by Hassan Muhammad
These opportunities include prize awards, scholarships and fellowships. Opportunities are reproduced from the respective websites.
12 x 12 2022 Challenge Scholarships
There are six scholarships available for 2022, three Financial Need Scholarships and three Diversity Scholarships.
You are welcome to apply for either or both scholarships (although you can only be awarded in one category). Recipients of these scholarships will receive full membership tuition for the Little GOLDen Book level ($357) for 2022 and lifetime access to The Complete Picture Book Submissions System ($297)*.
Eligibility for Financial Need Scholarships: Any picture book writer/illustrator from any country who would otherwise not be able to join 12 x 12 due to the cost.
Applicants over 18 years, not agented or published by a traditional publisher in the picture book genre may apply.
Self-published picture book authors may apply.
Eligibility for Diversity Scholarships: Any picture book writer/illustrator from any country with Ethnic, Cultural, and/or other backgrounds underrepresented in the canon of children’s picture book literature (including but not limited to Native American, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern or Muslim, Pacific Islander, Special Needs).
Applicants should be over 18 years, not be agented or published by a traditional publisher in the picture book genre.
Self-published picture book authors may apply.
For both categories, your picture book manuscript written in English must be an original work of no more than 1,000 words, specify target audience of children aged 0-4 or 4-8, and not be under contract.
Deadline to apply is December 10, 2021.
If you are applying for both scholarships, please send a separate email for each application.
For eligibility, guidelines and application, go here.
Folger Institute Artist Research Fellowship
The Folger Institute Artist Research Fellowship is open to artists working in all media whose work would benefit from significant primary research. This includes, but is not limited to, visual artists, writers, dramaturgs, playwrights, performers, filmmakers, and composers.
While a terminal degree is not required, applicants should describe their training and level of industry-specific experience in their CV. All applicants must apply as individuals, including artists working as collaborators.
For 2022–2023, all Artist Research Fellowships will be non-residential. Awards are $3,500 for four weeks of work away from the Folger. Fellowships may be undertaken between July 2022 and June 2023.
The Deadline for application is 11:59pm ET on January 18, 2022.
For details, go here.
To apply, applicants must register here.
Patricia Lea Olson Creative Writing Scholarship
The Patricia Lea Olson Creative Writing Scholarship exists to encourage students to reach their full potential in creative writing. $1100 will be awarded to one student who is currently enrolled in creative writing studies.
To apply, write a short essay between 400 – 600 words, explaining why you’re studying creative writing — what your goals, hopes, and dreams are for your future in creative writing, and how you hope to affect others with your words.
The deadline is December 8, 2021.
For details, go here.
The Island Prize For A Debut Novel From Africa
Holland House Books (UK), Karavan Press (SA) and Karen Jennings are proud to announce the inaugural The Island Prize for a Debut Novel from Africa. The purpose of the prize is to give writers from the continent of Africa (or the diaspora) a chance to showcase their work to a wider audience, with the possibility of feedback, mentoring, meeting with a potential agent and publication (both in the UK and South Africa).
Between five and ten entries will be shortlisted from which the winning three manuscripts will receive cash prizes, be considered for publication and introduced to an agent.
1st Prize: £500; 2nd Prize £300; 3rd Prize £200.
Deadline for application is December 12, 2021.
For details, go here.
Writing As Activism Fellowship 2022
Literary Action Coalition’s Writing as Activism Fellowship will offer a six-month immersive workshop experience for six New York City-based writer-activists committed to uplifting the voices of those most marginalized in the city through writing, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, Black, Latinx, Asian American, Indigenous, disabled, low-income, and at any intersection of these and other experiences.
“We are looking for activists who are invested in growing their capacities and practice as writers, and for writers who are invested in growing as activists.”
Benefits include $2000, bi-weekly creative writing workshops, guidance from teaching artists, activists, and professional writers, resources to organize an end of fellowship event/mobilization led by entire cohort.
Applications close at 11:59pm ET on December 3, 2021.
To apply, go here.
The University of Mississippi MFA in English
The University of Mississippi is home of the Yalobusha Review and one of the South’s best literary towns. The MFA program requires neither the GRE, nor an initial application fee. Successful writers receive three years of full funding.
Deadline for application is December 15, 2021. To apply, go here.
Bio: Hassan Muhammad writes children’s books as NmaHassan Muhammad. He writes from Minna, Nigeria.
