IALA’s Creative Writing Grant 2023

Note: The application deadline for our three grants has been extended until October 15, 2023.

The International Armenian Literary Alliance’s Creative Writing Grant (now closed) will award $2,500 annually to one Armenian writer whose work-in-progress shows exceptional literary and creative ability. In 2023, the grant will be awarded for a collection of poetry, and in the coming years, to works of creative nonfiction and fiction, as well as other mixed genre forms. The grant will be judged by Gregory Djanikian and Raffi Wartanian.

IALA’s Creative Writing Grant is meant to foster the development of contemporary Armenian literature in English through an annual monetary award, and support Armenian writers who have historically lacked resources in the publishing world. Additionally, IALA will support grant recipients in promoting their publications through marketing on our website and social media channels, book reviews, readings and discussions.

Application Period: September 1 – October 15, 2023

The application will include 8-10 poems (no longer than 10 pages) of your best work and synopsis of the work you intend to use the grant to complete, a brief bio and personal statement. The full application will be posted on September 1, 2023.

The winner will be announced in December 2023.

This grant was made possible by a generous donation from the Armenian Allied Arts Association, an organization based in Southern California that discovered, encouraged and promoted new talent of Armenian descent for over eighty years.

Eligibility and Requirements

Age: Must be over 21 at time of application.
Language: Applications and writing samples must be submitted in English, and the book-length project you propose to complete should be written in English as well.
Poetry writing samples should be up to 8-10 poems (no longer than 10 pages) of your best work.
Genre: We welcome all styles of poetry intended for adult readers, including experimental and hybrid forms.
Applicants must be members of IALA at the time of application. For those on a low income or who are unemployed, we offer several discounted or free memberships per year.
Applicants must be of Armenian descent or identity.
Not open to members of the IALA board of directors or advisory board.
No previous publication record is required.
Applicants may submit one application per year. Those who are not awarded the grant may re-apply in the future. Grant recipients are ineligible to re-apply for two years.

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed through a “blind” panel process. Judging will be based on literary excellence, originality, vision and potential of the work, and how beneficial the grant will be to the work’s completion. Furthermore, applicants should consider IALA’s dedication to diversity as expressed in our mission and vision statement within this criterion.

Also see IALA’s Israelyan Armenian Translation Grant and IALA’s Israelyan English Translation Grant announcements.