The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is pleased to offer a variety of scholarships to assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. We also offer one endowment to libraries to expand their young adult reading programs. HWA is dedicated to promoting the horror genre and providing education to both the general public (via our appearances at conventions and book festivals, our yearly StokerCons, and our iconic Bram Stoker Awards) and to writers.
Scholarship Details
- Scholarships support horror fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers
- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship and HWA Scholarship: $2,500 each
- Dennis Etchison Young Writers Scholarship: $500
- Diversity Grants: $500 each, up to four awarded
- Young Adults Write Now Endowments: $250 each, up to five awarded
- Dark Poetry Scholarship: $1,250
- Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship and Scholarship From Hell offer flexible amounts
- Includes endowments for libraries to expand YA reading programs
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to all applicants regardless of HWA membership
- Applicants must have an interest in pursuing horror writing (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry)
- Libraries may apply for the YA endowment program
Application Process
- Visit the official website
- Select the scholarship or endowment you wish to apply for
- Complete the online application form with all required fields
- Upload all requested documents as outlined on the form
- Submit the application by the designated deadline
One of our Scholarship Committee members have prepared an article discussing some of the reasons that applications are rejected – we highly recommend reading this before you apply!