By NmaHassan Muhammad

The following four scholarships are open to writers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). The final scholarship opportunity is also open to LGBTQ+, neurodiverse writers, and writers with disabilities. All the information below is as detailed on the scholarship websites.

Gotham Writers’ BIPOC Scholarship 2021

The Gotham Creative Writing Scholarship is open to people of color who have an interest in creative writing—any type of writing, any level of experience. All they ask is the desire to write creatively. Three scholarships will be offered every year.

Each scholarship includes:

1. One 6-week course of the writer’s choosing

2. Two 10-week courses of the writer’s choosing

3. Two intensives of the writer’s choosing

4. One 12-hour mentorship, after the writer has completed at least one 10-week course.

Acceptance is open to all people of color. At least one spot will be rewarded to a Black applicant.

Once accepted, Gotham will do a consultation to help guide the writer with their initial course selection.

There is no time limit on when all the courses must be completed.

Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2021 – November 15, 2021.

For further details, visit their web page here.

Whale Rock Workshops’ 2021 Diversity Scholarship

Whale Rock Workshops is working in conjunction with Greatest Stories Never Told to offer BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ students full tuition coverage to participate in one of their programs. Applicants do not have to be published or agented, but should have some writing or related experience as well as a project in progress. Students must have access to a laptop and Zoom technology AND must be able to participate in the full duration of each program. Where they do not have access to a laptop, they should indicate it in their application. The scholarships are for the full immersion programs: The Master Skills Workshop and Mentorship Program.

Candidates must be new to Whale Rock Workshops and must submit the following:

1. A writing experience statement (what you write and why, and what your writing journey has been like to date.)

2. A 1000-word writing sample of a manuscript geared towards middle grade or young adult readers

3. A copy of your 2019 or 2020 taxes (Students must make under $100,000 a year to be eligible for this program.)

For details and submission, visit their website here.

The Writing Barn Scholarship 2021

The Writing Barn has a small but budding scholarship program for their programming.

They offer specific Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity scholarships (both full and partial) for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse writers, and writers with disabilities.

The scholarships are awarded on the following criteria:

1. Seriousness of purpose: A brief questionnaire asks about the time and effort you devote to your craft.

2. Talent: A writing sample speaks to your talent.

3. Financial need: As a follow-up to the initial application, they may be in contact asking for details about your financial need.

Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis and those being awarded scholarships will be notified as soon as possible.

If you have any other questions, please email: info@thewritingbarn.com.

If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the application on this page.

In addition, the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program is open to applications from October 1, 2021, through 11:59 pm EST on October 31, 2021. They are offering 16 mentorships split among the following categories: Picture Book Text (PB), Middle Grade (MG), Young Adult (YA); and Illustration (IL). To learn more go here.

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Bio: NmaHassan Muhammad is a children’s book author from Nigeria. His poems, stories, and articles have appeared in Weekly Trust, Fireflies, Pyramid, Jewel Corper, Kahalari Review, ANA Review and more. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Association of Nigerian Authors, he writes from Minna.