Deadline: Monday, Oct. 31, 2016
The Miles Morland Foundation (MMF) opened its 2016 Morland Writing Scholarships for African writers on June 30. The scholarship is open to anyone born or whose parents were born in Africa who writes in English. The goal of the scholarship is to provide Scholars the opportunity to write a completed book. Only published writers can apply.
Scholars writing fiction will receive a grant of £18,000, paid monthly over the course of twelve months. At the discretion of the Foundation, scholars writing non-fiction may receive a grant of up to £27,000, paid over a period of up to eighteen months.
The scholarships is provided to produce full length works of adult fiction or non-fiction. Poetry, plays, film scripts, children’s books, and short story collections do not qualify.
2016 Morland Writing Scholarships Qualification
To apply, submit a 2,000 – 5,000 Word document excerpt from a piece of work written in English that has been published and offered for sale. Anything sent not in Word will not be accepted. Include a 200 – 300 words bio about yourself and your background. Also include a 1,000 words description about the book you intend to write. Include a scanned copy of any official document showing that you, or both of your parents, were born in Africa. Don’t forget to add where you heard about the Morland Writing Scholarships.
The Foundation welcomes only fiction and non-fiction proposals. Please do not submit academic or scientific research, or works of special interest such as religious or political writings to the 2016 Morland Writing Scholarships. Submissions or proposals of this nature do not qualify.
During the scholarship, scholars are bound to submit by e-mail at least 10,000 new words every month until they complete their book or the scholarship. If the first draft of the book is completed before the year is up, payments will continue while the scholar edits and refines their work.
Scholar will be offered the opportunity to be mentored by an established author or publisher, often after the Scholarship. MMF and its scholarship isn’t meant to act as editor or a publisher. Scholars will need to find their own agents and publishers.
Your application will be evaluated by a panel of readers and judges. The work submitted will be judged purely on literary merit.
Read the FAQ page for more information. Previous scholars include Akwaeke Emezi, Karen Jennings, Noo Saro-Wiwa, Bolaji Odofin, Fatin Abbas, Yewande Omotoso, Simone Haysom, Ndinda Kioko, Ahmed Khalifa, Tony M. Ontita, Doreen Baingana, and Percy Zvomuya.
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All enquiries and submissions relating to the Morland Scholarships should be directed to MMF@milesmorlandfoundation.com. For further information about the Miles Morland Foundation, call Mathilda Edwards, the Foundation Secretary, on +44 20 7349 5030.