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Starting a poetic journey frequently calls for more than just skill and enthusiasm; it also calls for encouragement and creatively stimulating environments. Poetry scholarships abound in the literary world, luring aspiring poets with offers of both financial support and recognition for their creative pursuits.
These scholarships serve as pillars, encouraging poets to unleash their poetry and creating a vibrant tapestry of voices. If you enjoy writing poetry, you might be interested in poetry scholarships. Their goal is to acknowledge and encourage students’ love of poetry and creative ability.
They can assist you with other costs, such as college tuition. Students can apply for numerous poetry scholarships; some are provided by universities, while others are funded by different foundations, groups, and private citizens.
The Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships
Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships are given out annually by the Poetry Foundation. Young poets from the United States who are between the ages of 21 and 31 are the only recipients of these awards. With the fellowship comes a hefty $25,800 cash prize. Poetry was a passion for both Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg and Ruth Lilly.
The Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
Here’s an opportunity for US poets who are looking to study and travel outside of North America! For this purpose, an annual award of approximately $66,500 is granted to a worthy poet. Two copies of your previously published or unpublished poetry, or two copies of a published poetry collection, are required for application.
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Nightboat Books Poetry Prize
Nightboat Books publishes poetry collections and awards up to four $1,000 prizes each year. Use the online submission system to send in a manuscript between 48 and 90 pages in order to participate. The cost of entry is $28, which is a nominal amount to pay for the opportunity to have your work published.
Yale Series of Younger Poets
In addition to publishing a poetry collection, Yale University Press is offering a $1,000 prize and a writing fellowship at the James Merrill House in Stonington, Connecticut. Poets who haven’t yet released a full-length poetry book are welcome to apply! You’re in good hands because Rae Armantrout will be making the decision.
The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry
The Nimrod Literary Awards are presented annually by the Nimrod International Journal of Prose and Poetry. You have from January 1 to April 1 to submit your entries if you’re interested. You have the opportunity to win $1,000 or $2,000 in addition to the possibility of publication. In honor of the renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the University of Tulsa is sponsoring this competition.
Barbara Stevens Poetry Book Manuscript Competition
If you’re a gifted poet seeking a $1,000 prize to present your work, here’s your chance to do so. In addition, the winner will receive a $300 travel stipend and be invited to read at the National Federation of State Poetry Societies convention.
The National High School Poetry Contest
A prize and an offer of publication are in your future all sponsored by The Live Poets Society of New Jersey. All US high school students are eligible to enter the contest; there are multiple submission periods, so you can do so from wherever you live between now and June 30 of your senior year.
Rising Writer Prize
A debut piece of poetry or fiction can win a $1,000 prize and publication from Autumn House Press. Don’t pass up this chance if you have a 50–80 page collection of poetry! Additionally, a $500 grant for travel and book promotion will be given to the winner.
The 1800wheelchair.com Scholarship
One or two $500 awards are given out annually to qualified US high school, college, or university students by the 1800wheelchair Scholarship Fund. The scholarship encourages you to use your imagination to create a visually striking and thought-provoking “visual poem” on wheelchair mobility in place of submitting a traditional application. You should only use materials that will fit on an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper for your creation.
100-Word Writing Contest
The biannual $1000-Word Writing Contest offers a $2,000 reward for a flash piece of prose or poetry. If your work was originally written in a language other than English, don’t worry—English translations are also accepted! All that is required of you is to submit a work of nonfiction, poetry, or fiction that is no longer than 100 words.
Summary
It’s important to cast a wide net and try to play to your strengths when applying for scholarships. The likelihood is that if you’re a gifted poet you can write in other genres as well. Look for scholarships where the written application is heavily weighted toward applicants who fit into particular demographics or niches, such as those who share your interests, background, ethnicity, religion, or gender identity.
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