The National Writers Series awards eight scholarships a year, in the categories of Journalism, Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction.
About the Awards
On an annual basis with the support of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, the National Writers Series awards scholarships in the categories of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and journalism. All winners are recognized at an NWS author event and have their work published in the NWS Literary Journal.
Scholarship Award Details
Eligibility
Eligible writers must be an 11th or 12th graders with permanent residential addresses in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau County; and attend public, parochial, private, or home school.
Judging
Manuscripts will be read in March by the National Writers Series scholarship committee, comprised of specialists in the genres they are judging. All applicants and winners agree to publication in the NWS Literary Journal. Students retain full copyright to their materials.
Submission Guidelines
Students may submit in only one category. Applicants must complete an online application and submit a manuscript. Manuscripts do not need to be written solely for this application, but can be pieces used in classes or other writing ventures. Because applications are judged anonymously, no identifying information should be in the manuscript. Please include a title page containing only the title of the poetry collection or prose piece, also indicating whether the prose is non-fiction, journalism, or fiction.
Submissions are accepted from January 15 to March 1 annually, and winners are announced in April.
2026 Scholarship Recipients
Click through to read the submissions from each of our award winners.
