Math and science scholarships and grants seem to abound, but what if your talent lies in another direction? Is it possible to find financial aid for expanding your education in the field of writing?

An extensive online search would prove that it is if a student is willing to put forth the effort. Some college scholarships, grants, and writing competitions offer money to aspiring novelists, short story writers, poets, and playwrights. The following are good opportunities for funding that those wishing to write should not overlook:

Elder and Leemaur Publishers: This group offers up to $10,000 to help undergraduate students develop their ability to write factually coherent arguments in support in their particular academic fields. A written essay is judged and published during the selection process and the funds are awarded to several winners in the form of a check. Any person attending college in the United States or Canada may enter an essay.

The Academy of American Poets: This organization offers a number of writing contests which offer money for education to the winners. Some of these are free contests and others require a small entry fee, but the prizes are quite large. The following are just a few of those that can be found: the Stevens Award, the James Laughlin Award, and the Walt Whitman Award.

Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation: Grants of $1,000 are offered to playwrights who offer a positive glimpse of the gay and lesbian community. All submissions for these competitive grants should be inspired by extraordinary people or events.

National Endowment for the Arts Grants: Aspiring writers in all genres are candidates for these federally-funded grants. Creative writing fellowships of $25,000 are offered in order to give writing students time to research or further their training in prose or poetry.

Mystery Writers of America: This association offers the Helen McCoy Scholarship of $500 to two student writers every year. U. S. playwrights, novelists, scriptwriters, and poets who have a mystery work in progress should submit an application with a sample of their writing and an essay about their interest in this type of writing.

State Writing Awards: Many states have organizations which provide help for writers to return to school. The Kentucky Art Council, for example, gives at least 3 poets or writers $7,500 each year for outstanding achievement. The Library of Virginia also offers literary awards of $3,500 to emerging writers within the state. Other states have similar grants offered only to their own residents.

Whether the scholarships and grants yield a small amount or a big cash windfall, every dollar will help to alleviate the stress of high tuition. Writers who get several may even have extra funds for expenses beyond tuition. These funding opportunities give every writer the chance to complete their education and still have the time to concentrate on creating new works.

Guest blogger Jennifer Lewis writes for a site that has information specifically on  scholarship money for women, as well as goverment grants for women. She believes it’s worth taking the time to apply for financial aid if you want to go back to school to study writing, as help is available.

(Thanks to FreeDigitalPhotos.net for the cool graphic!)