Bookworms wishing to turn their love of reading into a gratifying career can greatly benefit from scholarships for creative writing degrees.
Whether at the bachelor’s or master’s level, creative writing majors teach students how to successfully construct prose and poetry.
Creative writing students spend considerable time examining literary works and unleashing their own imagination onto paper. Creative writing graduates excel as published authors across diverse genres from children’s literature to science fiction.
Gained skills can also be applied in:
- editing
- publishing
- marketing
- journalism, and more
According to the BLS, writers and authors bring home an average yearly salary of $69,130. Competition is strong though, so put your best manuscript forward by earning a creative writing degree.
The following 20 creative writing scholarships will allow you to study the intricacies of language.
1. Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship
Deadline: February 24th
The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship honors the late author who penned several books, including Pigboat 39 and Mysterious Mesa. The fund awards $1,000 annually from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Eligible graduating seniors must:
- reside in California’s San Mateo or Santa Clara counties
- be accepted at an accredited four-year college
- have a passion for creative writing
- submit two writing samples
U.S. citizens, legal residents, and AB 540 students may apply.
Contact
Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Scholarship
1300 South El Camino Real Suite 100
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 450-5487
scholarships@siliconvalleycf.org
Scholarship Link
2. Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
The Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. It grants up to $3,000 yearly to graduating high school seniors. They must exhibit sincere interest in the arts, such as:
- music
- drama
- painting
- creative writing
- poetry
Qualified applicants must:
- attend Kalamazoo Public Schools
- be enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college
- actively participate in artistic activities
- have unmet financial need.
Contact
Brady and Patrick Gallagher Scholarship
402 East Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 381-4416
info@kalfound.org
Scholarship Link
3. Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. offers the Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship. It annually awards $1,000 to African American women who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in:
- journalism
- creative writing
- English
- public policy
- related fields
To apply, candidates must:
- be sophomores or juniors
- have U.S. citizenship
- attend an accredited four-year university
- have a cumulative 3.0 GPA
- write a 1,000-word essay about their career plans.
Contact
Dr. Julianne Malveaux Scholarship
1806 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4206
executivedirector@nanbpwc.org
Scholarship Link
4. Florence Kahn Memorial Award
Deadline: January 15th
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) hosts an annual college poetry competition to award scholarships for creative writing degrees. These include the $500 Florence Kahn Memorial Award. Eligible participants must be enrolled full-time in four-year, accredited U.S. universities. They must submit 10 original, unpublished poems no more than 80 lines each. Selected scholars will also receive:
- a chapbook of their poetry
- travel stipend for the NFSPS Convention
- free one-year membership.
Contact
Florence Kahn Memorial Award
P.O. Box 1352
Los Lunas, NM 87031
(505) 235-6680
sonneteer@earthlink.net
Scholarship Link
5. From Failure to Promise Essay Contest
Deadline: July 31st
Annually, Dr. C. Moorer & Associates holds the From Failure to Promise Essay Contest. It awards $10,000 scholarships to high school seniors or college students attending accredited institutions in the United States or Canada. They must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Creative writing majors must write an original, 1,500-word essay discussing the most important life lessons learned from Moorer’s inspiring book. Essays are judged on:
- creativity
- research quality
- effectiveness of presentation.
Contact
From Failure to Promise Essay Contest
145 South Livernois Road Suite 336
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
(866) 996-8674
scholarships@fromfailuretopromise.com
Scholarship Link
6. Go on Girl! Aspiring Writer Scholarship
Deadline: March 15th
The National Chapter of the Go On Girl! Book Club presents the Aspiring Writer Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship goes to African American women. They must be enrolling full-time as sophomores or juniors at historically black colleges and universities. They must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in:
- creative writing
- English
- literature
- closely related major
They must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Interested applicants must submit an 800-word essay discussing the “Power of the Written Word.”
Contact
Go on Girl! Aspiring Writer Scholarship
P.O. Box 3368
New York, NY 10185
GOGBookClub@goongirl.org
Scholarship Link
7. Helen McCloy Mystery Writing Scholarships
Deadline: February 18th
Through the Mystery Writers of America, the Helen McCloy Scholarships award $1,000 annually. Eligible are U.S. citizens or legal residents. They must exhibit financial need for attending college-level creative writing programs to improve their writing techniques. Applicants must be serious aspiring mystery writers, but have not received monetary compensation for novels or short stories. Online submissions must include:
- the writing class syllabus
- mystery writing sample
- 500-word essay outlining career goals.
Contact
Helen McCloy Mystery Writing Scholarships
1140 Broadway, Suite 1507
New York, NY 10001
(212) 888-8171
McCloy.MWA@gmail.com
Scholarship Link
8. Helen Steiner Rice Scholarship
Deadline: March 2nd
The Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County awards the Helene Steiner Rice Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is for Ohioans who are pursuing creative writing or related literary majors. They must be at an accredited four-year institution in the United States. Eligible candidates must:
- have unmet financial need
- carry a minimum overall GPA of 2.0
- show active community involvement
- live within the Greater Cleveland area
- submit three writing samples
Preference is given to non-traditional, adult learners.
Contact
Helen Steiner Rice Scholarship
9080 Leavitt Road
Elyria, OH 44035
(440) 984-7390
scholarships@peoplewhocare.org
Scholarship Link
9. Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists
Deadline: Varies
Ranging from $2,500 to $40,000, the Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists is one of the most lucrative scholarships for creative writing degrees available. Through the CSSSA Foundation, one-time awards are gifted to California high school seniors in seven categories:
- animation
- film production
- creative writing
- dance
- music
- theatre
- visual arts
Applicants must:
- have financial need
- exhibit extraordinary artistic talent
- be likely to succeed in an accredited four-year U.S. college.
Contact
Herb Alpert Scholarship for Young Artists
85 South Grand Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 584-4055
heidi@csssaf.org
Scholarship Link
10. James R. Buescher Scholarship
Deadline: January 15th
The James R. Buescher Scholarship is named for an accomplished writer who died unexpectedly at age 34. The $500 annual award is for Pennsylvania residents pursuing collegiate study in:
- creative writing
- English
- literature
- journalism
Eligible candidates must:
- have graduated high school in Lancaster County
- attend an accredited U.S. institution full-time
- maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
- exhibit financial need
Scholarships can be renewed for each undergraduate year.
Contact
James R. Buescher Scholarship
24 West King Street Suite 201
Lancaster, PA 17603
(507) 931-0414
Frodriguez@LancFound.org
Scholarship Link
11. J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award
Deadline: January 1st
As the Catcher in the Rye author’s alma mater, Ursinus College provides a lucrative, four-year J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award. It’s for $33,000 annually. Winning this competitive award will require:
- satisfying freshmen admission requirements
- ranking in the top 25th percentile
- achieving a minimum 3.0 GPA
- submitting a portfolio of 10 creative works with outstanding originality
Chosen scholars will also live in the dorm occupied by J.D. Salinger and gain leadership in Ursinus’ writing program.
Contact
J.D. Salinger Creative Writing Award
601 East Main Street
Collegeville, PA 19426
(610) 409-3200
ccambardella@ursinus.edu
Scholarship Link
12. L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest
Deadline: September 30th
The L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest was started in 1983 It offers 12 annual scholarships for creative writing degrees ranging from $500 to $5,000. It’s for amateur writers specializing in science fiction and fantasy. Eligible U.S. college students must have not published a novel or more than three short stories in any literary medium. Contest participants must submit English works of prose up to 17,000 words, which will be judged by a panel of prominent sci-fi authors.
Contact
L. Ron Hubbard Writers Contest
7051 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-3310
contests@authorservicesinc.com
Scholarship Link
13. Leyla Beban Young Authors Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st
In partnership with Bluefire Productions, the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation gifts a $1,000 scholarship annually. It goes to high school students who show outstanding promise in the creative writing profession. Entrants must be U.S. or Canadian citizens who haven’t graduated from 12th grade and are already committed to becoming a published author. Entry applications must accompany a 1,000-word original, creative sample piece on any topic.
Contact
Leyla Beban Young Authors Scholarship
P.O. Box 610005
Redwood City, CA 94061
(650) 262-3076
info@bluefire.org
Scholarship Link
14. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship
Deadline: December 31st
In honor of the English novelist who brought us Frankenstein, the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship is awarded by the Horror Writers Association. It goes to outstanding women who are enrolling in university-level creative writing courses. For the $2,500, applicants must:
- have current HWA membership
- exhibit unmet financial need
- be U.S. citizens or legal residents
- submit at least two written works
- show commitment to the honor genre.
Contact
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship
P.O. Box 56687
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
(818) 220-3965
scholarships@horror.org
Scholarship Link
15. NEA Creative Writing Fellowships
Deadline: March 9th
The National Endowment for the Arts awards $25,000 Creative Writing Fellowships every other year. It goes to published creative writers in the United States who need financial assistance for professional development. This includes university-level writing programs. Interested authors can apply by submitting fiction and creative nonfiction prose or 20 pages of poetry. Competition is heated because only five percent of the 1,200 annual applicants are chosen.
Contact
NEA Creative Writing Fellowships
400 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20506
(202) 682-5034
LitFellowships@arts.gov
Scholarship Link
16. Positively Different Scholarship Program
Deadline: June 1st
The annual Positively Different Scholarship Program is funded by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. It awards $1,000 to five high school seniors who are pursuing arts-related bachelor’s degrees, such as:
- music
- visual arts
- drama
- architecture
- creative writing
Eligible candidates must:
- reside on Cape Cod
- be graduating this June
- have been accepted into an accredited arts program
- exhibit outstanding talent
Creative writing majors must submit works in one of the following categories:
- short stories
- creative nonfiction prose
- poems
- dramatic scripts.
Contact
Positively Different Scholarship Program
232 Main Street Suite B
Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 362-0066
info@artsfoundation.org
Scholarship Link
17. Random House Creative Writing Competition
Deadline: February 5th
Since 1993, the Random House Creative Writing Competition has provided over $100,000 in scholarships for creative writing degrees. These go to New York City public school seniors who are entering accredited U.S. institutions. Participants must submit one original, typed literary composition providing 10 pages in one of the following:
- poetry
- fiction
- drama
- personal memoir
High-quality submissions are chosen based on:
- artistic expression
- storytelling
- character design
- technical merit
- layout.
Contact
Random House Creative Writing Competition
1745 Broadway 14th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 782-8319
creativewriting@penguinrandomhouse.com
Scholarship Link
18. Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award
Deadline: February 3rd
The Cherokee National Foundation distributes the annual Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award. The $2,000 goes to Native American students who are enrolled full-time in undergraduate and graduate programs for creative writing or English. Qualified recipients must:
- be tribal citizens of the Cherokee Nation
- have at least one-quarter Indian blood
- attend an accredited U.S. university
- have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- upload two writing samples
- plan to serve the Cherokee people.
Contact
Robert J. and Evelyn L. Conley Award
800 South Muskogee
Tahlequah, OK 74464
(918) 207-0950
contact@cherokeenationfoundation.org
Scholarship Link
19. Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship
Deadline: April 14th
Full-time matriculated 11th and 12th graders attending high schools in the United States can apply for the Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship. The scholarship is for $1,000 to help them earn their creative writing or English degree. To enter, candidates must submit a maximum three-page essay. It must address one of five writing prompts pertaining to this year’s book, such as The Tempest or My Fair Lady. Essay submissions are evaluated on:
- writing style
- content
- grammar
- originality
- idea articulation.
Contact
Signet Classics Student Essay Scholarship
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 366-2000
consumerservices@penguinrandomhouse.com
Scholarship Link
20. Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship
Deadline: April 1st
The Winston-Salem Foundation grants the Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship annually. The $1,000 award is for graduating high school seniors residing in the North Carolina counties of:
- Davie
- Davidson
- Forsyth
- Stokes
- Surry
- Wilkes
- Yadkin
Eligible students must:
- be accepted into accredited in-state colleges
- exhibit financial need
- maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA
- demonstrate outstanding community service
- plan a career in communication arts
Acceptable majors include:
- digital media
- English
- public relations
- journalism
- creative writing.
Contact
Woodbine Big Dreams Scholarship
751 West Fourth Street Suite 200
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 725-2382
studentaid@wsfoundation.org
Scholarship Link
Crafting the written word into a riveting tale that engages readers page after page takes finesse. Completing a creative writing program can significantly improve your ability to shape characters and ideas into intriguing plots. Many scholarships are available to help the next Mark Twain or Jane Austen afford literary training. Unlike loans, scholarships are free gifts that provide tuition dollars without repayment. Consider these 20 great scholarships for creative writing degrees to reduce the financial burden of developing your pathway to publishing.