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Top 66 Writing & Essay Scholarships in May 2023
Writing is an extremely important part of success in high school, college, and life in general. For some students, writing is also an intricate part of who they are and how they express themselves. If you are someone who loves English class and is genuinely excited about a new creative writing assignment, then you should keep reading! Writing scholarships, creative writing scholarships, and essay scholarships are great ways to put your talent to use.
Jump ahead to:
- Top writing scholarships in 2023
- Top creative writing scholarships in 2023
- Resources for writing scholarship essays
- Upcoming essay scholarships
- Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Whether you are planning on attending community college, a four-year program, or graduate school, we’ve got opportunities for you. Keep on reading to learn about the top scholarships for writers and creative writers including eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines!
The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies: If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!
* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system.
The “Mom to Scholar'' Scholarship for Mothers is open to mothers who want to begin or resume their journey towards earning a technical or college degree. This scholarship is funded… Ok, so first question–why is this scholarship named the “Gutsy” Graduate Student Essay Scholarship? If you are enrolled in graduate school (during the 2023-24 academic year) or have heard stories… The "College Here I Come" Scholarship for High School Seniors is open to just who you think: incoming high school seniors (current Class of 2024)! Here at Scholarships360, scholarships are… Are you a woman in high school, college, or graduate school enrolled during the 2023-24 academic year? If so, let us help you! Our $500 “Making Waves” Scholarship for Women… Do you like figuring out solutions to difficult problems? Well, if you’re a current or aspiring STEM major, we have one for you! Our $500 “Tuition Solution” Scholarship is meant… At Scholarships360, we know how hard it can be to pay off the hefty costs of a college tuition. Oftentimes, this is even more difficult for students coming from low-income… At Scholarships360, our mission is to help students find and fund their postsecondary education. We know that students have a variety of educational and career interests and aspirations. That is… Community college, also known as two-year college, is a golden opportunity for the right student. These schools offer an affordable education to a diverse range of students in a wide… The U.S. is home to over 2,000 four-year universities offering bachelor’s degrees. However, attending such universities can sometimes come with hefty costs that can deter students from attending. If you’re… Are you an 11 - 18 year old who has a passion for saving the environment and/or the ocean? Additionally, would you like to make a statement about the impact… Are you a high school or college student with a love for Minecraft? If so, we may just have the perfect opportunity for you: the Minecraft Scholarship! Each year, the… Are you a big fan of The Walking Dead, or maybe Z Nation? Ever thought about what you would do in the case of a zombie apocalypse? If so, we… The Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest is funded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), an organization that looks to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, serve… Are you a high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student with a passion for reading, writing, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand? If so, we may just have the perfect… The Scholarships360 $10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship is open to all students who want some extra help paying for their education. Whether you are a high school student who hopes to… Easy scholarship from Nitro College open to all high school, college, community and graduate students. Open to all high school and college students, as well as anyone looking to attend college or graduate school in the next year. Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate school student and Janeite (Jane Austen fan)? Or do you simply love Sense and Sensibility and are itching to write an essay… Are you a high school or college student with a love for writing stories (particularly for children)? If so, you might consider applying for the HelpTeaching.com Scholarship! Each year, the… Are you a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student who’s passionate about stopping cyberbullying? Consider applying for the Delete Cyberbullying scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $1,000 to multiple students…Top 60 Writing & Essay Scholarships in May 2023
** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements.
***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.
“Mom to Scholar” Scholarship for Mothers
“Gutsy Graduate Student” Essay Scholarship
“College Here I Come” Essay Scholarship
“Making Waves” Scholarship for Women
“Tuition Solution” Scholarship for STEM Students
“A Helping Hand” Scholarship
“Follow Your Own Path” Essay Scholarship
“Commencing at Community College” Essay Scholarship
“Outstanding Undergraduate” Essay Scholarship
Ocean Awareness Art Contest
Minecraft Scholarship
Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship
Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest
Ayn Rand Institute Novel Essay Contest (Atlas Shrugged)
$10,000 “No Essay” Scholarship
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
Niche $15,000 No Essay Scholarship
JASNA Essay Contest (Jane Austen Society of North America)
HelpTeaching.com Scholarship
Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
Creative writing scholarships
Are you a writer who loves fiction, poetry, and screenplays? If so, you can put those talents to use by applying for creative writing scholarships.
Creative writing scholarships are a subset of writing scholarships that support students who enjoy writing poetry, fictional stories, plays, and generally using their imagination to guide their writing.
Here are the top creative writing college scholarships that you can apply for:
HelpTeaching.com Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students who submit a educational short story or informational article (400-800 words) for young students
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 1st of every year
Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest
- Eligibility: Teens aged 9-12 who write about their own cancer journey or a family member in a maximum of 1,500 words.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Late March
YouthPLAYS New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights
- Eligibility: Students 19 years old or younger who submit an original one-act play between 10-40 minutes in length (10-page minimum). Multiple winners may receive up to $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS.
- Amount: $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS
- Deadline: Early May
National High School Poetry Contest
- Eligibility: U.S. high school students who submit a poem 20 lines or less that is unpublished, the sole work of the entrant, and not entered in any other concurrent contest.
- Amount: Up to $500.
- Deadline: Rolling
The Narrative Prize
- Eligibility: Students who submit a short story, novel excerpt, poem, one-act play, graphic story, or work of literary nonfiction.
- Amount: $4,000
- Deadline: Mid-June
College-specific creative writing scholarships
Some colleges and universities may also offer specific scholarships and financial aid to students with a talent in creative writing! Check with the colleges on your list for these college-specific creative writing opportunities!
Note that some of these scholarships may have requirements for winning students that stipulate that they take a certain number of creative writing classes when enrolled in the college.
Kenyon Writing Award
High school seniors can apply for this scholarship program at Kenyon College which offers up to $15,000 per year of merit based aid. It is based off of your portfolio and does not take into account financial need, high school GPA, or other factors. Submissions typically have to be in by January of your senior year.
Barbara Caras Memorial Scholarship for Film Students
The scholarship is open to students in Sarasota or Manatee County, Florida who have completed at least one full year at an accredited Florida College and are majoring in Film, Computer Animation, Creative Writing, Motion Design, or Illustration. Five recipients will earn a $2,000 award. The application deadline is July 31st of the current year.
Lycoming College Creative Writing Scholarship
The scholarship is open to students majoring in Creative Writing at Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA and must submit five poems and/or a short story not to exceed ten pages. Six recipients will be selected and can earn up to $3,000. The scholarship deadline for the Fall 2023 Class is March 1, 2023.
Arkansas Tech University Gwaltney Scholarship
The scholarship is open to ATU students who submit individual works of fiction to the Department of English. Recipients earn a one-time cash award every year. The deadline to submit your entry is 2 weeks before the end of the spring semester.
Lake Forest College Carnegie English Essay Contest
The contest is open to first-year students of Lake Forest College who plan to study English either through the literature or creative writing track and submit an essay, between 500 and 1,000 words answering a designated prompt. Four winners will be awarded $2,500 annually. Submission deadline is March 1, 2023.
Austin Peay State University Creative Writing Scholarships
The scholarships are open to undergraduate and incoming APSU students who email a 10-20 page manuscript of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction, to Lakota Withrow at [email protected]. Awards are for $600 or $1,200. The deadline to apply is March 18th.
Scholarship essay resources
When it comes to writing and essay scholarships, your writing skills will be put to the test. You’ll have to adapt your writing to specific styles in order to effectively and succinctly communicate your ambitions and potential. We have a host of resources to help you perform well in this arena and stand out from the crowd.
- How to start your scholarship essay (with examples)
- How to write a “why do you deserve this scholarship?” essay
- What’s the best scholarship essay format?
- How to write a 250 word essay
- How to write a 500 word essay
- How to write an essay about yourself
Frequently asked questions about writing scholarships
