Last Updated on August 4, 2021
Creative Writing Scholarships: A creative writing degree in college is fun especially if you are on scholarships. There are a good number of scholarships for creative writers who are in high school or college pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
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Creative Writing Scholarships 2021
Creative writing goes beyond just becoming a writer therefore, let nobody tell you otherwise. Everyone needs to be a creative writer to excel. Why is Creative Writing a wonderful discipline to study in college?
Every workplace needs writers who are creative enough to sell their brand/product to their audience or help their publicity. Also, big organizations are hiring creative writers to write, develop, and direct quality adverts for their firm and products. A creative writer is just needed everywhere.
So, why then can’t a creative writer get scholarships to hone his skill in college? No reason at all! Thus, for this reason, we have researched scholarships that will make your life in college worth it.
In this post, we will share with you scholarships reflecting most kinds of writing you hope to specialize in. You will find the application deadline for these scholarships, the organization or institutions offering them, and links directing you to the application page.
List of Creative Writing Scholarships in 2021
Let’s drive straight into business. You are studying creative writing in school or you’re planning to study creative writing in college once you graduate from high school. The question you are asking yourself now is, are there scholarships for creative writers in college?
Yes, there are, and a good number of them at that. However, a good deal may not worth your time. Therefore, we bring you the best fifteen (15) scholarships out there for creative writers. They are as follows (in no particular order):
- The Horror Writers Association (HWA) Scholarship
- Student Arts Scholarship
- Michael Steinberg Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction
- Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship
- Hope College Creative Writing Award
- Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship
- GRCF Ladies Literary Club Scholarship
- Norma Ross Walter Scholarship
- Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing
- Beyoncé Formation Scholars Scholarship Program
- Barbaras Caras Memorial Scholarship for Film Studies
- Alabama Student Grant Program
- Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
- Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship
- Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship
1. The Horror Writers Association (HWA) Scholarship
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) organizes The Horror Writers Association (HWA) Scholarship. This creative writing scholarship for horror writers aims to assist in the professional development of its members as horror writers.
There is no restriction in the application of this scholarship. It is open to all applicants. Being a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) is not a requirement for this scholarship program application. However, the story you must submit for the scholarship application must be of the horror genre.
The HWA Scholarship is worth $2500, which you can apply to an approved writing education over the two years following the granting of the scholarship.
Application Deadline: August 01, 2021.
2. Student Arts Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students seeking their first undergraduate degree in an arts-related field. This creative writing scholarship applies to students who wish to gain college or university education anywhere. However, the art student must be a resident of Region 7W.
You can apply the scholarship fund to education costs charged directly to the institution such as tuition, room and board, books, lessons. The value of the scholarship is $1,500. However, in a lifetime, students are eligible to receive up to four Student Arts scholarships.
Meanwhile, to be eligible for this art scholarship which can apply to creative writers, the student must plan to attend an accredited institution full-time and to major in an arts-related field. Furthermore, you must be a resident of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright County at the time of application. Of course, you must also be US Citizens or hold a permanent resident alien status.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2021
3. Michael Steinberg Fellowship for Creative Non-fiction
The Michael Steinberg Fellowship for Creative Non-fiction Fellowship is available to a creative non-fiction writer starting the Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program during the winter residency/spring semester.
Fellowship recipients will receive a $1,000 award towards their first semester’s tuition. The recipient of this creative writing fellowship receives the award based on the quality of their writing sample.
However, apply early for this fellowship opportunity. Also, the scholarship board will send notification letters to the winners’ mail in November. Awards ought to follow acceptance directly and application must come toward the winter residency/spring semester.
Application Deadline: October 28, 2021.
4. Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship
In order to be eligible for the Lycoming creative writing scholarship, you must major in creative writing and must submit five poems and/or a short story that is not to exceed ten pages.
Also, the scholarship recipients must enrol in ENGL 240 (freshman year) and maintain a minimum grade of at least an ‘A‘-. For scholarship renewal after the first year of enrollment, a recipient must enroll in a creative writing workshop(s) and maintain a minimum grade of at least an ‘A‘-. The value of the Lycoming College scholarship for creative writers is up to $3,000.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2021.
5. Hope College Creative Writing Award
Hope College Creative Writing Award is a Distinguished Artist Award in Creative Writing for high school seniors who intend to register at Hope College the fall of their first year at college. To be qualified for this scholarship, however, you just have to be in your graduating year of high school. It is unnecessary to be an English major or minor. However, winners of this award must enrol in at least one creative writing class per academic year and they must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Meanwhile, the application process for this creative writing scholarship will involve the submission of a 500-word essay, a letter of recommendation, and 10 typed pages of your creative writing.
Application Deadline: January 7.
6. Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship
There’s talent in mystery writing (in fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting) and this scholarship seeks to nurture it. However, the scholarship for creative writers in 2021 is only open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Also, the application for this scholarship is not restricted to membership in Mystery Writers of America. This scholarship is for serious aspiring mystery writers who wish to improve their writing skills.
However, the association mandates applicants to select a specific writing class/workshop/seminar for which they can use the scholarship. The scholarship awards $3,000 to the winners.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2021.
If you’re more interested in Poetry these 15 Best Poetry Scholarships for Creative Students are just for you
7. GRCF Ladies Literary Club Scholarship
Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) awards hundreds of scholarships yearly primarily to Kent County students bound for, or in college, or those pursuing a technical career.
So, to be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a resident of Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, Montcalm, or Barry counties in Michigan. You must also major in literary arts at any accredited Michigan college or university and show a financial need and hold a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Application Deadline: March 01, 2021.
8. Norman Ross Walter Scholarship
The Norman Ross Walter Scholarship provides financial help to female graduates of Nebraska high schools who plan to enrol as English majors in accredited colleges or universities. The English student may apply this scholarship to a creative writing course.
Note, however, that only female high school seniors are eligible for this scholarship. They must also be prospective first-year college students and plan to continue their education as English majors in accredited colleges or universities. Meanwhile, you need to show intellectual promise, creativity, and character for the scholarship board to select you.
The scholarship is in memory of Norman Ross Walter who was a Navy Wave during the World War and a career newspaper editor in California. This English and creative writing scholarship award $2,500 to the winner, $1,750 to the second place, and $1,250 to the third place.
Application Deadline: January 31, every year.
9. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing
The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing was created in 1995 in honour of the late Bobette Bibo Gugliotta. She authored several books, which includes Katzimo; Pigboat 39, about a World War II submarine; Mysterious Mesa, and Women of Mexico: The Consecrated and the Commoners, 1519-1900.
In 1930, at 11, Mrs Gugliotta wrote a story about a mouse who became Mickey afterwards. So, if you are a fan of Mickey Mouse and wish to do something grander, this scholarship is for you. Meanwhile, to be eligible for this scholarship, you must be passionate about creative writing. You will provide two writing samples in your scholarship application which will display how creative you can be.
Also, you should currently be a graduating senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County. You should plan to enrol or should be currently enrolled in a four-year college or university as a full-time student. And of course, the scholarship is for United States citizens or eligible non-citizen (including legal U.S. residents and AB 540 students)
Application Deadline: February 20, 2021
10. Beyoncé Formation Scholars Scholarship Program
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s Formation Scholars Scholarship Program encourages and supports young women who are unafraid to be daring, conscious, creative, and confident. The scholarship began with the celebration of the one-year anniversary of her album, Lemonade.
The program awards four scholarships, one per college, to female incoming, current or graduate students pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies. However, you must attend or plan to attend selected schools to be eligible for this scholarship. They are Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design, and Spelman College.
You will get all necessary details and application deadlines directly from any of these colleges.
Application Deadline: Varies
You can easily complete your Master’s degree in Literature with these 25 Masters Degree Scholarships for Literature Students
11. Alabama Student Grant Program
The Alabama Student Grant Program is a state student help program. It is open to residents of the State of Alabama and designed to provide financial help to these residents for undergraduate study in any discipline, including creative writing.
However, to be eligible for this grant, you must provide a certificate of graduation from a secondary school or you must have got the recognized equivalence of such graduation. Also, you must be an Alabama resident as defined in Alabama Study and Grant Program Act 90. You should be a citizen of the United States or in becoming a citizen of the United States. Also, you must not be enrolled and not intend to enrol in a course of study leading to an undergraduate degree in theology, divinity, or other fields of preparation for a religious vocation.
Application Deadline: Varies
12. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
This is a financial assistance program that promotes Asian-American college students pursuing a major in performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications. Successful applicants of the Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship will be eligible to attend the organization’s annual charity event, Fashion for a Passion, which takes place in the fall in Dallas, Texas.
However, you must be citizens of the US, national or permanent legal resident who is of at least 50% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity to be eligible for the scholarship.
Also, you must either be a high school senior or college student currently enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. vocational, junior college, or four-year college/university. You must also be a full-time, degree-seeking student by the upcoming academic calendar year and pursuing a major in the visual/performing arts (film, theatre, fashion, mass communications, photography, graphic design, dance, music, journalism, etc.)
Application Deadline: May 06, 2021
13. Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship
The Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship is in honor of the chartering president of the Xi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Barbara Odom-Wesley.
The scholarship is available to any two-year or four-year college or university student. Note, however, that Trade, Technical, and Cosmetology schools are not eligible for this scholarship.
Also, the scholarship board will heavily test applicants based on financial need. Meanwhile, part of the eligibility requires applicants to be African-American female high school seniors currently attending classes in the Arlington and Tarrant County area.
Applicants must also have a 2.5 GPA and over as this is the minimum requirement.
The Barbara Odom scholarship provides $3,000 each to the scholarship award winners.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2021.
14. Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship
This scholarship is in memory of Richard G. Zimmerman, a long-time member of the National Press Club who died in 2008. Thus, the Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship awards extraordinary graduating high school seniors who are planning to pursue a major in journalism, English, or communications. These are branches of Arts where your creative writing skills will come into play, and niches you can take a job as a creative writer in the future.
The scholarship awards $5,000 annually to successful applicants. However, it is a non-renewable scholarship. To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must carry a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, be accepted at an accredited U.S. university, and show financial aid.
Also, applicants will submit three copies of their application with three letters of recommendation, a high school transcript, a FAFSA form, proof of acceptance, and three work samples while applying for the scholarship.
Application Deadline: March 1st, annually.
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