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

* PLEASE NOTE DEADLINE OF JUNE 2 *

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 2 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than a week later.

4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and/ or your work. In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references.

EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 2, 2025 (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 early fall.


        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.

For complete guidelines about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit our website.

* PLEASE NOTE NEW DEADLINE - JUNE 2 *

We are honored to have Cecelia Joyce Johnson as this year's judge.

    Requirements for Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award for a short story:
1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, your motivations as a writer, and your 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 a complete short story of 20 pages or fewer (12-point font, double-spaced). File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_Short_Story.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 suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email.
    *Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is June 2, 2025 and your letter of recommendation must be received no later than a week later.


4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and/ or your work. In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references.


EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 2, 2025 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by the following week.
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    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 book 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 could 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.

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

* PLEASE NOTE NEW DEADLINE - JUNE 2 * 

Requirements for Marianne Russo Award for a novel-in-progress: 

 
1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, your motivations as a writer, and your 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 an excerpt from your novel of 25 pages or fewer (12-point font, double-spaced). Preface this excerpt with a single page containing a “pitch” of 250 words or fewer; this should provide an outline of your novel and any context that may be useful to the reader.
      File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_Novel.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 suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email.
      *Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is June 2 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than one week later.

4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and your work.  In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references.


EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 2, 2025 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by no more than one week later.


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      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 book 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 could 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.

Please fill out the form to be included in the KWLS Alumni Newsletter. Please include all the necessary information; we will not be able to post your update without all of the required information. 

Deadline to submit information for the Spring Newsletter is March 28.