WRITERS GRANTS: Top 50 For Poets, Fiction & Nonfiction Writers In 2023 (UPDATED!)

Sometimes we may find ourselves with a huge, time-consuming writing project to pursue. That is when we find out that our love for words alone can’t pay the bills. That’s when grants come to the rescue. Grants are the free money everyone wants. Also, some writers’ fellowship can give you access to some grants that you may need. In the UK we can find different categories of grants for poets, fiction, and nonfiction writers. 

So here we are going to see some grants that might just cater for a conference expense or a retreat to go off and write for a few months. So whatever spec you desire, be sure to go through the offers carefully, noting the application requirements and the eligibility criteria.

Writers fellowships and grants

“All over the world, we have a wide variety of writers fellowships, be it in Uk, India, Germany including the Scandinavian countries. So as a writer looking for unique opportunities to grow you should look out for these fellowships. Some of these writers’ fellowships offer grants and other funded opportunities for newbies and established writers. They can also help you with the request to rewrite my essay for me if need be. So here we have a large list of such fellowships and grants for writers. Ensure you bookmark any opportunity that catches your fancy.

#1. American Academy in Berlin Prize

This academy welcomes applications from new and established scholars and professionals who are studying in Berlin. Annually, an average of 24 Berlin prizes is awarded. Recipients of the awards include poets, legal scholars, novelists, journalists, economists, and public policy experts among others. So, the fellowships are awarded for a semester and in rare cases, it could be for a complete academic calendar. Also, some of the benefits include trip airfare, partial board, a $5000 monthly stipend, and accommodations. However, the writer should base in the US to have access to the fellowships and grants.

#2. American Institute of Indian Studies Senior Performing and Creative Arts Fellowships

These fellowships are available to established practitioners of the performing arts of India. They are also available to creative artists who demonstrate that study in India would enhance their skills, develop their abilities to teach or perform in the U.S. Awards oftentimes last for up to four months, though proposals for periods of up to nine months can be considered.

#3. American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship

The Fellowship offers writers an opportunity to pursue a creative project in Paris for a month or longer while participating actively in the life of the American Library. However, applicants should be working on a book project, fiction or nonfiction, or a feature-length documentary film. The fellowship offers a stipend of $5,000 to cover travel, accommodation plus other expenses. The Library offers networking opportunities. It is open to English speakers of any nationality.

#4. Bard Fiction Prize

This was created to inspire and assist emerging fiction and nonfiction writers to strive for their artistic goals and creative atmosphere in an academic setting with grants. Annually, one fellowship is awarded to a promising, emerging American writer. Additionally, asides $30,000 stipend, the winning Fellow receives an appointment as writer in residence at Bard College for one semester. However, the Fellows must give at least one public lecture during their fellowship. The candidates must be US citizens with published work.

#5. Boehm Media Fellowship

The Boehm Media Fellowships provide journalists, storytellers, authors, bloggers, writers, editors, filmmakers, and other media experts at the helm of social innovation with the opportunity to participate as Delegates to the Opportunity Collaboration. Also, this fellowship aims to grow networking opportunities for fellows, enriching their knowledge and skills. The fellowship includes a 5-night stay in Ixtapa, Mexico, $3,200 for tuition, and all free meals. Thus, financial need is the primary consideration for the fellowship.

#6. Hedgebrook Writers in Residence

The program supports the fully-funded residencies of approximately 40 writers at the retreat each year. The retreat hosts writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer. Thus, six writers are in residence at a time, each housed in a handcrafted cottage.

#7. Charles Wallace India Trust Writers Fellowships

This fellowship helps Indians in the early to mid-stages of their careers to spend time in the UK. Thus aiding them to achieve artistic, academic, and professional ambitions, broadening their international contacts.

So, they have ten fellowships and grants to enable academics, writers, and translators to spend 2-3 months at specified host universities, devoting themselves to their own work and interacting with colleagues. Applicants should be Indian citizens living in India, aged between 25 and 45. Also, they must have completed postgraduate studies and/or have at least 5 years of professional or academic experience. You can consult university websites for application deadlines.

#8. PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writers Fellowship

This program started in 2001. This annual grant of $5,000 has been awarded to writers of children’s or YA fiction and nonfiction. It has been developed to help writers whose work is of high quality and assist writers at a crucial moment in their career to complete a novel-in-progress.” 

So to ensure impartiality of the judging process, your novel-in-progress will be judged blindly. So be sure not to put your name anywhere on your manuscript.

Eligible applicants should have published at least one children’s or YA fiction novel. Also, it must have been published by a U.S. trade publisher. Though the current grant cycle has closed, keep an eye out for next year’s deadlines.

#9. The George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation Fellowship.

This fellowship was created to provide artists, scholars, and writers with quality time and grants to complete their work. Hence, the 2021-2022 fellowship of $35,000 will be granted to 9 mid-career writers in the fields of Creative Nonfiction and History.

You’ll be eligible if you’ve achieved recognition for one major project, and if you can answer “yes” to these questions. So, if your genre isn’t a field of focus this cycle, try again next year. The fellowship applications are available from July 1 to November 1 each year.

#10. Fiscal Sponsorship of the NYFA

The deadline is December 31, 2021. NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship is a fundraising and administrative tool that allows your project or developing organization to fundraise using NYFA’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. With this collaboration with NYFA, you gain access to government, foundation, and corporate funding that was previously reserved to 501(c)(3) organizations; the incentive of a tax deduction to attract individual donations; counseling services with NYFA professionals; and more! Our next no-fee application deadline is December 31.

#12. Fellowships In Tennessee

The deadline is January 24, 2022. The Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) grants monetary rewards to excellent professional artists (those individuals who engage in a particular art form or discipline due to education, experience, or natural skill) who live and work in Tennessee. An artist must be financially compensated for his or her work in order to qualify, and this income must be a significant source of support for their livelihood. Each fellowship is expected to be worth $5,000, according to the Commission.

#13. Fellowship for Black Women Writers “MISS SARAH”

The deadline is December 20, 2021. The “Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women Writers seeks to provide a peaceful environment favorable to thought and writing for Black women writers. It also provides uninterrupted time to germinate an idea for a new writing project or to develop or conclude an ongoing project. The Fellowship will concentrate on poetry in 2022. The chosen writer will get a seven-day residency in July 2022, with the option of staying in Trillium Arts’ rustic “Firefly Creek” apartment in Mars Hills, NC, or at E. Patrick Johnson and Stephen Lewis’ “Montford Manor” property near downtown Asheville, NC. Participants will be given a $700 stipend as well as transportation to and from Asheville, North Carolina. Additional incentives will be tailored to the awardee’s specific needs.

#14. Awards for Work-In-Progress BY J. ANTHONY LUKAS

THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline 9th of December, 2021 Two $25,000 J. Anthony Lukas Book-in-Progress Awards are presented each year to aid in the completion of a notable work of nonfiction on a topic of American political or social relevance. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on lengthy original research frequently overburdens the author’s resources, the initiative envisions the award as a means of filling the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that writing a book demands.

Applicants for the award must already have a nonfiction book contract with a U.S.-based publisher. The judges’ selection will be based on their desire to have the greatest possible influence on a viable book proposal. As a result, their selection criteria will be a combination of the book’s value and the author’s financial need. As a result, the judges will require information on the author’s advance as well as any additional financial support for the work, such as a grant.

#15. Artist Support Grants In North Carolina

This program, supported by the NC Arts Council, allows regional consortia of local arts councils to give project grants to artists in their respective regions. These funds assist professional artists of all disciplines and stages of their careers in pursuing initiatives that advance their aesthetic and professional development. Fundable projects include the creation of new work, the purchase of equipment and materials, professional development workshops, travel assistance for expenses associated with a professional opportunity such as attending an exhibition or a conference, and the development or upgrading of promotional materials such as brochures, DVDs, CDs, and websites. Under the new scheme, artist fees are also allowed expenses. The amount of the grant varies by area. Most grants in the state are between $500 and $2,000. The projects must be finished by December 31, 2022.

#16. Nevada Artists – American Rescue Plan

There are two cycles: August 1 to December 31, 2021, and January 1 to June 30, 2022. The Nevada Arts Council will distribute ARP money to individual artists throughout Nevada to support the production and presentation of artistic projects in all disciplines, as well as to assist artists in rebuilding following the effects of COVID-19. Art exhibitions, performances, readings, concerts, art creation, and portfolio creation are all examples of qualifying projects. Projects that are virtual or online are also acceptable. Must be a current Nevada resident who has lived in the state for at least one year prior to the date of application and is not a student. This is a $1,000 grant.

#17. Artist Support Grants In North Carolina

These funds assist professional artists of all disciplines and stages of their careers in pursuing initiatives that advance their aesthetic and professional development. Fundable projects include the following: the creation of new work, the purchase of equipment and materials, professional development workshops, travel support for expenses associated with a professional opportunity such as attending an exhibition or a conference, and the development or upgrading of promotional materials such as brochures, DVDs, CDs, and websites.

Under the new scheme, artist fees are also allowed expenses. The amount of the grant varies by area. They range from $300 to $5,000 statewide, with the majority of grants falling between $500 and $2,000. The projects must be finished by December 31, 2022. The webpage includes a list of participating counties, deadlines for each region, and a principal contact for each consortium. From west to east, the regions are listed.

#18. Mini-Grant Program For Humanities In Maryland

The organization accepts submissions for its Mini-Grant program from Maryland nonprofit groups and schools. Grants of up to $1,200 will be offered under the program to public humanities projects, documentary film projects, and civic education activities aimed to engage and benefit Marylanders. The deadlines for Mini-Grants are March 1, July 1, and November 1.

#19. Delaware Artist Opportunities

Artist Opportunity Grants are provided on a competitive basis to artists in order to support their unique professional and artistic development and presenting chances. Materials to complete work for a certain show or program; the expense of renting a facility for a performance; and studying with a master for a specified period of time are some examples. Criteria for evaluation include predicted impact on the artist’s work or career; financial feasibility and need; marketing strategies; and the opportunity’s distinctiveness. Applicants may request up to 80% of the opportunity cost, up to a maximum of $750. Quarterly deadlines are as follows: January, April, July, and October.

#20. Grants for Humanities In Maryland

Our Mini-Grants Program allows nonprofit organizations and schools to apply for funds to support public humanities projects, documentary film production, and civic education programs. The deadlines for Mini-Grants are March 1, July 1, and November 1. Submit your application at least ten weeks before the commencement of your project to meet one of the deadlines. The rewards will be announced five weeks following the application deadline. The project must be finished within one year of being awarded. NOTE FROM HOPE: If you are a person, try contacting one of these organizations and providing a project/presentation in exchange for a grant to compensate you.

#21. Memorial Fund for Barbara Deming

Money for Women, founded by Barbara Deming, is the longest-running feminist granting organization. Individual feminist writers and visual artists receive financial assistance and encouragement from the organization through grants. Every year, the application period runs from January 1 to January 31. Individual feminist women in the arts who are nationals of the United States or Canada are eligible for minor support grants ranging from $500 to $1,500. Does not recognize projects in cinema, video, theater, dance, music, or performance. Scripts and musical creations are not eligible either. We do not recognize work that has been or will be self-published.

#22. Memorial Fund for Clayton

The fund assists professional science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers living in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska with the financial burden of medical bills. In assessing professional standing, we generally adopt the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) guidelines for Active or Associate membership.

Grants and fellowships for poets, fiction and nonfiction writers

#1. Minnesota Artist Initiative Grant

Minnesota-based writers of poetry and prose should keep an eye on this grant, awarded in amounts of $2,000 to $10,000.

It is open to residents of at least six months and is 18 or older. It supports the “career-building and creative development” of Minnesota artists across eight mediums. You can get the full details of this year’s application process here. The program has been suspended for 2021, but be sure to check back for the 2022 update before applying.

#2. Children’s Writers-in-Residence Program

The Associates of the Boston Public Library sponsors a Children’s Writer-in-Residence program annually. So it intends to provide an emerging children’s writer with the financial support and space needed to complete one literary work for children.

So, the Children’s Writer-in-Residence gets a $20,000 stipend and office space at the BPL’s Central Library in Copley Square. The writer must work a minimum of 19 hours per week during the nine-month residency (September – May). Writers eligible for these grants are fiction, nonfiction, scriptwriters or poets, intended for children or young adults

#3. The Arkansas International Emerging Writer’s Prize

Unpublished writers can apply for this grant for the chance to receive $1,000 and have their work published. 

Entries should be a double-spaced single prose work with no more than 7,500 words or poem packs of up to five poems. The only judge is Deb Olin Unferth, an established published author. Applications for the grants are from fiction, nonfiction, essays, comics writers, poets, and works in translation.

The application fee for the grant is $20. This includes a one-year subscription to The Arkansas International. This grant sets itself apart by allowing multiple entries within one grant cycle. However, it’ll cost you a new application fee each time.

#4. Brown International Writers Fellowship

It’s a one-year fellowship and grants with a residency at Brown University offers refuge and assistance to proven creative writers (poets, fiction and nonfiction writers, and playwrights). The writers are those who are oppressed in their residing countries. One fellowship is awarded annually. The fellowship also provides a $45,000 stipend, visa assistance, and relocation expenses, health benefits, and includes classroom sessions.

#5. Bellagio Residency Program: Arts and Literary Arts

These grants are for composers, fiction and non-fiction writers, playwrights, poets, video/filmmakers, and visual artists who share in the Foundation’s mission. Its mission is to promote the well-being of humankind. Also, it is for artists seeking time for disciplined work, reflection, and collegial engagement.

Generally, the center offers stays of 2-4 weeks long, in a community of 15 fellows that includes 3-5 arts resident fellows. Hence, artists of significant achievement from any country are welcome to apply.

#6. The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

This award now in its 14th year has national recognition in its role of enhancing the visibility of emerging African-American fiction writers The grant $15,000 cash prize will support the fiction or nonfiction writer and poets as he/she focuses on writing. 

So to be eligible, you’ll need to be an African-American U.S. citizen. Also, you’ll have a published work of fiction, and you should be willing to attend the award ceremony in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You are also expected to engage in educational programs during your stay in the community.

Other Writers Grants

#1. The Kerouac Project

The Project is named after famous author Jack Kerouac. It offers four writing residencies each year. So, if the panel selects you as the winner, you will spend three months living and writing in the same house Kerouac wrote his most popular novels.

Housing and utilities are part of the award, and you will also get a $1,000 food stipend. The organization expects you to participate in a welcome dinner and a reading of your work at the end of your residency. Otherwise, you have total freedom to work on your own novel.

So whether you have a master’s degree in literature or are self-taught, writers of all backgrounds are welcome to apply.

#2. The Disney/ABC Television Writing Program

Do you have an interest in writing for television? If yes, this is one of the most well-respected initiatives of its kind. So selected writers spend a year as staff writers on a Disney/ABC show.

If the program chooses you, they’ll pay you a weekly salary of $961 plus other benefits. Also, asides from getting a chance to work on real TV shows, participants take part in seminars and workshops with veteran writers.

Eligibility criteria include, you must be at least 21 and submitting two original pilot scripts for a current television series. You also need to send in your resume. The annual program accepts applications in May each year.

#3. Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Competition

Don Nicholl was a famous British screenwriter. He was behind shows like “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.” So, after he passed away, his widow, Gee, founded the Academy Nicholl Competition.

Each year, the Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Competition gives up to five fellowships to screenwriters. So, any amateur screenwriter who has not yet earned $25,000 in the movie or television industry can apply.

However, there is a small fee to enter, but college or graduate school students can get a discount.

#4. National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship

If you have a fantastic idea for a book or poem but don’t have the time or resources to work on it, this fellowship might be for you. The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship offers $25,000 to enable individuals to work on their writing, travel or research. Hence, the grants are open to poets, fiction and nonfiction writers

#5. Sustainable Arts Foundation Award

As a parent, focusing on your child’s needs can limit you from following your dreams and writing. The Sustainable Arts Foundation Award is one of the few writing grants designed for artists with families.

The awards are unrestricted, meaning you could use them to further your education or career or to cover childcare costs.

Whether you’re a nonfiction writer or a poet, you can apply for this grant. However, you must have at least a child under 18 to be eligible.

#6. Awesome Foundation Grant

The Awesome Foundation gives out micro-grants of $1,000 to people doing great things. So, this can mean writing an industry-changing article, an investigative piece, or using the grant for writing a book.

Here, no strings are attached; the money is yours to do with as you please. So, you can use it to attend a conference, pay down debt, or do anything else that you’ll need in your journey.

The application is very simple as it can be completed within 15 minutes. The application deadline varies by foundation chapter.

#7. RISCA Project Grant Projects for Individuals

The Rhode Island grant is available to writers who want to share their work with the public through a reading, performance, or another open event.

They accept applications twice per year, on April 1 and October 1. So, bookmark the grants page to stay up-to-date with new information. Individual applicants can request up to $3,000. Note that grants may be only partially funded.

Get the application details here

#8. North Carolina Artist Support Grant

The writers at any stage in their careers are invited to apply for grants to fund new or existing projects. The statewide awards range from $300 to $5,000. (Grant amounts vary by region.)

Application procedures and deadlines varies according to your county. So, ensure you reach out to the office designated on this page for specific regional details.

#9. Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award

If you’re a writer over the age of 50 and your work has yet to be traditionally published in the children’s literature field, this one is all yours.

Karen and Philip Cushman and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) established this grant for writers in 2013. Cushman considers herself a late bloomer, as her first children’s book wasn’t published until she was 53. Hence, this grant is meant to celebrate and encourage writers just like her.

So, recipients receive $500 and free tuition to an SCBWI conference anywhere in the world. For eligibility, you must be a member of SCBWI and an unpublished writer of 50 years of age or older. This year, submissions are open from March 1 to April 15.

Is It Possible to Acquire a Loan to Write a Book?

To write a book, you can obtain a loan. In reality, there are loan programs designed expressly for writers who want to self-publish but need financial assistance. Self-published authors have access to a range of finance sources, including loans, crowdsourcing, sponsorships, and grants.

Do Book Publishers Compensate You for Your Writing?

A publisher’s advance and book royalties are likely to be received by an author when publishing traditionally. An advance is the sum of money that a publisher gives an author in exchange for the promise of a book; typically, half is paid up front and the rest after the book is finished.

Can Writing Make Me Wealthy?

Being a writer can make you wealthy. And to be honest, if you’re serious about obtaining the skills you need to succeed, you can become wealthy in any field. The advice I’m about to give won’t make you instantly wealthy. These things require tremendous effort and dedication.

Is Hiring a Grant Writer Worthwhile?

You have a better chance of getting funded if a grant writer writes your grant requests. Your return on investment can be higher if you rely on professionals, whether it’s the cost of your time to write or the cost of hiring a grant writer to write.

Does Having a High IQ Make You a Better Writer?

You must be able to communicate the world around you in a way that other people can relate to. An IQ test’s abstract reasoning and independent reading sections might be easy for you to ace, but writing requires discipline and imagination, both of which are not tested.

Writers Grants

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