15 Best Creative Writing Scholarships
A creative writing degree in college is fun, especially if you have a scholarship. There are a good number of scholarships for creative writers who are in high school or college and pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies.
Creative writing goes beyond becoming a writer, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Everyone needs to be a creative writer to excel. Why creative writing is 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 advertising. Additionally, large organizations are hiring creative writers to write, develop, and direct quality advertisements for their companies and products. It just takes one creative writer everywhere.
So why then can’t a creative writers get scholarships to hone their skills in college? For no reason! So, for this reason, we have researched scholarships that will make your life at university worthwhile.
In this post, we will share with you scholarships that reflect most of the types of writing you hope to major in. You will find the application deadline for these scholarships, the organization or institutions that offer them, and links that direct you to the application page.
List of Creative Writing Scholarships in 2023
Let’s get straight to business. You are studying creative writing in school or plan 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. However, a good deal may not be worth it. Therefore, we bring you the best fifteen (15) scholarships for creative writers. They are as follows (in no particular order):
- The Horror Writers Association (HWA) Scholarship
- Student Art Scholarships
- 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 Scholarship Program
- Against Grain Art Grant
- 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 are no restrictions in applying for 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 from the horror genre.
The HWA scholarship is worth $2,500, which you can apply toward an approved writing education within two years of the scholarship being awarded.
Application deadline: August 01, 2023.
#2 arts scholarship for students
This scholarship is available to students seeking their first undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in an arts-related field. This creative writing scholarship applies to students who want to pursue 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, and lessons. The value of the scholarship is $1,500. However, throughout their lifetime, students are eligible to receive up to four Art Scholarships.
Meanwhile, to be eligible for this Creative Writers Art Scholarship, a student must plan to attend an accredited institution full-time and major in an arts-related field. Additionally, you must be a resident of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright County at the time of application. Of course, he must also be a US citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
Application Deadline: February
#3 Michael Steinberg Creative Nonfiction Fellowship
The Michael Steinberg Scholarship for Creative Nonfiction Fellowship is available to a creative nonfiction writer commencing Solstice’s low-residency Creative Writing Master’s program during the winter residency/spring semester.
Fellowship recipients will receive an award of $1,000 for their first-semester tuition. The recipient of this creative writing scholarship receives the award based on the quality of their writing sample.
However, please apply early for this scholarship opportunity. In addition, the scholarship board will mail notification letters to winners in November. Awards must follow directly upon acceptance and the application must come towards the winter/spring semester residency.
Application Deadline: October 28, 2023.
#4 Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship
To be eligible for the Lycoming Creative Writing Scholarship, you must be majoring in creative writing and must submit five poems and/or a short story not to exceed ten pages.
In addition, fellows must enroll in ENGL 240 (first year) and maintain a minimum grade of at least an ‘ A’- . To renew the scholarship after the first year of enrollment, the recipient must enroll in a creative writing workshop and maintain a minimum grade of at least an ‘A’- . The value of the Lycoming College Scholarship for Creative Writers depends on $3,000.
Application deadline: March 15, 2023.
#5 Hope College Creative Writing Award
The Hope College Creative Writing Award is a Distinguished Artist in Creative Writing Award for high school seniors who intend to register at Hope College in the fall of their freshman year in college. However, to qualify for this scholarship, you only need to be in your graduating year from high school. You do not need to be an English learner major or minor. However, winners of this award must enroll in at least one creative writing class per academic year and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Meanwhile, the application process for this creative writing scholarship will involve the submission of a 500-word essay, a letter of recommendation, and written 10 pages of your creative writing.
Application deadline: January 7.
#6 Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship
There is talent in mystery writing (in fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting) and this scholarship seeks to nurture it. However, the Creative Writers Scholarship in 2023 is only open to US Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Also, the application for this scholarship is not limited to membership in the Mystery Writers of America. This scholarship is for aspiring mystery writers who want to improve their writing skills.
However, the association obliges applicants to select a specific writing class/workshop/seminar for which they can use the scholarship. Scholarship awards $3,000 to the winner’s
Application deadline: February 28, 2023.
#7 GRCF Ladies Literary Club Scholarship
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) awards hundreds of scholarships annually primarily to Kent County students bound for or in college, or those pursuing a technical career.
Therefore, 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 demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Application deadline: March 01, 2023.
#8 Norman Ross Walter Scholarship
The Norman Ross Walter Scholarship provides financial assistance to female Nebraska high school graduates who plan to enroll as an English majors at accredited colleges or universities. The English student can apply this scholarship to a creative writing course.
However, please note that only high school senior females are eligible for this scholarship. They must also be prospective college freshmen and plan to continue their education as English learners at accredited colleges or universities. In the meantime, you must show intellectual promise, creativity, and character to be selected by the scholarship board.
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 Creative Writing Scholarship was created in 1995 in honor of the late Bobette Bibo Gugliotta. She is the author of several books, including Katzimo; Pigboat 39, about a World War II submarine; Mysterious Table, and Women of Mexico: The Consecrated and the Common, 1519-1900.
In 1930, at age 11, Mrs. Gugliotta wrote a story about a mouse that later became Mickey. So if you are a fan of Mickey Mouse and have a desire to do something greater, 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 on your scholarship application that will show how creative you can be.
Additionally, you must currently be a senior or graduate of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County. He must plan to enroll or must 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-citizens (including legal residents of the US and AB 540 students)
Application Deadline: February
#10 Beyoncé Formation Scholars Scholarship Program
The Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Training Scholarship Program encourages and supports young women who are not afraid to be bold, conscientious, creative, and confident. The scholarship began with the celebration of the first anniversary of her album, Lemonade.
The program awards four scholarships, one per university, 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. These are Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design, and Spelman College.
You will get all the necessary details and application deadlines directly from any of these universities.
Application Deadline Varies
#11 Alabama Student Scholarship Program
The Alabama Student Scholarship Program is a state student aid program. It is open to residents of the state of Alabama and is designed to provide financial assistance to these residents for undergraduate study in any discipline, including creative writing.
However, to be eligible for this scholarship, you must provide a certificate of graduation from a high school or you must have obtained the recognized equivalency of such graduation. Additionally, you must be a resident of Alabama as defined in Alabama Tuition and Scholarship Program Act 90. You must be a United States citizen or become a United States citizen. In addition, you must not be enrolled and not intend to enroll in a course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in theology, theology, or other fields in preparation for a religious vocation.
Application Deadline: Variable
#12 Artistic Scholarship Against the Grain
This is a financial assistance program that promotes Asian-American college students majoring in performing arts, visual arts, journalism, and/or mass communications. Successful Against the Grain Arts Scholarship applicants will be eligible to attend the organization’s annual charity event, Fashion for a Passion, held in the fall in Dallas, Texas.
However, you must be a US Citizen, Legal National, or Permanent Resident who is at least 50% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity to be eligible for the scholarship.
In addition, you must be a high school or college senior currently enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year, junior, or vocational college. You must also be a full-time degree-seeking student for the upcoming academic calendar year and seeking a major in visual/performing arts (film, theater, fashion, mass communication, photography, graphic design, dance, music, journalism, etc. )
Application deadline: May 06, 2023
#13 Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship
The Barbara Odom-Wesley Spirit of Achievement Scholarship is in honor of Barbara Odom-Wesley, founding president of the Xi Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The scholarship is available to any two- or four-year college or university student. However, please note that trade, technical, and cosmetology schools are not eligible for this scholarship.
Additionally, the scholarship board will largely screen applicants based on financial need. Meanwhile, part of the eligibility requires applicants to be African-American high school seniors currently attending classes in the Arlington and Tarrant County area.
Applicants must also have a 2.5 GPA and above, as this is the minimum requirement.
The Barbara Odom Scholarship provides $3,000 each to winners of scholarship awards.
Application Deadline: February 16, 2023.
#14 Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship
This scholarship is in memory of Richard G. Zimmerman, a member of the National Press Club who died in 2008. Thus, the Richard G. Zimmerman scholarship awards extraordinary high school seniors who are planning to pursue a major in journalism. English or communications. These are branches of the arts where your creative writing skills will come into play and niches where 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 have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, be accepted to an accredited US university, and show financial aid.
Additionally, 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 when applying for the scholarship.
Application Deadline: March 1st, annually.
Other scholarships for creative writing 2023
Didn’t we tell you that there is an endless list of scholarships for creative writers? Here is a list of some additional scholarships for creative writers that we are sure you will love too.
- Environmental Apprentice Open Space Initiative
- Eastern Oregon Scholarship Bottled Pepsi-Cola
- New York Financial Writers Association Scholarship
#15 Open Space Initiative for Green Trainees
This scholarship is available to middle school, high school, or undergraduate/university students who are between the ages of 13 and 21. Students participating in or directing an environmental stewardship project for the benefit of lands managed or co-managed by the Division of Open Space may apply.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must write an essay about their project and what it meant to them. The essay will consist of 750 to 1,500 words. Additionally, they should take some digital photos of their project in action.
Application Deadline: December 31, 2023.
#16 Eastern Oregon Scholarship Bottled Pepsi-Cola
The Pepsi Cola Bottling Scholarship is available to high school seniors seeking a two- or four-year degree in any major except agricultural, hospitality, or other non-age-related education. However, only residents of Baker, Malheur, Union or Wallowa counties in Oregon can apply for the scholarship.
For students to be eligible to apply for this scholarship, they must have participated in community service and must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and above on a 4.0 scale.
Application Deadline: February 01, 2023
#17 New York Financial Writers Association Scholarship
The New York Financial Writers Association Scholarship is open to journalism students in the New York City metropolitan area who wish to pursue a career in business or financial journalism.
When completing the application for this writing scholarship, applicants will submit their address and phone number and, if different, their permanent address and phone number. The application is available from your school’s financial aid department or on the NYFWA website. However, for those who do not have access to an application, simply submit a cover letter with the information.
Additionally, applicants will submit an essay explaining why they are pursuing a career in financial and business journalism. They should include a current resume, relevant personal information, a list of any other scholarships they have received, and samples of their writing and financial clippings.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2023.
I want to learn computer because I have no or my way is to learn computer my hope will be to reach the level insha allah