CREATIVE WRITING FELLOWSHIPS

Haga clic aquí para obtener información en español

Grant Program Summary

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Creative Writing Fellowships program offers $50,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Applications are reviewed through an anonymous process in which the primary criteria for review are the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the submitted writing sample. Through this program, the NEA seeks to strengthen the literary arts ecosystem by sustaining and nurturing a wide range of creative writers at various stages of their careers, and to continue to expand the portfolio of American art available to people from all backgrounds.

The program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years.

• For FY 2026, which is covered by these guidelines, fellowships in prose are available.
• Fellowships in poetry will be offered in FY 2027 and guidelines will be available in January 2026.

Applying for a federal grant can be time consuming. We estimate that after registering, the process to draft and submit an application takes approximately 12 hours. Competition for fellowships is rigorous. We typically receive approximately 2,000 applications each year and award fellowships to fewer than 2% of applicants. Potential applicants should consider carefully whether their work will be competitive at the national level.

A full grant program description can be found in the Grant Program Details below. For instructions on how to apply, see Application Instructions below.

Learn more about past recipients of our literature fellowships in the Literary Arts Impact section.

Eligibility

Individual U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who meet specific publication requirements are eligible to apply. To determine eligibility, review the complete list of requirements in the Grant Program Details document linked below.

An individual may submit only one application for FY 2026 Literature Fellowships funding. You may not apply for both a Creative Writing Fellowship and a Translation Project in the same calendar year. See more information about the Translation Project Fellowships program to determine which opportunity is the right fit for your literary work.

Funding is not available in this category for organizations.

Funding level

Fellowships are for $50,000.

Important Dates

Applications for Creative Writing Fellowships are accepted annually.

Grant Program Details & Instructions

Grant Program Details: PDF | Word This document contains essential information that will help you plan your application materials, including a grant program description; eligibility; review criteria; award amount; post-award requirements and administration; and frequently asked questions, among others. Review this information before you decide to apply.

Application Instructions: PDF | Word This document contains step-by-step instructions for assembling and submitting a complete application, including filling out the required Application for Federal Domestic Assistance—Individual form (SF-424), and creating the additional required application materials. Review this information while preparing your application.

How to Apply

Submitting an application is a multi-step process. Detailed instructions on how to complete and submit the required application materials can be found in the Application Instructions PDF above.

1. REGISTER with Login.gov and Grants.gov, or renew/verify these registrations. See the Grant Program Details document linked above for more information about how to register.

2. Submit your application

   Clicking the link below will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in Grants.gov. See the Application Instructions document linked above with detailed instructions for preparing and submitting your application materials.

   Funding Opportunity Number 2025NEA03LFCW

Manage Your Award

Review reporting requirements and other information related to managing a federal award, including the General Terms and Conditions on our Manage Your Award page.