Top 34 Creative Writing Scholarships in January 2026

The John Carlton Myatt Writing Scholarship program supports graduating high school seniors from Guilford County, North Carolina. Applicants should display a creative, innovative, and courageous spirit in writing. Students who plan to pursue a degree in English, writing, or language arts are encouraged to apply.Show Less

Attention, North Carolina high school seniors! The Andrew Edward Crabtree Endowed Scholarship could be your chance to win up to $5,000 to put toward your college education!  This scholarship is offered to high school seniors graduating from Riverside High School in North Carolina who are passionate about visual or performing arts. Applicants should demonstrate a strong record of participation in drama, choral music, history, or creative writing. A minimum 2.75 GPA is required in order to be considered for this award. If you think you’d be a good candidate for this scholarship, we encourage you to apply! Plus, don’t forget to check out other scholarships for art students and scholarships for North Carolina residents. Apply today and take the first step toward your future!Show Less

Are you a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing? If so, consider applying for the Alyssa Sandmeier Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,500 to the applicant who submit the best original piece of creative writing. Acceptable forms include, but are not limited to, poetry or song lyrics, works of fiction, play/movie/television scripts, and fictional monologues or memoirs. The scholarship was created in honor of Alyssa Sandmeier, a young girl whose passion for writing inspired her to write even while battling Leukemia complications. If you're a college-bound, Nebraskan high school senior with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more and carry on Alyssa's legacy today.Show Less

The Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship recognizes and supports the work of activist artists in New Hampshire who tell human rights stories in unique, inspiring, and significant ways. Applicants are challenged to examine the influence of a particular activist artist or create their own piece of activist art. Acceptable forms of media include film, writing, theater, dance, music, painting, poetry, and drawing.  While two runners-up will be awarded $2,500 each, two first-place winners will be granted $5,000 each. If you're an artist from New Hampshire passionate about expressing raw emotions that can provoke attention and action on human rights crises, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

The H. Eugene Webb Jr. Scholarship (Columbia High School) is awarded to graduating seniors from Columbia High School, South Carolina, who is active in community service and participate in school activities, teams, and clubs. Students who show excellence in public speaking, debate, drama, creative writing, and/or student leadership are encouraged to apply.Show Less

The Kathryn Holden Slater Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia. Applicants are reviewed for participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement. Students who express an interest in teaching or coaching at the primary or secondary school level upon graduating from college are encouraged to apply. Previous recipients are eligible to reapply.Show Less

The arts, whether in the form of film, dance, animation, music, writing, or theatre, bring joy to so many lives. They are a way for people to express their emotions and experiences, and even create other worlds for others to relate to and enjoy. If you have a passion for creative arts and have attended a California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), the Herb Alpert Emerging Young Artists Scholarship may be a great fit for you! To qualify for the scholarship, individuals must have previously attended a California State Summer School for the Arts. In addition, they must plan to pursue an art-related field in college. Each year, 21 CSSSA students receive awards ranging from a one-time scholarship of $2,500 to a four-year scholarship totaling $40,000. To be considered for the scholarship, students must be nominated and chosen during the CSSSA summer session - no additional application is required. Looking for other scholarships you may be eligible for? Consider checking out our other art scholarships, music scholarships, dance scholarships, and theater scholarships. Good luck with your scholarship search!Show Less

The Bobette Bibo Gugliotta Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writing is open to students majoring in the creative writing field who have demonstrated creative writing ability. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate a passion for creative writing, be graduating high school seniors or be graduates of a public or private high school in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County, and be planning to enroll or be currently enrolled in a four-year college or university as a full-time student. United States citizens and eligible non-citizens may apply. If you're a Northern Californian high school senior or soon-to-be graduate with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Introducing the Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence - an amazing opportunity for graduating seniors from Sheboygan County! Applicants must have a passion for the arts and be attending high school in Sheboygan County (Wisconsin) or be homeschooled and residing in Sheboygan County. This incredible opportunity awaits those who dream of pursuing a career in writing, theater, music (both instrumental and vocal), music composition, visual arts, dance, and more. The Kohler Foundation values exceptional talent above all else, not placing emphasis on grades or test scores. With awards of up to $100,000 for private or top 20-ranked out-of-state public institutions, or up to $50,000 for any other public institution over four years, the possibilities are endless. If you're an artistic, college-bound high school senior from Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, we encourage you to apply! Don't miss out on this chance to unleash your artistic potential.Show Less

Are you a high school sophomore or junior interested in entering an essay contest? If so, consider applying for the Achievement Awards in Writing! The awards are open to nominated students who submit a piece of creative/argumentative writing. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), a nonprofit professional association of educators, offers the contest to recognize students’ talents and achievements. The NCTE focuses on improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Each year, multiple winners are chosen and receive a certificate. Additionally, winners of the “First Class Award" will have their name and their school’s name appear on the NCTE website. If you are passionate about writing, we encourage you to apply! While the scholarship cycle does not open until mid-November of each year, students are encouraged to start thinking of and preparing their first drafts early.Show Less

Arts For Life! recognizes the creativity and artistic talents of high school students throughout Florida. Thus, annually, the Arts for Life! Scholarship awards $1,000 each to 25 Florida high school seniors who demonstrate academic and artistic excellence in creative writing, dance, drama, music, or the visual arts. The program, launched by former First Lady Columba Bush in 1999, has awarded scholarships to more than 575 gifted high school seniors over its lifetime. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program offers twelfth-grade students (enrolled in a public school in South Carolina) the opportunity to compete for a scholarship in creative writing, dance, music, theater, or visual arts. In return for their impressive efforts, five (5) of the top applicants will be granted $2,000 each. Students must be U.S. citizens and have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years. Students planning to attend an out-of-state college or university are ineligible to apply. Entries produced in collaboration with others are not eligible for this competition. Students may compete in one arts area only. If you're a South Carolinian high school senior passionate about the arts, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you interested in becoming a professional artist? If so, consider applying for the F. Lammot Belin Arts Scholarship! The scholarship is open to individuals planning to become professional/fine artists who are residing in or formerly resided in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Peter Belin funds the scholarship in memory of his father, F. Lammot Belin, former Chief of Protocol of the United States. Established to provide financial assistance to artists of outstanding aptitude and promise in the fine arts, the scholarship aims to help artists pursue their desired careers. Every year, they are happy to offer multiple recipients up to $10,000 to use for individual projects, formal or informal study, or travel. If you are passionate about becoming a professional artist and reside in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you a middle or high school student with a love for creative writing or artwork? If so, consider applying for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The contest is broken up into 28 separate categories/competitions, each with its own age requirements and prompts. Winners will receive between $500 and $12,500, depending on the category. The awards are offered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.”  If you’re a middle or high school student who’s been wanting to put their creative skills to work, this may be a great opportunity for you. We encourage you to apply!Show Less

Are you studying Creative Writing (as a major or minor) at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa? If so, Waldorf University's Creative Writing Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, renewable scholarships that can be worth up to $16,000 are awarded through this program. To apply, interested students must submit a 200-word essay about "What role writing has had in [their] life," as well as five poems OR ten typed double-spaced pages of fiction or creative non-fiction. If you're a Waldorf University student with a passion for creative writing, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Are you a college-bound high school senior with a love for the written or spoken word? If so, consider applying for the U.S. Creative Writing Awards Scholarship! The scholarship is open to college-bound high school seniors who create and submit an original piece of written fiction/drama, poetry, a memoir/personal essay, a spoken word piece, or a freedom of expression prompt. Each year, five recipients (one winner per category) earn up to $10,000 to go towards their college expenses. An additional sixth winner will be chosen among the applicants from the NYC area, in honor of the Creative Writing Awards previously being centered in New York City and Penguin Random House's longtime work with local schools there. If you are passionate about writing and are looking to pay for tuition, we encourage you to apply! P.S. The scholarship accepts submissions until January 15th or until 1,000 applications are received - whichever comes first.Show Less

The National Writers Association Foundation Scholarships exist to enhance the future of writers by fostering continuing education through awarding scholarships, and providing low or no cost workshops and seminars. All interested writers are eligible to apply, so long as they complete the application and detail their writing goals and how they plan to use the reward to achieve their writing goals. Applicants must also submit an example of their best work (not to exceed 20 double-spaced pages) and a transcript if they are still students. Each year, four (4) applicants will be chosen to earn between $250 and $1,000 each. If you're an aspiring writer, we encourage you to apply! Bear in mind that applications are accepted from October 1st to December 31st of each year.Show Less

The Helen H. Glaser Student Essay Awards aim to encourage medical students to write creative narratives or scholarly essays relevant to medicine. Winning essays will be published in the Autumn issue of The Pharos. Authors must be enrolled in medical schools that have an active Alpha Omega Alpha Chapter or Association but need not be members of Alpha Omega Alpha. However, if the author is an Alpha Omega Alpha member, he/she must be an active member. The essay must not be offered to, or published by, any other journal or entered in any other contest prior to submission or during, the Alpha Omega Alpha selection process. Essays should not be fictional or written in the first person, but academic/scientific in theme. Unique references, numbered consecutively, should be limited to 20. We recommend visiting the scholarship provider's website for more information on formatting your submission. Happy writing!Show Less

Are you enrolled or about to enroll in a college, university, or trade school? Are you looking for a little extra help in funding your education to cover expenses that other scholarships and financial aid don't cover? If your answer is "yes," ServiceScape has a solution that could help out with books, supplies, or anything else you need to cover your educational expenses. Each year, Servicescape offers a $1,000 scholarship to an applicant who writes the most thoughtful essay on how writing impacts today’s world. If you want to put your writing skills to the test in exchange for some financial help for college, we encourage you to apply!Show Less

The YoungArts Competition is funded by YoungArts, an organization that identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. Every year, their YoungArts Competition awards up to $10,000 to multiple high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors passionate about dance, music, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, singing, or writing who submit a written piece or video showcasing their talents. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, keep on reading for more application details.Show Less

Florida Rentals is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a full-time post-secondary student over age 18 who is currently enrolled or has been accepted to a college or university. To apply, submit a 1,000-word essay to [email protected] describing your dream vacation. Let your imagination run wild and detail where you would go, what you would do, who you would bring, and what your accommodations would look like. Don't miss out on this opportunity to earn funding for your post-secondary education, and make your dream vacation a reality!Show Less

Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate school student and Janeite (Jane Austen fan)? Or do you simply love Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, or her other works, and are itching to write an essay about them? If so, you might consider applying for the JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) Essay Contest! Each year, the contest asks its applicants to write a 6 - 8 page essay in which they analyze and make an argument about an aspect or implication of a Jane Austen novel. As the specific prompt changes every year, we recommend checking the Jane Austen Society of North America's site before applying. Multiple students will be awarded for their efforts, earning between $250 and $1,000 each (in addition to a few extra goodies). If you’re familiar with Jane Austen's works, can make a convincing argument, and want to make some cash, we encourage you to apply. Channel your inner Jane Austen, and get to writing!Show Less

A famous proverb says that "it takes a village to raise a child," emphasizing the importance of having additional support when raising a child. Single parents, however, often bear most of this responsibility themselves, being the only parent in a child's household. To commend the efforts of such parents, the For A Bright Future Foundation is generously offering a $2,500 - $10,000 scholarship! To qualify for their Single Parent Household Scholarship For A Bright Future, individuals must be current or incoming undergraduates from underrepresented/minority groups who either (a) are single parents themselves or (b) were raised in one-parent households. Applicants must also be seeking a degree in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) or the Creative Arts, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be between the ages of 17 and 30, and be planning to continue their studies in the upcoming academic year. If you'd like to honor single parents' efforts and are pursuing an eligible degree, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more, and good luck with your scholarship search!Show Less

Lights, camera, action! The Francis D. Lyon Graduate Fellowship for Film Students is the ultimate opportunity for graduate students in the film industry or related fields such as theater/drama, writing, or entertainment. This prestigious award is given annually to one lucky recipient who will receive financial support to further their education and career. Don't miss out on this chance to shine in the spotlight! Phi Delta Theta membership is not required, so all eligible graduate students are encouraged to apply.Show Less