IALA Creative Writing Grant 2025
The International Armenian Literary Alliance’s Creative Writing Grant will award $2,500 annually to one Armenian writer whose work-in-progress shows exceptional literary and creative ability. After awarding poets and creative nonfiction writers in the past two years, the grant will be awarded for a work of fiction in 2025. The grant will be judged by Chris McCormick.
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.
Applications are now closed.
The application will include a 5,000 word writing sample and a brief synopsis of the work you intend to use the grant to complete. The application will also request a brief bio, a personal statement, and an artistic statement. The full application will be posted on September 1, 2025.
This grant was made possible by a generous donation from Aline Ohanesian.
Also explore IALA’s Israelyan Eastern Armenian Translation Grant, Israelyan Western Armenian Translation Grant, and Israelyan English Translation Grant.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Age: Must be over 21 at the 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.
- Grants are intended for works that are in progress and not yet under any publication contract.
- While writing samples are eligible if previously published in literary journals or outlets as excerpts, no more than ten percent of the book-length work should be previously published, as this grant is intended to help you complete an unfinished work. The proposed book-length project is ineligible if already traditionally or self-published.
- Genre: Fiction (both novels and short story collections are eligible). This is not an award for a traditional academic or reported text; though books that contain theory and research are welcome, the main focus of the work should be creative. We welcome all sub-genres intended for adult readers, including mixed genre forms that are primarily prose fiction. The grant is not intended for children’s literature (including picture books, chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels).
- Applicants must be active 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 five years.
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed through a “blind” panel process. Judging will be based on 1) literary excellence (technique and craft of the writing sample), 2) originality (in terms of subject matter and style as conveyed in the sample), 3) vision and potential of the work (to be completed, published, and to meet its intended impact, based on synopsis and supplemental questions), and 4) how beneficial the grant will be to the work’s completion (based on supplemental questions). Furthermore, applicants should consider IALA’s dedication to diversity as expressed in our mission and vision statement within these criteria.