IALA Launches $2500 Creative Writing Grant

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. In 2022, the grant will be awarded for a work of fiction, and in the coming years, to works of poetry and creative nonfiction, as well as other mixed genre forms. The 2022 grant will be judged by Raffi Wartanian, Aline Ohanesian, Aida Zilelian and Nancy Agabian.

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, through book reviews and readings and discussions.

Application Period: September 1-30, 2022

To apply: Please read the eligibility requirements and review criteria below. Then visit our grants page to apply.

The application will include a 5,000 word writing sample 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, 2022.

The winner will be announced in December, 2022.

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.
While writing samples are eligible if published in literary journals or outlets as excerpts, they should be from a book-length project that has not been traditionally or self-published.
Genre: Fiction. Both novels and short story collections are eligible. Preference will be given to book-length works, not single short stories. We welcome all genres of fiction intended for adult readers, including mixed genre forms that are primarily prose fiction.
Applicants must be members of IALA at the time of application.
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 literary excellence, originality, vision and potential of the work, and how beneficial the grant will be to the work’s completion.

To apply: Please read the eligibility requirements and review criteria above. Then visit our grants page to apply.