Scholarships, Contests, and Creative Writing Awards

This prestigious national competition is open to all full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Poems can be published, unpublished, or under consideration elsewhere. Submissions: November 1 to January 15

This contest honors the memory of Ann Doty, an outstanding English major who was killed in an automobile accident at the end of her senior year. Ann Doty had an exceptional writing talent in fiction and is representative of the many students who strive to become good writers. The contest awards $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $150 for third place. The contest is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, with a separate division for each. Submissions: November 1 to January 15

Professor Jim Barnes, Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing and English, has made a generous contribution to the BYU English Department to establish the Carolyn Barnes Poetry Award as a memorial to his late and beloved wife, Carolyn. Submissions: November 1 to January 15

The theme of the contest is “The Restored Gospel and Applied Christianity." Essays should be between 2,000-5,000 words. Examples of past contest winners can be found here. Besides having their essays published, winners in the undergraduate and graduate division will receive $1,200 (first prize), $1,000 (second), and $700 (third). Submissions: By 5:00 pm on February 26 (extended deadline).

The Hart-Larson Contest is named after Professors Edward L. Hart and Clinton F. Larson. Both professors wrote poetry and taught the writing of poetry. The contest awards $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $150 for third place. The contest is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, with a separate division for each. Submissions: November 1 to January 15

Professor Elsie C. Carroll was a distinguished member of the English Department for three decades and had a great interest in good student writing. Her family, to honor her memory and to encourage writing, has set up an endowment to help fund this contest. The contest awards $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $150 for third place. The contest is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, with a separate division for each. Submissions: November 1 to January 15

Wayne E. Mayhew of Berkeley, California, established a trust fund to provide annual awards in creative writing and fine arts at Brigham Young University in honor of his wife, Vera Hinckley Mayhew, a former BYU student. Contests are open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Submissions: January 3 to January 28 at 5:00pm

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” —Ephesians 2:19

Paul writes about people who had once been treated as strangers and aliens but found a place in the household of God as fellow-citizens with the saints. The path from life as strangers and aliens to fellow-citizens does not always run smoothly, however, and Paul himself used this language to name a reality only partly achieved, if devoutly to be wished. We invite works of creative nonfiction written from the perspective of life “on the road,” essays that explore the experience of living in the spaces between being strangers and becoming fellow-citizens. What does belonging look like in light of your particular journey, with its blend of experiences both alienating and affirming?
Deadline: January 15th

The Blessing family has made generous contributions to the English Department in the names of Herman W. F. Kagel, Carroll F. Blessing, and Helene K. Blessing. The Blessing Endowment provides funding to support the study of creative writing by English majors and non-majors at a seminar, conference, or workshop. Applicants must already have been admitted to the program for which funding support is sought.

Creative Writing Award Information and Application Form

The Blessing family has made generous contributions to the English Department in the names of Herman W. F. Kagel, Carroll F. Blessing, and Helene K. Blessing. The Blessing Endowment provides funding to support the study of creative writing. Literature and Landscape Study Abroad scholarships are based on financial need, and are worth up to $1000. No need to apply. All students accepted into the study abroad program will be considered for this scholarship. However, you will need to complete your FAFSA to be eligible.

The family of the late Clinton F. Larson, a fine poet and beloved professor in the English Department, has endowed a scholarship for a graduate student in the MFA in Creative Writing program. This award is given to the top-ranked incoming MFA student. No application is necessary.

The LaVerna Clark family has made generous contributions to the English Department to provide scholarships for qualifying creative writing students at BYU.

LaVerna S. Clark has generously endowed a scholarship for freshman creative writing students at BYU. The scholarship prioritizes financial need and creative writing talent. Application Deadline: April 1 5:00pm

The Blessing family has made available funds for a few students to work individually with a published writer of young adult or middle grade novels. The student will meet with the mentor to discuss his/her manuscript, participate in a writing group with other mentored students, and attend lectures on craft and the business of writing from professional writers and others in the publishing world.
To Apply: Email application to english@byu.edu
Deadline: 1 December and 1 August