This week at Red Kite, I wanted to help out my fellow writer Kitelings! (Writelings?)

Not to toot my own horn (TOOT TOOT), but having an English Literature/Creative Writing degree requires a ton of research. My undergraduate career was spent compiling sources, cross-checking facts, and falling down JSTOR rabbit holes to help make my stories and essays more detailed.

So, I know better than anyone that the last thing writers need is added financial stress on top of our hardcore college responsibilities. That’s why I’ve put together an updated list of scholarships for writers – including journalists, novelists, and short storytellers!

Journalist of the Year Scholarships

• • Deadline: March 15, 2025​

  • Award: $4,000 for the top award; five finalists receive $1,200 each.

  • Description: Recognizes outstanding high school journalists. Applicants must submit a portfolio showcasing their work.​

  • More Information:

    • All state winners’ applications for the national contest are due by 11:59 p.m. CDT, March 15.

    • Applicant’s adviser must be a current JEA (Journalism Education Association) member.

    • Applicant must be a senior in high school or equivalent for international schools.

A Public Space Writing Fellowships

• • Deadline: March 31, 2025

  • Award: Fellowship includes editorial support, publication, and a $1,000 honorarium

  • Description: Supports emerging writers who have not yet published a book. Fellows receive mentorship and publication opportunities.

  • More Information:

    • Only electronic submissions will be considered. There is no application fee. Please submit the following:

      • A résumé

      • A cover letter containing a one-paragraph biographical statement; one paragraph that is a favorite of yours from a book you’ve read, be it recently or long ago; and a brief statement telling us why this particular passage is meaningful to you.

      • One previously unpublished piece (for prose, a limit of 6,000 words; for poetry, up to 15 pages). If selected, the submitted manuscript is the piece that will be published in the magazine.

The Sub Pop Loser Scholarship

• • Deadline: March 19, 2025​

  • Award: $6,000 each for 3 winners

  • Description: For high school seniors; requires a one-page essay on a creative topic of choice.​

  • More Information:

  • Prompts:

    • What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?

    • What does being a Sub Pop ‘Loser’ mean to you?

    • What are your influences and/or who inspired you to become involved in the arts?

    • Describe your biggest failure and explain how it has brought you closer to your goal(s).

    • Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.

    • How has your family or community background affected the way you see the world?

    • Why should you be the Loser winner?

“Pen to Paper” Scholarship for Storytellers

• Deadline: June 30, 2025​

• Award: $1,000​

• Description: Encourages students who enjoy crafting stories and expressing ideas. To apply for this scholarship, students must submit a 250-word piece of original creative writing.

• More Information:

• Applicants must be high school juniors and seniors in the graduating class of 2025 or 2026, or currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students.

• U.S. students only.

L. Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest

• Deadline: March 31, 2025​

• Award: Up to $5,000​

• Description: This contest is open to new and amateur writers of science fiction or fantasy short stories or novelettes.​

• More Information:

• Enter a short story science fiction, fantasy, light horror. No excessive violence or sex on the page. Up to but not exceeding 17,000 words.

• AI is not accepted.

• Free to enter and entrants retain all publication rights.

• Enter 1 story per quarter, up to 4 per year.

• Anonymous judging. This is a merit-based competition. See the rules for details.

Irene Adler Prize

• Deadline: May 30, 2025​

• Award: $1,000​

• Description: An annual $1,000 scholarship for women pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature.​ Up to two awards of $250 apiece will be given for honorable mentions.

• More Information:

• Entry is free of charge.

• The competition is open to women commencing or continuing to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in 2025-26.

• Applicants may hail from any country worldwide.

• The application period begins on January 30, 2025. The deadline is May 30, 2025. No late applications will be accepted.

• Each application consists of the completed entry form and a 500-word essay in English based on one of the following five essay prompts:

  • Who – in any field of endeavor – inspires you with their combination of talent and hard work?

  • What is the biggest life lesson you have personally learned from the 2020’s so far?

  • Write about an event from your life and show why it means a lot to you.

  • What brings you happiness, peace, or a sense of focus and direction in our turbulent world?

  • Write a fictional short story that is gripping, memorable, or surprising – or all three at once.

I wish that I knew about these scholarships when I was in high school, so I could’ve gotten started on my writing career even earlier. The written arts are the backbone of our society, and I’m so beyond thrilled to watch what the next generation of writers will accomplish!

Remember, these aren’t the only writing scholarships available in 2025. If you sign up for Red Kite, you’ll be matched with personalized recommendations. Save those research hours for your papers!

We’re proud to be assisting tomorrow’s writers on their college journeys. You can also check out our Career Center for employment opportunities!

www.myredkite.com today!