For more information about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit our website.

Requirements for Scotti Merrill Award for poetry:

1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, motivations as a writer, and previous accomplishments.
File name should adhere to the following model: “Lastname_Firstname_cover.doc” and your name should appear at the top-right-hand-corner of the page.

2. WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit 5 - 7 poems within one document. File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_First_Poem.doc” and your name should not appear on the manuscript.

3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: One letter of recommendation is required. In the application form below, you will be asked to provide an email address for your recommender. Once you submit the application, they will receive an email from Submittable with a link to upload the recommendation letter. We strongly suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email as it sometimes ends up in spam. They may also send their recommendation directly to kschumann@kwls.org.
*Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is June 30 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than a week later.


EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 30, 2023 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by the following week.


Due to an increased volume of applications and our thorough review process, we are implementing a $12 application fee to cover review costs. Award winners will be notified by November 1.


ELIGIBILITY: Writers of any age who live in the United States and have not yet published a collection with a major publisher are eligible to apply. If you are the author of a book that is self-published, published with an independent press, or had a print run of 500 or fewer copies, you may or may not be eligible. If you think your eligibility may be called into question, please provide relevant details about prior publications as part of your cover letter. We reserve the right to make all final decisions regarding eligibility.