Updated on August 23rd, 2024
If your student dreams of pursuing a career that allows them to focus on the written word, scholarships for writers can make their college journey more affordable. As with all scholarships, the money doesn’t have to be paid back, giving your student a chance to avoid burdensome student loan debt.
Scholarships for writers are pretty plentiful. Current college students can serve as valuable mentors in the college application process, helping others navigate various aspects such as application writing and scholarship searching. High school seniors should also consider applying for scholarships to secure funding for their further education. If your student is looking for scholarships for aspiring writers or opportunities that allow them to earn scholarship money for their undergraduate and graduate students’ writing abilities (that can be applied to other majors), here’s what you need to know.
If you and your student want to learn more about where to find scholarships for writers or other opportunities as well as how to land scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Head to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.
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What Are Writing Scholarship Essays?
Writing scholarships come in two primary forms. The first kind targets students who intend to pursue writing-related majors or careers. The second option allows anyone with writing skills to earn scholarship awards but doesn’t necessarily limit eligibility based on the student’s major or future career plans. Scholarships are available for both undergraduate and graduate school students, emphasizing the importance of finding financial aid to support education at various levels.
Scholarships for young writers can help your student pursue their dream while giving them a chance to avoid student loan debt. Since many writing careers don’t start with large salaries, this can make pursuing a career in that arena more affordable. There are also specific scholarship opportunities available for undergraduate students, which can significantly aid in funding their higher education journeys.
In most cases, scholarships for writers require applicants to submit some form of writing sample. This can be in addition to other essays or the only written component requirement.
It’s important to note your student needs to read the fine print on all of the scholarships for writers they consider. In some cases, the written pieces or scholarship essays they turn in become the property of the awarding organization, regardless of whether your student receives a scholarship. As a result, some only allow unique writing per the rules, so your student might not be able to submit the same piece repeatedly.
The Ultimate List of Scholarships for Writers
There is a slew of writing scholarships available. Some accept a wide variety of writing content during the application phase, even short fiction, while others focus on specific forms of writing, like poetry writing scholarships that only consider submissions that include a poem.
To ensure your student can find the right opportunities, this list of scholarships for writers is broken down into the most common categories for writing scholarship essays, as well as a general section for writer scholarships that are more flexible about submissions. High school students, especially those in their junior and senior years, should research and apply for writing scholarships early to enhance their educational opportunities in writing and related fields.
General Writing Scholarships
Some scholarships for writers have a range of categories, allowing undergraduate students and other students to choose one that best aligns with their preferred writing style. As a result, these can be a great starting point for nearly any student.
- ACES Scholarships
- Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
- Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Scholarship
- Family Travel Forum Teen Travel Writing Scholarship
- Go On Girl Book Club’s Aspiring Writer Scholarship
- KidGuard for Education Scholarship
- Marco Island Foundation for the Arts Scholarships
- Willa Cather Foundation Scholarship
Poetry Scholarships
If your high school student loves spending time creating poems, poetry writing scholarships may be an ideal option for them as they transition to becoming an undergraduate student. Not only can they flex their creative muscles, but they also have a chance to earn money to help pay for school.
- Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship
- Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry
- Horror Writers Association Dark Poetry Scholarship
- Lycoming Creative Writing Scholarship
- Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship
- Poetry Foundation’s Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships
- Power of Poetry Scholarships
- William Morgan Poetry Award
Creative Writing Scholarships
This category includes scholarships for creative writing majors as well as other writing awards, for those with creative writing talent who are going to focus on other subjects. These opportunities include short story scholarships, fiction writing scholarships, scholarships for creative writing majors, and more.
- Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing
- Bodie McDowell Scholarship
- CFNEM Carl and Christine Huebner Scholarship
- CW Scholarship
- GRFC Ladies Literary Club Scholarship
- Gwaltney Scholarship
- Horror Writers Association Scholarship
- Lycoming Creative Writing Scholarship
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship
- Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship
- TalNexus Scholarship
- Unico National’s Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship
- Creative Writing Scholarship | Waldorf University
Journalism Scholarships
Journalism is still a popular major for college students, who enjoy writing and want to focus on recent happenings, current events, or investigative writing. There are a ton of journalism scholarships out there, helping students enter into this engaging field.
- Against the Grain Scholarship
- Bob and Marion Breeden Journalism Student Aid Fund Scholarship
- Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism (paid internship opportunity)
- GardenComm Scholarships
- Journalism Education Association’s Journalist of the Year Award
- Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award
- Lester G. Benz Memorial Scholarship for College Journalism Study
- Mike Reynolds Journalism Scholarship
- NABJ Scholarships
- New York Financial Writers’ Association Scholarships
- New York Women in Communications Scholarships
- Ohio News Media Association Scholarships
- Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship
Play and Song Writing Scholarships
While there aren’t as many in this category, it is possible to find scholarships for writing plays and songs. Here are a couple of examples.
Ultimately, aspiring writers and those who just happen to have a talent for the written word can find scholarships to help them pay for school. Plus, there are tons of other scholarships out there for students interested in other topics, including opportunities for:
- Students with learning disabilities
- Military members, veterans, and their families
- Women and girls
- Native Americans
- And more
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a scholarship in writing?
Yes, you can! Many organizations, universities, and writing programs offer scholarships to writers. These can be awarded for your writing talent, academic achievements, or financial need.
Some are for specific genres like fiction, poetry, or journalism, and others for underrepresented voices or topics. To increase your chances, research scholarships that fit your writing style and goals, prepare a strong portfolio or writing sample, and make sure your application shows your passion and commitment to writing.
How do I start writing a scholarship?
Applying for a scholarship can be intimidating, but breaking it down into steps makes it manageable. First, read the scholarship guidelines carefully to know the requirements including eligibility, documents and deadlines. Research the organization so you can tailor your application to their values and expectations.
Next, brainstorm and outline your essay. Focus on your achievements, goals, and experiences that align with the scholarship’s purpose. Start with a hook that grabs attention, then expand on key points like your achievements and how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. Remember, the most compelling essays are those that are genuine and reflect your true self.
As you finish, tell them why you’re the best. Revise for clarity and have someone else read it. Then, gather all required documents, check your application, and submit it on time. Apply early and give yourself time to revise, and you’ll submit a good application.
The Scholarship System also runs an annual scholarship to support students. Find out more here: The Scholarship System Annual Scholarship Opportunity
If you and your student want to learn more about where to find scholarships for writers or other opportunities as well as how to land scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Head to https://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today
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