Best Grants for Creative Writing in North Dakota

Literary Arts Project Grants

As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is pleased to announce Literary Arts Project Grants supporting literary arts organizations and small presses that focus on contemporary literary arts.

These grants advance South Arts’ commitment to amplifying the literary traditions and artistic practices of the American South by directly supporting the development, production, and public engagement of high-quality literary projects.

Literary Arts Project Grants support projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (scriptwriting). Projects must demonstrate artistic excellence, editorial rigor, and meaningful public or community impact.

Award Amount

South Arts will award up to $5,000 per project to eligible literary arts organizations and small presses.

Early-career fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry writers in the U.S., including those in North Dakota, can apply for PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellowship, which offers US $1,500 and a five-month virtual mentorship program. Writers from underrepresented communities may benefit from professional guidance, industry access, workshops, and a supportive literary community.

Early-career Native writers, poets, and other artists in North Dakota and across the U.S. can receive one-year LIFT awards of US $10,000 to develop and realize new projects. North Dakota creative writing applicants may benefit from additional professional development, culturally appropriate evaluation support, and communications and marketing assistance from the Native Arts & Cultures Foundation.

Hendrix-Murphy Foundation

Enhancing literature & language at Hendrix College since 1978.

In homage to Bertie Wilson Murphy’s passion for the study and appreciation of literature and language, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation at Hendrix College was founded in 1978 with an endowment by her son, Charles H. Murphy, Jr., former CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation. Mrs. Murphy was a 1905 graduate of Galloway Women’s College in Searcy, Ark., which merged with Hendrix College in Conway in the 1930s. Charles H. Murphy, Jr., was a member of the Hendrix Board of Trustees and served as chair. 

The Foundation's programs are overseen by a Board of Directors that is headed by the president of the College and includes Murphy family members, the provost, and representatives from the Hendrix Board of Trustees.

The Hendrix-Murphy Book Award

Hendrix is proud to offer the Hendrix-Murphy Book Award to an outstanding high school junior who demonstrates distinguished scholarship or leadership in literary studies (English, creative writing, foreign languages, or drama).

Hendrix-Murphy Book Award recipients will receive a copy of Poems to Read: A New Favorite Poems Anthology, edited by Robert Pinsky and Maggie Dietz.

Students may be nominated by their English, languages, creative writing, or drama teacher or guidance counselor by using the required form.

The Lazarus Family Scholarship in Bioethics and Humanities, offered by the AMA Foundation, supports students engaged in bioethics or the humanities, including art, music, and literature. This scholarship aims to foster the next generation of physician leaders by providing financial assistance to those who are committed to advancing health equity and community service. By recognizing diverse fields of study, it emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in medicine and the humanities.

The PEN Prison Writing Awards, initiated after the 1971 Attica Prison Riots, invites incarcerated writers in the U.S. to submit unpublished works across various genres including Poetry, Fiction, and Memoir. Winners receive cash prizes and their works are published in an annual anthology. This program not only recognizes talent within carceral facilities but also supports writers through mentorship, fostering creativity and expression in challenging circumstances.

The Sundance Collab's Cultural Impact Residency, honoring Michael Latt, is a six-month online program supporting early-career, underrepresented storytellers focused on social impact. Running from March to August 2026, it offers mentorship, feedback sessions, and resources to eight selected fellows in screenwriting, directing, and documentary filmmaking. This opportunity is designed for works-in-progress, fostering a supportive creative community to inspire and develop impactful narratives.

The RWA Perseverance Fund, administered by the Romance Writers of America (RWA), supports members in financial need for their annual national dues. RWA, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to advancing the interests of romance writers through advocacy and networking. The fund is available to applicants who can demonstrate financial need and commitment to a career in romance writing. Eligibility includes submitting proof of work, while ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment for all members.

The ISF Media Scholarship Program, established by the Islamic Scholarship Fund, supports American Muslim students pursuing degrees in media-related fields. With scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, the program aims to enhance Muslim representation in media and policy, counter negative portrayals, and foster positive narratives. Eligible applicants must be full-time students or working professionals in supported majors like media studies and journalism, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Early-career pediatric infectious diseases physicians interested in academic writing and publishing can apply for the JPIDS Feigin Apprenticeship, an editorial training award open to U.S. candidates, including those in North Dakota. With a mission to support pediatric infectious diseases education, PIDS Foundation provides intensive editorial experience and mentorship through this year-long apprenticeship program.

Scholars and writers focused on Shakespeare and performance studies in North Dakota can seek recognition for outstanding articles through the Barbara Hodgdon Award. Grants from Shakespeare Association of America help creative writing and literature professionals whose published work explores Shakespearean performance across media, geography, and time. Applicants must be SAA members in good standing.

Doctoral candidates whose dissertations feature significant Shakespeare-related writing and literature may be eligible for the J. Leeds Barroll Dissertation Prize, presented by the Shakespeare Association of America. Focused on advanced academic work, this prize may benefit creative writing and literature scholars in North Dakota whose dissertations were approved between September 2024 and September 2025.

Creative writing scholars in North Dakota working on Shakespeare-related monographs may be eligible for the SAA First Book Award, which honors a first book-length publication with a significant Shakespeare component. Grants from Shakespeare Association of America help current SAA members in good standing gain recognition at the association’s annual luncheon.

Nonprofit scholars, educators, and artists working on Shakespeare-related writing, literature, or performance projects in the U.S., including North Dakota, may be eligible for support that recognizes innovative public engagement. Shakespeare Association of America supports efforts that foster and sustain broad, diverse Shakespeare publics through teaching, scholarship, performance, and activism; SAA members can apply or nominate collaborators.

Literary translators of original book-length prose published by a U.S. trade publisher can apply for PEN America’s PEN Translation Prize, which awards US $3,000 for an outstanding English translation. Focused on writing and literature, this national prize may benefit North Dakota translators and creative writers working with translated literary prose.

U.S. trade publishers with book-length poetry translations into English can seek support for eligible titles through this national award, including works by authors connected to North Dakota. PEN America supports writing and literature by awarding US $3,000 to the translator of a winning poetry translation volume originally published in another language.

Nonfiction authors with intellectually rigorous, issue-focused books published by a U.S. trade publisher can receive US $10,000 for distinguished work through this PEN America award. Grants from PEN America help writers, including those reaching readers in North Dakota, gain recognition for recent nonfiction or memoir that illuminates important contemporary issues with literary merit.

Authors of single‑author biographies published by a U.S. trade publisher can apply for PEN America’s PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, awarding US $5,000 for a distinguished work. Biography writers, including those in North Dakota, may be recognized for exceptional literary, narrative, and artistic merit based on rigorous research.

Authors of literary science writing who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, including those based in North Dakota, can receive US $10,000 for a book that explains physical or biological sciences to general readers. PEN America’s PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award honors a single-author title published in the eligible calendar year.

North Dakota creative nonfiction authors with essay collections published by a U.S. trade publisher can access funding through PEN America’s PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay, which offers US $15,000. Eligible books are single-author collections by seasoned writers who are permanent U.S. residents or citizens, not debut essayists.

U.S. poets with a distinguished poetry collection published by a trade publisher can receive US $5,000 for work that expands American poetry, including authors based in North Dakota. With a mission to celebrate literary excellence, PEN America provides writers with this annual PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection recognition and cash prize.

Authors of color with English-language books of fiction, literary nonfiction, biography, memoir, poetry, or similar literary work published by a U.S. trade publisher can apply for PEN America’s PEN Open Book Award; awards US $10,000 and a residency. North Dakota creative writers meeting these criteria may be eligible.

Editors of literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites publishing debut English-language short fiction in North Dakota can apply for PEN America’s PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize, awarding US $2,000 per winning writer. Twelve emerging fiction writers are selected annually, and their stories are published in the Best Debut Short Stories anthology.

Debut short story authors in the U.S., including those published in North Dakota, can receive US $25,000 for a first short fiction collection to support future literary work. PEN America’s PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize honors a single-author debut collection published by a U.S. trade publisher, with submissions made by publishers or literary agents.

The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant for writers focusing on sculpture, encouraging diverse voices in this field. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or hold an O-1 visa, and have published work within the last five years. The grant aims to support fresh perspectives on the history and aesthetics of sculpture, promoting artistic growth and innovation. Applications are limited to one submission per individual, ensuring a fair opportunity for all.

The Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, established in 1975, awards $25,000 to the best book of poetry published in the U.S. the previous year. It includes a ten-day residency at Glen Hollow, New York, and distribution to Academy of American Poets members. Eligible poets must be U.S. citizens or residents and submit original works published in the prior year. Self-published books and translations are ineligible, promoting excellence in contemporary American poetry.