-state university? Further, are you majoring in Sports, Media, Engineering, Finance, Banking, Literature, Creative Writing,… Show More

Are you a female undergraduate student from Kentucky attending an in-state university? Further, are you majoring in Sports, Media, Engineering, Finance, Banking, Literature, Creative Writing, or Journalism? If so, you may be eligible for the Women Leading Kentucky Undergraduate Scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards between $1,000 and $1,500 to female undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional leadership and are attending a Kentucky college/university. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Walgreens Expressions Challenge This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Expressions by Walgreens

Are you a high school student in the U.S. passionate about any social or societal issue? Further, would you be interested in sharing your thoughts… Show More

Are you a high school student in the U.S. passionate about any social or societal issue? Further, would you be interested in sharing your thoughts on such matters through art? If so, consider applying for the Walgreens Expressions Challenge! The Challenge invites high school students to submit art in one of four categories (Spoken Word, Visual Arts, Media Art, or Creative Writing) on a social or societal topic they feel strongly about. Possible topic ideas include: the impact of social media, cyber bullying, mental health, gun violence, social justice, etc. If you're a high schooler passionate about art and using it for the greater good, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition

Offered by Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation

Are you a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing… Show More

Are you a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to the applicant who submit the best original piece of creative writing. Acceptable forms include, but are not limited to, poetry or song lyrics, short fiction, play/movie/television scripts, speeches, memories or diary entries, biographies, or personal essays. The scholarship was created in honor of Alyssa Sandmeier, a young girl whose passion for writing inspired her to write even while battling Leukemia complications. If you're a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more and carry on Alyssa's legacy today. Show Less

Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing

Offered by Silicon Valley Community Foundation

The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing is open to students majoring in the creative writing field who have demonstrated creative writing ability.… Show More

The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing is open to students majoring in the creative writing field who have demonstrated creative writing ability. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate a passion for creative writing, be graduating high school seniors or be graduates of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County, and be planning to enroll or be currently enrolled in a four-year college or university as a full-time student. United States citizens and eligible non-citizens may apply. If you're a Northern Californian high school senior or soon-to-be graduate with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship

Offered by Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice

The Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship recognizes and supports the work of activist artists in New Hampshire who tell human rights stories in unique, inspiring, and… Show More

The Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship recognizes and supports the work of activist artists in New Hampshire who tell human rights stories in unique, inspiring, and significant ways. Applicants are challenged to examine the influence of a particular activist artist or create their own piece of activist art. Acceptable forms of media include film, writing, theater, dance, music, painting, poetry, and drawing.  While two runners-up will be awarded $2,500 each, two first-place winners will be granted $5,000 each. If you're an artist from New Hampshire passionate about expressing raw emotions that can provoke attention and action on human rights crises, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program

Offered by South Carolina Department of Education

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative… Show More

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative writing, dance, music, theater, or visual arts. Students must be U.S. citizens and have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years. Students planning to attend an out-of-state college or university are ineligible to apply. Entries produced in collaboration with others are not eligible for this competition. Students may compete in one arts area only. If you're a South Carolinian high school senior passionate about the arts, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

Additional scholarship categories

• Scholarships for English majors
• Easy scholarships
• Top scholarships for high school seniors
• Top scholarships for journalism students
• Top short story scholarships
• Top writing and essay scholarships

Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.

3 reasons to join scholarships360

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Best Writing Scholarships in 2024

Showing 159 scholarships that match your search.

Immerse Education

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship, with runner-up prizes also awarded. 100% Scholarship Award For Cambridge, Oxford, Sydney & London Summer School Essay Competition.

Categories: Critical Essay

Organization: Immerse Education.

Deadline: January 04, 2025.

Additional awards: Runner-ups: 50% of scholarship.

Categories: Critical Essay.

Apply now →

Creative Writing Award

The winner will be offered the opportunity to occupy during her or his first academic year the residence room where J. D. Salinger lived; and Leadership standing in the Ursinus writing community. The winner will be expected to join the previous award winners in reading subsequent creative portfolios, and will help the Office of Admission in selecting the next winner. Award winners are also expected to be prominent members of Ursinus’ Literary Society, The Lantern, and the creative writing community.

Categories: Critical Essay, Journalism, Nonfiction, Novel Writing, Personal Essay, Playwriting, Poetry, Portfolio, Research, Screenwriting, and Short Fiction

Organization: Ursinus College.

Deadline: January 15, 2025.

Categories: Critical Essay, Journalism, Nonfiction, Novel Writing, Personal Essay, Playwriting, Poetry, Portfolio, Research, Screenwriting, and Short Fiction.

The Sub Pop Loser Scholarship

Sub Pop Records is extremely proud to offer a grand total of $15,000 in college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. To apply you must submit a one-page essay using any combination of our questions as a guide (or write something completely your own, be inspired and creative!). Applicants must be residents of Washington or Oregon in pursuit of higher education.

Categories: Personal Essay

Organization: Sub Pop Records.

Deadline: March 23, 2025.

Additional awards: Second place scholarship of $5,000, third place scholarship of $3,000.

Categories: Personal Essay.

Islamic Scholarship Fund Program

Students who are Muslim or active members of the Muslim community may apply for the Islamic Scholarship Fund. The ISF awards multiple scholarships each year ranging from $3,000-$10,000, though the amounts and number of recipients will vary. Students must submit applications including essay questions, work samples, and letters of recommendation, and must also be majoring in an ISF-supported field related to media or politics.

Organization: Islamic Scholarship Fund.

Deadline: March 21, 2025.

Additional awards: Multiple awards of varying amounts will be given.

BBB Torch Talk Scholarship

BBB Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to educating consumers on a variety of marketplace issues; this scholarship is in pursuit of that goal. Applicants must attend high school in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington or Western Wyoming, and will submit a 500-word essay for BBB’s online magazine Torch Talk on one of the given topics.

Organization: Better Business Bureau.

Deadline: March 16, 2025.

Flag House Scholarship Award

Do you know of an unsung history-maker in your community? Is there an organization in your community working to keep the legacy of a historically significant, but often overlooked, individual alive and relevant? Identify a person living or from the past whose professional work, activism, or personal story has made a significant impact on you or your community. Describe why their story is unique and explain how they have changed history. Response should be limited to 350 words.

Categories: Research and Critical Essay

Organization: The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.

Deadline: March 26, 2025.

Categories: Research and Critical Essay.

Unpublished Writer's Award

The winner of this award receives $1,000, an invitation to accept the award at our annual awards ceremony, promotion on our website, and a feature of their work in our Magajournal and quarterly newsletter. Applicant must email an original, unpublished fiction work (short story or novel excerpt) not to exceed 2,000 typed words on double-spaced pages

Categories: Short Fiction and Novel Writing

Organization: Go On Girl! Book Club.

Deadline: March 31, 2025.

Additional awards: Invitation to awards ceremony, promotion through website and publications.

Categories: Short Fiction and Novel Writing.

Marguerite Young Endowment Fund

The Marguerite Young Endowment Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships for students who plan to study theology. Candidates must be attending a Protestant seminary as a master of Divinity candidate, preparing for full-time ministry and/or be a seminary intern at a Protestant Church. Application must includes proof of this, as well as a personal essay.

Organization: The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Christine B. Dexter Scholarship

The Christine B. Dexter Scholarship was established in honor of Christine B. Dexter after her passing from stomach cancer in 2008. This scholarship awards undergrad students a $2,000 scholarship towards their fall tuition. All recipients demonstrate a history of community service and resilience through their cancer journey.

Organization: Christine B. Foundation.

Incight Scholarship

The INCIGHT scholarship is open to students in Washington, Oregon, and California who have a documented disability. Applicants must complete two detailed essay responses (video essays also welcome) in order to be eligible. The number of awards and total amount awarded will be determined during the selection process, and winners will be notified in June.

Organization: INCIGHT.

Deadline: April 01, 2025.

The AAF-Greater Evansville Scholarship

The AAF-Greater Evansville awards scholarships to deserving high school and/or college students yearly in April. To be eligible, students must plan to pursue a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic design. Application varies yearly but includes various education details and personal statements.

Categories: Journalism

Organization: American Advertising Federation of Greater Evansville.

Categories: Journalism.

Aspiring Literary Scholar Award

The winner of this award receives $1,000, an invitation to accept the award at our annual awards ceremony, promotion on our website, and a feature of their work in our Magajournal and quarterly newsletter. Candidate must submit an essay not to exceed 800 words on the topic "The Power of The Written Word."

Dr. Jerry Pournelle Scholarship

The Dr. Jerry Pournelle Scholarship may be awarded to a candidate of any gender majoring in engineering, math, biological or physical sciences, or “science fiction as literature” as an eligible field of study. Applicants must submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of several scientific topics.

Categories: Research, Personal Essay, and Critical Essay

Organization: The Heinlein Society.

Categories: Research, Personal Essay, and Critical Essay.

Dr. Yoji Kondo Scholarship

The Dr. Yoji Kondo Scholarship may be awarded to a candidate of any gender majoring in engineering, math, biological or physical sciences, or “science fiction as literature” as an eligible field of study. Applicants must submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of several scientific topics.

Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship

Project Sleep’s Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship is a national scholarship program to support students with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia. Students must complete an application form that includes a response to the esssay question: "If you could go back in time and speak to yourself on the day you were diagnosed, what would you say? Write a letter to yourself on that day."

Organization: Project Sleep.

What are writing scholarships?

Writing scholarships are financial awards given to students based primarily on written work, though other factors are usually taken into consideration as well. Most writing scholarships involve a prompt or series of prompts to which applicants must respond. Some writing scholarships — especially those that award large amounts of money — require applicants to submit past writing samples, or even a full portfolio.

The good news is that, with so many writing scholarships to choose from, you don’t have to apply for any that are “out of your league.” Indeed, though most students have heard of writing scholarships, you may not realize just how many different varieties there are! Here are five of the most common types of writing scholarships, all of which you can find in this directory.

1. Personal essay scholarships

Personal essay scholarships involve writing on a topic related to your own experience. You’ll often see personal essay prompts like, “How have your experiences influenced your choice of major?” and “What are your career aspirations and how do you plan to achieve them?” Other prompts may ask you to write about a role model, a life-changing event, an aspect of your identity, etc. Suggested length is usually about 500-1,000 words, but varies depending on the level of detail requested and how many essay questions are provided.

Just about every scholarship these days has a personal essay component of some kind. This is because personal essay responses both demonstrate writing skills and give the judges a clear sense of each applicant’s goals. No one wants to throw away money on an aimless student — so if you’re applying for a personal essay scholarship, make sure to convey both your writing abilities and your ambitions in your work!

2. Critical essay scholarships

Critical essay scholarships are more in line with what students might consider  “academic” essays. The prompts typically ask applicants to analyze works of literature. However, unlike open-ended English class essays, most critical essay scholarships provide a very specific prompt (e.g. “Examine The Great Gatsby in the context of its World War II-era revival”).

Critical essay scholarships can also involve non-literary subject matter. Some may ask applicants to evaluate a historical event or figure; others may ask them to defend their stance on a political or legal issue. Though the line between critical and personal essays can sometimes blur, for the purposes of this directory, we define critical essays as those that use evidence from an external source to prove a point.

3. Short fiction scholarships

Short fiction scholarships include scholarships for short stories, one-act plays, poetry, and any other form of fiction that isn’t a novel or full-length script. Short fiction scholarships tend to be easier to find than long-form fiction scholarships, since most judging panels don’t have time to read more than a few thousand words per entry. Therefore, if you write fiction and you’re hoping to nab yourself a scholarship, this category is the way to go! (That said, if you’re a hardline novelist, some places will accept a sample chapter or two as short fiction entries.)

4. Journalism scholarships

Journalism scholarships are for students interested in pursuing a career in news, magazine, and/or online journalism. These scholarship applications almost always ask for writing samples to show the candidate’s interest. Depending on the organization, they may prefer topical news reports, informative articles, thinkpieces, or a mix. Some journalism scholarships provide a prompt and ask applicants to write a new article, but the focus is usually on samples. Speaking of which…

5. Portfolio scholarships 

Portfolio scholarships are the most rigorous kind of writing scholarship, requiring a substantial body of work from each applicant — usually 5-10 pieces of writing, if not more. The upside is that awards for portfolio scholarships tend to be pretty sizable, and may even cover your entire tuition!

If you decide to apply to a portfolio scholarship, make sure you have several strong pieces of work in your oeuvre, and consider writing a few new pieces as well. What you shouldn’t do is rush through a dozen new pieces to throw together as a portfolio. If you don’t have samples at the ready from previous assignments or projects, you’ll be better off applying to a less intensive writing scholarship.

Why apply to writing scholarships?

Applying to writing scholarships is a huge undertaking, especially if you’re pursuing multiple scholarships at once. It can sometimes feel like the effort isn’t worth it, or that you have little chance of actually winning any awards. But in truth, submitting to writing scholarships is one of the best investments you can make in your education, your creative writing skills, and your professional life.

Scholarships for larger amounts do attract more applicants, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to land — only that you have to work a little harder to stand out. And you can definitely sway the odds in your favor by applying to lots of small scholarships ($500 or less) for which you’ll have fewer competitors. Remember that every little bit helps! For example, if you plan on taking out student loans, even a $500 scholarship could save you much more in interest down the line.

Another compelling reason to apply to writing scholarships is that oftentimes, you’ve already done the work, or the work required is minimal. For scholarships that require writing samples, you’ll simply submit what you’ve already written in the past — and even for scholarships with specific prompts, you rarely have to write more than a couple of pages. If you were seriously committed, you could apply to a scholarship every day, spending a single concentrated evening on each application.

Jumping off that thought, as English majors love to say: the more writing scholarships you apply for, the better a writer you’ll become. Writing tons of scholarship essays will make you a much more creative and efficient writer. Not only will this help with your personal writing projects, but it will also be invaluable to your education and even your career! Writing is a crucial skill for every major — you’ll always have to write papers and emails to professors, after all — and even if you don’t plan to pursue a writing-based job, you'll still need writing skills to polish your résumé.

Finally, remember that there’s a writing scholarship out there for everyone, no matter what your interests or intended field. This directory includes plenty of creative writing scholarships, yes; but there are also personal essay scholarships for future doctors, lawyers, salespeople, and so much more. You have nothing to lose by giving it a shot, so why not start searching for your dream writing scholarship today? (And if you’re unsure about your writing skills, you might benefit from some of the resources below.)

Resources to strengthen your writing skills

• 20 Writing Tips to Help You Become A Better Writer Today
• How to Stop Procrastinating and Build A Solid Writing Routine
• What is Creative Nonfiction? Memoirs, Literary Journalism, and More!
• How to Write a Memoir: Tell Your Amazing Story in 9 Steps
• How to Write a Fantastic Short Story In 7 Steps
• How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro
• 700+ Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire You
• 100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Authors

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Save your shortlist

Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!

By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.

We sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Writing Scholarships Directory, happy publishing! 🙌

Bring your stories to life

Our free writing app lets you set writing goals and track your progress, so you can finally write that book!

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

Explore your training options in 10 minutes Get Started

• Graduate Stories
• Partner Spotlights
• Bootcamp Prep
• Bootcamp Admissions
• University Bootcamps
• Coding Tools
• Software Engineering
• Web Development
• Data Science
• Tech Guides
• Tech Resources
• Career Advice
• Online Learning
• Internships
• Apprenticeships
• Tech Salaries
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• University Admissions
• Best Schools
• Certifications
• Bootcamp Financing
• Higher Ed Financing
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Best Coding Bootcamps
• Best Online Bootcamps
• Best Web Design Bootcamps
• Best Data Science Bootcamps
• Best Technology Sales Bootcamps
• Best Data Analytics Bootcamps
• Best Cybersecurity Bootcamps
• Best Digital Marketing Bootcamps
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Browse All Locations
• Digital Marketing
• Machine Learning
• See All Subjects
• Bootcamps 101
• Full-Stack Development
• Career Changes
• View all Career Discussions
• Mobile App Development
• Cybersecurity
• Product Management
• UX/UI Design
• What is a Coding Bootcamp?
• Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?
• How to Choose a Coding Bootcamp
• Best Online Coding Bootcamps and Courses
• Best Free Bootcamps and Coding Training
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Community College
• Coding Bootcamp vs. Self-Learning
• Bootcamps vs. Certifications: Compared
• What Is a Coding Bootcamp Job Guarantee?
• How to Pay for Coding Bootcamp
• Ultimate Guide to Coding Bootcamp Loans
• Best Coding Bootcamp Scholarships and Grants
• Education Stipends for Coding Bootcamps
• Get Your Coding Bootcamp Sponsored by Your Employer
• GI Bill and Coding Bootcamps
• Tech Intevriews
• Our Enterprise Solution
• Connect With Us
• Publication
• Reskill America
• Partner With Us

• Resource Center
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree

How to Get a Creative Writing Scholarship

A degree in creative writing can sharpen your writing skills and improve your chances of becoming a successful writer. However, the rising cost of the already expensive higher education system in the US is a major hurdle in many students’ career goals. Luckily, many creative writing scholarships are available for talented students.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of ten creative writing scholarships for high school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students, their eligibility criteria and deadline for the academic session 2022 to 2023. We’ve also listed some tips on how to get a creative writing scholarship and lower the weight of your student loans.

Find your bootcamp match

What is a creative writing scholarship.

A creative writing scholarship is a form of financial aid offered to students who demonstrate exceptional writing skills and academic prowess. Creative writing scholarships ease the financial burden taken on by talented students by providing them with financial support to pay for the creative writing classes they take in university.

An aspiring creative writer can apply for many different scholarships. Some colleges award scholarships in the form of monthly stipends while a very select few even offer fully-funded scholarships covering tuition fees, monthly expenses, and sometimes even airfare.

Common Creative Writing Scholarship Requirements

• GPA. Students must have a good grade point average (GPA) and an excellent academic background to be eligible for most creative writing scholarships. Many scholarships require a GPA of 3.0 or higher. An incoming student seeking scholarships should work hard to improve their grades before applying.
• Academic Excellence. Students who plan on qualifying for scholarships must have an excellent educational background. While creative writing scholarships usually don’t have degree requirements, taking AP courses throughout 11th and 12th grade can be beneficial.
• Creative Writing Sample. While filling out scholarship applications, students must showcase their artistic excellence through a selection of writing samples. A writing sample can come from the student’s published work or any other writing experience they are proud of. Although published work isn’t a mandatory requirement, especially for incoming undergraduates, it significantly improves the chances of being selected.
• US Citizenship. Many colleges award creative writing scholarships exclusively to US citizens or permanent residents. You might need to submit a valid identity card to confirm your citizenship before the selection process can begin .
• Letter of Recommendation. When applying to scholarship programs, students will be asked to submit two or three letters of recommendation. These letters of recommendation can be written by school professors or mentors. Letters of recommendation are mandatory for just about all scholarships.
• Personal Essay. Eligible students will have to write a 500-word essay about their personal experiences and thoughts in relation to writing. Students should ask for feedback on personal essays from professors, fellow students, and family members to improve their chances.

How to Find Creative Writing Scholarships

There are multiple ways creative writing students can find scholarships. Whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student, you can contact your school’s financial aid office for help. You can also look online using dedicated scholarship search engines. Regardless of whether you want to focus on creative nonfiction, original poetry, or journalism, there are plenty of creative writing scholarships.

Contact Your School’s Financial Aid Office

You can start researching scholarship programs by reaching out to the financial aid office of your school. The financial aid office can help you by providing you with a list of all the scholarships that the school offers and helping you figure out if you could be one of the qualified recipients based on your technical merit.

Sign Up for Scholarship Finder

Another way to find out about scholarships is by using an online scholarship search engine. You can sign up for the US Department of Labor’s free Scholarship Finder tool. Alternatively, you can search Google to find thousands of scholarships, grants, and fellowship opportunities. You can even filter your search based on the deadline for submissions, acceptable majors of applicants, and academic requirements.

Check Ethnicity-based organizations

Most states in the US have several ethnicity-based organizations that offer a wide range of scholarships to promote diversity and inclusivity in higher education. Some scholarships they offer might be specific to a particular region. Consider reaching out to local organizations near you.

Tips to Find Creative Writing Scholarships for High School Students

Reach out to your school counselor.

An excellent way to find scholarship programs is by reaching out to your high school counselor. Counselors will help you find scholarships that fit your goals, academic standing, and other qualifications. They might also suggest other financial support opportunities.

Start As Early As Possible

Creative writing scholarships are highly competitive, so you should start planning your applications to scholarship programs as early as possible. The first thing you should do is choose which college you want to attend. Then, you can visit the school’s official website to find out more about the financial aid they offer.

Explore a Broad Range of Scholarships

Students who are seeking creative writing scholarships should also explore other scholarships. There are scholarships for creative writing majors that are offered with specific stipulations. Sometimes these stipulations make you eligible for a broader range of scholarships such as scholarships for women, racial minorities, people with exceptional hardships, or community volunteers.

10 Best Creative Writing Scholarships in 2022: Overview

Top 10 creative writing scholarships: in detail, 1. patricia cornwell creative writing scholarship.

• Awarded by: Davidson College
• Deadline: January 2023

Davidson College offers a $35,000 scholarship to young writers who demonstrate an exceptional passion for writing. It is an annual scholarship awarded to one first-year student. The scholarship can be renewed every year as long as the scholarship recipients maintain good grade point averages.

2. University of Michigan-Dearborn Writing Awards

• Awarded by: Outdoor Writers Association of America
• Deadline: May 2022

The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers $7,500 in scholarships to students enlisted in undergraduate degree programs. The awards are granted in the Poetry, Bill Linn Fiction Prize, Researched Writing, Creative Nonfiction, Writing Through Image and Sound, Writing in the Public Sphere, First-Year Writing, Honors Writing, and Scientific/Technical Writing categories.

3. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

• Awarded by: National Society of High School Scholars
• Deadline: October 2022

Every year, the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) offers three scholarships worth $2,000 for fiction and three scholarships worth $2,000 for poetry. Applications open in July and close in October. All high school students graduating in 2023, 2024, or 2025, as well as recently graduated students, are eligible. Students are required to submit an original writing piece in both categories.

4. The Reedsy National Creative Writing Scholarship

• Awarded by: Reedsy
• Deadline: April 2022

The Reedsy Creative Writing Scholarship is a biannual scholarship that rewards aspiring novel writers with a $1,000 cash incentive which is directly transferred to the recipient’s educational institute. Reedsy also considers these recipients for further sponsorship as they become novel writers. Applicants must be studying at an accredited college or university and must submit a 1,500-word to 7,500-word original chapter of an unpublished novel.

5. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarships for Creative Writing

• Awarded by: Silicon Valley Community Foundation
• Deadline: February 2023

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation offers $1,000 in scholarships to aspiring creative writing students. Only US citizens or A.B 540 students are allowed to apply. Applicants must be current graduating seniors or graduates of a high school in San Mateo or Santa Clara County. Moreover, they must be admitted to a four-year degree program as a full-time student. The application closes in February.

6. Writing the Future Scholarship

• Awarded by: DiBella Law Offices PC

DiBella Law Offices PC offers a $1,000 one-time, non-renewable scholarship for post-secondary education. Any graduate or college student enrolled in a four-year university can apply. Moreover, students admitted to a two-year college or who have earned a high school diploma can also apply.

7. Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy

• Awarded by: Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
• Deadline: December 2022

If you love writing about supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, and technological themes, you should consider applying for the Ray Bradbury Award. It’s open to residents of the United States and the selected qualified applicant will receive a $1,000 cash award. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is December 1.

8. $1,500 Video Contest Scholarship for Students Who Enjoy Writing

• Awarded by: Cool Club

If you like writing stories or making videos, you should consider this scholarship by Cool Club. This scholarship offers a $1,000 scholarship prize to the winner and $500 to the runner-up. Applicants must be high school, university, or community college students. IvyPanda also offers a similar scholarship.

9. Dever Award for Freshman Writing

• Awarded by: Boston College
• Deadline: December 1, 2022

Boston College is one of the few colleges to offer essay scholarships to first-year students in writing. The Department of English at Boston College awards two students with a cash prize for possessing incredible essay writing skills. Boston College also has other scholarships like the Doherty Honors Project Award and English Language Learner Essay Award, which are open to all first-year students.

10. Eleanor M Wolfson Memorial Scholarship

• Awarded by: First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania
• Deadline: Not specified

This scholarship is designed for Montoursville Area High School seniors who want to study creative writing at Yale University. ​​Applications need a Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA and an acceptance letter from the university. They also need to submit an essay, a resume, a letter of recommendation, and their school transcripts.

Should I Apply for a Creative Writing Scholarship?

Yes, you should apply for a creative writing scholarship. A creative writing scholarship can immensely impact your career by letting you finish your studies with less student debt. The creative writing field is projected to grow by nine percent by 2030 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reports that writers and authors have an annual median wage of $67,120.

Creative Writing Scholarships FAQ

The most common types of scholarships include merit-based scholarships, community-service scholarships, academic scholarships, and need-based scholarships.

You can start by creating an outline where you list all the points you want to include in it, then expand upon each point. You can take inspiration from examples on the Internet, but remember that your essay should be original. Once you finish your essay, you can show it to your friends, parents, or teacher for review. Feedback can significantly improve your essay.

If you are thinking of applying for a scholarship, make sure you reach out to the program coordinator. Also, remember that you don’t have to pay anything to qualify for a scholarship. Scholarships are financial aid designed to support talented students.

An excellent way to establish a career in creative writing is to practice every day. You can earn a degree in creative writing or you can enroll in online creative writing courses to hone your skills. Online courses are extremely flexible, meaning you can do while studying other subjects.

About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication .

"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"

Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot

What's Next?

Get matched with top bootcamps

Ask a question to our community, take our careers quiz.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Creative Writing Scholarship

About the scholarship.

The Creative Writing Scholarship offers financial assistance to members of the National Society of High School Scholars who submit a writing sample in poetry, fiction, or both categories. All work must be the student’s original work. High school students seeking a degree or certification are encouraged to apply.

• Essay Required : No
• Need-Based : No
• Merit-Based : Yes
• Member of the National Society of High School Scholars
• Residing in the U.S.
• High school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior
• Seeking a professional certification, associate, or bachelor's degree
• Activities include community service, extracurricular activities, fiction, leadership, poetry, or writing
• Poetry and short fiction stories must be the student's original work
• Proven academic achievement
• Country : US

National Endowment for the Arts

• Grants for Arts Projects
• Challenge America
• Research Awards
• Partnership Agreement Grants
• Creative Writing
• Translation Projects
• Volunteer to be an NEA Panelist
• Manage Your Award
• Recent Grants
• Arts & Human Development Task Force
• Arts Education Partnership
• Blue Star Museums
• Citizens' Institute on Rural Design
• Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network
• GSA's Art in Architecture
• Independent Film & Media Arts Field-Building Initiative
• Interagency Working Group on Arts, Health, & Civic Infrastructure
• International
• Mayors' Institute on City Design
• Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge
• National Folklife Network
• NEA Big Read
• NEA Research Labs
• Poetry Out Loud
• Save America's Treasures
• Shakespeare in American Communities
• Sound Health Network
• United We Stand
• American Artscape Magazine
• NEA Art Works Podcast
• National Endowment for the Arts Blog
• States and Regions
• Accessibility
• Arts & Artifacts Indemnity Program
• Arts and Health
• Arts Education
• Creative Placemaking
• Equity Action Plan
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Literary Arts
• Native Arts and Culture
• NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships
• National Heritage Fellowships
• National Medal of Arts
• Press Releases
• Upcoming Events
• NEA Chair's Page
• Leadership and Staff
• What Is the NEA
• Publications
• National Endowment for the Arts on COVID-19
• Open Government
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• Office of the Inspector General
• Civil Rights Office
• Appropriations History
• Make a Donation

CREATIVE WRITING FELLOWSHIPS

The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in  prose  (fiction and creative nonfiction) and  poetry  to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. 

This program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. In 2024 we will be accepting applications in poetry.  

Learn  more about past recipients of our literature fellowships  in the Literary Arts Impact section. 

If you have questions about your application, please contact the Literary Arts staff at 202-682-5034 or email  [email protected]

Stay Connected to the National Endowment for the Arts

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content

A powerhouse of voices. A champion of different perspectives. A pipeline of talent.

A POWERHOUSE OF VOICES. A CHAMPION OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. A PIPELINE OF TALENT. This is Girls Write Now.

Connect with us, scholarship opportunities.

Girls Write Now mentees have earned scholarships including Posse, Questbridge, Capstone, CAGNEY, Ascend Educational Fund, Samuel H. Scripps, the Presidential Scholarship and many more—including awards directly through the colleges they attend! Pro tip: Call colleges and ask what kind of funding they provide. You can still get scholarships after you’ve matriculated and started college.

Scholarship Essay Writing & Tips

• Learn how to write a scholarship essay here
• Tips on finding and getting scholarships
• Students and Financial Literacy

Scholarships for High School Students

• Ojeda Multi-County Youth Scholarship : This scholarship aims to assist inner-city high school students so they can afford the costs of their tuition and books. Applicants must be of Hispanic or African American origin, and have a minimum 2.9 GPA to apply for this scholarship. ( Applications closed)

For undocumented students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status who are not eligible for federal student aid funds, but may be eligible for financial aid from the state government or the college, depending on where they live or go to school. Play close attention to eligibility requirements.

• The Dream National Scholarship : For highly motivated undocumented students with significant, unmet financial need, enrolled or intending to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program. Must have graduated or will graduate high school by the end of 22-23′ academic year. (Applications closed)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund : For graduating high school senior and undergraduate students of Hispanic heritage planning to enroll full-time in university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, or DACA recipients (Applications closed)
• The HOPE Scholarship with Bard High School Early College : Offers financial assistance towards the cost of tuition and books at the transfer school of the BHSEC student’s choice.
• DREAM Act Application for CUNY and SUNY
• Guide for Undocumented Students
• BestColleges Guide for DACA and Undocumented Students
• Undocumented Student Tuition Overview
• “Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship : The $25,000 “Be Bold” Scholarship is a no-essay scholarship that will be awarded to the applicant with the boldest profile. Open to students of all ages. (Applications closed)
• Ayn Rand Fountainhead Essay Contest : For 11th and 12th grade students worldwide (November 6, 2023)
• Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship (November 30, 2023)
• Love Your Career Scholarship : Open to any student who will be enrolled in a college or University at the time of the next deadline (Applications for Winter semester due January 10, applications for Fall semester September 10)
• Scholastic Scholarships : Multiple arts-based scholarships of varying award amounts for high school students. (Fall deadline— specific to region)
• High School Scholarship : Graduating high school seniors are invited to apply for the Dedalus Foundation Scholarships awarded for artistic excellence. The scholarship money must be used for school expenses. (Application closed)
• Mary Bowman Arts in Activism Award : These $5,000 awards are intended to support young artivists (27 years of age or younger) each year who exemplify Mary’s passion for the arts as the vehicle for their own HIV/AIDS and/or health and social justice community activism and expression. (Applications closed)
• Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts : The Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts provides financial assistance to elevate young talent in their pursuit of a career in theatre: performance, technical, creative, costume design. This scholarship is designed to support members of the Central Florida LGBTQ+ community and their allies. (Applications closed)
• Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest : The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. You must write an essay of between 800 and 1,600 words on one of the three topics listed on the sponsor’s website to be considered for this award. ( Application Deadline: November 6, 2023 )
• Beacon Scholarship for Rural America : The Beacon Scholarship for Rural America is intended for applicants who are college-bound graduating high school seniors, current college students, or adult learners with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (high school or college) and who are planning to enroll in an accredited college program. Applicants must also reside in a rural area and meet low-income criteria. ( Application Deadline for Spring 2024: November 30, 2023 )
• Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP Program) with CUNY Community Colleges
• Education Opportunity Program (EOP) with SUNY
• New York Ramblers Scholarship : For student athletes grade 12 or higher pursuing an undergraduate education who self-identify publicly as LGBTQ+ or demonstrated and committed straight allies. (Applications open January 1, 2024)
• Scholarships for LGBTQ Students : Study.com has compiled a list of scholarships for LGBTQ+ students.
• Community Pride Scholarship : This scholarship aims to support LGBTQIA+ high school seniors who are pursuing careers in public service so they have the encouragement necessary to achieve their dreams. (Applications closed)
• Scholarships and Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students

Among the most competitive, and largest, scholarships

• Cameron Impact Scholarship : For high school juniors. (Applications available in February, early decision deadline in early May, regular decision deadline in early September)
• Posse Scholarship : High School students must be nominated.
• Stamps Scholarship : Apply through their partner universities/colleges.
• Excelsior Scholarship (CUNY and SUNY)
• Amherst College (Private)
• Berea College (Private)
• Brown University (Private)
• Columbia University (Private)
• Macaulay Honors College at CUNY
• Princeton University (Private)
• Stanford University (Private)
• Swarthmore College (Private)
• Webb Institute (Private)
• University of Pennsylvania (Private)
• Vanderbilt University (Private)
• Dr. Jack G. Shaheen Media Scholarshi p : The Dr. Jack G. Shaheen Media Scholarship is available to college junior, senior, and graduate students of Arab American heritage. You must be studying mass communications, journalism, radio, television, and / or film, be a U.S. citizen, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
• Immerse Education Blog Competition : This competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to write a blog about a pre-set topic relating. Four winners will receive a 100% scholarship to our Online Insights virtual summer program, with runner-up prizes also awarded. (Application closed)
• Nicholas J. Bartilucci Environmental Scholarship : For high school students living in New York Enrolled full-time in a B.S. or B.E. degree program with an emphasis on public service. (Applications close February 28, 2024)
• Princeton Prize in Race Relations : For high school students who have undertaken significant efforts to advance racial equity and understanding in their schools and communities. Winners will receive an award of $1,000 and are invited to participate in a Symposium on Race . (Applications closed)
• CodeWizardsHQ Educational Scholarship : Priority given to students applying to STEM programs. Must be a high school senior or incoming college freshman. (Applications close May 1, 2024)
• Share Your Poetry Scholarship : The Share Your Poetry Scholarship will support students of any educational level who write poetry, encouraging their future in writing. (Application closed)
• G2 Overachievers Student Grant : To be considered, you must submit a 1,000 – to 2,000 – word handwritten essay explaining how you (or the person you are nominating) make a difference in the world around you and why you deserve to be recognized for these efforts. (Application Deadline: December 15, 2023)
• Sustainability Essay Contest : The Sustainability Essay Contest is open to high school students. You must submit an essay on a sustainable construction – related topic to be considered for this award. (Application Deadline: November 3, 2023)

For students who are New York residents attending a school in New York.

• Macaulay Honors College Scholarship
• NYS Aid to Native Americans
• NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence
• Capital Preparatory Charter Harlem Charter School : No fee charter schools with a mission of social justice in the heart of Harlem.

Scholarships for College Students & Young Professionals

• Growing Up In America Art, Essay, Video Contest | AACI, NBC Bay Area Hosted by AACI and in partnership with NBC Bay Area, Growing Up in America (GUA) is an annual art, essay and video contest that reaches hundreds of Bay Area students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded 25+ years ago by Lance Lew of NBC Bay Area, GUA gives a unique platform for young people to creatively explore and celebrate their cultural identity through the lens of civic engagement. 2024’s Contest Theme is “I Choose My Future” participants are prompted to reflect on their vision of their future self and their future community. The Submission form will be open from March 1st until March 15, 2024.
• Single Mother’s Education Scholarship : This scholarship is for low-income Asian or Latino undergraduate students who have at least a 3.0 GPA. Children of single moms may apply but single mothers are preferred. (Applications closed)
• Scholarship for Indigenous STEM Students : An academic award of $1,000 will be provided to an indigenous STEM student by Study.com. Increasing access to education is at the heart of Study.com’s mission and we hope to aid indigenous students pursue higher education in STEM through this scholarship. ( Applications closed )
• Pearson Scholarships guide for people of color
• The Dream National Scholarship : For highly motivated undocumented students with significant, unmet financial need, enrolled or intending to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program at a Partner College in your state in the Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024. ( Applications open November 1, 2023)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund : For graduating high school senior and undergraduate students of Hispanic heritage planning to enroll full-time in university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent legal residents, or DACA recipients. ( Applications closed )
• Davis Putter Scholarship Fund : Need-based scholarships awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement. ( Applications closed )
• BestColleges Guide for Undocumented Students
• Love Your Career Scholarship : Open to any student who will be enrolled in a college or University at the time of the next deadline ( Applications for Winter semester due January 10, applications for Fall semester September 10 )
• Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship (Applications close November 30, 2023)
• P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education ( PCE ) : A need-based grant program providing one-time financial assistance of up to $3,000 to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that improves their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.
• New York Ramblers Scholarship : For student athletes pursuing an undergraduate education who self-identify publicly as LGBTQ+ or demonstrated and committed straight allies. (Applications open January 1, 2024)
• LGBTQ+ STEM Scholarship : Any LGBTQ+ student pursuing their undergraduate college degree in a STEM field can apply. Study.com offers a $1,000 academic award. Study.com’s mission is to make education accessible. (Applications closed)
• Thomas J. Watson Fellowship : For graduating college seniors at a Watson partner institution who wish to conduct research abroad for a year following graduation. (Ask your institution for their specific deadline)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) : For students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution located in the United States of America. ( Applications open January 2024)
• CodeWizardsHQ Educational Scholarship : Priority given to students applying to STEM programs. Must be a high school senior or incoming college freshman. ( Application deadline is May 1, 2024 )
• Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship : Each year, the STEM Scholarship Program awards $10,000 to 200 recipients studying engineering or computer science at a 4-year college or university. Recipients may renew the scholarship up to three times for a total potential value of $40,000 per student. ( Applications open in 2024 )
• BHW Women in STEM Academic Scholarship : Women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics during the 2024 school year are eligible. ( Applications open January 2024 )
• 2024 ISF Scholarship | Islamic Scholarship Fund 
• $3,000-$10,000  Students who are Muslim or active members of the Muslim community may apply for the Islamic Scholarship Fund. The ISF awards multiple scholarships each year ranging from $3,000-$10,000, though the amounts and number of recipients will vary. Students must submit applications including essay questions, work samples, and letters of recommendation, and must also be majoring in an ISF-supported field related to media or politics. Deadline: March 21, 2024
• NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatr e : The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre (“Women’s Fund”), administered by the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) in partnership with the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), is a signature initiative that addresses the underrepresentation of women in the entertainment industry. The Fund provides grants to encourage and support the creation of content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women. ( Applications close: November 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET )
• Women in Technology Scholarship Program ’23 : Orangesoft offers a scholarship dedicated to female college or university students pursuing STEM, or other technology-related studies and careers. As an Orangesoft Scholar, you will receive new financial opportunities and a chance to participate in the IT industry development. ( Application deadline: November 15, 2023 )
• $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship | IvyPanda :  Each year IvyPanda awards creative and talented students that make movies with up to scholarships $1,000 total. Scholarships are given to two winners: the winner receives a $1,000 scholarship; the runner-up prize is $500. ( Application Deadline: October 31, 2023 )
• Excelsior Scholarship
• NYS Memorial Scholarship

Big-Time Scholarships

• QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship : For Academically outstanding high school juniors from families earning less than $65,000/year for a family of four. ( Applications opens in February of your junior year and are due in March )
• Cameron Impact Scholarship : For high school juniors. (A pplications available in February, early decision deadline in early May, regular decision deadline in early September )
• Thomas J. Watson Fellowship : For graduating college seniors at a Watson partner institution who wish to conduct research abroad for a year following graduation.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) : For students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student at an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution located in the United States of America. (Applications open January 2024)
• Davis Putter Scholarship Fund : Need-based scholarships awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement. (Applications open January 2024)

More Scholarship Opportunities

• Not Consumed $1000 Scholarship Program : The Not Consumed scholarship provides a one-time reward of $1,000 to pay for tuition, books, computers, room and board, or any education-related expense. There’s no GPA requirement and no application forms.
• Dayspring Pens Scholarship : The Dayspring Pens scholarship provides a one-time award of $1,000.00 to offset the costs of tuition, books, computers, room, or any other education-related expense for both undergraduate and graduate students. There are no GPA requirements or application forms.
• The Rise Challenge : The Rise Challenge program provides Global Winners ages 15 to 17 with scholarships, mentorship, access to career development opportunities, and funding, as they work toward solving humanity’s most pressing problems. ( Applications open end of September )

ASAP, EOP, HEOP, TAP & SEEK Programs (NY-Based and for NYS Residents)

Provide academic and financial assistance to students who are financially and academically disadvantaged. Students must also be New York residents and attend college in New York.

• Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Program (HEOP) with NY-Private Colleges
• Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) with CUNY
• Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Online Financial Aid, Scholarship & Federal Grants Resources

• Bankrate 5 best scholarships for Latino students
• Best Colleges Financial Aid Opportunities for Students of Color
• Best Colleges Financial Education Resources
• Best Colleges Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
• Collegexpress.com
• College Board BigFuture Scholarship Search
• Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarships
• fedmoney.org
• fastweb.com
• GoodCall Scholarship Search Engine
• Myscholly.com
• Niche Scholarships
• NYS Higher Education Services – Types of Financial Aid
• Peerlift.org
• Scholarshipmonkey.com
• Study.com First Generation College Student Guide
• Study.com Guide for Community College Scholarships
• Study.com Need-Based Scholarships: What Are They & How to Apply
• Study.com Ultimate Guide to Student Loans & Student Loan Repayment
• Study.com Comprehensive Scholarship Guide
• Study.com Scholarship Resources for Students of Color
• Study.com Student Scholarships
• Scholarships.com
• 2020 Porch Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships
• Williams College All-Grant Financial Aid Program

Don’t forget to call colleges and ask what kind of funding they provide. You can still get scholarships after you’ve matriculated and started college.

Explore More College & Career Resources

InternshipS FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

ScholarshipS FOR HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE STUDENTS

Writing CONTESTS & PUBLICATIONS OPEN TO youth

Girls Write Now

For 25 years, Girls Write Now has been breaking down barriers of gender, race, age and poverty to mentor the next generation of writers and leaders who are impacting businesses, shaping culture and creating change. Thank you for joining our movement.

Join the Community

From mailing list to mentoring and more…, give write now, invest in the next generation of leaders.

247 West 37th Street, Suite 1000 New York, NY 10018

• Creative Writing

Creative Writing Scholarships for International Students

Great News! Creative Writing Scholarships for Bachelors, Masters, and PhD programs are regularly offered by universities abroad. If you are a student of Creative Writing and are looking for a scholarship that can help you complete a higher education degree in Creative Writing, you may apply for any of the scholarships listed here. Remember, these scholarships in Creative Writing disciplines may require you to fulfils the admission criteria of the university. Creative Writing is an excellent discipline to pursue for a bright career as it has incredible scope and the job industry for Creative Writing is demanding more and more professionals. If you are seeking Creative Writing undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs without IELTS requirement, it is recommended to apply to Chinese universities or European universities.

Sabanci University Graduate Scholarships 2024 in Turkey (Fully Funded)

• Fully Funded
• Sabancı University
• Masters, PhD
• All Subjects
• International Students

This is a Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Sabancı University, Turkey. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Sabanci University Graduate Scholarships 2024 in Turkey (Fully Funded).

POSTECH Summer Program 2024 in South Korea

• Partial Funding
• Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
• Undergraduate, Graduate
• South Korea

This is a Undergraduate, Graduate scholarships for International Students at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for POSTECH Summer Program 2024 in South Korea.

Said Foundation Scholarships 2025/2026 in the UK (Fully Funded)

• UK Universities

This is a Masters scholarships for International Students at UK Universities, UK. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Said Foundation Scholarships 2025/2026 in the UK (Fully Funded).

Kyushu University Fukuoka Satooya Scholarships 2024 in Japan

• Kyushu University
• Bachelor, Masters, PhD

This is a Bachelor, Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Kyushu University, Japan. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Kyushu University Fukuoka Satooya Scholarships 2024 in Japan.

University of Bolton Academic Excellence Scholarships 2024 in the UK

• University of Bolton

This is a Bachelor, Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at University of Bolton, UK. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Bolton Academic Excellence Scholarships 2024 in the UK.

The University of Jordan Scholarships for International Students 2024

• The University of Jordan
• Undergraduate, Postgraduate
• Domestic Students, International Students

This is a Undergraduate, Postgraduate scholarships for Domestic Students, International Students at The University of Jordan, Jordan. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for The University of Jordan Scholarships for International Students 2024.

University of Sharjah Scholarships Fall 2024/2025 in UAE

• Tuition fee
• University of Sharjah
• Undergraduate
• International Students, Domestic Students

This is a Undergraduate scholarships for International Students, Domestic Students at University of Sharjah, UAE. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Sharjah Scholarships Fall 2024/2025 in UAE.

Japanese Government MEXT Research Scholarships 2025 For Masters and PhD (Fully Funded)

• Japan Universities

This is a Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Japan Universities, Japan. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Japanese Government MEXT Research Scholarships 2025 For Masters and PhD (Fully Funded).

University of Otago Research Masters Scholarship 2024 in New Zealand

• University of Otago
• Masters, Research
• New Zealand

This is a Masters, Research scholarships for International Students at University of Otago, New Zealand. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Otago Research Masters Scholarship 2024 in New Zealand.

University of Otago Coursework Masters Scholarship 2024 in New Zealand

This is a Masters scholarships for International Students at University of Otago, New Zealand. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Otago Coursework Masters Scholarship 2024 in New Zealand.

Shenyang Agriculture University (SYAU) Freshman Scholarships 2024 in China

• Shenyang Agriculture University

This is a Bachelor, Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Shenyang Agriculture University, China. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Shenyang Agriculture University (SYAU) Freshman Scholarships 2024 in China.

OShaughnessy Remote Fellowships 2024 (Grants Up to $100,000)

• Award up to $100,000
• all universities. This fellowship is offered by O'Shaughnessy Ventures

This is a Fellowship scholarships for International Students at , Worldwide. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for OShaughnessy Remote Fellowships 2024 (Grants Up to $100,000).

University of Leicester International Summer Scholarships 2024 in UK

• University of Leicester
• Short Training, certification course

This is a Short Training, certification course scholarships for International Students at University of Leicester, UK. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for University of Leicester International Summer Scholarships 2024 in UK.

DAAD Scholarships in Germany 2025-2026 (Fully Funded)

• Germany Universities

This is a Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Germany Universities, Germany. Students interested in are advised to apply for DAAD Scholarships in Germany 2025-2026 (Fully Funded).

Sapienza University of Rome Scholarships 2024/2025 in Italy

• Partial Funding, Fully Funded, Tuition fee
• Sapienza University of Rome
• Bachelor, Masters

This is a Bachelor, Masters scholarships for International Students at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Sapienza University of Rome Scholarships 2024/2025 in Italy.

Quick Links

• Facebook like 25.7 K
• twitter share

Recent Updates

• Scholarships

ECU Western Australian Premiers University Scholarships 2024

Government of canada banting postdoctoral fellowships 2024, colombia government scholarship 2024/2025 (fully funded and without ielts), makerere university mastercard foundation scholarships 2024 (fully funded), webster vienna private university scholarships fall 2024 in austria, schlumberger foundation faculty for the future fellowships 2025/2026, international mathematical union (imu) breakout graduate fellowship 2024. (fully funded), amsterdam university of arts talent grant scholarships 2024 in netherlands, japan manga award 2024: an opportunity for international cartoon and manga artists, university of pavia italy announces 6 fully-funded cicops scholarships for 2025, caregiver continuing education: 7 ways to advance your career, london centre for nanotechnology announces phd positions for 2024, ontario tech university has 16 vacant postdoctoral and academic positions., 69 vacant postdoctoral and academic positions at arizona university, 41 faculty positions at toronto university, canada, bocconi university launches scholarship program for 2024 academic year.

• My Account |
• StudentHome |
• TutorHome |
• IntranetHome |
• Contact the OU Contact the OU Contact the OU |
• Accessibility Accessibility

Postgraduate

• International
• News & media
• Business & apprenticeships
• Contact Contact Contact
• A to Z of courses
• A to Z of subjects
• Course types
• Masters degrees
• Postgraduate diplomas
• Postgraduate certificates
• Microcredentials
• Postgraduate modules
• Postgraduate distance learning
• Postgraduate qualifications
• Postgraduate entry requirements
• How will I study?
• Tutors and assessment
• Support, networking and community
• Disability support
• Fees and funding
• Postgraduate loan
• Credit or debit card
• Employer sponsorship
• Mixed payments
• Credit transfer
• OU bursaries
• Grant funding
• Study costs funding
• Carers' Bursary
• Care Experienced Bursary
• Disability financial assistance
• STEMM bursary
• Over 60s bursary
• Creative Writing Scholarship
• Hayes Postgraduate Scholarship
• Disabled Veterans' Scholarships

How to apply

• Research degrees
• Research areas
• Degrees we offer
• Fees and studentships
• Application process
• Being an OU research student
• Student views

Open Futures – Creative Writing Scholarship

If you identify as being from a Black background, you could be eligible to study our MA in Creative Writing for free.

The Open University is committed to driving change and ensuring that academic institutions remain inclusive and accessible for all members of society.

What is the Open Futures – MA in Creative Writing Scholarship?

The Open University offers a select number of students the opportunity for a full fee waiver scholarship to study the MA in Creative Writing .

Three scholarships are available in 2024/25. A scholarship will cover the full tuition cost of your qualification, up to 180 credits in total.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, you’ll need to meet all the following criteria:

• Be ordinarily resident in the UK and eligible to pay a UK fee.
• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Black Other
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
• Mixed – White and Black African
• Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
• Be intending to study the MA in Creative Writing  starting in the 2024/25 academic year.
• Have a personal annual income of not more than £25,000 per year or receive a UK qualifying benefit.
• Fulfil the entry requirements for the MA in Creative Writing.
• Be able to demonstrate your experience of, and a passion for, creative writing.

The full eligibility criteria for the academic year 2023/24 are listed in the scholarship terms and conditions .

Applications for the 2023/24 academic year are now closed.

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the outcome by email by 14 August 2023.

We are now open for applications for the 2024/25 academic year. To apply, you’ll need to download the full scholarship terms and conditions  and the scholarship application form .

Once completed, email your application and supporting evidence to our Student Fees team. You’ll find their contact details on the first page of the application form.

Applications close at midday on 24 July 2024 . We’ll email you by 14 August 2024 to confirm if you're successful.

Need more information?

If you’ve got a question about the Open Futures – MA in Creative Writing Scholarship or need help completing your application, our advisers are here to help. Don’t hesitate to call us on 0300 303 5303 or email us at [email protected] .

The Open University

• Study with us
• Supported distance learning
• Funding your studies
• International students
• Global reputation
• Apprenticeships
• Develop your workforce
• Contact the OU

Undergraduate

• Arts and Humanities
• Art History
• Business and Management
• Combined Studies
• Computing and IT
• Counselling
• Creative Writing
• Criminology
• Early Years
• Electronic Engineering
• Engineering
• Environment
• Film and Media
• Health and Social Care
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health Sciences
• International Studies
• Mathematics
• Mental Health
• Nursing and Healthcare
• Religious Studies
• Social Sciences
• Social Work
• Software Engineering
• Sport and Fitness
• Postgraduate study
• Masters in Art History (MA)
• Masters in Computing (MSc)
• Masters in Creative Writing (MA)
• Masters degree in Education
• Masters in Engineering (MSc)
• Masters in English Literature (MA)
• Masters in History (MA)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Masters in Mathematics (MSc)
• Masters in Psychology (MSc)
• A to Z of Masters degrees
• Accessibility statement
• Conditions of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookie policy
• Manage cookie preferences
• Modern slavery act (pdf 149kb)

Follow us on Social media

• Student Policies and Regulations
• Student Charter
• System Status
• Contact the OU Contact the OU
• Modern Slavery Act (pdf 149kb)

© . . .

Secondary Menu

2023 duke english creative writing contest and scholarship winners, april 21, 2023.

Duke English is excited to announce our 2023 Creative Writing Contest and Scholarship awardees. Congratulations to the following students:   

Camden Chin ’26 for “Value of a Dollar” and “Harold” Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Fiction. Family members and friends of former English student Anne Flexner (1945) established the Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Creative Writing to recognize undergraduates for their work in fiction and poetry. 

Emma Huang ’25 for “Equivalence”  Reynolds Price Award for Fiction. The Reynolds Price Fiction Award was established in memory of the distinguished novelist, essayist, poet, and public intellectual Reynolds Price, a graduate of Duke and professor in the English Department for over 50 years. 

Maggie Wolfe ’24 first prize for “The Rise and Fall” Nima Babajani-Feremi ’24 second prize co-winner for “After Rebirth”  Haoning Jiang ’23 second prize co-winner for “That Time I Pirated a Pixar Movie and Cried Like a Baby” George P. Lucaci Award for Creative NonFiction . This award was created to encourage creative nonfiction writing and honor George P. Lucaci, a former Duke student who has actively supported undergraduate creative writing in the English Department for many years.

Tyler King ’25 first prize for “Texan Gospel” Laura Boyle ’24  (Honorable Mention)  for “Zoo of Self”  Academy of American Poets Prize. Founded in 1934 in New York City, the Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization advocating for American poets and poetry.  Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and foster contemporary poetry appreciation. 

Dylan Haston ’23  co-winner for “The Will She Had: Grail Quest” Lauren Garbett ’23 co-winner for “bright futures, brighter pasts” Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Poetry. Family members and friends of former English student Anne Flexner (1945) established the Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Creative Writing to recognize undergraduates for their work in fiction and poetry. 

Tina Xia ’23 co-winner for “Love for Sale Marina Chen ’24 co-winner for “/&&*” (“stick and poke”)  Terry Welby Tyler, Jr. Award for Poetry. This award was established by the family of Terry Welby Tyler, Jr., who would have graduated with the class of 1997 to recognize and honor outstanding undergraduate poetry.  

Edgar Salas ’23  William M. Blackburn Scholarship . Created in 1962 by students and friends of Professor William Blackburn (1899-1969), who established the creative writing initiative at Duke, this scholarship recognizes outstanding achievement in the field of creative writing. 

Mina Jang ’23  Francis Pemberton Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior pursuing creative writing studies. It was created by the Trustees of The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation in memory and honor of Francis Pemberton's service to the Biddle Foundation. 

Miranda Gershoni ’23   Margaret Rose Knight Sanford Scholarship. Given annually to a female student who demonstrates a particular promise in creative writing, this scholarship was established to recognize the untiring efforts of Margaret Rose Knight Sanford on behalf of Duke University.

Related Articles

• Duke English Administration
• Learning Objectives
• Resources for Faculty
• Best Practices
• English Minor
• Creative Writing Minor
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Student Spotlight
• Global Education
• Thesis & Distinction
• Creative Writing Contest
• 2024 Award Winners
• Critical Essay Contest
• Scholarships & Awards
• Past Winners
• Resources & Forms
• 2023-2024 English Department Ambassadors
• Undergraduate Alumni
• Collective Standards of Conduct and Values
• Timeline and Deadlines
• Statement of Expectations for Advising
• Best Practices Exams & Reading Lists
• Graduate Courses
• Graduate Placements
• Stephen Horne Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Professional Development
• Student Handbook
• Ph.D. Alumni
• Spring 2024 Courses
• Fall 2023 Courses
• Spring 2023 Courses
• Fall 2022 Courses
• 2020-21 Courses and Requirement
• Gateway Courses
• Area I: Medieval & Early Modern
• Area II: 18th & 19th Century
• Area III: Modern & Contemporary
• Criticism, Theory or Methodology Courses
• Creative Writing Courses
• Primary Faculty
• Joint Faculty
• Secondary Faculty
• Instructors and Affiliated Faculty
• Graduate Students
• David L. Paletz Creative Writing Guest Series
• Faculty Books
• Recent Work Online
• Faculty Works-in-Progress Series
• Novel Dialogue Podcast
• The Wellian Magazine
• Master of English Alumni
• J.D./M.A. Alumni
• All Alumni Profiles
• Alumni Profiles
• Assisting Duke Students

Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship

The Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship is offered to students who demonstrate exceptional talent and a passion for writing.

The award was established by Patricia Cornwell '79, author of over 30 works—which have been translated into more than 20 languages and are consistently on best-seller lists.

The Cornwell Scholarship is valued at $30,000 annually, and is offered to one student in each first-year class. Up to five students, including the scholarship recipient, are named Cornwell Fellows in recognition of their exceptional talent. All Cornwell Fellows are promised reserved seating in a creative writing class of their choice each semester. In addition, the Cornwell Fellows meet with the many illustrious writers who visit campus—Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, MacArthur Fellows, etc.—for private lunches, small group Q&As, dinners at the President’s house, and public events.

The scholarship money is renewable so long as you maintain the required grade point average, make expected progress toward your degree, and remain engaged in the writing community.

Cornwell Fellows are not required to major in English.

Application Process

In addition to the application for admission and scholarship application , you must submit your book list (books read during the last year for school and pleasure) and up to 10 pages of your best creative work in the genre(s) of your choice, which can include spoken-word poetry.

Please submit scholarship application materials no later than your selected  application plan deadline .

For questions related to the Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship, please contact our scholarships team.

In this section

NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

Three (3) $2,000 awards for the Fiction category, three (3) $2,000 awards for the Poetry category

Rising high school students graduating in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and recently graduated 2023 seniors

Scholarship Details:

Awards will be presented to students with the top submissions in the  two categories below :

• Poetry : Students may submit their original poetry in any style, from formal verse, to free verse to experimental. The poem should be formatted as you wish it to appear in publication.
• Fiction : Students may submit a piece of short fiction, which must be no more than 5,000 words and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student’s choice, including graphic novel or story.

Winning literary entries will be published on the NSHSS website. Entries will be judged on creativity, technique, expression, and originality.

*All work must be the student’s original work. Plagiarism:  NSHSS has a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Any applicant whose winning work is determined to be plagiarized in whole or in part will forfeit any awards .

By submitting your work to us, you are giving NSHSS and its partners, affiliates, and licensees the non-exclusive right to publish your work in any format, including print, electronic, and online media. However, all individual contributors to NSHSS retain the right to submit their work for non-exclusive publication elsewhere, and you have our permission to do so.

Please note: Students have the option to apply to one or BOTH categories. Only one entry per category is allowed. Students are only eligible to win one NSHSS Scholarship per academic year. 

Application Requirements:

• Educator recommendation
• Title of the work
• Category you are submitting for
• Color headshot
• Academic resume
• Current Transcript (can be official or unofficial)

Application Opens: May 4, 2023

Closing date: october 2, 2023 by 11:59pm (est), scholarships closing soon.

CIA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

NSHSS Hometown Hero Scholarship

NSHSS Foundation Bridge to Opportunity Scholarship

Future Educators Scholarship

Why Vote? Scholarship for Voter Awareness and Education

NSHSS James W. Lewis High School Global Leader Scholarship 2024

NSHSS James W. Lewis Collegiate Global Leader Scholarship

Speak Up! Scholarship

NSHSS Nobel Good Earth Sustainability Scholarship

NSHSS Foundation Business & Public Policy Scholarship

Be More Grant

Notorious RBG Women of Tomorrow Scholarship

NSHSS Activism and Advocacy Scholarship

NSHSS Community College or Trade School Scholarship

• Creative Writing
• BA and BFA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing Scholarships

Each year, the Creative Writing Program awards Glenn Balch Undergraduate Creative Writing Scholarships to students who demonstrate outstanding achievement in writing and a commitment to the study of craft. Scholarship amounts vary year to year.

First Steps:

• Fill out the Boise State Scholarship Application. 
• Fill out the FAFSA – The FAFSA is changing significantly in 2024, so even if you weren’t eligible in the past, you may be eligible now. Some scholarships require federal need, so fill out the FAFSA by February 15, 2024 , to maximize your scholarship chances. Students who don’t meet the citizenship or eligible non-citizenship criteria for the FAFSA may still be eligible for need-based scholarships. Complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator and Boise State Scholarship Application. Email the Federal Student Aid Estimator results to [email protected] , please be sure to include your student ID number.

Other Scholarship Opportunities:

• For Idaho Residents: Check out these Idaho scholarships:
• Idaho Opportunity Scholarship : Awards up to $3,500. Apply now through March 1, 2023. You can do this now!
• The Lightfoot Foundation Scholarship : Assists students from 58 towns and cities in the Treasure Valley. Apply March 1 – April 15. Set a reminder . 
• Idaho Community Foundation : More than 70 scholarship funds, each with different criteria.
• Review the Private Scholarships page

Department of Theatre Arts and Creative Writing

• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram

All Ireland Scholarships Alumni Association

2023 winners & runners up.

All short stories submitted to the 2023 AISAA Creative Writing Competition have now been read and assessed and a shortlist of six Scholars has been devised.

Each of the six selected have distinguished themselves in terms of the quality of writing, the structure of story and the originality of voice.

The general standard of the longlist of entries was wonderfully high. The judges were impressed with the diversity of subjects and styles that this third year of the Competition has uncovered.

Once again, we have noted that there are some incredibly talented, creative writers among our All-Ireland Scholarship winners – with stories full of honesty, compassion and intelligence.

Their entries strike at the heart of what it is to be human, they reveal a depth of perception and insight that is simply breath-taking, and a real inventiveness of approach and language that is hugely impressive and exciting.

Below (in alphabetical order) is the shortlist of six Scholars, whose entries will be reviewed by our award-winning judging panel of acclaimed authors, with the overall winner set to be announced on Monday 10th of April.

The Finalists

Emma corcoran - winner.

A Little Bird

He walks down his favourite street.

To the unaware observer, there is nothing about this street that makes it stand out from any other street in any small suburban town. But to him, this street represents his past, present, and, if he can help it, his future. This street is the twine that binds the major and minor events of his life and anchors them onto a mere one-kilometre-long assembly of paved road and path, buildings of various design and function, intermittent but carefully planned hedges, shrubs and trees, unimposing street lamps and litter bins. Certainly, he has traversed many more countless streets than the one on which he now stands, from streets within the same town he has lived since he was born, to streets in nearby towns and further afield cities; cities within his native country and cities abroad, separated by vast swathes of ocean and land. The appearance of these streets varied greatly; they could be uneven cobblestone or smooth, painted asphalt; they could be lined with beautiful classical architecture or imposing skyscrapers; they could be dotted with flourishing deciduous trees or meaningful sculptures. Though they were often beautiful, they were not his own.

This was a street that had been his community since the day his mother carried him across the threshold into the small two-up, two-down red bricked house where his father before him was born. It was the street where he took some of his first steps; where he and his friends would play until the call for supper, before meeting each other the next morning to walk to school. It was at the bus stop on this street he would wait for the bus to take him to his first job in a bigger town, or for a lift to the dance where he would meet his future wife. It was this street he took to the corner shop for bread and milk; the path he walked to mass every Sunday; the road he cycled to a club match at the local GAA pitch. It was a house on this street he decided to buy as a newlywed and make his home, where he raised his children until they were grown, and where he helped to care for his ill wife, before she was carried back to the same church in which they had promised their lives to one another.

Although he now lived on his own, he rarely felt alone. He knew everyone’s name, origin, association; the information they were happy to share. But he knew the secrets of people, too; he was hungry for them – those tales told in faith, until you told the wrong person, or the right person, depending on which side of the secret you were on. And sometimes it was those stories that travelled the fastest, like the rush of blood through a vein. But wasn’t that just a part of it, what was to be expected when you lived in a little place like this? The smallest of places can have the loudest heartbeat, if you only knew how to find its pulse.

There is a breeze, now, as he walks down the street, and he can feel the crisp January air cutting across his face, numbing his toes and fingers. He curses himself for not wearing his thick socks or gloves but forgives himself for thinking to wear a wool hat. The streets are quiet save for the low howl of the wind and the odd rumble of a passing car. He sees a figure jogging towards him, and hears the pounding of the figure’s feet as they hit the pavement. As the figure looms closer he sees it is a neighbour from the other side of town, who he last saw in the pub on Stephen’s night, five pints and two bags of salt and vinegar crisps in, and not the better for it. He was telling a tale, of a doctor who had offered that he should perhaps think about cutting back on alcohol and getting some exercise to help his heart. Says I, doctor, my heart is already broken listening to the missus telling me the same thing. He had his head thrown back in laughter at his own tragedy. Now his head hangs forward as he gasps for air.

Further up the street he sees a woman leaving the newsagents. She is pushing a buggy carrying a small child. The child is wrapped in a blanket and does not appear to be too happy about the fact he is being subjected to the unforgiving winter air. He is wailing and fighting against the straps that are holding him in, whilst the woman tries to soothe him, promising him they are almost home and will be warm soon. The child has flame red hair; it is a lightning strike across an overcast sky. He does not know the woman very well, but he knows from the whispers that she is not this child’s mother, and that his mother is away, fighting her own demons, against the straps that are holding her down, and no one knows when she will return.

He carries on down the street, and it is devoid of anyone else that might cause him to recount the story he knows of them. Instead, he calls to mind all the tales, told and untold, contained within the buildings he passes. There is the newsagent’s run by a widow whose husband had a fondness for the drink and for raising his fists; the pub owned by a man who moved from the city to escape the fists raised at him; the parochial house that stands empty but that no one cares all that much about; the Garda station that is also empty but about which everyone cares a lot; the primary school whose principal regularly darkens the door of a bookie’s two towns over. He knows so much about this street, and he is proud of that fact. No-one knows as much as him. The things the little birds can tell you, and that you can hear, if you only open one ear.

He gets to the end of the street, to the crossroads. Left for the main road to the next town; right to the woods, his usual route. Both directions away from the street. He turns right and sets off down the familiar curved path.

A short while later, in the woods, he sees a small dog on the path between the trees. The dog is looking in to the depths of the overgrowth, and he thinks he recognises the dog from the red collar tied around its neck. It is the terrier belonging to the banker’s wife, who lives outside the town, in a big house surrounded by a tall evergreen hedge. He does not know the story of this woman, only that she has no children, is only seen occasionally on the street when walking her dog, and tends not to mingle with others. The stories that he holds dear do not seem to concern her; she has no care for the narratives of others. It would seem her community is in the confines of her comfortable home. She is in a way a symbol of that which is the opposite of him.

The little dog sees him but does not move from his post, instead turning his head back towards the trees. Following the dog’s line of sight, into the growth, he sees what has captured the dog’s attention. It is the stooped figure of the banker’s wife, wearing a fine wool coat and gloves, with a coal bucket in her left hand. Her right hand is picking up bits of fallen branches from the ground and putting them into the bucket. She must have sensed his presence, because she stands up straight and turns toward him. She addresses him without any hint of surprise or shock at being discovered doing something that is so at odds with what would be assumed of her. He does not ask her she is doing; nevertheless, she explains that she is just gathering some firewood. She says she has been doing this for years. She can usually gather enough to light a fire to warm herself for a few hours in the winter. She used to be more careful about people seeing her, but now she couldn’t care less. She is eager to tell him this, the words tumble from her mouth, anxious to be heard. She surprises him by asking him to confirm her recollection that he lives on main street. The wood and the damp earth absorb the soft vibrations of her voice. He did not know before that she knew who he was. He does not say anything, and she does not lose his gaze. She wants him to respond, to ask her how she came to be in this place, to share her secrets.

It is as though all that he does not know has been presented before him, but through a fogged window. His vision is obscured, and so he cannot full appreciate what he sees, and he cannot understand its meaning. He does not realise that all he must do is take the edge of his sleeve and wipe the condensation away. Then he would see that her fine wool coat is now well worn, a memory of its former luxury, and hangs loosely from her frame. He would see that her once carefully maintained hair is greying at the roots, and that her boots are scuffed. He would see inside her house, and find that the contents of the fridge and cupboards are sparse, the rooms are cold, and that it is a long time since the woman’s husband had sat in his place at the top of the table. All this he would see if he could only open his mouth. But he does not, because he knows he will be the one expected to respond, to empathise, to care, to offer help. And he knows, within him, that he is not capable of doing this; and perhaps, even deeper within him, that he does not want to. He can listen to and recount the story of the hero, but he cannot wear the cape. He can only be a gatekeeper to this woman’s story, and he is choosing to keep the gate closed.

He bids farewell to the woman, and her unspoken words, and turns back towards his street, his sanctuary, leaving her alone with her little dog in the depths of the woods.

Sinead Greenan - Runner-Up

On Neurotypicals

A sentence that appeared when researching the term neurotypical: neurotypicals often assume that their experience of the world is either the only one, or the only correct one.

In the neurotypical world, one must instinctively know about unwritten rules. About things not said but which must be assumed. About lying to spare someone’s feelings on an honest opinion that they themselves asked for. About smiling and saying kind words that are dropped the instant a back is turned.

One must know that ‘on the dot’ doesn’t mean look for the dot, that ‘around 7pm’ could mean any time in the hour before or after 7pm. Or that ‘see you later’ could mean they have no intention of seeing you later. They might intend to, you don’t know (but you should).

In a neurotypical’s world, hidden meanings are written between lines, behind texts, under breath. Conflict, arguments, battles are generated from this.

Damaged toes squashed into heels, scratchy jumpers forced on schoolkids, stiff shirts and ties on men in certain professions. Everyone expected to adhere to a start time of 9am and finish time after 4pm, with a half hour for lunch.

One is expected to turn up to work, school, meetings, regardless of energy level, emotional status, or physical capability that day. To sacrifice oneself for appearance. Resulting in unwarranted tempers towards others. A decline in health. Deterioration in relationships. One is supposed to answer phone or house calls without warning, without context, without knowing the person even. Draining the battery and running on auto. Calling in sick or resigning from work without being able to tell the truth as to why, because everyone should be capable of coping with the exact same pressures.

What if neurodivergent’s experiences were the correct ones?

Rules written down are abided by. Isn’t that what rules are for? Words have legitimate meaning. Things are spelled out as they are. Nothing is said behind anyone’s back. Rather, opinions are given directly, honestly and without malice or intent to harm. Neurotypicals have the biggest issue with this, even when they’ve asked for it.

Time can be strictly kept to or wildly defied, depending on the neurodivergence and state of mind in that moment. Often, the anxiety of leaving the house can make us overreach or completely freeze

There is a deep understanding amongst fellow neurodivergents. Not of each other’s exact experiences, as that completely goes against the point of the word divergent. But of each other’s experience trying to exist in the majority’s world. This creates a fellowship of a kind not seen in the neurotypical realm. No, we do not have to stare at each other over a coffee table once a week. Or talk on the phone for hours. Or chat about the weather, kids, or the bad news story of the day to make small talk seem like deep friendship. We can co-exist in silence whilst knowing there is a level of respect and connection there, that someone understands. A little thread to somebody like us, outside the busy skein of our mind. When overwhelmed with the demands of work, home, lights, noises, people, we would love to collapse under a weighted blanket and shut the world out. Recharge the power and go again when full. This is what some of us do, if we can. Some work places and home companions understand and allow for this. A select few I suspect. Most expect us to trudge along like the neurotypicals do, everyone jammed together on the hamster wheel of life.

We can have intense focus on a topic of our interest. A lot of us create a career around this. Sometimes it might be the only means to getting and keeping a job. Until the burnout comes, that is. We may be extremely successful and productive in our work projects, but lunch times and social gatherings drain our spirit. The intensity of our focus also speeds up the emptying process. Burnout literally feels like a spent body battery, like the juice has poured down to your feet and out the bottom. The energy normally used for getting dressed, brushing teeth, washing hair is gone. Let alone that which is reserved for getting to work, saying hello to colleagues, phone calls, completing tasks. It can lead to a deep melancholy. Devoid of capacity for productivity, joy, even eating.

It is a difficult way to be, neurodivergent, but only because one must live in a neurotypical world. If only we were allowed to express ourselves how we wish, speak to those we want to and when we want, state our truth, rest when we need, spend time with our animals and special things, sleep when our bodies desire. Be accepted for who we are and our needs. Surely neurotypicals desire some of these things too? Neurodivergence is classed as a disability, but disabilities are only so because the world makes them that way. Lack of accessibility, accommodations, and understanding dis-ables people. If we were en-abled to live how we need to, there would be no disability.

I do not wish to be neurotypical. Quite the opposite. I love how I experience pure joy from the simple things. Turning my face up to see candyfloss clouds hang in the sky, being hypnotised by a fire crackling in the stove, having my dog twitch in her sleep beside me and imagining what her dreams are made of. My intense curiosity and focus have allowed me to learn so much about so many things, read hundreds of books, and build a successful career. My strong sense of justice has enabled me to speak up about things that are wrong and given me robust moral values.

What we need more in the world is a profound improvement in the acceptance of difference. Respect towards each and every person, animal, thing, and our environment. I don’t have high hopes that the world at large can change. But if somebody reads this and sees someone struggling in the future, neurodivergent or not, they might have a bit more compassion for their experience. Just because a certain behaviour might be deemed socially inappropriate (by neurotypical standards), that doesn’t need to be judged.

Typing this, autocorrect doesn’t recognise the plural of neurodivergent, but ‘neurotypicals’ is accepted. That red squiggly line seems to follow us around wherever we go. A mark that highlights our un-belonging in the crowd. That pretty much sums it up.

Noreen Lenihan - Runner-Up

Letters of Complaint

I wanted to write to inform you of the ill-will I have been harbouring towards you lately. Indeed, I feel as though I have been shorted a most rudimentary and minimal preparation as to my expectations of the opposite sex. Rather, I have been groomed for a reality that is conspicuously not the one I am grounded in today. Another lonely disappointment yesterday evening during my Skype call with my significant other. On outlining in some detail my journey on the emotional spectrum since I got here, from isolation and fear to intense anxiety and boredom, I gained little comfort to learn that he was uninterested - nay, downright unwilling - to book a flight to try to ease my suffering. You can imagine how this compounded my distress, and I, already on thin emotional ice. I know that if it was you I was calling, video enabled to showcase my growing divergence with sanity, you would have booked the next flight to Seoul. You would go to the moon and back for me, as you have done many times before. Like the time you rang the hair salon to see if they could rescue my dignity after a botched carrot-hue colour job by a trainee the week before the Debs. Or just about any of the nights you would collect us at 3 A.M. outside the chipper after nights out, with never a murmur of complaint. Thus, I am writing to convey my most grave disillusionment tonight with the emotional austerity of my romantic counterpart. It doesn’t seem he is of the same mould. Perhaps though, Dad, you have set me up for bitter disappointment in these stakes.

Yours, Lonely in Incheon

Sadly, you have left me despairing. I knew that I would need to attend my new office for the first day of my new job despite being ill-equipped to transport myself there. Living in the sticks now, and without having ‘adulted’ sufficiently to acquire a full driving license, I only had a few options. Bussing it did not work out due to Bus Eireann’s lack of vision or ambition. Equally, no offers to drive me there realised. It made me ponder again - I never had to ask you twice for a favour like this. In fact, I never had to ask at all. You always intuited the need before it became one. I remember the day you dropped everything to drive up to Galway to chauffeur me around to various medical outlets to help me collect research questionnaires for some underwhelming summer study. So trivial a chore to travel six hours for, but you knew I was hopeless without you. I feel alone now and as if the whole world ceases to care or want to pre-empt my anxieties like you did. Like sourcing a drive to your anniversary Mass, I came up short again. It had a distinct poignancy about it this time. This predicament applies to many things (did you know it is completely uncommon for a partner to help with suitcases or bringing in the shopping bags without an explicit request for help in these times?). I’m not sure, being in my present state, it was a good idea to shelter me so lovingly from real-world dilemmas.

Yours, Stranded in The Back of Beyonds

All those years, I was insulated in your walled garden of love and safety and home. Out here, there are no more simple and genuine ‘I love you’s’. All those ‘love you’s’ to the sound of a closing car door, at the end of the phone call, as you turned out the hall light - the sound of pure, unconditional love - they don’t come as easily anymore. It has been awhile since I heard the phrase delivered. I had no conception of the possible scarcity of the emotion and its assertion (at least, it is in dire supply by men native to these shores anyway). All these nutrients you provided so naturally and abundantly are so foreign outside your garden…

Yours, Loveless in Dublin

You led me to believe that my worthiness was not based on grades, money, beauty, the lot. This, I can confirm, is not a philosophy embraced by the world outside. I have lost respect, friendships and general interest since I did not claim New Fancy Job. People seem much more interested in being associated with me when I had the Big-Job-in-London going on. You always said to pursue something ‘only s’long as you’re happy’. Well, that’s no easy feat in its own right, but it seems others have attached hidden conditions to their love and friendship. I must be losing my ambition because I am rather happy in the ‘steerage’ of life. I have no great desire to climb the corporate ladder to nowhere. Like Top Gun’s ‘Maverick’, ‘I am where I belong’ , though others do not vie for the same contentment. Another lesson I am learning to harden me up for this life.

Yours, Snubbed in Soho

You certainly made this one look easy. Again, can reliably confirm the lack of feasibility to implement in real-life situations. I am still at a loss to understand how you managed to never criticise other people over such a long time period. Perhaps, it was just out of my earshot. I cannot comprehend the restraint it must have involved to see and meet people ‘where they are at’. This is well beyond my capabilities. Your faith must have created some kind of divine weather-clad shield of peace within you…is my current theory. Bully for you, but again, another impossible-to-reproduce item for me, the mere mortal.

Yours, Starless in The Gutter

Re: Life Now

You can probably deduce by now my advanced anhedonia and exhaustion with the world around me. By contrast, I remain humbled by the memory of your daily actions and words. Grief is my constant plus-one; he does not take a day off and accompanies me to all of life’s invitations, great and small. Friend or foe, he reminds me of the magnitude of my love for you, such is the emptiness your absence has created. I yearn to believe that you are, in fact, next to me, behind some kind of multi-dimensional veil, in the spirit world. But I am not there yet. At the same time, I am trying not to indulge myself in my rather enlarged misery streak, but as ever, I am a work in progress.

They say the greatest gift is that you can say you were beloved in our time here, Earthside. Yes, beloved, a gift. I get it, but it is so very hard. Send me messages through a random kind act from another or a rendition of ‘Sally Gardens’ on Marty In the Morning . But I know you will say, I have it the other way around; I need to be kind to others. I know, I know, you are right and my gut agrees. I will try to carry on as you did - kind, graceful and decent.

I am a mother now, to little Timmy. Myself and himself are managing his induction to the household well although we, at times, hold each other psychological hostage in matters of sleep, nappy changes and dishes. It is a new and vital kind of love that makes me smile from my core even when the tiredness has penetrated my bones. It makes me wonder about you first becoming a father, how you must have beamed and never stopped.

‘’Tis the good that suffer’, I remember you telling a neighbour after Mass whilst in the labyrinths of your illness. You suffered, but I hope you are soaring high now.

You leave us in your dust always.

Chat soon, New & In Love Baby Momma at Home

Shane Brennan - Finalist

Blunders Of A Rambling Commuter

Violent and urgent vibrations rip me from my sleep. My mind flounders, grasping for coherent thoughts like a drowning man flailing for flotation. I wrench myself around, arm reaching through the darkness. The fickle warmth created under the thin duvet through the night abandons me. Tongues of cold air lick my skin, as my fingers stumble across the bedside table.

Cable…table.. — BUZZ — ..book.. — BUZZ — ..table…glasses-Shit!

I feel the lens and frame flee my groping and fly with a soft clatter onto the laminate floor. The vibrations continue to blare as the soft tinkling of my alarm tone, “Forest Melody”, begins. I swing my legs out of bed and the chill embraces me. I blearily fumble at my phone while “Forest Melody” crescendos wildly. I slice it into silence with a swipe of my finger. A dreary sigh gushes out of me, replacing my usual contented yawn.

Jaysus why can’t I have the alarm without the vibrations?

Now — I’m standing in front of the mirror while my razor whizzes across my chin, dismissing the stubble of the bank holiday weekend. Autopilot is the offspring of routine. The chalking off of Monday the 4th of February has begun. Thankfully St. Brigid got rid of last Friday for me!

I choke down my smoothie while I scroll aimlessly at the kitchen table, looking for anything to ignite my day.

With a jolt, I remember.

I must check in with Philomena first thing.

3 missed calls from the principal on Friday morning. She usually only contacts on a day off if it’s important… To her!

Ah I’m there long enough, a day off is a day off. It's probably only something about my permanent contract and shur it's not as if the department was open over the weekend either.

Missed calls are never a nice thing to wake up to after a few pints.

Is ten a few? A couple is probably closer… God I'm going to bed early tonight, I’m still fair shook. Will I skip the gym? Yeah fuck it, I need the rest more.

After stealthily readying myself in the fragile quiet and pre-dawn gloom, I stand at the door, about to twist the handle.

But first, my mantra.

I’ve had it since I was in primary school, I can’t settle myself to leave before I say it.

Dressed, washed, breakfast, lunch.

I firmly push down the door and slip out quietly. I fire my bag into the boot with the confidence of a man who thinks he knows what he’s doing.

Those first few minutes can be raw, but I love the early starts. Those crisp, clear frosty mornings where I watch the sun come up as I crest the hill coming into Geashill. The pinks and oranges unfolding to push away the blacks, blues and purples. That day’s first rays spinning, running and bouncing their way across fields of glittering white. The windmills of Mount Lucas lazily waving at me across the moor.

But this morning it’s pissing rain and I’m stuck behind some bollox of a Scania spraying muck and shite all over the car.

How come there’s only ever cars coming towards me when the bloody road is straight.

Hmmm there’s no long vehicle sticker on the back of it.

Is that a broken line yet?

I know full well it’s not but I know the road and there are no headlights oncoming. I’m doing 75 in 5th, but I drop it into 4th anyway. I careen out from behind it and put the boot to the headlamp. It’s all over in seconds but my white knuckles suggest it was longer.

Jesus I hate doing that.

The car settles into 100 in 6th but I don’t and won't for another few minutes. Mammy would kill me, but she would’ve done it as well.

Ah, only for her!

The 3 other brood rats are probably getting up now. Eileen off to teach, Ciaran to create and Claire to study. Mammy is off to run the school from the typist’s chair in her secretarial office. It’s been nice having all 5 of us back in the same house again. Then again I am the only child that doesn’t have to share a room.

As my heart rate eventually gets down to normal, the sprawling metropolis of Portarlington opens up before me. I keep an eye out for the speed van. The breakfast smoothie has been churning in my stomach. I remember back to the pub on Saturday night. My throat strangling itself in its haste to get the porter into me. My lips sucking at the end of a dirty cigarette while I cough and shout over the music in The Brewery Tap.

Yeah, this is definitely a 2-day hangover.

I never know which is worse, the emptiness of my limbs while my body tries to deal with the last clinging vestiges of the alcohol. Or the stones rattling around my mind as my brain deals with poisons, real and imagined. I reach out to pause the song and the phone flashes red. 10%remaining. I groan as I realise I’ve left my charger in the bag I so confidently threw into the boot.

Right, I'll need something funny before it dies on me.

Tommy, Hector and Laurita keep me going along the meandering stretches, only to depart, so suddenly, outside Monasterevin.

The steady tapping of my feet and smooth sliding of my hands across the scarred steering wheel lead my mind down winding roads. Metaphorically and physically. My best ideas come when I'm in the car. This morning it’s a rhyme about how I'm feeling. It appears in my mind like a torch exploding with a click in a dark room.

Drip-drip. Stones-clack.

Cracking skull is bubbling black.

Seeking. Leaking, wreaking sludge.

Drowning-drowning. Will not budge.

My imagination is always roiling, like a pot of stew coming to a heaving boil. Ideas and thoughts float to the top to mate and breed, only to be whipped away before completion by the moving current. I spend most of my days chasing down half formed thoughts, only to have them slip away into sleep. It’s the curse of almost being very intelligent. I’m in a constant state of anxiety, knowing I’ve definitely forgotten something important.

There are guilty thoughts there too. Wrongs I’ve done and rights I haven’t. Favours not returned and the constant ghostly presence of the hands that have helped me up since childhood. Most of the thoughts are totally irrational. But a weekend of drink is not conducive to cold or logical thought.

And I begin to fester.

The fermentation of alcohol only really begins in the days after its consumption.

I often forget that the hands that got me to adulthood were mostly my own. Every favour as a young man felt like another brick in my bag. The weight of it made me strong. Its constant presence jades me.

But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned to juggle bricks. The bag has lightened. As long as I can keep 2 in my hands and the rest in the air, I’ll be fine.

Breathe out.

I briefly glide down the tributary of the M7 at Junction 14. The peace of the morning is pierced by flashing indicators, sudden brake lights and wailing horns. Each four-wheeled beast pursuing its prey with fierce intent. More road. I pass through the noble Curragh before the traffic begins to stiffen at Newbridge. The rain is still falling.

Not doing great for time now, I hope this gets going.

I approach two trucks, one trying to overtake another. It's like watching two prop forwards race to the sideline. A contest where the loser is whoever gives up first and the prize is getting to be first to give up. Suddenly behind them, a red mist ascends.

Those tapping feet turn into boots of cement as I ram down on the middle pedal.

Not two trucks overtaking.

Two trucks trying not to crash into each other as they grind to a halt.

Rubbernecking fools!

There's been an accident on the other side of the barrier which has caused the traffic jam of voyeurs on my own side.

I jolt to a deadly stop in the fast lane. My chest heaves like the bellows of a Paolo Soprani and I feel my limbs become light and weak.

The ticking and blinking of the automatic hazards confirm I'm still living.

Not worth it. Slower next time.

My knees unlock as the truck in front of me lurches forward and hisses to the left. I lightly press on the accelerator, my left hand trembling as I wrestle the gear stick into submission. As the cars roll forwards, I get my breathing under control and check the time.

Under pressure now.

This has been a rough morning.

The 2 lanes become 3 and I drive like a pinball in a machine until my exit.

Jesus I better not be late this morning after the missed calls.

My palms begin to sweat and my tongue dries as I leave the motorway.

What was she ringing for?

I barely notice how the countryside has begun to prickle with colour again. There are budding ash trees and gently blooming snowdrops in the meadows. All I see are the stone walls suffocated by moss and the greasy grey water on the tarmac.

I cruise around the final bend with 2 sighs. One, of relief that I got here. One, of disappointment that I’ve arrived. Like a steely hand waving at me, I see the gates of the school rise to beckon me in.

Wait… Gates…. Why are they closed?

An uneasy feeling sets in as my car crawls up to the end of the short driveway. I peer over my dragging wipers and see the car park is empty.

Was my clock wrong?

After a few minutes of losing numerous arguments in my head I decide to take out my charger from the boot.

Jesus did I reset the time on my phone Saturday night?

Ah at least I'll be able to get in early and get a head start on the week.

My phone twinkles to life and I quickly punch in the caretaker’s initials to see his number pop up.

I hesitantly push the call button. Hang up. Then ring again.

"What are you ringing me for at this hour?" Mark huffs.

"Well Mark. Jaysus I'm awful sorry but I must've reset the time on the phone and I'm here mad early. What time will you be in at?" I chuckle to mask my anxiety.

"Man what are you talking about? I thought you were meant to be sick," he barks at me.

Confusion and anxiety knock each other over the head in my brain trying to gain dominance.

"Lad, it's a bank holiday. Don’t ya know it's a day off for caretakers as well!" he sneers down the phone. "You're lucky the good wife had me painting or I'd have reddened ya for waking me. You better not ring Philomena to let you in either. She won't be happy after you not letting her know you weren't coming in Friday!"

My heart sinks down to the headlamps.

My throat constricts. "What do you mean, shur were we not off Friday?" I stammer.

Mark roars with laughter down the line. "Ya durty eegit, I knew ya had it wrong when I seen your Snapchats from the weekend. We have today off, not actual Brigid's Day." He guffaws heartily as I palpitate. "Mark… wait…. Wha… Bu….." I gurgle.

I've never missed a day of work yet.

"Listen, I'm off to paint here. You stew on that and I'll chat you tomorrow."

The line cuts out.

My eyes pinch back tears of frustration.

I swing the car around to stew on the reverse journey home.

Another blunder for the rambling commuter.

Eoin Corcoran - Finalist

Mannachán Marin lived happily below the southern footpath of Union Square, in the city’s first northern district, a short walk from the central promenade and two good stone’s throws from the river. It was not a bad area, certainly primed for improvement, but at present still better suited to the optimist’s eye. His flat, set below the 49th building of Union Square was, in fact, quite nice. It was much nicer than anyone would expect, being a basement, but Mannachán had learned from some years of invitations that people grew weary of being convinced of the place’s redeeming qualities. For in the end, it was, indeed, a basement.

The living quarters were spacious, with ample room for two couches and a 6-seater dining table, and furnished with a colourful, eclectic collection of books, an artificial stove and a knock-off oriental rug that really gave the place some personality. The living room led onto a long, staggered hall, off which sat three generous bedrooms, a closet, and a utilitarian bathroom. The apartment, however, had one inexorable flaw, that being the entrance porch; a small room between the front and living room doors, that served as a visitor’s first impression. This room, being the only part of the flat quite literally under the footpath of Union Square, was cold and damp, and had been left in this naturally decrepit state so long that the plasterboard walls had softened and were in danger of rotting away to the old stone walls beneath, a ruse the building could only entertain for so much longer. The entrance hall, the flat’s introduction to the world outside, being naturally cold and damp, was prone to a persistent black mould, that almost entirely surrounded the front door, and climbed from the skirting boards up the arching walls overhead. The mould’s presence, alive and unwell in the porch, gave a distinctly dishevelled impression of the apartment it guarded, and thereby the same of its inhabitants. Luckily, few visitors ever came to see the apartment, and those that did never mentioned this.

Being in his seventh year in the apartment, Mannachán had often noted the presence of the mould in the porch and had lamented its repulsive effects on his friends and family if they ever saw it. It had been there since the day he first received the keys to the place, and he had noted it then too, but it had received a pass at the time commensurate with the optimism that comes with a change of scenery. It was in this same vein of confidence that he was able to overlook the basement line of the address, and the less than sufficiently secured back door, for there would be ample time to fix these shortcomings; or at least two of them. Yes, his optimism, and his relief in the face of such low rent in the rapidly diminishing housing market, were enough to seal his fate, happily, in the Basement Flat, 49, Union Square South. Not a bad deal, he thought, all things considered.

It is, at this point, worth noting that Mannachán did not live alone. Over the years there had always been a host of flatmates. The basement foray at varying times consisted of strangers, girlfriends, friends, and friends of friends. All had come, usually for a year or so, and all in turn had moved on. Barring the furniture, its origins unknown, Mannachán was the longest standing and most constant fixture of Basement, 49, Union Square; or the longest standing animate fixture, with the exception, only, of the persistent black mould.

As the years passed, Mannachán found himself increasingly discontented with the mould’s presence in the porch. Aesthetically, it disgusted him every time he passed under it through the front door, to climb the steps and face the world. More and more, he couldn’t escape the feeling that it reflected something about himself. Mannachán had grown up with mould in his childhood home, but growing older he had come to learn how unacceptable that is to some. You can tell a lot about a person, he thought, by their relationship with mould. Some people accept it as a fact of life, whereas others may well consider it cause for demolition. He recalled a wealthy friend’s horror as they recounted an apartment viewing where the prospective landlord had glossed over the mould in the top corner of a utility room. “Imagine trying to market a rental with literal mould growing on the ceiling. That’s a health hazard. I think I should report him”. As he disingenuously agreed unreservedly, he was struck by this party’s aversion to such a common thing as mould; doesn’t every home have some such thing to a greater or lesser extent? Pondering this difference of opinion for some time, he decided to enquire into the dangers of his cohabitant. And all he researched seemed to affirm this girl’s disgust with the landlord. Study after study all corroborated the notion that mould was a leading cause of a host of deadly diseases, from pneumonia to lung cancer. How could it be that no one had told him this? It seemed to be the best kept secret among the peasants, as he knew well he was not alone in his ambivalence. His horror turned to resolve, and it became clear to Mannachán that no self-respecting social climber could do with living alongside black mould.

So began the mission to rid the basement of 49, Union Square, of its persistent black mould. The household essentials aisle of all the supermarkets seemed to predict his quest, offering up whole shelves of solutions. After studying the ingredients, he discovered that virtually all brands were using the same ingredients, a 2.5% solution of sodium hypochlorite, and some with 5% non-ionic surfactants. Going against his usual bent for thrift, he opted for the top-shelf product; just to be safe, he thought.

The instructions were clear; ‘Leave for 15 minutes to fully remove stains’. Taking the advice, the next morning he sprayed the porch in its entirety, top to bottom, applying a thick coat of the pungent foam to the porch walls. Erring on the side of caution, he let it soak for an hour before wiping away the residue. And to his amazement, it had worked. The porch walls, once shadowed in a greyish overtone, now gleamed with the original white paint, and though in his scepticism he scoured the surfaces for any remaining black stains, none could he find. Overly contented with his work, he beamed with pride to his girlfriend, Lasairfhíona, that evening, showcasing the pristine walls of the porch. ‘Las’ was duly impressed, and but for the nauseating effects of the lingering bleach odour, she was similarly pleased. Mannachán too noted the odour, but took little heed of it. A small price to pay, he thought, for such a result.

With his health hazard competently mitigated, Mannachán found himself to be more productive in the ensuing weeks. The obstacle that had stood for so long in his beloved apartment was no more, and in some strange way it seemed to bolster his confidence. In fact, the success of the first mission motivated him to remedy the second of the three ailments he had first identified, and brought him to improve the back door locks, affixing a new Yale lock in place of the old simple bolts.

Some weeks later still, coming in the door from work, he noticed a small black spot in the top corner of the doorframe. Keeping his initial discontent curtailed, he surveyed the rest of the porch for any siblings, and sure enough found multiple colonies in each corner of the room. It seemed that he had slipped in his determination to live free of his old flatmate, and hadn’t been checking for any regrowth since the first extermination. Not to worry, he thought, ‘I know the drill’. He once again got out his Mould Killer and generously disinfected the whole porch, but decided to double down on his previous efforts and so performed the operation twice in succession. He reasoned that his initial effort, while seemingly effective, must not have totally destroyed the root cause, and gave respite to a few stubborn colonies deep in the crevices of the walls. Lasairfhíona, this time, found it hard to be in the adjoining living room under the smell of the stuff, but the problem was once again contained.

Months continued to pass, but out of an abundance caution Mannachán chose to perform the disinfection routine weekly as a preventative measure, as he was determined to never again live with the persistent black mould. The maintenance schedule proved fruitful and his inspections always returned a clean bill of porch health. Aside from his girlfriend’s complaints about the near constant smell of bleach, all was well in the basement of 49, Union Square.

The following spring, after a bitterly cold and wet winter, Mannachán fell ill with acute flu symptoms, unlike anything he had suffered before. He and Lasairfhíona treated it in their normal way, with plenty of rest and fluids, but for all of their efforts, things were not improving. After five long bed-ridden days, upon Lasairfhíona’s pleas, it was decided that he must go to the hospital. Lacking both a GP and any form of health insurance, they presented to the A&E late that evening, and endured a seemingly never ending wait. Though the triage nurse had written it off as trivial, Mannachán deteriorated significantly with each passing hour. His breathing became shallower and weaker with each cycle, until Las’s urgent pleas for a doctor were met. Immediately, the doctor became very concerned and ordered that he be brought to ICU. At speed, his trolley was rushed down the halls through the ICU doors. Mannachán was placed on ventilation in ICU, and spent the night in that state, monitored closely by a host of doctors and nurses. Having stabilised by the next morning, he was abruptly awoken.

Through the harsh white lights, he could discern two figures, both handling him aggressively as they painfully removed the long tube from his throat.

“You’re a lucky man, Mr Marin”, proclaimed the doctor, with an air of accusation. “Another couple of hours and it may have been too late”.

“Too late…ehhem…Too late for what?”, said Mannachán weakly, still loosening his vocal chords.

“Too late to save you, sir. You were just about breathing, and your organs weren’t getting enough oxygen, much longer like that and you would have been dead”.

“Dead?! I came in with a flu?”, said Mannachán, his confusion growing.

“We’ve identified that you had a bacterial infection, which is what has had you sick this past week, but it developed into Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome or ARDS. It’s very serious, often fatal”, said the doctor, maintaining his accusatory tone. “Though very unusual in someone so young”. At this point the doctor paused, “I must ask, do you take any drugs?”

“No!”, exclaimed Mannachán.

“Smoker?”, the doctor continued, but Mannachán again refuted.

“Do you work with chemicals at all?”

Mannachán paused. “Well, no, but I do use a lot of bleach at home”.

“That would probably be it. Overexposure even to household bleach is very damaging to the sensitive tissues of the lungs. It’s almost certainly what allowed your infection to develop into ARDS. Anyway, your age is on your side. Your lungs should mostly recover, and we’ll prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection. You should be ok within a week or so. But do stay away from the bleach in future”.

Mannachán felt relieved at the prognosis, but felt an odd sense of guilt, that this must have been his own doing.

“Are you allergic to any medicines? Penicillin?”, asked the doctor, brightly, to which Mannachán replied, “No”.

“Very good, it’s terrific stuff, really. It’s saved countless lives over the years. And first discovered serendipitously, imagine, from as unlikely a thing as mould”.

Claire O’Brien - Finalist

Searching For A Home

I gave my partner a heavy cast iron tea pot for Christmas five or six years ago. He said he will use it when we have our own place. We have still not used it. There is an alcove at the back of our bedroom stuffed with things we have no space for. Prints and posters we have gifted each other that have yet to hang on a wall. I forget I have them, and then feel sad when I look at them again. One of my best friends gave me an image of a woman blissfully floating in the blue sea. I love it but have nowhere to put it. My collection of shells, pebbles and other curious things found on beaches is wrapped up in tissue paper, inside a box within that pile somewhere. My piano is sitting in my partner’s mom’s shed, right below where the swallows nest.

We first notice the swallows building their nest in late April and we watch them, mesmerized. We try to keep our distance after they have laid their eggs in May. I creep in one day out of hungry curiosity but quickly retreat when the chicks mistake me for the return of their mom and start to cheap loudly. I leave, but not before catching a glimpse of the bright yellow inside of their beaks, eager for food. We excitedly laugh when we see the baby birds learning how to fly. Fledging in August. Then one day in September, we don’t see them, another and another Autumn Day passes by without sight of them. We realise they have left, gone to the other side of the world, where their home will be for the next season.

I wonder if the next season will bring us to our home. It seems very unlikely we will find our own place, at least in Ireland. There is an ongoing housing crisis, and I am hugely grateful for what we do have. Among the population of this country, we are the lucky ones. The Department of Housing reports as of November 2022, the number of people accessing state-funded emergency accommodation is 11,542. This does not include people sleeping rough, homeless people in hospitals and prisons and those in Domestic Violence refuges. As of June 2022, there are a further 11,600 people living in direct provision centres across Ireland. As well as those acute cases, there are thousands who cannot afford to leave home, despite them being ready to and needing to. Families of grown adults living together and imploding through sheer stress and lack of space. But we are lucky we are together, many people are separated from their partners, their children, their lives.

It is not essential to own your own place but, it is essential to have a safe place to live and to feel certain that it is your home. I wonder where that place will be for us. My mom and Dad did not own our house growing up but at least they knew we would not be kicked out, or our rent would not go up year on year. They joined the social housing list and were given a house to rent, to call their own, in which to rear their family. That list is no longer a lifeline for people, illustrated by the fact that in March 2022 the Irish government reported that over 59,000 households were waiting to receive housing support. Many people wait years and years before they are offered housing. Housing is not something you can wait years and years for.

To me, my nana's house in Tipp and Grandad’s house in Kerry were the places I felt most at home. I knew that people in my family owned them and that my family had grown up in them. They had so much space around them, situated as they were in south Tipperary and north Kerry, respectively. And when I stayed at Grandad’s I could even sometimes have my own bedroom. The freedom of being so near to the sea and the fact that it had been Mom’s home too made me feel safe and happy. And in Tipp, Nana’s house was where Dad grew up. I had a strong feeling that I belonged in both places.

That is why now, as an adult searching for earth to root myself in, I keep dreaming of Grandad’s house and Nana’s house. Those people and those places are my roots but there is nowhere on this island that I can find to plant myself. There is no place where my partner and I can call our own, or even temporarily call our own. No place where we can hang our prints and play our instruments.

It makes me anxious where our home will be. What houses will our children dream of, after they are grown? Overcrowded ones, inhospitable and damp ones, imaginary ones, rooms that are built and designed for temporary stays. Will our children have anywhere to dream of where they felt safe and at home? Where they felt rooted and felt they belonged?

It is not about owning a place. It is about stability, and, as a child, as a person having some place you revisit over and over, where your family is, where your friends are. Without that rootedness what can we ask of people?

PickAScholarship.com

• Scholarships Essays
• Scholarships for online students
• Scholarships for first-generation students
• Scholarships for women in STEM
• Scholarships for international students in the USA
• PhD Scholarships
• Master Scholarships
• Bachelor Scholarships
• Vocational Scholarships
• United States Scholarships
• Canada Scholarships
• Australia Scholarships
• France Scholarships
• Netherlands Scholarships
• United Kingdom Scholarships
• Austria Scholarships
• Denmark Scholarships
• Finland Scholarships
• Germany Scholarships
• India Scholarships
• Ireland Scholarships
• New Zealand Scholarships
• Russia Scholarships
• Spain Scholarships
• Sweden Scholarships
• Switzerland Scholarships

$7,500 Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria, 2024

Be the first to know about a new Scholarship!

Don't miss any Scholarship deadline, sign up for our FREE Scholarships email notifications.

Scholarship details

Area of study, country of the scholarship, scholarship valid until (year), type of scholarship, scholarship amount given, type of scholarship administrator, mode of scholarship (online/offline), applier's country, expenses covered, scholarship contact details.

Tel  +44 (0)20 7225 7300 Fax  +44 (0)20 7225 0470 Email:  [email protected]

Introduction

The Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria offer a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to hone their craft in the heart of Europe. With a generous grant of $7,500, this scholarship provides financial support to talented individuals looking to pursue their passion for creative writing. Sponsored by a prominent literary organization in Austria, this scholarship aims to foster creativity and innovation in the field of writing. The selected recipients will have the chance to immerse themselves in Austria’s rich cultural heritage while honing their skills under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Scholarship Provider

The Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria are sponsored by the Austrian Literary Society, a prestigious organization dedicated to promoting literature and supporting emerging writers. With a strong commitment to nurturing talent and fostering creative expression, the Austrian Literary Society has been at the forefront of literary initiatives in Austria for decades. Through scholarships, workshops, and public events, the organization strives to create a vibrant literary community that celebrates diversity and innovation in writing.

Host Country Overview

Austria, known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural scene, serves as an ideal setting for aspiring writers seeking inspiration and artistic growth. From the picturesque streets of Vienna to the serene beauty of the Austrian Alps, this country offers a wealth of experiences that can enrich any writer’s creative journey. With a rich literary tradition that spans centuries, Austria boasts a dynamic literary scene that is sure to inspire and motivate scholarship recipients during their time in the country.

Eligible Applicants

The Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria are open to writers from all over the world who are passionate about creative writing. Whether you are an aspiring novelist, poet, playwright, or screenwriter, this scholarship welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and genres. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to their craft and showcase originality and creativity in their work. Previous writing experience or publication credits are not required but will be considered as part of the selection process.

Scholarship Benefits

Selected recipients of the Creative Writing Achievement Grants will receive a generous award of $7,500 to support their writing projects during their stay in Austria. In addition to financial assistance, scholars will have access to workshops, seminars, and mentorship opportunities led by established writers and industry professionals. The scholarship also includes accommodation and meals for the duration of the program, allowing recipients to focus on their creative endeavors without worrying about logistical details.

Level and Field of Study

The Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria are open to writers at all levels of experience, from beginners looking to explore their creative potential to seasoned professionals seeking new challenges. The scholarship covers a wide range of writing genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, and more. Whether you are working on a novel manuscript or experimenting with new forms of storytelling, this scholarship provides a supportive environment for writers across different disciplines.

Application Process

To apply for the Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria, applicants must submit an online application form along with a sample of their writing portfolio that showcases their creativity and talent as a writer. The selection committee will review all applications based on originality, clarity, and potential for development. Detailed application guidelines and deadlines can be found on the official website of the Austrian Literary Society.

The Creative Writing Achievement Grants in Austria present a remarkable opportunity for writers to develop their craft in an inspiring and supportive environment. With financial assistance, access to top-notch mentors, and the chance to experience Austria’s rich cultural heritage, this scholarship is a gateway to unlocking your creative potential. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to take your writing to new heights! Apply today and embark on a transformative journey that could shape the future of your literary career.

Scholarship Link

We also recommend reading the following:.

• How can I apply for a scholarship to study medicine internationally?
• How to apply for a scholarship to study in Canada?
• How can I be on the campus to learn since I am from Malawi?

Most Popular Active Scholarships

$1,004 Monthly Scholarship from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung - Germany 2024

Country: Germany

MCW Funded Virtual Scholarship in New York

Country: United States

7 scholarships for Djibouti to study in Canada in 2022

Country: Canada

Fully Funded Harvard University 2023 Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program

Erasmus MOBILE Scholarships 2023

Country: Portugal

15 Scholarships for Cameroon Students to Study in Singapore 2022

Country: Singapore

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship 2023 - APPLY NOW

$10,000 Undergrad Student Grant at The University of Toronto, Canada - 2022/23

Load More Popular Active Scholarships

Search for more Scholarships

Along with Stanford news and stories, show me:

• Student information
• Faculty/Staff information

We want to provide announcements, events, leadership messages and resources that are relevant to you. Your selection is stored in a browser cookie which you can remove at any time using “Clear all personalization” below.

In 2021, Briana Mullen, a member of the 2020 Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) cohort, pitched a bold idea during the annual KHS KHeystone Project Ideas Festival, which provides scholars with the opportunity to invite other scholars to join them in addressing a pressing local or global problem. She wanted to start an organization to prepare underserved community members for roles on their local school board.

The 2022 cohort of Knight-Hennessy Scholars was welcomed to Denning House for orientation the week before classes started. (Image credit: Micaela Go)

Fast-forward two years, and more than a dozen scholars have taken part in launching Education Justice Academy , a nonprofit organization developing a network of school board leaders who are better equipped to serve the diverse communities they represent.

“I knew from my own experience as an educator that many school board members are poorly supported and unrepresentative of the communities and schools they serve,” recalls Mullen, who is pursuing master’s degrees in policy, organization, and leadership studies at Stanford Graduate School of Education and in public policy at the School of Humanities and Sciences. “Knight-Hennessy Scholars supported me from day one with advice, startup funds, and a network of supporters to cheer me on. As a first-generation college student, with support from KHS, I felt equipped to launch and lead this statewide initiative.”

Mullen’s experience is just one example of Knight-Hennessy Scholars’ commitment to creating a multicultural and multidisciplinary community for learning, and her journey is one of many inspiring stories that have unfolded in the five years since the program welcomed its first cohort to campus.

Visionary, courageous, and collaborative

As the largest, fully endowed graduate fellowship in the world, Knight-Hennessy Scholars has made bold strides toward cultivating a vibrant community of global changemakers who will drive positive impact during and after their time at Stanford.

To date, the program has awarded funding to 339 scholars representing 62 countries and 85 degree programs across all seven Stanford schools. Cohort size has been growing, with 70 scholars enrolled in the 2022 cohort, and 85 new scholars entering in the fall.

“Over the past five years, KHS has become a diverse community where scholars can discuss different approaches to resolving the biggest challenges we face around the world. The variety of disciplines and experiences enhances the depth of engagement and allows scholars to learn across many disciplinary boundaries,” says John Hennessy, the Shriram Family Director of KHS and Stanford University’s 10th president. Hennessy and Phil Knight, MBA ’62, co-founded KHS in 2016, and the organization welcomed its first cohort of 50 scholars in 2018.

Knight-Hennessy scholars receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford while engaging in multicultural, multidisciplinary experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders. Above all, the program looks for applicants who demonstrate independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.

Convening scholars for creative collaboration

Cross-pollination is a defining element of the KHS experience, and the program creates a host of opportunities for students from many different fields, cultures, and backgrounds to convene.

“I think this is a great model for solving real-world problems because the problems in the world do not care what discipline you’ve studied,” says Ayo Dada, a member of the 2019 cohort working toward a PhD in psychology. “These problems are multifaceted, so to make a difference, you need to have familiarity with all kinds of domains. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars community exemplifies the interdisciplinarity that Stanford is known for, and I’ve benefited greatly from that.”

“Space matters in creative problem-solving. We know that high ceilings, large windows with access to nature, and provocative artwork all encourage more expansive thinking,” says KHS Executive Director Tina Seelig of Denning House. (Image credit: Micaela Go)

Denning House , with its stunning architecture and inspiring art collection, serves as the day-to-day hub for scholar meetups, guest lunches, and a variety of other pop-up experiences, including scholar-driven events most days of the week. The setting, overlooking Lake Lagunita at the heart of campus, is warm and welcoming and provides the community with a dedicated space for planned and spontaneous gatherings.

“Space matters in creative problem-solving,” says KHS Executive Director Tina Seelig. “We know that high ceilings, large windows with access to nature, and provocative artwork all encourage more expansive thinking. Denning House was designed to be inspirational and to help our scholars be aspirational.”

Beyond Denning House, quarterly retreats at Asilomar in Monterey and Stanford Sierra Camp in South Lake Tahoe provide opportunities for scholars to forge connections, while travel-study trips to destinations including Costa Rica, Germany, Turkey, and South Africa have exposed scholars to different cultures and new perspectives on global challenges. These experiences contribute to stronger relationships and innovative thinking.

“Understanding how we all come from different places with our own experiences and ideas was the best gift I could have imagined,” says Juanita Fonseca-Duffo, a member of the 2021 cohort who earned a Master of Laws degree. “Now it’s helping to shape what’s next in my life.”

Programming that fosters leadership

Through the King Global Leadership Program, which is core to the KHS experience, scholars develop the skills, knowledge, and mindset they need to tackle global challenges. Lunchtime and evening programming maps to a different theme each quarter, including McMurtry Leadership Lectures with speakers such as Nobel laureates Frances Arnold and Malala Yousafzai, renowned social scientist Raj Chetty, and architect Jeanne Gang. A recent Q&A session with James Manyika, Google’s senior vice president of technology and society, about the ethics of AI sparked a series of follow-up conversations among scholars.

“Each quarter, we curate a collection of experiences for our scholars to help them bring ideas to fruition,” Seelig adds. The KHS team has identified three themes for its leadership programming for next year: The Future of Education, Living a Fulfilling Life, and Civil Rights Around the World.

Programming for the KHS community also includes the Kheystone Project, where Mullen first introduced her education justice initiative. During the Fall Ideas Festival, scholars pitch their mission-driven ideas to elicit feedback, find mentors, and entice fellow scholars to join in. Following up on the fall festival, a spring showcase is an invitation for scholars to present their work and gain further support. Now in its third year, Mullen has launched Education Justice Academy as a nonprofit.

Community engagement

As it celebrates its fifth anniversary, KHS renews its commitment to building bridges across the broader Stanford community. The inaugural KHS Faculty Fellows provide a vital network across each of Stanford’s seven schools, and support scholars with input, ideas, and counsel. Other members of the Stanford faculty serve on the KHS advisory board, and many have supported admission efforts by interviewing scholar finalists.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars invites the local community to schedule a tour of Denning House and its art collection, which features work by artists Nick Cave and Teresita Fernández, among others.

As the KHS program grows and expands, so too does the pool of engaged alumni. During his time as a Knight-Hennessy scholar, Khalil Fuller – part of the inaugural 2018 cohort – started Gift Card Bank , a nonprofit organization that to date has managed the distribution of more than $40 million in gift cards to families in need. “Scholars from my cohort were part of the founding team for Gift Card Bank, and KHS helped to kick-start the project. Their initial grant gave me confidence that people would support my idea,” he recalls.

Reflecting on how it feels to be an alumnus, Fuller says, “Every time I walk into Denning House, I’m struck with a sense of appreciation and a sense of responsibility. The expectation to continue to do good in the world has a positive effect on scholars. I need to live up to the promises that I made.”

The sixth cohort of 85 Knight-Hennessy Scholars joins the community in September. Prospective scholars can learn about applying to KHS on the Admission page.

• The Student Experience
• Financial Aid
• Degree Finder
• Undergraduate Arts & Sciences
• Departments and Programs
• Research, Scholarship & Creativity
• Centers & Institutes
• Geisel School of Medicine
• Guarini School of Graduate & Advanced Studies
• Thayer School of Engineering
• Tuck School of Business

Campus Life

• Diversity & Inclusion
• Athletics & Recreation
• Student Groups & Activities
• Residential Life

English and Creative Writing

Department of english and creative writing.

• [email protected] Contact & Department Info Mail
• Undergraduate
• Modified Major
• Transfer Credit
• Creative Writing Concentration
• Past Honors
• Course Group I
• Course Group II
• Course Group III
• Course Group IV
• Courses - No Course Group
• Creative Writing Courses
• Courses (No Major Credit)
• Foreign Study Courses
• Independent Study and Honors
• The Historical Philosophy of W.E.B. Du Bois
• Creative Writing Prizes
• Department Prizes
• Undergraduate Fellowships
• Foreign Study
• London Foreign Study Program
• News & Events
• News & Events
• Illuminations
• Robert Hayden
• Black Nature Conference
• Sanborn Tea

Search form

Professor vievee francis wins vermont book award.

Professor Francis has won the 2023 Vermont Book Award.

Vermont Book Award for Poetry sculpture, designed and created by Vermont artist Trevor Corp. Photo courtesy of Trevor Corp.

The four 2023 Vermont Book Award sculptures, designed and created by artist Trevor Corp. Photo courtesy of Trevor Corp.

Cover of  The Shared World  by Vievee Francis

Professor Francis has won the 2023 Vermont Book Award in Poetry, the highest honor for poetry in the state of Vermont, for her fourth book of poems  The Shared World . The winners of this year's award were announced at a ceremony held on Saturday, May 4th, in Montpelier. Read the Seven Days article here .

• Future Students
• Parents/Families
• Alumni/Friends
• Current Students
• Faculty/Staff
• MyOHIO Student Center
• Visit Athens Campus
• Regional Campuses
• OHIO Online
• Faculty/Staff Directory
• University Community
• Research & Impact
• Alumni & Friends
• Search All News
• OHIO Today Magazine
• Colleges & Campuses
• For the Media

Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

Connect With Us

Research Division announces awardees for the 2023-24 OURC/Baker Fund spring cycle

The OURC/Baker Fund program provides support for research, scholarship and creative activity at Ohio University. The program supports projects that range in scope from initial stages to those that are near completion, with funding requests of up to $15,000.

Funding for this program is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research and an endowment from 1926 College of Arts and Sciences graduate Edwin L. Kennedy and his wife, Ruth, a 1930 graduate of the Patton College of Education.

The OURC/Baker Fund received a total of 15 proposals for a total funding request of $198,481 in the most recent cycle. Of the 15 proposals received, 11 proposals were resubmissions to the program. The committee selected 11 recipients for the spring cycle, totaling $146,108 in funding. The recipients are:

Michele Fiala, Music "An Oboe Method E-Book to Expand Accessibility of the Instrument" Amount Funded: $8,000

Tammy Rapp, Management "Antecedents and Outcomes of Proactive Work Behaviors in Multiple Team Membership Arrangements" Amount Funded: $15,000

Glenn Dutcher, Economics "ERSD Patient Beliefs about Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation" Amount Funded: $14,980

Ahmed Faik, Environmental and Plant Biology "Identification of DNA Binding Sites of OsERF71, a Rice Transcription Factor that Positively Regulates Biomass Yield, and the Genes Regulated by its Action" Amount Funded: $14,900

Merri Biechler, Theater "The Valley of the Whales" Amount Funded: $12,094

Ryan Fogt, Geography "Ship Logbook Processing for Successful Data Recovery Around Antarctica" Amount Funded: $12,385

Sarah Leibman, Film "Stale Air" Amount Funded: $14,600

Lisa Haven, English OHIO Zanesville "Monty Banks Life and Art Investigation: The Full Monty Banks" (working title) Amount Funded: $10,260

Cory Crawford, Classics and Religious Studies "Spatial Modeling and Ceramic Production in the Area H “Orthostats” Temple at Tel Hazor" Amount Funded: $14,999

Tom Rosol, Biomedical Sciences "Role of DKK1 in Prostate Cancer" Amount Funded: $15,000

Tom Hayes, Film "Nightwatch" Amount Funded: $15,000

Proposals for the fall cycle have a deadline in early October. Updated deadline and guidelines should be available by mid-July. Inquiries about the program should be directed to Carma West at [email protected] .